In Demon Slayer's third season, the Swordsmith Village plot arc centred around two Hashira. First, Demon Slayer fans witnessed Muichiro Tokito, the silent himbo, defeating the Upper Moon 5, Gyokko, on his own. The storyline then moved to Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, but she fell short.

Mitsuri is a pleasant character as a cheerful deredere who quickly became friends with Nezuko Kamado, and she is capable of mortal combat with the powerful Upper Moon 4, Hantengu. Despite possessing a charming attitude and a surprisingly wholesome backstory, Mitsuri never shone in combat like Kyojuro, Tengen, or Muichiro, and her character arc is too narrow and open-ended.

 

Mitsuri Kanroji Failed Her Fellow Hashira

 

Mitsuri Kanroji first debuted as the most pleasant and charming Hashira since Kyojuro Rengoku early in the Swordsmith Village tale arc, giving fans a solid first impression of the strong yet kind Love Hashira. Then, after Muichiro's epic battle with Gyokko, Demon Slayer finally gave Mitsuri her chance to steal the show—and she failed. Mitsuri boldly became Hantengu's youngest and strongest form so that Tanjiro and Genya could go after Hantengu's true body, which was a wise decision on Mitsuri's part, but it didn't mean much more than that. Mitsuri just fought Hantengu's strongest body to buy time, and she would have lost had Tanjiro not killed Hantengu's main body and so destroyed the body Mitsuri was fighting.

 

Also, Mitsuri Kanroji did not have any inspiring moments, contrasting her sharply with Kyojuro, Tengen, and Muichiro. Kyojuro Rengoku impressed fans and inspired Tanjiro's trio with his parting words, while Tengen showed what ninjas can do in battle and Muichiro had a delightful change of heart after hearing Tanjiro's words. Mitsuri may be a strong and likable Hashira, but that alone isn't enough to make her inspiring or make her stand out. She didn't change anyone's life with her words, actions, or worldview, and no one else did that for her, either. Mitsuri ended up a source of comic relief and little more, which is a huge disservice to her character. It's also a total waste of a Hashira's potential as a fighter and as a character.

 

Mitsuri Kanroji Needs A True Challenge Later In Demon Slayer

Fighting the likes of Hantengu is challenging for any Hashira, but even then, Mitsuri's battle against him was really just filler and did not truly challenge her on a meaningful level. Several other Hashira were pressed into using unusual techniques or improving new tactics to win, or those Hashira were personally challenged to defend what they believed in. That happened with Kyojuro's fight against Akaza, for example, with Kyojuro defending his choice to remain human, even if it meant dying by Akaza's hand. Muichiro was challenged to overcome his own airheaded, himbo nature and learn to idealistically fight for others' sake, which he did, resulting in character growth. Mitsuri Kanroji got none of this in Season 3, but that may change later.

Mitsuri safely survived Gyokko and Hantengu's assault, so she's in good shape to fight the remaining Upper Moons or even Muzan Kibutsuji himself with her allies in later story arcs. When and if that happens, Mitsuri may be finally forced to defend what she believes in and may be forced to make an impossible choice or make serious sacrifices along the way. That could serve as excellent payoff for Mitsuri's unfinished character arc, such as her fixation on finding a husband who's even stronger than her, or Mitsuri's firm belief in the power of love and family. If Muzan and the Upper Moons can threaten all that and create immense personal stakes for Mitsuri, then Demon Slayer fans may finally see what the charming love Hashira is really made of.