REVIEW: ‘Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon,’ Episode 43 – “The Blackout”

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (Yashahime) is a fantasy/adventure anime from Sunrise. Having passed through the Windmill of Time, Towa, Moroha, and Setsuna arrive in the modern world. While everyone is happy to see them safe and well, there is little time for celebration as the Grim Comet comes hurtling toward the planet in Yashahime Episode 43.

With the modern world only featuring briefly in the show’s opening season, it serves as an enjoyable change of pace to see the protagonists arrive back here. While the show takes a few moments to sprinkle in some happy reunions, it does a great job of not letting Towa and company get lost in these moments. A world-ending event is on the way and it won’t wait for happy reunions to wrap up.

The first step toward figuring out what is going on for our group is to search out Towa’s former teacher Kirin. Having grown from the lost arm of Kirinmaru, he is the only one in the modern era aware of what is transpiring.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of Yashahime Episode 43 is what the episode does with Kirin’s character. All the glimpses of him that have been given throughout this season have been through a particular lens. Coloring the character and his motives through his association with Kirinmaru. What the girls eventually confront is not what I expected. This surprise was, however, a pleasant one, as the character delivers a personality that should play well beside the protagonist.

Before the Grim Comet can be challenged, however, a more immediate problem presents itself. A concert is scheduled to take place and the approach of the comet has left the unknowing residents of Towa’s hometown prey to a growing demon population. With thousands of people gathered in one place, there could be a massacre if no one puts a stop to the demon threat.

This setup for the main conflict of Yashahime Episode 43 continues to deliver on the fresh feeling of the episode. With their weapons hidden, the half-demons sneak around the venue slicing up monsters directly above oblivious concertgoers who are none the wiser. It lends a bit of a goofy feel that serves as a nice break in the lead-up to this season’s big confrontation with the Grim Comet.

The visuals throughout this story provide the fun and adventure of the story well. The happy reunions are full of warmth and the combat moments deliver on the style of action fans have come to expect from the series.

As the episode wraps, it leaves our trio of half-demons preparing to face their biggest challenge yet. I look forward to next week’s episode in the hope that it will deliver an exciting, while not overly drawn out, conclusion to what this episode sets up.

Yashahime Episode 43 is streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll.