Short Summary:
In Demon Slayer Season 2 Episode 9, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke head to the Yoshiwara Pleasure distinct with Sound Hashira, Uzi Tengen. Zenitsu and Inosuke become overwhelmed by the environment. The district is quite during the day but active at night. A perfect place for demons. Inside the Wisteria hotel, Tengen orders the trio to find his three wives, Suma, Makio, and Hinatsuru. Each wife is a kunoichi (female ninja) and has been sent to the district to find out information on the demons. Tengen forces the trio to cross dress in order to infiltrate the brothels, Tokito, Ogimoto, and Kyogoku. Tanjiro learns Suma committed “Ashinuke” – the act of a prostitutes’ leaving her house without paying her debts. Elsewhere, Inosuke learns one of Uzi’s wife has fallen ill and doesn’t want to leave her room. Behind a door, Makio is being tortured by hidden figure.
This girls gonna be the number one Oiran in all of Yoshiwara – Zenitsu
This episode was largely set up for the Entertainment District arc. The Sound Hashira, Uzi Tengen was introduced in the last episode as an abrasive character and I instantly disliked him. I felt the same regarding Zenitsu and to a lesser extent Inosuke. However, over time (and it took time) I grew to like Zenitsu and Inosuke, as they stopped being so annoying and developed more as a character. It’s too early for Uzi to go through this transformation but I wounder if he will. Towards the end of this episode I got the impression Uzi really cares for his wives. It’s the most likely angle to give a more complicated personality. Regardless, one thing we learn about Uzi is he’s pretty. Something Zenitsu (the ugliest one) can’t get over.
This episode is feature the most comedy I’ve seen so far in this series. Zenitsu specifically made me laugh with the ease at which he accepted the role of a woman. At one point he blurts out that “this girls gonna be the number one Oiran in all of Yoshiwara,” after Uzi calls him “ugly.” I doubt there would be enough time for that to happen but I thought the moment was hilarious. Zenitsu seems to have reached some higher level of control over his Thunder Breathing as he was able to breathe some electricity when anger. On the surface it might seem like that would indicate he doesn’t have control but if you consider he could only use his breathing while unconscious, releasing some electricity while awake is progress.
A pretty face hidden under ugly makeup
Inosuke was introduced as a pretty boy in the first season. His looks payoff in this arc, as another one of the humorous moments in this episodes. When the attendants remove the makeup they reveal the more beautiful Inosuke underneath. Despite his muscular form the attendants think they’ve lucked out. So far in this series, Inosuke has been the strong silent type. I was surprise when “spoke” so much during his internal dialogue. Inosuke was surprisingly coherent. If Zenitsu is gaining control over his Thunder Breathing, Inosuke is using his head more. There isn’t a whole lot of action in this episode but a great deal of humor. The men dressed as women is an old trope but Zenitsu’s response was refreshing. Tanjiro disappears in this episode. It’s rare for a series to put it’s main character in the background while others shine. It’s possible that the loud and flamboyant Uzi, Inosuke, and Zenitsu overwhelm our quiet hero Tanjiro.
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