Sword Of The Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 10 – Recap & Review (With Spoilers)
The past mixes with the present as Jinya and Miyaki watch a play based on Harlot’s memoirs.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Episode 10 Details
- Available On: HiDive
- Public Release Date: June 2, 2025
- Director(s): Rika Mashiko
- Writer(s): Daishiro Tanimura
Episode 10 Recap (With Spoilers)
We’re Watching A Play About A Sex Worker?: Miyaki, Kaoru
Miyaki’s school attends a play based on a memoir by Harlot, Harlot the Harlot, from 1855. It’s an odd topic for high school students, but Miyaki and her best friend Kaoru are happy about getting out of class, but Miyaki is sleepy and ends up napping throughout the play, leaving us to wonder if she is dreaming of the scenes where Jinya is his old self.
How The Harlot Met Miura & Their Possible Connection To Sadanaga: Miura, Harlot, Sadanaga, Jinya
One thing that might be a bit confusing about the adaptation of Harlot’s memoirs is her connection to Sadanaga. One interpretation could be that, amongst the many things Sadanaga abandoned for Ofuu, were Harlot and this ghost that she keeps seeing, which we’re told is a manifestation of her regrets, possibly stemming from the life she could have had.
From what we’re told, Harlot didn’t come from a family with money, but there was a chance she could marry into money and keep the family afloat. However, something happened, and so we’re left to wonder what specifically she regrets, from something she did or did not do? It’s hard to say since those details aren’t given. However, what is made clear is that Miura, Sadananga’s brother, is quite taken with her, and despite her history, they end up together.
She even rewrites what happened between Sadanaga’s ghost, Miura, herself, and Jinya to make Miura out to be the hero and Jinya to be a bumbling Ronin. Which, of course, modern-day Jinya takes offense to.
That’s Not How I Remember That Going: Miyaki, Kaoru, Jinya
Miyaki may have slept through the production, but Kaoru and Jinya watched attentively, and being the good friend she is, Kaoru provided all the information Miyaki needed to write a paper on the play. However, Jinya wants to go a step further and read Harlot’s book.
For one, considering how Harlot switched around who did what, it gives Jinya pause. Add in a mention of Jinya having a child, among who knows what else, and he has all the reasons in the world, even if only his title, not name, was used, to figure out how history sees him. And from what it seems, with growing close to Kaoru enough for them to have a rapport, she may find out, alongside Miyaki, the truth about Jinya’s life from 1855 to modern times.
New Cast and Characters
Kaoru (Sayumi Suzushiro)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Kaoru is Miyaki’s best friend.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Feeling Like This Should Have Been How Things Were Handled [82/100]
While I wouldn’t say Miyaki or Kaoru have done or said anything of note, I will say that attending a play about Harlot for school helps bridge the gap in a way that can be appreciated. Harlot, being a quiet observer, writing her book and it becoming what it is, allowed for the show to maintain being in the present day while acknowledging or developing the past.
In addition, noting that Jinya may have a kid, but there is a note that she changed the truth to serve her story, there being something to take interest in, and hope gets expanded on. For, with Jinya’s little sister now missing for the majority of the season, we’ve just been watching and waiting, with decent, but certainly not must-see stories, holding us over.
So, we can only hope that, as the show officially seems vested in presenting a more modern Jinya, it continues to find ways to exhibit how he got to this point in life.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [82/100]
We finally see a narrative shift that feels long overdue. Through a school play centered on Harlot’s story, the show cleverly blends the now-consistent present-day moments with essential backstory development.
But, more intriguingly, is the revelation that Harlot may have altered key details in her book —particularly about Jinya having a child— which adds a compelling layer of mystery. So, considering Jinya’s younger sister is still absent from the storyline and earlier plotlines have only been mildly engaging, this episode breathes new life into the season. Granted, with labored breathing, but at least it feels less like it is operating on a ventilator.
Additional Links
Sword of the Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 17 – Recap and Review
As Jinya gets the hang of fatherhood, with Ofuu’s assistance, he meets an orchestrated rival whose skills may far surpass his own.
Sword Of The Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 16 – Recap and Review
What seemingly was going to be another ho-hum episode of Sword Of The Demon Hunter becomes the origin story of how Jinya became a father.
Sword Of The Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 15 – Recap and Review
Sword Of The Demon Hunter gets surprisingly political and like most shifts in the series’ narrative, it likely won’t be welcomed.
- Check out our page for this series, featuring more recaps, reviews, and articles.
- Visit our main page TV Shows we’ve covered.
