English Dub Review: Jujutsu Kaisen: “The Origin of Blind Obedience – 2 -“

Overview: Being separated from Yuji (Adam McArthur) and Nobara (Anne Yatco), Megumi (Robbie Daymond) is pushed to the tipping point and gives it all he’s got as he combats a dangerous cursed spirit. 

Our Take: Megumi has always been a more subdued character but, like Yuji and Kugisaki, never as one note as it may suggest. He is shown to have a good head on his shoulders but admits to being selective about it. This is Jujutsu Kaisen’s bread and butter. The supernatural series’ main trio are some of the most compelling because of their own complexities and reasons in being jujutsu sorcerers. All through the lens of their selfishness and respective aspirations, whether they be noble or not. Fushiguro continues to build on that concept in “The Origin of Blind Obedience – 2 -” with his bedridden stepsister, Tsumiki, acting as a compelling driving force for his ideology. Her decision to care about Megumi, specifically, lays the foundation for who he chooses to save well, due to Tsumiki’s  kind and understanding demeanor. 

Megumi-chan’s (see Juju stroll subbed) practice lessons with the heartthrob piano teacher that is Gojo (also see Juju Stroll), is a strong, telling scene and perfectly encapsulates how Fushiguro differs from Yuji and Gojo and how he’s limiting himself because of his approach. It’s so greatly impactful not only from Gojo’s candidness but also through how well it set up this plotline with smart storytelling that cleverly comes into play here. Moments that may not have been entirely clear before are utilized to perfection, like Sukuna questioning Megumi’s retreat earlier in the season or even subtler ones like him bunting in the baseball game. 

What results is the perfect bookend moment in Megumi’s progression to develop as a sorcerer and catch up to Yuji. Being pushed over the edge mentally and finally allowing himself to be greedy is a breath of fresh air for the character, especially with how through the entirety of the show, Megumi has always been a great team player, putting everyone else’s well being above his own. Ironically, Fushiguro is the most in his element when he reaches his breaking point allowing himself no restraints and going full tilt allowing us to see a new, more innately human side of the Ten Shadows user. 

What really helps sell his determination are his vivid, freakish facial expressions. The art direction and atmosphere gets (Sukuna’s) four thumbs up, because they are downright rad with hauntingly spectacular shading and vibrant reds in the blood for added intensity. Animation wise, it fires cursed energy on all cylinders from start to finish. The inky smeary blows from Yuji’s deadly fast strikes. The speed and veracity of Megumi’s sword slashes is supernatural not to mention the debut of his domain expansion, Chimera Shadow Garden, is a real showstopper. The scene is a sensational display with dark gothic colors beautifully setting the backdrop to a wild scrap to it with the various shadow beasts coming from all directions ending with a calculated misdirect in classic Megumi style. 

The follow-up to “The Origin of Blind Obedience” is yet another phenomenal showing from Jujutsu Kaisen that focuses on everyone’s favorite moody first year student with a meaningful backstory that that beautifully sculpts the sorcerer along, phenomenal battles from the whole team, and some smart storytelling.