Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 3, Episode 1, “Someone’s Dream,” returns for its much anticipated 3rd season which covered the Swordsmith Village Arc. The first episode opens in the Infinity Castle as Akaza realizes that his being summoned means that an Upper Rank demon has been killed. In the previous episode Upper Rank 6, Gyutaro and Daki were killed in a stunning battle. Akaza descends through a maze like dimension as the castle shifts, suddenly Akaza appears before the Biwa Woman. Next to him is the a platform with an ornate pot.

After calling his name the demon, Upper Rank Five Gyokko, emerges from that pot. He’s an odd demon appearing like a genie from the pot and has several baby arms, eyes where his hands should be and lips where his eyes should be. At first I found his design off putting and now I think it’s cool. I don’t think I have said this before but part of the appeal of Demon Slayer or any anime is it’s design, particularly the demons. Gyokko is probably the most interesting looking demon.

Meeting the Upper Rank Moons

Another demon, Upper Rank Four Hantengu, cowers on some nearby stairs. He seems odd and too passive to kill anyone but I know that’s not true. The demons from Demon Slayer have unique personalities that work well with the previously mentioned design. Gyokko takes the crown when it comes to design but Upper Rank Two Doma has the best personality of the demons. He’s a bit creepy, unintentionally funny, and charismatic his foil is Akaza who uptight and enraged at all times. He’s intense and assaults Doma twice.

Of course Doma is find and takes some shots at Akaza’s apparent bitterness for only being Ranked third despite becoming a demon before Doma. Speaking of angry, Muzan has yet another body, this time a male scientist. While performing an experiment Muzan dresses down the Upper Rank demons for their failure to kill the Ubuyashiki family and find the Blue Spider Lily. The dynamic between Muzan and the Upper Rank demons feels different from when he meet the Lower Rank demons.

Specifically Doma and Upper Rank One Kokushibo. Doma calls Muzan “melodramatic,” which is true but Muzan doesn’t even react. Kokushibo flat out states that Ubuyashiki is “a master of concealing himself.” Their not combative but push back against Muzan far more than the Lower Ranks could. I might be the case that the top two demons are strong enough not to beat Muzan but to trouble him. Regardless, it seems like they got away with more backtalk than Muzan normally allows.

The Demon Slayer with the hanafuda earrings

In a flashback or a dream, someone named Sumiyoshi, that looks like Tanjiro, has tea with a mysterious Demon Slayer that resembles Upper Rank demon One. Wearing hanafuda earrings, he’s humble despite the strength has. He denies being special at all telling Sumiyoshi that “he was unable to protect anything he cherished, could not achieve anything in life, and states his name is as worthless as he is.” Tanjiro suddenly wakes and wonders who the demon slayer was.

Kanao Tsuyuri who’s visibly relived that Tanjiro is away. She informs him that he was in a coma for two months. Goto, a member of Kakushi lets Tanjiro know that Zenitsu recovered two days prior and is on a mission, Tengen left the district with his wives, and Inosuke was “close to death.” However, Inosuke appears above them surprising everyone. Eventually Tanjiro recovers enough to begin training again.

When he asks for a new sword, he’s informed that Haganezuka has been sending him hate mail and refuses to replace another sword. It’s suggested that he might be more convincing if he went to the Swordsmith Village.

The Swordsmith Village

After a secret journey with multiple Kakushi, ear plugs, and blind folds Tanjiro arrives at the Swordsmith Village. He meets with the chief, Tecchin Tecchikawahara, who raised Hotaru. Tecchin tells Tanjiro that Hotaru is “missing,” and it’s a common thing he does. Tanjiro apologizes for chipping his sword and Tecchin comments that “it is (Hotaru) smith’s fault for making weak blades.” I just assumed that Hotaru was one of the best but he might not be that good. We will find out if Tanjiro breaks his swords because he’s reckless or Hotaru’s workmanship is shotty.

The rest of the episode we are introduced to the antisocial and rude Genya Shinazugawa, who first ignores Tanjiro then tries to drown him in the hot springs. Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira make the biggest impact. Her exciting personality, naked intro, and big appetite are memorable. The other Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, makes a brief appearance at the end. He seems like the opposite of Mitsuri personality wise.

So how did you enjoy Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba return? Was the Upper Rank demons as interesting as I thought? Was the mysterious demon slayer Upper Rank One? Was that Tanjiro’s grandfather? Did you think the Upper Rank demons were rude to Muzan?

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