English Dub Review: Jujutsu Kaisen: “Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event – Group Battle 0 -“

Overview: On the day of the sister school exchange event, Gojo (Kaiji Tang) surprises the Tokyo and Kyoto schools with the surprise return of Itadori (Adam McArthur) himself. Meanwhile, special grade cursed spirits begin formulating their plan to steal more of Sakuna’s (Ray Chase) fingers at the Tokyo school and the Kyoto branch plots to kill the newly revived Yuji. 

Our Take: As much as I love me some cursed spirit beatdowns, diverse new abilities and dynamic Shonen characters, I also appreciate silliness and hijinks all the same. Episode 14 serves as a good reminder as to how Jujutsu Kaisen enjoys having a good time with it’s characters peppering in plenty of levity throughout. It will take intermissions or time in between arcs to flex it’s comedic muscles. This series knows it’s audience and pokes fun at one of the common humorous tropes you’ve likely seen by now like one being how characters will cry with joy in discovering that the main character is alive and well. Of course, Gojo being Gojo, he is undoubtedly sure this would be the case as he assures Yuji and even proclaims they maybe someone’ll puke and it will solve global warming. Hell, even I was expecting that (minus the vomit and global warming). But what comes instead is something even better with the most awkward moment of Yuji’s life as his friends are bewildered and not the overly emotional joy that he expected. The dorky and exaggerated facial expressions are hysterical and made me appreciate all the visual comedy the series has dished out up until this point. It also made me look forward to the funny moments that are still to come in this arc. There were also some other wholesome little moments like Itadori begging for Nobara’s forgiveness and him meeting Panda and Inumaki for the first time and being puzzled by their oddities. 

Elsewhere, plots going into motion like the special grade curses coming to collect all of Sakuna’s fingers. One of the ways that the curses feel alive and unique from one another is how they all have their own unique way of handling things that may differ from their comrades. Also they don’t even care if they live as long as there is a next generation of curses. I enjoy that they don’t seem to be the stereotypical villains who simply want world domination and are a bit more forward thinking. And with the Kyoto school plotting to kill Yuji, threats begin closing in on all sides.