Jujutsu Kaisen has attracted the audiences with its fast-paced motion, intriguing sorcery system, and memorable characters.
The world of curses, jujutsu sorcerers, and intense battles has been the spine of the story, retaining followers hooked with every new chapter.
Nevertheless, because the sequence approaches its ending, with the Shinjuku Showdown arc not too long ago wrapped up, there’s one evident omission that followers are struggling to simply accept.
This omission is none apart from the dearth of an in depth flashback to the Heian Period the fabled “Golden Age” of jujutsu sorcery.
Followers imagine that this era, significantly because it pertains to the historical past of Ryomen Sukuna, the story’s central villain, is essential to understanding the lore of Jujutsu Kaisen.
But, it appears creator Gege Akutami has determined to go away this wealthy historical past unexplored, and for a lot of followers, it is a resolution they may by no means forgive.
For many who have adopted Jujutsu Kaisen from the start, Sukuna has been an ever-present power of malevolence.
His introduction because the “King of Curses” instantly painted him as a fearsome determine, one whose energy dwarfed that of practically each different character.
Followers have at all times puzzled what Sukuna was like in his prime through the Heian Period, a time when curses and sorcerers alike lived in a world a lot totally different from the one seen within the trendy period of the story.
Sadly, with Sukuna’s obvious demise on the finish of the Shinjuku Showdown, it appears more and more unlikely that this backstory will ever be totally explored, and followers are grappling with the frustration of by no means seeing the true depth of Sukuna’s energy and character throughout that golden age.
The Heian Period: A Missed Alternative for Wealthy Storytelling
The Heian Period within the Jujutsu Kaisen universe is also known as the “Golden Age” of jujutsu sorcery, a time when highly effective sorcerers and curses clashed on an unprecedented scale.
It was throughout this time that Ryomen Sukuna rose to energy, turning into the undisputed King of Curses.
His legend is spoken of with a combination of awe and worry by modern-day characters, however particulars about his reign stay scarce.
For followers, the Heian Period represents an untapped properly of storytelling potential, and the truth that it hasn’t been explored in additional depth looks like a serious oversight.
I actually assume {that a} large, elaborate Heian period flashback for Sukuna could be a mistake and truly may negatively affect his character for me.
He doesn’t want it in any respect, it may simply be redundant and all I would like are his conclusions and payoff within the current. pic.twitter.com/tUctFw6tzO
— AJ (@Aleczandxr) August 20, 2024
What makes the Heian Period so tantalizing is the thriller that surrounds it. It’s not only a historic footnote within the Jujutsu Kaisen world it’s a vital interval that formed your entire course of jujutsu sorcery as we all know it.
The sorcery strategies, the foundations of fight, and even the facility dynamics between sorcerers and curses had been probably very totally different throughout this time.
But, regardless of its significance, the sequence has supplied solely transient look of this period, leaving followers hungry for extra info.
Think about the chances: a flashback to the Heian Period may have given followers a firsthand take a look at Sukuna in his prime, showcasing the complete extent of his terrifying energy.
It may have supplied context for why he turned the King of Curses, how he interacted with different highly effective sorcerers and curses of the time, and how much world allowed somebody like Sukuna to rise to such prominence.
A well-executed Heian Period flashback may have deepened the lore of Jujutsu Kaisen, giving followers a richer understanding of the historical past that led to the occasions of the present-day story.
But, because the sequence nears its finish, it appears more and more unlikely that followers will ever get the detailed flashback they’ve been hoping for.
This omission has left many feeling {that a} important a part of the story has been left untold, and it’s laborious to not surprise how way more impactful Sukuna’s character may have been if his origins had been totally explored.
Sukuna’s Significance within the Narrative
Sukuna is not only one other antagonist in Jujutsu Kaisen. From the second he was launched, he was arrange as a central determine within the story a villain whose mere presence posed an existential menace to the world of jujutsu sorcery.
His standing because the King of Curses, mixed with the thriller surrounding his previous, made him probably the most intriguing characters within the sequence.
Followers wished to know what motivated him, what occasions led him to turn into such a robust and feared determine, and how much world he dominated over through the Heian Period.
Regardless of his significance, nonetheless, Sukuna’s backstory has remained largely unexplored. There have been hints and transient references to his previous, however nothing that gives a complete take a look at his character.
