Sword Of The Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 20 – Recap and Review
Tsuchiura’s backstory is introduced as Jinya has a heart-to-heart with Ofuu regarding him running away and hiding.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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Episode 20 Details
- Available On: HiDive
- Public Release Date: August 25, 2025
- Director(s): Kanato Suzuki
- Writer(s): Saji Komori
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Storylines/ Recap
- Tsuchiura’s backstory is touched upon, specifically him being raised as an outcast due to being a demon. But, as a young adult, we watch him under the tutelage of Kaneomi and Yato, who were seemingly like parents to him. They even show him having a girlfriend who wasn’t named in the episode.
- Ofuu finds Jinya in the Mizuho Temple feeling sorry for himself, and as she learns why he fights demons and gives his backstory, she reminds him that doing the right thing in the right way doesn’t always lead to a perfect outcome. This perspective helps shift things for Jinya and further deepens his friendship with Ofuu.
- Miura and Nomari embrace Jinya, demon form or not.
- Master Yasuhide worries about the battles in Kyoto and is sending demons to fight, and asks Tsuchiura to take command, but the battles Jinya initiates may destroy Master Yasuhide’s plans.
Review and Commentary
Highlights
Getting Tsuchiura’s Backstory [82/100]
While it was in bits and pieces, I still appreciate the show pushing the idea that Tsuchiura isn’t just the muscle for some rich human. By pushing how isolated he once felt and how he gained a sense of belonging, it helps you understand that Jinya’s story isn’t unique. Tsuchiura was once embraced by a group that made him feel like he belonged, that he was loved, supported, and encouraged to have a life, maybe a family, of his own.
Now, in this episode, we don’t learn what destroyed his former life. However, it seems we likely will get that in the next one, and given that we know Sword of the Demon Hunter is capable of gut-punching emotional moments, I’m really hoping they do Tsuchiura justice.
Nomari Embracing Jinya Had Me Emotional [85/100]
I think we don’t give enough credit to how much Suzune’s betrayal affected Jinya. He abandoned his father for her, loved her deeply, and the second person he found a love almost as, if not potentially more powerful, she slayed. Yes, she had her reasons, but to take things that far without a discussion, he snapped.
Note: He didn’t just snap in terms of anger, but it truly did break something in him regarding making connections. I think in her killing Shirayuki, or Byakuya, Jinya lost a bit of his humanity in ways that made connecting with people difficult, scary even, and even for demons like Ofuu, who might be able to handle themselves, there remained a need to keep them at arm’s length.
Which is why Nomari embracing him led to a swell of emotions. He not only chose her when she was in need, but she, in return, embraced him when he was in need. Jinya has built himself up to be the one who stops Suzune, but, as said by Ofuu, in the process, he has helped and done for so many people and doesn’t understand that his role is bigger than being a demon hunter.
I would even say, bringing back Tsuchiura into this, you can easily see both men as serving humanity, but Jinya having multiple employers, compared to Tsuchiura’s one. Yet, both seemingly lost the love of their life, and rebuilt themselves as part of a community where they need to feel useful to be accepted.
But, I’d dare say, because Jinya has Nomari, that humanity he buried down, sets aside, he treats as a vulnerability, it has bloomed despite his attempts to neglect it. Now, it gives him strength. It gives him something for after Suzune is handled, or until that moment comes, and with seeing Ofuu’s father die, I fully expect to learn that the girls we see Jinya around in the present day must be grandchildren of Nomari.
For I can’t imagine Jinya losing Nomari, likely with Ofuu there to support him, in reciprocity for him supporting her, and reminding him there are children who need their grandfather. Now, whether or not Suzune may kill Nomari or her descendants? Who knows? The only thing that I feel is clear is that Jinya definitely keeps an eye on his adoptive family throughout generations.
On The Fence
Master Yasuhide Sucks All The Energy Out Of The Show In All His Scenes [72/100]
I don’t know if it is because the way he presents politics is boring, the way he talks, or because he is just a character we don’t vibe with – but Master Yasuhide’s scenes are ominous to me. They make me think, “Oh, this episode is going to be tedious to get through,” and I don’t know whether that’s fair to say or not.
Part of me looks at it as Jinya doesn’t live in a bubble. The show can’t focus strictly on Jinya’s life and act like the world didn’t change around him, and, when it comes to Japan, it didn’t change rapidly and drastically. But, because the way Sword of the Demon Hunter handles time, I feel like maybe that’s part of why we don’t like Master Yasuhide. He is a reminder of one of the nagging failings of the show, regarding how it builds out the world beyond Jinya’s purview and how Jinya’s indifference sets the tone.
Jinya Having A Cheat Code To Win Battles [74/100]
Jinya potentially defeating Tsuchiura due to absorbing his power feels like a cheap way to keep Tsuchiura looking strong while making Jinya stronger. I don’t think I like it, especially because this is Jinya’s greatest opponent. But, I guess not everyone can do the Dragon Ball Z route in terms of Jinya getting stronger and facing Tsuchiura after he is his equal, or even surpasses him.
Still, it undercuts future fights knowing Jinya just has to get close enough, absorb his enemy’s power, and then he’ll likely win.
Overall
Our Overall Rating [78/100]
While the handling of Tsuchiura’s build-up, before he likely dies, isn’t the best, it is something, and pair that with Ofuu’s chat with Jinya and Nomari embracing him, and it makes for an emotional episode. One that Master Yasuhide puts a damper on, but it has long been clear that Sword of the Demon Hunter isn’t perfect, nor in pursuit of it.
Question(s) Left Unanswered & Predictions
- Can Jinya end any fight with a demon using Assimilation? Especially those with specialties?
Video Recap/ Review Text
- Intro Slide
- Recap: As Jinya licks his wounds in the Mizuho temple, Tsuchiura finds himself reflecting on his former life under the legendary swordsman Kaneomi and his wife Yato.
- Recap: From what we learn, Tsuchiura, before being a soldier for Master Yashudie, was just an apprentice, with a little girlfriend.
- Recap: But that was then, this is now, and after Miura, Ofuu, and Nomari reassure their love for Jinya, no matter his form, Tsuchiura and Jinya have a rematch.
- Recap: One that seemingly concludes by Jinya not defeating Tsuchiura in any traditional way, but by using his assimilation power to take Tsuchiura’s power from him.
- Review: While a good majority of Sword of the Demon Hunter is a mixed bag, this one is far more complicated due to how it handles Tsuchiura’s backstory.
- Review: Would it have been terrible for an entire episode based on Tsuchiura? I don’t think so, especially because of Kaneomi, Yato, and seeing the human side of Tsuchiura.
- Review: Now, let it be known, the episode ends making it clear there is more to Tsuchiura’s story to be shared, but also that Jinya is likely about to kill him.
- Review: But, Tsuchiura aside, I must admit Nomari embracing Jinya, even in demon form, got me teary-eyed, and while Ofuu and Jinya would be cute, I’m learning to appreciate their relationship deeply.
- Overall (78/100): The emotions behind the episode don’t always hit as hard as you may want, in comparing Jinya’s found community vs. developing Tsuchiura’s backstory, but working towards better than meandering and providing filler is progress.
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