Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen

Demonic activity worldwide has significantly increased due to the involvement and corrupt practices of the Illuminati. To combat the unnatural influx of demons, the Vatican Headquarters decides to hold the annual Exorcist Certification Exam early and allow for as many exorcists as possible to take up the mantle.

Straight from the Vatican, one of the most powerful exorcists, Lewin "Lightning" Light, arrives at True Cross Academy to help prepare the students for the exam. The ease and mastery with which Lewin performs exorcisms quickly impresses Ryuuji "Bon" Suguro, who has lost his ambition to continue his studies, and Lewin surprisingly accepts him as his apprentice. Amid the worsening situation, twin brothers Rin and Yukio Okumura are sent to locate the recently missing exorcist Shura Kirigakure, who seems to be chained to a decades-long contract with a powerful, immortal demon hiding in Aomori Prefecture's dangerous, snowy mountains.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Okumura, Rin Main

Okamoto, Nobuhiko Japanese

Okumura, Yukio Main

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Pheles, Mephisto Supporting

Kamiya, Hiroshi Japanese

Kuro Supporting

Takagaki, Ayahi Japanese

Amaimon Supporting

Kakihara, Tetsuya Japanese

Kirigakure, Shura Supporting

Satou, Rina Japanese

Fujimoto, Shirou Supporting

Hirata, Hiroaki Japanese

Moriyama, Shiemi Supporting

Hanazawa, Kana Japanese

Shima, Renzou Supporting

Yusa, Kouji Japanese

Suguro, Ryuuji Supporting

Nakai, Kazuya Japanese

Kamei, Hiroshi Producer

Tanaka, Wataru Producer

Ogasawara, Yuki Producer

Mita, Keiji Producer

Reviews

Mar 24, 2026

veldora__kun

Recommended

I just wrote my thoughts for Seasons 1–3 in season 3, and I started watching Season 4. Well, the early episodes like 1–4 were giving off that same vibe as the previous seasons—like Season 1 mainly focusing on the Okumura brothers, Season 2 on Bon, Shima, and Konekomaru, and Season 3 on Izumi. From the early episodes, the fourth one seemed like it would be following the same route, but to my and everyone’s surprise, it is not.

The author finally decided to throw bombs at us. You could say it was all of a sudden, or maybe it wasn’t. I eventually thought Season 4 would ... be Yukio’s season, but it’s not. With all the subplots and everything going on, you would think like that—but then comes the revelation bomb in Episodes 6–7. I am not sure if it is the truth or not, but Mephisto revealed something interesting about the demons—thanks to our Lightning being noisy about the Blue Night incident.

We first learn that the Elixir—yes, the same one which Lucifer and his Illuminati gang are trying to make—was actually started from the school.

We then get to hear a story from Mephisto about the world and how it was in the past.

Thousands of years ago, there were these Baal entities which existed but did not have a physical body; rather, they were conceptual and spiritual entities. As human culture advanced, maybe they tried summoning these Baal entities, which did not have any physical body before, and since they now got a taste of it, they didn’t want to let it go. Human lifespan is limited no matter what you do, and since these Baal entities were incarnated in physical bodies, they would someday perish. While some of them were okay with it and accepted it, there were some Baal like Lucifer whose physical body used to deteriorate faster than others—he could not accept it. There is no concept of dying for them; it’s the pain all over again of losing the physical form and stuff.

So Lucifer and a few demons started a war against humans. But as always, there were a few Baals who were good and did not agree with Lucifer. Such Baals, along with Mephisto, shared their knowledge with humans on how to fight demons, and that’s how the Knights of the True Cross began.

Then, a few hundred years ago, Lucifer finally snapped and wanted to destroy everything. But Mephisto suggested they could make him a clone so he could switch between bodies without worrying, and that’s how the research at the school started as Sector 13. But to their surprise, all clones were not complete, and then to please Lucifer, they began working on the immortality Elixir. While doing this, they succeeded in making one vessel for Amaimon but could not succeed for Lucifer.

But one day, a being came into existence—and that was none other than Satan himself in one of the clones—and that’s how the Blue Night happened. Almost everyone from the lab died, but somehow Lucifer took all the research with him and continued working on the Elixir.

What’s more shocking and confusing is how Bon found Shiro in one of the documents, and he was a clone of Azazel—one of the entities who sided with humans alongside Mephisto. But there’s one page missing from Azazel’s clone file. Bon gets to a conclusion that Satan is a clone of Azazel, and it means that the Okumura brothers have Azazel’s blood—and then they make us even more confused.

We got all this information in like 1.5 episodes—can you believe that?? It’s confusing AF but interesting as well. I really hope the studio is being faithful to the manga and not skipping important chapters and scenes.

This is for the people who are thinking of quitting even after watching Season 3 or who have started Season 4—continue it, guys. Keep watching, true me it will get better.

