6 Demon Slayer Characters Who Deserved Better Endings

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As a huge fan of action-packed anime like Demon Slayer, I’ve always felt a little let down by how some characters’ stories wrapped up. It’s tough when you invest in someone and their ending just doesn’t feel earned, whether they live or die. Honestly, Demon Slayer could have really benefited from giving certain characters a bit more focus and development before moving on. I, and a lot of other fans, would have loved to see them get a more satisfying arc, and maybe even survive! It just felt like some deserved a little more.

It’s typical for stories like Demon Slayer to handle characters in difficult ways – either to create a strong emotional response or to make space for other characters. However, it would have been good to see more of these characters developed before their stories ended so abruptly, or for some to have more fulfilling conclusions to better satisfy the audience.

Sabito Had to Die Because of His Master’s Actions

Sabito Was Once a Promising Student

Image via studio UFOtable.

Many stories use flashbacks to introduce characters, like Sabito in Demon Slayer. He appears as a spirit early on to help and advise Tanjiro Kamado during his training, and is joined by another spirit, Makomo. Both characters previously trained with Sakonji Urokodaki, and unfortunately, their training ultimately led to their deaths.

  • Sabito was a remarkably talented student of Sakonji, even surpassing Giyu Tomioka in skill. However, due to a personal vendetta against Sakonji, the Hand Demon specifically targeted and killed Sabito during the Final Selection. This was a heartbreaking loss of potential, ending his career prematurely. Even as a spirit, Sabito’s abilities were limited. While fans of Demon Slayer might have hoped for a different outcome, Sabito’s fate ultimately led him to a humble and understated end.

Gyokko Was Demoted to Jobber Status When Fighting Muichiro

Gyokko Was a Physical Threat and Nothing More

As a huge fan of Demon Slayer, I think most of the Upper Moons got really satisfying conclusions to their stories. We saw their weaknesses exploited, and with characters like Akaza and Kokushibo, it felt right that they couldn’t continue existing as they were – it made for some amazing character payoffs! But honestly, there’s one that felt a little shortchanged: Gyokko, Upper Moon Five. He only really had one fight, and the whole thing ended up just highlighting how strong Muichiro Tokito was, instead of giving Gyokko a proper send-off.

Muichiro ultimately defeated Gyokko, saving the day, but it was a disappointing end for such a unique character. Gyokko, an Upper Rank Demon, was reduced to a minor opponent, and his final moments didn’t showcase his past life like we saw with Daki and Akaza. While it’s a shame he didn’t get a proper backstory, his mysterious death actually fit his strange and unsettling personality.

Rei Soon Vanished From the Story Without Doing Anything

Rei Could Have Provided Insight on Muzan’s Deceptions

Image via studio UFOtable.

Rei wasn’t a major character in Demon Slayer, so it’s easy to see why many viewers might not remember her. She appeared early in the story to show how manipulative Muzan Kibutsuji was, as he pretended to be her normal husband. They even had a child together, creating a fake family that deeply disturbed Tanjiro.

Rei ultimately served a small purpose in the story, mainly to further Muzan’s plans. While she didn’t require a grand, detailed conclusion, fans hoped to see what happened to her after Muzan was defeated. They wanted a brief glimpse of Rei regaining her memories and finding a way to rebuild her life.

Mukago Died Because Muzan Lost Faith in the Lower Moons

Only Enmu Was Spared, and Even Then, Only Barely

Image via studio UFOtable.

Of the Lower Rank Demons, only Rui and Enmu were given enough time to demonstrate their powers and develop as characters. The other four, including Mukago, a demon of the Lower Fourth Rank, weren’t given the same opportunity. Like the others, Mukago only appeared briefly when Muzan summoned and then quickly defeated his weaker demons, leaving her with no chance to showcase her abilities before being killed.

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It made sense for Muzan to brutally eliminate the Lower Moons, both for the story and to show how heartless he is. However, it would have been interesting to see at least one of them survive and try to forge their own path. Characters like Mukago could have gone rogue, either questioning their past choices or seeking revenge on Muzan for discarding them. It would also have been compelling to learn more about Mukago’s true self, perhaps before or after her transformation, before she died.

Shinobu Kocho Never Lived to See Her Sister’s Death Avenged

Kanao Had to Do It Instead

Image via studio UFOtable.

Shinobu Kocho’s tragic death, like many revenge stories, felt narratively fitting but still unsatisfying. Often, revenge doesn’t bring the closure people hope for, and can even end poorly or unexpectedly, as seen with Thorfinn in Vinland Saga. Unlike him, Shinobu never had a chance to question her path of vengeance. Driven by her desire to avenge Kanae, she relentlessly pursued Doma, ultimately leading to her own demise.

Shinobu’s tragic end heightened the tension and emotional weight of the upcoming fight between Kanao and Inosuke against Doma in the next Demon Slayer movie. Many fans, myself included, felt Shinobu deserved a different outcome – one where she lived but was unable to continue fighting, much like Tengen Uzui. It would have been satisfying to see her find purpose beyond revenge, while still acknowledging the sacrifices made for her sister, Kanae. It felt like a more fitting conclusion for her character.

Shinjuro Had a Decent Ending, But it Could Have Been Even Better

The Demon Slayer Corps Needed its Flame Hashira Back

Image via studio UFOtable.

Kyojuro Rengoku’s death at the hands of Akaza felt fitting for the story. It created a strong emotional impact in the Mugen Train Arc and motivated Tanjiro to improve and seek revenge. The introduction of Kyojuro’s father, Shinjuro Rengoku, a former Hashira, was also compelling. He shared a similar appearance to his son but had a very different personality, and his reasons for becoming disillusioned with demon slaying were understandable.

While Demon Slayer did a decent job resolving Shinjuro’s emotional journey and his bond with Tanjiro, his ending felt a little rushed. It would have been great to see more emphasis on his past glory as the Flame Hashira – perhaps a final fight to showcase his skills and redeem his character as a struggling father. A climactic battle would have really solidified his legacy and given his arc a more satisfying conclusion.

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2026-02-19 05:05