The Disappointment of Jujutsu Kaisen

Summary

The video script critiques 'Jujutsu Kaisen' for its underwhelming narrative progression, highlighting the series' side quest syndrome and lack of character development. It argues that the manga squanders its potential by not focusing on the main antagonists or overarching goals, and by failing to provide satisfying subplots and payoffs for its characters. Additionally, the script points out the underutilization of the power system, with many unique abilities and techniques left unexplored, leading to a sense of disappointment for fans who had high expectations.

Takeaways

• 📉 Jujutsu Kaisen was initially seen as a potential contender to rival the 'big 3' of manga but has not lived up to its early promise for some readers.
• 🔍 The manga suffers from 'Side Quest Syndrome,' where many arcs do not contribute to the main storyline or the overarching goal of collecting Sukuna's fingers.
• 🎯 The script compares two types of arc progressions in battle manga: 'Stage Type,' where each arc introduces a new powerful villain, and 'Small Steps Type,' which advances the main goal incrementally.
• 💔 The script criticizes the handling of character deaths and incapacitations, especially when they lack subplots or character development, leading to a sense of wasted potential.
• 🚫 Jujutsu Kaisen has been criticized for not fully utilizing its power system, particularly the concept of Domain Expansions, which are underrepresented among the main characters.
• 🔑 The potential of the power system is further undermined by the lack of exploration of concepts like Cursed Technique Reversal and Maximum Techniques.
• 👥 The small cast of characters in Jujutsu Kaisen is highlighted as a problem, with many main characters lacking their own subplots or character arcs, which is a missed opportunity for depth.
• 🏆 The importance of subplots in long-running battle manga is emphasized, as they contribute to the richness and complexity of the story.
• 🤔 The script points out missed opportunities for payoffs in character arcs, such as Yuji's quest for revenge against Mahito and Megumi's struggle to save his sister.
• 🔮 The concept of inherited techniques from great sorcerer families is mentioned as underdeveloped, with few characters actually utilizing these abilities.
• 🚫 The script expresses disappointment in the late introduction and underdevelopment of the main protagonist's abilities, which limits the exploration of his potential.

Q & A

What was the initial expectation for Jujutsu Kaisen in the context of battle manga?

Jujutsu Kaisen was initially expected to be the new generation battle manga that would come closest to the status of the 'big 3' (presumably referring to popular series like Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece), and at one point, it was believed to surpass My Hero Academia and stand alongside Demon Slayer in terms of quality.

What is the 'Side Quest Syndrome' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to Jujutsu Kaisen's plot development?

The 'Side Quest Syndrome' refers to the issue where the story arcs in Jujutsu Kaisen feel like they are side quests rather than directly contributing to the main plot or overarching goals, such as defeating Sukuna and Kenjaku, or collecting Sukuna's fingers.

What are the two main types of arc progressions used in battle manga, as described in the script?

The two main types of arc progressions are the 'Stage Type,' where heroes fight a new powerful villain each arc without a central goal, and the 'Small Steps Type,' where each arc contributes to the heroes' progress toward an overarching goal.

How does the script's author view the character development in Jujutsu Kaisen compared to other battle manga?

The author believes that Jujutsu Kaisen has underutilized its characters by not providing them with satisfying subplots or character arcs, which is in contrast to other battle manga that give their characters more depth and development through subplots.

What is the author's stance on the deaths and incapacitations of characters in Jujutsu Kaisen?

The author criticizes Jujutsu Kaisen for killing off and incapacitating characters who have not had the chance to complete their subplots or character arcs, which they believe is a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling.

What are 'Domains' in the context of Jujutsu Kaisen, and why does the script's author find their usage disappointing?

Domains in Jujutsu Kaisen are akin to the Bankais in Bleach and represent a powerful extension of a character's Cursed Technique. The author is disappointed because the story has not explored these abilities extensively, especially for the main heroes, instead focusing on villains and one-off characters.

What is the concept of 'Cursed Technique Reversal' in Jujutsu Kaisen, and why does the author feel it is underutilized?

Cursed Technique Reversal is when a user reverses their Cursed Technique, effectively creating a healing ability. The author feels this concept is underutilized because it has only been shown in a few instances and not for many characters, despite its potential for interesting storytelling.

What is the issue with the 'Maximum Techniques' according to the script?

The issue with 'Maximum Techniques' is that they have been poorly explored and used by very few characters, which limits the depth and variety of the power system in Jujutsu Kaisen.

