Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Episode 22 Review: Master of the Mansion

Last week’s episode saw Tanjiro and Nezuko land in some big trouble, and this week it gets even worse. The wonderful sibling duo must prove not only their bond, but Nezuko’s humanity to the top demon slayers. But while we know that Nezuko can do no harm, it’s a far more difficult task to prove it to people who have dedicated their lives to killing all demons. Let’s jump into this week’s episode of Demon Slayer Trials – Someone call Phoenix Wright!

Japanese Original Episode Title: お館様

Plot

Tanjiro wakes up in the Demon Corps headquarters surrounded by the hashira, the top demon slayers. A majority of the group are in favour of executing Tanjiro and Nezuko. It’s only Shinobu who gives Tanjiro a chance to explain himself. But before he can, another hashira appears (Sanemi) and antagonises Tanjiro with Nezuko’s box. Before the situation can escalate, the ‘Master’ / head of the corps appears. He tells the hashira that he is aware and approves of Tanjiro and Nezuko’s situation. Sanemi refuses to believe that Nezuko would never harm a human. He stabs at her inside her box and also slices his arm and baits her with his blood. The episode ends with Nezuko coming out of the box looking fired up.

Episode Highlights

The Fashion Police Called: I was a bit surprised when one of the hashira said how ‘drab’ Tanjiro looks, but once I saw the group, I kind of got where he was coming from. Every member of the hashira looks like they’ve been dipped into a rainbow and their bodies been designed through random customisation. This is definitely not a critique; it’s fun to have such memorable characters and Tanjiro is definitely a tad drab compared to them!

Shinobu my Queen: Shinobu was the voice of reason in this week’s episode, giving Tanjiro the chance to defend himself and even offering him water and pain medication. I’m sure she hates demons as much as every other demon slayer but she keeps her head together and doesn’t let emotions cloud her judgement. Adore her!

Thinking with your head: I let out the biggest cheer when Tanjiro headbutted Sanemi – the dude had it coming!

The Master is here!: The mysterious head of the demon corps has finally revealed himself. There’s a lot to be said in how much respect the hashira show him – even their way of speaking completely changes when talking to him! I can’t wait to learn more about him.

Trivia

Opening: You may notice in the opening that the faces of the hashira are now clearly visible instead of being silhouettes!

Comments

Sanemi, Sanemi, Sanemi – you’re really trying to get an entire fandom to hate you, aren’t you? Out of all the hashira, Sanemi appears to be the most volatile and unreasonable. He doesn’t hears Tanjiro out, nor listen to the Master’s point of view but rather focuses on action rather than talk. I was surprised he was still so keen to prove that Nezuko would attack humans right after hearing that Tanjiro, Giyu, and Urokodaki would kill themselves if she ever did! But as much as I can be frustrated with Sanemi, and actually hate him for the cruelty he displayed towards Nezuko and Tanjiro, I can’t say I don’t understand it. They have seen their comrades die in battle, have trained their bodies relentlessly, and many probably became demon slayers after their loved ones were killed by demons. Their entire being is filled with hatred towards demons, and then to be told ‘hey, this one might be ok’ goes against everything they believe in. Sanemi baiting Nezuko with his blood is, in essence, a clash of ideals. Tanjiro’s, and by extension Nezuko’s, belief that demons deserve a chance to be saved, goes against the corps unbending desire to eradicate them all. I trust in Nezuko that she will remain strong and resist. After all, it’s not just her life on the line.

Control Yourself Nezuko!

While this week’s episode was a bit slower than others, it still made for a tense and well-paced 24 minutes. We were introduced to so many new characters, but it didn’t feel too overwhelming. Each had the chance to display their unique personality and quirks, and I can’t wait to learn more about them. But before any of that happens, I need to know if Nezuko will be all right! Stay strong Nezuko, you can do it!!

NEXT TIME: Hashira Meeting

Remember to check back next week for my review of episode twenty three. In the meantime, check out the rest of our Summer 2019 reviews. This series is also part of our weekly anime previews.