Season 2 of Demon Slayer has finally hit its absolute climax with an explosive episode, quite literally. Things take an apocalyptic turn as Tanjiro wakes up, the Entertainment District now nothing more than a smoldering heap of rubble.
While Mugen Train’s battle with Akaza was certainly impressive, this episode is the best example Demon Slayer has had of just how powerful the upper-rank demons are. The bulk of the episode sports an oppressive tone, as Gyutaro and Daki revel in their victory.
Once again, Demon Slayer is doing an absolutely phenomenal job with its villains. The presentation absolutely nails Gyutaro, especially in the scenes showing him beating and toying with Tanjiro. He’s a merciless villain that relishes in violence, and between the animation, voice acting, and sound design, he feels perfectly creepy.
The story of this episode also does a phenomenal job of refocusing on the relationship between Tanjiro and Nezuko by rounding out the dynamic in interesting ways. Tanjiro has continually thought of himself as the older brother that has to protect his sister, but the relationship between Gyutaro and Daki is like looking into a dark mirror of our protagonists.
That’s only part of the episode, of course, as the second half features even more intense action. Uzui springs back to life and the secret of his Sound Breathing is finally revealed. It’s an absurd twist followed by an even more absurd sequence of attacks between Uzui and Gyutaro. Make no mistake, this is the pinnacle of the season’s action and animation.
Now that we’re one episode away from the end of Season 2, there’s no doubt in my mind that Ufotable has managed to completely one-up what came in Demon Slayer’s first season. Not only does the Entertainment District Arc live up to expectations, it wildly exceeds them in nearly every way, from animation to storytelling. It’s a remarkable achievement that, hopefully, paves the way for a bright future for Demon Slayer.
SCORE: 10/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 10 equates to “Masterpiece.” This is the rare release that transcends genre and must be experienced by all fans of the medium.
Disclosure: The critic watched the episode on Funimation for ComingSoon’s Demon Slayer Season 2 Episode 10 – Never Give Up review.