How does the script's author evaluate the concept of inherited techniques in Jujutsu Kaisen?

The author evaluates the concept of inherited techniques as underwhelming because only a few members from each family are shown to use their unique abilities, which contrasts with other series that showcase a wider range of abilities among family members.

What are the 'fumbled payoffs' mentioned in the script, and why does the author consider them as such?

The 'fumbled payoffs' refer to instances where the story's build-up to significant character moments or plot points is not effectively resolved or paid off, leading to dissatisfaction. Examples given are Yuji's revenge on Mahito and Megumi's interaction with his sister Tsumiki, which were not executed as impactfully as the author expected.

In conclusion, what are the main reasons the author finds Jujutsu Kaisen disappointing?

The main reasons for the author's disappointment are the focus on side quests, underdeveloped characters, poorly executed payoffs, and an unexplored power system, which have not lived up to the initial high expectations for the series.

Outlines

00:00

📉 The Disappointment of Jujutsu Kaisen's Progression

The script discusses the initial high expectations for Jujutsu Kaisen as a leading battle manga, comparing it to the 'big 3' (One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach). However, it points out that the manga's plot suffers from 'side quest syndrome,' where arcs do not contribute significantly to the main storyline or the overarching goal of collecting Sukuna's fingers. The script contrasts this with other battle manga that either follow a 'Stage Type' progression with no overarching goal or a 'Small Steps Type' where each arc advances the main plot. It criticizes Jujutsu Kaisen for having only 4 out of 10 arcs that are not side quests and for not effectively using its characters or their subplots.

05:01

💥 Wasted Characters and Missed Story Opportunities

This paragraph delves into the issue of 'wasted characters' in Jujutsu Kaisen, where many characters lack subplots or character arcs that lead to satisfying conclusions. The script emphasizes the importance of subplots in long-running battle manga and criticizes Jujutsu Kaisen for killing off or incapacitating characters before they have had a chance to develop. It contrasts this with other manga, where character deaths are more meaningful because they occur after completing their subplots. The script also discusses the concept of 'fumbled payoffs,' where the manga fails to effectively resolve character storylines, such as Yuji's subplot with Mahito and Megumi's with his sister Tsumiki.

10:02

🔮 Unexplored Power Systems and Lost Potential

The final paragraph addresses the underutilization of Jujutsu Kaisen's power system, specifically the 'Domain Expansion,' which is compared to the 'Bankai' from Bleach but is not explored as extensively. The script highlights the imbalance between the number of villains and heroes with domains and expresses disappointment in the lack of display of domains by main characters. It also touches on other neglected concepts such as 'Cursed Technique Reversal,' 'Maximum Techniques,' and 'inherited techniques' from the three great sorcerer families. The script concludes by stating that while some issues can be resolved, the early focus on side quests and the loss of character development due to deaths and incapacitations are irreversible, leading to an overall sense of disappointment.

Keywords

💡Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is a popular manga and anime series that has garnered significant attention and comparison with established titles in the genre. In the video, it is discussed as a series that was expected to rival the 'big 3' of shonen manga but has faced criticism for various narrative and character development issues.

💡Side Quest Syndrome

This term refers to a narrative structure where the main storyline is frequently interrupted by secondary quests or subplots that do not directly contribute to the main plot's progression. In the video, it is used to criticize Jujutsu Kaisen for its arcs that deviate from the central conflict, thus diluting the main storyline's impact.

💡Arc Progression

Arc progression describes how a story unfolds over a series of episodes or chapters, typically within a manga or anime. The video outlines two types of arc progressions: 'Stage Type' and 'Small Steps Type,' and argues that Jujutsu Kaisen's side quests hinder its progression towards the main goals.

💡Wasted Characters

Wasted characters are those that do not receive adequate development or a satisfying subplot, leading to a lack of depth or wasted potential. The video points out that Jujutsu Kaisen has several characters that lack subplots, which is a missed opportunity for enriching the narrative.

💡Subplot

A subplot is a secondary storyline that runs alongside the main plot, often focusing on a specific character's development or a related issue. The video emphasizes the importance of subplots in character development and criticizes Jujutsu Kaisen for not providing enough of them for its main characters.

💡Deaths and Incapacitation

This concept refers to the narrative device of killing off or incapacitating characters, which can be used to create dramatic tension or resolve character arcs. The video criticizes Jujutsu Kaisen for killing or incapacitating characters without providing them with proper subplots or character development first.

