She Did NOTHING Wrong (In Defense of Kikyo) - InuYasha

[@Aceofwolves]

I think she also (unintentionally) taught this lesson: Let the dead rest in peace. Remember who they were while they were here. Not what they could have been or what you wanted them to be.

[@Bony_Lizzie]

You should hace 1k likes!!!

[@yeah6281]

Well said

[@ADsama]

I always thought the Kagome vs Kikyo shipwar didn’t matter cuz even though they were very different people, they still shared the same soul. And Inuyasha fell in love with that same soul, over and over, in every form.

[@Lunafroyo]

Exactly he’s really just in love with a different version of Kikyo lmao.

[@whitewolf3051]

So we essentially have Kikyo and Kikyo 2.0 in the series.

[@ADsama]

@@whitewolf3051 more like a kikyo reboot

[@thephalange8630]

Exactly, I see it more as literal soulmates, if inuyasha would have died before having had a relationship with kagome, I like to believe that he would have been reborn and kikyos and kagomes soul reborn for a third time and then they would have found each other again.

[@Nikobun]

@@whitewolf3051so I’m guessing you didn’t watch the series 🙄

[@Sarah_VVV]

She's the reason why I watched Inuyasha lol.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Yeah me too.

[@razkable]

She died but that does not mean she was wrong

[@FrozenAuroras]

Omggg same

[@monalisacarido6573]

Same.when kikyo died I'd stop to watch Inuyasha

[@everythingbeauty11]

And the reason I will watch it heheh i haven’t 😅 yet 😤

[@Nuloou]

To anyone saying that Kikyo did this and Kikyo did that...After her revival she received the part of the soul filled with hate and sadness while Kagome got the other part of the soul back (prob the loving, peaceful one.) This is even stated by the witch whose name I cannot remeber. So in conclusion the Kikyo post death isnt the real Kikyo but only a hateful,spiteful shadow of her former being. This in fact will not make her act as a pure little angel. What do you expect? Prior to her death and given the circumstances of her living in distance to others she was very loving, gentle and caring. She protects her village at all costs, even sacrificing her own humanity. Living like this I would definately be bitter as hell. She did very good.

[@mazin9193]

Yes it's kinda crazy that people overlook such a fundamental detail about Kikyo, typically to rationalize their hatred, but often times even her fans seemingly forget it. But she "as a vengeful spirit" did develop to become a lot closer to her original self, and I guess some would use this to point out that she still had "free will" and thus had to take responsibility for her sins. I think they're confusing resurrected-Kikyo on a very fundamental level. She was "evil" by the nature of her dark resurrection/tragic death, and "good" by her original essence/memories. We gradually see her essence overwhelm her acquired evil-form, but that doesn't necessarily mean she was "normal". I think Kikyo is a simple character to comprehend, so it's always been really strange to me how varied her character interpretations are.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Look guys kikyo may be evil by ressurecting her but still she is kikyo do not whether or not, she is the good matured person not kagome because kagome is an unmatured person who always torturing inuyasha with sit commands and supports koga while koga is around. Loving the first person and loving the other person it's like betraying with each other . I prefer only kikyo.

[@kielsulsummers3809]

She was my favorite character. She had so many layers, had so much depth and nuance that it was hard to believe that people weren't able to see that, and all they saw was the one who is getting in the way of Kagome's budding relationship with Inuyasha. That reason was so juvenile and childish to me it baffled me that they weren't able to bypass the fact that Kikyo never wanted any of this. She was fixed into being revived agents her wishes, and forced to relive her life the moment after her death. She is the epitome of a tragic character. She never did anything wrong when she was alive, but yet tragedy always befalls her.

[@Emy-fh1zn]

Same, I don’t understand how someone could see kikyo so wrongly and differently to me! I was literally 7 years old when I watched Inuyasha and yet I was able to see the sadness of her story and understand her. I loved her so much

[@choxolip]

I've always admired Kikyo. She was so mature and had so much inner strength that she was more than an anime character to me growing up.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Yeah kikyo is matured and kagome is unmatured.

[@yubeda-k6k-s2r]

Kikyo also is the reason Kagome was born pure. Kikyo's impure resurrection allowed her soul to have time to deal with it's karmas. It's extremely buddist in ideology, but if you think about it Kagome is born with this enormously pure soul like a bodhisattva because Kikyo did her penace. And ultimately, the soul got everything it wished for. There really is no line between them, save personality.

[@PyanY]

Agree. Because if kikyo was not ressureccted, naraku would have put all his effort to kill kagome ( and most likely succeed). In a way, her refusal to pass on, in a way, protected kagome from naraku's obsession. Naraku(onigumo), unlike inyuyasha, was unable to forget kikyo( die his personal physical desire) , while inuyasha(so was drawm to her personality) was able to move on and love kikyo again in her nee form kagome. In a way it represents the whole concept of reincarnation, and letting things from the past go. Very very buddhist

[@amyrat151]

Very philosophical theory, dude.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@PyanY Yes and without kikyo kohaku would not have survived.

[@diocesesius88]

Pure? By being incredibly selfish and abusive?? Yeah I’m not buying that.

[@belfloer]

​@diocesesius88 poor comprehension - those personality shift only happen on the resurrected one, OP is talking how she played the role of priestess dutifully well when she's still a mortal and was reborn with a strong pure soul (kagome) as her good karma

[@clown-cult96]

Growing up and maturing is realising Kikyo is one of the best written characters in the show. Just rewatched the anime recently to erase the godawful sequel from my brain. It’s been ten years since I fully rewatched them show since I first discovered it. Kikyo is so much more complex, kind, thoughtful, self-aware, tragic and powerful than I ever realised or gave her credit for when little 15 year old me first discovered Inuyasha…and boy howdy did the main characters demonising Kikyo and her relationship with Inuyasha make me uncomfy.

[@mazin9193]

Miroku was cool though. I remember him being genuinely understanding to Inuyasha and Kikyo's situation.

[@Nikobun]

Maturing is also realizing that kikyo wasn’t innocent.She and Inuyasha were hurt by naraku but after her resurrection especially she was an extremely toxic and horrible person.Yes we can justify why she was this way but don’t discount her shortcomings.

