REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ Episode 3 – “Girl of Steel”

Jujutsu Kaisen is a horror-action anime produced by MAPPA. With Itadori having been accepted to Jujutsu Tech, he, Gojou, and Fushiguro head out to welcome the last of the first year students. Once the final student is picked up, Gojou wastes no time putting the new kid to the test on the streets of Tokyo.

The big focus in Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3 is the introduction of Jujutsu sorcerer Kugisaki Nobara. As the last of the first-year students, Kugisake looks like she will be bringing her own brand of quirkiness to the group. While I like her character just fine, she didn’t make a particularly big impression on me. At least at first glance, she feels like so many other anime girls I’ve seen. She’s a bit combative, immediately starts putting down Itadori for his lack of knowledge, and bounces between angry and childlike glee. Your standard anime experience really. Hopefully, she will grow into something more unique as the show progresses.

Once the group acquires Kugisaki, Gojou tells them they are going sightseeing. Though this particular tour is focused more on a cursed warehouse than anything else, much to Itadori and Kugisaki’s disappointment. Upon arriving, Gojou has the two new students go into removed the cursed presence, while Fushiguro stays with him. The new student’s first test is on.

The hunt for the curses infecting the building is the highlight of Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3. Kugisaki’s combat style is the one unique thing about her. Utilizing a small hammer and nails, both her style and the way it is visually presented set her apart from the combat we’ve seen previously. And while we learn about Jujutsu Tech’s newest recruit, we are also given a lesson about the inner workings of curses.

It is revealed that a curse’s power and intelligence are linked to the population of people in the area it is formed. More people, stronger curse. While it was good for the show to have Gojou explain this to the audience, it seems like it would’ve been better for him to explain it to his young charges. Since the show has made it a point to highlight how extremely rare those with the potential to be Jujutsu sorcerers are, risking losing a student so they can discover something the hard way seems a bit foolish.

Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3 continues the show’s excellent visual design. As stated earlier, Kugisaki’s own presence brought something unique to this aspect of the show. This, along with a more perfectly weird monster design in this episode’s curses keeps the shows track record of eye-catching visuals intact.

So, when all is said and done, Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3 provides a solid story. While I continue to enjoy the show’s visuals and combat, its characters are beginning to feel a tad too predictable. I understand all genre has formulas, but I hope Jujutsu Kaisen can find a way to give a new twist to some of those character archetypes we’ve all seen in shonen animes before.

Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 3 is streaming now.