Anyone else shook by the finale of the Entertainment District Arc? Because it felt like I had just come down for the longest rollercoaster ride since re-watching Yu-Gi-Oh fight Pegasus. As much as I would to spoil the finale, I also don’t want to do that because that it is not cool. So, I will focus on the Arc as a whole, and my take on everything that went down for our favorite demon-slayer and crew.

**Disclaimer: Light spoilers ahead. Read at your own discretion.

The arc starts with some well-deserved closure for fans and Rengoku’s family. We see Tanjiro doing his best to deliver last words and be the bearer of tragic news. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to tell someone bad news like that, no less as a teen that fought the demon and witnessed the tragic end of his newfound mentor. The reactions of Rengoku’s family member gives the audience a glimpse of some tough stuff each one has to deal with in order to heal and move on through the grieving process. It was sad to think that we only got a small taste of Rengoku’s fiery personality and amazing strength, but I was relieved that this anime keeps it pretty real. Even the strongest aren’t invisible and the demons are upper ranks for a reason. A Hashira is powerful but they are just human. Sad, but honest and true.

After a tearful start, the arc switches to action with a mission that starts off on the wrong foot; attempted kidnapping, a weird Hashira with no boundaries and our boy Tanjiro being chivalrous as usual. Once Lord Tengen agrees to have the three teens join him, I felt a rush of excitement. Here we go, strap in, let’s see our demon-slayer kick some ass after that last fight. It is obvious that Tanjiro has a long way to go in order to feel truly confident in his abilities and getting past the idea of death. Hopefully, this mission brings him closer to reaching close to his full potential.

As they arrive at the District, I loved watching the teens, who have clearly never been in that kind of flashy environment, be so excited. Even with the threat of a upper rank demon hiding in the city. The humor was greatly appreciated, as we watch our slayers dress up as Oiran in order to gather information covertly. Definitely ninja status. I assumed they were due to the era the anime is set in and the hints that many of the houses are brothels or places for sexual pleasure. Inosuke was comedic relief I didn’t know I needed during the low stress episodes, giving me laughs while I hunted for the demons. It was refreshing to see a bunch of super powerful teens adjusting to being an Oiran. I liked that they were not stuck together in the same house and had to adjust to different places all while completing a mission.

As the plot thickens, we discover the demon and some other important tidbits about her power, the pace picks up significantly. Things unravel quickly, as our slayers have to start confronting the demon. One aspect of the arc that I really dug is the absence of the strongest characters for most of the beginning fights. It feels realistic that Tengen would not be able to enter the fray if he is in a totally different part of town, doing his own thing. Tanjiro would have to figure it out himself and so he did. When we watch him go through a range of emotions from determination to fear to self-doubt to confidence, it felt genuine. If Tengen had come swooping in to save the day within the first few minutes, I feel that it would have ruined the intensity of the fight scene.

Now, without spoiling it outright, I’ll just say that there are lots of fights. We learn that Daki is not alone and everyone pitches in to stop the Upper Rank. Tanjiro has a young-life crisis and I honestly that he was going to die for a moment. There is lots of beautiful, exceptionally balanced fight sequences that showcase the hard work and brilliance of the artists who create them. Everything blends together like a freshly coated oil painting and the audience goes for a ride like no other for approximately five episodes. When we get to the end, Tengen unleashes his full power on the Upper Rank, determined to defeat the demon once and for all. It would be the first time an Upper Rank is defeated by a demon slayer, so of course our boys go all in.

So, intrigued? Watch the Arc and see the awesomeness for yourself. Demon-Slayer has been a wonderful show so far, from plot to graphics to character development. The Arc does not disappoint.