English Dub Review: Jujutsu Kaisen: “Accomplices”

Overview: Yuji (Adam McArthur), Kugisaki (Anne Yatco), and Megumi (Robbie Daymond) reunite after their harrowing exploits. 

Our Take: “Accomplices” sees what is a team-up of unadulterated badassery with Yuji and his partner in crime, or accomplice, if you will, Nobara, as the Shonen ends it’s season run with a real showstopper of an episode. Time and time again, the animation staff has continued to push the envelope, even beyond the supernatural series. If MAPPA hasn’t already proven just how capable of a creative force they are with their latest entry, I don’t know what will. Eso’s wing king ability acts as an amazing catalyst, along with Itadori’s speed, for the type of high speed intensity that the show has perfected to a t. The frighteningly deadly game of chicken Kugisaki plays with Eso and Kechizu is one of sheer madness in not just how it shows a different, more edgier side of Nobara (one that I’ll show up for any day) but what else it manages to accomplish in the process. We’re also treated to some amazing cinematic visuals, like the Kechizu bloody money shot or her haunting facial expressions and after having Nobara being swallowed up at what feels like almost every turn (even Megumi jokes about it), it’s awesome to see her getting more spotlight in the fray along with Megumi and Yuji. 

Jujutsu Kaisen excels at looking inwards within characters and/or bringing out their inner demons. Yet another prime example of this is the impact of Eso and Kechizu’s deaths. The weighty conversation between Itadori and Nobara sheds light on the effect of their job as jujutsu sorcerers and the brutal reality of what it entails, further humanizing them in different ways with their contrasting viewpoints on the matter. Even better is extra layers of Nobara that are peeled back to show new sides of her like that of her judicious nature in regards to the cherished people in her life. All of this is packaged together with such nuance that ties the whole scene together not only sophistication but sincerity too. It’s this type of subtlety that became known that I hadn’t even noticed the first time around while watching the original Japanese subbed version. 

Lastly, the ending packs quite the heartful punch with Megumi choosing not to tell Yuji about his unbeknownst role in the bridge murders and vice-versa. The despairingly sunset lit scene not only shows the consequences of the choices they make in the Jujutsu world but also the great bond they all share amongst each other. This is driven home even more with the hopeful look at the first year’s many more adventures to come along with that of Panda’s, Inumaki’s and Maki’s as well. 

Ultimately, episode 24 is a glorious end to a glorious anime that has built and solidified its own domain expansion in the ever growing plethora of Shonen that crowd the genre. In what rightfully feels like the closing of a chapter, rather than the entire novel, Jujutsu Kaisen delivers a Vegas-style buffet of an episode with jaw-dropping action, cultivating character moments, and brilliant writing. With Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie on the horizon, mass popularity and many more chapters to adapt, the series, just like our soon-to-be special grade sorcerers, has a bright future ahead of it.