WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 2, Episode 1, "Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku," now streaming on Funimation, Hulu, and Crunchyroll, as well as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, now streaming on Funimation and Crunchyroll.
The Season 2 premiere of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an anime-exclusive episode focused on Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. A major player in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train, Rengoku became an instant favorite. Fans have been desperate for any additional Rengoku content, even after his untimely demise in Mugen Train. Luckily, the Season 2 premiere is a Rengoku-centric episode that ends with a touching, albeit fan-servicing, tribute to his character.
Demon Slayer finds itself in an odd position as it re-covers the Mugen Train arc after its successful film adaptation. Because of this, even fans of the series who don't read the manga are aware of the fate that awaits Kyojuro Rengoku at the end of this storyline. However, Season 2 is taking advantage of this by adding more Rengoku content to help make his death even more tragic.
As word spread regarding the news of Rengoku's death in Mugen Train, the Hashira are mostly silent and stoic. The nine Hashira are popular characters, yet they don't spend a lot of meaningful time interacting with one another, leaving their various interpersonal relationships (if any exist) vague. As the credits roll on Season 2, Episode 1, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke make their first appearance in a cheeky, fourth-wall-breaking segment regarding how the other Hashira feel about Rengoku.
Thanks to a Kasugai Crow, the messenger birds of the Demon Slayer Corps, each Hashira makes a brief appearance in a montage complimenting Rengoku. Shinobu Kocho says Rengoku is a good person though they don't always agree, while Tengen Uzui agrees the Flame Hashira is a great guy who surpasses him in flamboyance. Muichiro Tokito strangely compares Rengoku to an owl with a comforting voice, while Gyomei Himejima praises his comrade's positivity, honesty, and lack of whining.
The more stoic Hashira in Demon Slayer -- Sanemi Shinazugawa, Iguro Obanai, and Giyu Tomioka -- each quietly agree that Rengoku is a good, talkative person. For these three, when speaking of Rengoku, a "love him" animation flickers on the screen, indicating they each hold Rengoku in high regard. This funny moment helps express their feelings without the segment forcing them to break character by openly saying how much their comrade means to them. Mitsuri Kanroji also reveals that Rengoku was her mentor, calling him a "super cool big brother" who doted on her.
It's a brief, delightful segment that illustrates how widely beloved Kyojuro Rengoku is as a Hashira. It also adds to his inevitable tragedy by reminding the audience that Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke won't be the only ones who will mourn when Rengoku meets his end at the hands of Akaza. Demon Slayer's Season 2 premiere is an open love letter to Kyojuro Rengoku, and this tribute is both a nice reprieve and a grim reminder of the impending tragedy that looms over the Mugen Train arc.