I hate what the author has done in the end—like making the MC seem like a dumb person and having someone close to him betray him—and him grasping the situation he is in and realizing that what is happening is actually real and not a dream.

Man, the anime took a 360 turn now—from fun and ongoing to serious shit. We are finally getting serious, eh?

Solid 8.3/10

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Feb 21, 2026

Siluetta

Mixed Feelings

This saga focuses heavily on emotions, family, and all the mess that Rin and Yukio have in their hearts. We get more of the past, more of the "why is it so," and less of the sword-wielding itself. And honestly? It's a pretty cool change. Some scenes can really tug at your heartstrings, but... There are still moments where you think, "Hey, why did that go by so fast?" or "Hello, are we going to develop this or not?"

Animation and music
Graphically, it looks very nice, winter colours, atmosphere, details.
The music also does the job, although nothing here sticks in the memory as much as the ... openings from previous seasons.

Overall
Beyond the Snow Saga is a solid comeback, but not one that will stick in your mind as something great.
It is rather a calm, emotional instalment of the series, which allows you to understand the characters better, but does not evoke a "wow" effect. Nevertheless, it is really enjoyable to watch and at times very heartwarming, even if you might want a little more at times.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Dec 21, 2024

paglo889

Not Recommended

Funny

Spoiler

To be clear it's not just another rant because I am salty kid and my favourite character died or something and that's why I gave 1 to this season. Just kidding it will be salty rant with little of arguments why I think this season is complete GARBAGE. I watched 1 and 2 season 7 years ago and I was more than happy to hear that this show finally is getting attention and moving forward with the anime. I enjoyed 3rd season even tho it had some problems with animation, plot and I could not force myself to like those characters like I was few ... years ago. That being said season 3 had some good character development with that fox girl - Izumo. However i cannot accept how dogshit this (4) season was overall. We were witnessing Yukio becomeing some kind of evil twin for like half a season and it was shown like in some very old trash show for a dumb kids. It wasn't not a bit interesting, it hasn't been a not even bad plot twist because there were no plot twist, being an adult I couldn't even get why in the first place he had his fight with Rin and he screamed at him like a madman instead of having an conversation. He has like a 30 seconds of good plot around Shiemi when he went to her house and that's it, all he did in this season was becoming emo 13 yo sasuke laugh/faces and he isn't even cool like sasuke was for some time (wtf how is it even possible not create that bad character). Next being said the plot around Shura was like low mid tier at best and I was really curious about her before that season aired. Now she is some random with big boobs. The best thing in this season was Lighting relationship and plot with the Suguro. But he even changed his hair I feel like just to angry me. Overall last episode when all the 'reveal' and all the feelings that they were hiding inside should go out it was completely trash. I mean autor just mixed up Sasuke leaving Naruto first time and Ichigo having a first conversation with White. They mixed it and did it so dirty I want to hurt myself thinking about it. ( I finished this episode like 1 hour ago and still can't get past how BAD it was). I even checked the manga chapter that has been adapted to this horrible episode, because I though it some bad Christmas joke. I am so sure I haven't watched anything worse than this episode for a like 3 years and I watched a lot of good/bad/mid/horrible stuff in that time. This season was such a dissapointment that I can't handle it. If someone managed to get to end of this review I think either you will shittalk me in comments or you completely agree with me. If you are the first type of person, feel free. We all can have a mixed opinion about something.

Above being said I think that overall world plot is not so bad. I am still a little invest in overall plot with Satan, Illuminati etc but these characters at best few are mid and all others are like npc or some 3rd plane type of characters in other shows like My Hero Academia, Hells Paradise. Even in those series I feel more connected to 3rd plane type of characters more than for Ao no Exorcist main cast (with few exceptions). I will give another chance since I barely drop any shows. I mean I prob only dropped Boruto xD I even finished Nanatsu No Taizai after Meliodas vs Escanor abomination of episode and an animation. I think if someone really likes the chemistry of these characters and if someone think that the plot around Yukio and Rin is something of likeable or good please explain it to me because maybe I missed like few episodes of backstory or something.

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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	Poll: Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen Episode 2 Discussion Stark700 - Oct 12, 2024	39 replies	by Starrser »» Nov 2, 4:56 PM
	Poll: Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Dec 21, 2024	63 replies	by Safrichh »» May 29, 9:06 PM
	Poll: Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen Episode 11 Discussion Stark700 - Dec 14, 2024	41 replies	by Safrichh »» May 22, 9:01 PM
	Poll: Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen Episode 10 Discussion Stark700 - Dec 7, 2024	41 replies	by Safrichh »» May 15, 9:06 PM
	Poll: Ao no Exorcist: Yuki no Hate-hen Episode 9 Discussion Stark700 - Nov 30, 2024	42 replies	by Safrichh »» May 7, 8:47 PM