Summary

  • Gojo's death shocked fans, showcasing how powerful and dangerous Sukuna truly is.
  • Yuji will avenge Gojo's death by defeating Sukuna, showcasing his growth as a sorcerer.
  • Gojo's ing follows a common shonen trope, adding depth and complexity to Yuji's character arc.

Jujutsu Kaisen is filled with astounding and surprising moments, but nothing shocked its fans as much as Satoru Gojo's death at the hands of Sukuna. The recent manga chapters have certainly delivered shock value, brutal fights, and a devastating loss that truly unexpected and completely changed the course of Jujutsu Kaisen.

After chapter 236 of the manga, readers had to say goodbye to the beloved strongest sorcerer of the series, who accomplished so much and made great strides towards defeating the most evil cursed spirit, Ryomen Sukuna. Gojo Satoru was killed during a tense and bloody encounter, causing his entire body to be cleaved in two by Sukuna's advanced cursed technique.

Gojo Satoru looking at a betta fish from Jujutsu Kaisen

The hero's untimely death caused an immense uproar of anger among fans of the series, who felt the choice to kill Gojo was a poor one, and would negatively impact the story of Jujutsu Kaisen. However, it also proved the biggest qualities of the series and what makes it one of the best modern shonen.

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Gojo's Death Was the Most Shocking Event in Jujutsu Kaisen Thus Far

No one could have predicted that Sukuna would eventually defeat the strongest sorcerer

Sukuna and Gojo fought one-on-one before and Satoru survived, so this made his loss to the cursed spirit even more startling. The loss of Gojo was a tremendous one, both to fans and to the characters within the story itself. He was the most powerful sorcerer in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, with abilities such as Infinity and Hollow Purple that placed him high above anyone else. His death proves Sukuna's terrifying strength and is a sobering reminder that no one should underestimate the villain or the lengths he is willing to go to in order to win.

Gojo is Jujutsu Kaisen's most beloved character and has made a name for himself, both in the anime community and in society as a whole. He is truly an iconic hero and really helped popularize Jujutsu Kaisen, setting it apart from other action shōnen anime series, with his unique personality, sense of humor, mannerisms, and advanced techniques. The widespread love for him can be attributed to everything from his striking character design with his signature black blindfold and bright white hair, to his complex and tragic backstory involving a saddening betrayal from his previous best friend, Geto Suguru.

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Gojo's Legacy Will Give Yuji Motivation to Avenge his Mentor

Now that Gojo is absent from the story, the protagonist, Yuji, must take down Sukuna on his own

Yuji Itadori surrounded by water droplets in Jujutsu Kaisen

Although there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the talented sorcerer's death, the unfortunate occurrence seems to fit the typical shōnen formula. In other action shōnen series, the young male main character meets an inspiring mentor and trains under him, gaining important wisdom and fighting expertise. However, the mentor is then tragically killed by a villain, leaving the protagonist to avenge his murder on his own. This same format appears in Jujutsu Kaisen. Gojo's death is an even more staggering application of the common shonen trope.

However, the death of Gojo is the most shocking because he was such a significant hero, not just to Yuji, but to the entire world of Jujutsu Kaisen. In these other series, the mentors are not quite as crucial and widely appreciated as Gojo, making his ing even more grim and troubling. Still, it will ultimately serve a bigger purpose for the story.

Yuji Has To Be the One to Defeat Sukuna, not Gojo

The protagonist must defeat the menacing villain himself, proving how far he has come as a sorcerer

Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Volume 1 of Yuji with a mouth on his palm.

Although Gojo certainly had the expertise to take down the cursed spirit, the person to finally kill Sukuna must be Yuji, the main character of Jujutsu Kaisen. Yuji has undergone tremendous growth and character development throughout the series, and killing Sukuna will effectively display how Itadori's courage, strength, and expertise as a sorcerer have improved. Many shōnen anime series highlight the theme of "legacy," and mentors who " the torch" to younger heroes who will carry on their work long after their deaths. This is what Itadori will do, by conquering the biggest villain using skills he learned from Gojo.

If Satoru had killed Sukuna, it would not have allowed a satisfying conclusion to Itadori's character arc. Gojo's death was indeed tragic, but at the same time, Yuji needed an opportunity to face the cruel cursed spirit one-on-one and finally beat him, without relying on stronger or older heroes. It is finally time for Itadori to stand on his own as a sorcerer, since he has lost Nanami and Gojo, both of his mentors. As Jujutsu Kaisen heads towards its conclusion, Yuji has a chance to avenge his loved ones, prove his growth, and showcase how impressive his powers have become.

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Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Poster

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Jujutsu Kaisen
Release Date
October 3, 2020
Directors
Sunghoo Park, Shōta Goshozono
Writers
Hiroshi Seko
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Junya Enoki
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Yuma Uchida

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

Jujutsu Kaisen is a supernatural action anime that follows high school student Yuuji Itadori as he battles against magical curses. After Yuji selflessly saves a classmate by taking a curse into his own body, he is discovered and trained by a powerful sorcerer named Satoru Gojo. Gojo, who also happens to be a faculty member at a high school, enrolls Yuji there to help him and other students prepare themselves against the supernatural forces that plague humanity.

Franchise(s)
Jujutsu Kaisen
Seasons
2
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu
Main Genre
Animation