I began watching Demon Slayer back in 2021, and after its first season, I was sold on the series. One thing that stood out in particular was how quickly that first season moved. Within only a few episodes, Tanjiro meets the big bad -- Muzan -- lives to tell the tale, something no Hashira has done before, finds someone to help aid his sister, and manages to the test as a young demon slayer. Then, with the end of Season 1 and the beginning of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train, Muzan eliminates several potential seasons by killing off most of the Lower Moons, a move I thought made him stand out as a villain.

The stakes for Demon Slayer have always been high, and the speed the plot accelerates at proves that. This is a series where the heroes must power ahead, otherwise the consequences are deadly. Meanwhile, the villain has no time to play games. Post-Mugen Train, I needed to read ahead of the anime, because I had a feeling this was not a series I wanted to have spoiled, especially at the rate it was going. Thankfully, I was able to do so, and to my delight, it continued at this pace, but came at a cost.

Demon Slayer's Main Villain Cuts To The Point

Muzan Has No Time For Minor Villains, And Neither Do The Demon Slayers Corps

The big bad of Demon Slayer is the terrifying Muzan Kibutsuji, the first monster of his kind behind almost every demon currently tormenting Japan. He does not desire world domination or the end of humanity. Muzan's main concern is trying to find true immortality. While he is practically there as an ageless, over-powered demon who can regenerate, he can die in the sunlight, so he's been searching for a means to overcome this. That's why he's been making new demons, to see if any of them develop demonic abilities to survive the sun.

Muzan is truly no-nonsense right from the beginning. In Season 1, after Lower Moon Six, Rui dies, Muzan sees no purpose in the other Lower Moon demons, brutally killing them all aside from one. That had a massive impact on me, because at that moment, I knew Muzan was a villain not to be messed with if this is how he treats the demons who have so far been hyped up as major threats to the Demon Slayers. Plus, if this is how he treats those devoted to him, then what he has in store for the Demon Slayer Corps is certainly much worse.

It wasn't just his cruelty that stood out. Demon Slayer could have easily given each of these demons their own arc, but all those potential storylines are cut short. This is not the only time Muzan does this, as once he learns Nezuko is the unique demon he's been searching for, he brings the fight to the Demon Slayer Corps for the first time. For so much of the series, it has been the Demon Slayers trying to hunt him down, but in the end, he's the one to get to them first, another shock when he's been hiding for so many years. Turns out, he was just waiting for the right moment.

Demon Slayer's Length Limits Character Development

The Hashira Deserve More Than Just Their Flashbacks And Deaths

There is an immediacy to Muzan's mission, and in turn, to the series at large. He has no time or patience for even those most dedicated to him. Plus, with Muzan finally pushing forward with his plans, that means the Demon Slayers also have no time to waste, hence why every Demon Slayer gets Hashira training instead of just those who meet the requirements. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of character development. Don't get me wrong, I love the Hashira in Demon Slayer, but for most of them, the majority of their characterization happens via flashbacks.

Earlier on in the series, this was not as much a problem, as the Hashira got more time to shine before the plot really picked up pace. Tengen, for instance, is one of my favorite Hashira because we get to spend a whole arc with him while exploring his past, as well as what drives him beyond helping others. Other Hashira after Season 2, though, have to share the spotlight, and some of Demon Slayer's best characters, like Mitsuri and Gyomei, are wasted despite having so much potential. Unfortunately, the series needs to focus on stopping Muzan -- not on the ensemble.

When Muzan didn't know about Nezuko's significance, it was easier to indulge in the character moments they would give to ing characters like Shinobu -- another favorite Hashira of mine. However, once Muzan sets his eyes on Nezuko, those character moments slow down the plot. While I would love to see each Hashira fleshed out more, it's understandable for the series to prioritize a quick pace over this. That quick pace makes Demon Slayer stand out to me, and as it increased more and more with each arc, the stakes rose higher and higher.