This post contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 24, currently available for U.S. readers from VIZ Media
I sat with Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 23 all week, thinking. Surely, there will be explanations and clearer answers to come. We will see consequences, at the very least. And we do, sort of. Chapter 24, “A Ray of Hope or…” offers a little more insight into the aftermath of Marulu’s actions. It’s not full resolution, yet, but I have hope it will be.
I’m still not entirely satisfied with the way things are shaping up. At times, it feels like there was hype and then not enough backup in place to carry it through in a satisfying fashion. There are a lot of instances that still feel heavily unresolved or unexplored. And don’t even get me started on Fushiguro’s obvious absence. I’m wondering if there might some resolution on that before all is said and done. Still, 24 chapters in, and not even a peep from or about Megumi is highly sus.
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Don’t Call off the Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Wedding Just Yet!
Before things officially get started, catch an adorable glimpse at the woman I’ve chosen to be Dabura’s future wife. Is anyone else choosing Tomoe for this honor? Don’t know. I just know that for me, the ‘ship sails strong across the stars and has done since the cultural exchange. Dabukyo? Tomokarab? Eh, I’ll think of something eventually.
Maru is learning table manners from Yuka in the light-hearted intro strips. It starts out with her demonstrating how to indicate the status of a meal by placing the silverware accordingly on the plate. Things quickly goes off the rails as they debate how to indicate wanting seconds.
Asking for Tomoe’s input, she sticks the silverware up her nose. This descends into a silly joke about people from Kansai being considered more bold and rough around the edges when compared to people from the Kanto region of Japan.
The fact that she makes another appearance probably doesn’t mean anything important, but I feel like my heart is seen. Now, we just need Dabura to wake up and realize he needs to come back to Earth. For love, of course.
The Ethical Question of Marulu’s Choice
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Beneath the cursed spirit energy falling from the sky stands Cross, tears falling from his third eye. I said I’d riot if Cross died, so, no riots. Hooray! The interesting thing we next see is an observation that these fallen cursed spirits feel different than they do when exorcised. It’s almost as if they’re at peace as they dissipate. Yuji just walking away with his hands in his pockets like, “Heh, he made a choice,” cracks me up because it feels reminiscent of Gojo. I guess when you’re the most powerful being alive, you can afford that kind of nonchalance.
Yuka’s awakening, Mahoraga’s wheel clanging to the ground at her feet, raises questions for me. I have seen some fan discussions already, more like arguments, that Mahoraga was a cursed spirit and not a shikigami. The very definition of shikigami labels them as kami, or spirits, but Mahoraga was not born from human emotion the way cursed spirits are.
It is weird that the wheel dropped to the ground, rather than disappearing with Mahoraga, which makes me wonder if cursed energy’s absence did more than just disperse him from the battle when Dabura was withdrawn from his domain. It’s the kind of thing fans will likely debate on for the rest of eternity, unless Sensei directly comes out and clarifies it once Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo ends.
Yuka realizes she has no more pain, and she sends a notification to Tsurugi. He and Maru determine it’s time to go home. Next thing we know, we’re back on Simuria with Dabura.
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Dabura’s Swift Vengeance
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo‘s Deskunte chief is as hideous as I imagined. And he’s got young women clinging to him like he’s some prize. (insert gag emoji here.) Seeing how smug the old goat is, Dabura’s so calm it’s beautiful. When the chief threatens Spejo, she takes off the hood veiling her face. The moment he realizes the curse is broken, he knows he’s done for.
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R.I.P. that guy. After everything we’ve learned about the Deskunte through Cross and Maru, Dabura’s confusion regarding his place in the world, and the cruel reality of Spejo’s suffering, seeing their nasty chief get what is coming to him is so rewarding. The fact that he physically looks as icky as he actually is was kind of glorious.
Dabura puts him in his place (a.k.a. the ground,) quickly. With his head dropping into the center of the gathering crowd, Dabura declares himself chief. First order of business, building a shrine to Dura. Second order of business? He doesn’t care. They can do whatever they want. He’s no politician. In theory, he doesn’t really need to declare himself chief to get Dura a proper shrine. He’s scary enough at this point that whoever is next in line will probably just do whatever he wants to avoid having their head sliced off.
What now for Dabura? A wedding on good old Earth? I can only dream, probably, but I’m totally here for it!
There Were Always Going to Be Consequences In Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo
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In the aftermath of Maru’s choice, the Rumelians are not exactly happy. Even as he explains how he separated them from the Kalyans, the hard truth is that any Rumelians born in the future will no longer share a bond with Kalyans. In a panic, people wonder what they’re supposed to do with the Kalyans aboard their ship. If they’re going to eat their children, they can’t be allowed to live, right?
It’s a choice Maru struggles with, even as he faces the Rumelians. He doesn’t know what to do with the remaining Kalyans, and he’s asking for help. He can’t make such a heavy decision alone.
So far as consequences go, it’ll be interesting to see how, or even if, they go beyond a disgruntled population of Rumelians. And how do the humans feel about such a massive choice regarding their future being made without any input? I need to know, after everything.
Panda-Senpai Could Be the Answer to the Kalyan Problem
The last page of Chapter 24 takes us back to the vault, where Panda has likely spent the last 60 (give or take a few) years. As a pre-existing cursed corpse, he’s not going anywhere. He’s been alone in the vault for a long time, but what if he has a new purpose? I’m just assuming here, but it seems like Itadori plans to make Panda the Kalyan monitor.
Tasked with keeping them in check and protecting humans and Rumelians from them once they are free, it’s a sound solution that grants the Kalyans the respect they deserve. It also gets poor Panda-Senpai out of storage and gives him purpose again.
If that isn’t Itadori’s intention, and bad things happen to Panda, I’m back to rioting. Panda is, and always will be, baby. He deserves happiness outside in the sun, running free with Kalyans and wearing wrist bands with little pandas on them.
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 24 On a Scale of 1 to 10
I’m still having trust issues. I want to feel satisfied at the end of Modulo, but past experience and Chapter 23 have me scared. This chapter is much better than its predecessor, but I’m having a hard time imagining satisfying resolution.
The fact that all four protagonists come out of this leg of JJK alive and kicking is a nice change of pace. It’s a very different type of story than the original, built around the dismantling of things that made Jujutsu Kaisen great. I’m not saying dismantle like that’s a bad thing. It’s what makes this future story great.
It’s a more hopeful outcome, but I do still feel like this could be the end of one of my favorite series’ for good. I am still holding out hope for Megumi. At least tell me he’s at home taking a nap, or something. Show me Yuji going back to their Bert and Ernie-style abode to meatballs he taught Megumi how to make decades ago. Something. Please.
