Demon Slayer is a dramatic shonen action series centred on protagonist Tanjiro Kamado's compassionate journey to restore Nezuko's humanity and Tanjiro's great compassion for the demons he slays. Best of all, many Hashira share this sentiment and personally support Tanjiro, with the exception of Shinobu Kocho.
Shinobu Kocho has a sympathetic side, having lost her adored big sister Kanae to a demon years before, but she's too driven by her self-centered thirst for vengeance to do much more than kill demons in retaliation. While Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, and Mitsuri Kanroji have all said and done much to support Tanjiro as a person and fighter, Shinobu falls behind, making her the least intriguing Hashira thus far.
Shinobu Kocho Doesn't Inspire Or Protect Demon Slayer's Heroes
While the nine top Hashira were not ordered to teach or train Tanjiro's trio of heroes, several of the best Hashira volunteered to encourage Tanjiro's squad by their words and actions, making them some of Demon Slayer's best characters. Kyojuro Rengoku sacrificed his life to protect Tanjiro's crew from Akaza, the Upper Moon 3, and provided inspiring words as he died. Tengen Uzui later served as a tough but fair guardian and coach for Tanjiro's team in the Entertainment District, and his inspiring character journey with his three shinobi spouses greatly gratified him. Mitsuri Kanroji, Hashira's love, recently agreed to hold off Hantengu's strongest form in order to help Tanjiro, and she graciously supported Nezuko on a personal level.
By contrast, Shinobu Kocho does her duty well as a Hashira, but little more. In her defense, she is highly preoccupied with justifiable anger and grief over Kanae's death, but even so, she outwardly lags behind the other Hashira and has done little to impress Demon Slayer fans. Her kind words to Tanjiro back in Season 1 merely reaffirmed what Tanjiro was already doing for Nezuko's sake, and she even tried to kill Nezuko when they met in Rui's spider forest.
Shinobu also didn't teach Tanjiro's team much of anything, with Aoi and Kanao Tsuyuri handling Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu's training at the Butterfly Estate. By now, Shinobu is overdue to say or do something to motivate and inspire Tanjiro's team, even if she doesn't have in-universe obligations to do so. For the sake of her character's likability and to give her some relevance, Shinobu Kocho must do more.
Tanjiro & Kanao Can Bring Out The Best In Shinobu Kocho
Shinobu Kocho hasn't said or done anything to motivate Tanjiro's crew or even her protégé, Kanao Tsuyuri, so things could go the other way. Given her sadness and wrath, Shinobu requires more assistance than they do, so Tanjiro may pay it forward and assist her in whatever way he can. Tanjiro owes the Hashira a lot, especially through Kyojuro, Tengen, and Mitsuri, and he hopes to repay the favour with Shinobu. Tanjiro's famously compassionate and supporting ways are congruent with this, even if Tanjiro has little left to prove to viewers, therefore he should do it.
Kanao Tsuyuri can do the same, repaying Shinobu for taking over her training after Kanae's untimely death. Shinobu may be tense and angry, but she still made time for Kanao, the quiet girl whom Shinobu once scorned.
With the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and the three remaining Upper Moons looming, Shinobu might lose herself to her reckless rage and get sloppy in her quest for revenge. So, she needs Tanjiro and Kanao to be for her what Kyojuro and Mitsuri were for the Kamados, and temper that furious fire in Shinbou's heart. That should benefit Shinobu as a fighter and as a person, and best of all, surely a grateful Shinobu would return the favor someday and become the next Mitsuri Kanroji. All that should help boost Shinobu's standing in the eyes of Demon Slayer fans, and change her from a somewhat gimmicky Hashira to an inspiring, wonderful big-sisterly warrior whom any Demon Slayer character or fan can love. There must be more to Shinobu Kocho than poison and revenge.