💡Fumbled Payoffs

Fumbled payoffs occur when a story's build-up to a significant event or character moment is not effectively resolved or is underwhelming. The video cites instances in Jujutsu Kaisen where character-driven payoffs were mishandled, leading to dissatisfaction with the narrative's progression.

💡Cursed Techniques

Cursed Techniques are special abilities in Jujutsu Kaisen that characters use in combat. The video discusses the potential of these techniques, particularly Domain Expansions, which are likened to the Bankai abilities in Bleach, and criticizes the series for not exploring them sufficiently.

💡Domain Expansion

Domain Expansion is a powerful ability in Jujutsu Kaisen that enhances a character's Cursed Technique. The video notes the limited number of heroes with Domains and the lack of exposure for these abilities, which is a missed opportunity for showcasing the series' unique power system.

💡Cursed Technique Reversal

Cursed Technique Reversal is a concept where a character reverses their Cursed Technique to create a new effect. The video points out that this concept has been underutilized in Jujutsu Kaisen, with very few examples provided, despite its potential for interesting combat dynamics.

💡Unexplored Power System

This term refers to the criticism that Jujutsu Kaisen has not fully developed or explored its own power system, including abilities like Maximum Techniques and inherited techniques from sorcerer families. The video argues that this lack of exploration limits the depth and complexity of the series' world-building.

Highlights

Jujutsu Kaisen was initially considered a potential contender to rival the 'big 3' of manga but has since fallen short of expectations.

The manga suffers from 'Side Quest Syndrome', with many arcs not directly contributing to the main plot or overarching goals.

Two main types of arc progressions in battle manga are identified: 'Stage Type' and 'Small Steps Type'.

Jujutsu Kaisen's arcs often lack the sense of progression seen in other battle manga like Naruto and Demon Slayer.

The manga has been criticized for wasting characters by not giving them satisfying subplots or character arcs.

A 'wasted character' is defined as one without a subplot that concludes in a satisfying way.

Examples of well-developed characters from other manga are provided, such as Rock Lee and Shikamaru from Naruto.

Jujutsu Kaisen is criticized for its small cast of characters, many of whom lack subplots.

The manga has been criticized for killing off or incapacitating characters before they have had the chance to develop.

The deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen are seen as poorly executed, with characters dying without proper character development or subplot resolution.

Payoffs for character arcs, such as Yuji's subplot with Mahito and Megumi's with his sister, are considered fumbled.

The power system of Jujutsu Kaisen, particularly Domain Expansion, is underexplored and unutilized for main characters.

The concept of Cursed Technique Reversal and Maximum Techniques are introduced but not fully developed or showcased.

Inherited techniques and family abilities are highlighted as underutilized aspects of the power system.

The main protagonist, Yuji Itadori, only recently gained his own technique, which may limit the exploration of his abilities.

The conclusion summarizes the main criticisms of Jujutsu Kaisen, suggesting that while not a bad story, it has not met the high expectations set for it.

Transcripts

Intro

Jujustu Kaisen was supposed to be the chosen one.

It was supposed to be the new gen battle manga that would come closest to the big 3.

At one point, I believed it was better than Hero and Clover and stood aside Demon Slayer,

but things have changed.

There was false news that JJK was ending this year, but if it was, I realized that if JJK

ended this year, it would be a huge disappointment.

Most of the points I gave to this manga were based on potential, but what it's actually

done is very minimal.

The reason I didn’t name this “The Fall of” is because there was truly never anything

to fall from.

Side Quest Syndrome

The first major issue is the plot.

The arcs in JJK have side quest syndrome.

I feel like most of the arcs amount to side quests that aren’t focused on the main antagonists

or overarching goal of collecting Sukuna’s fingers.

Before I get there, I’ll explain the 2 main types of arc progressions that battle manga

use.

The first is what I’ll call the “Stage Type.”

This is where the heroes fight a new villain each arc who is one of the most powerful threat

at the time.

Stories that do this are One Piece, Bleach, and Fairy Tail.

These stories usually don’t have an overarching goal.

The second type is the “Small Steps Type.”

This is where each arc has the heroes making a little bit of progress on one of their overarching

goals.

Stories that use this are Naruto, Hero Academia, and Demon Slayer.

In Naruto, each arc has the heroes getting closer to stopping Orochimaru, the Akatsuki,

or saving Sasuke.

