REVIEW: ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon,’ Episode 21 – “Secret of the Rainbow Pearls”

Viewers finally get to learn a bit more about the ever-suspicious Riku in Yashahime Episode 21 as he continues to seek out the Rainbow Pearls. Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is an anime-original sequel from Sunrise to Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha. The series follows the descendants of the original main cast, namely Sesshomaru’s daughters: Towa and Setsuna.

It is once again the night of the new moon, and Towa has become human and lost her demon powers. Setsuna is comically attentive to her sister at the beginning of Yashahime Episode 21, which is fair considering Towa’s tendencies to get herself into trouble. Since Towa doesn’t get to go out with everyone, she has a chat with Kaede, in which she learns a little about her mother, Rin, and how alike they are. Overall, it is a nice conversation, although 21 episodes in it is a little awkward to see Towa be shocked that Kaede knew her mother, implying that the whole time they have stayed in the village this conversation has never come up before.

The main portion of Yashahime Episode 21 focuses on Riku. Viewers are given a bit more backstory on his relationship with Zero and Kirinmaru. This reviewer doesn’t feel as though it is enough this late in the game. Everything is still bizarrely vague. The origins of the Rainbow Pearls are revealed, Zero made a wish on the Shikon Jewel 200-some years ago and enclosed her demonic powers (and emotions?) within them. Riku wants to give them back to her, although why he does isn’t explained, especially since she doesn’t seem to want them. The Riku shown in flashbacks is much different than the Riku viewers have gotten to know. He seems to have no concept of emotions and speaks as though he is a young child.

Many of the other characters refer to Riku as a “puppet” or “doll” in Yashahime Episode 21. This isn’t elaborated on, which hinders the show’s attempts to give him depth. What can be inferred is that Riku clearly started as some form of a blank slate, which would explain his distorted views on love. His fixation on Towa has yet to be explained, and unfortunately, their relationship feels forced in this episode.

Riku’s obsession aside, Towa hasn’t really spent enough time with Riku to really justify the feelings she explains. Granted, when she says she “likes” Riku it could be simply as a friend or important person. It is a little hard to tell if the show is trying to force a romantic subplot here or not. It isn’t inherently bad, the dialogue just feels rushed when the interactions could have been spaced out throughout the anime’s run better. Towa, while naive and prone to impulsivity, also makes a decision at the end of the episode that is uncharacteristically foolish.

Yashahime Episode 18 adds a few more thin layers to Riku’s character but doesn’t give enough context to them to have much effect. The possible romance between him and Towa feels forced, making the dialogue in this episode uncomfortably awkward. Overall, this episode of Yashahime was just okay. Even though it “revealed” information about the lore of the show, it all feels rather forgettable.

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