*Note: Trigger warning. This review mentions death and suicide. *

Spoilers ahead!

Season 2 of the anime series “Demon Slayer” has been released on Netflix. As a long-time fan of the series, I was ecstatic to find the preview for it on Netflix’s home screen. 

It took me about two days to watch the seven-episode season, and needless to say, I was bawling like a baby by the end of the last episode. 

As always, the animation was stellar. From my observations, the season’s main color scheme was red and orange, as it mainly centers around the character of Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. In this season, titled “Mugen Train,” four of our protagonists are on a mission to find and eliminate a demon. This demon in particular had been wreaking havoc on the Mugen Train (the train after which the season has been named.) 

The plotline for the season was captivating. At first, the demons that Kyojuro defeats seem to be the main antagonists of the season; but oh boy, was I wrong. Season 1 ends with Lower One — one of the Twelve Kizuki, which are some of the strongest demons to exist in the series — being sent to kill Tanjiro after nearly being killed by Muzan Kibutsuji, the “King of Demons.” As it turns out, he was the one they were after. 

This reveal was interesting to see. The defeat of the first two demons did seem much too easy, but what really made this interesting was how this was revealed. 

Our four protagonists were put to what was intended to be a never-ending sleep. In this sleep, Lower One gave them the dreams they always wanted, intending to turn them into nightmares just as they were about to be killed. 

Four children, under the guise that they, too, would be put to sleep and be given these dreams, were sent to kill the protagonists by puncturing their “spiritual core.” They would do this by entering their dreams through sleep. 

As expected, the crisis was averted by Tanjiro, who forced himself to wake up by ending his own life in the dream. He wakes up with the help of his sister, Nezuko, and the others were soon to follow. 

After a long and excruciating battle, Tanjiro, with the help of Inosuke, defeats Lower One. This entire battle sequence was incredible. Lower One continuously tries to put Tanjiro to sleep, but this fails and he wakes himself up each time. I was on the edge of my seat as Tanjiro nearly ended his own life for good, thinking he was actually asleep. Thankfully, Inosuke stops this from happening by grabbing his arm and yelling that he was awake. Soon after, the strong demon is killed. 

One would think that this would be the end of the season, right? I thought so, too. 

As Tanjiro struggles to recover from a stab wound he received from a demon-controlled human, another, much stronger demon enters the scene. Akaza, Upper Three and one of the Twelve Kizuki, appears on the battlefield. 

After helping Tanjiro learn to stop the bleeding from the wound, Kyojuro centers his focus on the new foe. The entire confrontation was emotional, to say the least.

Akaza offers to turn Kyojuro into a demon, so the Hashira could continue to grow stronger without worry of mortality and severe wounds. Not wanting to lose his humanity and the beauty that comes with it, Kyojuro refuses, even as he is about to die from a fatal wound dealt by Upper Three. 

As the battle continues, the sun begins to rise, and Akaza is desperate to flee, since the sun would kill him in an instant. After tearing away from Kyojuro’s grasp, the demon escapes. 

While Akaza runs away, Tanjiro attempts to kill him, yelling after him about being a coward and praising Kyojuro for his strength, all while crying. I was crying, too. 

Tanjiro then returns to Kyojuro, who tells him to “set his heart ablaze” and passes soon after. 

The season ends here, and I can truly say that I was moved. As previously mentioned, the animation was outstanding, and the plot line was incredibly captivating and always had me asking, “What’s next?” 

I highly recommend those who are fans of the series to watch Season 2. For those who have not watched the series, you definitely should. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you admiring the art and animation, just as I did. 

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