In Hero, most arcs have them get closer to the League and AFO.

In Demon Slayer, most arcs have them killing a Kizuki, bringing them closer to Muzan.

That brings us to JJK.

The main overarching objectives in JJK are to defeat Sukuna, defeat Kenjaku, and have

Yuji eat all the fingers.

The Fearsome Womb arc is made of multiple side quests, but I can give that a pass since

other stories like Naruto and Bleach start episodic like that.

The Vs Mahito arc is a side quest.

So is the Goodwill event.

The Death Painting arc had the death paintings retrieving Sukuna’s finger, so it has progress.

Gojo’s Past is a flashback arc, so it has no progress made in the present despite being

relevant.

Shibuya Incident is the first focused arc.

Itadori’s extermination is a side quest.

So is Perfect Preparation.

The Culling Game is a focused arc and so is Shinjuku Showdown, but I have an issue with

the former.

Despite Kenjaku being the big boss here, the characters the heroes fight are complete randos.

Instead of having the heroes fight a relevant villain squad like the Kizuki, Akatsuki, Thunder

Tribe, CP9, Sound 4, or Baroque Works, the sorcerers get to fight new characters who

aren’t even associated with Kenjaku or Sukuna, making it feel more like side quest.

Out of 10 arcs, 4 are not side quests.

Maybe you’re thinking that One Piece, Fairy Tail, and Black Clover do the same.

In One Piece, each arc moves them closer to either the Grand Line or the One Piece.

Fairy Tail doesn’t have an overarching goal for its characters, so technically there are

no side quests.

FT does have 2 overarching villains, but they remain in the shadows and the heroes aren’t

chasing them.

Black Clover is like Fairy Tail.

No objective to pursue and no overarching antagonist.

Wasted Characters

People throw around the term “wasted character” a lot, but I have my own definition and JJK

definitely has wasted many.

For a hero character to not be “wasted,” they need their own subplot that ends in a

satisfying way.

This subplot usually involves a character arc.

Once that subplot is completed, that character can no longer be considered “wasted” in

my book.

Rock Lee and Shikamaru are great examples of characters that are NOT wasted.

Lee had his subplot of proving that he’s a splendid ninja.

He had multiple fights within this subplot and it seemingly ended with him getting broken

by Gaara.

He already proved himself, but then we get the additional story of him dealing with the

aftermath of his journey and having an emotional recovery when he returns to battle, despite

being told that he’d never fight again.

That’s a subplot that lasted multiple arcs.

Shikamaru has a subplot about moving from laziness to leadership.

In the chunin exams, he’s super lazy, but by the end, he decides to sacrifice himself,

a leader-like move.

Then in the Sasuke Retrieval arc, he’s the team leader, but he fails the mission.

He finally gets reparations when he successfully avenges Asuma in a mission led by him.

His subplot could’ve ended right there, but then in the war, he has a small leadership

role, and in the future, he’s the Hokage’s right hand man.

Once again, a subplot lasting multiple arcs.

Chad from Bleach is another heavily criticized character, but he had a whole subplot about

learning to protect his loved ones and it physically manifested in his right arm.

Then he had a subplot of enjoying fighting that manifested in his left arm.

Orihime, another heavily criticized character, also has a subplot of becoming the shield

and healer for her allies.

Other battle manga definitely give their characters subplots like these, but does JJK?

I think one of the main reasons JJK stands out so much in this area is because of its

small cast of characters.

When you can count most of the main characters on your fingers and most of them don’t have

subplots, it's really noticeable.

Let’s do a headcount.

Yuji has a subplot regarding Mahito.

Megumi doesn’t.

Nobara doesn’t.

Gojo doesn’t.

Maki does regarding her lack of curse energy.

This is probably the most focused on subplot.

Inumaki doesn’t.

Panda doesn’t.

Yuta doesn’t.

Mai doesn’t.

Mechamaru does have one regarding working with the villains.

Miwa doesn’t.

Kami doesn’t.

Todo doesn’t.

Momo doesn’t.

Nanami doesn’t.

Mei Mei doesn’t.

Yuki doesn’t.

Do I need to keep going?

I feel like mentioning any other character would be unfair because these are the mainest

ones.

Out of all these heroes, only 3 of them had a subplot.

This severe deficiency made me realize how important subplots are to the quality of long

running stories, especially battle manga.

