Jujutsu Kaisen recently broke the internet after the release of its final chapter, JJK 271. As with most manga/anime fandoms, reactions are split between those who love and hate it. For a series as monumental and generational as Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s only right that the fandom express their opinions one way or another. In this case, fans turned to social media to let Gege Akutami and fellow readers hear their voices.
With the recent release of JJK 271, the series has concluded after Sukuna’s defeat and (most of) the gang back together. However, the series’ fandom quickly voiced their sentiments after not even a week of the chapter being released. We’re no relationship counselors to mend these two parties, but what we can do is share with you what’s being said on social media.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending: Disappointed Fans and Their Criticism
Any big series will receive criticism from the fans. After all, they only wanted to see Jujutsu Kaisen flourish and reach its potential, possibly even combat for the top spot of the best shonen series of this generation. Their disappointment is as justifiable as those who came to love it. Here is what some of them had to say on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit!
The popular clamor about the series is that Gege never addressed some of the storylines he left hanging in the series. From Yuji’s domain name and Sukuna’s Heian backstory to the absence of Gojo’s funeral and what happened to Tengen, fans seemingly want to see a long list of storylines completed. Its many loose ends left some fans with zero emotions as they thought most of the chapters led nowhere with no particular consequence to the story. One Redditor explained: “This is actually less of the fault of the ending, but it’s the result of having very little build up leading to it.“
As one Redditor said, “It’s been ‘action figures smashing into each other’ for a while now, but this fight with Sukuna was paced terribly.” Another factor that resulted in disappointment was Gege’s pacing throughout the latter parts of the story. Fans say that it was as if Gege was ready to sacrifice different original character plotlines and developments to introduce new, irrelevant ones when those characters drew many of the fans into the story in the first place.
For the fandom, this took out the supposedly entertaining and satisfying world-building of the series. When it had the potential to break through with more than a thousand chapters with tons of development and flashbacks, Gege decided to end the series with 271. “I personally feel like Gege, after writing a really well deisgned world with very good premises, really struggled a lot to keep up with the pace. Releasing one chapter a week means a lot of work and stress, and he really could not do it anymore,” another Redditor explained in a thread.
Most of the flak came after JJK 271’s release. Since the chapter concluded the series, fans have been expecting more from the ending. Gojo’s return, an announcement for Jujutsu Kaisen Part 2, an explanation for Geto/Kenjaku in JJK 270, and more were envisioned to cap off a generational series. Instead, they received a chapter with half of it dedicated to the trio’s mission and more flashbacks.
A Redditor expressed their opinions about the manga’s ending: “It’s nothing, it doesn’t feel like an ending. The main trio are just back to the status quo except with some scars. The world has not changed in any meaningful way. A lot of characters got no send off at all – we never even saw the Kyoto students after they just talked about their strategies. The characters didn’t reflect on anything that happened and their outlook is the same as when the story started. The only character that got any kind of closure was Sukuna, with a reference to a backstory that we never saw.“
Jujutsu Kaisen Ending: Fans’ Appreciation and Fond Farewells
With disappointment and hate comes love and appreciation. On this side, fans are riding with the series no matter what others have said. These fans are sticking with the series, remembering its greatest moments, the hype it came with, and the laughter it brought. Here are some of the things they loved about Jujutsu Kaisen‘s ending!
Fans who appreciated the ending gave Gege his flowers. The world continues, and many stones are left unturned—fans have accepted that reality. Many have been done, but even more needs to be finished. The unending cycle of jujutsu perseveres, but the next generation of sorcerers finally have smiles on their faces and are stronger through these trials and tribulations. What started with dark themes and depressing deaths ended with everyone back working together.
One Redditor said: “Everyone loves to criticize and circlejerk hate things because it unites them in a way, as messed up as that sounds. Jjk is miles ahead of a million other anime but they want to be over critical of this one because it’s famous. All Anime’s their own flaws and this one does too but overall it was very enjoyable and one of the best I’ve ever seen, the ending was just okay and there isn’t anything wrong with that.“
The ending was, indeed, like a loop. It featured the trio back taking on missions like the first few chapters of the manga. Even Sukuna’s finger back in the shed made fans relive the first time these things showed up in the series! And if anyone in Jujutsu Kaisen deserved to close off the story, it’s Yuji Itadori. Who can believe that the kid who once threw a world record for shotput during PE class is the same kid who beat the King of Curses? Fans are sentimental about these little moments, and Gege remembering how it all started was enough for fans to appreciate the entirety of JJK 271.
A fan on X said: “Seeing Yuji so happy after everything that has happened to him over these past like 6 months brought tears to my eyes. Gege really concluded the series in a really good way imo, leaves it open in case he did want to come back and didn’t just kill everyone because. We won! #JJK271“
The ending gave some of the most inspiring scenes in its manga history with Gojo passing the torch to the next generation and Sukuna changing his perspective. Two of the hardest hitters in Jujutsu Kaisen history are finding peace before and after their battle, and that’s an ending all fans are welcome to. Despite only being featured for a few pages, their compelling presence makes up for it. The fans will forever remember their influence in the series, and this is just a great way to cap their legacies off.
A fan on X said: “Good final chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen, although its final stretch was somewhat insipid and could have been better, it was a very good series in general with all its ups and downs, Gojo showed why he is the best character in jjk and Sukuna had a good ending as an antagonist #jjk271“
A Divisive Jujutsu Kaisen Finale That Leaves a Lasting Legacy
JJK 271 has left the fandom in shambles and a whirlwind of different emotions. Some loved it, some hated it, as do all fandoms with their respective series. While some felt that the ending left too many loose ends and unanswered questions, others appreciated the story’s developments and callbacks.
And while it is undeniable that Jujutsu Kaisen‘s ending left much to be desired, the disappointment and frustrations of the fans are them hoping for a more solid conclusion to such a groundbreaking and immersive masterpiece. However, fans who loved the final chapter appreciated the growth of their favorite characters—may it be in the afterlife or continuing their stints as the next generation of sorcerers.
In the end, Jujutsu Kaisen will be remembered as a series that features exciting battles, interesting and unforgettable characters, and dynamic storytelling. The story may have concluded, but the lasting effects of Yuji and the gang will leave a legacy behind as one of this generation’s most engaging shonen series thanks to its fans. In the words of Sukuna: Stand proud, Gege, you are strong!