Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Episode 24 Review: Rehabilitation Training

After weeks of epic battles and characters pushing their bodies to the limits, it should be time for some relaxing. But our demon slaying squad aren’t so lucky! After recovering from their wounds, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke are straight back to training and into a hellish regime with some heavenly helpers. Let’s see how these three boys did!

Japanese Original Episode Title : 機能回復訓練

Plot

Aoi works with the other kakushi to create a training plan for Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu. As Zenitsu is the most gravely wounded of the trio, he doesn’t start right away. Instead, he stays in bed watching his friends leave for and return from the training looking absolutely haggard. He’s worried about what could possibly be waiting in store for him. But when he arrives, he can’t help but think it’s paradise with all the adorable girls! Tanjiro takes the training far more seriously and becomes frustrated that he can’t beat Kanao Tsuyuri. A trio of kakushi begin helping him by giving him hints about Kanao’s own training. Tanjiro realises he must master controlled breathing 24/7. During one night’s training, Shinobu sits with Tanjiro and talks about her past.

Episode Highlights

Can’t you see? You’re in heaven!!: While it’s certainly true that Zenitsu has wormed his way into my heart, I find his comedic outbursts go on for a tad too long. I was laughing at first when he pulled Tanjiro and Inosuke outside and started yelling about how the training was incredible with the cute girls. But by the time he was spinning around in the air and turning red, I was getting impatient. After all, we only have two episodes to go and every second counts! So keep those temper tantrums short Zenitsu!

Poor Murata: While our trio was in hospital resting, the reporting of what happened on spider mountain was left to Murata. From his reaction, it seems facing the hashira was even scarier than the spider demons!

Tanjiro’s cheer squad: A new trio has appeared in this series – Tanjiro’s cheer squad trio. The three girls were so adorable and really looked out for Tanjiro. In turn, when speaking to them, Tanjiro really switched on his big brother mode. I hope we’ll see more of them in future!

Trivia

English Dub Announced: Earlier this week, Toonami announced that they will be airing Demon Slayer from 12 October. I’m very interested in who will be acting as the English voices for our favorite characters! The announcement can be found on their Facebook page here.

Comments

Shinobu has been an enigma since she first appeared. At first she seems unguarded with her soft way of speaking and permanent smile; but with demons, there’s a terrifying vicious streak that she lets loose. This week, we gained insight into her past which in turn informed her soft spot for the siblings. Tanjiro reminds her of her own older sister, a demon slayer who pitied demons and saw them as victims rather than monsters. Her sister was unfortunately killed by demons. Shinobu for so many years wished to honor her sister’s memory by trying to carry on her kindness towards demons. But it conflicted with Shinobu’s own pain and grief. She forced herself to smile but was filled with anger towards demons. Seeing Tanjiro, Shinobu saw someone who could actually carry on her sister’s will as she knew she could never fulfill it. That is why she describes Tanjiro as having a ‘beautiful soul’. Tanjiro can rise above his own pain to see the demons as needing sympathy whereas Shinobu cannot forgive them.

But that isn’t to say that Tanjiro is mentally or emotionally stronger than Shinobu. He’s definitely devastated by the death of his family, but that isn’t what he focuses on. He focuses on what he does have – his sister. With his sister still alive, there’s hope. He can carry on the will of his family by protecting and saving Nezuko. But with her sister’s death, Shinobu could have been left alone in the world. There wouldn’t have been anything for her to cling to but her anger and the desire for revenge. While I can’t say that if their situations had been switched, they would have followed the other’s steps, one thing is definitely certain: Shinobu’s actions are defined by a deep sorrow at the loss of her sister and while she doesn’t believe she can carry on her sister’s sympathy for demons, Shinobu has her own incredible kindness. Without that kindness she would not have given the siblings a chance during the hashira meeting and even now she is training Tanjiro. Shinobu has suffered greatly because of demons. She may always continue to hate them, but her strength lies in her kindness towards others.

That’s my secret Captain, I’m always angry.

As each episode goes by, I fall more and more in love with Shinobu. She’s such an intriguing character, and I’m sure long after this series ends she is on that will stay with me. Tanjiro has held himself together for so long, carried not only his own burdens but those of others. I hope that Shinobu’s presence and kindness can be a support to him, and a chance for him to rest and train with someone who truly understands his past and motivations. It would be a welcome break from always having to chase after Inosuke and Zenitsu like the big brother he is!

NEXT TIME: Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri