Quick Summary of Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
In Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc episode 7, “Set Your Heart Ablaze,” no matter what technique Kyoujurou Rengoku employs against Akaza, the demon regenerates almost instantly. At the same times, Rengoku’s wounds accumulate. Finally, one eye crushed and with innumerable other wounds, he stands before Akaza. The only thing keeping him alive seems to be the demon’s insistent attempts to convince Rengoku to become a demon. With Tanjirou incapacitated and Insokue frozen by the knowledge Akaza is well beyond him, does Rengoku stand any chance? Won’t Akaza just strike one more time to finish him? Or does Rengoku have one more trick up his sleeve?
My Turn to Host!
Irina from I Drink and Watch Anime and I are back to bring you our reactions to the latest episode! But before we get into that, it’s Thanksgiving in the United States, so you know what that means! All of the work of a full week crammed into three days!
How’re things for you this week, Irina?
You get two days off for Thanksgiving!? I’m not jealous…
We finally got some ok snow here. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last. There’s sort of a Montreal tradition where we get snow for Halloween but it’s all but gone by Christmas, then the real snow kicks in between January and April. Still, every year I hope we get a white Christmas. It’s just more authentic feeling that way.
Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7 Review
Opening Thoughts about Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
In our review of episode 6, it seemed like we were both feeling the effects of a movie, with its arcs and plot points spaced for a movie’s run time, being spread across seven weekly episodes. This week, though, we got to the climax, and since a single fight filling an episode isn’t atypical, it felt better. Irina, do you have any opening thoughts on the episode?
It was a very short episode. The pacing was decent and it went by quite quickly despite the fact that not that much happened when you get right down to it. But it was also just shorter than average. It had some very long closing credits, to the point that I was sure there would be an after credit scene but no.
This said, I think it closed off the arc in a satisfying way, I’m looking forward to next week. I think they’re going to do the opposite by giving us an extra long episode.
There were two things that stuck out to me about this episode. The first was the quality and tone of the battle, and the second was the reaction of Tanjirou, Inosuke, and Zenitsu to the battle. Let’s dive into the battle.
Rengoku vs Akaza in Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
The animation of the battle between Rengoku and Akaza was engrossing. I’d be tempted to say that’s to be expected given the animation’s origins from a movie, but really, from what I’ve seen, Demon Slayer in general just brings it. I’ve been on a Fate kick lately, mostly because I’ve been in the mood for spectacle, and that’s what ufotable brings to the table.
Sheer quality of animation wasn’t the only thing that I liked about the fight. Rengoku, even though he knew he had lost, saw one potential path to bringing down Akaza with him: Lock him in an embrace and let the rising sun incinerate the demon. His last attack, using “Ninth Form, Rengoku” (I liked its eponymous-ness), forced Akaza to fend off Rengoku’s sword to the demon’s neck while using his own chest wound to lock the demon’s other arm in place. Gutsy, if you pardon the pun.
Rengoku vs Akaza was one of those battles that earned the title “epic.” Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
And yes, I know the demon’s arm was technically through Rengoku’s chest and not his abdomen, but I thought it was funny in a Dad Joke sort of way.
The last thing about the fight sequence probably can be traced to its cinematic roots — and that was its cinematic music. Maybe at times it strained what fit into a small screen rendition, but for me anyway, it was suitably dramatic.
What’d you think of the fight, Irina?
A Cinematic Score in a Small Screen Format
I did not care for the score at all. I feel like it really got in the way this week. After the fight, there is a span of actual silence. Complete silence. And that was powerful. It was a great bit of sound design that caught me by surprise and did a great job heightening the emotion of the moment. But a few minutes later, a roaring melodramatic music started to play and it was just so over the top, I actually had to laugh a bit. If this was a parody episode, that’s exactly the music I would have chosen. Maybe it hits differently in a big theater but in my living room surround sound, it was so maudlin and it really took me out of the scene.
This said, everything else was great. The animation was of course fantastic. I think this almost goes without saying at this point. And the light in these early scenes. The entire fight was lit up from different angles and Rengoku’s flames appeared in one corner then the next. All those dancing shadows that had to be matched to the nouvements, absolute eye candy.
And the early morning sun peaking through and creating gradient washes over everything. I enjoy good light and ufotable has always been good at it. Ever since the Garden of Sinners movies.
Tanjirou, Inosuke, and Zenitsu’s Very Relatable Reaction
The other thing I liked a lot about this episode was the way in which it brought Tanjirou to tears. Remember Rengoku saying (13:32), “I’m going to tell you all I can while I can still talk, so listen, will you?” I thought that was not only perfectly in character for Rengoku, but it was also so dramatically spot on that I could see that hitting Tanjirou hard. And points to Rengoku for remaining so calm even knowing he was about to die.
