Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Episode 23) – Hashira Meeting
Tanjiro and Nezuko are still and Demon Slayer Headquarters and the Hashiras are untrusting of their situation. Will Nezuko succumb to Shinazugawa’s taunts and try to feast on his blood?
What did you watch?
Once more we were left with a cliffhanger at the end of episode 22. It wasn’t much of a cliffhanger given the stakes on the line. There was almost zero chance that anything bad was going to happen as it would have meant the end for Tanjiro, Giyu and Urokodaki. So, this is episode 23 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and with the end of the season approaching, I’d imagine there will be some set up for one last bit of action. As always, you can expect spoilers from this point on.
What happened?
Nezuko stared at Shinazugawa, drool trickling down her chin, blood dripping from her wounds, but then the hypnotic suggestions of Urokodaki kicked in and the calming presence of Tanjiro. She turned away in disgust at the sight of the Hashira. The Master asked what had happened, but I’m sure he already knew. He offered some advice to Tanjiro and challenge him to kill a Kizuki. Tanjiro responded by declaring that he would kill Muzan Kibutsuji.
The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji struggled to keep her laughter in, while Shinobu just let it out. Moments later, she asked to have Tanjiro and Nezuko taken to her mansion. Two helpers rushed in and carried the pair away, only for Tanjiro to come running back demanding that he gets to headbutt Shinazugawa as many times as he stabbed Nezuko. The Mist Hashira took offence to Tanjiro interrupting the Master and put him on the ground with a couple of pebbles.
What did you think?
It’s hard to think much about this episode as pretty much nothing happened. We all knew that Nezuko wasn’t going to eat or attempt to eat Shinazugawa, but I was a little disappointed that nothing came of his reckless and disrespectful display. Then, Tanjiro and Nezuko were taken to Shinobu’s house where they found Zenitsu with tiny arms and legs and a chronically depressed Inosuke. Later on, the Hashira’s met and discussed a plan, but nothing was actually said other than that they were the best group of Hashira’s since the first group.
What was your favourite moment?
The best moment in the episode was when Tanjiro took Nezuko to a secluded room and drew the curtains. He sat on the bed and stared into the distance as Nezuko poked her head out of her box. It was a nice moment between siblings as Tanjiro laid out the situation in simple steps. He was young and weak. Someday he would be old and then die, but Nezuko would carry on living. She would be alone and he hated the idea of that. He once more swore to turn her back to a human. It was a beautiful moment.
What was your least favourite moment?
And Zenitsu is back! When we first see him, he’s screaming about having to take a pill five times a day to regrow his arms and legs. Seems like a lot of fuss over nothing. You want your arms and legs, don’t you? Well, shut and take your medicine. Every time you think they’re starting to make Zenitsu look remotely cool, they undo it all with these ridiculous outbursts. Then there was Inosuke. I felt really sorry for him. He appears to have suffered a complete loss of confidence and has lost the will to go on. I don’t miss him chasing them around the room, but this is sad to see.
Who was your favourite character?
Shinobu prooving once more that she is one cool Hashira. Not afraid to laugh at Tanjiro’s outrageous claim that he would kill Muzan Kibutsuji, she then said that she would like to take them into her house. Now, does this simply mean her mansion for recovery or does she plan to take them under her wing and try to train them? Don’t know, but hopefully, it’ll mean more Shinobu and her twisted sense of humour.
Who was your least favourite character?
The Hishiras may be strong and they may have all killed a Kizuki, but Muzan just promotes some more. He also seems to demote them as necessary too, so Muzan is clearly the best prepared of the two groups. The meeting seemed pointless. They discussed Tanjiro and the lack of decent Demon Slayers coming through the system and started to blame the trainers. Well, if they got through final testing, surely they should be good enough. I think the lack of any sort of training after completing the testing seems to be the issue here.
Would you like some more?
The Master mentioned Lady Tamayo as Tanjiro was carried away, so it’s fairly safe to assume he knows about her. He’s also got some sort of grudge with Muzan beyond being Demon Slayer and Demon. There were some questions to come out of this episode, but otherwise, it felt like a bit of a waste of time. Surely, all of this and the last episode could have been compacted into one episode, giving us more time to actually do stuff. There are only three episodes left. Is that even enough for a single fight with a demon?
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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