What If Tanjiro's Brother Had Survived and Turned into a Demon?

Imagine, if Nezuko's older sibling had survived and somehow turned into a demon, how different the story of Demon Slayer would be. I mean, think about it for a second: Tanjiro's whole journey is defined by the loss of his family and the quest to save his sister. But what if it had been the other way around? Imagine what would have happened had his brother lived, only to fall to the demon curse himself. It is a nice thought to be working on.

Let's just begin with the basics: Tanjiro's family in the anime is slaughtered by demons, and his sister, Nezuko, falls victim and is turned into one. This sets Tanjiro off on his painful journey of finding a cure for Nezuko. But if his brother had miraculously survived the attack and was a demon instead, Tanjiro's path would have dramatically shifted. Instead of trying to save Nezuko, he would have faced the heartbreaking dilemma of confronting a loved one who was now an enemy. Can you imagine the internal struggle?

The relationship between Tanjiro and his family was warm and loving. He was the type of older brother who would do anything to keep his siblings safe. His love for Nezuko, even after she turned into a demon, keeps him going throughout the entire series. But if it were his brother, his sole remaining family, that had become a demon, would Tanjiro be able to do the same? Is it that he would have been forced to kill his flesh and blood, knowing that that flesh and blood was once the person he loved but had turned into a monster? Heart-wrenching, just to think about it.

Let's now turn to Nezuko's role in Tanjiro's journey. Nezuko isn't just a victim of the demon transformation; she, too, is a fighter, fighting against her demon nature with the strength of her love for her brother. Imagine, for instance, if her brother had turned into a demon. That alone would have significantly changed the dynamic of the relationship between siblings. For one, Tanjiro's motivation would most definitely be way more complicated: he would still want to save his sibling but feel tremendous guilt and self-doubt. Would it be possible to cure him without killing him in the process?

The world of Demon Slayer is already filled with tragedy, but this scenario would raise the stakes even higher. Imagine the heartbreak of Tanjiro facing his brother, now a demon, not knowing whether to fight or find a way to save him. Would he go down the same path, seeking a cure for his brother, even at the risk of losing his humanity? It is a moral dilemma that would have marred his character development to a great extent. Would Tanjiro still have his desire to take revenge on the demons if his brother turned into one? Or would his love for his family override everything, and he tried to find some other way to save his brother? This internal conflict would create an emotional rollercoaster-both for Tanjiro and for us as viewers.

Of course, the possible effect on the rest of the characters can't be overlooked either. Nezuko's relationship with Tanjiro is one of the most potent in the series, but had it been his brother who had turned into a demon, would Nezuko's relationship with Tanjiro have been just as strong? Would she have struggled with her own feelings of loyalty and love? Or would she have joined Tanjiro in the fight against the demon who was once their family? The emotional weight of these questions would have completely flipped the dynamic between siblings, and the story as a whole.

Ultimately, Tanjiro's brother having survived and turning into a demon would add another layer of tragedy to an already tragic tale. Tanjiro's quest to save his family could have taken on even deeper, more complicated emotional beats. Would he have saved his brother, or would he have had no choice but to defeat him? It's a question that adds complexity to the idea of family, love, and sacrifice-themes that are already central to the show.

So, next time you are watching Demon Slayer, remember to think about what would have been if Tanjiro's brother had survived. It would have been a different kind of tragedy, one that tested Tanjiro's love, strength, and resilience in ways we can only barely imagine. It would have changed everything, but maybe, just maybe, it would have made the bond between Tanjiro and his family even stronger.