[@Seoyeaji921]

​@@Nikobun well the ressurected kikyo was born out of hatred.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

I don't know how many people hate kikyo but she is the best.

[@Sam.michael.9144]

@@Seoyeaji921meaning she prolly wasn’t a good person, period.

[@tokyo_taxi7835]

Kikyo was my favorite from the word "go." I always admired how morally complex she was in comparison to the more simplistic and saccharine Kagome. I never understood the hate for her or how she "got in the way" because she was hardly ever around Inuyasha and made it a point to keep her distance. *He* was always the one running after her!

[@whitewolf3051]

Even when he went after her, it wasn't like he was cheating on Kagome per say, most of the time, he wanted either get some closure that he and Kikyo never got prior, answers as to her actions, trying get her join the others, or because she was in immediate danger. Kikyo never went after him as much he did her.

[@GetWellSoonR.E.M.]

Kagome is by NO means simple. Kikyo is probably more complex than Kagome, but Kagome is quite complex herself.

[@Thewritingelf]

💯 percent correct 👌. All facts

[@yndrelbosch3678]

Something a lot of people apparently forget is that Kagome is a fifteen year old girl from the modern world, whereas Kikyo was 18 when she died in a world where the age of maturity was like... 13 or 14. Kikyo was considered an adult, with an adult's responsibilities for YEARS before Kagome and had the mindset to show it. Kagome is not simple, she is a child, and a product of her time.

[@jojoirl]

I hated kikyo as a kid. Looking back at Kikyos character as a teen now, she was so misunderstood. Kikyo was such a complex character. I think what I really hated as a kid, wasn’t kikyo because she wasn’t a bad character by any means. I hated how Kagome and Kikyo were pitted against each other. I hateee stories where girls are compared to each other, and I hate the competition they have. I wish people would see Kikyo and Kagome as two separate, but good, characters. I like both Kagome and Kikyo. They both have their own qualities and I hate when people compare them.

[@andresz1606]

I believe that without comparing them, they were both equally good characters... the problem was that because Kikyo was actually a walking dead during the complete story line, she kept sabotaging Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship all the way up to episode 175. At least we could agree that she didn't belong to the world of the living, and her definitive death should have taken place much earlier, but instead the author decided to make Kagome's life miserable in a constant fashion for almost the complete series.

[@xLadyRaine]

Considering they are the same person , so. of course they are going to be compared

[@gomi1224]

"If there's a character who personifies loneliness...." No wonder the friendless childhood me was so drawn to her. I will defend Kikyo until I'm in my own grave.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Me too i agree.

[@whitewolf3051]

While I *wasn't* friendless, I liked Kikyo better than Kagome. Along with Sango, and a few others, I like Kikyo way better than some.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@whitewolf3051 i agree with you.

[@brightlove8830]

Can I say kikyo is the most misunderstood character in the whole series. She is the representation of human beings, she can be selfish by wanting or desiring Inuyasha. But she can be selfless by sacrificing her own wants and needs to protect her village. She had such responsibilities at a young age and had to deal with all of that on her own, even though her sister was there. Her coming to life was the worst thing she could have wanted, being forced to go back into a life she did not like. The most human character I have ever read in any show. I love her so much due to me finally understanding and relating to her

[@amyrat151]

Kikyou is a truly great character because you can't put her into a simple box. While she does a lot of awful things, her actions make solid sense. When she's selfish a person can't help but say, "I probably would have done the same thing."

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Me too

[@ela-yn2ol]

Kikyo is extremely popular in China.

[@moonlightprincess449]

Her theme sounds Chinese and her name I believe is a Chinese word for bellflower

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@moonlightprincess449 yeah

[@DozingGreen-fz6rg]

Of course she is 😂

[@DozingGreen-fz6rg]

Of course she is 😂

[@hellosky5537]

It never ceases to amaze me how people endlessly misinterpret kikyo as a character. Kikyo is a character seeking nirvana above all else when she is revived, forcefully. So, kikyo has to naturally let go of all things to achieve this, her hate, her love, and also her duty. Which is the core part of her identity. The duty to be the jewels protector. Kikyo taking the shards from kagome is no mistake. Kagome and inuyasha as they were, are too weak to have them. This is a fair assessment from Kikyo, as kagome herself was powerless against Naraku's illusions and had to be saved. Inuyasha nearly falling victim to an identical trap. Kikyo, would not have had such a struggle. Inuyasha and his gang inherently interfere with her plan. Why have so many shards scattered causing more death when you can simply centralize them with a weak owner. Additionally, inuyasha's cave man approach to defeating naraku (let me just swing teasaiga and break his body!!!) Has been proven time and time again to be completely pointless. Kikyo had the best plan from a guardians perspective. Her plan is later proven to be on the right track by midoriko, and midoriko's will to merge the shards together. Midoriko gives kikyo her soul in comradeship as two twin souls fighting the same legendary fight. If kikyo were so wrong in this, midoriko would not support her. Where kikyo failed was underestimating narakus willingness to shed onigumo. Additionally as told by urusue, what anchored kikyo to this world was her undying grudge and hatred of inuyasha As she began to lose those feelings the energy that moved her body lessened The souls of maidens were never enough to bind kikyo to that realm. So, and thus, as kikyo learned about naraku and the circumstances of her death those intense feelings weakened along with her body. And kikyo, realizing this beings to change her plans once more. Naraku's ellusiveness inherently turns the clock against kikyo. She is on borrowed time where he is on infinite. Kikyo moves to prepare kagome for her fight, and begins to save as many people as she can along the way. Kikyo has already let go of her hate, now she must let go of her love and duty, in order to truly pass over. She shares one final passionate kiss with inuyasha and bids him farewell. Her vengeance for naraku turns into a pure light that creates a miracle to bring kohaku back to life. She has let go of her duty, and it is time to rest. Kikyo lead a thankless life when alive, bound into mikoship simply for being born with exceptional spiritual powers. She wanted for nothing, until she met inuyasha. Kikyos only fault was falling in love. Deeply. The events that lead to her death were inevitable. Her spiritual powers were on the deep decline, yet the jewel didn't cease in attraction. If someone loves you they will want to ease your burdens. Kagome does this for inuyasha. She understands he has a deep sadness that needs to be healed. Inuyasha understood kikyo had a deep sadness as well, so naturally as someone who loved her, why wouldn't he try to help? Inuyasha does the same self sacrificing for kikyo, that kagome does for inuyasha, yet it is seen as manipulation by kikyo. How? When inuyasha fully consented several times to the idea? It had nothing to do with kikyos acceptance, when she had never met inuyashas human side, so how could she have a bias?? For the majority of inuyasha and kikyos relationship, him becoming human hadn't crosses her mind. It was due to her faltering powers that she considered it. Inuyasha when recalling this to keade even says it was an abrupt thing. If you take the two episode love story as cannon, it makes sense. Kikyo created the beads of subjugation. If kikyo had only planned to use inuyasha to rid herself of the jewel she wouldn't need the beads. If she never trusted him, she would have put them on. People forget inuyasha and kikyo started out as natural enemies, and kikyo always had the duty of protecting a full shikon no Tama. Kagome is able to succeed where kikyo couldn't because a, kagome was no Guardian of a complete jewel, and b she also had the safety net of the beads. Kagome and inuyasha were allowed to develop naturally and without much resistance, where inuyasha and kikyo's relationship had an unavoidable power dynamic, status dynamic and strain. So for fans to say, oh kikyo didn't trust inuyasha, or she only wanted to use him to become human I urge you to look again. Kikyo trusted inuyasha immensely Perhaps too much given their situation. And unlike inuyasha, she is cut off from her preexisting world due to her circumstances. Even her own blood sister has traded her for her reincarnation. She is forced to deal with her trauma and feelings on her own, and is the first to bow out of the love triangle that sunrise sacrificed her character for to prop up. Kikyo like everyone else in the series was a victim to naraku, fans just hate her more because "mah shipppp"

