Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen (Episode 11) – No Matter How Many Lives

With his final attack, Gyuutarou unleashed his Demon Blood Art at full power. The Entertainment District has been destroyed, but did anyone survive?
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Yuukaku-hen (Episode 11) – No Matter How Many Lives
What happened?
Nezuko emerged from her box once more and used her Demon Blood Art to burn up all of Gyuutarou’s blood blades. She also burned the poison from Tanjiro’s body. He couldn’t believe he was still alive and that he had Nezuko to thank for it. Soon, he heard Zenitsu’s voice. he had finally woken up and was scared and in pain, but he was also concerned for Inosuke whose heartbeat was dying. Tanjiro took Nezuko to Inosuke where she burned the poison from his system too.
Next, they found Tengen and his wives. He was on death’s door and had Nezuko not set him on fire too, he would have certainly died moments later. As it was, she burned away the poison, however, he still needed to heal his injuries. He told Tanjiro that he needed to rest as well, but he needed to find Daki and Gyuutarou’s heads first.
He found them arguing as they slowly burned away. They each said some hurtful things, which made Tanjiro run to them and tell them to make up. No one was going to forgive them or mourn them, but they at least had each other. Then, we got to see their past and how they became demons. It was very sad… Anyhow, this was the first time an Upper Rank demon had been killed in over a hundred years. Times are changing!

What did you think?
Ah, yes! The classic Demon Slayer villain flashback before they turn to ash. Firstly, let me just say that their backstory was indeed truly tragic and the sort of thing that should not happen to anyone. It really was sad, but it, like all the other ones before it, came at the wrong time. By putting it at the end of their lives it almost feels like a redemption arc, whereas it isn’t. This is an origins story and we need to see bits of it earlier if it’s really going to impact how we feel about the characters.
After the flashy fight that ended in the last episode, this one was the most unflashy episode of the season. If anything, it was kind of boring and incredibly predictable. Everyone was saved by Nezuko. Tengen gets to retire with his three wives, and Tanjiro is about to level up enough to become a Hashira someday soon. Even the sight of Tanjiro riding around the wreckage on tiny Nezuko’s shoulders was lost on me. It all felt like a massive anticlimax to what has been an entertaining season.

What have you learnt?
So, I thought Muzan was the only demon that could create demons. I’m pretty sure it went out of its way to make that point last season. That was what confirmed that it was Muzan that killed Tanjiro’s family, although he already recognised him from his scent, and Lady Tamayo told him that too. Now, we’re seeing Upper Ranked demons making other demons. I was also caught out by this when Gyuutarou offered to turn Tanjiro. I thought he was going to have to wait for Muzan to show up, but apparently not.
Why invent a rule if you’re not going to stick to it? Nothing pulls me out of a story faster than not adhering to rules that the author created for the story. That and endless injuries that can be ignored at will and just forgotten about for ages. This is where the demons have the ultimate advantage. They can regenerate at will, so they should be able to do more than enough damage to wipe out the Hashiras with ease.

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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