Sukuna's Awakening in Jujutsu Kaisen

Article Key Points

The latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen delivered an exciting thriller that left no room for complaints, with stellar animation, directing, and voice acting.

Toji Fushiguro proves to be an unstoppable force of nature, easily defeating the powerful cursed spirit Dagon.

Jogo finally wins a fight, defeating Nanami, Maki, and Naobito.

Bad decisions by certain characters lead to dire consequences.

Episode 39 of Jujutsu Kaisen exceeded expectations, leaving little room for criticism. The brief flashback in the opening minutes, though slightly repetitive, quickly gave way to an exhilarating thriller that left no time to process everything happening. The animation was consistently impressive, complemented by superb voice acting and expert directing.

The anime adaptation continues to surpass the original material, thanks to its commitment to delivering spectacular battles and innovative storytelling. By introducing new scenes and rearranging panels, it effectively evokes specific emotions and creates a unique narrative. The work being done by Jujutsu Kaisen sets a high standard for other anime adaptations.

Unstoppable Force Of Nature

Dagon, the cursed spirit embodying the fear and enigma of the sea, wielded immense power in his ability to instantly unleash his domain expansion. Believing himself to be an unstoppable force of nature akin to the being he was connected to, he faced a problem he had yet to encounter: Toji Fushiguro.

The séance technique relied on the target depleting their cursed energy, but Toji lacked any cursed energy to begin with. Though he existed solely to carry out a single order, which entailed pushing his body to its breaking point, he possessed an innate attraction towards the strongest individuals around him. Guided by this instinct, he ventured into Dagon's domain with one objective in mind: to defeat him. And that's precisely what he accomplished.

Easy Work

The battle was enhanced in the anime to display Toji's remarkable abilities, creating a grand spectacle. Additionally, it provided the opportunity to include the now-viral scene of Toji biting the fish and sticking his tongue out. Despite being intended as a disliked character, he has unexpectedly gathered a large fanbase. Right after the domain vanished, Toji immediately targeted his next opponent, his son Megumi, leaving the others behind to execute a well-timed ambush.

Eventually, the moment arrived for Jogo to emerge victorious from a battle. Although the fight was brief, his adversaries were already injured and caught off guard. Nonetheless, it still counts as a triumph. The fact remains that effortlessly dispatching sorcerers of that caliber is truly remarkable. It appears that Jogo has gained valuable insights from his previous encounters with Satoru Gojo and now holds a newfound respect for humanity.

It all happened so suddenly that fans could hardly comprehend the defeat and severe injuries of Nanami, Maki, and Naobito. However, this wasn't the most pressing concern at the time. Immediately, Jogo realized that someone was tampering with one of Sukuna's fingers. Initially, he had come there to search for Itadori, intending to hand over all the collected fingers to fulfill his plan of having Sukuna make a pact with Yuji and take control of his body. Little did Jogo know.

Bad Decisions

Undoubtedly, opting for a séance to resurrect Toji proved to be a catastrophic choice, resulting in the immediate demise of those involved and allowing him to wreak havoc in the vicinity. However, the Shibuya Incident transformed into an incident due to a multitude of individuals persistently making incorrect choices.

The Hasaba twins, Mimiko and Nanako, were driven by their emotions towards Geto. Every decision they made was influenced by this connection. At this particular moment, their sole objective was to rescue Geto from Kenjaku's control. To achieve this, they obtained a Sukuna finger and devised a plan to offer it to Geto as a trade for his assistance in eliminating Kenjaku.

However, their boldness in making such a request, and even teasing him about their knowledge of another finger's whereabouts, proved to be a grave mistake. Nanako's unique ability to manipulate subjects in photographs saved them from Jogo but proved ineffective against Sukuna, much to their realization. They vividly conveyed the tension and fear that arises when in the presence of someone untrustworthy.

Sukuna's Cursed Technique, Explained

His precise cursed technique remains unknown, even within the manga; however, he has showcased numerous applications of it. Dismantle serves as his default slashing attack, employed when he admonished them for their excessive pride. It is a straightforward, imperceptible slash that possesses the ability to sever virtually anything, while also allowing for adjustments in its potency.

In the case of Nanako's demise, he utilized Cleave. This particular attack shares similarities with a slashing maneuver, yet it possesses the unique ability to adapt itself to the target's resilience and cursed energy level. It carves them into fragments, to the extent that nothing remains except a mere blemish. Moreover, Cleave can be modified to suit various surfaces or objects with diverse configurations, ensuring that everything within its range is affected.

Me, Myself and I

In the introductory scene, he demonstrates his ability to utilize flames to craft a fire arrow, effectively expanding his range of attacks. This implies the potential for future manipulation of flames for various other purposes, even though no such instances have been depicted thus far.

Anime enthusiasts who only follow the animated version are currently facing a harsh reality. It has become clear that Sukuna is the true antagonist of the series. If there were any doubts before, they will undoubtedly be dispelled in the upcoming episodes. Sukuna's intentions solely revolve around himself, with no regard for anyone else. Unlike Kurama, there is no hope for him to change and become a different person.

Sukuna, a villain devoid of empathy, embodies pure evil. His egocentric demeanor is truly showcased in the outstanding performance by Junichi Suwabe as the most powerful sorcerer in Jujutsu Kaisen. Jogo is taken aback when he realizes Sukuna already has his own plans and a pact in place. Despite wanting to eliminate all humans in Shibuya, except for Megumi Fushiguro, Jogo falls into a trap set by Sukuna and finds himself facing off against him. The anticipation for episode 40 builds as the battles between Toji and Megumi, and Sukuna and Jogo unfold.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen. On the one hand, I was thrilled by the stunning animation, directing, and voice acting. The battle between Toji Fushiguro and Dagon was particularly impressive, and I loved seeing Toji's incredible strength and speed on display.

On the other hand, I was disappointed by the defeat of Nanami, Maki, and Naobito. These are three of my favorite characters, and I was hoping they would put up more of a fight against Jogo. I also think it was a mistake to resurrect Toji, as this has led to even more chaos and destruction.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode of Jujutsu Kaisen, but I have some reservations about the direction the story is taking. I hope that the upcoming episodes will provide more satisfying character development and plot twists.