Season 3 Episode 4 of “Jujutsu Kaisen” — “Perfect Preparation” — was a phenomenal episode. Last week’s episode was a deep dive into the Culling Game rules and each person’s role in the coming season. This week’s episode was a big shift: we went from a dialogue-heavy episode to an action-heavy episode.
It was an amazing ride, and viewers are calling it “absolute cinema.”
This article (a recap and review) has major spoilers for Season 3 Episode 4, but it’s manga-spoiler-free.
The Corruption of the Zen’in Clan is on Full Display
Maki returned to the Zen’in clan to retrieve the cursed tools she needs to enact her group’s plan, stop the Culling Games and free Gojo. This episode was a stark reminder of just how misogynistic the Zen’in clan is, and how hungry for power Naoya is.
Megumi is the new leader of the Zen’in clan — a role which Maki had to convince him to accept. But even though he gave Maki permission to access the clan’s cursed tools, no one is respecting that choice one bit. Even Maki herself says that he will just barely be accepted as the clan’s leader, thanks to his inherited techique, domain expansion, and connection to Gojo.
When she arrives, she’s immediately confronted by Naoya. Not surprisingly, this corrupt man bullied her as a child and now believes she’s useless because she’s scarred. She ignores his taunts and proceeds to the cursed tool vault, where she’s confronted by her dad, Ogi.
This man is the worst of the worst. He absolutely hates his daughters and believes they are the reason he was not chosen to lead the Zen’in clan.
He handily beats Maki in battle, and leaves her and a severely wounded Mai in a room full of cursed spirits that will devour them.
Mai Dies, Releasing Maki to Reach Her Full Potential
As is common with Jujutsu Kaisen, things quickly get complicated. Mai and Maki are both barely clinging to life, and Mai speaks of how Jujutsu views identical twins as being one person. Because of this, neither twin is ever able to reach their full potential — both have powers that are incomplete.
Mai willingly gives up her life so that Maki can achieve her full potential and survive. And as we quickly learn, Maki’s fully realized self is essentially another Toji in terms of abilities and power.
(And can I just say how great it was to see that Toji flashback, even though it was brief?)
Maki defeats their dad, defeats the Hei sorcerers, defeats the Kukuru members who attack her, and even defeats Naoya. (She leaves him just barely alive, so her mother can finish him off with a knife she gives her in the final moments of her life.)
We later learn that the remaining members of the Hei, Akashi and Kukuru Unit who weren’t at the clan headquarters that day are murdered by a cursed tool. Essentially, most of the clan is now dead, leading the Gojo and Kamo clans to petition for Zen’in’s removal from the Big Three Families.
Does this mean Megumi got his wish and won’t have to lead the Zen’in clan after all?
Overall, this was an amazing episode. The fight scenes were top-notch, Mai’s death was heartbreaking to watch, and Maki’s ascension into being one of the strongest was a satisfying conclusion (as was Naoya’s death.)
However, for Maki, the experience may have been cathartic, but it was also empty. She accomplished her goal of destroying the Zen’in (and also Mai’s goal), but lost her twin in the process. It’s a heartbreaking conclusion for her. 🙁
Viewers Are Already Raving About This Episode
Not surprisingly, viewers are already raving about how amazing this episode was.
In a Reddit discussion thread, they can’t stop praising the animation and the storyline. Here’s what they’re saying:
- “Kill Bill-vibes! Absolutely solid episode. My fave so far.”
- “Absolute cinema.”
- “I adored the Maki vs. Naoya section, and I loved the multiple shots of her punching him.”
- “This was an absolute treat! The animation, the pacing, the music, the referencing and how they’ve adapted this part of the manga is just fantastic!”
- “Episode of the year.”
What did you think? Let us know in the comments.
