REVIEW: ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon’ Episode 4 – “The Gateway to the Past”

Yashahime: Princess Half Demon is getting frustratingly more difficult to enjoy the more “wink-wink, nudge-nudge” it becomes about certain topics. That is very much the case with Yashahime Episode 4. It is lovely to see the girls united and fighting together finally, but all the plot questions are distracting. Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is animated by studio Sunrise, and serves as a sequel to Inuyasha.

While in the modern era, Moroha and Setsuna settle in with Towa’s adoptive family. Setsuna turns out to be a violin prodigy. Also, everyone keeps commenting about Kagome to Moroha, but apparently, she hasn’t met her mother? WHERE IS KAGOME? What originally was more comic is now a serious complaint in this review. The fates of Kagome and friends is the elephant in the room. Yashahime Episode 4 doesn’t even try to answer one of the many questions its plot has raised so far, instead just piling on more.

Yashahime is a different show from Inuyasha, but the premiere relied heavily on its predecessor. This wouldn’t be as much of a problem if the show decided to go all the way with writing the previous cast out of the plot in the next few episodes. However Yashahime Episode 4 is standing on the fence, unsure of which side to jump on. The previous cast gets mentioned by multiple characters as though they are important to the plot, but then the characters don’t ask the questions that one would normally think to ask regarding Kagome and company’s whereabouts. It is almost as though the show can’t let the past go, even though viewers would likely be happy with just a glimpse.

Towa resolves herself to return to the feudal era in order to help Setsuna recover her dreams and memories. To do so the girls make a deal with Root Head, the demon that was defeated in the premiere episode by their parents. They offer up the rainbow pearls (which also have yet to be explained) as payment for passage. A highlight of this episode was Towa and Sota. Sota has clearly been expecting Towa to return to the feudal era, but you can’t help but tear up knowing he is possibly saying goodbye to another family member.

Inside the Tree of Ages, the three girls are stopped by an apparition. The Tree of Ages has taken on the image of Kikyō and wants to make a deal with Setsuna and Towa. Turns out, the girls have another possible mission besides just tracking down the Dream Butterfly. This mission is much more related to their father, Sesshomaru. However, the writing has somehow managed to drop this information about Sesshomaru, and yet not have it answer any of the viewers’ questions. If anything, the waters are murkier than before, and not in a good way.

Yashahime Episode 4 has about three different plot lines going, and it is difficult to determine where exactly it plans to go. At first, the vagueness wasn’t an issue, but what would be a 100% enjoyable show is being bogged down by the writing trying too hard. Just answer some of the obvious viewer questions, and then get back to the antics of the present-day cast. It is hard to focus on them when all their parents may or may not be dead for all viewers to know.

Where the episode doesn’t disappoint is animation and its brief fight scenes. It is just so satisfying to watch. The show is at its most fun when it harkens back to its shonen roots. The fight scenes are a dream come true for any fan of the original Inuyasha anime but have always wanted to see what would happen if it got 2020 level animation.

All in all, Yashahime Episode 4 is still enjoyable and fun. However, the show really needs to focus and stop trying to bite off more than it can chew. The longer it tries to be too clever for its own good, the more questions distract from what is actually great about the production.

Olive St. Sauver

Olive is an award-winning playwright with BAs in English and Theatre. At BWT she is a manga and anime critic, with an additional focus on mental health portrayals in media and true crime.