Overview (spoilers below):
During the boulder training, Tanjiro manages to move the boulder thanks to Genya’s training advice. However, Tanjiro used all his strength to do it and is saved by Himejima after he collapses. Himejima, touched by Tanjiro’s sincerity, starts talking to him about his past…
Our opinion:
The Hashira training is complete, but that doesn’t mean that part of the story is over either. With Tanjiro’s strength restored, we get another piece of story from one of the Hashiras, and it’s none other than Himejima. The series is known for diving into the backstories of powerful characters and revealing their vulnerabilities alongside their exceptional sword skills, so it’s no surprise that the penultimate episode of the Hashira training arc is no exception, as Himejima wasn’t always cynical.
According to a flashback, Himejima was once a kind-hearted monk who watches over the orphans until a demon appears and kills the children. He managed to save the young girl Saio during the attack, but his misinterpretation of her remarks left him with a sense of cynicism and distrust towards people, including children. Thankfully, he changed his mind for the better as he was inspired by Tanjiro’s persistence and selflessness and he learned that not everyone cares about themselves. But of course, the soulful moments between the Hashiras are inevitably interrupted by some drama, mainly Sanemi’s snarky attitude towards Tanjiro. But that’s not even the worst part. After some foreshadowing with Nakime’s eyes following the trainees everywhere, we finally get to the long-awaited confrontation between the Hashiras and Muzan, with the latter infiltrating the Corps.
The episode meant that we finally reached the climax of the story arc, partly due to it being a few minutes longer than previous episodes. However, some of those extra minutes were for Muzan’s big entrance, which went on a little longer than it should have. That hardly mattered though, as the animation for this sequence was incredible. Ufotable has always impressed me with its impeccable blend of 2D animation and CGI for certain sequences, whether action-packed or dramatic, and the end of the episode is no different. Combined with Himejima’s heartwarming yet tragic flashback, “Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima” effectively sets the stage for what looks to be another thrilling season finale.
