REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ Episode 13 – “Tomorrow”

Jujutsu Kaisen is a horror-action anime produced by MAPPA. With Kento having arrived, he and Itadori now team up to exercise the patchwork curse once and for all. But will even their combined abilities be enough to bring this opponent down? And what price will Itadori have to pay to see this fight through to the end? Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 13 leans heavily onto the gorgeous fight animation that has become MAPPA’s calling card. As the curse Itadori and Kento confront is one whose shape is ever-changing, it is the perfect playground for MAPPA’s top-notch artistic talent to really flex their muscles.

As the battle swings back and forth between the two sides every punch and curse technique lands with all the impact and style one could ask for. This goes doubly so for when the villain’s dimension expansion technique is revealed.

One of the rarer, and more psychedelic aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, the dimension expansion technique ensures the user will strike their opponent with their best attack. How this episode utilizes that effect is a unique twist I didn’t see coming. Delivering yet another unforeseen plot development, as much as I’ve come to expect gorgeous fight visuals from the series, it’s true calling card seems to be doing the unforeseen. And as long as that leads to great stories, I’ll make no complaint about it.

Aside from the spotlight battle of this story, we are also given some more background about Kento. His story is one of drifting through life, without real purpose. This lack of focus feels like something that will hit home with many as we close out 2020. Kento’s journey to becoming who he is feels grounded and well thought out. While also making a point to emphasize how what could seem like a small thing can come to deliver a huge impact on life.

But while Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 13 delves into the struggles Kento faces in the past, it also pits Itadori against his own internal conflicts in the present. As Itadori’s opponent sets him against some of the transformed people he keeps with him, Itadori must face the fact that he cannot save everyone. This need to act violently against those who may not deserve it is obviously a difficult one for the kind-hearted young man.

The only place where the narrative falters a little bit is at the end. I won’t spoil it with details, but this outcome falls a bit into an unearned win for the victorious side. And while it makes sense as to the how and why it happens here, I hope this sort of overly convenient wrap up doesn’t become a crutch the show comes to lean on too much.

When all is said and done, Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 13 delivers some great action, mixed with strong character moments. While it’s wrap up came a bit abruptly, it nevertheless leaves me looking forward to what the show has coming next.

Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 13 is streaming exclusively on Crunchyroll.