"Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village" (Season 3) Talkback Thread

[Yojimbo]

Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village

Where: Funimation and Crunchyroll

# of Episodes: 11, Episodes 45 to 55

See Also:
1. Demon Slayer (Season One) Talkback Threads

Spoiler

-01. Cruelty
-02. Trainer Sakonji Urokodaki
-03. Sabito and Makomo
-04. Final Selection
-05. My Own Steel
-06. Swordsman Accompanying a Demon
-07. Muzan Kibutsuji
-08. The Smell of Enchanting Blood
-09. Temari Demon and Arrow Demon
-10. Together Forever
-11. Tsuzumi Mansion
-12. The Boar Bares Its Fangs, Zenitsu Sleeps
-13. Something More Important Than Life
-14. The House with the Wisteria Crest
-15. Mount Natagumo
-16. Letting Something Else Go First
-17. You Must Master a Single Thing
-18. A Forged Bond
-19. Hinokami
-20. Pretend Demon
-21. Against Corps Rules
-22. Master of the Mansion
-23. Hashira Demon
-24. Rehabilitation Training
-25. Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri
-26. New Mission

2. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Movie Discussion Thread (the previous arc)
--Note: In Demon Slayer: Entertainment District, this movie is Season 2A, from Episodes 27 to 33.

Spoiler

-27. Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku
-28. Deep Sleep
-29. Should Have Been
-30. Insult
-31. Move Forward!
-32. Azaka
-33. Set Your Heart Ablaze

3. Demon Slayer: Entertainment District (Season 2B) Talkback Thread)

4/9/23
Episode 1 "Someone's Dream"

During the mission with Uzui in the Entertainment District, Tanjiro and his comrades come out victorious in the fierce battle to the death against Upper Six Demons, Daki and Gyutaro. The death of the Upper Rank Demons that Tanjiro and his comrades succeeded in results in a shift in a situation that has remained unchanged for a hundred years, and brings about a disturbance between Muzan Kibutsuji and the demons...

Muzan's getting mad. But wait, Gyutaro was the weak one? Ulp. Azama's definitely got a chip on his shoulder. Kokushibo definitely is #1 for a reason. And Domo seems like a cult leader? Dunno what to make of Gyokko and Hatengu – they don't seem too tough but appearances are deceiving and they are Uppers after all. Welp. Seems a given those 2 Uppers are going to target the Swordsmith Village once the intel is verified.

Wait, is the swordsman in the dream supposed to the Upper One? And does that mean he was a Demon Slayer who became a demon?! He does wallow about not being able to defend what mattered most. Maybe Upper One is this guy's brother or son? But that definitely was the same person Muzan thought about after the encounter with Tanjiro in Asakusa and was shaken. Then I think Daki briefly saw him during the battle in the Entertainment District. And well obviously Sumiyoshi is some ancestor of Tanjiro based on looks alone. And at some point, stands to reason this Demon Slayer gives Sumiyoshi his hanafuda earrings that end up with Tanjiro. And has a forehead mark like Tanjiro. Hmm, maybe he's the one who invented Hinokami Kagura and passed on the technique to Sumiyoshi. Hence, why Tanjiro's dad knew of it. Based on the title "Someone's Dream" – and past instances, guess Tanjiro was somehow seeing his ancestor's memory. Weird. Then again, blood is a potent element in this series. Seems there's more to it than just a technique of the demons. Bloodlines matter, too, to some degree? Or he's got some form of precognition maybe connected to seeing threads when he's fighting.

Daaang, two months in a coma. Rofl, of course Inosuke clung to the ceiling for a day telling Tanjiro to wake up. And well, looks like they wrote Zenitsu off of this arc with a far away mission. And Inosuke.

Hmm, Haganezuka went missing but seems like he does that all the time. The chief seems an interesting fellow.

Pretty lucky two Hashira happen to be there though. Eh, figures the Love Hashira became a Demon Slayer to find a husband... But ugh, that Genya is there, too. Guess we'll find out more about him at last. Wow, another power up already. Wait, that guy from the dream?!

They are certainly setting up a lot of questions for this season.

4/16/23
Episode 2 "Yoriichi Type Zero"

Tanjiro, who has angered Haganezuka because of the broken blade, decides to head to the Swordsmith Village with Nezuko. In one of the important bases for demon slayers, the deeply hidden Swordsmith Village, Tanjiro reunites with his classmate Genya Shinazugawa and the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji. While Tanjiro, who heard about the existence of a secret weapon from Mitsuri, is exploring the mountains, he sees the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, arguing with a boy from the village about something…

Of course the indifferent jerk Hashira is the one who might know about the Hinokami. Even his crow is mean, lmao.