This stands in stark distinction to different shonen sequence, the place it’s widespread observe to leap into the backstories of main villains, providing explanations for his or her actions and motivations.
In lots of instances, these backstories serve to humanize the villain, exhibiting that their journey to turning into an antagonist was formed by a sequence of tragic or morally complicated occasions.
Within the case of Sukuna, followers had been anticipating the same remedy. In spite of everything, Jujutsu Kaisen has at all times taken care to develop its characters, giving even minor ones their moments of depth and complexity.
With Sukuna being such a central determine, it appeared inevitable that his previous could be explored in additional element, particularly given the tantalizing look we’ve seen of the Heian Period.
However because the sequence attracts to an in depth, it seems that this exploration won’t ever come, leaving Sukuna’s character incomplete within the eyes of many followers.
Fanbase’s Response to Sukuna’s Destiny
When it was revealed that the Jujutsu Kaisen manga could be ending in just some chapters, the fanbase was thrown right into a state of shock.
Up till that time, the story had been constructing towards what appeared like a climactic ultimate battle, with Sukuna taking part in a central function within the battle.
The Shinjuku Showdown arc had set the stage for an epic confrontation, and followers had been wanting to see how the story would resolve.
However as the ultimate chapters unfolded, it turned clear that the ending was being rushed, with a number of key plotlines left unresolved.
For a lot of followers, probably the most evident omission was the dearth of a correct backstory for Sukuna.
After all of the buildup surrounding his character, the expectation was that we might lastly get to see what made him the King of Curses, and the way he got here to wield such immense energy.
As a substitute, Sukuna’s destiny was seemingly sealed with out ever offering the solutions followers had been ready for.
The fan response was swift and vocal. Social media platforms had been flooded with feedback expressing disappointment and frustration over the rushed ending of the story.
“How may they finish it with out exhibiting us Sukuna in his prime?” one fan tweeted, echoing the sentiment of many others.
The dearth of a Heian Period flashback, specifically, turned a focus of the criticism, with followers lamenting the missed alternative to discover probably the most intriguing facets of the Jujutsu Kaisen universe.
The sense of disappointment is compounded by the truth that Sukuna’s previous was constructed up as one of many sequence’ greatest mysteries.
All through the story, there have been quite a few references to the Heian Period and Sukuna’s function in it, main followers to imagine that this may ultimately be explored in larger element.
However with the sequence now drawing to an in depth, evidently it is a thriller that may stay unresolved, and for a lot of followers, that’s a bitter tablet to swallow.
Sukuna’s Mystique: A Double-Edged Sword?
Whereas many followers are disillusioned by the dearth of a Heian Period flashback, there’s a contingent of the fandom that believes this resolution was intentional and even useful to the story.
In line with this angle, the thriller surrounding Sukuna is a part of what makes him such a compelling villain.
By leaving his previous largely unexplored, Akutami is permitting Sukuna to retain an air of mystique and unpredictability, which makes him all of the extra terrifying.
These followers argue that typically, much less is extra on the subject of character improvement.
By not offering an in depth backstory for Sukuna, the sequence is reinforcing the concept that he’s an unknowable power of nature somebody whose motivations and actions can’t be simply defined or understood.
This ambiguity, they argue, makes Sukuna an much more efficient antagonist, because it leaves followers with the unsettling feeling that there is no such thing as a rhyme or motive to his actions.
This method to character improvement will not be with out precedent.
Among the most iconic villains in popular culture, from Star Wars’ Emperor Palpatine to The Darkish Knight’s Joker, have remained shrouded in thriller, and this has solely added to their effectiveness as antagonists.
Within the case of Sukuna, his lack of a transparent backstory could serve to enhance him as an emblem of chaos and destruction a determine who can’t be reasoned with or totally understood.
Nevertheless, whereas this angle has its deserves, it’s not sufficient to fulfill the portion of the fanbase that feels that Sukuna’s character has been left incomplete.
For these followers, the dearth of a Heian Period flashback doesn’t add to Sukuna’s mystique it merely looks like a missed alternative to discover probably the most fascinating facets of the Jujutsu Kaisen universe.
They argue that offering extra context for Sukuna’s character would have made his eventual defeat (or triumph) extra emotionally resonant, as it could have allowed followers to know the complete scope of his journey and the forces that formed him into the villain he turned.
