English Dub Review: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc: “Tonight”

Overview: Tanjiro (Zach Aguilar), Inosuke (Bryce Papenbrook) and Izui (Ray Chase) continue to investigate the disappearance of Suma (Emi Lo), Hinatsuru (Anairis Quiñones) and Makio (Erica Mendez) while also looking for Zenitsu (Aleks Le), who was also abducted. 

Our Take: The house that Tanjiro is deep undercover in shows how much of a beloved lady that Koinatsu is with how much the little girls love and respect her. In how capable Inosuke is at sniffing out a demon lurking within the house he was staying at, he’s equally just as much of a lovable dummy in how his nonsensical ramblings are in trying to explain to Tanjiro what he saw as they compare notes. 

With Izui informing the boys that Zenistu is missing, the sound hashira decides to carry on the mission alone, with him believing it’s too dangerous for them. Despite Izui singling them out, seeing Tanjiro and Inosuke (mostly Tanjiro because it’s Inosuke) continuing the mission by putting their heads together to figure out how Daki is seemingly moving between the three houses shows their initiative but also Tanjiro’s shrewd mind and tactics as demon corps members. With Tanjiro theorizing it must be an underground passage connected to all houses, the boys decide to move out at night as it’s the most opportune time with Daki needing to be present or risk arousing suspicion otherwise, with it being dark also the only time they can move comfortably as well. 

It is also neat to get some more demon corps lore, from Inosuke of all places, in the hidden hand marks to distinguish each corp. members rank. It makes for a hilarious ironic scene in which Inosuke is one to bestow knowledge upon Tanjiro. 

Known to be a boy all along by the Koinatsu, Tanjiro’s surprise at his ruse being up all along is a funny crushing blow to his pride. Koinastu has been the quintessential image of what a Oiran is, her kind and genuine nature makes for a sweet moment between her and Tanjiro as he exclaims his intention to find Suma, who went missing while infiltrating the Tokito house and is Izui’s wife. With Koinatsu abducted mere moments after Tanjiro leaves by Daki, it continues to paint a picture of the stealthy and lethal she is. 

With Izui conducting his own search and gaining information about the Kyogoku house and Zenitu’s and Hinatsuru’s disappearance, another of Uzui’s wives, he shows more of his silent movements that make him deadly. However, it also highlights a possible plothole in the story and investigation process in begging the question: Why didn’t Izui question the Master of the Kyogoku house in the first place? It probably would have simplified the manhunt and the longevity of it considerably. 

When Tanjiro eventually finds Daki and a captured Koinatsu, it brings to light how the upper rank demon can stay so mobile in her tape being razer thin and able to slip through the smallest of gaps with ease, not to mention has the ability to trap people in it, like the Oiran. These developments continue to add to her impressive powerset priming for an engaging fight between her and Tanjiro. A battle that kicks with a bang as Tanjiro freezes up in fear which he mistakes for pain, showing that as experienced as he’s become he is still a human being with weaknesses and has a long way to go. Tanjiro shaking off expectations and focusing on the gifts puts on display the grit we all know and love him for. With this episode acting as a setup for a lot of characters getting to point a, b, c, etc. and establishing powers/move sets, we are finally getting to the meat and bones of the conflict and action in the next episode, creating a lot of anticipation for what is to come.