Demon Slayer Episode 15

Demon Slayer Episode 15

Mount Natagumo

This week’s episode of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba takes our trio of heroes, and Nezuko, to the mysterious Mount Natagumo. The first portion of the episode before our trio set out isn’t all that important, so I won’t be going over it. It simply shows Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke interacting before they leave on their next mission.

Once they arrive at the base of the mountain Zenitsu realizes something isn’t quite right. But, while the others agree, that’s where their mission is so they won’t be turning back. They then encounter a wounded demon slayer on the road and the horrors truly begin.

While begging for help, the demon slayer is suddenly pulled back into the forest by an unseen enemy. Originally I figured this was another case of Tanjirou not being able to see the attacks of demons, as was the case with both the Arrow and Taiko Demons. However, that turns out to be incorrect.

Instead we learn that something within the forest is controlling those who enter it. Originally a team of ten demon slayers entered the forest together, but shortly after began killing one another. By the time Tanjirou and Inosuke arrive on the scene — Zenitsu was too afraid and stayed behind — there’s only one demon slayer left unaffected.

The other demon slayers, whether dead or alive, are having their bodies controlled somehow, forcing them to attack their companions. Tanjirou eventually realizes that they’re being controlled like puppets with spider silk used as the strings.

However, although he’s figured out what’s going on, there are thousands of tiny spiders all over so killing them all isn’t feasible. They need to locate and defeat the one pulling the strings.

Spider Demons

While we don’t know the name of the one pulling the strings, they are revealed to be a fairly unique demon. Well, actually they aren’t that unique because there’s apparently a group of demons who look similar. But she definitely has a better character design than any of the other demons we’ve seen so far.

She’s said to be the mother of a family of demons by one of the others who we’re also shown. While we’ve only seen two of these Spider Demons so far, we can assume that there are more of them considering they refer to themselves as a family and not a pair.

However, the fact that there are multiple Demons who are seemingly related and have the same blood arts is fairly interesting. So far we haven’t seen any demons who had any relation to each other nor have we seen any with similar abilities.

One of the Spider Demons from the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
One of the Spider Demons

This brings up the question of just how these Spider Demons are related. My initial guess was that they were a family of humans who were turned into demons. This theory then assumes that humans who are related to each other would be connected via similar abilities once demonized.

But the more I think about it, the more I’m considering a different route is possible. Perhaps demons can breed and these are members of a demon clan. This theory makes a different assumption which is that blood arts can be passed down through generations of demons.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I don’t think I mentioned this in a previous review, but now that we know there are humans with “special blood,” is that how blood arts are created? Does a human with special blood develop a blood art when turned into a demon? And, can this special blood be passed down genetically?

Beast Breathing Seventh Form

So how do you find a single Spider Demon in a forest which smells like spiders? You don’t sniff her out, that’s how. We can also assume that were Zenitsu here, he too would have trouble locating the demon in question due to all the noises of the forest.

Luckily there’s a third member of our group who doesn’t need to rely on silly things like enhanced senses. Instead he has a completely different sense he can use to track down enemies. It hasn’t really been explained, and I don’t think it ever will, but Inosuke’s beast sense works basically like the Byakugan from Naruto.

In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s what his ability was influenced by considering it even looks fairly similar when he uses it. Everything goes into black and white with highlights of a pale blue. He probably even has veins popping out around his eyes, but we just don’t know because he wears a mask.

Inosuke Hashibira from the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Inosuke Hashibira

However, even if Inosuke’s ability is just the Byakugan, I like that they attempted to turn it into something which fits his overall character. Referring to it as his beast sense ties in nicely with the way he dresses, acts, and fights.

I’m still not entirely sure if Tanjirou and Zenitsu are really using elemental attacks or if that’s just how their attacks are depicted, but I like that Inosuke isn’t like that. The fact that his abilities aren’t elemental in nature as well makes him stand out from his companions a bit more.

It would have been easy to make his swords have some fire effect and call it a day, but that’s not what happened. I do hope that the elemental nature of Tanjirou and Zenitsu’s attacks get addressed at some point though.

Conclusion

What did you think about this week’s episode of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba? I enjoyed it more than the other recent episodes, though I still think that the “comedic” scenes such as those found at the beginning of this episode only hurt the series. Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments.

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My review of the next episode is available here.

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