English Dub Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc “Fully Recovered Tanjiro Joins the Hashira Training!!”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Tanjiro’s wounds have healed, so he first visits the former Hashira, Uzui, to join the Hashira Training. Tanjiro’s joy for the reunion with Uzui is short-lived, however, as he will undergo basic training to boost his physical stamina.
Our Take:
It didn’t take us too long to see Tanjiro back in action. Unfortunately, since he has been resting since his last battle, he’ll have to regain his strength again via the Hashira Training. Fortunately for him, it is easier said than done, as Tanjiro’s profound stamina and strength remain intact even after resting for days. So, I’m guessing his quest to revitalize his skills might have already been completed.
His first stop in the Hashira Training has him reuniting with Tengen Uzui, a former Hashira who retired due to his injuries from the Entertainment District battle. There, Tanjiro works with the other trainees to boost their stamina and fitness through Uzui’s excessive training and a special demon-hunting exercise. Amid the training, the episode showcased two Demon Slayers being stalked by a marked eyeball. Then, the other Hashiras, Sanemi and Obanai, discuss their encounter in the Infinity Caste, which serves as the lair of the higher-rank demons and Muzan himself. However, it’s hard to say whether these two side plots will be revisited later as of yet.
From the looks of this episode, it might have given me the formula that would serve as the remaining narrative of the season. With the Hashiras working their trainees to exhaustion, Tanjiro would likely be their inspiration coach to help the rookies keep going. During the demon hunting exercise, Tanjiro’s superior strength, speed, and previous battles alongside the Hashiras inspired the trainees to hold on to hope for peace and persevere with their training. This might continue in next week’s episode, where Tanjiro meets with Muichiro for the next part of the Hashira Training. Overall, the episode was a satisfying reunion with Uzui and his three wives and even a superb display of animation and character-driven moments. Even though it’s not as emotionally compelling as the previous episode, I still haven’t found any real issue regarding the narrative and pacing with this season yet.
I hope this turns out to be another Gravity Falls-type show with an overarching storyline.