REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Episode 39 — “Fluctuations, Part 2”

With Nanami (Kenjirô Tsuda), Maki  (Mikako Komatsu), and Naobito (Jôji Nakata) about to escape from Dagon’s domain thanks to  Megumi Fushiguro (Yuma Uchida), the day seemed saved. But instead of them all escaping, Toji Fushguro (Takehito Koyasu) emerged from the portal, blocking their egress. Forcefully taking Maki’s three-sectioned staff, Toji turns to fight Dagon in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15, “Fluctuations, Part 2.”

Toji’s return is explained as an unexpected side effect of the actions of the trio of curses defeated earlier in the arc by Megumi, Yuji, and Ino. As the previously deceased turns his attention towards Dagon, the others are left in stunned silence as he unleashes a brutal barrage of attacks upon his foe.

MAPPA goes all in on this action sequence as Toji batters the off-balance Dagon with a bevy of attacks that rattle the curse again and again. That any of these strikes hit with enough force to shatter a small mountain is clear as the animation studio delivers the speed and force of Toji’s assault beautifully, making this battle one of the most eye-grabbing yet in the series. While Toji was presented as an imposing fighter already, it feels like he may have picked up a few new tricks following his previous defeat.

Once Dagon is defeated, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15 sees Toji turn his attention towards Megumi as he quickly separates the young sorcerer from his companions. Rather than follow this unlikely family reunion, however, the episode returns to Nanami, Maki, and Naobito as they have a run-in with Jogo (Shigeru Chiba).

This brief moment helps to highlight how huge the power gulf can be in Jujutsu Kaisen. With Jogo’s only previous battles featuring him going toe-to-toe with Gojo, the character had felt like a bit of a joke as he desperately tried to keep up with the near omni-powerful Gojo. Here though, we are reminded of the power required to even keep up with Gojo for a minute as Jogo easily dispatches all three of the sorcerers with barely any effort made. While each is shown bursting into flames at the curse’s touch, it is unclear as to what is the ultimate fate of the trio as Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15 peels away from them to follow Jogo as he senses the return of another unexpected presence.

The energy that Jogo senses is that of Sukuna (Jun’ichi Suwabe, The Tale of Outcasts). The long-dormant curse residing within Yuji is stirring as someone has brought one of his fingers to help restore his control over his shared body. He arrives just in time to see one of the fingers slid into Yuji’s mouth by Mimiko (Risae Matsuda) and Nanako Hasaba (Satsumi Matsuda). Jogo seemingly dispatches the girls with the same ease he displayed previously so he can go about feeding Yuji ten more of Sukuna’s fingers. This influx of Sukuna’s power allows the curse to manifest outwardly, taking control of Yuji’s body. As he awakens, it is also revealed that Mimiko and Nanako escaped from Jogo’s attack, thanks to a technique involving one of the girl’s cell phones.

As Sukuna awakens, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15 does a fantastic job of bringing the overwhelming terror of being in the presence of the restored curse. Extreme close-ups of the characters bring the torment felt by the overwhelming malevolence residing in the awesome power of Sakuna to the viewer’s attention in a way that makes it almost palpable. Sukuna’s power is clearly on par with Gojo’s but mixed with an evil that makes it a struggle to do anything in his presence for fear of inciting his wrath.

The scene that follows sees Sukuna deal with the trio who have helped him restore control, if only temporarily, over Yuji’s body. To say he’s grateful would be a severe overestimation, as Sukuna deals with them in cruel and harsh terms. The fates that befall Mimiko and Nanako are truly terrifying, as the series once more dips into the horror elements it periodically returns to. Nanako’s end is particularly brutal, as the girl is cubed in the blink of an eye by Sukuna, and then allowed to slowly slip apart while the terror of the moment is still etched on her face.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 15 wraps up with Sukuna issuing a challenge to Jogo. If the curse can land a single blow on him, he will aid him. This final surprise wraps up an episode that began with a twist and never stopped going in directions viewers never would’ve guessed. Combine these surprises with gorgeous visuals that bring both action and terror to life, and you have another great entry to the series.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.