Duration: 4:00

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This video essay explains the most confusing detail from Season 1 of Chainsaw Man: How did Himeno save Aki Hayakawa from the Ghost Devil at the beginning of Episode 12?

There are two reasons why this is such a puzzle: First, Himeno was dead by the time this had happened. So how was she able to do *anything* to help Aki? Second, Himeno helped Aki by taking control of the Ghost Devil's body, and this resulted in giving Aki the power to kill the Ghost Devil. But why would the Ghost Devil allow itself to be killed?

My explanation in this video answers these questions. My theory draws on the specific nature of the Ghost Devil, which is to embody the concept of a ghost. My thought is: When Himeno traded her life to the Ghost Devil in episode 9 in order to save Aki from Katana Man, the Ghost Devil didn't merely consume her body. It also devoured her soul, which it retained in the form of a ghost. Probably the Ghost Devil has a habit or instinct of 'collecting the ghosts' of its previous human contract holders. And this is what gave Himeno the power to take control of the Ghost Devil's body.

What happened was this: in a moment of extreme emotional distress over the idea that Aki might die, Himeno's ghost was inflamed with a great amount of emotional power, and this power allowed it to temporary "possess" the Ghost Devil's body and take control of it for a few moments. And she used that small window of time to save Aki from death.

If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing, and check out my Chainsaw Man playlist for tons of other videos. I will also be pivoting my coverage from the anime to the manga in upcoming videos, starting with the Reze arc. And I have tons of other videos on other anime to check out, like Jujutsu Kaisen and Puella Magi Madoka Magika!