Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Episode 26) – New Mission
Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu have all completed their training and are heading out on their next mission. Meanwhile, Muzan Kibutsuji still hasn’t forgotten about his encounter with Tanjiro!
What did you watch?
I can’t believe it’s all over! This is episode 26 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and I’ve been writing and talking about it for half a year. It’s had its ups and downs, so I can’t wait to see how they end the season. Let’s just jump straight in as there’s going to be plenty to talk about. Don’t forget there will be spoilers, so if you’ve not seen it… seriously, go watch it now!
What happened?
Tanjiro and Kanao continued to spar and ended up with ten wins each. Zenitsu and Inosuke could just watch on in awe. That said, it would appear that they too have mastered the Total Concentration Constant. They even all managed to explode the giant gourds. Now, that they are ready, they are being sent on their next mission which will see them track down a demon on a train. Tanjiro says his farewells to everyone and even managed to get through to Kanao, potentially freeing her from her personal shackles. Only time will tell if that was the case.
Meanwhile, the surviving five Kizuki Lower Six have been summoned to a space that seems to exist outside of reality. They notice that Rui is missing and are approached by a sinister-looking woman. Before it’s too late they realise that the woman is Muzan Kibutsuji who has taken on a new form. He chastises them for being useless and not challenging the Upper Six, who have remained the same for more than one-hundred years. Muzan decides to shake things up a bit!
What did you think?
I’ll be honest I was expecting some crazy demon battle to end things, but what we got was one-hundred times better. I loved Muzan’s realm and his conversation with the Lower Six. That was insane and I can’t wait to get into that in a moment. The scene with the train was hilarious too and I’m not sure whether I’m softening up to these guys or whether they’ve dialled the crazy back, but it was a nice way to show that they had progressed and that they were looking back at their journey so far.
What was your favourite moment?
All right, let’s talk about Muzan. Firstly, wow! That alternate realm with the warped reality was stunning. This series has been incredible to look at but that was possibly the most incredible visuals yet. Then we had Muzan taking on a new form, presumably to try to disguise himself from Tanjiro. Maybe he does it every time someone finds him, although I dare say that doesn’t happen very often. Then the fact that he offered a prize for killing Tanjiro just goes to show he is genuinely concerned about him.
The way that Muzan viciously disposed of most of the Lower Six was crazy. At first, I wondered if maybe Muzan was misunderstood and just wanted to have a quiet life with his family, but there is no doubting it now. Muzan is a stone-cold psychopath. Now, I’m wondering if his “family” were just so that he had a new form he could take on. Has anyone seen his wife lately? I thought it was interesting that the Upper Six Kizuki has been the same for over one-hundred years. These have got to be some crazy tough demons. Muzan has barely been in this season and already one of the most terrifyingly effective villains ever!
What was your least favourite moment?
I don’t think I have one for this episode. Maybe it’s just that feeling of getting to the end and the excitement for another season and a movie! I will say that they really don’t like Rengoku. Not only have they death flagged him for the last two episodes but now he’s going to star in the movie! He is not surviving that movie. No way, no how! Sorry…
Who was your favourite character?
I’m not entirely sure what’s wrong with me but I love a good villain and Muzan is definitely one. We’ve seen Muzan pop up here and there but never for very long, so getting see the scene with the Lower Six Kizuki was incredible. We learnt so much about Muzan and his demons and at the same time hardly anything at all. It’s such a mystery, I can’t help but be utterly compelled to find out everything about Muzan. The fact that he can change form and aura is insane. It’s no wonder no one can find him… or her…
Who was your least favourite character?
Part of me thought Lower One surviving was the coolest thing ever, but part of me feels like Muzan just wanted someone to stroke his ego. All he really did was suck up and praise Muzan for bless him with the perfect death. It’s cool that he’s on the train and will no doubt push Tanjiro to the limits of his new abilities, but how can Muzan expect a demon like that to progress into the Upper Six. Rui, who was the Lower Five seems like a far more menacing demon than any of the ones Muzan slaughtered.
Would you like some more?
Absolutely. On the whole, I’ve loved this series. It’s had its ups and downs for sure, but it has produced some truly incredible moments and I feel like the dynamic with Inosuke and Zenitsu is starting to work a bit better. Inosuke and Tanjiro seeing a train for the first time was hilarious and when Inosuke hid his swords on his back, I couldn’t help but chuckle. They’ve come along way from the three stooges moment at Wisteria House. I can’t wait to see how far they go from here.
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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I loved this episode too! I’m very excited for the next season and movie! All aboard the infinite hype train!!! I hope Rengoku survives btw, I don’t really like or dislike him but I feel like a lot of people will be mad if he gets killed off. I’ve seen a large fanbase for him in particular but don’t really know why. Nice review, I’ll be posting mine shortly as well!
I don’t dislike Rengoku either, I’m just worried about the warning signs. I loved the Muzan scene. That was excellent.
Oh no worries, I didn’t interpret that you didn’t sorry for my wording xD The warning signs are kind of concerning tbh, I just didn’t really put it together until you had mentioned it in your review! I was just like, oh Rengoku’s getting more spotlight then usual but didn’t think as to why! And the Muzan scene was very well done, it was extremely intimidating, he’s an evil man to the core!
No worries. I feel for the guy, he might as well have said “I’ll be right back!”
I think Muzan is a crazy interesting character and completely insane. There appears to be no redemption for him, but I wonder if Tanjiro will pat him on the back as he dies?
Muzan was incredible this episode. Seeing how he used this demon arm thing to dispose of the lower moons was terrifying.
I cannot wait for a Hashira vs Kizuki showdown! I’m confident Ufotable will make it mind blowing. Muzan mentioned how the upper moons successfully defeated Hashiras before so that’s going to give our main characters lots of trouble. We’ll get to see Rengoku in action for the movie and I’m thrilled even though the death flag’s prediction might come to pass. I’m intrigued at how it’s going to happen though. Loved this season and can’t wait for the next.
Agreed, seeing how easily Muzan disposed of them was brutal and four of them are supposed to be stronger that Rui!
It’s going to be insane to see the Upper Six go against the Hashiras and then Muzan. I wonder how long this series will go on for. It has potential for much much more. It’s going to be epic!