And then there’s the part that I’m sure more fans are aware of.

Deaths and incapacitations.

The worst part about the deaths is that JJK kills characters who haven’t had subplots

or character arcs.

Other stories would kill characters that have already completed their subplots.

Examples would be Jiraiya and Neji in Naruto.

JJK says “nah I’m good.”

They killed Mechamaru, Nanami, Naobito, and Yuki and incapacitated Inumaki and Nobara.

Only one of these characters had a subplot: Mechamaru.

Yuki and Nobara are the most frustrating.

Yuki because she was hyped up as this elite sorcerer and she just showed up and lost without

any arc or subplot.

I know Naruto fans hate on Tsunade, but at least she had a subplot and a character arc.

She was a well written character from a character standpoint.

Demon Slayer is another example of a manga with a frighteningly low amount of subplots.

The only story arc I can confidently say had subplots was the Infinity Castle Arc.

However, the way this story goes about crossing out characters is better.

While they may not get subplots, they at least get flashbacks that develop their characters.

Examples would be Rengoku and Tengen in the anime.

In the manga, more characters die and all of them get flashbacks.

What’d we get from Yuki?

And then Nobara.

She’s supposed to be the 3rd main character.

The 3rd in the trio.

Yet she has no subplot, loses most of her fights, and then gets incapacitated for so

long.

We don’t even know if she’s dead or alive.

She was knocked out in the Shibuya Arc and has been missing for 4 arcs.

Fumbled Payoffs

So far, there are 2 payoffs that I remember being fumbled.

One for Yuji, one for Megumi.

Yuji has his whole subplot with Mahito.

It starts with Mahito killing Junpei, a friend that Yuji was trying to save.

This was the start of Yuji becoming a little darker.

Then Mahito showed up and killed Nanami, his teacher, and seemingly killed Nobara, an even

closer friend.

And then he beats the crap out of Yuji.

When Todo shows up for round 2, Yuji finally has the chance to avenge his friends by killing

Mahito, but Kenjaku interrupts and absorbs him?

Like Nobara, I have no clue if he’s gonna come back, but if that’s actually the end,

that’s a fumbled payoff.

Revenge stories are the easiest plots to pay off and somehow, JJK missed the mark.

The second is with Megumi and his sister.

Tsumiki has been in a coma since the start and Megumi’s goal has been to wake her up.

The Culling Game awakes Tsumiki and Megumi wants to get her out safely.

He finally meets her, but it turns out that a reincarnated spirit has control over her

body.

After Sukuna takes over Megumi’s body, he fights the spirit in Tsumiki’s body, Yorozu,

and kills her in battle.

Because of the way this was executed, I completely forgot that this meant that Tsumiki was actually

dead.

If they wanted to go the sad road and kill the sister, cool, but the execution was atrocious.

Sukuna using Megumi’s body to kill Tsumiki is a good plan, but the problem is that Tsumiki

isn’t in control of her body.

Some crazy sorcerer from the past is.

On top of that, her corny infatuation with Sukuna is what’s dominating the screen time

rather than the fact that Megumi is about to kill his sister.

So when Yorozu died, it took time for it to really settle in that Tsumiki was dead too.

After her death in 219, we got a 2 panel reaction from Megumi.

No words, and the panels didn’t convey much emotion.

The story pulled attention away from Tsumiki’s tragedy in order to focus on Yorozu’s comedy.

That’s tough.

Instead of effectively paying off the setup for one of the main characters, we got a Toradora

romcom.

Unexplored Power System

JJK’s Cursed Techniques had the potential to be one of the best power systems of all

time, but its lack of exploration is so infuriating.

The main one is Domain Expansion.

These are the Bankais of JJK, but unlike Bankais in Bleach, we don’t get to see enough.

In 200 chapters, which characters have Domains?

Sukuna, Jogo, Gojo, Dagon, Mahito, Megumi, Smallpox, Hiromi, Kinji, Naoya, Kenjaku, and

Yorozu.

That’s 12 characters.

Do you see a problem with this list?

I do.

The heroes, you know, the main characters, are lacking in domains.

Sukuna, Jogo, Dagon, Mahito, and Kenjaku are all villains.

Smallpox, Hiromi, and Yorozu are all 1 arc villains.

Naoya is a 2 arc villain.

Gojo, Megumi, and Kinji are the only heroes with domains.

What are we doing?

Why are there more throwaway characters with domains than actual heroes?

