A mere three installments remain before the curtain falls on Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1. This third season, structured as a two-cour broadcast, aims to adapt 83 chapters of Gege Akutami’s high-stakes sorcery saga. While the first half is slated to conclude its 12-episode run on March 26, the exact narrative stopping point remains a subject of much debate. Studio MAPPA has recalibrated the story’s rhythm, prioritizing a cinematic and fluid approach to the complex Culling Game rules. Regardless of the finale’s specific focus, fans should prepare for a significant reduction in screen time for the series’ protagonist, Yuji Itadori. Though his eventual return promises a massive narrative payoff, his temporary hiatus creates a vacuum filled by some of the franchise’s most brutal confrontations.
[Note: The following contains spoilers for chapters 138 through 221 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga.]Episode 9 of the current season effectively settled the ideological and physical clash between Yuji and the disillusioned lawyer-turned-sorcerer Hiromi Higuruma. By invoking a new rule that permits the transfer of points, Higuruma secured Yuji’s continued survival in the game before parting ways. This likely marks the end of Yuji’s primary involvement in Part 1, as the narrative spotlight pivots toward Megumi Fushiguro’s desperate struggle against the eccentric Reggie Star.
However, MAPPA may still offer glimpses of Itadori through original scenes or artistic callbacks. We have seen similar creative choices with Satoru Gojo, whose presence continues to haunt the narrative despite his ongoing imprisonment within the Prison Realm. As Megumi’s duel reaches its fever pitch, the Culling Game is poised to transition into an even more savage phase of the tournament.
The Yuji-Higuruma arc concludes around chapter 167, making way for the introduction of Fumihiko Takaba—a failing comedian whose newfound cursed technique is as absurd as it is lethal. From there, the chaos intensifies. After Megumi’s multi-chapter ordeal, the focus shifts to the Sendai Colony to reveal Yuta Okkotsu’s activities. Yuta finds himself embroiled in a grotesque battle against Kurourushi, a special-grade cockroach curse (famously teased in the opening credits through a parody of Klimt’s The Kiss). It is highly probable that episodes 10 and 11 will exhaust Megumi’s combat scenes, leaving the finale to showcase Yuta’s dominance in Sendai.
Predicting the narrative velocity of Season 3, Part 2 is difficult, as MAPPA often condenses manga chapters to heighten the drama. In the source material, Yuji doesn’t make a formal reappearance until chapter 199, where he reunites with a recovering Megumi, Takaba, and the mysterious Hana Kurusu (Angel). While a 30-chapter absence for a main character is a bold move, this interval is anything but filler. It contains landmark battles, such as the high-voltage clash between Kinji Hakari and Hajime Kashimo, and the evolution of Maki Zenin during a reunion with a figure from her past.
Chapter 199 also serves as the catalyst for a seismic revelation regarding Ryomen Sukuna. The King of Curses is central to Kenjaku’s nihilistic vision for jujutsu society, and it is only a matter of time before the mastermind behind the Culling Game enters the fray personally. Upon his return, Yuji’s role becomes pivotal once more, signaling a dark evolution in his bond with Sukuna and adding fresh layers to his internal torment.
Despite his absence, Yuji Itadori remains the emotional anchor of the series. He possesses a rare, resilient spirit that endures even as his world is systematically dismantled. His journey is a poignant meditation on stolen youth, where young sorcerers are treated as mere instruments of war by an archaic society. To keep moving forward amid such carnage is a testament to Yuji’s profound empathy. While his presence will be missed in the coming weeks, the Culling Game offers plenty of visceral action to sustain fans until the protagonist reclaims his place in the sun.
Fresh episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 debut every Thursday, streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll.
Source: Polygon
