Understanding Blue Exorcist: The Blue Night and Its Key Themes

Main Insights

During the Blue Night, Satan possessed numerous humans in a chaotic quest for a suitable vessel, resulting in widespread destruction in Assiah.
There are two narratives surrounding this event: one that condemns Satan, and another that highlights his fixation on Yuri in his pursuit for a physical form.
Satan’s destructive spree in the Blue Night was fueled by his urgent need to locate Yuri, ultimately leading to Father Fujimoto’s intervention.

At the beginning of Blue Exorcist, details regarding the Blue Night were somewhat vague. However, insights emerged in episode 5 of the anime, which provided superficial knowledge about this harrowing event. At first glance, it appeared that Satan was recklessly possessing individuals in Assiah in his desperate search for a human vessel.

As the narrative unfolded during the Blue Night Investigation arc, the true story behind the births of Okumura Rin and Yukio surfaced. This arc also clarified why Satan targeted so many holy figures for possession and the underlying reasons for those actions. Two interpretations of the Blue Night exist, with one very much inclined to place blame on Satan while concealing the entire truth.

What Is the Blue Night?

The Blue Night Led to Widespread Chaos and Casualties in Assiah

There are two distinct tales regarding the Blue Night, both narrating how Satan sought to possess multiple humans in a frantic endeavor to secure a suitable body for existence in Assiah. The first version, told by survivors, serves to mask the genuine motives behind the Blue Night, while the second version reveals the actual occurrences that earned it this ominous title.

This catastrophic event, believed to have happened sixteen years ago, saw Satan slaying countless renowned holy individuals, including members of the Myo Dha temple, the Vatican, and other key religious figures. The blue flames that marked this event arise from the merging of the red flames of Assiah and the black flames of Gehenna, creating blue flames, as referenced in Chapter 110.

The survivor’s account of the Blue Night is a sensitive topic, often approached cautiously by those unfamiliar with its history. For many, this event seemed to erupt suddenly, marked by Satan’s indiscriminate possession of humans searching for a vessel. In the aftermath of this tragedy, which caused overwhelming loss of life, resentment towards Satan grew, echoing the ambitions harbored by individuals like Suguro Ryuji.

Additionally, the repercussions of the Blue Night extended beyond the immediate fatalities. Many abandoned the Myo Dha temple, leading it to be branded as the “cursed temple,” which likely resulted in financial hardships for monks and worshipers who chose to distance themselves.

As previously mentioned, the narrative propagated by the survivors does not entirely align with the facts. In reality, those who lived through the Blue Night were compelled to enter into a Morinath Contract, binding them to conceal the genuine circumstances behind the event due to the True Cross Order of Knights. Breaching this contract meant facing dire consequences, including death at the hands of a demon.

What Are the Actual Events of the Blue Night?

Satan Sensed Yuri’s Impending Death and Became Enraged in His Search for Her

The alternate version narrates that sixteen years ago, Yuri Egin was on the brink of giving birth to Okumura Rin and Yukio. As she carried Satan’s offspring, she was hindered from receiving adequate medical care due to the Cradle Barrier, a curse imposed on anyone attempting to intervene during the birth.

When Rin was born, he manifested the Blue Flames of Satan, creating chaos in the vicinity as his demonic essence took over right from birth. This unrest stemmed from Satan’s frantic search for a vessel, as his current physical form was deteriorating. This decline likely contributed to his increasingly unhinged behavior.

As Yuri approached death after Rin’s birth, Satan sensed her fading strength and, driven by desperation, he initiated a reckless search across the realm. The Blue Night was triggered by Satan’s growing panic as he sought the whereabouts of Yuri, now in a critical state. In his obsession, he began possessing individuals in hopes of locating her. His fury grew when he was unable to find her, convinced that she had betrayed their bond.

The final host Satan attempted to possess was Father Fujimoto, a clone created in Section 13. However, Fujimoto’s mental fortitude enabled him to resist Satan’s influence and ultimately protect Rin and Yukio from doom.

What Were the Events That Led Up to the Blue Night?

Satan’s Fondness for Yuri Began Early On, and His Desire for a Body Intensified

During her youth, Yuri encountered what she believed to be a benevolent spirit named Rinka, who was, in fact, the essence of Satan. Over time, he developed a love for Yuri, closely watching over her throughout her life. After Yuri’s adoption into the Asylum, Rinka continued to follow her, ensuring her safety.

Concurrently, the Asylum and Section 13 were conducting inhumane experiments to grant a human body to Lucifer, the King of Light. One experiment proved successful, allowing Satan to seize that body, which enabled him to interact with Yuri. However, he initially lacked a persona or personal identity.

With exposure to literature and knowledge, Satan gradually began to understand himself. However, this rapid assimilation backfired as it led to an accelerated maturation of his identity, causing chaos due to his immature impulses.

Seeking to prevent turmoil, Yuri chose to live alongside Satan to assuage his urges. Unlike humans, beings from Gehenna lack physical bodies and human-like sensations. Though Satan claimed to love Yuri, his greatest desire became a corporeal form. He believed that her refusal to return his affections signified betrayal, intensifying his rage as her due date approached and his physical vessel decayed under the strain of his power. In his rage, Satan set forth on a violent path, bringing devastation to all who stood in his way seeking Yuri.

Fans can now enjoy the full series of Blue Exorcist on Crunchyroll.

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