“The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” finally allows Muichiro to do something of substance and prove why he’s fit to be a Demon Slayer. It encapsulates Demon Slayer’s ability to put these heroes on mighty pedestals right before they go into berserker mode and become veritable legends. The transition between Muichiro learning this lesson in the past while he sears it into a demon’s neck in the present is beautifully handled. Muichiro reappropriates the meaning behind his name, only to learn that it actually stands for “Mugen”–limitless–a quality in which Muichiro never lacks. “The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” slightly struggles to reach this grander point of Muichiro’s empowerment, but when it gets there it really works. However, it’s easy to picture Muichiro’s past struggles reminding him of his inner strength and that this is the catalyst that breaks him out of Gyokko’s trap. These themes are still effective when they culminate in what appears to be Muichiro gaining the upper hand on Gyokko. The whole point of this extended flashback is to prove that Muichiro can exceed the expectations of himself and others and prove that he can do whatever he puts his mind towards. All of this material would arguably be a lot more effective if it occurred earlier in the season and before Muichiro is incapacitated by Gyokko rather than after. There are some effective moments during Muichiro’s flashback (the stylized use of red and minimalism during Muichiro’s bloody breakdown is particularly effective), but they arrive at the absolute worst point in this season and completely kill the momentum that’s been attempting to build over several episodes. “The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” would at least feel a little more substantial if it were to provide some answers on that front instead of entirely ignore it. However, it’s a little surprising that the episode doesn’t provide any breadcrumbs regarding what’s been teased between Tanjiro and Muichiro’s father. “The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” broaches some compelling questions during its flashbacks. Neither sibling is wrong, but their opposed perspectives speak volumes for their fates. Yuichiro blames their father for not being a realist enough when it comes to their mother’s condition and resents him for their losses, while Muichiro sees the compassion and understanding that his father tried to foster in order to keep their family together. However, Muichiro and Yuichiro only grow more aware of how different their perceptions of the same man have been. Tragedy can unite fractured relationships between siblings. This story might play better if streamlined to a few minutes of frantic flashes, but “The ‘Mu’ in Muichiro” has it take up three-quarters of the episode, which really feels egregious and is indicative of the hurdles faced this season. There is nothing revelatory here that couldn’t necessarily be inferred through more subtle storytelling. There’s no arguing that it’s tragic for Muichiro to have to bury both of his parents and eventually his own brother, but it almost plays like predictable padding at this point in Demon Slayer’s run. In this sense, a hefty look back into Muichiro’s childhood feels more like Demon Slayer is just checking off some boxes rather than presenting a story that needs to be told. Melodramatic flashbacks for both Hashira and demons have become one of Demon Slayer’s most prominent tropes.
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