Jujutsu Kaisen
We've reached the final battle with Mahito and that exchange event with the Kyoto school that they've been talking about? Well, it's finally starting. We are midway through the season so that means there is a new opening! You can check it out below.
"Tomorrow"
Mahito: "Next, I should have him attack you, sorcerer. You think he'll cry then, too? He's a foolish brat who can't reconcile reality with his ideals."
Kento Nanami: "You're wrong about that. He's right in the process of making that reconciliation. If you want to know what I think, I think you're the fool."
Manga Chapters: 29 (p. 2-19), 30 & 31
Arc: Vs. Mahito
Kento Nanami and Yuji Itadori begin their final face off with Mahito. In a last ditch effort to take out Nanami, Mahito triggers his domain expansion. But, it feels like the patchwork curse has not only underestimated Yuji Itadori, but also, Ryomen Sukuna. While facing Mahito, Nanami flashes back to his time away from Jujutsu High.
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| Brutal. |
This episode is such a great example of what makes not just "Jujutsu Kaisen" but anime in general so great. We have this phenomenal battle going, but the episode shifts away from that battle to shine a light on the background of Kento Nanami. This shift away from the action doesn't make the episode feel disjointed at all because they do a great job of tying Nanami's background into the confrontation with Mahito. And that's a testament to the creator of "Jujutsu Kaisen," Gege Akutami.
There was a time when Kento Nanami had given up being a Jujutsu sorcerer. He was working in stocks making rich people richer. He went to a bakery every day and saw that there was a fly head curse on the baker and he doesn't exorcize it. But the longer he works at his job, he doesn't understand the point. He goes back to the baker and muses that her job is actually important and yet he makes more money than her. He exorcizes the fly head and the baker is extremely grateful for whatever Nanami did for her. It's this gratitude that encourages him to go back to being a sorcerer. It's because of these experiences that Nanami is unphased by Mahito's talk of thankfulness. He's already experienced real gratitude.
This battle between Mahito, Nanami and Itadori is brutal. Mahito sends more transfigured humans after Itadori knowing that he will struggle killing them because they are still alive even when they are begging him to kill them.But Mahito has underestimated Itadori and confirms Nanami's statement that Mahito is being a fool when it comes to Itadori. Yuji takes care of the transfigured humans and saves Nanami just in time. I'm sure I've said this before, but the hand to hand combat in this anime is truly unmatched. Nanami and Itadori go back and forth striking Mahito with hard blows to his face and torso to stop him from transfiguring. The hits are so hard and you feel it due to the animation and the soundtrack.
The visuals in this anime are so great. When Mahito triggers his Domain Expansion: Embodiment of Self Perfection, he opens his mouth and you see multiple hands and it's a really amazing visual. You can tell that Mappa's animators are going nuts when they are bringing these powers to life. I love reading the manga, but there is really something about watching it happen, Watching it move. I always love how the Domain Expansion is perfectly tailored to whomever is using it. Jogo's was all fire and brimstone while Mahito's is all arms and hands.
It's nice to see that while domains are dangerous they do have weaknesses. They are meant to keep their targets in and are less concerned with anyone trying to break in from the outside. So, it's not long before Yuji is able to punch a hole into Mahito's domain. Mahito lashes out and ends up touching Sukuna's soul, which doesn't work out well for him. Sukuna is disdainful of everything including other curses and he doesn't care about anything or anyone... except Megumi Fushiguro. Good job show for reminding us of that. This leads Mahito vulnerable to Itadori's divergent fist, but the slippery curse is able to get way, escaping through the sewers. Nanami is initially going to give chase, but Itadori collapses.
There is some resolution to the tragic tale of Junpei Yoshino. It feels long overdue, but there seem t be some countermeasures put into place to try to protect students like Junpei from excessive bullying. The teacher, Sotomura, confronts the bully, Shota Ito, about how they both failed Junpei and how they will both have to find a way to live with how they crushed his spirit.
After everything that happened with Mahito and Junpei, Yuji is struggling with his vow to help provide people with good deaths, because as it turns out, it's hard to determine what makes a good death. Nanami is great here. He reminds Yuji that death is the final destination for all of us and no one dies the same way. Nanami definitely tries to get Yuji to realize that his goal is maybe not something he can accomplish, but he knows that Itadori will be undeterred. It's nice that he does give Yuji his approval as a sorcerer. Yuji makes an internal promise to not lose again and to kill Mahito.
This episodes Juju Stroll features Itadori's meatball recipe which you can find online.