[@halik919]

One of the best comments written in defence of Kikyo!! Really, Thank you. I would like also to add another point that we missed, which is Kikyo not bringing her arrow and bow when going to meet Inuyasha to transform him. This means she completely trusted him, unfortunately he didn't :(

[@hellosky5537]

@@halik919 exactly, this is why inuyasha probably feels so horrible about the situation. Also, naraku plays into this as well, by showing inuyasha a bloody apparition of kikyo and point blank saying to inuyasha's face that kikyo followed him into death, really messed with his head. Kikyo the vigilant guardian of the jewel, met with inuyasha at the break of dawn, in an open field, with no weapons, holding the most powerful artifact known to all demon kind, and had for a moment been distracted enough to turn her back, and lower her head. Naraku didn't prey on their trust, he preyed on their *fears which is inherently *worse It wasn't that they didn't have trust it was just *broken, and inuyasha's trust was broken far easier than kikyo's if you judge how badly kikyo had it in comparison. Kikyo was the begrudgement of all yokai kind, she was the very antithesis of what they collectively hated, so kikyo getting mangled, ripped apart, and torn open is no mistake. Kikyo didn't even have a moment to think rationally, for this person, regardless of it being inuyasha or not, has declared they will destroy her village and murder her only living relative, kikyo *had to act. But despite all of that, despite all that turmoil. Kikyo wished to be free, and her feelings for inuyasha reached the jewel. She loved him, more than anything or anyone else. When she is revived she pledges her fealty to inuyasha once more, assuring him that she would not allow another man to touch a single hair on her head. Kikyo was dedicated, and fiercely loyal to just inuyasha. She rejected the idea of any other suitors. There is no koga esque person in kikyo's life, no hojo like suitor. Just, and only inuyasha.

[@mindyours316]

I absolutely love this comment so much

[@kikyoinuyashashipper4636]

I love Inuyasha x kikyo, but I absolutely despise kagome. You made good points. But I still despise kagome, in my opinion from what I've seen and read of the inukag relationship kagome is the exact same in both. Is Absolutely selfish, abusive,hypocritical,self centered,an attention whore and a spoiled brat, kagome is just attracted to Inuyasha because of kikyo, because kikyo and Inuyasha are legit soulmates, because it's not a coincidence that him and kikyos reincarnation get together in the end. they only added a kiss for inukag in the anime when it doesn't exist in the manga, and yet they took out and changed and took out allot of things for inukik scenes.

[@annejackielee]

LOUDER LOUDER LOUDER

[@ozoralimbu7091]

Kikyo is the best character no matter what other says

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Me too I Love kikyo more than anyone.

[@grilledlettuce5130]

Sesshoumaru exists

[@kairalampute3122]

Yes I'm obsessed with kikyo

[@joshuasam6445]

Same I like too✌

[@whitewolf3051]

She's among my favorite characters, the others being Sango, Yura, and Kagura. The fact Kikyo has one the better dub voices ever, Willow Johnson is the voice of Kikyo for me.

[@mr.meowmeow672]

It's just like you were reading my mind :) Kikyo has always been my favorite character yet so misunderstood. Just thinking of her makes me feel sad because she never had any chances to really live. Thanks so much for posting this. Such profound content, and awesome edit!!!

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Inuyasha and kikyo are meant to be each other but naraku spoiled everything by Framing inuyasha of kikyo's murder , inuyasha and kikyo are the best lovers of all.

[@amyrat151]

The tragedy is what makes her so interesting, however. Without the tragedy her story would be no where near as impactful as it is. It's be like taking away the suicide in Romeo and Juliet.

[@venom1111ful]

I see some people talk that Kikyo just loves the human side of Inuyasha, I think it's wrong. Kikyo loves all of him and she thinks if she wishes to vanish the demon blood inside Inuyasha then the jewel made by the demon will be purify too ( She thought it was the right wish), So she and he can live a happy life without carrying duty on shoulder

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Inuyasha and kikyo wanted to become human and live a happy life.

[@aldankero5624]

So what happen if the jewel being purify ?

[@SleeperFantasy]

@@aldankero5624 it would disappear like how when kagome asked for it to dissaper when she wished

[@damesayo4656]

@@SleeperFantasy No, the only RIGHT wish for it is to disappear exactly. IF anyone would wished for their own happiness,even the most innocent wish, it would be no end to it. Kikyo would replace Midoriko like Shikon planned later to do to Kagome if she wished to see Inuyasha.

