Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Episode 17) – You Must Master a Single Thing
Zenitsu wonders through the creepy forest searching for Tanjiro and Nezuko when he is bitten by something. When he turns around to yell at whatever it was, he soon wishes he hadn’t and quickly runs away!
What did you watch?
So, this was episode 17 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and it looks like we are back to the dark and sinister Demon Slayer that I fell in love with earlier in the series. Tanjiro and Insoke defeated the spider demon that was controlling the puppets, but soon learnt that one of the Twelve Kizuki (Demon Moons) was on the mountain. Things are obviously about to get far more serious and potentially even darker. I can’t wait, so let’s just get on with it. There will be spoilers beyond this point…
What happened?
Zenitsu continued to search for Tanjiro and Nezuko in the forest. He jumped at every little sound, even the spiders scurrying around beneath his feet. Then, he felt something bite him and when he spun around, he found himself face to face with a melon-sized spider with a human head… Needless to say, Zenitsu turned and ran. Unfortunately, however, he ran straight into the lair of the master of the spider-thing. Bodies and a hut dangled from webbing high overhead. Then an enormous spider demon lowered itself from the hut and welcomed Zenitsu!
As you would expect, Zenitsu turned and ran again, but the demon said something that caused Zenitsu to stop. He was already poisoned and before long, Zenitsu would transform into one of his spider-things! Zenitsu freaked and panicked. He climbed into a tree to get away and eventually passed out from the stress. As he fell towards the ground, his subconscious took over and awakened his thunderclap technique.
What did you think?
Once more the creepy factor was off the charts as Zenitsu faced off against an army of spiders with human heads. They were the servants of the giant spider with a human head that seemed to enjoy taunting Zenitsu. This was all brilliant and thoroughly entertaining, even if Zenitsu was still the same loud and shrieky guy. I still think they’re playing it too over-the-top, but that’s just my opinion. It shows promise for Zenitsu, but there’s still some way to go.
What was your favourite moment?
Apart from the intensely creepy stuff, my favourite part was when Zenitsu passed out and fell from the tree. He took that familiar deep breath and transformed in the powerful demon slayer only we know he can be. It would appear that he only has one move, but he has honed it to perfection making it almost unstoppable. It was an excellent fight scene and possible one of my favourite in the series so far.
What was your least favourite moment?
I had seen someone on the internet mention about how Zenitsu has a tragic past and all will be forgiven once we see it… That’s not quite how I saw it. Sure, it wasn’t much fun, but it was arguable his fault to start with because he’s gullible and constantly afraid. Maybe they didn’t do it justice in the anime, but I certainly didn’t feel sorry for him in the same way I did when I saw Tanjiro find his entire family slain. And then all the training with his grandfather didn’t seem any worse than Tanjiro’s training. The only difference being that Zenitsu kept trying to run away.
Who was your favourite character?
He’s back! It’s unconscious Zenitsu. When this guy’s around you know it’s going to be good. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t happen that often. After he defeated the spider-demon he returned to normal, so I wonder if he now is aware that he was able to defeat it and whether that will change anything. Sure, he’s poisoned, but his sparrow just flew away for help and he’s using his breathing technique to slow the poison’s effects. Stay with us cool Zenitsu, please!
Who was your least favourite character?
It kind of goes without saying, but it’s the other half of Zenitsu. Yes, he’s afraid and frankly who wouldn’t be? Tanjiro’s afraid and Inosuke is too clueless to be afraid or too proud to show it, but neither of them is running around, screaming and shrieking. I’m just finding it to be too much and it changes the tone of the scene. He’s been poisoned and there’s a giant spider demon hanging overhead. It is creepy, especially with the smaller spiders with human heads crawling around and then Zenitsu starts bawling and making cartoonish faces. It just doesn’t seem to fit for me.
Would you like some more?
Yes, definitely. Tanjiro and Inosuke have just come across another demon. This time it’s a small girl, but as they approach her, she calls for father – a giant of a man with a huge spider’s head. Amazing! Things are about to get wild. The best thing is that I don’t think the father is the Kizuki demon. I think it’s the girl that left Tanjiro and Inosuke to fight her father. She’s the one controlling all the other spider demons, they are all an extension of her blood magic. So, I don’t just have the fight to look forward to, but potentially a theory validation moment. Exciting!
Other reviews in the series
- Anime
- Season One
- Episode 1 – Cruelty
- Episode 2 – Trainer Sakonji Urokodaki
- Episode 3 – Sabito and Makomo
- Episode 4 – Final Selection
- Episode 5 – My Own Steel
- Episode 6 – Swordsman Accompanying a Demon
- Episode 7 – Muzan Kibutsuji
- Episode 8 – The Smell of Enchanting Blood
- Episode 9 – Temari Demon and Arrow Demon
- Episode 10 – Together Forever
- Episode 11 – Tsuzumi Mansion
- Episode 12 – The Boar Bares Its Fangs, Zenitsu Sleeps
- Episode 13 – Something More Important Than Life
- Episode 14 – The House with the Wisteria Family Crest
- Episode 15 – Mount Natagumo
- Episode 16 – Letting Someone Else Go First
- Episode 17 – You Must Master a Single Thing
- Episode 18 – A Forged Bond
- Episode 19 – Hinokami
- Episode 20 – Pretend Family
- Episode 21 – Against Corps Rules
- Episode 22 – Master of the Mansion
- Episode 23 – Hashira Meeting
- Episode 24 – Rehabilitation Training
- Episode 25 – Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri
- Episode 26 – New Mission
- Movie
- Season Two – Yuukaku-hen
- Episode 1 – Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui
- Episode 2 – Infiltrating the Entertainment District
- Episode 3 – What Are You?
- Episode 4 – Tonight
- Episode 5 – Things Are Gonna Get Real Flashy!
- Episode 6 – Layered Memories
- Episode 7 – Transformation
- Episode 8 – Gathering
- Episode 9 – Defeating an Upper Rank Demon
- Episode 10 – Never Give Up
- Episode 11 – No Matter How Many Lives
- Season Three – Katanakaji no Sato-hen
- Season One
- Analysis
- Bonus Posts
- Manga
- Volume 1 – Cruelty
- Volume 2 – It Was You!
- Volume 3 – Believe in Yourself
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That theory is interesting, I hadn’t thought of that. I’m not very fond of the father’s design and I also expected the Kizuki to be more refined and less berserker like, so if it’s revealed that he isn’t the kizuki, I’ll be glad.
I just feel like she ordered him to take care of them, and in the flashback when the puppet spider demon was attacked by the father, she was watching in the background. I think they’re all her creations. Either way it’s going to be an interesting next episode.
This anime is definitely at its best when it is being dark and creepy. Those human-spider things though were just on a whole other level of creepy.
Agreed. The demon designs have been one of my favourite things in the whole series. Could you imagine being chased through a dark forest by those things only to stumble upon the big one hanging from a cabin? They were far more disturbing than the demon with the spider head.
One thing that is odd. They mention demons don’t group together and spiders certainly don’t group either, so it seems weird that demon spiders are working in a group.
I think they’re all a part of the blood magic of the Kizuki demon, potentially converted and controlled by a poison, similar to what the brother was doing to Zenitsu. We’ve already had a puppet master so it would fit.