Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 2 Episode 18 Recap – No Matter How Many Times We Reborn

Relief

The Demon Slayers sever Gyutaro and Daki’s heads, but it isn’t over yet. Tengen notices Gyutaro’s body trembling, so he runs to protect Tanjiro. The demon’s body explodes into a thousand Blood Sickles. Nezuko comes out of her box to burn Gyutaro’s blades.

She taps Tanjiro to wake him up. Tanjiro sees the whole Entertainment District turn into rubble as Nezuko hugs him. He’s still alive but can barely move.

Zenitsu calls out to him from afar, crying. Nezuko carries Tanjiro to him as the yellow-haired boy points to Inosuke, saying his heart isn’t beating. Inosuke is slumped on the rooftops, his chest turning purple from the poison.

Nezuko touches his chest and burns off the bruise. Inosuke awakens and asks for food, so Tanjiro cries, relieved that he’s alive.

Suma cries as she, Makio, and Hinatsuru check Tengen’s wounds. The demon’s poison has seeped into his body, so their antidote isn’t working. Tengen attempts to leave his final words, but Suma can’t stop bawling. His tongue goes numb.

Nezuko comes in and sets him aflame. Suma cries that it’s too early for a cremation. The flames disappear with the poison. The three wives hug Tengen in relief.

Nezuko’s Blood Demon Art purged the poison from their bodies. This, along with the fact that Tanjiro still moves, confuses the Hashira.

Nezuko then carries Tanjiro to find the demon’s heads to ensure the job is done. He finds a puddle of blood and takes a sample for Tamayo. Further on, they find the siblings‘ two heads arguing and blaming each other. Tanjiro covers Gyutaro’s mouth and tells them to get along in their final moments. Daki throws a tantrum as she disappears. Gyutaro remembers her real name: Ume.

Tragic Life

She was named after the disease their mother died from. They lived in the lowest class of the Entertainment District, where children are a burden. Despite many attempts to kill them, they did their best to survive. Ugly Gyutaro has no place in a world of beauty, but he lived to protect his beautiful sister. He started working as a collector to help her.

One day, Ume was burned alive after striking a samurai customer. Gyutaro killed the samurai in revenge and carried her sister. Nobody helped them until an Upper Rank Demon came and turned them both into demons. Gyutaro has been the collector of death ever since. His only regret: Ume could have lived a good life had they found a decent brothel — Ume attacking the customer came from Gyutaro’s bad influence.

He sees Ume in the afterlife, apologizing profusely about how she’s always holding him back. Gyutaro denies her and wants to go separate ways, but Ume hugs him, saying she’ll never leave no matter how many times they’re reborn. She’ll always be his sister, just as he promised when they were young.

Victory

Gyutaro crumbles in Tanjiro’s hands. They breathe a sigh of relief.

The Serpent Hashira, Iguro, arrives and compliments Tengen’s work, adding that the Upper Moon Six is the lowest of the Upper Ranks. Tengen doesn’t want to hear it.

Iguro asks him how he can fight in such a state. Tengen says he’s retiring. Iguro doesn’t accept it, saying Kyojuro’s spot is still vacant, so he should fight till he’s dead.

Tengen replies the youngsters have it all covered. Iguro is surprised to learn that Tanjiro survived the battle.

Oyakata-sama rejoices after hearing the news — the first victory in a hundred years.

Our Thoughts

The demon’s backstory was heartbreaking. Even this season’s epilogue is a banger that can stand up side by side with the climax. Truly a masterpiece of anime! 5/5.