‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ review: “Metamorphosis” is a turning point

Jujutsu Kaisen’s “Metamorphosis” hinges on a single scene that defines what its second season has become. In a moment indicative of a true rock bottom for a heroic type, Yuji finally agrees with Mahito. They are the same. Because of that shared truth, Yuji can turn the tables, transforming into a cold killer with his eyes set only on one object: kill Mahito, kill all curses. It’s a shame that the rest of the episode doesn’t live up to this shining character-driven moment. With messy, blurry action that uses smoke screens and blurred visuals to hide unfinished edges, the episode is entertaining but lackluster. Still, with how critical this fight is to the entire story, especially in the season’s final leg, it necessitated more weight than what it was given. 

Todo is a blast and continues to bring joy to the screen, even if said energy also works as tonal whiplash. A few episodes prior, Yuji was splattered with the blood of his friend who’d died in front of him, and now Todo is succumbing to his own imagination for an idol-inspired music video sequence where his love of his idol (and Yuji) inspires him in battle. But for how fun the playful sequence is, it pales in comparison to Todo’s other moments, where he arrives as a true, undeniable hero and force to be reckoned with. Because he too gets slapped by Mahito, though it’s only his hand, as Mahito quickly realizes that having Todo in the game and working with Yuji will spell disaster for him. Todo moves quickly and is able to slice his own hand off to stop the transformation, but for this character and his sorcerer abilities, it’s his version of a death note. That said, he proves crucial still in fake outs against Mahito and arrives at a vital moment that allows Yuji the upper hand (too soon?) 

The best action of the episode isn’t with Todo; but in the standoffs between Mahito and Yuji. The series continues to pepper in moments where we witness Yuji’s sheer athleticism, which is given the spotlight more in direct, hand to hand combat between he and Mahito as they brawl for control of the fight. An early moment when Mahito grabs Yuji’s leg mid-kick and hurls him exemplifies the best type of animation in Jujutsu Kaisen because we feel the blow and the kinetic surge of energy flowing from both. 

Their fight scene is visceral, especially as it reaches its peak. There’s a revulsion when Yuji’s lip is split up by one of Mahito’s blades, tearing at his mouth to make him closer resemble Sukuna. There’s palpable power when he enacts black flash voluntarily, as we see the moment it winds and decimates Mahito on impact, the latter having used up all of his stock-piled souls in this battle and after suffering two black flash hits. His loss is when “Metamorphosis” reaches its crescendo while its hero reaches his lowest. 

Yuji has suffered tremendous loss, and yet it’s when he tells Mahito, “You were right, Mahito. I’m you,” that he’s truly arrived at his turning point. Throughout the episode, the lines of his face darken, and the voice performance by Junya Enoki lowers as Yuji becomes colder, emotionally eroded by tragedy. 

“Change your name. Change your form. I’ll kill you every time.” 

As Mahito transforms one again, though this time into a whining, pathetic figure who runs at the first sign of loss, fearful of a Yuji who has finally turned the tables on him with his own words, the visuals lean a little too heavy-handed with its predator and prey visual allegories. However, the scene is effective, mainly due to the progress between the two characters and Mahito’s previous gleeful taunting of Yuji, which all culminated in this moment. Mahito has accomplished his goal in getting Yuji to admit to their similarities but the result is his loss, while Yuji has gained control but it’s come at the cost of a piece of his soul. 

Unfortunately, their standoff is paused by the arrival of Geto (not Geto?), who offers to save Mahito. It’s a shame since the cutoff comes at an intense moment that begs for some sort of finality, but it seems it isn’t to be and that Yuji’s admission will be for naught. 

Jujutsu Kaisen “Metamorphosis” is a mixed bag in quality mainly due to the heavy expectations last week’s episode left us with, its cliffhanger suggesting an epic showdown with top-tier animation. There are certainly moments that shine, from beautifully done black and white ink sequences in Mahito’s domain expansion to even the mad clown mayhem of Mahito’s grotesque forms as they writhe and slither into new bodies and shapes. But aside from the final standoff between Yuji and Mahito, the episode lacks the visual and narrative urgency necessary to the point in the series we’re at. We know things are dire and that the fight isn’t over, but the episode needed to inject that level of intensity into the visuals and pacing. 

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is available now to stream on Crunchyroll

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Featured Image © Gege Akutami/Shueisha, JUJUTSU KAISEN Project