For Better or Worse, Chainsaw Man Is Ready to Repeat Its History

Chainsaw Man is making controversial strides towards revisiting some of the darkest moments of part one: Denji's submissiveness towards abusive women by assuming the traits of a dog for them. This move will hopefully ease the critiques among fans who have been critical of Chainsaw Man Part Two. After all, it's worked for me, and I'm someone who wrote many critical articles about Chainsaw Man's second half. Ironically, most fans seem to be upset at how Part Two diverges too much from Part One, while my problems began once Denji reappeared.

Regardless, some fans might think that Denji's latest development in the manga is a step back for his character, but I strongly feel that the combination of recent chapters showing how Denji has been struggling with his own sense of development or lack thereof highlights the moment's effectiveness and the overall darkness that's lurking in the shadows. My only hope is that this isn't just a one-off and represents an important character beat for Denji.

Chainsaw Man Part Two Shows Denji Repeating History

This History Is A Great Deal Why CHainsaw Man Part One is So Beloved

What partially makes Chainsaw Man Part One such a resounding success is how much Makima manipulates Denji, and that Denji obliges. It eventually became so prevalent that many fans understandably believed that if their roles had been reversed, it would be a completely unacceptable dynamic. It begins as early as chapter #1 when Makima tells Denji that if he becomes her pet, then she will give him food. It then quickly becomes a running gag as soon as the next chapter, when Denji takes the initiative and barks for her without Makima asking.

The darkest moment in Part One occurs near the end when Denji, finally being granted his promised wish, asks to become Makima's dog, going so far as to bark for her, but this time, on command. He even helps Makima carry out the horrific deed of killing his close friend Power by opening the door for Makima when Makima ordered to.

Chainsaw Man Is Repeating Denji Becoming A Dog For An Abusive Woman

Denji Might Not Be Barking, But It's Still Brutal

Now, Part Two repeats that specific moment in Chainsaw Man chapter #191. Upon learning that Asa and the War Devil Yoru share a body, Denji tells Yoru that he will do anything to find out which one of them initiated a specific explicit act with him chapters earlier, to which Yoru replies she will if he eats his own hand. While Denji actually proceeds to do what she requested, Yoru says that Denji is her dog and that all she needs to do is show him affection, and he'll do anything.

Although the moment lasts for only a couple of pages and Denji doesn't actually bark, the manga still directly revisits one of the most twisted parts of Makima and Denji's relationship in such a profound way. However, the scene will easily lose all meaning if Chainsaw Man doesn't revisit this dynamic again, reducing it to a cheap callback to tug at the heartstrings of readers. This wouldn't be the first time that Chainsaw Man Part Two has pulled such a bait-and-switch, though this would be the most disappointing, should Chainsaw Man drop the ball.

Chainsaw Man Is Rectifying Previously Forced Parallels to Part One

This New Scene Should Have Been The First Obvious Callback

Although this instance is effective, Part Two has made, what I feel to be, forced parallels. I made this realization when writing about Chainsaw Man's callbacks earlier in Part Two. At that moment, the series had just reintroduced the Eternity Devil from Part One, but on top of that, Chainsaw Man used Asa to copy how Makima and Reze once used the prospect of a date as a means to manipulate Denji when Asa lures Denji into a trap under the pretense that she wants to go out with him.

Most fans have undoubtedly forgotten about that moment, but it's extremely doubtful that the same will happen now. I know I won't forget it.

As I said then, if Chainsaw Man had only chosen one of these instances to repeat, then the parallel would have been compelling, but I felt that copying two plot points from Part One within a relatively short time felt as though the series was trying too hard to make callbacks. In all honesty, this latest development in chapter #191 is so effective that it makes that specific callback meaningless by comparison. Most fans have undoubtedly forgotten about that moment, but it's extremely doubtful that the same will happen now. I know I won't forget it.

Chainsaw Man Is Addressing Shonen's Big Problem With Character Development

This Is The Best Way to "Justify" a 2-D Character If a Series Really Needs To

On a much deeper level that applies to shonen as a whole, this latest twist in Chainsaw Man exposes a major flaw in the genre and shows how best to tackle this prevalent problem. The vast majority of long-form, popular shonen series like One Piece that put more effort into world-building and lore-dropping, do so at the detriment of character-building. Any rare instances of genuine change that do happen literally take decades to occur, and when they do, they are often obscure and minuscule.

Denji knows this is a problem, but he's either not strong or mature enough to grow. I find this saddening just based on all the tragedy and manipulation he's been through.

In the case of Chainsaw Man, Denji appears to have not actually developed as a character at all. Even after everything that has happened with Makima, Denji is still willing to do the most embarrassing things that a manipulative woman tells him to do all for a very adolescent, meaningless, and vapid reward. But because Chainsaw Man puts more focus on the inner psyche of characters as opposed to other forms of storytelling, fans have been able to see that Denji has been wrestling with these issues, and in recent chapters, too.

As a result, readers are able to easily conclude that Denji's actions aren't just another example of shonen's two-dimensional character writing. Knowing that Denji has wrestled with these inherent flaws transforms his ostensible two-dimensional action into something truly tragic and disheartening. Denji knows this is a problem, but he's either not strong or mature enough to grow. I find this saddening just based on all the tragedy and manipulation he's been through.

Yoru Is Literally Going to Use Him With Her Powers

What's more, Chainsaw Man has simultaneously augmented this whole compelling dynamic by pairing it with a stunning metaphor, all in the same chapter. Although not officially set in stone, Denji's group is discussing the prospect of allowing Yoru to use Denji by transforming him into a mindless weapon to defeat the Death Devil. As of now, Denji appears to be opposed to the idea, but imagine the implications if he agreed. He would be allowing himself to relinquish all control to be used by a woman who clearly doesn't respect him. An eerie echo of Denji's relationship with Makima.

Although an already effective callback, this stunning metaphor further underscores just how much Chainsaw Man chapter #191 will resonate with fans. Even if some might be upset that Denji is reverting to his old adolescent ways, no one can really blame it on poor writing just because Chainsaw Man has gone to great lengths to highlight that Denji has been wrestling with this problem and that it just wasn't narrative oversight. Aside from being a delight for Chainsaw Man fans, I just hope other shonen series will take note since this is the only true justification for a lack of character development.