Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #271 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s happy ending is controversial and divisive among most fans, who are uncertain about whether it was rushed or fitting to the story. This was mostly because of the pacing in the last chapters, not returning beloved characters like Gojo Satoru, and theanticlimactic last fight between Yuji and the King of Curses. However,Jujutsu Kaisen’s chapter #271 shows Sukuna’s conclusion as a villain,shining a light on his mentality and thoughts after his defeat, proving he had the most character development in the series and was more than just the King of Curses.
Sukuna wasn’t just thestrongest character inJujutsu Kaisen, but also one of the most powerful villains in shōnen manga in general. Yet instead of just being an evil villain, the series brilliantly portrays Sukuna at the crossroads between a human and a curse by first introducing him as someone extremely wicked but later giving small hints of a possible layer of humanity in him. This way, inJujutsu Kaisen’s ending, Sukuna went from being the ruthless King of curses who views humans as insects to reevaluating his ideals and path in life.
Jujutsu Kaisen Ending Explained: What Happens To Yuji In The Series' Finale?
Jujutsu Kaisen has ended its historic manga run after six years, and here’s a breakdown of everything that happened at the end of its story.
Sukuna Goes From Being the King of Curses To Accepting His Humanity
Sukuna Changes Thanks to Yuji’s Influence
Unlike characters like Mahito, whose actions derived from hatred of humans,Sukuna stayed consistent in his ideals of living as befit his nature, walking in the path of the strongest, as proven during his battle with Yorozu in chapter #217, where he was upfront about accepting his defeat if it ever happened, since to him defeat was no different from death.
If I lose, then that would mean I’m dead, and it doesn’t matter what you do with a corpse. - Sukuna
Additionally, Sukuna had several actions unfitting from a curse but of a fighter, like being surprised by the abilities and preparation of his opponents, not finishing off weaker characters right away, but giving them a chance to fight, and recognizing and respecting them even for their small feats. Also, he died with pride over the life he chose. Because of this, Sukuna didn’t take Yuji’s offer to live with him in chapter #268, stating that he was a “curse.” However, inJJK’s final chapter, it was confirmed that Yuji managed to spark a change in the King of Curses.
Sukuna’s soul was wandering to enter the cycle of reincarnation, in a different space from the one Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon were, having even opposite colors.Sukuna ultimately accepts his humanity; this is shown by him facing Mahito directly, who was stated by Jogo in chapter #116 to be “a mirror of death to humans” and turning his back on him by choosing a different path. Sukuna had two paths and chose to go north so that he would be a different person, going beyond death, which meant he died not as a curse but as a human.
Death is something humans fear and detest. However,humanslinger beyond it as well. - Jogo
Sukuna and Yuji’s Dynamic Has The Most Development In the Series
Sukuna Was a Better Character Than Megumi and Nobara
Sukuna and Yuji’s dynamic went from pure mutual hatred and ideological opposition to acknowledging each other despite their differences. Sukuna looked down on Yuji and believed he didn’t know what jujutsu sorcery was about. That’s why he always referred to him as a brat, sinceSukuna didn’t respect Yuji enough to refer to him by name, like to Gojo and Higuruma. However, not only did Sukuna indulge and cooperate with Yuji in his domain, listening to what he wanted to say when he didn’t have to, but he also called Yuji by his full name in chapter #268, recognizing him.
Likewise, Yuji at first didn’t put any second thoughts into Sukuna’s reasoning, but later he tried to understand him and make him reconsider his way of life. In the end,Yuji’s will was powerful enough to overcome Sukuna’s nature. This way, Sukuna evolves thanks to Yuji, from someone who told Jogo that he should have burned everything without worrying about his future or identity to someone who reconsidered his own flaws and decided to be different next time, and from someone who didn’t know what tears were to being considerate of Uraume while they cried.
Even though his past wasn’t entirely revealed, which could be developed inJujutsu Kaisen’s prequel in the Heian Era,Sukuna influenced Yuji the mostand his personality and motivation were well constructed, unlike other characters like Megumi and Nobara, who didn’t grow as much during the story. Although Fushiguro was broke after losing his sister and later decided to live again for someone else,JJK’s final chapters didn’t address his thoughts or evolution after the fight, and Nobara was missing for most of the series and remained the same at the end.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending Doesn’t Redeem Sukuna but Gave More Deep to His Character
Sukuna Remains as One of the Best Modern Shōnen Villains
Admitting his way of thinking is flawed doesn’t mean Sukuna stopped being evil. The ending gave him more depth, showing he was a villain to the end and died with pride without regretting the path he walked; he is just willing to be someone different in his next life. Since Sukuna lives by the idea of being the strongest and loves fighting to death, he probably won’t change that part of himself, but maybe by having a good influence, he could try to find beauty in human life, just like Yuji did thanks to his grandfather and his friends.
Furthermore, recently, at the conclusion of some shōnen mangas, their main villains had humiliating endings, where they even begged before being defeated, but Sukuna accepted his loss with dignity and only acknowledged the potential of living like a human. Because of this, and sinceSukuna was fundamental to the events that occurred inJujutsu Kaisenfrom the beginning, he had a satisfying conclusion. Along with the biggest impact worldwide of the new generation of anime and manga, making him go down in history as one of the best villains in modern shōnen.
Ultimately, while Yuji evolved greatly during the story and after Shinjuku he is trying to change the mindset of the sorcerers, Sukuna is the character that encapsulates better the theme inJujutsu Kaisenof the dichotomy between humanity and curses. SinceSukuna proved, despite everything, that he wasn’t an unchanging curse, he has undoubtedly the most character development inJujutsu Kaisen.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisenis a Japanese anime and manga series created by Gege Akutami. The story is set in a world where Cursed Spirits, born from negative human emotions, prey on humanity. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery after swallowing a cursed talisman—Ryomen Sukuna’s finger—and becomes the host for one of the most powerful curses. Yuji joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to learn how to combat curses while searching for the remaining fingers of Sukuna to exorcise him permanently.