I’m gonna be blunt.

I want to see the characters I’m familiar with use domains, not just random one off

characters and villains.

Furthermore, Yuki, Yuta, Ryu, and Uro all have domains, but none of them were actually

shown.

Yuta still has a chance to show his, but Yuki, Ryu, and Uro are dead, so that’s 3 fumbles

right there.

If Yuta doesn’t show his by the end of the story, that’ll be a fourth fumble.

JJK’s first domain was introduced in chapter 15.

We’re currently in the 230’s.

In 215 chapters, there have been 12 domain expansions.

The first bankai was used in chapter 125.

230 chapters later is 355.

By that chapter, if we count all Bankais and Bankai equivalents, like Resurreccion, there

have been 9 Bankais and 27 Resurreccions.

That’s 36 bankai equivalents in the same time span.

Meanwhile this story has us waiting in the dark, likely to never see the light.

What’s worse is that there are characters that could have been given Domains.

Nobara, Inumaki, Yuta (Yuta has one, but it hasn’t been shown), Masamichi, Yoshinobu,

Mechamaru, Kamo, Todo, Nanami, Mei Mei, and Yuki.

If Megumi is able to have one, I believe most of these students should at least be able

to create an incomplete form, while the adults definitely should have one.

Such a cool concept is going untapped.

The next wasted concept is Cursed Technique Reversal.

Reversed Cursed Technique (Hanten Jujutsushiki) is healing.

Cursed Technique Reversal (Jujutsushiki Hanten) is when a user reverses their Cursed Technique

Lapse (Jujutsushiki Junten).

Ever since Gojo explained how Red was a reversal of his lapse, I was so excited to see other

characters reverse their moves, but we've only gotten 1 other in chapter 204.

1 of Kenjaku's powers is Antigravity System, which negates gravity, but during his fight

with Choso and Yuki, he only uses the reversal, which creates a strong force of gravity.

This was revealed in 208.

In 200+ chapters, the only examples of reversals are Gojo’s and Kenjaku's.

I thought we’d at least get to see Megumi, Nobara, and Todo reverse their moves.

But no, this is wasted too.

Next is Maximum Techniques.

You probably forgot these existed because only 3 people used them.

Geto, Eso, and Jogo. 2 important antagonists and an irrelevant 1 time villain.

A concept in the power system that’s been poorly explored is inherited techniques.

The story hypes up the 3 great sorcerer families as Zenin, Gojo, and Kamo.

Zenin’s have the 10 shadows.

How many people can use that?

One.

Gojo’s have limitless and six eyes.

How many can use that?

One.

Kamo’s have blood manipulation.

How many can use that?

Two.

What are we doing here?

The Zenin’s also have a 2nd family ability: Projection Sorcery.

Only 2 people use that.

What is the point of making a family ability if barely any family members use it?

The Uchihas in Naruto were nearly wiped out, yet we see more Sharingan users there.

Black Clover does this better too, although it's a little different.

One noble family uses water magic, another uses fire.

We can see at least 3 members from each family using their family magic.

And then there are some abilities that just haven’t been properly explored.

The first is Panda.

He has a 3rd form, but just as he activated it, he was destroyed.

I don't know if he’s ever gonna come back and use it.

Kinji has his domain explained, but his actual cursed technique is barely elaborated on or

used.

We just see him summon some doors and telekinetically control them.

How is his domain more clear than his CT?

And the only time he used it was on Yuji.

And then there’s Yuji.

Very early on in the story, Gojo hinted that Yuji would develop his own technique.

In ch 222, fans believe that his ability has been shown to be body swapping.

Regardless, it took way too long for Yuji Itadori, the main protagonist, to get his

ability.

With him getting it this late, I don’t know if I’ll get to see his lapse, reversal,

or domain, and that’s a major disappointment.

Outro

In conclusion, the focus on side quests, the wasted characters, the fumbled payoffs, and

the unexplored power system are the reasons that Jujutsu Kaisen has been a disappointment

so far.

Some of these problems can actually be fixed.

Side quest syndrome is not one.

No matter how focused the story gets from here and on, all that loitering at the start

will never go away.

The wasted characters who are still alive can become unwasted by being given a subplot.

The fumbled payoffs cannot be fixed.

The power system can become more explored, but the characters who already died before

showing off all their moves will never be made up for.

I’m not saying the story is trash.

Far from it.

It's just also far from the expectations I had of it.