[@AdeptKing]

Their feelings were real. They wouldn't be feeling things so harshly if they weren't real.

[@shaifs5072]

I grew up watching Inuyasha on Adult Swim. I never had anything against Kikyo. Always felt many didn't understand what it felt to be wronged, didn't understand her pain , her loneliness, her betrayal, her sacrifice, what it took to make the right choices. Life will you make you angry and that can bring you to some very dark places.

[@BobGolob]

Kikyo was my favorite character from the show; a true romantic character, with a tragic destiny. She sacrificed her happiness to fulfill her duty.

[@muamua101]

I have barely watched any of Inuyasha but had always felt this way towards Kikyo and finally someone has put it into word! Thank you.

[@thesoultheory3822]

I want to add that both in the manga and anime version, Kikyo's thirst for life became more emergent. She began to accept and pursue her individual desires, including her love for Inuyasha ("Free to hate, free to love." - Kikyo, anime version) Yes, at times she did it in harmful ways, but ultimately it was a struggle of an individual trying to achieve individualistic wholeness post-death because she was denied that chance in life. And that struggle to be whole as an individual -- self-oriented desires and all -- is human and so relatable. It's why I fell in love with her character when I was 16 years old. Excellent vid, btw!

[@TazHall]

Well said!

[@beckmay5287]

Kikyo was always my favorite character in that show. I always felt deeply connected to her and felt i could relate to her the most. When she was finally officially killed it felt like a peice of me died with her. I hate how she was so misunderstood and misinterpreted. All she wanted was peace, love, happiness, and to belong.

[@heavenofnirvana6270]

Kikyo is my favorite character and she never did wrong. It was Naraku who freaking did it. Blamed him. Not her. Because he's responsible for her death, making her this way.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Yeah I agree with you but I hate kagome always telling sit commands and sesshomaru tortures inuyasha when inuyasha becomes demon nature.

[@saitama1035]

I know right like everyone just keeps saying that Kikyo just keeps ruining the ship between Kagome and Inuyasha like honestly she had a life just as tragic as Kagome feelings.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@saitama1035 do you like kikyo ?

[@saitama1035]

@@narendaranbommannan2436 yes I like kikyo it's just that she gets so much hate

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@saitama1035 it was naraku who made it like this and framing inuyasha for kikyo's murder.

[@LCardosed92]

I watched Inuyasha when I was 11. I never hated Kikyo. Quite the opposite, I always found her the most interesting character in the show. I got surprised years later when I found out many people hated her. But at the end of the day those haters are usually fangirls who self-inserted into Kagome and saw Kikyo as a threat.

[@simplicitylost]

Kikyō was and has always been my favorite InuYasha character. The loneliness and existential dread she faced on a daily basis… it felt very relatable to my teenage self. She is a tragic character. She deserves our sympathy, not animosity.

[@JeanaSama58]

Kikyo is the victim here and when she was revived she just wanted to make sure Inuyasha will be safe until Naraku is deds Kikyo is too loyal

[@moondust1901]

Kikyos only Mistake was loving inuyasha more than Herself…

[@TheWimpyFruit]

SHE DIDNT DO A DAM THING WRONG THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO. I would die for her my soul eating queen

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

You don't need to because we already know that kikyo is a good woman with great beauty , traditional and kind.

[@whitewolf3051]

@@narendaranbommannan2436 Yet many people fail to see her the way we, who like her, do. Pity those fools. After the first few episodes, I read the manga at a book store, though never bought any of the books, and saw the woman that the others didn't. If those who saw the anime only took time to read the manga as well, they would understand her better.

[@rcy7640]

When Superman died, everyone tried to save him！when kikyo died，have ever anyone tried to save her？NO!!!Even when kikyo was brought back to life，everyone told her she must die！！！All of them,even inuyasha and Kaede tried to murder her，again！！！

[@rcy7640]

Kikyo sacrificed herself to save the world，twice ！！！have you done anything good？The most selfish people always say the greatest things！

[@uchiha5531]

best character alongside with Sesh and Kagura. Being anti hero and hero at the same time are my favorite characters. They are the most realistic yet misunderstood. Being torn for what's right and wrong are really interesting concept and their character development is really promising.

[@didles123]

I always wanted more Kikyo ever since that scene which you animated at 5:07. I supposed it just moved me more than the average fan who just saw her as an obstacle to Kagome and hated her. Every time she appeared in the series I had more anticipation for what would happen next, and I had some hope that Kikyo and Inuyasha could rekindle their relationship and Kagome could just return to her time and perhaps she could come across an Inuyasha reincarnation in her own time. Obviously with hindsight it's clear why that would never happen. I was also really hooked on the soundtracks that played for Kikyo. I found Kikyo to be the more romantic option compared to Kagome. They were each other's first love. Kikyo and Inuyasha has a great impact on each other. Kagome does tame Inuyasha a bit further, but the way she treats him as a pet and keeps on the control necklace on him throughout the series demonstrates a lack of respect and trust. It's nice to come across others who appreciate Kikyo, though I have to keep in mind there are many different reasons why some would like her character. I really loved her strong sense of duty and sacrifice, even though the narrative makes it out to be the cause of her downfall.

[@alliandra5011]

Never has truer words been said. I believe Kagome is too young to go through such things with Inuyasha. She says sit way too often, and shows some entitlement towards him when Kikyo is involved as if she’s his wife. Never in the series have she ever established a relationship with Inuyasha. So, this is just a girl pining over a friend who doesn’t treat her very well. Kikyo brought Inuyasha’s best, not Kagome. Them beads she unfortunately made is dog collar. Kikyo didn’t even give it to him because she knew it was a crappy thing to do. Ugh!!

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@@alliandra5011 Yeah I agree i like kikyo the most and beautiful person than kagome.

[@piyo4341]

Kikyo! Very popular anime character in China. His name 桔梗 in Chineses is also the name of a kind of flower.

