’Demon Slayer’ Season 4 premiere review: The return of the noisy characters

Demon Slayer Season 4 begins by striking at its two most divisive qualities. On the one hand, as always, the animation looks gorgeous. Especially the action. The entire opening introduction dives straight into the series’ signature fluidity as we watch The Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, and the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, chase down a demon who has been kidnapping women in a local village. It’s a beautifully edited sequence that fully embodies what makes the series such a gripping anime. In these moments of breathless action, it’s nearly impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen. 

But then, of course, comes the rest. 

The good characters…

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is undoubtedly a good-looking show, enriched by animators who build on integrating 2D and 3D animation. But it’s yet to convince that it has a worthwhile story beyond the leading duo of our protagonist, Tanjiro, and his sister, Nezuko. It’s their moments that shine: the latter’s grief over his sister becoming a demon in Season 1 and then, in Season 3, his grief again when he thought the sun was going to take her, only for her to persevere miraculously. Season 3 is the best of the series so far (fight me) because it finally brought in other engaging characters. 

The Love Hashira and Mist Hashira — Mitsuro Kanroji and Muichiro Tokito, respectively — were superb additions. Mitsuri’s fight style, in particular, works beautifully with the animation style that marries its balletic flow to the elements the Hashira embraces. Genya, first seen in Season 1, reappears as a tremendous foil to Tanjiro, and the dynamic between this group and their steadfast determination to take down the season big bad culminates in an emotionally fraught, earned battle. 

…and everyone else

Season 4 immediately reminds us of some of the series less than stellar attributes in contrast. While the inclusion of the Hashira promises excitement as we delve further into their backgrounds, it also brings back two main characters who, frankly, hinder the show more than they aid it. Enter Inosuke and Zenitsu, the two loudest characters in anime. 

I jest. But in reality, for as loud as they are, they’re shockingly forgettable. Four seasons in, and I shouldn’t be calling them “boar head” and “the loud one” due to forgetting their names. But despite the prevalence in the series and the way the story so clearly mines them for their humor, they do nothing that elevates the plot beyond a few gags (and the successful ones are typically Inosuke’s.) 

Seeking balance between the serious and the humorous

They were always going to return, and surely, a large portion of the audience enjoyed their antics. I’m simply not one of them. Through their reintroduction, Demon Slayer’s other worst aspects appear, namely, the broad, childish humor. There’s room for levity in any series. You can even argue it’s necessary. But the tonal whiplash makes it such a stark point of contention. Similarly to the character designs that are overtly simplified with hard ridges and angles that fail to marry into the backgrounds, it’s an element that cannot match the action’s tenacity. 

So again, it’s about accepting what works and what doesn’t, at least in the Season 4 premiere. Because elements continue to work, such as Nezuko’s development. Her story and it’s ties to Mugen make for a thrilling dynamic. The rules of demons in this world aren’t finite and are constantly changing. Nezuko is proof of this. It also grants her more agency now that she’s free to walk in the sun, rather than hole up in the box Tanjiro’s been carrying her around in for seasons. 

The heart of the story continues to be between the two siblings. That, plus Tanjiro having one of the more emotive and prolific voice actors anchoring his storyline, and again, the rich animation and battle sequences make for a continuously engaging show. It’s event TV, and we want to watch it week to week. 

The Hashira have interesting potential

Despite it being an imbalanced premiere we’ll undeniably be sticking around. While the heart remains Nezuko and Tanjiro, the season is setting up a strong interest in the Hashira storyline, especially with the promise of getting to learn more about ones we’ve yet to engage with, particularly the enigmatic Giyu Tomioka, The Water Hashira. Demon Slayer might have a boring villain and weak characterizations, but it’s a visual feast that, when firing on all cylinders, is as addictive as it gets.

Demon Slayer Season 4 Episode 1 is out now on Crunchyroll.

---

Images courtesy of ©Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable