Training arcs are some of the most looked down upon stuff in the anime medium. However, this season proves you can actually incorporate these things and add to the story while making a set up for what actually is the finale of an action series. The season is primarily focused on showing the natural progression Tanjiro goes through along with learning about the pillars better. Honestly there are some pacing issues here and there and some minimal flaws but let's be fair, every story has its fair share of shortcomings and honestly why focus primarily on them? In the end I will be mostly talking about the last 2 episodes and why that makes this season my fav after the 1st.
Demon slayer is about grieving with loss and a large group of people having a single common enemy. We see from various backstories that it was also a matter of who meets whom first. Most demons are unlucky people who met Muzan who is also at most occasions portrayed as the "whisper of the devil" while slayers being people who are either betrayed or lost their loved ones. The ultimate battle between these 2 forces comes down the individual resolves both of these groups have. Often portrayed as super humans or just straight up psychos sometimes even, in this season we get to learn about these ultimate + normal slayers who are actually just normal human beings and how if times were different, they could have lived a normal life. This factor adds to the characterization of the cast in a way since in most cases we don't usually get to engage with such mannerisms of the side characters or the strongest individuals in a shounen series.
In short, all the things are ultimately setup from season 1 considering the nature of the narrative so far and this season brings it all together in the last 2 episodes setting up the ultimate finale. From the moment Gyomei's story begins to the meetup between the 2 leaders, the anime provides with several analogies using Buddhist beliefs, symbolism and ultimately the clash of ideals between 2 groups of people and that in turn creates the kind of stakes which are rarely a thing in shounen nowadays. There will be action but that action won't be mindless considering the reasons most of them fight for and the battles themselves.
And of course, the spectacle itself considering the production. I know people often complain about how "the show is produced by a good studio" which honestly is a complaint I can't wrap my head around... I mean when did having good adaptations became a bad thing... Not to mention the nitpicks though ig I am going to ignore that for now.
In short, the character moments, the set-up, the overarching ideologies, symbolism, clash of resolves by 2 groups and ultimately the progression of the characters themselves makes this not only a great set up but honestly a perfect arc before the finale and shows that training arcs can actually serve a greater purpose for an action series. Time for the trilogy and yeah see you guys in well several years. Thankyou for reading and adios :)
