Jujutsu Kaisen's Revival of Gojo: Is it Beneficial or Detrimental?

Renowned in the anime community, Gege Akutami, the mangaka of Jujutsu Kaisen, is known for the heartbreaking fate that befalls beloved characters in the series. Adding to this list is the recent death of Satoru Gojo, which came as a shocking blow delivered by Sukuna. Although a few fans had predicted this outcome, the majority of the fandom was left devastated and stunned by Gojo's demise. The profound impact of his death sparked numerous theories and speculations about possible ways for his return.

The latest events in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga have intensified these speculations, bringing fans newfound hope that their desire for Gojo's comeback could potentially be fulfilled.

Has Jujutsu Kaisen been dropping clues about Gojo's return?

In the latest chapter of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga (chapter 242), there is a humorous face-off between Kenjaku and the comedian sorcerer Fumihiko Takaba. However, amidst the humor, there are subtle hints indicating the possible return of Gojo Satoru. The chapter concludes with a scene on a stage where Takaba's final comedy act will take place.

Interestingly, Takaba shares the stage with Geto, which is reminiscent of an image from Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 77, titled Premature Death Part 2. This similarity suggests a potential comeback for Gojo. Additionally, Takaba possesses a formidable Cursed Technique capable of manipulating the world's laws and rewriting reality.

Chapter 173 delves into Takaba's unique ability, where he can manifest objects out of thin air through his imagination alone. Kenjaku asserts that Takaba's Cursed Technique rivals that of Gojo, the most powerful sorcerer of the present era. In Chapter 242, we witness how Takaba's technique profoundly impacts the minds of those around him, distorting their perception during his intense confrontation with Kenjaku, ominously referred to as 'Soul Resonance.'

Ways in which Gojo may return

Geto and Gojo on stage (Image via Akutami Gege/Shueisha)

Takaba's ability to manipulate reality has the potential to bring Gojo back to life. However, if he were to be revived using this technique, it is likely that it would only be temporary. The Jujutsu Kaisen community has proposed several intriguing theories about Gojo's potential return, as well as speculation about the new abilities he might possess.

In chapter 242, the quiz show initially appears to have random questions. However, fans have noticed a connection between the second answer, 'hadron,' and Gojo's techniques.

In the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, Gojo showcases his ability to use the color purple. This is reminiscent of the three colors- red, blue, and green- that make up the Hadron, which is formed when Gojo combines his 'red' and 'blue' techniques. It is believed that when Gojo awakens his full potential, he will also gain the ability to utilize the color 'green' by combining all three colors.

Another theory suggests that Gojo represents the Dhyani-Buddha, as evidenced by his chant 'Paramita' which draws parallels to Buddhism. This theory implies that like Buddha, Gojo will attain enlightenment and resurface. The fact that Sukuna refers to him as a Bonpu/unenlightened in chapter 230, combined with Gojo's journey north after his demise, provides further support for this hypothesis.

How does this exacerbate the situation?

Gojo's comeback would surely elate a considerable part of the fanbase. Nevertheless, this return could have various effects on the show's storyline. Being the most powerful sorcerer in the current era, Gojo often outshone other characters in the series (resulting in their sidelining during the Gojo vs. Sukuna showdown).

Gojo's absence created opportunities for other characters to flourish and become more prominent. Since Yuji Itadori is the protagonist, having Gojo constantly in the limelight would impede his potential for growth.

Takaba's truck-kun effortlessly vanquishes Geto's special grade curse (Image via Akutami Gege/Shueisha)

Gege Akutami has already sidelined Gojo twice in the story - first by sealing him back in Shibuya, and later with his apparent death during the battle against Sukuna. Moreover, if Gojo were to come back using Takaba's technique, it would only be temporary, as mentioned before. As a result, fans would once again have to deal with the heartbreak of saying goodbye to him for the third time.

Did Gege plan Gojo's return or were external factors at play?

Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen anime (Image via Mappa)

Mangaka and authors are facing a rising trend of receiving backlash, death threats, and hate from disappointed fans when their favorite characters die.

After Gojo's death, Akutami Gege experienced a similar negative reaction from the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom. This could have potentially influenced the mangaka to bring back Gojo's character into the story. However, it is also possible that Gege had already planned this development, as evidenced by the stage scene featuring Gojo and Geto that was revealed during Gojo's Past Arc.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I have mixed feelings about the potential revival of Gojo Satoru. On the one hand, I understand the desire for his return, as he is a beloved character with incredible abilities. His death was a major turning point in the series, and many fans feel that the story would be less interesting without him. On the other hand, I worry that bringing Gojo back would undermine the impact of his death and cheapen the sacrifices that other characters have made.

I believe that Jujutsu Kaisen is strong enough to continue without Gojo. The series has a rich cast of characters with their own unique abilities and stories to tell. If Gojo were to return, I would hope that it would be in a way that does not overshadow the other characters or diminish the significance of his death.