Episode 2 of Demon Slayer’s 4th Season was also light on the action, which should come as no surprise considering that prior seasons started off slow, laying down the arc’s focus, key characters and plot direction. This episode in particular focuses on characters that were introduced to us at the very beginning of Tanjiro’s journey.
Giyu Tomioka, the Hashira that saved Tanjiro and set him on the path to becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corp., is the focus of this episode, as we learn how he became the skilled swordsman that he is at the currently. Learning of his refusal to take part in the Hashira training, Kagaya bequeaths Tanjiro to speak to Tomioka, and to be persistent in his efforts.
“Persistent” is the key word here, as Tanjiro takes Kagaya’s words to heart. He was absolutely relentless in his pursuit to speak to “Mr. Giyu,” as he respectfully states throughout the episode. Tanjiro stands by his door and regularly calls out to Tomioka in an effort to speak him. He leaves rice balls, given to him by Aoi, at Tomioka’s doorstep. And Tanjiro stays within Tomioka’s immediate vicinity, using every possible opportunity to speak with him; while he’s sleeping, bathing, in the rest room, or on a mission; limping behind Tomioka faithfully.
We find out towards the middle of the episode why Tomioka is so reluctant to speak to Tanjiro. When he was a much younger man, he entered the final selection test at Mount Fujikasane with another aspiring Demon Slayer Corps nominee in Sabito; who was the peach haired apparition that helped train Tanjiro during the start of the first season. Giyu and Sabito were very close, as Sabito was considered the strongest amongst that year’s candidates, laying waste to the majority of demons during the selection.
However, Sabito would lose his life during the survival training. And Tomioka, getting injured early on, fell into a coma and only regain consciousness after the final selection was over. He was left with an insurmountable amount of grief, learning that his dear friend had passed. Adding insult to injury is that he failed to kill a single demon, and passed the final selection on a technicality; holding onto that personal failure till the current episode. This is why Tomioka does not want to participate in the Hashira training; he does not believe he is a true Hashira, let alone a member of the Corps., due to this past failure. Yet, Demon Slayer’s titular character breaks through Tomioka’s iron clad emotional shell of stoicism, and convinces him to participate in the Hashira training, as diminishing his accomplishments would only tarnish the legacy left by his departed sister and his best friend Sabito.
Tanjiro’s energy is as infectious as ever, and through all of the goofy charades and silliness on display, you can’t but help to get caught up by his plea to reach his dear mentor. In one scene, he stays at Tomioka’s place waiting for him to return, and when he does, Tanjiro notices the bag of rice balls is now completely empty. Tanjiro then says “they say you can’t be in a bad mood on a full stomach,” and no words have rang truer to me, as I cannot recall a single time that I’ve been angry after stuffing my face. You can really take to heart some of the sayings he uses, the empathy he has for others and his overall determination in helping those who are in need. And the lightheartedness of this episode is enough to leave us engaged in the slow start to this arc. I’ve chosen to enjoy it while it last, as it is only a matter of time before the melancholy nature of this anime rears its head, while the blood of both its heroes and antagonist covers our T.V. screens.
