REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen,’ Episode 14 – “Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event – Group Battle 0“

Jujutsu Kaisen is a horror-action anime produced by MAPPA. With the holiday hiatus over, Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 14 arrives with some long-awaited events. The arrival of the Kyoto Jujutsu School means it‘s finally time for the exchange event to begin. But more importantly, Itadori is reunited with his fellow Jujutsu Tech classmates following his long period of training and near-death battles.

We must begin this review with what may be the biggest question surrounding Jujutsu Kaisen’s return. How are the new intro and outro scenes? I’m happy to report that the episode cappers are every bit as well executed as their predecessors. Though in one case, it is substantially different in tone.

While the intro credits’ presentation has the same look and energy as its predecessor, the outro takes a noticeably different approach. Leaving behind the unique design and pop energy of the Lost in Paradise music, the new ending adheres to the classic, calmer anime outro. With visuals of the Jujutsu Tech students enjoying some quiet easy moments, presented in a home movie style, this new outro gives a calming wrap up to the show’s episodes. While markedly different, I appreciated its warmth.

The story that Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 14 presents is a pleasant enough mix of fun moments and plot setup. While the highlight of the tale is Itadori’s return, this moment is handled in a way that I feel some will love, while others will find it a bit eye-rolling. I won’t go into spoilers, but either Gojou and Itadori really don’t understand people, or they are just that dumb.

While the moment feels like it is intended to be a humorous fail, it lands as just uncomfortable. The lack of sensitivity in how Gojou and Itadori spring his return on his classmates, who mourned and had to live two months believing him dead, comes off as simply tackles, as opposed to funny.

Aside from a brief interlude to keep viewers up to date on what our curse conspiracy is up to, the rest of the story sees the two teams making plans for the first part of the exchange event. With a group battle forthcoming, Itadori’s surprise return has put a monkey wrench in everyone’s plans. Now both teams are having to adapt on the fly.

The visuals in Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 14 adhere to the standards I have come to expect from the series. With no real action moments, there aren’t any real visual highlights to speak of, short of the new opening.

When all is said and done, Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 14 sees a new arc for the series off with a bit of a mixed start. While setting up some interesting plot for the future, it also focuses on humor that fails to deliver. It feels like a true microcosm of what Jujutsu Kaisen has come to be for me. Good enough to keep me looking forward, but rarely ever managing to stick its landings fully.

Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 14 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.