“Sesshomaru and Kirinmaru”
What They Say:
Set in feudal Japan, half-demon twins Towa and Setsuna are separated from each other during a forest fire. While desperately searching for her younger sister, Towa wanders into a mysterious tunnel that sends her into present-day Japan, where she is found by Kagome Higurashi’s brother, Sota, and his family. Ten years later, the tunnel that connects the two eras had reopened, allowing Towa to be reunited with Setsuna, who is now a demon slayer working for Kohaku. But to Towa’s shock, Setsuna appears to have lost all memories of her older sister.
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Still secluded in his mountain retreat, Konton takes great delight in watching the half-demon princesses struggle within his mystical trap, confused as to where each other are even when they entered at the same time. But as Towa becomes frustrated in being unable to do anything, she then calms down and remembers the wound on her sister’s leg, allowing the girl to sniff out the scent of Setsuna’s blood. Rushing toward her sibling, the modern teenager calls out and tries to explain the key to the puzzle, even as she is sent back through the fog only to reappear from a different direction, that space is being warped around them like a Mobius Strip. It is then where she resolves if they cannot escape, then they must cut the circle itself, but she is unsure of where the nexus of power is the strongest. From there the demon slayer concludes if they can see a rift formed by the demon energy, that must be the point where they must sever link to this maze, remembering that their clan can sniff out where those powers clash. But as the Peril outside continues to manipulate his design, he also unintentionally stirs the flow of energy and allows the twins to smell where to strike with their respective weapons, freeing themselves and facing Konton once again.
Disgusted by this foul manipulator’s remarks from their escape, Towa does not hesitate in demanding to know the location of Lord Kirinmaru, causing Konton to ask why they seek his master, by which she recalls his link to the Dream Butterfly. But as this demon laughs at their ignorance, Moroha finds herself still stuck in the windy canyon, only to be surprised as an annoyed Totetsu grumbles about his ally messing up their trap. Seeing no other option for their own situation as the enemies clash, Riku and Takechiyo also find themselves outside questioning what happened, leaving the washed ashore pirate no other option than to go inside to investigate, leaving a panicked tanuki wondering what to do as he is left all alone. However it is then when Konton begins to explain how his master has plans for the questioned insect, and surprised that these half-demon princesses cannot grasp the marvels which Kirinmaru will derive from the Dream Butterfly. Not wanting to deal with their lack of knowledge, the Peril retreats to a safe distance and begins to craft a new demon circle, while dispatching various shikigami to defend himself as he finishes the carving. But as Moroha strikes a decisive blow upon her opponent, Totetsu decides it is better not to disappoint his master than to lose to this rambunctious teenager, hesitating to swallow the disgusting tasting Rainbow Pearl in his possession, only to be surprised that its consumption significantly increases his powers and allows a reversal in the tide of battle.
In Summary:
As we finally relish the brief return of Sesshomaru, it is tiresome to see the studio wasting no time in reminding viewers they have many more Inuyasha techniques to re-use within this show, solving Konton’s diabolical trap with the convenient plot hole of Setsuna and Towa knowing how to use the Wind Scar after only stories about their clan’s abilities. Then to add to the confusion, this episode has too much happening to the half-demon princess after the defeat of their respective opponents, allowing them to meet Kirinmaru all due to Totestu’s foolishness of retreating back to his master. It would have been more fulfilling to separate this meeting with the Leader of the Four Perils for another encounter, but as it stands, the second act feels rushed in order to include too much information within a limited time, bombarding the audience with too much knowledge which we cannot fit into the larger picture of this baffling show.
Grade: A
Streamed By: Crunchyroll