The Significance of Backstory in Shonen Manga
One of many the reason why the dearth of a Heian Period flashback has been so irritating for followers is that Jujutsu Kaisen is a shonen manga, and on this style, it’s widespread observe to enter into the backstories of main villains.
In truth, lots of the most beloved shonen sequence are recognized for offering detailed backstories for his or her antagonists, usually exhibiting that their journey to turning into a villain was formed by a sequence of tragic or morally complicated occasions.
Take Naruto, for instance. One of many key the reason why the sequence’ ultimate battle between Naruto and Sasuke was so emotionally charged was as a result of followers had spent years studying about Sasuke’s previous, his motivations, and the trauma that drove him to pursue a path of vengeance.
My stunning Heian Period flashback💔💔 #jjk268 pic.twitter.com/EHbx0XGJJc
— Foremost (@mainmajin) August 29, 2024
Equally, in One Piece, villains like Doflamingo and Massive Mother are given in depth backstories that not solely clarify their motivations but in addition make them extra sympathetic characters, at the same time as they commit heinous acts.
By offering this stage of depth to its villains, shonen manga permits followers to see the complete scope of their characters’ journeys, making the ultimate confrontations between hero and villain extra impactful.
In lots of instances, these backstories humanize the villains, exhibiting that they aren’t simply evil for the sake of being evil, however somewhat that they’re the product of a sequence of decisions and occasions that led them down a darkish path.
Within the case of Jujutsu Kaisen, followers had been anticipating the same remedy for Sukuna.
In spite of everything, the sequence had taken nice care to develop its different characters, giving even minor ones their moments of depth and complexity.
It appeared solely pure that Sukuna, because the story’s central villain, would ultimately be given the identical remedy.
However with the sequence now nearing its finish, it seems that this expectation will go unmet, leaving followers feeling that Sukuna’s character is incomplete.
What Might Have Been: A Heian Period Flashback
If Jujutsu Kaisen had chosen to discover the Heian Period in additional element, it’s simple to think about the type of scenes that might have unfolded.
A flashback to this era would have allowed followers to see Sukuna on the top of his energy, battling in opposition to different highly effective sorcerers and curses.
We may have witnessed the rise of jujutsu sorcery as an artwork type, with historical strategies and techniques which have lengthy been forgotten by the current day.
The political world of the Heian Period may have been explored as properly, exhibiting the complicated relationships between sorcerers and the cursed beings they sought to manage.
Furthermore, a Heian Period flashback may have supplied a stark distinction to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen as we all know it as we speak.
The current-day jujutsu society is one that’s struggling to keep up order within the face of overwhelming chaos, however through the Heian Period, issues had been probably much more perilous.
Seeing how sorcerers from that point handled the challenges they confronted may have added an additional layer of depth to the story, exhibiting that the struggles of the current are half of a bigger, ongoing battle that stretches again centuries.
Along with exploring Sukuna’s character, a Heian Period flashback may have additionally make clear different key figures from that point interval.
Characters like Kenjaku, who additionally lived through the Heian Period, stay mysterious figures whose motivations are nonetheless not totally understood.
By leaping into this period, the story may have supplied beneficial context for understanding their actions within the current day, in addition to their relationships with characters like Sukuna.
The Way forward for Jujutsu Kaisen
As Jujutsu Kaisen approaches its ending, it’s clear that the dearth of a Heian Period flashback will stay a degree of competition for followers.
Whereas some could argue that the thriller surrounding Sukuna provides to his mystique, the vast majority of the fanbase feels that it is a missed alternative to discover probably the most intriguing facets of the sequence.
Whether or not or not Gege Akutami will tackle this within the ultimate chapters stays to be seen, however for a lot of followers, the harm has already been completed.
In the long run, the choice to not discover the Heian Period in additional element speaks to a broader concern with the pacing of Jujutsu Kaisen because it approaches its finale.
With a number of key plotlines left unresolved and characters like Sukuna nonetheless shrouded in thriller, it’s clear that the sequence is dashing towards its ending, leaving followers with extra questions than solutions.
Whether or not or not the ultimate chapters will present the closure that followers are hoping for stays to be seen, however one factor is for certain: the legacy of Jujutsu Kaisen will probably be formed partly by the storylines it selected to not discover.
