Demon Slayer season 3 (Swordsmith Village Arc) episode 4 review: This anime finally falls on track but slowly

Story:

The demons have attacked Swordsmith Village. Every demon slayer is fighting at least one demon and trying to give it their all but losing. What will this battle lead to?

Review:

Demon Slayer season 3 episode 4 is one of the few episodes from this season that work. Somehow, though, it works only to one point. While this episode gives you an idea about the characters, it has a slow pace and doesn’t always convey the point it wants to.

Tokito Muichiro is here and he is ready to show his real bravery. This one has smart solutions. Bringing him at the start of this episode was definitely a good choice.

He already had a cool vibe to him but this episode, Thank You Tokito, is dedicated to building his character. One can actually feel that Demon Slayer has begun thanks to his role in this episode.

Tanjiro’s entry on the show works well. He is still busy fighting the demons and thankfully, is smarter this time around. In fact, that is what works in his favour throughout, in this episode.

Nezuko has nothing special to offer during her entry in the series. She, however, turns slightly more impressive as it continues. This one faces one of the toughest battles. However, her actions, especially despite being a demon, do not align with the story. When she does show her skills though, they are top-notch.

The Kamado siblings, to say the least, are impressive. However, that is only to an extent, depending on how the story allows them to be.

Genya Shinazugawa, on the other hand, is impressive. He shows a skill unlike before. Unfortunately, that doesn’t last long either. Nonetheless, he is one demon slayer who can give competition to the demons.

Zenitsu and Inosuke are still missed in the episode. They bring a certain charm with them which Tanjiro cannot always hold single-handedly.

There is a segment with the Swordsmith Village residents. The scene is executed well and is better than those with the demon slayers.

The slow pace is what kills this episode of Demon Slayer. Everything is so random and slow that you wonder if it is from the same makers.

Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji is back. She promises to show her real side but the episode ends at that. Moreover, the post-credit scene does give a hint about what you can expect when it comes to this one. Of course, she isn’t portrayed in the best of situations. Mitsuri faces the same fate as most girls in anime – she is sexualized – an image that the makers forcefully imprint upon you.

Verdict:

Demon Slayer season 3 has not been that up to the mark. After the first episode, there wasn’t much to look forward to. The makers are still introducing the characters and now, with this episode, you feel they might just be here for the action. Unfortunately though, that action is also slow to the extent that it makes you want to take a nap. Even then, you’d know that you didn’t miss much.

Hence, while this episode does offer some things, there’s a lot missing. If you have been a fan of the series, wait a bit longer before starting to binge on it. Hopefully, the makers will have something to offer.