[@arbsan8366]

Kikyo is my fav anime character of all time! I just love the dynamic of her story so much. When I see all the hate she gets online it honestly reminds me of a bunch of immature people whining about her because did just look at her situation on such a surface level thing and don’t actually understand what she’s been through or what she felt she must do. I really try not to pay attention to the haters I love Kikyo and nothing anyone can say will change that

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Yeah inuyasha and kikyo are the best lovers and the real love.

[@VirgoStoneLamarr]

Let's be honest a lot of people misunderstood her character because we mostly watched inuyasha when we weren't mature enough to deeply understand the show. We watched the show late nights on adult swim as kids growing up.

[@sasukeismybaby7510]

I watched it when I was six years old and Kikyo was my favorite character since the beginning

[@lukekardoso6022]

I watched when I was a kid and Kikyo was by far my favorite character. In general me and other boys who watched the show loved Kikyo far more than Kagome. Kikyo's hatred came from girls who self-inserted into Kagome and saw Kikyo as a threat.

[@VirgoStoneLamarr]

@@lukekardoso6022 True. Kikyo and Kogra were always my personal favs.

[@Not_a_Saint9891]

Kagome was basically everything Kikyo wished to become which is sad because she never had the chance to live it, except the very last minute she had with Inuyasha after she finally rests.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Really kikyo is worth for inuyasha but naraku killed her thrice.

[@goldenhourss]

@@narendaranbommannan2436the bitch deserves it😂

[@Made-in-mind]

My goal in real life is to be like Kikyo... compassionate, loving, caring, smarty, understanding, responsible and reliable. I truly care her for this character which is close to my heart. We even share the same fate in relation to the Love life.

[@Queenlylux]

💗💗 I absolutely feel you in the same way. It’s best to embrace your femininity and view yourself as sacred 💗 we can totally achieve this . #femininityjourney

[@D_dompa]

a great explanation. I adore her since childhood. I find her jealousy understandable and backstory beautiful. you explain this beautifully

[@momogoes3329]

Kikyo had always been one of my favorites and upon rewatch of the series I like her even more now. She was always shown helping others and being kind even when it was to her detriment. She had immense spiritual power and a deep understanding of nature which made the antagonists fear her. Inuyasha wasn't cheating on Kagome. He flat out said he was choosing Kikyo and Kagome said she still wanted to stay by Inuyasha's side. I never liked it when Kagome got mad at him whenever Kikyo was around and she would tell him to sit. The two girls had the same soul I wish the series treated it more like soul mates and less like love rivals.

[@subzerohf]

I almost cried when I saw this video essay (today), because Kikyo is my most beloved female character of all time. No other has even come close.

[@LudwolfBeethozart1485]

I think just the same, man. Kikyo is the greatest female character ever created in manga/anime history

[@gaelicfleur-de-lis6219]

I prefer Kikyo to Kagome. I like her story with Inuyasha and think they made a better couple. There I said it. Freaking fight me 😂

[@jisselcastellanos1332]

Since I was a kid, I always had sympathy for the “villains”. Growing up, luckily, I was surrounded by love from my family, so I just thought about how tragic it was for them to become the “bad” person and not have the pleasure to experience love freely. So, naturally Kikyo’s story would just break my heart every time I saw her on screen being mean or when her sad theme song would come on :( I just thought about how she just wanted her love back and was mad at what could have been, but can never be. I was such a softie as a kid always trying to see the other side of things lol RIP Kikyo!

[@thephalange8630]

She is my all time fave character in any anime to have ever existed. 😭 i have never cried so much over a fictional character, ever. The tragic fact that she was hated by so many people in the fandom, for childish reasons, kagome is better wah, wah *continuously crying like a baby* When kagome has kikyos soul, and inuyashas and that soul are clearly SOULmates. It doesn't matter who and how they are, it is very clear that soulmates exist in their world and they were that. If inuyasha would have died, I strongly believe kagome would have been reborn around the same time and area inuyashas soul would have and they would have yet again found one another. Even if they would have been completely different than inuyasha, kikyo or kagome. From my point of view, that is the intended story, people just crying kagome kagome kagome, are to me children... it's juet annoying that people have been crying this 15 years ago AND STILL DO TODAY. Have none of you all grown up for the love of god?

[@Inuyasha2018]

kikyo and inuyasha belong together

[@yeah6281]

Kikyo is the only reason I watched Inuyasha. I honestly skipped a lot of episodes, I only watched if kikyo was on the episode.

[@gelierose2184]

Same

[@swonnyuu]

SAMEE

[@asmrmissbellum1588]

Sameee

[@yarethjonhnycadre7764]

me with her and sesshomaru

[@5lives1love]

Same

[@joselazo9799]

Very old video but something I noticed. I was always in the Kikyo camp, a lot of my friends, GF included, hated Kikyo. Now that we're all older, we all like Kikyo more and actually find Kagome kind of annoying lol.

[@tiffanymorningstar7008]

I was really young when inuyasha was on. I didnt understand the story that well and saw kikiyo as a villian. As an adult its heartbreaking

[@andresz1606]

The villain here was the author Rumiko T. who decided to kept the resurrected, empty shell of Kikyo messing around with Inuyasha's feelings and sabotaging his romantic relationship with Kagome for no less than 175 episodes.

[@imayamunasinghe]

Best explanation I've seen about Kikyo and your voice and speech made me cry. Kikyo is my favorite character of all time. As Kagome and Kikyo share the same soul, I'm happy that her soul is finally being happy like the way she deserves.

[@Mighty.Matcha.]

Her character has a lot of depth, I hate her a lot when I was a kid but when I got older I kinda realised she didn’t choose to be This way

[@Mighty.Matcha.]

@ǞЯƮΦЯiǞ РęПDЯǞgΦП Sangio is another one of my favourites.

[@Makoto778]

I also like Kikyo as a character, and pretty much for the same reasons. Rewatched Inuyasha a few years back to improve my Japanese, and that allowed me to appreciate Inuyasha on a deeper level, beyond my childhood lens. Recently also watched Yashahime season 1, but still waiting on season 2 to come out. Just wondering what are your thoughts on Yashahime if you've watched it?

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Ok

[@charlottestarlet7371]

I’m a Kikyo fan. She, Kagura and the demon princess with the birds, Princess Abi I think? are my favorite females in Inuyasha.

