JJK 231 Leak Discussion

Okay so these leaks, whew boy these leaks. Imma be real I don’t know how to feel about them. Theres some things I really like and some things that make me really disgruntled.

First let me state this. I’m not mad about Yuta using Gojo’s body like this. Gojo has already stated that he doesn’t really care too much what happens to his body, and I think it fits well into this tragedy of Gojo still being used as a weapon even in death (like he’s literally being piloted as a flesh mecha). The disgust that it has caused is very intentional, because it is indeed revolting and as Yuta has accepted, an inhumane thing to do. But Hakari and Maki said that in a fight against Sukuna, a concern over what’s moral should be on the back burner.

Although he said this to Yuuji, Sukuna has already said that he will break down someone’s morals and worldview- and he is doing that. His sheer presence his pushing people to become “monsters” in hopes of beating him down. They have hope in Gojo being the “strongest” and have hope that even in death Gojo will somehow save him.

Now onto what I’m critical of. Even though Yuta and everyone else has faith, this is a “if all else fails” method, I truly think that Yuta will still fail and as a consequence he will die. While this isn’t a “power of friendship” story, it’s a story where brutal decisions do sometimes have to be made, it is as much a battle of philosophy as it is a battle of strengths.

Gojo, Kashimo, Yorozu, and Higuruma’s deaths are not just them losing battles of the strongest. It is them losing and failing to answer the philosophical question that has been looming since the culling games. What is love? What can you teach me (Sukuna) about it? What is the worth of love? Why keep going in the face of such adversity? Yuuta originally got his shit rocked for the exact same reason, while yes love is a theme of his character, philosophically he is not challenging Sukuna on anything.

Jujutsu Society and thus this new generation are still pivoted in this view of there being a “strongest”, in the need for there being a “monster of society”. But by losing their morals, by continuing to feed into Sukuna’s own philosophical views (he has a very “the strongest” view as well) the cycle just keeps continuing. Sorcerers still die, at a fundamental level society does not change. A society cannot function properly if it is constantly leaning on a pillar that will topple and crumble everything if it dies, this is as much a story about the need for community and love as it is about making tough decisions and sacrifices for future generations.

Yuuji is the only one who is challenging Sukuna on a philosophical level (even though he is not doing son intentionally). He irritates Sukuna so fucking much, because he is an exact narrative foil to Sukuna. Yuuji is someone who does not give up, he is someone motivated by love, by community, he is someone who is naive in ways that Sukuna absolutely hates. Some of the only times where Sukuna has actually been stunted or truly angered is by Yuuji and his philosophy, his absolute refusal to not stop loving and to keep reaching for Megumi.

The Mahito fight is a good example of the importance of philosophical battles and the power that a philosophical shake up has, and why it is necessary. Mahito didn’t start running in fear and crying just because Yuuji had physically beaten him down. The true fear showed when he became vulnerable mentally, when his world view was shaken. That is when Mahito finally started to run.

This is why I am very annoyed with Yuuji being constantly sidelined. And this narrative that Yuta is the “true MC” (I do not hate Yuta, I think that needs to be clarified).

“But Faust, Yuuji also has become jaded and now sees himself as a cog in a machine. He has literally changed his body to gain power-“ mhm! And that is presented as a negative thing. Yuuji losing his spark, become consumed by this mentality that it’s okay to die and be disposable (like the higher ups see sorcerers in general) is seen as a BAD thing. Jujutsu society IS unfair, it IS cruel, it is something that Yuuji needed to learn…but does it have to be this way? Yuuji’s character very much reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

This should not be a world where jujutsu sorcerers are seen as disposable. Where tough decisions must be made, where literal high school students have to be sacrificing their minds and bodies for others. In order for Sukuna to go down, for Gojo to see the world that he hoped would prosper from his students, for the youth to take control of themselves so they can be selfish (which is also a theme), this world must be philosophically shaken. The notion of a “strongest” must be challenged, if not abolished, and there must be room for community, love, and naivety.

Thank you for reading my rant lol.