Season premieres of Demon Slayer follow an established formula: Some exhilarating action to remind the audience why this is one of the biggest TV shows on the planet, big reveals that tell us more about the centuries-long history of the Demon Slayer Corps, and a whole lot of exposition. Season 4, dubbed "Hashira Training Arc," is no different, but as good as the action is, it doesn’t inspire much confidence in the rest of the season. “To Defeat Muzan Kibutsuji,” is, after all, a double-sized episode filled with boardroom meetings so long they feel like a Star Wars prequel.
The episode opens on a strong note, with the Snake and Wind Hashiras on the hunt for a demon who’s kidnapped a woman. Though the characters have barely had any screen time until now, the sequence tells us enough to know them as individuals – their visually creative fighting styles and distinctive music themes give us an impression of how they differ from the other Hashiras we've met. It's a fight worthy of the big screen, even if the rest of the episode doesn't fully justify it. There’s also a fascinating journey to the Infinity Castle where demon-kind resides. Turns out, the castle is literally just an old, ruined castle (on the outside, at least), but on the inside it’s a stunning setting with a dazzling design that’s constantly changing and morphing.
Unfortunately, the fight scene is followed by the longest, dullest piece of exposition in the anime to date. The Hashiras gather to discuss several pressing matters including the upcoming all-out war, Nezuko being able to stand in sunlight, and some of the powers awakened during the Swordsmith Village Arc. This sequence takes over nearly half the entire premiere, amounting to nothing more than a major half-tease of things that may become important down the line. As if that weren’t enough, there's yet another meeting later in the premiere to plan out the specifics of the new arc’s titular training. It's saying a lot that even the arrival of Zenitsu is better than watching another minute of these meetings.
Demon Slayer has become the victim of its own dazzling animation, with studio Ufotable choosing to milk the property for all it's worth and expand the action scenes to the point where they’re reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z's filler-stuffed, months-long fights. But at least those thrilling sequences display the adaptation’s visual strengths. The meetings, however? Not so much. “To Defeat Muzan Kibutsuji” supplements the source material with a bunch of original scenes, which may be how the rather short Hashira Training Arc becomes an entire season of television – we’re already through most of the training by the end of the premiere. Still, seeing Tengen return to restore some flamboyance to Demon Slayer is always a good thing.
Master Ubuyashiki's crow is another highlight of the episode. Demon Slayer's use of the crows has always been a bit weird, but rather entertaining; watching this particular crow speak fluent Japanese (with the voice of Bleach's Show Hayami, no less) and flex some detective skills is the kind of nonsense Demon Slayer does well. (Same goes for the extended gag in which Inosuke teaches Nezuko to say his name.) Ubuyashiki (who is not looking good these days) recruiting Tamayo – despite her being a demon – shows we are truly headed to the show's endgame. Let's just hope the Demon Slayer Corps' plan is better than boring Muzan to death in a meeting.
