Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 is about to sideline its protagonist, and that's a good thing

The Culling Game is about to get deadlier

There are only three episodes to go before Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 comes to an end. The ongoing third season is split into two cours, which will cover all 83 chapters of the Culling Game arc from Gege Akutami’s acclaimed manga. Part 1 is set to air its 12th and final episode on March 26, but it’s tricky to gauge which manga-adjacent chapter it’ll end with. MAPPA has switched up the pacing for the sake of a streamlined story, opting for a more artistic approach towards an already layered saga. Irrespective of which mini-arc part 1 concludes with, we’ll be seeing less and less of the franchise’s protagonist, Yuji Itadori. While Yuji’s return to the spotlight comes with a major payoff, his long period of absence makes space for a flurry of intense battles in the meantime.

[Ed.note: This article contains spoilers for chapters 138-221 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga]

Episode 9 of the third season resolves the conflict between Yuji and Hiromi Higuruma, who agrees to add a new rule to the Culling Game. Higuruma summons his Kogane and adds a rule allowing players to transfer points between one another, while giving Yuji one of his points to help him maintain his participation for the next 19 days. This might be the last we see of Yuji in Season 3, part 1, as the focus will shift back to the confrontation between Megumi Fushiguro and Reggie Star.

That said, MAPPA might give us a glimpse of Yuji before Part 1 ends, as it’s done something similar with repeated callbacks to Satoru Goju despite his sealing at Shibuya on Oct. 31. Even so, the conclusion of the Megumi-focused fights marks a turning point in the Culling Game as we move on to fights of a more serious nature.

The Yuji-Higuruma segment ends in chapter 167 of the manga, with the next chapter setting up the arrival of Fumihiko Takaba, the struggling stand-up comedian who is suddenly turned into a sorcerer by Kenjaku before the Culling Game. This is just the beginning of messy skirmishes and huge battles, with the Megumi-focused arc lasting several chapters. Then, a sudden shift to Sendai Colony gives us a clearer idea of what Yuta Okkotsu has been up to since joining the Game. We’re thrown headfirst into his fight with Kurourushi, a special grade cockroach cursed spirit (who is referenced in the opening theme via a humorous rendition of Gustave Klimt’s The Kiss). It’s reasonable to assume that episodes 10 and 11 will be dedicated to the Megumi vs. Reggie fights, while the finale might lead up to Yuta breaking the Sendai Colony deadlock.

It’s premature to anticipate the pacing that season 3 part 2 will adhere to, given MAPPA’s tendency to layer and condense events for dramatic effect. In the manga, Yuji effectively returns in chapter 199, greeting a now-recovered Megumi alongside Takaba and Hana Kurusu/Angel. It is worth noting that Yuji fills Megumi in about his run-in with Takaba and Hana during the Culling Game, which could be slotted in at an earlier point in the anime adaptation to bring Yuji in earlier than expected. The absence of a franchise protagonist for 30-odd chapters is a big deal, but this chunk is hardly wasted on filler. If anything, we witness the gnarliest of battles, including Kinji Hakari vs. Hajime Kashimo, and Maki Zenin in a fight that sees the return of a character presumed long dead.

Chapter 199 also ends with a bombshell reveal about Sukuna, who has been hyped up as a part of Kenjaku’s endgame, with enough power to trigger the breakdown of jujutsu society. It’s only a matter of time before Kenjaku gets his hands dirty and engages in a fight himself, which we witness in chapter 203 onward. Yuji’s role after his return will be instrumental, introducing a decisive turning point in his relationship with Sukuna, while adding yet another layer to his escalating anguish in the series.

Seeing Yuji Itadori on-screen will always be a welcome sight. He carries a formidable inner strength that complements his physical endurance even when his hopes and dreams are pushed into the deep end of the abyss. Yuji’s story will always be that of lost innocence, wherein children like him are used as cogs by jujutsu society and discarded when they outgrow their purpose. To persist despite these horrors is an act of bravery, especially for someone as compassionate as Yuji. While Yuji will certainly be missed until he makes a full-fledged return in part 2, there will be several allies to root for in the exciting battles to come.

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New episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 release every Thursday on Crunchyroll.