Things that ran through my mind while watching this episode:
--This is not Kimetsu no Yaiba at its best yet, the blood slowly dripping over Tanjiro's memories to indicate his anger when hearing of Satoko's death really was not as effective as showing Kazumi's expression. There's also still a little figuring out the CG to make it smoother. At this point, KnY was still just a nice anime instead of the amazing art piece we would know it to be later.
--Speaking of not always being top-notch, here we have more of the KnY signature style of info-dumping, albeit not always within the heat of battle. As in the manga, it was very practical having Urokodaki just straight up tell Tanjiro about the merits of his uniform and about the box and about how it's so rare to see a black Nichirin-to that they're said to be unable to advance in the Corp (for lack of previous example, though I suspect this has to do with how Yoriichi was kicked out, too, though that reason might had been lost over time). However, I think Ufotable really folds that exposition into the flow of the story by having Tanjiro assure Urokodaki that his goal is turning Nezuko back human, and Urokodaki feeling certain that Tanjiro will accomplish this.
--Speaking of, passing thought in the last episode, but we don't know if Nezuko woke up the moment Tanjiro returned, or if she had, say, woken up the second she realized he had gone far away, in which case we could have had a whole week of antics of Urokodaki alone with Nezuko freaking out of her brother being missing. And now I really, really want this.
--Back to Urokodaki though, a detail that really stood out to me in the first watch was Urokodaki fixing Tanjiro's collar and patting his shoulders before officially sending him off. He's just so proud, and my heart can't take it. If Giyuu has any knowledge of this, he's probably feeling totally assured in Tanjiro taking over as Urokodaki's successor. Sorry, Giyuu. Also, when I first saw this episode, I must had been skipping the OP because I was very disappointed when Tanjiro put back on the checkerboard haori instead of the water one Urokodaki gave him for the Final Selection; with all these ongoing flashbacks to Urokodaki's teachings I had totally thought the relationship between Tanjiro and Urokodaki was going to be a theme for this whole series. (Then came Rengoku.)
--A brief note on settings--this town, the site of Tanjiro's first mission, is so rich with real life detail, I feel like I have been there. I kept getting feelings like "that feels like Iwakuni/Yamatokoriyama/Matsusaka/etc" which is to say, if you like this setting, please be assured that there are places and buildings you can still get that feeling all around Japan, it just takes a willingness to on at least day trips outside the major cities. I visit a lot of museums in towns like this these too, and I kept getting flashbacks to photos I've seen, too. Heck, I even feel like I've been inside Tokie's house. Please please please, should any of you have opportunities to travel in Japan, know that these sorts of places do exist all over the place, but you have to leave the major cities. There is so much to explore.
--When it comes to side characters, I always did like Kazumi, and rewatching this episode makes him like him all over again. I had him become a Kakushi in a fic once, and I stand by that being a fitting decision for him. I have to wonder, though, after returning Tokie to her home and trying to blame a demon for killing Satoko and all the other girls, wouldn't some people suspect him of being the killer??
--I... in all my meta, I never made a single post about the Swamp Demon. I've mentioned him for his Blood Technique and for how a demon who has eaten at least 16 people was perhaps a lot to expect for a first mission, but... that is it. Sorry, buddy--erm, buddies?
--Please let me use this opportunity to say (1) I like the hat, (2) the Taisho Secret that the tooth grinding habit is a carry-over from when he was a human is cute, and (3) I can totally relate to the split personality when I am feeling hangry. Sorry, Swamp Demon, I don't hate you but you just never got my interest as much as other demons. The fact that we learn Kibutsuji Muzan's name over the course of this fight is more important than anything Swamp Demon himself ever contributed to the plot.
--Also, Swamp Demon was just here to serve as a punching bag for Nezuko to kick around. Let's give it up for our girl on one of the most iconic entrances of this whole series. BAM, KICK THAT DOOR OPEN.
--Speaking of Nezuko, I liked the storytelling they let live with how Nezuko observed Tanjiro's Corp look with such surprise and interest. That clues us in both that, this is a New Tanjiro, and that she recalls her country bumpkin brother well enough to be surprised at this new, strong look. (I have to wonder if Tanjiro's noticed how Nezuko has gotten taller over the course of her big sleep.)
--I love how Nezuko was still kinda, *bluescreenofdeathortestoftheemergencybroadcastingsystem* at this point. We can tell she's thinking and observing, but she's still having to take her time to make sense of everything. That is, unless the situation calls for violence, in which case her demon instincts take over.