Mm, so that was a doll of the slayer from Tanjiro's dream and that was actually from the Sengoku era. Hmm. Interesting. I guess Yorrichi was his name based on the doll's name. And that would make a stronger case for the Upper named Kokushibo being a relative of his.

Rofl, how cruel a taskmaster Kotetsu became. Then again, led to a new ability awakening in Tanjiro. But lmao when he went after rainwater or angrily demanded food after landing the first strike.

A sword was hidden in the doll all this time? Neat.

Overall, nice to have a bit more humor again in-between battles with some world building and a mystery.

4/23/23
Episode 3 "A Sword from Over 300 Years Ago"

Tanjiro begins training with Yoriichi Type Zero, and through Kotetsu's relentless guidance and training under extreme conditions, he acquires a new ability: he can tell where his opponents will aim next just by the smell. During the training, a blow from Tanjiro destroys the Yoriichi Type Zero, but a sword from more than 300 years ago emerges from inside...

Ha, he was training in the forest so he could make Tanjiro a better sword. Rofl, tickling his sides.

That poor swordsmith getting pulled into the pot only to be spit out. Brutal.

Whoa so Genya's got a gun that shoots Nichiren bullets and a short sword. Interesting. Still want to know what's up with the tooth he pulled out.

So the weird Upper Hantengu gets young and more powerful the more they are decapitated and worse multiply like mitosis. Seems like they each act a little differently, too. I doubt they have the same weakness as the brother and sister. The old one was so cowardly. The tengu seemed excited. Another seemed full of anger. Emotions. Heart? Maybe the heart of the main body is the weakness.

At least something Tanjiro said got through to the Mist Hashira.

4/30/23
Episode 4 "Thank you, Tokito"

Before Tanjiro and Muichiro, an Upper Moon Demon suddenly appears. Muichiro slashes off the demon's neck, but it splits into two pieces and Muichiro is blown away. Meanwhile, Muichiro rescues Kotetsu, who is being attacked by a goldfish demon in the forest.

The two Hashira stuck running through the forest all episode. Wow.

Not looking good for Tanjiro and Nezuko and the village. At least they figured out the emotion angle, cutting the tongues, and forcing them to over-multiply does weaken them to an extent. Wasn't impressed with Tanjiro being a lead foot all episode except for grabbing the bird foot at the end. But I was intrigued by Mist Hashira having amnesia and whatever the heck Genya's ability is.

5/7/23
Episode 5 "Bright Red Sword"

Tanjiro rushes to the aid of Nezuko, and the two fight the demons back and forth, but then both of them are knocked unconscious by a fan attack from Karaku. At the same time, the village is on the verge of crisis when a swarm of goldfish demons attack the swordsmiths one after another. Hearing the news, Kanroji Mitsuri sets out to rescue the village.

Whoa, Kanroji has some crazy speed and a special sword! Almost like a whip but still sharp like a sword. lol, that smith. I fell on my head! lmao.

Not lookin' good for Muichiro. Poisoned and about to drown. Hope there's some kind of wind style for close quarters. Hmm, so those hands manifest pots and the demons. If there's a wind style fast enough to slash his hands and all pots in the area, what would happen.

Ooo, that was an awesome Kagura attack!!! Definitely some A grade animation for that sequence, must have been Abe.

Uh... what up with Genya....

5/14/23
Episode 6 "Aren't You Going to Become a Hashira?"

Tanjiro and the others struggle against the onslaught of the four split-up Hantengu clones. However, wielding a sword that had turned red from the fire caused by the power of Nezuko's blood, Tanjiro succeeds in slaying the necks of three of them simultaneously.

Tanjiro realizes that Genya has slain the neck of the other remaining demon, but Genya, who holds the demon's neck, has changed his appearance and is no longer….

Somehow Genya can use demon blood art? Of course he and his brother have a sad back story.

Ok, did not expect there to be a tiny 5th Hatengu that is invulnerable... Hopefully the kagura is powerful enough to end it.

5/21/23
Episode 7 "Awful Villain"

Genya aims at the neck of the fifth demon that split, but the unexpected hardness of the neck breaks his sword and his gun is ineffective, leaving him cornered. Realizing that he cannot slay the neck by his own strength, he entrusts Tanjiro to confront the fifth demon, which is believed to be the real body. Tanjiro receives Genya’s wishes and swings his sword at the fleeing demon…

Not even the kagura can cut the litte one's neck? They can combo into an even more powerful form? Geez. At this point, what can they do – stall until sunrise?

So that's Haganezuka without his mask on. That resolve to just ignore Gyokko's attacks and keep at the sword, pretty cool.

Oh no, Kotetsu. Just paid back the Mist Hashira with his last breaths? His dad. Hmm.

