Exploring the Parallel Paths of Mahito and Yuji in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 20

Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20, titled Right and Wrong Part 3, has sparked a wave of excitement among anime fans. This episode brings back the highly anticipated duo Aoi Todo and Yuji Itadori, promising a thrilling showdown as they face off against the detested antagonist, cursed spirit Mahito. It covers events from manga chapters 126, 127, and 128, and is set to deliver one of the most hyped confrontations of the season.

Interestingly, the episode’s depiction of Yuji and Mahito illustrates the resemblance of these two characters.

Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20: The narrative draws a parallel to Yuji and Mahito's characters

Exploring the overlapping features of the two characters

Episode 20 of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 is a crucial moment in the series' storyline, particularly for the character development of Yuji Itadori. This episode serves as a turning point for Yuji as he navigates his personal and professional growth as a jujutsu sorcerer. Aoi Todo, the powerful student from Kyoto Jujutsu High School, plays a key role in influencing Yuji's character, while his nemesis also plays a part in pushing his development.

Mahito asserts he’s the same as Yuji in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20

Mahito himself acknowledges the uncanny resemblance between him and Yuji, crediting it to their inherent characteristics. According to Mahito, both he and Yuji possess a similar natural inclination: Yuji instinctively saves lives, while Mahito instinctively takes them.

The beginning of episode 20 of Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 unfolds with the harrowing moment of Nobara Kugisaki's apparent demise at the hands of the special-grade disaster curse, leaving a profound impact on Yuji.

Yuji's fighting spirit is shattered by the overwhelming emotions of this event, as it serves as a stark reminder of his mentor Nanami Kento's demise at the hands of the same cursed spirit and the powerlessness he felt when Sukuna took control of his body and orchestrated a massacre in Shibuya, taking the lives of hundreds of people.

In Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20, Mahito utilizes the black flash technique to deliver a devastating blow to his opponent, Yuji, adding to the intensity of their fierce confrontation. The scene captures the raw emotion and fierce determination of both characters as they clash in a battle of strength and willpower, showcasing the high-stakes nature of their conflict.

"You are me, Yuji Itadori," Mahito declared, highlighting the deep-seated conflict between them and casting it as a battle with them on opposing sides. He claimed that his willingness to take lives without hesitation mirrored Yuji Itadori's inherent impulse to selflessly save people.

In Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20, Todo and Yuji face off against Mahito (Image via MAPPA)

Mahito explains that this instinctual behavior signifies a clash of morals and beliefs, with the final result deciding the ultimate victor and which ideology will triumph.

Mahito points out that Yuji has never kept count of the people he has saved, drawing a parallel to himself as a cursed spirit who has never bothered to tally the lives he has taken. As Mahito readies himself to strike Yuji with a final blow, he comments that he will also forget about Yuji once he has succeeded in ending him.

Despite their similarity, they couldn’t be more different

Yuji's emotional breakdown in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 20 (Image via MAPPA)

Despite both characters sharing a tendency to act on impulse, the difference between them is significant. Their dissimilarity is rooted in their actions, with one saving lives without hesitation and the other impulsively taking them.

The difference between humans and cursed spirits is a core theme in Jujutsu Kaisen, skillfully captured by Mangaka Gege Akutami in the characters of Yuji and Mahito. In season 2 episode 20, studio MAPPA portrays these archenemy characters, showcasing their resemblance while vividly illustrating their contrasting ideals and actions. Their similarities only serve to highlight the fundamental differences between them.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I was eagerly anticipating episode 20 of season 2, and it did not disappoint. The episode delved into the complex relationship between Yuji and Mahito, exploring their parallel yet contrasting personalities. The animation and fight scenes were top-notch, capturing the intensity and raw emotion of their confrontation.

Mahito's acknowledgment of their resemblance and his explanation of their inherent characteristics added a fascinating layer to their dynamic. The idea that Yuji instinctively saves lives while Mahito instinctively takes them highlights the fundamental difference between humans and cursed spirits. This theme is central to Jujutsu Kaisen, and it was skillfully portrayed in this episode.