Demon Slayer Season 3 Episode 1
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 3 Episode 1 (Swordsmith Village Arc) begins with Kakushi, a member of the cleaning crew, finding Tanjira’s squad after the battle with Gyutaro. Just then, the sick Kagaya Ubuyashiki says that it is a sign because it is the first time in over 100 years that a higher rank demon has been killed. This change will help them kill Muzan, who is a stain on his family.
He then goes to Muzan’s lair, Infinity Castle, where Akaza, a 3rd higher rank demon, is summoned. All remaining higher rank demons are also summoned, including Kokushibo 1st rank and Doma 2nd rank. It’s the first time in 100 years that everyone has gathered and Hantengu is worried. Muzan shows in as everyone is arguing. He is upset that Gyutaro died and emphasizes that Daki was his weakness.
He further berates the demons for not being able to find Ubuyashiki or the Blue Spider Lily. He adds that he doesn’t like change because it means things will fall into disrepair. Hoping to curry favor, Gyokko reveals that he has information that can help him, but Muzan says that we must never give him unconfirmed information and cuts off his head. He goes after telling Hantengu to accompany Gyokko in order to verify the facts.
At home, he tries to jump on a mission, but Akaza fights him for disobeying Muzan. Much to their surprise, Kokushibo cuts off Akaz’s arm and scolds him for always fighting other demons. If Akaza wants to have the upper hand, he should be taller. But Doma only mocks him as he points out that even though he is younger, he is a rank higher.
Akaza simply tells Kokushibo that one day he will kill him and become #1 and he wishes him luck. They all leave leaving Doma who sighs and the demon Biwa takes her home.
It changes to a flashback where the demon slayer with the same Hanafuda earrings as Tanjiro is talking to his father Sumiyoshi. While babysitting Tanjiro, his father thanks the demon slayer for saving his life, hoping to spread his name in gratitude. The demon slayer says that he is not powerful because those who follow the same path as him will end up the same.
It turns out to be a memory of Tanjiro that he dreams about before he finally wakes up after 2 months. Kanao finds him awake and happy that he has finally recovered from the battle. Just then, Goto, Kakushi, who was the first to take care of the boy when they arrived at the Butterfly Estate, plans to give Tanjiro a cake so that the smell will wake him up. He admires that demon slayers are younger than him but stronger.
When he enters, he is shocked to find Tanjiro awake and calls everyone in, and even Aoi breaks down in tears. When they catch up with them, it is discovered that Zenitsu has woken up a day earlier and is already on a mission, much to his chagrin. Hashiro sound fine and he just left with his wives. Inosuke almost died, but Tanjiro points out that he is on the ceiling.
Everyone is surprised to see him fall on the bed and reveal that he woke up a week ago. The girls argue with Inosuke until Kanao silences them as Tanjiro falls asleep. He is also visited by the cat Tamayo, who is happy to be alive. Tanjiro receives rehabilitation training while Goto, Inosuke, and Zenitsu are out on assignments..
He is excited about his new sword, but receives a letter from his swordsman, Hotaru Haganezuka, saying that he will not receive another sword because he keeps breaking his previous ones. The girls tell him to go to the swordsman village and convince him in person and Tanjiro cheers up.
Located in a top secret area to prevent demon attacks, Tanjiro is blindfolded and guided by several different Kakushi at different checkpoints. When he gets to the village, he shouts his appreciation to Mitsuri the Love Hashira and the final Kakushi while they are taking a bath in the hot spring there. He is excited that someone new has arrived.
Tanjiro meets Tecchino Tecchikawahara, the village chief, who says that Hotaru is missing. While Tanjiro is worried about him, Tecchin accuses Hotara of making defective swords, and if he fails, they will give Tanjiro another swordsman. When Tanjiro is taken to a hot spring to recover, he hopes there will be no punishment for Hotara.
He is suddenly greeted by Mitsuri, who hugs him and complains about being ignored. He cheers her up by telling her dinner is almost ready and sends her on her way. When he arrives at the hot springs, Genya Shinazugawa is there, disliking Mitsuri. He climbs in and tries to start a relationship by bringing up his brother Sanemi, but Genya just beats him up like his brother and leaves while Nezuko floats in the water.
At dinner, Mitsuri and Tanjiro eat a lot and are surprised that Genya is not on bad terms with Sanemi. Mitsuri plays with Nezuko and wonders if Genya will ever show up. Worried about him, they decide to bring him some food. On their way, Tanjiro asks why Mitsuri joined the Demon Corps and immediately regrets it, saying that she wants to find her true love who is stronger than her, which is why she joined Hashira’s ranks.
They get to Genya’s room, only to find that she is missing. When Kakushi discovers them, he informs Mitsuri that her weapon is prepared and she is free to depart anytime during the night. Bonding to her, Nezuko doesn’t want her to leave while Tanjiro worries.
Mitsuri advises the siblings that the best kind of learning is through first-hand experience and hopes that they will fight the good fight. He says he’ll cheer for them and an inspired Tanjiro says he’ll find a way to defeat Muzan. Impressed, Mitsuri whispers to him that there is a secret weapon in the village that he should find.
The next day, as Tanjiro is training, one of the forgers tells him that they haven’t found Hotara yet. While waiting for his swordsman, he decides to look for a secret weapon. While searching, they come across Muichiro the Mist Hashiro arguing with a swordsman. He wants the key, but the swordsman refuses. Tanjiro sees another person with the Hanafuda earrings and realizes that it is the same man from his dream.
In the epilogue, it was revealed that Inosuke had been on the ceiling all day trying to wake up Tanjiro. He is moved and Inosuke tries to push it away.
The Episode Review
As much as we liked Zenitsu and Inosuke, we probably won’t see much of them in the Swordsmith Village Arc of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, but at least we got some closure. Zenitsu is the same old snooty, secretly skilled demon slayer. Meanwhile, Inosuke pretends to be tough but cares about his friends.
We also caught a glimpse of the Kakushis and the Butterfly Estate sisters who were hilarious and learned more about them. It’s safe to say that everyone is chaotic and a bit wild from Genya to Mitsuri.
Let’s hope we get to see more of Love Hashira in the upcoming episodes because the place the demons need to go is possibly the swordsman village.
