REVIEW: ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon’ Episode 2 – “The Three Princesses”

The premiere of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon consisted mostly of adapting the single chapter mangaka Rumiko Takahashi published as part of a charity event. Viewers mostly got to check-in and see Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango fight off a demon that awakens seeking the Shikon Jewel, unaware that it has been destroyed. The end of the episode previews the main three ladies of this new series: Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha.

Yashahime Episode 2, “The Three Princesses,” starts off with a flashback from Towa’s point of view. She had a close relationship with her younger twin sister, Setsuna. However, the two get separated in a forest fire and mysterious power in Towa’s eye transports her to the future, at the tree on the Higurashi family shrine in the modern era. Towa is found by none other than Kagome’s younger brother, Sota. He is all grown up now and is able to figure out pretty quickly just what has happened to the little girl, so he adopts her.

Fast forward, and Towa is now 14 years old and starting at a new school (once again). Turns out, much to the dismay of Sota and her younger step-sister, Towa keeps getting into fights after initially stepping in when she saw someone being bullied. Towa is a lovely lead, and her tomboyish nature is treated matter-of-factly: she plainly states that the reason she wears men’s clothes is that they are easier to fight in. Regrettably, Towa once again gets pulled into a fight by some men looking for revenge, she wins, but they come back and decide not to play fair.

Back in the Feudal Era, young bounty hunter Moroha crosses paths with the demon hunters, now led by Kohaku. A three-eyed centipede demon echoing Mistress Centipede from the original Inuyasha pilot comes searching for The Rainbow Pearls. She attacks Setsuna and Moroha, claiming they have them.

Yashahime Episode 2 is a blast, and while it is likely all questions will be answered soon, there were a few that were rather distracting. This is especially the case when the previous episode featured so much of the original cast. Where was Sesshomaru when his two younger daughters were trapped in a forest fire? Why is Miroku and Sango’s youngest son, Hisui, hostile to the daughter of their dear friend? Does he not know who she is? Why is Kohaku shocked that Moroha inherited Kagome’s spiritual powers? Where did everyone go? SOMEONE RIP OFF THE BAND-AID AND TELL ME TOWA AND SETSUNA’S MOTHER IS RIN ALREADY.

Again, all questions that will probably be answered, but it was a bit startling considering the predominant cast from the first episode is suddenly nowhere to be found or mentioned.

Yashahime: Princess Half Demon is great, even when it has the hiccups of trying to be a sequel to such a beloved series. There are plenty of echoes of its predecessor, but Yashahime Episode 2 cements that while there will be parallels, this show will be carving its own path with three endearing leading ladies at the center.

Yashahime: Princess Half Demon streams new episodes every Saturday on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu.