SPOILER: Entirety of the movie.
If I’m being completely honest, this is when Jujutsu Kaisen really caught my attention. Going into the series I felt like it was dragging and just something I wasn’t going to get into… But my partner kept assuring me that things would get more interesting.
So I stuck around and boy am I glad I did.
When the movie starts we meet Yuta and his loving ex Rika, and that’s where Gege got me. Suddenly I’m getting excited to see what’s next. Just knowing something crazy is going to happen, and by the end of it I’ll probably be bawling my eyes out. Considering that’s apparently the goal of all anime.
Yuta and Rika were the type of kids that promised to get married when they get older. Sadly people only have a certain amount of time in life. Some just happen to be shorter than others. Rika being one of those people. She was tragically hit by a car and passed away instantly.
Nothing in Jujutsu Kaisen can be that simple. Sometimes when people pass they become curses instead.
Rika was one that became a curse and basically decided that protecting Yuta was the move. He had bullies and she just happened to kill them. At this point we all know how the higher ups of Jujutsu Kaisen works, Yuta is immediately labeled as a threat and is sentenced to be executed. He had already tried killing himself, so he pretty much couldn’t care less for what happens to him. Gojo on the other hand wanted to recruit him instead.
Also why is no one questioning why this school keeps wanting to execute kids with 4 letter names starting with ‘y’?
That being all set then, things are a little crazy at first. Which is Gojo’s fault being that he introduces Yuta to the other first years that will be working together. The only problem is, neither side had a warning to who anyone actually was.
Maki, Panda, and Inumaki didn’t know about the cursed spirit that is attached to him.
Yuta wasn’t told that the school was to learn how to exorcize curses and his classmates probably will attack.
Prompting a reasonable reaction considering the details of what Jujutsu High is about. The first years moved quickly to attack. Learning that messing with Yuta was not wise because Rika would protect him.
Everyone finally on the same page it came time for them to be assigned to carry out a mission. Maki and Yuta are matched together to handle a low grade curse at a middle school. Leading to them being trapped in the stomach of a curse with no way out. Finding the kids who were missing and on the brink of death. Needing to sit around and wait for someone to save them.
Till Yuta called on Rika for help to distract/destroy the curse and long enough for him to get everyone to safety.
Then we learn that Yuta may have actually been the one that cursed Rika after all. They were young and he wasn’t ready to let her go so soon. Not realizing that could turn her into a curse.
Wanting to learn how to break her curse, he needed to learn how to control it. Infusing the cursed energy into a Katana would be the ideal way. Therefore training with Maki in weaponry.
Though during training Panda realized something was off. Maki seemed different towards Yuta, as if she had a crush. Which may or may not have caused a slight problem later.
Getting better as the days went on, he and Inumaki went on a mission. This was supposed to be a routine mission that Inumaki usually could handle himself. Though it didn’t fully go as planned. A grade 1 curse shows up and both have to pull their weight to exorcise the curse.
This all happened because of Geto because he was interested in Rika.
Geto was a Jujutsu Sorcerer that was banished because he started using it in a bad way. Beginning to think that the human race were mere monkeys that don’t contribute to society. Wanting to create a world that is just for Jujutsu Sorcerers and all non Sorcerers be damned.
He wanted to gain Yuta as a follower, but when he proved to be loyal to Jujutsu High…
Geto declared war.
The second years were dispatched to Kyoto. Inumaki, Panda, and some other Jujutsu Sorcerers were called to Shinjuku.
Yuta and Maki weren’t called to go, though we do get to learn more about her and why she didn’t want him asking her about cursed energy. She has none and her family disowned her because of that. Being spiteful keeps her, by wanting to become greater than her family.
Got me hoping she does just that.
Yuta accepts her for who she is. Maki tries not to become hopeful and shuts it down. You can’t blame her though because it seems like she just keeps getting burned a little too often. Needing to stay guarded in order to not get hurt.
