Sword of the Demon Hunter: Season 1 Episode 21 – Recap and Review

It’s the end of an era for Jinya, as it seems he is finally moving on from Edo.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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Episode 21 Details

Storylines/ Recap

  • As to be expected, Tsuchiura’s backstory contains tragedy as he gets set up by the woman he loved to be killed by demon-hating villagers.
  • This triggers his ability, leading to him killing all the villagers who attacked him and the woman who claimed to have loved him.
  • Alas, she did, but out of fear due to her family being threatened, she went along with the plan.
  • This leads to Jinya’s fight, which Jinya wins, as Tsuchiura realizes he isn’t fighting for anything he believes in, and once he loses the battle, he willingly lets Jinya absorb him and speaks of how he wishes things were different.
  • Leading to Jinya also slaying Tsuchiura’s master and realizing he should leave Edo. He wanted to with Ofuu, but she speaks of becoming autonomous, so Nomari and Jinya head off alone to who knows where.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

A Fitting End For Tsuchiura [82/100]

Admittedly, Tsuchiura’s end could have been better. However, for Sword of the Demon Hunter, and the standard it has for itself, it was a fitting end. His origin story was emotional, including him killing the love of his life, presumably by accident, and his end conversation with Jinya, dreaming of the life he could have had, was sweet.

Yes, the battle could have been better, but Sword of the Demon Hunter, despite appearances, doesn’t want to be a top-tier action anime, and we need to learn to respect that.  

Jinya Finally Leaving Edo [84/100]

After Jinya killed his dad, I genuinely thought he was going to leave Edo because I could have imagined Natsu ruining his reputation on principle. Yet, he stayed, and she basically left him alone despite technically ruining her life. But now he plans to leave, with Nomari, and it leads to the question of where he is going to go?

Will he seek out Akitsu, join that battle, or head elsewhere, away from the major battlegrounds that shall determine the future of Japan? Heck, considering the history lesson Jinya gave, will we see him in a different era, when Nomari is a teenager or young adult? This has been the longest string of episodes we’ve been excited about what comes next, and we hope it will last till the finale.

Ofuu Committing To Her Independence Over Following Jinya [83/100]

I’m still not 100% sure if that was Ofuu or not when we see Jinya in the future, but it is an intriguing idea that, she is practically immortal, has lived her life under someone’s care and now wants to venture out and be her own woman. Now, whether she chooses to do so by taking over her dad’s shop, or leaving Edo like Jinya? That isn’t confirmed.

However, again, this is something to get excited about. When Jinya and Ofuu meet again, will they just be friends, fall in love, will she have someone already, and what will that catch-up be like?

Low Points

The Art Style Shifts [68/100]

I know we sometimes comment about the quality of this anime in ways that are subjective, but I’m not the only one who saw backgrounds and other sequences that looked like they were incomplete, right?

On The Fence

Master Hatakeyama’s Death [72/100]

His death felt so anti-climactic. But at the same time, Lord Hatakeyama wasn’t necessarily a character who did anything but bore us. I get his part was setting up the way Japan was transitioning at the time, getting a better sense of the changes samurai were dealing with beyond Naotsugu, but all I remember him for is being a major damper.

So, the fact that even his death scene was such a bore sucked. But, at the very least, and this is why it is part of the on the fence section, we know we won’t ever see him again.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [79/100]

I’m looking forward to what’s next and hope, with Sword of the Demon Hunter being on an upward trajectory as of late, it will end on a high note.

New Cast and Characters

Tsuchiura’s Girlfriend (Maya Torigoe)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: While not given a name, we know Tsuchiura’s girlfriend was a nice girl, vulnerable as any woman of the time, but also more understanding, as she loved him, despite the assumptions made about demons.

Other Noteworthy Information

  • Natsu and Zenji appear at the end of the episode, and it appears they are married now. In addition, despite being separated so long, it seems Natsu doesn’t hold ill feelings towards Jinya any longer.
  • Jinya’s Assimilation Power: It seems that just as much as he sees someone’s life as he absorbs their power, they see his
  • Demon Powers: For those who were humans who became demons, it seems their skills are rooted in their desires rather than just being lucky due to something genetic.

Video Recap/ Review Text

  1. Intro Slide
  2. Recap: Tsuchiura’s path is dove into deeper as we learn what triggered his demon powers: Betrayal. All stemming from the girl he loved, whose family was threatened to exploit her.
  3. Recap: Now note, she did love him, but that didn’t stop him from ultimately killing the men who ambushed him and, potentially by accident, killing her too.
  4. Recap: Jinya sees all this, and when he wins the fight, Tsuchiura dreams of another life where he could have fought with Jinya, and both had a happy life.
  5. Recap: Alas, that isn’t the case, and for Jinya, after killing Tsuchiura’s master, he decides, with Nomari, it is time to leave Edo, and Ofuu, behind, for somewhere new.
  • Review: Tsuchiura got a fitting end. Through getting to learn about how this grand betrayal set him up to be hardened, like his ability, the show both explained how demon powers manifest while giving the episode emotional weight.
  • Review: Now, his death aside, his master’s felt unnecessary in a way, even if it could be considered a mercy killing, on Jinya’s part.
  • Review: However, Ofuu verbalizing her own desire to be married and have a family with Jinya felt notable, as did her knowing she needs to be independent and not reliant on anyone, man or demon.
  • Review: Then, add in Jinya FINALLY leaving Edo, with Nomari in his arms, it made for a strangely emotional end, which got me a little teary-eyed.
  • Overall (80/100): Emotional, with a good battle sequence, and the feeling that the show is closing a chapter leads to one of the best episodes of the season.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.