[@strength9621]

You are sooooo good. If you can, please develop more content. You laid out an excellent explanation of Kikiyo’s character and her point of view of Kagome.

[@jeswicas]

THANK YOU for this. Kikyou is so wildly misunderstood by the fandom and having people get her is so refreshing. Also your editing in this is EXCELLENT. It's a joy to watch!

[@moonlightprincess449]

How could she be a home wrecker Inuyasha and Kagome were never married lol and they never had kids during the time she was still on earth, plus she was with him first. 😂

[@moonlightprincess449]

@Keem B exactly and Inuyasha to me was never embarrassed to show his feelings to her, he straight up told her he loved her still.

[@inuyashaxkikyo9192]

LMFAOOO!!!! thank u I been saying the same thing!

[@tomkrueger6556]

But kikyo never had a cheance to fuck with inuyasha but Kagome did in one of episodes

[@LukeVMH-Games]

they knew each other for literally like a month and inuyasha falls for her instead of bad ass kikyo . smh. inuyasha said “her souls here but she feels cold and dead.” i think he just wanted to stay alive

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Inuyasha and kikyo are the best lovers

[@sadpuppy413]

This is the best talk of kikyo. I did feel her pain since I started seeing inuyasha anime

[@pgkleinannie]

Oh kikyo and inuyasha. How i wished that they will make a sequel for this two hearts.

[@NevTheStampede]

Never thought I'd see a mid 2000s YTV promo today. Good stuff Sooin

[@bravo0105]

She’s an outstanding character and a tribute to the incredible talent of Rumiko Takahashi.

[@nicoletravis8702]

Kikyo also deserved no toxic hate from the radical fans of Inuyasha, especially the Kagome-Inuyasha shippers that have total apathy for her since her revival she decided to kill Inuyasha out of the mistaken assumption that he betrayed and killed her when it was Naraku who shattered their romantic relationship.

[@randomgirl8684]

When I watched the show as a teenager, I thought of Kikyo as an obstacle to Inuyasha and Kagome's love relationship, I also despised her. I am recently rewatching the whole thing because I want to start Yashahime after. Now I realize that Kikyo was never to blame and was trying to live a simple and happy life helping random villagers😢😢😢. Now I think the writers have been so cruel with her, like she died thinking Inuyasha betrayed her, she came back to life full of hatred so she was not the pure heaven maiden (I think that is what she was called...) anymore. And she had to die... for this one though if she did not die, Kagome would have never be born as she is her reincarnation...

[@andresz1606]

Yet she did manage to sabotage Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship for no less than 175 episodes, making Kagome feel miserable for almost the complete show's runtime until her final, definitive death. Kagome could have simply returned to the present era and stay there but she decided to stay alongside Inuyasha anyway, I guess that gives kudos to Kagome.

[@randomgirl8684]

@@andresz1606 If you rewatch the show, you will see that it was Inuyasha who always came back to Kikyo though....

[@tomtan7352]

Kikyo is underrated and this video needs more views

[@Auroche]

The editing for the size of your channel is top tier, more people need to see content like this.

[@xsweetcupcakekagome]

I love kikyo so much :(((

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

Me too

[@Inuyasha2018]

me too

[@whitewolf3051]

I like listening to her voice actress, both dub and sub, and like her design. Don’t who voices her in sub, but Willow Johnson nails it in dub.

[@Inuyashaluva89]

This was beautiful!

[@theshowshow3888]

loved this. I love Kikyo because I felt lost and out of place for a long time. I just relate to her more.

[@Aceofwolves]

The respect kikyo demanded from birth isnt an enviable position. its entrapping and suffocating. a constant effort to maintain at your own expense. being propped up as a god, strips ones ability to mess up. to mess up is to be human. its what binds us all.

[@Arielle_monet]

Um did you forget that she made kogome invisible and tight her up to a tree and then purposely make out with Inuyasha in font of Kogome? 😭

[@momogoes3329]

I wish that when the soul Kikyo was using returned to Kagome, Kagome gain Kikyo's memories. That way she would truly be both women. Kagome wouldn't be jealous and Inuyasha wouldn't have to mourn.

[@saneki_SeiyaxUsagi]

Kagome would have to take over Kikyō's entire consciousness, not just her memories, to connect with it.

[@momogoes3329]

@@saneki_SeiyaxUsagi Right, I'm talking about a fusion of the two women.

[@rurisuoh7919]

As a teen before, ofc I would hate Kikyo hahaha. But as I grew older, I started to appreciate her character. At the end of the day, she just wanted to live a happy life with the man she loved. It's just painful thay Naraku destroyed everything. I honestly like the dynamic of Kikyo and Inuyasha more than InuKag. InuKik is light, calm and strong, while InuKag is chaotic, loud but unbreakable. The only part I didnt like with Kikyo is when she purposely hurt Kagome. I know its out of bitterness, but I know she could take it better since they both have the sam soul. Kikyo btwbis the prettiest chara in the series. Her beauty is so... just... chef kiss

[@LudwolfBeethozart1485]

Kikyo is maybe my favorite character ever in manga/anime history and by far my favorite female one. The enchanting spiritual complexity involved in her characterization only exalts Rumiko Takahashi 's big genius. She is truly the only mangaka to have ever dug into a structured and right analysis of both female and male (yang and yin) nature 's natural subconsciousness and its complementary combination and coexistence (Her work Ranma 1/2 encapsulates it). The flute music (created by Kaoru Wada, another genius) at the start of the video really captures Kikyo 's majestic soul connection to the purity of the universe. I'm especially talking about the Kikyo character before her first death. The gentle and quiet priestess without any hatred for existence, full of courage and pride against the banality of evil, that only wanted to be a complete, free woman to enlight her essence: enjoy the casual love of life with the loved one who could really extend her own personality to the depth of the universe, rejecting actively any kind of cultural imposition. That's what the average woman should really aspire to be, obviously with her own way of being.

