REVIEW: ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon,’ Episode 14 – “The One Behind the Forest Fire”

The ladies are back with Yashahime Episode 14, and a catchy new opening theme to go with it. Another rather episodic adventure briefly reveals ties to Setsuna and Towa’s past this week. The anime-only spinoff of Inuyasha is from studio Sunrise. It follows the children of the previous main cast as they embark on their own adventure. While at times tedious with its plot development, cousins Moroha, Setsuna, and Towa are endearing enough to keep viewers coming back for more.

The latest bounty assignment comes from none other than Riku. He is still as suspicious as ever. He has rescued a young woman from the snowy mountains. Her name is Tamano. She was abducted from her home by the evil mountain god, Homura, and kept in his castle. Homura is textbook abusively possessive: he sets fire to anyone who looks at Tamano, and then blames her, claiming she “led them on.” While the overall relationship is clearly made out to be one-sided and bad (Homura is called evil multiple times), the abuse is not handled with much nuance or delicacy by the other characters. There is even an incredibly bizarre and out of place attempt to parallel Homura’s obsession with Tamano to Towa’s smartphone addiction. At worst, it is insensitive, at best it is unnecessary and does absolutely nothing for the plot of the episode.

As implied by the title of Yashahime Episode 14, Homura has a link to Towa and Setsuna’s past. He is the one who started the forest fire that separated them long ago. Learning this information causes Towa to fall into a rage that is unlike her. It is a good moment to really show just how much she is holding onto the past. Also, without spoiling, these revelations are really not doing Sesshomaru any favors. He is currently a contender for worst anime dads. Moroha has a bit more of a role in the battle here but is still reduced to more of a comic sideline again.

Yashahime Episode 14‘s fight scene is by far the highlight. It usually is with Yashahime, but Towa’s anger towards Homura adds an extra layer to the intensity as the girls duke it out with him. The animation is fantastic here and had this reviewer replaying the fight scene just to watch it a second time. Regrettably, it resolves with more of a huff than a bang, after much buildup. However, points will be given to the writing for trying to give agency to Tamano in the end, which has a mixed effect due to the previously stated reasons.

Yashahime Episode 14 starts off its second cour rather average, but clearly knows it is time to start giving more backstory to its characters lest it run out of time. A plot about abuse doesn’t get the thoughtful treatment by the writing it deserves, instead, including a bizarre attempted smartphone parallel. The fight scenes are still carrying the show week to week, as well as the leading ladies, and that clearly won’t be changing any time soon. Hopefully, Sesshomaru isn’t as terrible a father as it is looking to be.

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is streaming now on Crunchyroll, Funimation and Hulu.