I Admit It: I Can't Forgive Jujutsu Kaisen For Dropping a Shibuya Incident Scene, Wasting Its Full Potential

The second season of Jujutsu Kaisen's anime was an undoubted success, but unfortunately, some scenes in the story deserved more attention and expansion than they received. The arcs covered in season two are some of the most pivotal in the series: the Hidden Inventory/Premature Death Arc, also called the Gojo's Past Arc, and the much-anticipated Shibuya Incident Arc.

Representing these popular storylines in anime was no easy task, and sadly, there was no time for every plot point to be explored fully. However, one Shibuya Incident scene in particular, regarding Gojo and Geto's relationship and Kenjaku's use of Geto's body has incredibly disappointing wasted potential, because it could have drastically changed the story.

One Crucial Geto Scene Should Have Been Expanded in the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime

During the Shibuya Incident Arc, Geto Fought Back Against Kenjaku in His Body by Strangling Himself

The manga panel in question, pointed out by u/ShalkaScarf on Reddit, occurred during one of the series' most high-stakes interactions, when Kenjaku and the Disaster Curses cornered Gojo in Shibuya Station, with the intention of sealing Gojo in the Prison Realm to remove him from the fight, thus making it easier for Kenjaku to carry out his evil plan. At this point, Gojo was not yet aware of Geto's final fate, believing his previous best friend to be deceased and laid to rest after his death in the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film right in front of Gojo. During this scene, he witnessed Kenjaku with horror, for the first time.

Upon seeing Geto's face, Gojo was puzzled beyond belief, but quickly realized the person standing before him was an impostor, thanks to his keen senses. He uttered the iconic quote, "My six eyes tell me you're Suguru Geto. But my soul knows otherwise!" which is a touching nod towards their friendship, proving Gojo was not fooled by Kenjaku's facade. Even though Kenjaku was controlling Geto completely, Geto still feebly fought back, reaching out his hand and strangling himself, in a last-ditch attempt to remove Kenjaku's presence from his body. Kenjaku was astounded, commenting on Geto's behavior with surprise.

Geto Regaining Control of His Body Would Have Changed the Story Dramatically

Not Only Would It Have Altered the Story, It Could Have Healed Geto and Gojo’s Fractured Relationship

Sadly, apart from Geto's initial attempt to strangle Kenjaku, he made no further moves to take over his body again, disappointing readers with the unfulfilled potential this scene held. Gojo was quickly sealed into the Prison Realm, taken out of the story for over 100 chapters, and him and Geto were tragically never reunited again. This moment of Geto attacking Kenjaku caught the villain off guard, as he exclaimed "This a first for me!" hinting that none of the previous vessels Kenjaku used to carry out his evil deeds ever managed to strike against him like Geto did.

Although this was a relatively quick moment that did not have much consequence in the story, the fact that Geto was still semi-conscious and present even while Kenjaku took the reins could have dramatically changed the course of Jujutsu Kaisen's story. As fans know, Kenjaku implanted his own brain into Geto's body, and that is how he took possession of the deceased sorcerer's body, but despite the fact Geto's brain was no longer present in him, some part of him was. Hearing Gojo speak his name, "Suguru," provoked an emotional reaction in Geto, and he was spurred on to fight back.

The Destruction of Gojo and Geto’s Friendship Is One of the Series’ Saddest Plot Points

Through This Dramatic Kenjaku Scene, the Pair Could Have Finally Reconciled

Had Geto completely regained control of his body, this Shibuya Incident scene could have played out differently, and Gojo may never have been sealed. The presence of his ex-best friend sparked memories within Geto, urging his body to subconsciously attempt to protect the person he once loved so dearly. With Gojo's help, it seems likely he could have perhaps helped Geto expel Kenjaku from his body, and this plot twist definitely would have taken Jujutsu Kaisen in a different direction, as well as affecting the outcome of Gojo and Geto's relationship that seemed shattered beyond repair by Geto's turn to evil.

The downfall of Gojo and Geto's bond in the Gojo's Past Arc is one of the most heartbreaking losses in the entire series, as the two jujutsu sorcerers who were once best friends faced a difference of opinion they could not overcome. Gojo wanted to continue exorcising cursed spirits, while Geto hoped to eliminate what he saw as the root cause of the problem of evil: non-sorcerers. When Geto formed a cult and began killing innocent humans, him and Gojo became enemies, and any semblance of friendship between them was completely destroyed, although love seemed to still linger between them on some level.

Leaving Geto Dead Added Emotional Depth and Somber Reality to the Story

Although Many Fans Wished for the Former Sorcerer's Return, the Fact That It Never Occurred Is Poignant Too

Geto breathed his last breath during the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 film, fatally wounded in his battle with Yuta Okkotsu and killed by none other than Gojo himself, the man who used to be his closest comrade. Gojo and Geto never had a chance to reconcile, and the aforementioned scene of Geto strangling Kenjaku could have offered a perfect segue for the estranged friends to reconnect. Had Gojo aided Geto in getting his body back from the villain, viewers might have finally been able to witness forgiveness and reconnection between the former friends, something many fans wished for until the story's conclusion.

Since Jujutsu Kaisen was an almost 300-chapter manga by its September 29, 2024 conclusion, it is understandable that Gege Akutami could never have been expected to approach every single storyline with the level of development that fans might have wished for. This Kenjaku scene is just one example of a change the mangaka could have made that would have transformed the shonen story, but as it stands, leaving Geto dead permanently is also tragically meaningful. Geto's death, although devastating, gave the story needed emotional depth and highlighted the sorrowful realities of the war depicted in Jujutsu Kaisen's story.

Source: u/ShalkaScarf on Reddit