Like most anime sequels that follow the children of previous protagonists, Yashahime is the lesser between itself and the original show. However, Yashahime has actually been taken at worse value than most sequels for how it treats the original series’ characters. Some fans of Inuyasha have not had good things to say about the sequel, questioning the quality of the series and feeling alienated. With season two currently running, there has been a notable divide with viewers, with some still seemingly bothered by the issues of season one.
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How Yashahime Lost Inuyasha Fans
Yashahime had a lot of the typical issues that came with franchise sequels, the main issue for all of which is failing to live up to its predecessor. However, the show had parts that left bitter tastes in the mouths of fans. These parts were in the writing of the original characters and in their roles in the sequel.
The first contested decision came with the fate of Inuyasha and Kagome. The iconic duo disappear and do not get to see their daughter grow up as a result. It was revealed in season one that Sesshomaru trapped the couple in Inuyasha’s black pearl to save them from a powerful demon. Due to this, the main characters from the main show are absent and fans felt a little betrayed in that Sesshomaru would trap them for so long and not have faith in their strength after all they’ve been through in the original show. After all, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru have had a shaky relationship that leveled out in the anime, but now in the sequel, Sesshomaru has stolen 14 years of their life with no consent or discussion. While this saved their life, fans did feel like Sesshomaru’s little character development of respecting others fell back to zero with this extreme action.
Fans of Sango were disappointed by her absolute lack of presence in the sequel as well, seeming to be happy just waiting for Miroku to reach enlightenment while she takes care of the children. Miroku and Sango’s relationship was a weakness in the original show due to the outdated and inappropriate humor, but at least Sango had her moments as a strong woman of action. Looking back on that, fans were upset with her now passive role, especially taking issue with her being introduced as “Miroku’s wife” instead of just Sango. Fans also could not believe that Sango and Miroku would not be seeking out to save Inuyasha and Kagome or at least be proactive in Setsuna and Towa’s lives.
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Last, and certainly not least, many fans got livid at what happened to Sesshomaru and Rin. The two became a couple, which was painful to watch for many given the dynamic and age gap between the two. The issue of Rin’s pregnancy also came into question during discussions. This has been debated with conclusions ranging that she was anywhere from14 to 18-years-old when she gave birth to the twins. This has led to controversy and constant arguments among the fanbase, with many discussing that the narrative normalizes some incredibly dubious behavior. Rin and Sesshomaru had a very cute parent-daughter kind of relationship in the original show, and the sequel took that away from fans that loved their non-romantic love that consistently had the power dynamic of a father and daughter.
The new characters have not been popular either, with Moroha getting the most love and Towa being the least popular among the three central characters. Unfortunately, Towa is more of the main character while Moroha is closer to a side character. The villains have not been popular either, with Riku and Kirinmaru not making much of an impact. The consensus among fans is that the new characters are neither great nor terrible, which does nothing to remedy the treatment of the original cast.
What Fans Have Said About Season One And Two
Negative reviews from fans are easy to find, ranging from calling Yashahime to the worst anime sequel series they’ve ever seen to feeling cheated by how the show treated the original characters. Reddit is filled with threads questioning the show’s quality, claims of ruining the original show, and hating how the first season ended with nothing at stake. Fans on Tumblr are just as disappointed, with plenty of tension surrounding the series and jokes about it never existing. Basically, Yashahime has created a divide among the fandom, with many questioning the quality and purpose of the series. There are, however, those who like the show and some who don’t mind its more questionable elements, like the Sesshomaru and Rin relationship canon. Due to this, there are constant arguments within the Yashahime fandom threads.
Season two is not yet finished, and there has been a mix of fans saying it is better and others saying it is the same. So while things might be on the rise, some fans have already left Yashahime behind after its first season. If the show does get better, it might already be too late for a lot of Inuyasha fans.
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