The conversation ends, what was almost a breakthrough gets shoved back. Cutting to Geto drawing a veil over the school, Gojo realizes that actual plan. Then Toge and Panda are sent back to the school to protect Maki and Yuta.
Now all of a sudden Maki is down.
Inumaki and Panda prove they can hold their own against Geto, but get distracted a little too soon after taking him down. Or so they thought.
Leading to Yuta calling on Rika to fight Geto on their own. Using her to get a hold on his team and move them out of the way. Which leads to a slight problem when girly shows that she’s jealous of a certain someone.
Geto pauses with his attacks though, while Yuta helps his friends which stood out to me greatly. In my mind at this point he seemed like someone that has little to no sympathy for anyone.
Though that thought was shot down fast. It was more like he didn’t want an easy win to come out of their fight.
When the fight starts for real we find out quickly that Rika’s true form is ever changing. So much so that Yuta’s able to mimic cursed speech in less than a year of studying Jujutsu Sorcery.
Not forgetting there is a whole other war happening in Kyoto and Shinjuku.
Mei’s meeting quota and excited to bring home that bonus, Takuma is excited Nanami is there (aren’t we all), 15 year olds hanging people in the name of Geto, and Gojo you ask.
He snaps…
Blasting a giant hole in a curse and proceeds to use Miguel as a human punching bag. Let’s also not forget that no one can touch Gojo and he uses that to his advantage. Putting his body in front of him and the man practically bounces off an invisible shield. Meanwhile Gojo walks away without a scratch and looking like he is tired out having this man try to beat him.
Jumping back to Yuta and Geto. Where this man is claiming he is going to crush Yuta. While preaching about how humans believe in Gods yet Jujutsu Sorcerers are created without someone believing in them, because humanity averts their eyes to people who are stronger than them.
Then Yuta is over here moving like Rock Lee without his leg weights. Leading to him breaking his katana and throwing Geto across the school grounds like he is a hacky sack. Forcing him to combine all the curses and 1 special grade he acquired all together to destroy Yuta.
Of course though Gege wants us to be captured, stressed, and curious about what is going to happen next. Throws us back to what’s happening in Kyoto and Shinjuku.
Nanami’s slaughtering curses left and right, while looking fine as hell doing so. To Kyoto Jujutsu High students having to handle many curses. Though I will say Todo is a favorite from that school based on vibes alone. Wanting to just get the job done because a Christmas special was happening featuring his idol Takada that he has to watch when he gets home.
When we transfer back to Tokyo Jujutsu High. Yuta is offering himself as a sacrifice to release Rika’s fullest potential. Ready to just let go and realize that this was how it is supposed to be.
Rika and Yuta fought for love.
Geto fought to win.
Love wins cause how could it not. When people fight to win it is twisted and has wrong intent most times. Fighting for love can be seen as pure and has a passion to it.
While coming back to though Gojo finds Geto on his deathbed in an alley. I wish we knew what he said to him because what could have made Geto say that he wishes he would just curse him or something. They were once best friends and even with everything they still had so much love for one another. That is at least clear.
Jujutsu Kaisen shows us love in different forms along with showing how in this world that love affects the outcomes of unfortunate events.
When Yuta wakes up surrounded by his 3 new Best Friends after defeating Geto, fully prepared to go with Rika, and not realizing the curse was broken. Learning he was a descendant of a big shot Sorcerer Sugawara Michizane. Oh, and turns out Yuta was the one that placed a curse on Rika.
Probably because they were young, in love, and how could you just let that person die.
For it to stay broken Rika would not have to seek revenge. She wasn’t mad and was just happy she got to stay by his side a little while longer. She was happier as a curse than she was alive. Not wanting him to die, just saying “see you later” as she crosses over.
In the end,
People are safe, Gojo is mourning his Best Friend, Yuta has his student ID back, and 3 new Best Friends.
Yuta also still wears the ring Rika gave him when they were little. Therefore so will always be with him.
What stood out the most to you?
If you want to read more OT wrote about JJK arcs that tap danced on their heart go check it out.
