Jujutsu Kaisen
We get to meet the hottest guy in "Jujutsu Kaisen" in this episode. Sorry, Gojo. Sorry Sukuna lovers. It's really all about Kento Nanami. And we get to experience him in all his glory in these two episodes. Let's get to it.
"Small Fry and Reverse Retribution"
Kento Nanami: "I admit Gojo is someone that I trust..."
[Gojo smiles]
Kento Nanami: "But I do not respect him!"
Satoru Gojo: "Huh?!"
Manga Chapters: 19, 20 & 21 (p. 10-14)
Arc: Vs. Mahito
Yuji Itadori investigates the deaths of three high schoolers with Kento Nanami. Junpei Yoshino was the victim of the high schoolers bullying and tracks down Mahito, the curse that had transfigured these boys and they establish a strange friendship. Itadori learns a different way of being a sorcerer from Nanami. Nanami sends Itadori and Ijichi to track down Junpei, while he goes to confront Nanami.
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| Mahito is the worst. |
I love Kento Nanami. He's definitely my vibe. And he's much different than the other characters that we have met so far. Nanami tells Itadori that he was a jujutsu sorcerer but it sucked. He was an office drone and he realized that being an office drone sucks. He enjoys being a jujutsu sorcerer so that is the reason that he is back to being a sorcerer is because it enjoys doing it.
Nanami is basically the opposite of Gojo. Whereas, Gojo is using Itadori and is treating him like he's an adult, Nanami treats Itadori like he is a child. He is trying to train him, but he's willing to put himself in harm's way to protect Itadori which is definitely not what Gojo is doing. I enjoy that Nanami trusts Gojo and that he recognizes that Gojo is a great sorcerer but he doesn't respect Gojo and says that right to his face, which makes me laugh a lot. Nanami also at one point says something like the culmination of little moments in despair is what makes you an adult and that really hit hard. Maybe too hard.
We get a great battle between Itadori and Nanami and two cursed spirits. Nanami demonstrates his cursed technique to Itadori. Nanami uses a Ratio Technique. He can create weak points on his opponent's bodies by using force. He's monologuing about his ability while he's fighting these curses and I do like that Itadori asks if this is a good idea, but Nanami brushes this concern aside. It's great to see Nanami unleashing and I love his wrapped sword.
Itadori isn't a slouch either as we get to see the results of his training with Gojo. It turns out that there is a lag in his cursed energy. So he hits someone and then his cursed energy hits them. It gives a double impact that are both pretty powerful. Gojo calls this ability divergent fist. Itadori impresses Nanami which feels like it is difficult. Nanami notices that one of the cursed spirits is wearing a wristwatch and he deduces that these aren't actual spirts but transfigured humans. Shoko Ieriri confirms this when she investigates the bodies.
We meet Junpei Yoshino in this episode. Junpei is kind of a sad sack. We see him getting pretty horribly bullied and beaten up by high school kids. He ends up in a theater with the same kids seeing Human Earthworm 3 and he watches them get killed by transfiguration by Mahito. Junpei confronts Mahito about what he saw and who Mahito is. Mahito takes Junpei to his hideout and teaches him about how curses form. Mahito is a curse formed by the hatred that humanity feels for each other. This really connects with Junpei because Junpei seems to feel a lot of hatred for the people around him, because of the way that he is consistently treated. Mahito is psychotic so there is definitely a vibe here that this isn't going end well for Junpei.
Nanami sends Itadori and Ijichi to search for Junpei while he claims he is looking for Mahito's hideout. Ijichi calls Nanami out that he knows Nanami has already found the hideout and is sending Yuji on this errand so he can keep the teenager safe. Seriously, Nanami is the complete opposite of Gojo. The episode ends with Ijichi and Itadori finding Junpei and Itadori holding a small curse in a cage.
In this episode's Juju Stroll, Gojo is trying to get Nanami's attention to tell him something very important.
Grade: A-
"Idle Transfiguration"
Mahito: "Do you believe human beings have hearts?"
Junpei Yoshino: "Huh? Why? Don't they?"
Mahito: "No. They don't. They have souls, but souls aren't hearts."
Junpei Yoshino: "That... can't be right!"
