Even though Demon Slayer has never made romance its focus, the series cannot completely avoid it. Zenitsu seems to have a huge crush on Nezuko, and while it might seem like a little harmless thing to some viewers, other fans consider it quite problematic. But what is wrong with that?
Zenitsu is shown as a wannabe womanizer: every time he sees a girl, he goes crazy. This character is known for being pretty intense, and this intensity doesn’t go away when it comes to hitting on girls, which often leads to immeasurable annoyance of these girls. Fans also call him sexist and pervy for being like that.
However, the girl that receives Zenitsu’s special attention is Nezuko. He’s heavily attracted to her and is not afraid to show it every time he can. When she’s in danger, he rushes to her protection: he never fails to comment on how cute the girl is. Although some fans find it hilarious and endearing, others disagree. Nezuko never shows any reciprocal interest, she is incapable of that or of giving him consent, which makes Zenitsu’s trying only more annoying and unnecessary for the viewers.
Another point made by the fans is the age difference. These two have only a two-year age gap but some people still find it problematic because even though Nezuko is 14, she looks like a twelve-year old and she had two years of sleep on top of that, which makes her maturity age stay the same. This point of view is not shared by everyone, though. Fans say there’s no point in applying the current real world moral standards to anime characters, and even if we do try to apply them, there’s nothing wrong about Zenutsu’s infatuation: he’s just a teenager, after all!
Zenitsu and Nezuko’s wedding has also raised some questions among the fans. Some see it as a bad storytelling choice because after everything she’s been through, Nezuko should just be allowed to enjoy her life with her family, she needs time to process and deal with the trauma, and not be forced into a romantic relationship. This way of approaching the situation is also criticized by some fans. They say, Zenitsu IS part of her family now, and by being with him and raising their children she does heal and moves on from the horrors they faced in the past. Besides, manga readers promise that Zenitsu gets better over time, and he’s not so creepy and irritating when it comes to interactions with the opposite sex; Nezuko is really going to reciprocate his feelings, and they will be both adults, so if you don’t like this couple, you have 100% right to do so, but fans say there’s nothing problematic about their relationship.
Even though Demon Slayer has never made romance its focus, the series cannot completely avoid it. Zenitsu seems to have a huge crush on Nezuko, and while it might seem like a little harmless thing to some viewers, other fans consider it quite problematic. But what is wrong with that?
Zenitsu is shown as a wannabe womanizer: every time he sees a girl, he goes crazy. This character is known for being pretty intense, and this intensity doesn’t go away when it comes to hitting on girls, which often leads to immeasurable annoyance of these girls. Fans also call him sexist and pervy for being like that.
However, the girl that receives Zenitsu’s special attention is Nezuko. He’s heavily attracted to her and is not afraid to show it every time he can. When she’s in danger, he rushes to her protection: he never fails to comment on how cute the girl is. Although some fans find it hilarious and endearing, others disagree. Nezuko never shows any reciprocal interest, she is incapable of that or of giving him consent, which makes Zenitsu’s trying only more annoying and unnecessary for the viewers.
Another point made by the fans is the age difference. These two have only a two-year age gap but some people still find it problematic because even though Nezuko is 14, she looks like a twelve-year old and she had two years of sleep on top of that, which makes her maturity age stay the same. This point of view is not shared by everyone, though. Fans say there’s no point in applying the current real world moral standards to anime characters, and even if we do try to apply them, there’s nothing wrong about Zenutsu’s infatuation: he’s just a teenager, after all!
Zenitsu and Nezuko’s wedding has also raised some questions among the fans. Some see it as a bad storytelling choice because after everything she’s been through, Nezuko should just be allowed to enjoy her life with her family, she needs time to process and deal with the trauma, and not be forced into a romantic relationship. This way of approaching the situation is also criticized by some fans. They say, Zenitsu IS part of her family now, and by being with him and raising their children she does heal and moves on from the horrors they faced in the past. Besides, manga readers promise that Zenitsu gets better over time, and he’s not so creepy and irritating when it comes to interactions with the opposite sex; Nezuko is really going to reciprocate his feelings, and they will be both adults, so if you don’t like this couple, you have 100% right to do so, but fans say there’s nothing problematic about their relationship.
