Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Fails to Recreate the Impact of the Most Anticipated Maki-Toji Panel

Maki vs. Ogi
Maki vs. Ogi (Image Credit: MAPPA)

One of the most severe arcs in the entire series was shown in Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 episode 4, yet it absolutely botched the moment everyone was waiting for. It should have been terrible for Ogi to see Toji's silhouette covering Maki as she came out of the disciplinary pit. Spine-tingling.

The kind of image that causes you to stop and go back in time to experience that effect once more. Rather than symbolizing the nightmare the Zenin clan attempted to conceal, what we saw was a stooped Toji who appeared to be checking his phone.

The manga panel's brutality and simplicity make it effective. When Ogi turns around, his daughter is there. But Toji Fushiguro, the rejected and equally feared black sheep of the clan, looms above her. He is not a subtle presence. It screams "you made a mistake" without uttering a single word.

Readers can see how much Maki has changed from that picture. Not only is she powerful now. She has evolved into the monster that the Zenin clan believed Toji's departure had eliminated. Additionally, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 has the opportunity to use voice acting, music, and animation to make this moment even more powerful. However, the original panel's iconic menace was eliminated in the adaptation.


Why the Release of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Was Necessary?

Toji and Maki (Image Credit: Shueisha and MAPPA)
Toji and Maki (Image Credit: Shueisha and MAPPA)

The Toji comparison runs through the entire arc like a heartbeat. Naoya is fixated on demonstrating that Maki is merely a fraud who will never be able to match Toji. Ogi is so terrified of Toji that it almost seems like muscle memory. In order to eliminate the one thing preventing Maki from obtaining what Toji had, Mai gives her life. Every aspect of the story suggests this change. When Maki finally comes out strong and fearless, it should feel like this moment was always meant to happen.

However, such emotion is simply not conveyed in the anime adaptation. Toji appears uncomfortable. His stance is incorrect. The framing seems hurried. By arguing that "it's just one frame" or "the vibe is still there," some fans attempted to excuse it, but that misses the mark. In Jujutsu Kaisen season 3, this wasn't simply another panel.

The panel that fans of manga had been waiting years to see animated was this one. The visual proof that Maki has at last overcome all obstacles to become something the Zenin clan should truly be afraid of.


What MAPPA Accomplished (And Why This Is Worse)?

Maki fighting members of the Zenin clan (Image Credit: MAAPPA)
Maki fighting members of the Zenin clan (Image Credit: MAAPPA)

This failure hurts considerably more because of this. The references to Kill Bill earlier in the show were flawlessly done by MAPPA. The House of Blue Leaves homage with Maki surrounded by the Kukuru Unit was gorgeous. The black and white coloring, with only the blood in red? Chef's kiss.

They went so far as to frame-by-frame reproduce particular scenes from Tarantino's movie. The animators had a great understanding of how to honor outside sources and make them have an impact. So why did Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 fail to respect the most important image in its own source material?

The scene at the beach with Mai was heartbreaking. The blade that materialized in Maki's hand struck precisely. After that, she brutally and satisfyingly executed Ogi. However, everything was meant to be highlighted by that Toji silhouette. Even Ogi, who had just attempted to kill both of his daughters, realized he had made a grave error. Instead of giving it the attention it needed, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 offered us a version that seems to have been slapped together at the last minute.


The Point at Which the Arc Should Have Been Defined

Maki is about to start the massacre (Image Credit: MAPPA)
Maki is about to start the massacre (Image Credit: MAPPA)

Look, the remainder of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 episode 4 was amazing. Although it was fast-paced, it was effective. Maki's battles were awesome. The emotional beats landed. However, some panels can't be treated like any other frame when you are altering one of the most important points in a character's entire journey.

There was no fan service in the Toji silhouette. It was the visual language telling viewers that Maki had finally achieved what everyone said was impossible. She is no longer Toji-lite. She is on par with him.


Conclusion

Fans who just watch anime and don't know the manga panel could find this to be picky. However, that scenario will always seem like a lost chance to those who do. Overall, Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 produced an amazing Zenin Massacre, but it was unable to capture the pivotal moment. And that's what people will recall.

Edited by Nabil Ibrahim-Oladosu