5/28/23
Episode 8 "Mu in Muichiro"

Kotetsu tries to save Muichiro, who is trapped in the water created by Gyokko, despite being injured by the demon's attack. Muichiro remembers Tanjiro's words as Kotetsu gets hurt for his sake and remembers his father, whom he had forgotten. With Kotetsu running out of breath, Muichiro uses all his strength to use his Mist Breathing and finally escape from the water…

Yeesh. Lost his parents in one night, stuck with his twin, attacked by a demon. Twins but two different reactions to grief. One was consumed by it, one wasn't. It does shine a light on why Muichiro was interested in Tanjiro as we see they have similar backstories and pretty much answers that he got the memory loss from a mental breakdown. The only real issue is this is the second character to have a backstory episode this season and it kills the pacing.

Oooh, but once in the present, the stunners. Muichiro manifested a mark, too! And Muichiro's speed and Mist forms were amazing!!! Gyokko's nights are numbered. And Haganezuka still at it honing the new sword with his super resolve.

6/4/23
Episode 9 "Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito"

For the first time in over 100 years, the upper ranks of Muzan Kibutsuji's Twelve Kizuki are not full. Angered, Muzan dispatches the survivors on another mission. Elsewhere, Tanjiro journeys to a village of swordsmiths and has to explain how his sword was so badly damaged to Haganezuka, the smith who made it. While Tanjiro waits for his sword to be repaired, enemies close in…

Someone finally shut Gyokko up and in style. Nice touch that Muichiro saw his family. And hey, even Kotetsu made it. Awww, and he recognizes Rengoku's sword guard.

Really good timing Kanroji. Can't to see her in action for probably a whole episode or two. This combined Hatengu is so op. Time to see him outmatched.

6/11/23
Episode 10 "Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji"

Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Genya struggle against five wooden dragons controlled by Zohakuten. Tanjiro is swallowed by a wooden dragon while being forced to defend against the demons that represent emotions. In a moment of desperation, Mitsuri rushes over and rescues Tanjiro. Then, in order to save the captured Nezuko and Genya, he confronts Zohakuten.

Oooo, Kanroji's amazing!!!

Still don't get why Hatengu and Zohakuten can't be decapitated. Is this the same trait for the Uppers and the big bad or just him? Are they going to have to just hold on until sunrise?

But man, even if they finally kill this Upper... he was this op, the ones above him must be even crazy stronger.

6/18/23
Episode 11 "A Connected Bond: Daybreak and First Light" (Season Finale)

Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Genya chase Hantengu's real body while Mitsuri is stopping Zohakuten. The three of them work together to find the hidden wooden ball of Hantengu, but the inside is empty. Tanjiro and the others chase Hantengu, who has run away again. Genya, out of numbness, throws a tree at the fleeing Hantengu, and Nezuko jumps at him!

WTH, Nezuku turned out to be immune to the Sun?! And now becomes the principal target of Muzan...

Didn't expect the end to reveal Muzan's origins nor it just some elixir that turned him into a demon. In the flippin' Heian era. But didn't answer where those Blue Spider Lilies ever came from. China, maybe?

Nice touch Tanjiro incorporated Thunder Breathing in the finale!!! See Zenitsu had a big part in it even though he was off-screen on another mission. And combined with the Kagura dance, that animation looked so sick.

So hilarious they managed to steal Tanjiro's new sword somehow and get it to him before Haganezuka could mow them down. But kinda implies his skill, even incomplete, it was still enough to decapitate an Upper. Or Kotetsu accuses him of killing Tokito. lol. And then he chases after Tanjiro assuming he broke it again, lmao. And Kotetsu has to rub it in, rofl.

So glad Mitsuri survived. Just barely. But survived nonetheless. And nice to see Tokito thank Tanjiro and even see Genya crack a smile then get embarrassed when Misturi hugs them both. Guess there's hope for those two. Also glad to see the elder survived. Though still, shouldn't they be evacuating to a new location instead of trying to rebuild? Even if they don't know Muzan probably knows the location through links with Hatengu and Gyokko, should still be protocol for them to hightail it outta there, imo.

Heartwarming to see the whole village see off Tanjiro. Yeah, he helped save their lives but he just offed an Upper. That's gotta be ultra rare if not a first for a non-Hashira to pull that off.

Off to Butterfly Mansion. Another recovery and training arc? Gulp.

6/18: Season 4 Hashira Training arc promo.

 

[PicardMan]

Season 3 was basically season 2 in being mainly a really long fight scene. The action is still pretty cool as always. We got to see a little bit of the hyped Mitsuri character, but not as much as hoped for. She's a cutie who can kick ass. I know that Demon Slayer has replaced Black Clover as professional anime review websites' favorite punching bag ever since the latter went on hiatus, but as a big stupid spectaclefest, it delivers and its early 20th century setting is a unique for battle shonen. It's mega popular for a reason and no amount of Anime News Network hating on Bleach and Demon Slayer is going to affect either series' popularity.