“Nice to finally meet you, it’s about time, Muzan.”

“Goodness gracious. I didn’t expect you to look so hideous, Ubuyashiki.”

(I’ll be delving into my opinion on the show thus far not just this one season!)

A visually stunning and unique anime that has a lot to offer and say. Set in the Taisho era, the main protagonist, Tanjiro, is as endearing as he is steadfast in his resolve. To simplify it to its shonen genre would be a disregard to the humanity and care the storyline presents itself with. The inherent power of good deeds, of compassion, of kindness— something that seems like common sense to most, but isn’t as common or as simple at all. How the real weapons aren’t just the swords or the breathing techniques, but love — love as a weapon and tool against a despairing world, against unfathomable odds.

Tanjiro could’ve easily become a cynic, or a pessimist, and such characters are presented, not that anyone could find fault with an outlook such as that stemming from unimaginable grief and strife. However, Tanjiro prevails as a multidimensional character, who is shown constantly battling not only outer demons but his inner turmoil as well, yet he continues to show up for others and doesn’t let the pessimism of his world dictate his belief that against all odds, change is possible. The demons are prisoners not only of Muzan, but of themselves and their past deeds, of their humanity that lingers despite hundreds of years of carnage, and Tanjiro readily recognizes this buried humanity, not holding any resentment for what he views as prisoners of their own fate. This locus of justice as a prevalent theme coincides with the karmic and cyclical nature of spiritual release. If truth and justice shall not prevail in the mortal realm — they will prevail in the spiritual, where you will only have yourself to answer for.

Despite how harrowing the world the slayers reside in is, despite how tough the battle, or how gargantuan the struggle seems — it pales in comparison to the likes of Tanjiro and Rengoku, who share a willingness to not let pessimism and their material condition define their inner state of belief and goodness, thus they are able to transcend monumental odds. Even at the loss of physical life they continue to be rewarded in the immaterial, whom many scoff off as fairytales, but that only stems from an unwillingness to put belief into anything. Beyond just belief, is knowing, the aforementioned characters share a calmness in knowing, not just of believing. This is shown beautifully in their journey through their own grief and acceptance of life being mystical yet worth living.

It is this shared goodwill that transcends throughout centuries of effort against a common enemy,

The show is a parable for the soul, and how it is this joint goodwill that frees many from torment and fear. Not just the indomitable human spirit but unshakable compassion as a mechanism to eliminate suffering.