I feel like I’m at a considerable disadvantage with the “Swordsmith Village” arc. I remembered almost nothing of Genya and Sanemi, to the point where I’m pretty sure much of their screen time came during the blackout period between when I dropped Kimetsu and when I picked it back up (see my blog posts for the timeline, since I’ve covered everything I watched). So I’m assuming there’s some explanation for why Genya is the way he is – which sure as hell looks like a demon, but what do I know? It’s not like I can’t follow and enjoy the story absent that information, but some of the context is definitely missed.
It certainly looks like ufotable was saving up resources (more of time than money I’d guess, but some of both) for this episode. Not having the Hoozuki fish certainly helped, but the combat scenes were a clear step up from the first five episodes this season. It also helped me to have the focus almost entirely on Hantengu, who I find much more interesting than Gyokko. He’s one rank higher so I guess he’s supposed to be a little stronger too, but I just find his personality a lot more engaging.
If there’s anything Kimetsu loves, it’s a mid-battle flashback, and this ep was no exception. Almost as much as it loves families (especially younger siblings) getting massacred by a demon. Genya and Sanemi could have used different voice actors for those scenes, frankly – Seki Tomokazu and Okamoto Nobuhiko sounded way too old. Again, I have no idea how much of this was new information – I assume some of it must have been, otherwise why bother – but it’s very much a classic KnY backstory. Genya was about to be smoked as he was flashing back, it seems, before as usual Tanjirou showed up at the last possible moment to save him.
As for Hantengu, he’s a tiny bastard (I didn’t remember him being that tiny in the pre-open of the season premiere) but seemingly impervious to Genya’s blade and bullets. We get a nice cliffhanger there at the end, but I imagine it’s pretty safe to say Tanjirou isn’t going to finish him off right then and there – way too soon for that. As to Genya though, that’s another matter. If he’s a normal human those injuries he took in Tanjirou’s place would certainly be fatal, but he obviously isn’t. Whether he’s toast or not depends on just what he actually is (and again, apologies if I’m supposed to know that).
BluBlu
May 16, 2023 at 7:33 amYour relationship with Kimetsu will always be “funny” to me (in a positive way). Or maybe I should say that I am jealous of your ability to manage to follow and even write about it without caring too much about the characters (again, not trying to sound negative and this is not even related to what you wrote. I am just impressed/jealous as I would never be able to… lol)
– About Genya. Well, you might remember him at least from the end of the “exam” as some flashback scenes had been shown and he was a jerk. But indeed, Tanjiro meets him again in the last episode of the first season. But, honestly, you did not miss that much as it was in what I like to call the Gotouge “It is what is style” or the “It is not proper writing? Well, sue me” or the “It matters if you had cared at that chapter” (reminder: I like Kimetsu so this is not negative). In the sense that the only main thing which happens and that I am sure that 99% of people may have forgotten at that moment, is Tanjirou already pointed out that Genya had now a strange scent.
– About Sanemi, yes it was during your “Zenitsu and Inosuke are too much for me” period. Essentially, without spoilering too much for the hypothetical day you will watch what you missed, keep in mind that actually, all the hashira already met Tanjiro and Nezuko. And let’s say that Sanemi has a quite radical vision of what demons are…(and that episode gives one part of the reason). But as already said in the season opener, this is only this season that we know that they are brothers.
– In a more general comment(s), maybe this is indeed your interest for Hantengu (who shrunk by the way, so yeah, you are not losing your mind) as personally I did not find the combat scenes better in that episode (at least not compared to the previous one). But it is true that rhythm is quite shaky this season as I think that the handling of the two/three fighting places is not that easy, in particular compared to the manga. Actually, I am even a bit worried for next week episode if they stricly follow the manga as I would have (modestly) rewritten the order of the events. But anyway, it is what it is and I am just someone commenting on internet XD.
– Talking about events and my comment on Gotouge’s style. Something that I already wanted to say after episode 2 is that (unfortunately?), it is very often that piece of information is dropped in a “not a big deal” style and moved on. For me (who again, appreciate that manga), this is not a problem. Also because knowing the full story, this is not a problem for me to put pieces together when something might seem out of nowhere to someone else. But it is not. Not emphasized or not often repeated/explained or “academic”? Certainly (even more in the anime as they removed many narrator parts, the most blatant one being the reason why Tanjiro matched Daki last season). But the elements are there. Even Gyokko “trait” which many people included you have quite understood but will probably not impair you to think latter that something should not be this way.
– Finally, actually, this is “life flashing before your eyes when facing death” which is a recurring “theme” of Kimetsu. It does not change what you wrote but this is also because this is really something quite assumed by the author (and some episodes during your “blackout” were quite demonstrative about that, to say the less…).
Guardian Enzo
May 16, 2023 at 9:13 amYeah, I get the “flashing” thing. I didn’t use that word by accident. I just think Kimetsu takes it more literally than most series. And I certainly don’t dispute your assessment that I’m writing from a somewhat detached perspective, but as long as I’m enjoying it that’s fine. Not every series has to engage you on the level of Vinland or BokuYaba.
My take on this show’s formula, as you may know, is that Gotouge doesn’t care about justifying stuff or even making sense – they (she?) figure our what fanservice the fans will go nuts for, and make it happen. Like Nezuko having random power-up abilities appear at exactly the right moment which are perfectly tailored to whatever problem Tanjirou is butting his head against.
I still don’t really get the Genya thing. Am I supposed to know what he is, or not?
BluBlu
May 19, 2023 at 7:52 pmSorry for the delay of my answer and also my apologies if my previous answer was not clear enough. For the “Genya thing”, are you(we) supposed to know? No (I did not even know myself at that point when I was reading the manga). Will it be explained? Yes. Is it possible to already guess/speculate? Absolutely. Even though I would say that it may also require to catch a trope that Goutouge decided to use but with their “I am using a trope but I am not rubbing it on your face” style.
Actually, it will probably bring again the feeling of “not justifying” stuff which I slightly disagree with (of course). I am not going into debate as these are opinions and feelings but as I have written, they are justified. But by elements which have been mentioned in a “not a big deal” style and usually not repeated again by characters in a “hey the reason why is because if you remember on that episode or page X”. For instance, I agree that Inosuke and organs stuff was over the top (to say the least). But I remember that in your axed episode of season 1, you were shocked by his “detection” stuff. Which instead makes kind of sense (and in season 2, during his fight with the Daki’s belt/minion, it has been brought up again at many occasions)
(Not?) Funny enough, Muichiro is another one of these characters with things which have been told in the previous season and already this season and which should not really surprise… But, this is totally fair to not appreciate that style.