Grade: A
"Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event - Group Battle, Part 0"
Satoru Gojo: "Nanami. Come on, would you say something interesting?"
[Kento Nanami continues to silently read his newspaper]
Satoru Gojo: "OK, I've got it! Yeah, we'll record us playing catch with a stale rice ball, while discussing economic policies. Then, we'll post the video and go trolling!"
Kento Nanami: "You can enjoy that on your own." [thinking to himself] "What kind of idea is that?"
Satoru Gojo: [claps hands] "A drinking game then. Name all the things you like about Satoru Gojo. See who names the most! My turn! [claps hands twice] Everything!" [claps hands again]
Kento Nanami: "You just keep on thinking that way. It's totally idiotic, but Itadori needs that kind of idiocy right now."
Manga Chapters: 32 & 33
Arc: Kyoto Goodwill Event
After the battle with Mahito, it's time for the goodwill event between the Tokyo and Kyoto schools to get underway. This is also the moment that Satoru Gojo decides to reveal to the other students that Yuji Itadori is alive. This immediately puts the target back onto him as the Kyoto School principal instructs his students that their primary mission is to eliminate him. At the same time, Geto reveals to Jogo and Mahito that a plan is already in action to retrieve the six fingers from Jujutsu High.
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| Gojo disrespecting his elders. |
When one arc ends and another begins, there is usually a bit of a breather and that is exactly what happens here. There is a lot of table setting that happens here and some recapping of what has gone down in the previous episodes, which makes sense, since we've reached the midway point of the season. A lot of times you hear "table setting" and you think that the episode is going to be a snooze but that is definitely not the case with this episode. It might be a little slower paced than we are used to but it's still a lot of fun.
We start off with a catch up between Jogo, Mahito and Geto. There are small things in this show that really tickle me. Seeing Jogo sitting around a hot springs is really absurd and adding to that absurdity is the fact he seems to be smoking a pipe made out of one of Mahito's transfigured humans. I love a villains confab and this one is great and the fact that Mahito is naked swimming around in a hot springs makes it even better. After his confrontation with Sukuna, Mahito is convinced that they should work on releasing him since that is the best way to ensure a world ruled by curses even if they don't live to see it. And Geto seems to already have a plan in place to retrieve the six fingers that Jujutsu High has.
This episode introduces us to the second years of the Kyoto school. We've met musclebound, Takeda lover, Aoi Todo, Maki's horrible sister, Mai Zenin and the blue haired Miwa Kasumi. There is also the mechanical Ultimate Mechamaru, the broom riding, Momo Nishimiya, and the imperious Noritoshi Kamo. We've met principal Yoshinobu Gakuganji but we meet Kyoto School leader, Utahime Iori, who doesn't have a super high opinion of Gojo.
There is a lot of comedy in this episode and the majority comes from Gojo's plan to reveal that Itadori is alive to Megumi and Nobara. Gojo is convinced that he will do it in a way that will make his classmates so happy and he convinces Itadori. This two are such lovable idiots. I swear they have one brain cell that they swap back and forth between them. Gojo's plan backfires. Nobara and Fushiguro are shocked to find Itadori alive and are upset that they are finding out a month later. This is a reasonable reaction and they should have realized that was going to happen.
Principal Yaga explains the rules of the event which is dubbed the Wacky Cursed Exorcism Race. The rules are basically you try to exorcize a grade 2 curse and whoever does it wins. The teams break off to strategize with Fushiguro vouching for Itadori's physical prowess, but the Kyoto School has other plans. Just like Nanami predicted, Gakuganji tells his students that the race is inconsequential and that they should focus on trying to kill Sukuna's vessel. Everyone seems on board with this except Miwa, but she won't verbalize that. Todo is completely unhinged and a wildcard so who knows what will happen once they are on the battlefield.
Overall, there isn't a ton that happens in this episode, but its all about the little character moments. Aside from the comedy of Itadori's return which extends in the strategy meeting with Fushiguro and Nobara making him hold a memorial picture frame over his face. He meets Panda, Inumaki and Maki for the first time and avoids telling Maki that be broke her cursed weapon. Gojo reveals to Utahime that he believe there is a traitor in one of the schools that is working against them working with curses and/or curse users.
In this episode's Juju Stroll, Todo watches Takada make an unhinged visit to a local sushi spot.
Grade: B
Next up, Yuji tries to distract Todo and Panda and Mechamaru deal.
What did you all think? How'd you like the conclusion to the battle between Mahito, Nanami and Yuji? Do you have a favorite Kyoto student? Let me know in the comments.
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