REVIEW: ‘Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba- Entertainment District Arc,’ Episode 5 – “Things Are Gonna Get Real Flashy!!”

Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc Episode 5 sees Tanjiro continue his battle with the Upper-Rank Demon. Even as his battle rages, however, the others are just as busy as Inosuke closes in on his opponent. Can the Demon Slayers hold their own against these powerful enemies?

This episode opens with Tengen as he searches the entertainment district for any sign of the demon who has been plaguing the area or his wives. Luckily, his search is not vain as he quickly stumbles upon some critical information. This opening works well as it immediately sets a great tone for this episode’s place in the arc. After several episodes of stumbling in the dark as they search for their prey, Entertainment District Arc Episode 5 instantly lets the viewer know things are changing from here.

After this opening, the story returns to Tanjiro as he fights the upper-rank demon. This battle’s moments are interwoven with a fair amount of retrospective on the part of Tanjiro. As he struggles to keep up with his opponent he has to come to terms with some of his limitations and push himself beyond his normal boundaries.

While I enjoyed most of this sequence, there is a fair amount of oddly placed humor that doesn’t work for me. The life or death struggle that Tanjiro faces, as well as his internal conflict, don’t lend themselves to the abrasive humor that breaks up some of these moments.

The last big element of Entertainment District Arc Episode 5 is Inosuke’s. As he continues to hunt down the demon he hears in the floor and the walls he makes a startling discovery. No spoilers, but this surprise came out of left field on me. While it brings an interesting element to the narrative, it also allows for a unique sequence of action as Inosuke must confront the surprising nature of his foe.

The visuals throughout this episode keep pace with the rapidly changing places and times that the narrative follows. The battles that litter the episode’s runtime are all captured with all the eye-catching energy and beautiful design that the series has always prided itself on. Couple the combat animation with the gorgeous, expressive character presentation and this episode keeps the eye candy coming from start to finish.

When all is said and done, Entertainment District Arc Episode 5 brings everything this series is known for while also positioning the story for a major shift. As the title says, things are gonna get real flashy!

Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc Episode 5 is streaming now on Funimation and Crunchyroll.