How JJK Shibuya Incident Helped Me See the System - JJK Shibuya Incident Review

SPOILER: Must watch at least Ep: 44

As required by any JJK Shibuya Incident review, I simply must start off by saying that I think they got us when Nanami died. It hurt, but I get it. The show needed a direct, sudden shift in tone. Viewers and characters alike needed to be reminded of the painful, permanent consequences of their actions, a lesson made ever more poignant after the utter devastation wrought on Shibuya by Sukuna. It is a moment for Yuji to rapidly mature and grapple with the danger of the power inside him. It made sense.

Then they killed off Nobara, and what was left of my heart continued to shatter. I commend the show for having the audacity to commit to such a shocking, devastating loss. Adding insult to injury, perhaps, but it was decisive. If a shift in tone is necessary, killing off a third of the core trio is an effective way to do it. Think of what could have been. You have an iconic modern trio in Nobara, Fushiguro, and Yuji. Now, one of them is wiped out of the narrative. Endless lost opportunity. It was a tough decision to make, but the decision was made, and we all had to find a way to live with it. 

It hurt, a lot. I asked myself if I even wanted to continue after this season without Nobara. Until episode 44, I had skipped the op because I was trying to quickly catch up. Once Nobara died, I watched the op the next episode just because I wanted to see her again. And then I noticed in the opening credits that Nobara can be seen holding her hand over her left eye...

In the very next episode, Arata administers aid to Nobara while shouting to Yuji something along the lines of, “Maybe we can save her! I’m just saying there’s a chance, don’t count on it, but maybe, bud no, but eh?” I could not believe it. The writer(s) successfully crafted one of the most shocking and decisive narrative events in modern anime, then immediately went back on it. That boldness I admired is severely undercut with this goofy, "Maybe she's dead, maybe she's alive, go speculate on Twixtter" tactic. They instantly undermined the shock value and efficacy of the moment, and I simply could not understand why. 

What I do understand is that this is a common trope, not just in this show, but across anime, and throughout fiction (more on that later). This isn't a cardinal sin, and even if it is, it's not a new one. But this feels like an especially heinous case worthy of its own introspection. 

And then Todo loses an arm in battle. Then I think about it. I think back to Nobara holding her hand over her eye in the op. And then I realize it. I think, “Oh, she’s gonna have an eyepatch! She’ll look really cool and will be alive.” I speculate further, “They’re doing this to sell eyepatches.” I don't mean actual eyepatches, but eyepatch toys, merchandise, and action figures with a one-eyed Nobara. And then I consider how they will do something similar for Todo.

I conclude, “This is it. This will be the cost of this mission: Nobara’s eye, Todo’s arm, and Nanami’s life. It all works out so neatly. So high-concept.” This way, JJK can re-establish itself as a serious narrative with serious and permanent consequences, while still cashing in on the tomfoolery (and commercial-ability) of an intact core trio - and they certainly have a great one. 

I smile as I imagine all the iconic fanart we are about to get of Nobara with one eye and Todo with one arm and Nanami's funeral and how the stakes are suddenly higher than ever. It almost helps me overlook the endless JJK Funko Pop figurine and tee shirt ads I am about to see on my feed once this season ends. I do not hate the idea of these products. I simply cannot help but see it for what it is: a commodification of my emotions.

On a side note, I can also see how they want us to viscerally hate Mahito because he killed Nanami and "killed" Nobara, and how he is racist af with all those "gorilla" comments. It is nice being aware of how the fandom is being taken on a ride, and honestly, I am all for it. 

I can also see the metanarrative of how Kusakabe supports the idea of executing Yuji becuase he believes Yuji is too dangerous to be left alive. It is not hard to interpret the impending conflict between controlling the threat of Sukuna and saving Yuji's life as an allegory for the debate over nuclear weapons, a rather timely message at this particular moment in history.

The shocking revelations, the service to the fandom, and the real world commentary combine to construct a truly memorable experience in Shibuya Incident. Some of the most thrilling television I've seen quite some time. I was gripped with anxiety almost every moment, which I just what I wanted. And ultimately, as an anti-capitalist cynic, I imagine how this will all be heavily commercialized through merchandising.

I think about telling this to Camille. I imagine her going, “Uh-well duh~”