Demon Slayer – Swordsmith Village Arc Episode 8 Review -

I’ve been saying for weeks now that I want to know more about Muichirou, haven’t I, Crow? In fact, I’ve been wanting to know more about both Hashiras since the beginning of Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc. Those of you who have seen the episode can guess what my review is going to be like. But don’t go yet, there might be some surprises in store!

Besides, you’re going to want to know what Crow thought about it all. I know I sure do! First though, let’s touch base. How are you Crow? A heat wave just hit today so I’m a little warm right now!

I remember very clearly that you did, in fact, say you wanted to know more about both Hashiras. So, can confirm!

We got a heat wave down here in Ohio, too. I just finished mowing the grass, which was great fun in the heat. It wasn’t so bad when it was cooler. Oh, well, I should be glad I can still push a mower!

Ok, so on the one hand I was genuinely happy that we finally got to Muichirou’s backstory but on the other hand, I’m just a little miseryed out, you know what I mean? It’s not like I’m expecting super happy Disney stories in Demon Slayer but can we turn down the suffering just a smidge. Just for one week…

Anyways, Muichirou’s parents both died when he was really young. His mother of what seemed to be some sort of wasting disease, forcing a young Muichirou to essentially watch her die for days/weeks and his father on the same day in an accident as he was trying to get medicine for her. Very tragic already but I guess for this show, it is a little original that they didn’t get eaten by demons.

That’s when we get the twist of Muichirou’s story. He has an identical twin brother named Yuichirou. Muichirou was the optimistic and kind one while Yuichirou was the pragmatic one. As the children tried to survive without anyone to take care of them, they established an uneasy and tense dynamic with Yuichirou seemingly either exasperated or simply annoyed by his brother’s carefree attitude.

They even got visited by the Master’s wife as it seemed they were descendants of renowned swordsmen and she was hoping to recruit them for the corp but Yuichirou drove her away.

I have to admit I found this entire sequence suffocating. Something about it was way more uncomfortable for me than all the violent fighting we’ve been watching. How did you feel at this point, Crow?

It’s funny – my reaction here, not the story! It’s funny because a) in my notes, I mentioned that I was happy to see that the parents did not die at the hands of demons, and b) that yeah, the sad got to oppressive levels.

It felt more immediate, I think, because the deaths were so accessible, if that’s the right word. I can put intellectual distance between me and a demon attack. I can react with terror and fear, but it’s clearly contained in the sandbox of my imagination. But dying from a disease? Slipping in a storm? That’s real. Those deaths did hit me harder than most we’ve seen.

Of course, as most viewers of the show probably predicted, the twins’ harsh but peaceful life came to an abrupt end when a demon found them one night. Surprisingly, Yuichirou is the one that acted first to protect his brother and got gravely wounded in the act.

This is when Muichirou tapped into his hidden power and, blinded by the overwhelming drive to protect his brother, he absolutely murdered that demon. We don’t get to see the fight, but the aftermath is gruesome.

Sadly, it’s too late for Yuichirou, but in a truly touching moment, we found out just how much the older twin loved and respected his brother. I’m guessing Muichirou went to find Lady Amane after that but locked away his painful memories leaving him as the very stoic and talented swordsman we know today.

What did you think of Yuichirou, Crow? Are you surprised they did two brothers against the world background stories so close to each other?

You know, the families were so dramatically different that it didn’t even hit me until you mentioned it that there are strong parallels to Genya’s story. Interesting. I wonder if we should consider them foils? Do Hashira train other pre-Hashiras? I’ll be Muichiro would have a lot he could teach Genya. But we really haven’t seen anything like that yet.

As far as Yuichirou, I get where he was coming from. I could sympathize with his seething frustration. Also, I could see him acting as he did to save his brother. He was in emotional pain. He resented his parents leaving him alone, and in lashing out at their memory, he gave himself an emotional outlet as a coping mechanism. But in the end, he acted to save Muichirou.

No wonder the poor guy has amnesia.

Muichirou’s story was really the meat of the episode. Having regained at least some of his memories, a reinvigorated and apparently suddenly stronger Muichirou goes to confront the vase demon. Although the episode ends before the outcome of that confrontation is made known, I am pretty confident our turquoise boy has got this.

Do you think I’m wrong, Crow? Am I also underestimating the enemy?

He’s got this! I wonder when he’ll prove it, but I hope they’ll wrap his side of the story up soon. We have seen almost nothing of Mitsuri! Also, I have to say that I really like Gyokko’s visual design. His attitude as a sadistic and horrific artist keeps my interest, too. For example, I thought it was great how Hotaru Haganezuka had him so angry it drew all of his attention. As a writer, I know that “warp bubble” of creativity is an amazing experience. I can see why he’d covet it.

All in all, it was a decent episode of Demon Slayer and one I was happy to watch because I happen to like this character. But it did feel like something we’ve seen before. In Demon Slayer. More than once! I’m a sucker for what is admittedly somewhat cheap sentiment and if I take a step back and look at it dispassionately, I have to admit there are some diminishing returns on these tragic backstories after a while. Especially as they start to really have a lot in common.

I still find that this particular one was more stifling and uncomfortable than the ones that came before, at least for me, but I can’t quite explain why. There’s a possibility that my mood is the issue and not so much the episode itself.

What are your thoughts on the whole, Crow?

I hope whatever’s affecting your mood isn’t serious! But I did really enjoy learning more about Muichirou, and it was a nice to have a break from Hantengu. Now, if we could just get more Mitsuri! That sword she wields is just amazing.