REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Episode 35 — “Seance”

With new objectives set thanks to Mechamaru’s drones, Yuji Itadori (Junya Enoki), Megumi Fushiguro (Yuma Uchida, Shangri-La Frontier), and Takuma Ino (Yu Hayashi) seek to bring down the barrier keeping sorcerers out of Shibuya station. But the fight against the curses keeping the barrier up doesn’t look like it will be simple or fast, and the clock is ticking in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 11, “Seance.”

While the bulk of this week’s episode is centered on gorgeous, stylish combat, a fair amount of thought goes into the developing battle between the trio of sorcerers and their curse opponents. From how the curses have set up the barrier the heroes seek to pull down to the steps required to defeat their opponents, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 11 ensures that brute force isn’t the only talent on display within the ensuing conflict.

This creativity is showcased immediately once our heroes realize the barrier is being sustained from the top of a nearby tower. Using an extendable wire given to him by Maki, Itadori is propelled up to the top of the tower by Fushiguro’s bird summons, allowing him to bypass the enemies below and take the trio of curses completely by surprise. From here, the battle splits into two as Itadori and Fushiguro take one enemy back down to the street while Ino faces off with the other, who seems to be protecting the third.

While Ino’s fight atop the tower delivers some slick visuals, the battle at street level steals the show in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 11. Not only does the battle deliver every attack, block, and counter with eye-popping visuals, but how smoothly Itadori and Fushiguro synchronize their attacks in their efforts to overcome their opponent further highlights how skilled both are.

While much of the episode is action, it breaks up the brawling to explore the circumstances that pushed the curses our protagonists battle to be in this place. Like most of the plot points in this season so far, it all goes back to Saturo Gojo (Yûichi Nakamura). This exploratory sequence examines a veritable arms race that began with Gojo’s birth. The level of power he displayed opened the eyes of both sorcerers and curses to what was possible. This realization changed the game for everyone involved, including our trio of baddies. 

The final highlight moment in this episode comes when Fushiguro deduces how to beat the curse opposing him and Itadori. The solution is clever, as is the power the curse employs. What seems initially like an obvious ability turns into something more subtle, which Fushiguro can pick up on thanks to a seemingly innocent line of dialogue. His deductions at this moment would make even the best detective proud.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 11  delivers lots of cool action, coupled with clever moments of insight on the part of its protagonists. Nothing makes hard-hitting combat flow better than creative implementation to keep its delivery fresh and captivating, and this fusion has always been one of this series’ defining elements.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is  streaming now on Crunchyroll.