I guess it’s sort of fitting, but there were no big surprises for me in the second episode of Jujutsu Kaisen.  Or more precisely, in how I responded to it.  I like this show well enough – while it’s a very standard WSJ-style battle series so far, it’s quite competent both in terms of writing and execution.  Especially given that a lot of manga in this genre start out rather slowly, that’s a positive indicator for its long-term prospects.  Will I cover it?  That’s what the bubble is for, but I suspect there’s a good chance I’ll at least watch it for a while.

We have Yuuji’s world expanding quite a bit in the aftermath of the premiere, as you’d expect.  Fushiguro’s sensei  Gojou shows up (after having stopped off for Sendai souvenirs).  He’s overpowered and cocky, but not in an especially obnoxious way.  It’s clear from Gojou’s reaction that Yuuji is an unusual specimen.  Specifically, in his ability to absorb a cursed object and not be controlled by it.  Despite Sukuna giving him the finger Yuuji can more or less control his own body at will, which is what buys him a little time before what should have been a summary execution is carried out.

Naturally there’s a training school – Tokyo Municipal Jujutsu Tech (ROFL), somewhere in the mountains of West Tokyo.  It’s quite a striking place actually, looking for all the world like an old temple complex (which I assume was its original function).  Gojou lets Yuuji know that while he’s been sentenced to die, he has a choice – he can agree to consume Sukuna’s remaining fingers (there are 20 in total – four hands) before the sentence is carried out.   This makes decent sense as shounen premises go – because the cursed objects resist destruction but if consumed will die when the vessel does, Yuuji snacking on them offers the Jujutsu association a convenient way to (eventually) get rid of them).

All the core pieces are here, including a quirky principal (Yaga, who has the exact same beard as his seiyuu, Kuroda Takaya).  There’s a dorm (Yuuji is next to Fughiguro) and soon, a cute female first-year rival.  Inventive this isn’t, but it crosses the necessary thresholds to be viable.  It’s (so far) coherent and logical, doesn’t rely overly on clumsy exposition, and the characters are closer to interesting and likeable than insufferable (though with these sorts of series that can turn in a flash).  Jujutsu Kaisen stays on the radar for now, and I hope for a good while yet.