Rushed ending is not Jujutsu Kaisen's only issue, and fans should accept it

Modified Oct 09, 2024 15:30 GMT

Rushed ending is not Jujutsu Kaisen's only issue, and fans should accept it (Image via MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen ended on September 29, 2024, with the release of chapter 271. While the ending was a conventionally happy one, with most of the cast surviving with minimal repercussions, the majority of the fandom deemed it a bad ending due to its abruptness and lackluster delivery.

Although the fandom's complaints have mostly focused on the pacing and rushed conclusion, it should be noted that the ending also did not address character arcs, despite the characters having undergone major developments. Given that the entire narrative is about nurturing the next generation of sorcerers, it has left a vacuum, due to the lack of closure regarding them.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen series and reflects the author's opinions.

Jujutsu Kaisen: The story has significant issues apart from the rushed ending

Yuji as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

The story of Jujutsu Kaisen has centered around Gojo's efforts to find and nurture Jujutsu talent, hoping to make the next generation better and free them from the corruption that has plagued Jujutsu society for countless years.

The conflict with the previous generation and the inherent corruption within Jujutsu society has been a key element for many characters' growth, with Yuji, Maki, and Hakari at the forefront of these conflicts. Yuji was hunted by Jujutsu society, eventually getting sentenced to execution due to being Sukuna's vessel.

Maki was ostracized by the Zenin family, who doubted her abilities and hindered her growth, due to their backward and antagonistic values. Similarly, Hakari was ostracized by the Jujutsu higher-ups because of their clashing values.

Maki as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Most of these issues were addressed later in the story; Maki massacred the entire Zenin family after her sister's death, Yuji eventually purged Sukuna and freed Megumi from possession, and Hakari's problems were somewhat resolved when Gojo eliminated all the Jujutsu higher-ups before his battle with Sukuna.

While these characters experienced growth and progression, they did not have much emotional payoff, and their arcs felt more like their training for the eventual fight against Sukuna.

Hakari fighting Yuji as shown in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Even antagonists like Kenjaku, who had supposedly been advancing his plans for centuries, were defeated in an anti-climactic manner, with his plans falling apart along with Sukuna. Despite the build-up of Kenjaku being one of the most brilliant minds in the story, his downfall lacked significant impact.

Although the story delivered on major events, the lack of focus on the lasting emotional consequences for the characters prevented their arcs from reaching a truly satisfying conclusion.

Final thoughts

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga ended without an announcement for part 2 or a spin-off, but the anime is currently ongoing, with Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 scheduled for release sometime in 2025. It is still possible that the decision for a spin-off of the manga has already been made, which might get announced alongside the release of season 3, which will adapt the Culling Games arc.

Furthermore, the ending did leave openings for part 2 due to the involvement of foreign governments and the dissolving of Tengen's barrier, making it possible to construct a narrative in the future.

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Edited by Janhavi Chauhan