[@xLadyRaine]

I’ve always loved kikyo. her rage, her resentment felt so real to me

[@LostPeopleOfEarth158]

When I first watched Inuyasha I don't recall having many thoughts on Kikyo. Probably because I wasn't much into romance at the time. Rewatching it as an adult I realized it was pretty complicated. I didn't think their was really anything wrong with Inuyasha not being able to let her go. She was his first love and he lost her tragically. It only made sense he would be confused and conflicted when she got resurrected before he had fully moved on. And she just kept coming back before he could puzzle it out. Inuyasha also didn't seem to be the most connected and comprehending of his emotions. I found Kikyo's jealousy of Kagome completely understandable. Once she realized she'd been tricked she had lost her chance. She was dead and Inuyasha was starting to move on. They never properly broke up or healed from each other and as long as Kikyo was around they never would. I found Kagome to be the kind of annoying one in this triangle on my most recent watch through. But I don't mind the way it was handled. She knew she was stepping into a mess and all emotions associated with were going to be messy as well. She even understood it would be hard for Inuyasha to let Kikyo go. She would get jealous when he'd run after her but she kind of got why and never forbid him from doing it. It was a messy situation beginning to end but I did like how it was handled. Even if some parts didn't age well. And it was pretty obvious how it would have to end. Kikyo was going to die again at some point. I'm happy she did so to save my actual favorite character, Kohaku. Lots of tragic characters in that story. I'll have to drag my brother into this in a few more years when he's old enough to understand it.

[@blooms454]

I see what you’re saying. I had a hard time processing the love triangle because while I understood Kikyo and Inuyasha’s struggles to let each other go, I was heartbroken for Kagome. Inuyasha was her first love and her soul purpose was quite literally to find him and he with him. Even if she was understanding, I can’t imagine how painful it is to see someone you love and who loves you too also love and run after someone else…if that makes sense? It was also confusing because Kagome and Kikyo shared the same soul. I was confused and emotionally drained. I understood Kikyo and Inuyasha’s pain, I just really wished they hadn’t dragged a Poor 15 year old girl into this mess. I think if Inuyasha was yearning for Kikyo and “cheated” on Kagome, then he should’ve just ended it with her instead being in this unfair flux state. It was hard to empathize with Kikyo and Inuyasha because I just felt so bad for Kagome 😅

[@davy209]

After rewatching “Inuyasha” again, as an adult, I really don’t like Kagome as the main protagonists. She doesn’t really serve a purpose to the main story about killing Naraku as the official endgame goal. Out of all the main characters in the show, Kagome’s motivation to kill Naraku isn’t anything near as urgent as everyoneelse. Since she can always go back to her timeline, there’s no real urgency for her to risk her life to kill Naraku when she always has the ability to leave everything behind if shit really hits the fan! Finally, Kagome only becomes essential to kill Naraku as soon Kikyo has died.

[@cinnabhyun8585]

@@davy209💯💯💯

[@topilepojarvicomposer6157]

Thank you for this video! The Kikyo hate was honestly just something I came across in the anime comment sections - teenagers too heavily invested in just one aspect and character of the story, Kagome Most friends of mine read the manga and seemed to view Kikyo as a sad backstory and an iconic part of the violent, supernatural world of Inuyasha. She was my favourite from the start. Still the most tragic character I've ever come across The loneliness in her eyes...

[@zerjiozerjio]

What an elegant, generous take. she’s my favorite too. my life has always had me at the edge of society, armed with some unique talents. but not enough to escape.

[@amyrat151]

My favorite character in InuYasha is Kagome but the character I appreciate the most is Kikyou. I say this because well-written anti-heroins are not in vast supply and probably because I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan. I felt like I “got” Kikyou right away because in Buffy the Vampire Slayer there’s a lot of stuff about the plight of a slayer and what that all means, which is a “short, brutal life.” And in a few ways Kikyou had it worse than a slayer because she didn’t have anyone to guide or teacher her or a great legacy to draw inspiration or comfort from. Kikyou was completely alone. Yes, she had Kaede but since Kaede was so young, she was also an obligation for Kikyou. Kaede calls her “Onee-sama,” which is both highly respectful and distant. Kikyou’s story is a great tragedy and hers and InuYasha’s love story is interesting because it was doomed. InuYasha and Kikyou shared empathy, understanding, and kindness so their feelings were based on a real foundation, even though they lacked trust. That all being said, the pair of them also looked to the other to be the all-encompassing answer to their problems. This is flawed and foolish but totally understandable given the situation. InuYasha was willing to become human and Kikyou needed the Shikon no Tama gone to live a mundane life. However, their plan was doomed to failure, if even if Naraku wasn’t around, because the Shikon no Tama can only be purified by wishing it out of existence. As well-meaning as Kikyou and InuYasha’s plan was to use the jewel, they still wanted to use it for their shared gain. PS: Thank you for using the clips in Japanese. I have warmed a little more the English dub over the years and I’ve always liked Willow Johnson’s Kikyou but the English dub just does not hold a candle to the Japanese track.

[@R-na_Rose]

Can I just say that kikyo is so majestic with those soul collectors she has

[@Whatzup711]

So beautifully put. Reminded me of why I love this series so much.

[@ellen6204]

Kikyo in the manga is wayyyyyy better than in the anime

[@apa7483]

Nonton manganya dimana ya

[@amyrat151]

I thought they made her just a little too evil in the anime.

[@itsmebeyonder]

Kikyo is that one kind of character I'd let slide. Some of her actions are questionable such as when she tried to kill Inuyasha and when she gave Naraku the large portion of Shikon jewel. In the end I neither hate or like her, I just let her be. It was the same with Hakushin case. Also 10 August of 2021.

[@narendaranbommannan2436]

@Keem B yes she tried to give the remaining number of shards of the shikon jewel to naraku but not for keeping it , she wanted it to defeat naraku . Inuyasha and kikyo are the best lovers . I love kikyo more than anyone.

[@Anakin737]

@Keem B They only way to defeat Naraku was to purify the Jewel with him. If she decided to give him the jewel or not, Naraku still needed to have the entire jewel for that plan to work. This was the ONLY way. By giving it to him herself, the plan only accelerated faster. I think MANY people missed the point of this and didn’t get why Kikyo did that and just started hating on her.

