Yashahime Episode 10 was not subtle, to the extent it felt like the show led its characters to the top of theme mountain and shoved them off. This episode brings back Kinka and Ginka from the original series (but doesn’t explain how). The demon brothers are fighting again, but this time get Towa and Setsuna in their sights. The anime-only sequel to Inuyasha is from studio Sunrise.
The girls get a commission to go investigate a town that is being terrorized by demons. They soon encounter Kinka and Ginka, two demon brothers conjoined at birth, they must fight and the winner consumes the loser. This revelation clearly disturbs Towa. We’ve seen how innocent she can be, and while Setsuna as cold, they still take care of each other. Kinka and Ginka notice the pearls embedded in the sisters’ eyes, and decide to temporarily retreat.
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The girls take shelter with a couple from the village that evening when Kinka and Ginka take control of Towa and Setsuna in order to obtain their pearls. The girls struggle for control of their bodies as they fight and Moroha watches on. Moroha, unfortunately, takes a backseat this entire episode, being abandoned by Towa and Setsuna at one point as they chase after their stolen pearls. It is supposed to be funny, but after last week the disregard of her is getting sad.
The second half of Yashahime Episode 10 involves almost the same plot as the original in Inuyasha. The writing is using Kinka and Ginka’s sibling relationship used to bring something out in Towa and Setsuna. The problem is that this hammers it on the head of the viewers instead of letting it happen naturally. Even the most dramatic moments where Setsuna struggles with her memories feel incredibly forced. The entire rehashed plot felt as though it was just an excuse to get Setsuna where she needed to be this far into the anime. There is also another antagonist who expresses her intent to get revenge on Sesshomaru through his daughters. That is all that is said. Nothing else. Ever. She dies so we will never find out if there was anything important to know there. Probably not, given she died.
Because of everything feeling so forced in Yashahime Episode 10, Kinka and Ginka are the characters that end up getting the most development and emotional moments. Normally, giving thought and attention even to one-off characters is welcome, but here it just makes the show’s attempt to showcase Setsuna’s growth all the more cringeworthy. Ultimately, it actually just makes the episode…kind of boring. It is so obvious what the show is trying to do (whether it works or not) that the audience can figure out what will happen pretty early on.
For viewers this week, Yashahime Episode 10 was far from subtle. Those who had seen or read its predecessor will be watching a rehashed plot, while those who haven’t will simply have a theme hammered over their heads. Character moments feel forced instead of naturally developed, as though the show lost track of time and had to hit a certain checkpoint in the plot to move forward. Hopefully, next week gives us more Moroha at the very least.
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is available for streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Hulu.
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon Episode 10 - "The Gold and Silver Rainbow Pearls"
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Rating - 4/104/10
TL;DR
For viewers this week, Yashahime Episode 10 was far from subtle. Those who had seen or read its predecessor will be watching a rehashed plot, while those who haven’t will simply have a theme hammered over their heads. Character moments feel forced instead of naturally developed, as though the show lost track of time and had to hit a certain checkpoint in the plot to move forward. Hopefully, next week gives us more Moroha at the very least.
