Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Ep 3 Highlights Rengoku’s Disturbed Psyche

Compared to the movie, the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc anime has been progressing at a slower pace. This gave me an opportunity to take an in-depth look at the characters in the series.

Episode three showed us the dreams of Zenitsu, Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Rengoku. While Zenitsu and Inosuke’s dreams were just as absurd as their personalities, Tanjiro and Rengoku’s dreams were the ones that really called the shots. 

What stole my attention in this episode was the stark difference between Rengoku’s dreams and those of others. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were transported to a lovely world with no regrets, yet Rengoku relived the time when his father disregarded his status as a hashira.

Surely there were other moments that Rengoku enjoyed in his life? In fact, the moment that he relived can be called downright depressing. It is almost as if he is trying to find an alternative to what he felt that day, just like how Tanjiro wants his family back.

The difference between Tanjiro and Rengoku’s subconscious was also noticeable. While Tanjiro’s psyche was serene, vast, and warm, the Flame Hashira’s subconscious was a burning pit.

This can be assumed as a portrayal of their inner conflicts.

Tanjiro couldn’t believe his dream from the very beginning, and he knew how to bid goodbye to this daydream. This, in turn, helped him in waking up. Yet, Rengoku woke up based purely on his survival instincts.

Maybe Tanjiro’s calm subconscious results from his acceptance, but Rengoku is still stuck in the past, trying to make everything right to gain his father’s approval. Thus, the raging fire inside of him.

Zenitsu and Inosuke are still in danger, and Rengoku isn’t fully awake yet. Tanjiro is still struggling to wake everyone up. The next episode is sure to dive even deeper into the struggles of the Flame Hashira and Tanjiro.

About Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge. Its publication in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump began in February 2016 with 19 collected tankōbon volumes released as of present.

In a world filled with demons and demon slayers, Kimetsu no Yaiba follows the lives of two siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado after— the murder of their family at the hands of a demon. Their hardship does not end there, as Nezuko’s life is spared only for her to live as a demon.

As the oldest sibling, Tanjiro vows to protect and cure his sister. The story traces the bond of this brother-sister or better yet, demon slayer and demon combo against the odds of an arch antagonist and the society.

Source: Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Episode 3

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