‘Demon Slayer’ Season 2 Just Drew an Interesting Parallel Between Tanjiro and Gyutaro
Demon Slayer Season 2 is nearing the end of its Entertainment District Arc, and the anime’s latest installment brought the fight with Upper Moon 6 demons Daki and Gyutaro to a close. Entertainment District Arc Episode 10 also drew an interesting parallel between two very different Demon Slayer characters: Tanjiro and Gyutaro.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for episode 10 of Demon Slayer‘s Entertainment District Arc.]
‘Demon Slayer’ Season 2 draws a connection between Tanjiro and Gyutaro
Demon Slayer Season 2 introduces Gyutaro as the Entertainment District Arc’s Big Bad, a shocking development after leading viewers to believe Daki was the only demon terrorizing Yoshiwara. And Daki’s brother proves himself a powerful opponent, as well as an extremely callous one. That’s why it’s surprising when he doesn’t immediately kill Tanjiro in Demon Slayer‘s latest installment.
It seems Gyutaro sees some of himself in Tanjiro, mostly because they’re both older brothers. As much as the Upper Moon 6 demon calls the anime’s lead pathetic, he understands his relationship with Nezuko. It’s similar to the bond he shares with Daki — just a bit more human.
And that leads Gyutaro to sympathize with Tanjiro, even if his pity feels a bit twisted. Still, it’s the closest one of the Twelve Kizuki has come to identifying with a human. In fact, he even makes Tanjiro an unexpected offer.
Gyutaro makes Tanjiro an offer in Entertainment District Arc Episode 10
Demon Slayer Season 2 has delivered plenty of unexpected twists, but perhaps none so surprising as Gyutaro offering to make Tanjiro a demon. After taunting and attacking him at the beginning of Entertainment District Arc Episode 10, Gyutaro tells Tanjiro he’ll let him live — but only if he turns into one of them. He even suggests they’ll be friends afterward, an odd sentiment coming from one of the Twelve Kizuki.
Although Tanjiro turns him down, Demon Slayer‘s main character sees himself in Gyutaro as well. He wonders if this is what he would have become if he’d been home the night Muzan attacked his family. Fortunately, his and Nezuko’s story worked out differently. But it’s not hard to see how the two pairs of siblings mirror one another.
And Tanjiro and Gyutaro’s odd connection does raise some interesting questions for the anime moving forward. For one, is there any humanity left in someone after they’ve been a demon for so long? Additionally, can Gyutaro’s offer be reversed? If Tanjiro finds a way to turn Nezuko back into a human, could that work for other demons as well?
What does this parallel mean for ‘Demon Slayer’ going forward?
Demon Slayer has often highlighted the empathy Tanjiro has for demons, but that’s rarely been reciprocated. And while Gyutaro’s strange request may veer more toward pity than empathy, it still makes an impact — because if one of the Twelve Kizuki can experience something as human as relating to another person, does it mean a demon’s humanity is still in there somewhere?
That’s a question the anime asks about Nezuko since the very beginning, but fans have been led to believe demons are a lost cause once they’ve eaten a human. However, it’s evident that demons retain memories from their former lives. And Gyutaro’s protectiveness when it comes to Daki — and his ability to see himself in Tanjiro — suggests they experience some level of human emotion as well.
With that in mind, it seems possible the anime could undo more than just Nezuko’s demon state. But even if it doesn’t go that far, it’s clear the series strives to humanize its villains. That can’t be without reason — and fans may find out why during a later arc.
New episodes of Demon Slayer Season 2 drop every Sunday on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu.