It wasn’t only Rengoku’s words and subsequent death that hurt Tanjirou. His realization of how far he had yet to go hammered him. His overwhelming sense of frustration is something I can really identify with saying (17:47), “As soon as I master one thing, I find another thick wall right in front of me while more powerful people are fighting far beyond it. I just can’t make it there yet.”
Inosuke was so frustrated and upset that he didn’t know what to do. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
The older I get, the more this rings true. It doesn’t matter how many words or sentences or pages or novels I write. The upper levels are always beyond me. All I can say is thank God my failures only cost me time, money, and confidence. In Tanjirou’s world, it would cost me my life!
Inosuke and Zentizu’s reactions, too, struck me as entirely in character. Inosuke was the one who tried to bring Tanjirou out of his funk, all the while tears leaked out of his boar’s head eyes. Their collective frustration even reduced Inosuke to slashing the air in frustration.
Irina, what did you think of this sequence?
Drama Handled Well in Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
Some may know this about me, I’m a crybaby. I just am. So I was going into this episode and specifically this sequence, expecting to be bawling my eyes out and quite frankly not necessarily enjoying it. But I found that they manage to really cushion the blow. It was sad, but there was quite a bit of hope and an odd sense of satisfaction.
It felt like a job well done and not a waste. I wrote in my notes that if I were to do a post of this episode, I would call it Blaze of Glory. That’s the feelings left behind for me. Not bitter pain or disappointment, or mild annoyance because I don’t have that much patience but pride. Just like Renkogu’s mom. I held it together pretty well too. It’s only seeing the crow flying with tears in his eyes that I finally broke down and shed a few as well. That’s pretty amazing for me.
Were there other parts of the episode you’d like to highlight?
I guess I really liked Inosuke’s reaction to grief. Maybe not like, but I got it. It looked recognizable and probably how he would react. Also, I enjoyed seeing the other Hashiras get the news. Each only got a second or so and yet it really highlighted their respective personalities and outlooks. Giyuu was properly unreadable as always.
Giyuu’s reaction was about what you would expect it to be. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
So, it looks like we’ve finished the serialization of Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train. About the only prediction I have for the next arc is that Kozo Kanamori is going to be furious with Tanjirou for losing his sword!
Closing Thoughts on Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
Any predictions or closing thoughts, Irina?
Let’s see, judging from the key visuals, I’m going to guess that Tengen is going to be a very important character in the coming episodes. He’s the Pillar of Sound I think, and that seems like it might create some very interesting fighting styles.
Tanjirou seems to be picking up a bit of everyone’s style, he already has both fire and water available. I wonder if he’ll master sound to some degree as well.
Seeing the other Hasiras again, made me remember the greater story of Demon Slayer and I am really looking forward to it. It’s quite an epic!
Other Posts about Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7
- Reddit: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen – Episode 7 discussion – FINAL
- AngryAnimeBitches Anime Blog: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Ressha-hen Episodes 6 & 7 (Final Impression)
- Random Curiosity: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Ressha-hen – 07 (END)
This Collaboration (I Drink and Watch Anime and Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 1: Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 2: Deep Sleep
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 3: Should Have Been
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 4: Insult
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 5: Move Forward!
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 6: Akaza
- Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7: Set Your Heart Ablaze
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 1: Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 2: Infiltrating the Entertainment District
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 3: What Are You?
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 4: Tonight
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 5: Things Are Gonna Get Real Flashy!!
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 6: Layered Memories
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 7: Transformation
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 8: Gathering
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 9: Defeating an Upper Rank Demon
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 10: Never Give Up
- Demon Slayer Entertainment District Arc Episode 11: No Matter How Many
Rengoku’s death was very sad- they managed to pull it off despite the audience not having much of a vested interest in his character(at least, from a manga reader’s perspective). This series has many flaws, but I think it’s Biggest Strength is the characterization of it’s cast.
I enjoyed the duel between Akaza and Rengoku; it was a spectacle to be sure, but the raw emotion each combatant put in, and how Rengoku wanted it to end vs Akaza hoping it WOULDN’T. Not to mention Tanjiro calling him a coward. That scene’s always been hilarious to me!
Raw emotion — that’s a good description! Demon Slayer excels with that sort of thing.
I’m glad they added the content in the first episode. It helped me appreciate Rengoku. So that even though I knew what was coming in this episode, it still hit hard. I think that’s a sign of good writing!