Nobara's return lessened Megumi's enlightenment in Jujutsu Kaisen

The narrative structure of Jujutsu Kaisen has a substantial impact on every character's death. The Shibuya Incident arc delivers one of Jujutsu Kaisen's most shocking events through Nobara Kugisaki's apparent death, devastating fans and fundamentally altering the series' narrative direction.

While Nobara Kugisaki's return gave joy to many readers in the last arc of the story, it weakened Megumi Fushiguro's powerful character development as she emerged from her state of despair.

A review of Gege Akutami's narrative decisions shows that Nobara's unexpected return created temporary relief yet weakened the power of Megumi's spiritual journey. This held the potential for one of the strongest character developments in the series.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinions of the writer.

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Megumi’s descent and redemption in Jujutsu Kaisen: A powerful exploration of trauma, loss, and human resilience

Successive losses establish the tragic framework of Megumi's character arc. The emotional burden Megumi carried from his sister Tsumiki's coma gets heavier when Sukuna takes control of his body to murder her after she wakes up. Megumi reaches his psychological breaking point when this devastating sequence shatters his soul and throws him into a deep abyss of despair.

Akutami presents a powerful depiction of spiritual death by demonstrating how Megumi's character, known for his steadfast resolve, becomes utterly shattered after being forced to destroy his sister. The path Megumi takes to escape his depths of despair stands as one of Jujutsu Kaisen's deepest explorations into the themes of trauma and healing.

Yuji's relentless efforts to rescue him drove his step-by-step reconstruction of self, which revealed the manga's main themes of friendship and shared responsibility. The narrative carefully constructed Megumi's redemption as a testament to human resilience—highlighting how even shattered souls can find their way back when others refuse to abandon them.

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Nobara’s return undermines Megumi’s arc and narrative stakes in Jujutsu Kaisen

However, Nobara's surprise return significantly weakened this narrative arc. Her reappearance came without foreshadowing, emerging as a convenient plot device rather than an organic story development. While emotionally satisfying on a surface level, her return diverted attention from Megumi's internal struggle at a critical moment.

What should have been his defining triumph—overcoming despair through the support of those who remained—became merely one emotional beat among many. The timing proved particularly problematic. By positioning Nobara's return in proximity to Megumi's spiritual rebirth, Akutami inadvertently created competing emotional climaxes.

The joy of reunion diluted the gravitas of Megumi's psychological victory. Had Nobara remained deceased, Megumi's emergence from despair would have carried additional poignancy—a testament to finding hope despite permanent loss. Instead, her resurrection unintentionally suggested that losses in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe lack permanence, reducing the stakes of Megumi's suffering.

Additionally, Nobara's unexpected return ultimately rendered her earlier "death" scene less impactful in retrospect. The deep emotional impact of Megumi's supposed death, which influenced audience perception and character development throughout the story, later diminished in significance. The decision impacted both Megumi's personal journey and the overall narrative coherence of the entire series.

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Conclusion

The exploration of grief and perseverance together with sacrifice remains Jujutsu Kaisen's most powerful thematic element. Nobara's comeback serves Akutami's intent to wrap up her character arc but it reduces the powerful emotional impact that Megumi's redemption storyline had achieved.

Preserving Megumi's death would have shown real narrative bravery because her return from despair would then serve as proof of finding hope despite permanent losses. Her return brought emotional confusion because it offered only temporary gratification instead of allowing Megumi to experience a truly extraordinary character development.

As both fans and critics continue to assess Jujutsu Kaisen's legacy, Nobara's resurrection stands out as a prime example of how talented writers can choose emotional impact over storytelling depth.

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