It’s time for some clichés to die.
Demon Slayer manga spoilers ahead!
Summary:
- It might be the right time to stop seeing female characters as a supplement for a man.
- Nezuko and Zenutsu’s wedding make fans puzzled.
- There are more reasons for the fans to be upset with the Demon Slayer girls.
Fans have recently asked a question about the worst possible way of treating a female character in anime series, and it seems they got even more than one answer. Girls in anime have always been famous for their lack of depth, their shallowness or uninteresting personalities. They have been sexualized and treated like a trophy for a man. They have been obsessed or in love with the main protagonist. It’s all because anime used to be a male-dominated industry and most of the series focused on men, but times are changing, and girls are very much into anime now, too!
Ending up with a man is out of style
It feels like one of the biggest icks for the fans is when a female character ends up with a man without anything leading up to it. It’s already bad for some when the destination point of a girl is being with a man cuz we’ve seen that a thousand times and are getting kinda tired of this cliché. We’ve recently discussed how such a narrative may ruin the entire point of a series while discussing Violet and Gilbert from Violet Evergarden.
To be fair, we are not really against the concept of a female character ending up with a male one. Romance is still great, and everyone enjoys a good old love story once in a while. We are no exception. The criticism starts only when the creators forget that such stories also need good writing, just like any other plot points. And anime become the cause of great irritation when their girls just marry a random man they’ve hardly interacted with. And this is where, unfortunately, we start talking about Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba).
Nezuko and Zenitsu might not be such a great couple, sorry
Okay, before you start throwing things at us, we have to admit that Zenitsu is not a random man to end up with for sure. But the fact that he’s constantly in the story doesn’t make this couple more appealing for some fans. Zenitsu has been treated like a comedic relief straight from the first moment he appeared on our screens. He’s loud, eccentric and over the top. That’s why his major crush on Nezuko never really seemed like something legit for the viewers; it was just another way to make them laugh. But man, were they wrong.
Zenitsu and Nezuko not only end up together in the manga, but they get married and have kids and a family together. If you’re an anime only, this outcome might truly surprise you, and that’s not without a reason.
Demon Slayer anime handles these two’s relationship even worse than the original source. Manga actually has some cute moments with them, like Zenitsu sitting by Nezuko’s box and telling her about his day, or him giving the girl flowers. While the anime hints at the boy being a sort of a womanizer: Nezuko is not the only one he chases, he basically becomes an unbearable horny teenager every time he encounters a pretty girl. But still, these alterations don’t seem a good enough reason for this couple becoming canon in the manga to a number of fans.
Nezuko and Zenitsu’s relationship is portrayed as a one-sided one. The girl is a demon that cannot even talk to the boy due to her bamboo muzzle, preventing her from being capable of eating humans. She never really reciprocates Zenitsu’s affection and we are not even sure if she can comprehend it. However, later in manga she remembers the boy giving her flowers which makes us understand that she has been conscious during her demon time.
Zenitsu is not as bad as he looks, but that is not enough
As mentioned earlier, Zenitsu does truly care about Nezuko and tries to flirt and make small gestures. Moreover, he is often the first one to volunteer when it comes to the girl’s protection, and she inspires him to be braver and stronger. There’s no doubt (at least if you’re reading the manga) that the boy loves Tanjiro’s sister dearly. Besides, a good part of his perviness and sexism noticed by fans were added in the adaptation, that’s why he seems extra annoying for some viewers.
Still, it doesn’t change the fact that Nezuko and Zenitsu have never had a proper romantic storyline in Demon Slayer. Cute, funny and endearing moments? Yes! A good reason for shipping them? Of course! The foundation for future marriage? Doesn’t feel like it.
But wait, there’s more
Seems like Nezuko and Zenitsu are not the only couple that has suffered from this effect. Fans mention Inusoke and Aoi, who also end up together and start a family. You don’t need both of your hands to count all the interactions these two have had. Some fans even suggest that Gotouge (the mangaka of Demon Slayer) put Inosuke and Aoi together just for the sake of showing the man’s descendant in the time skip, and that might be true. Or perhaps the author just wanted to make some fanfiction come true.
A number of fans are so upset by this turn of events with the girls of Demon Slayer that they even say they’re kinda happy about Shinobu’s death, because otherwise she would be in danger of ending up with Giyu. And while this pairing is also quite a popular one, they don’t see them as a canon worthy one.