[@jessiesargent7212]

@@Anakin737 I think it would have been better if she told her plan to inuyasha and the group before doing so without ever giving them the chance to have any input on the idea. Also, the soul sucking is still kind of a red flag

[@yubeda-k6k-s2r]

Hating Kikyo because of Kagome is just a sign of immaturity and lack of understanding of others. I really don't need to explain further since your video is so eloquently explanatory.. but, if you hated Kikyo because of Kagome not sorry, you're immature and lacking empathy. Kikyo is a master class of empathy, acceptance, grief, and letting go no matter how much it hurts. Kikyo is the best character in the series, the most complex.

[@abrawolf]

Ivw been rewatching some episodes recently since thw last time i religiously watxhed inuyasha was when i was like, 7, im surprises to hwar that people didnt like kikyo. I always that she was cool with her little snake spirits and kind of sad, with the moments from cwrtain episodes where she deels like shes at here lowest really sticking with me

[@jemuymuy]

I love her so much. I'm glad she found her peace in the end, but her life was really sad.

[@charlespwnage5435]

Holy shit the ytv digimon promo. I miss the old days of ytv. Was one of my main channels from the 90s to the 2000s

[@OroborusFMA]

Definitely one of my all-time favorite characters. I preferred her depiction more in the earlier seasons but never stopped liking her.

[@KikyoSamaLover05]

So glad someone made a video defending this beautiful lady! Kikyo is one of those characters who got so deeply into my heart and soul and I love her so much! I think it is due to the fact I relate A LOT to her ❤ I will be a Kikyo lover and defender till my very last day

[@venicedoll821]

This is beautifully done. Thank you for defending our priestess

[@ayamehimura9482]

I will say… My friend and I get why Kikyo gave the Shikon Jewel to Naraku, but wven then, she was somewhat doubtful. My friend and I simply didn’t like how she treated Kagome verbally and how she gave the Jewel to Naraku.

[@scottlemay3386]

❤ She's my favorite character too ❤

[@SiriusGalilei]

As much as I prefer Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship over Kikyo's and Inuyasha's, I don't hate Kikyo, and in fact see her as a more tragic character. In fact I feel sorry for her, as while Inuyasha and Kagome get to have their happy ending, Kikyo never gets that, and never even knows if any of her efforts will help defeat Naraku. All she originally wanted was to be an ordinary woman and live a normal life, which was why she suggested to Inuyasha that she make a wish on the Shikon Jewel to make Inuyasha a human, so they could both get they want. Her wish to be a normal human being and be with Inuyasha isn't wrong, even with Kagome in the picture. She is just a character who fate has dealt a terrible hand. Kikyo even when she is resurrected isn't someone who I think intends on living after Naraku is defeated, but she continues because this is a matter that she feels she must deal with before moving on, for other people's peace and tranquility if not her own. Kikyo may have her own way of doing things, but like Inuyasha and his friends, it is so Naraku can no longer hurt others with his machinations. Kikyo is not a bad person, and I don't think Kagome thinks that either, because she sees how much pain Kikyo is in. I think in this fandom (and many others), a lot of those who love a particular pairing let their personal feelings blind themselves to a pairing that opposes the one they support, so in their mind they must find some flaw, real or imagined, that supports their own claim as to why their favorite pairing should be valid. It's an unfortunate part of any fandom with fans who care about the characters, and I'll admit at one time I was like that too. But I think part of maturing as a person is recognizing the nuance of a character that I may once have disliked.

[@christinatran7093]

Hello. I thought that Kikyo is a great person. More greater than Kagome. She never gets revenge especially jealousy on Kagome’s love for Inuyasha. She wants peace just like me. She did nothing wrong. This is final. Thank you. Thank you. Goodbye.

[@Nikobun]

Hun she literally tried to kill Kagome out of jealousy..y’all are silly

[@kyrudo]

Amazingly edited! What a great video! :^D

[@sammiepittman3130]

Her and Kagome are two of the most misinterpreted characters of the series

[@nicoletravis8702]

InuYasha only stayed with Kagome because Kikyo was dead, otherwise he would never look at this insufferable girl

[@FabledRomance]

She’s my favorite. Kagome can choke..horribly written, grating, repetitive, insecure, b!tchy, perpetually in the way or distracting, emotionally/physically abusive & self-centered..yet we’re supposed to like her..and root for her in spite of Inuyasha being her ancestor’s 1st true love? My God..the series would have been twice as good w/o her. The present era added nothing to the series. We were all anxiously waiting to get back to the Sengoku period.

[@seassand]

This is such a beautifully put together video. The mixing of anime and manga slides have me mesmerized

[@masterzombie161]

I mean it’s kind of hard to defend that she gave Naraku the nearly completed jewel and tried to appeal to his heart. Yea she didn’t die from that encounter but it was still really stupid that it could’ve gotten everyone killed.

[@andresz1606]

I've seen Final Act only recently, after a 15 year gap, and I didn't get the point of giving Naraku the complete shikon jewel. Maybe I'll have to rewatch it again soon to clear that out. That being said, getting rid of the jewel was a troublesome and complex topic that deserves a video review of its own.

[@sighswoons]

Her revival episode is one of the best episodes in the series

[@5lives1love]

6:00 this has to be one of the most beautiful moments of her, her beauty is beyond this world

[@ravenartistofficial]

The gay crush I STILL have for this woman is insane. Kikiyo and Sesshomaru were my first loves 😅 When 5y/o me discovered this show I was OBSESSED! First because the idea of a well leading to a world back in time was super cool, but then I was introduced to THOSE TWO and needless to say I never stopped loving them or this anime.

[@almi8151]

Real ones always respected the queen

[@itsyuisama]

Can I just say this is SO beautifully edited? I'm sitting here in absolute awe, and reliving nostalgia! As a kid, I was so angry with Kikyo, always believing she got in the way. It was so immature of me (I probably was more upset bc I was going through a breakup at the time. I know, teen angst, right?) Now? As an adult, I actually feel for her, and understand why she made the choices she did. Her character had so much depth that I overlooked and rewatching/rereading it now is a stark contrast to what I felt back then. I think it's truly amazing what the show teaches me, even now. I find myself going back and catching things I missed! Thank you for the video, I really enjoyed hearing your own take!

[@FroZone89]

I just had a daughter 6 days ago and I named her Kikyō