Is Kimetsu no Yaiba the most unique shonen? Fuck no. Is the art incredible? Fuck no. However, I think the execution of the story was on point, with characters and themes really landing.

KnY started off sort of aimless and a bit generic, but as I followed the story and learned about each of the pillars and their personalities, I became more and more compelled to come back. Themes of humanity, familial love, and personal growth aren't super nebulous or complex, but they're set up well and pulled off wonderfully.

All the characters were fleshed out, and by the end I loved every single one of them, even the ones I weren't so interested in in the beginning. Unpopular opinion: Tanjiro is such an enjoyable protagonist. He possesses the spirited determination of the average shonen protagonist but also has a quiet maturity that makes him so much more compelling.

If you're not a fan of traditional shonen, don't read KnY. But if you're willing to try, I think KnY is the best-written traditional shonen out there.