Jujutsu Kaisen: Akutami may have turned Sukuna into an inverse of Daenerys from Game of Thrones

In the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, Ryomen Sukuna is portrayed as a truly evil character with little thought for others. However, over time, other factors may have played a role in shaping his character development. Gege Akutami’s depiction of Sukuna can, in some ways, be compared to Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones.

While Daenerys begins as an altruistic and promising liberator, she ultimately becomes a ruthless power addict. Sukuna’s potential for weakness and change contrasts with Daenerys' descent, suggesting that even the most malevolent individuals may evolve for the better.

Akutami's work addresses the theme of tyranny differently, highlighting the relationship between power and character evolution, and offering a fresh perspective on redemption versus tyranny.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion.

Daenerys Targaryen's shift from idealism to tyranny in the Game of Thrones series

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In the beginning, Daenerys Targaryen is fearful, inexperienced, and dominated by her older sibling, Viserys. She is aware of society's sorrows since she has been in exile. The same compassion she developed after enduring hardship leads to revolutions, which results in a successful trial marked by graves, symbolizing victory.

Yet, Daenerys possesses qualities of gentleness and mercy, even though she has had to endure much throughout her life. Her interactions with the people around her during her formative years indicate a strong sense of justice, which motivates her to create a world of peace where those created by heaven have been unfairly treated.

Daenerys's own righteousness is tested when she conquers Slaver's Bay, where she demonstrates her strong will to fight for the enslaved. The resulting change in her character is dramatic. At heart, she desires to do justice. However, the cruelty of war and the challenges of governance slowly take hold. The sight of the children of Meereen hanging on crosses pushes her toward vengeance, transforming her from a charitable benefactor into someone who inflicts extreme brutality.

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Despite her efforts to be merciful to her allies, Daenerys displays an increasingly ruthless attitude toward her enemies. Her infamous decision to burn those who refuse to bend the knee marks a significant departure from her original ideals. This ruthlessness raises troubling questions about the morality of her actions and the true cost of power.

As Daenerys grapples with the immense pressures of leadership and the personal losses she endures, her descent into madness becomes apparent. The culmination of these traumas leads to her command of Drogon to burn King’s Landing, an act that blurs the line between liberator and tyrant.

In this grief-stricken context, Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister face the dreadful truth that Daenerys has turned into her father, the Mad King. This intense situation highlights the major themes of violence, loss, and weak moral principles, showing us that the desire for justice can lead to despotism.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Ryomen Sukuna decided to mend his ways if he ever reincarnated

Ryomen Sukuna as shown in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga (Image via Shueisha)

In stark contrast to Daenerys, Sukuna is introduced as a sadistic and arrogant entity reveling in chaos and destruction. His worldview is dismissive of human emotions, which he views as inherent weaknesses.

Throughout his interactions with Yuji, Sukuna embodies cruelty, mocking the concepts of mercy and expressing disdain for human life. This perspective paints Sukuna as a ruthless figure, content with his chaotic existence and indifferent to the suffering of others.

Yuji Itadori as shown in Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 (Image via MAPPA)

However, the evident arrival of Yuji Itadori presents an unpredictable challenge to Sukuna's existing worldview. Yuji's profound empathy and unwavering determination to protect others surpass Sukuna's cold pragmatism. The stark contrast between the two men creates tension in their interactions and forces Sukuna to confront parts of his identity that he has long ignored.

As Yuji's demeanor begins to affect him, Sukuna grapples with an old philosophical conflict, trying to reconcile his hatred for humanity with the surprising bond he shares with Yuji.

Sukuna walked down a path with Uraume deciding to mend his ways in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 271 (Image via Shueisha)

After his death, the pivotal moment in Sukuna's evolution occurred when he encountered Mahito. This event exposed his more vulnerable side. Through deep reflection on the choices he had made in life, Sukuna expressed a triumph of fate by deciding to replace one kind of existence with another, signaling a shift from his original narcissism.

This change hints at possible growth beyond his unrelenting brutality, suggesting the discovery of a complex character struggling with the consequences of his past actions. By contemplating the future and the potential for redemption, Sukuna’s character development demonstrates the richness and complexity of human connections, even to the extent that it can influence one's environment. This indicates that even the most dire souls are capable of change.

Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka Gege Akutami may have made Sukuna's journey the opposite of that of Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones

Gege Akutami's illustration of Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu Kaisen may seem like the opposite of Daenerys Targaryen's character arc in Game of Thrones. Daenerys begins the series as an idealistic, benevolent young girl but ultimately evolves into a tyrannical leader, lacking compassion.

However, Sukuna evolves from a ruthless, heartless villain who relishes carnage into a more thoughtful and nuanced character towards the series' end. Additionally, while Daenerys’ transformation into a dictator depicts the corrupting force of power, Sukuna’s change in demeanor follows the opposite path.

The development of a typically unchangeable character into one who becomes more friendly to others demonstrates how real change can occur through experience and reflection—elements often interpreted as structures of spiritual connection.

Final thoughts

The representation of Sukuna by Gege Akutami, depicting him as a character who shifts from ruthless villainy to contemplation, contrasts sharply with Daenerys Targaryen's trajectory, where she falls from idealism to despotism or tyranny. This narrative flip emphasizes the complex, multifaceted nature of power, loss, and redemption in both stories, contributing significantly to their respective arcs.