This Demon Slayer article contains spoilers for the Season 2 finale.
Demon Slayer just completed Season 2, which consisted of seven episodes covering the Mugen Train Arc and 11 episodes adapting the Entertainment District Arc. Since the first half of the season repackaged material from the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train film, the hype didn’t really kick off until Episode 8, when Tanjiro Kamado and his allies venture into Yoshiwara, Tokyo’s red-light district, to hunt a demon. Or, as we eventually learned, a pair of demons. The ensuing battle featured wonderfully choreographed fight scenes, stellar animation that honestly surpassed that seen in the film, and emotional turning points. So let’s look at how Demon Slayer wraps up an excellent second season while setting up future storylines in the finale, “No Matter How Many Lives.”
Who Survives the Entertainment District Arc?
Not Gyutaro and Daki, thankfully. The demon siblings delivered a shocking surprise this season by revealing that the demon slayers’ target wasn’t Daki but rather Daki and her much-stronger older brother, Gyutaro. In fact, the only way to defeat them was by decapitating the siblings simultaneously. Sounds easy in theory, but it proved a tall order for the many demon slayers in the past. Luckily, our heroes succeeded and defeated the sixth-strongest followers of Demon King Muzan Kibutsuji, Demon Slayer‘s main antagonist.
After Rengoku’s dramatic death in Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, we’ve learned the good guys aren’t guaranteed a long life in this series. Tanjiro is safe because he’s the series protagonist. So is Nezuko, because not only is she Tanjiro’s little sister, she’s the entire reason he became a demon slayer in the first place. And based on common shonen series tropes, so are Zenitsu and Inosuke because alongside Tanjiro, they make up the cornerstone trio of the ensemble cast.
Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, and his three wives don’t have the same level of plot armor. The Mugen Train Arc did just show us what can happen to a Hashira. The finale begins with Tengen having lost both an eye and a hand, as well as succumbing to the poison coating Gyutaro’s sickles. It seems like Tengen is about to follow in Rengoku’s footsteps but thanks to a timely intervention by Nezuko, he survives too.
How Do the Demon Slayers Neutralize Gyutaro’s Poison?
Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Tengen were all wounded by Gyutaro and as a result, all poisoned by him. Normally, this would be a death sentence. Gyutaro’s poison is very potent. But Gyutaro’s poison never came up against Nezuko’s Blood Demon Art.
Nezuko’s Blood Demon Art revolves around conjuring demonic fire from her blood. We first saw Nezuko use it during the fight against Rui in Season 1. She used it in Demon Slayer: Mugen Train to pull Tanjiro from Enmu’s dream spell. And she used it again in the finale—first to neutralize Gyutaro’s post-death attack and then to burn away the traces of his poison in everyone’s bodies. Earlier this season, we also saw her wield it against Daki, injuring the Upper Rank demon egregiously. While her Blood Demon Art doesn’t hurt humans, it has proven effective against every demon encountered so far—which says a lot about Nezuko’s monstrous potential as a demon.
Why Did Tanjiro Take Sample from the Puddle of Blood?
It’s been a while since this plot point has shown up in the anime so here’s a refresher. Back in Season 1, Tanjiro met Tamayo, a rogue demon who wants to defeat Muzan. A skilled doctor, she agreed to help Tanjiro find a way to restore Nezuko’s humanity. Part of that deal involves Tanjiro taking blood samples from the Twelve Demon Moons. Since Daki and Gyutaro are Upper Rank Six, they’re prime candidates.
What Happens to Daki and Gyutaro After They Die?
There are two constants in Demon Slayer. Tanjiro will draw strength from the power of family, and demons have tragic backstories. Daki and Gyutaro are no different. They were born in the poorest section of Yoshiwara. They were orphaned at a young age. Gyutaro was reviled for his appearance, and Daki became a child sex worker. Then, Daki was burned alive by a client and Gyutaro marked for death.
But while we learn that Gyutaro would always choose to become a demon in every lifetime, Daki isn’t built the same. She’s a demon due to Gyutaro’s influence. We see this key difference highlighted when Gyutaro and Daki reunite in limbo. Gyutaro still looks like a demon while Daki looks like her true human form. Unlike Gyutaro, she still has the option to go into the light. But she ultimately refuses to leave him, and together they both go to Hell.
One of the reasons the Entertainment District Arc is many fans’ favorite storyline is because of the parallels between Gyutaro and Daki as siblings and Tanjiro and Nezuko as siblings. Both Gyutaro and Tanjiro are big brothers just trying to protect their little sisters. Gyutaro may be a villain who revels in violence and death, but the way he looks after his sister despite everything is poignant and tragic.
What Is the Deal with Tanjiro’s Scar?
That’s one of the great mysteries of Demon Slayer. It’ll be a while before all is revealed in the anime, so let’s review what we know so far. While wielders of the Sun Breathing technique are supposed to have marks on their forehead, Tanjiro wasn’t born with one. He got his scar when he saved one of his younger brothers from being hit by a boiling kettle. But the scar then changes shape after Tanjiro passes the final exam to become a Demon Slayer. And then again in the final fight against Gyutaro.
We also know that Muzan greatly fears wielders of the Sun Breathing technique. He commanded his followers to kill the boy with the sun earrings, aka Tanjiro. In fact, Muzan’s fear is so overwhelming that Daki glimpses his memories of a demon slayer wearing a familiar pair of sun earrings. The resemblance between the unnamed demon slayer and Tanjiro’s father would lead us to assume that the man Muzan fears is a Kamado ancestor. But we also know that the Kamado bloodline has only ever made and sold charcoal. There’s clearly a family secret in play here.
What Does This Victory Mean for the Demon Slayer Corps?
Taking down an Upper Rank Demon Moon is no small feat. In fact, Kagaya Ubuyashiki—the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps—views this victory as a portent that they’ll finally defeat Muzan during this generation. Definitely a cause for celebration, but the demon slayers aren’t in good shape. They’re already short one Hashira after Rengoku’s death, and now Tengen is retiring. Sharp-eyed fans will also notice that Kagaya’s condition is getting worse. The curse mark now covers more than half his face. If anything, their window to defeat Muzen is closing.
Who Is Douma?
During Gyutaro’s flashback, we meet a demon who was the Upper Rank Six at that time. He gave Gyutaro and Daki his blood, transforming them into demons. The siblings held the position of Upper Rank Six during Season 2, which means that the demon—whose name is Douma—either died or he moved up in rank. Given a highly memorable character design that features rainbow eyes, we can surmise which outcome is more likely. Besides, his introduction features him holding a woman’s severed head with the rest of her corpse slung over his back. Someone like that doesn’t die easily.
Will There Be a Season 3 of Demon Slayer?
Yes! It was confirmed shortly after the finale aired.
While no broadcast date has been given, we do know a few things. Season 3 will adapt the Swordsman Village Arc, which immediately follows the Entertainment District Arc in the manga. It will feature two new Hashira: Mitsuri Kanroji, a female Hashira, and Muichiro Tokito, who was mentioned during Season 2 as someone who became a Hashira after training for only two months.
We also received a hint about how Season 3 will start. Toward the end of the finale, there’s a short scene featuring Akaza, the Upper Rank Three Demon Moon who killed Rengoku. He’s been summoned to the Infinity Castle, Muzan’s stronghold, for a meeting. Based on the manga trajectory, we’re approaching the midpoint of the series. The beginning of Season 3 seems like an appropriate time to introduce the remaining Demon Moons.