Kyojuro Rengoku from Demon Slayer is celebrated as one of the series’ most beloved characters. Despite appearing in just one season of the anime, he captivated audiences and garnered a massive fanbase due to exceptional character development. A significant factor contributing to his popularity is his steadfast sense of justice and admirable personality.
Rengoku serves as a remarkable mentor, consistently aids those in need, and confronts challenges head-on. Tragically, the Upper Moon 3 demon ultimately killed him in the second season, prompting the question—why was Rengoku’s character eliminated?
The narrative decision to kill off Rengoku highlighted key plot points and was vital for Tanjiro’s character development.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer series.
Why Rengoku’s Death Was Crucial for the Plot
In anime and similar media, important characters are sometimes killed off early in the storyline for several reasons. A primary motive is to create significant plot points, thereby increasing the stakes in the narrative.
Before Rengoku’s demise, audiences primarily encountered Lower Moon demons that posed great threats to the protagonist. The death of such a notable Hashira illustrated the formidable strength of Upper Moon demons.
This development provided fans with a clearer understanding of why demon hunters feared the Upper Moon adversaries within the series.
Rengoku’s death also served to create shock value, as his unexpected passing left a lasting impact on the fanbase, a common technique employed by series to maintain viewer interest.
Exploring Gotouge’s Reasons for Rengoku’s Demise
While there are several potential justifications for Gotouge’s decision to kill off Rengoku, the manga creator has not explicitly confirmed the reasons. Nevertheless, we can speculate on the motivations behind this plot development.
Kyojuro Rengoku was a mentor to Tanjiro Kamado in the second season, and it was evident that Tanjiro admired him. Rengoku’s principles resonated closely with Tanjiro, starkly differentiating him from other Hashira.
This bond likely made Tanjiro particularly attached to the Flame Hashira, and Rengoku’s death served a pivotal purpose in Tanjiro’s growth. Facing the loss of his esteemed mentor taught Tanjiro vital lessons, reinforcing his resolve to eradicate demons.
While some may argue that this determination stemmed from his family’s tragic demise, Rengoku’s death catalyzed tangible changes in Tanjiro’s training and mindset.
Moreover, Gotouge may have chosen to kill Rengoku to demonstrate why he was revered within the Demon Slayer Corps, showing that he could confront an Upper Moon demon solo while protecting his comrades.
Lastly, this decision amplified Rengoku’s legacy as a character, with his influence resonating throughout the storyline for nearly two seasons posthumously.
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