Chainsaw Man chapter 188 bringing Yoshida and Octopus back would be a major mistake

Modified Dec 31, 2024 14:00 GMT

Yoshida and Octopus' return could be a grave misstep (Image via MAPPA)

Chainsaw Man chapter 188 has left fans scratching their heads about the potential return of Hirofumi Yoshida and his Octopus Devil. This pair were quite intriguing elements from Part 1. Yoshida’s peculiar demeanor and battle abilities made him a standout character. However, his reintroduction at this time in the series might be a misstep and pose significant risks to the series’ direction.

The narrative has been centering heavily on Asa Mitaka, Yoru, and Denji in Part 2. Switching the spotlight back to Yoshida in Chainsaw Man chapter 188 might take away from the trio's efforts so far. Moreover, Yoshida and Octopus' enigmatic partnership may have been compelling early on, but bringing them back now could disrupt the flow of the story.

His return will undoubtedly be nostalgic, but it risks being a forced callback.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the sole opinion of the author.

Chainsaw Man chapter 188: Yoshida and Octopus' return could be a grave misstep

Yoshida and the Ocotpus Devil (Image via Viz Media)

Spoilers for Chainsaw Man chapter 188 reveal plenty of exciting information for the upcoming chapter. But this feature will focus on the panels that depict Denji actually regurgitating something. Interestingly, it looks to be a foot. Needless to say, this has given rise to massive speculation on who Pochita is choosing to throw up, with the most popular guess being Hirofumi Yoshida.

While Yoshida and his Octopus Devil were riveting to watch in Part 1, bringing them back at this point could be a grave misstep. As the Aging Devil had mentioned, only a single person managed to escape its world. A major section of the fandom feels that this individual was Yoshida. It would be unsurprising, even given his cunning and deceptive appearance.

But if it is Yoshida who is being "barfed" back up in Chainsaw Man chapter 188, the series might risk disrupting its flow. In essence, Yoshida would likely show Asa/Yoru the way to escape Aging's world, with a little resistance, of course. He wouldn't just give them the answer straightaway. This would also mean they might not need to kill the Aging Devil, since they would be able to escape.

Hence, one of two things might happen. One, with Denji and Asa/Yoru back, the Chainsaw Devil and the War Devil partner up, possibly with Yoshida and Octopus, to fight Aging. Such a moment would be an absolute hit among the fandom. Two, Aging realizes what has transpired and sends the protagonist pair back to its world, leading to them repeating the escape.This will likely make Aging agitated and impatient, which would be ironic, considering the natural aging process.

Anyhow, the battle between Chainsaw and Aging will be prolonged, no matter what happens. Furthermore, Yoshida and Octopus' return will take away from Denji and Asa/Yoru's efforts so far. It would be an anticlimactic end to the current battle and a sort of unrewarding victory for the protagonists. Denji's master plan wouldn't be so clever after all, and Pochita's efforts will have been for naught.

Moving on, Yoshida returning and opposing the Aging Devil in Chainsaw Man chapter 188 would interfere with and create issues with his allegiance to Public Safety. As seen previously, he takes his job very seriously and isn't afraid to be the bad guy if it means completing his mission. Now, in this situation, helping the protagonists escape would mean opposing Aging and hence Public Safety.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the potential return of Hirofumi Yoshida in Chainsaw Man chapter 188 could be both exciting and concerning. Granted that Yoshida was much loved in Part 1 for his cunning demeanor and enigmatic presence. Though, his reintroduction now risks disrupting the narrative's carefully crafted flow. Needless to mention, Part 2 has been all about Asa, Denji, and Yoru driving the story.

Yoshida’s presence may overshadow their character arcs and undermine the organic progression of the plot. Furthermore, Yoshida's return in Chainsaw Man chapter 188 could bring an easy escape from Aging’s realm, at the cost of diminishing the stakes and thereby reducing the impact of the protagonists’ struggles.

Denji’s cleverness, Asa/Yoru’s growth, and even Pochita’s interventions could feel less significant compared to Yoshida’s deus ex machina-like role. Again, this might feed into an anticlimactic end to a battle that had been building tension and intrigue. Not to mention, Fujimoto would also need to deal with the dilemma of Yoshida’s allegiance to Public Safety and potential character inconsistencies.