Did Jujutsu Kaisen Fumble Its Finale?

After six years of intense action and storytelling, Jujutsu Kaisen has wrapped up its run in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. The series, now a major cultural phenomenon with over 100 million manga copies sold, has left fans debating whether creator Gege Akutami delivered a truly satisfying ending. Like many popular Shonen Jump titles, Jujutsu Kaisen reached a massive peak in popularity thanks to its anime adaptation. But with such a powerful momentum, the manga’s ending has left fans questioning if it did justice to the story’s depth and legacy.

The abrupt end to Jujutsu Kaisen feels similar to the finales of other mega-hit series, like Demon Slayer, which concluded just as its anime exploded in popularity. With Jujutsu Kaisen, fans weren’t ready to say goodbye, and the series could have perhaps better prepared for a more gradual conclusion. Despite its well-paced rise, Jujutsu Kaisen’s closing chapters felt rushed to some, and missed opportunities for more thorough character resolutions.

What Happened in Jujutsu Kaisen’s Finale?

The final chapter saw Jujutsu Kaisen’s main characters—Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki—return to their everyday lives, completing the kind of curse-exorcising missions they had at the story’s start. With the major battles behind them, they approach the future with a more hopeful outlook for Jujutsu society, but many questions linger, unresolved. These loose ends are part of what fans have struggled with, as they wanted clearer answers and closure for beloved characters.

Akutami’s journey with Jujutsu Kaisen was one of constant adaptation, influenced by reader and editorial demands. This dynamic often led to shifts in plot and character directions, making the story a collaborative yet unpredictable effort. Though Akutami had an ending in mind from early on, the path to it was filled with adjustments that impacted the final arc’s pacing and clarity.

The Challenges of Bringing Jujutsu Kaisen to a Close

The finale introduced abrupt shifts that hinted at a rushed conclusion, especially regarding Kenjaku’s role as an antagonist. Although Kenjaku was a crucial character who added layers of tension and mystery, his storyline was cut short in an off-panel death. This led to Sukuna being positioned as the ultimate foe, which left fans feeling that a major part of the story’s buildup was discarded without payoff.

Fans were eager to see Kenjaku’s plan unfold, as previous chapters teased a convergence of chaos tied to his actions. But in the final act, Sukuna abruptly announced that Kenjaku’s plans wouldn’t come to fruition, leaving fans questioning whether the story had veered too quickly toward an ending. With a last-minute announcement confirming the manga’s end, the narrative’s sudden direction was jarring for those who had followed it closely.

Was Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending Actually Bad?

Despite the divisive responses, Jujutsu Kaisen’s last chapter offers a fittingly peaceful conclusion. The series, known for its unrelenting action, needed a quieter end for Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara, who finally achieved the bright future that Gojo envisioned for them. Gojo’s wishes for his students to forge a new path for Jujutsu sorcery are fulfilled as they return to a semblance of normal life, with Sukuna defeated and no major threat on the horizon.

However, fans hoped for more closure on unresolved storylines, like Kenjaku’s unfinished scheme and the fate of fan-favorite character Satoru Gojo. After his defeat, speculation swirled about Gojo’s possible return, as his body was reanimated, only for the ending to skip a final farewell. Though Gojo’s character arc seemed to end fittingly, his popularity had fans hoping for a more conclusive sendoff.

Reflecting on Jujutsu Kaisen’s Legacy

In the end, it wasn’t necessarily Jujutsu Kaisen’s finale that disappointed fans, but the suddenness of the journey there. With so much of the story’s potential left unexplored, the final battle against Sukuna or Kenjaku felt incomplete. The manga’s abrupt conclusion seems to represent not just the end of the story, but a loss of potential fans had grown attached to. Over time, as fans reflect on the complete narrative, they may come to see its ending in a different light.