Mahito: "I'm the only person in this world who knows the souls composition. After all, I change the shape of other creatures by making contact with them. All emotions are the result of the soul's metabolism. They're far too mechanical to call hearts. People place too much value on things they can't see. I can see them, and souls are no more special than physical bodies. They're just there. Do you understand? There's no value or importance to life. Life just continues its cycle, same as the waters of the world. That's true for both you and me. Our lives are meaningless and have no value. And that's why we can do anything we want. We're free to live our lives however we please."
[looks at Junpei]
Mahito: "Don't let yourself get trapped in some ideal concept of indifference. There's no need for consistency in living your life. Just as you eat when you get hungry, so it is that if you hate someone, you can simply kill them. I'll sanction you fully."
Manga Chapters: 21 (p. 2-9, 14-19), 22 & 23 (p. 2-11)
Arc: Vs. Mahito
Mahito and Junpei continue their strange relationship. Mahito can feel the hatred in Junpei. Junpei strives for indifference, but still yearns for revenge for the people that hurt him. Mahito shows Junpei the humans that he's transfigured and tortured and since Junpei doesn't know them, he doesn't feel bad for them. Mahito gives clearance to Junpei to kill the people he hates and it feels like Junpei might do that. Perhaps Yuji Itadori can help him before its too late. Meanwhile, Junpei confronts Mahito in his sewer hideout and the two of them face off.
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| I'm obsessed. |
You know from the moment that you meet him that Junpei Yoshino is going to be a tragic figure in the world of "Jujutsu Kaisen." You feel badly for him, but you can sense the darkness that is inside him, a darkness that Mahito is nurturing. We see Junpei in his element when he is leading movie club with his two friends. You can see that he is truly joyful talking to his friends about these horror movies. It's the first time that you really see a light in Junpei's face. Of course, it is soon shattered by dickbag bully high school boys. They run the movie club out of the room, but Junpei isn't willing to turn tail this time. He demands that they give him his DVD that the boy is stepping on. They close Junpei in the room and we don't see what happens next, but it feels like whatever it was, it's nothing good.
There are a lot of expository scenes in "Jujutsu Kaisen," but they don't ever feel boring or like we are being talked at. They give us insights into who these characters are. Junpei talks to Mahito about how he. yearns for indifference towards people referencing a Japanese proverb. But Mahito sees right through this. He feels the hatred that Junpei has and the need for revenge. He wants to nurture these feelings in Junpei and it feels like he is based on the look on Junpei's face when he is in movie club.
The show juxtaposes this monologue with pretty horrific visuals of the humans that Mahito has transfigured. There is a giant human babbling and Mahito hands Junpei a small transfigured human that is still alive. It's interesting that Junpei comments that if this was his mom or someone he knew he'd probably be horrified but being strangers he's unaffected. And that is primarily because he knows the hatred that humans feel for each other especially because so much of that hatred has been directed at him.
The fight between Nanami and Mahito is pretty bad ass. I enjoyed Nanami sort of making the connections between Nanami and Gojo. They are both superficial creatures but they also possess a dark strength. I think it's really telling that they are willing to point out these similarities. Nanami realizes that these transfigured humans are still alive, but he knows he has to kill them because it's the merciful thing to do even thought the idea of killing an innocent makes him sick. It's really affecting to see Nanami brush away a tear on this transfigured human. It seems like things are turning against Nanami, but then the clock strikes six and Nanami's cursed energy increases as he starts overtime.
I enjoy how the show can be serious but also finds time for levity, which we get as Itadori and Ijichi pursue Junpei. They have a weak cursed spirit called a fly head to test Junpei. They are concerned that he is going to become a curse user. I liked the video game graphics when Ijichi is talking Itadori through the various scenarios. It is very Itadori to steal the pants of the teacher to get some alone time with Junpei. He intercedes just in time because it feels like Junpei is getting ready to take Mahito's advice and kill the people he hates. And honestly, I can empathize a bit with Junpei. This teacher has seen these boys bullying Junpei and he's trying to say that the were friends. How could this dude be so clueless?
In this episode's Juju Stroll, Nobara searches for her missing clothes and is not happy when she finds them.
Grade: A-
Next up, Yuji tries to connect with Junpei and Mahito tries to use his connection with Junpei against Itadori.
What do you all think? You're probably sick of the constant praise and high grades, but this series is so good? Where are my Nanami fans at? Do you empathize with Junpei? Let me know in the comments.
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