Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 review: An escalation of stakes and character development

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is the latest season of the anime adaptation of the hit shonen manga by Gege Akutami, pushing deeper into the most intense stretch of the story so far, the culling games. 

Unlike previous seasons that had a clear conclusion by this point, Season 3 is still ongoing. That makes any final judgment premature (even as a manga reader myself), but the story’s direction so far is getting intense.

The Story so far

The current arc continues right after the Shibuya Incident, a tragic and in-world changing event where the existence of curses and Jujutsu sorcerers are revealed to the public and where many fan favourite characters were killed off or trapped.

Season 3 is the beginning of the culling games, a lethal battle royale with strict rules orchestrated by Kenjaku who is also the main antagonist of this arc. The culling games escalates conflict within the jujutsu world while expanding the battlefield beyond just simple, typical shonen slog fests. Power structures and alliances are fragile and the future of the world of Jujutsu Kaisen hangs in the balance.

The pacing remains fast, with episodes moving quickly between confrontation, strategy, and aftermath. Because of the lack of recap and almost no filler, the season assumes viewers are fully caught up to or at least have some knowledge of the established world, making it not ideal for first-time watchers (why would you start with season 3, though?), but very satisfying for fans who are already in the know.

Fair warning about this review, because the season is not over yet, several major plot points remain unresolved (unless you’ve followed the by-now finished manga). Key matchups are still unfolding, and the likely emotional fallout will shape the final episodes. What stands out is the sense that events are building towards a grand showdown.

Character development

Rather than just relying solely on cool animations for fights or battles, the season grounds its intensity in personal growth. Characters are not static characters just moving from one confrontation to the next; they evolve in response to trauma, responsibility, and shifting power dynamics.

Yuji Itadori’s, as the main character, development takes center stage, marking a significant shift from impulsive newcomer to emotionally burdened but resolute sorcerer. Earlier in the series, Yuji’s personality often felt more reactive, driven by instinct, compassion, and a desperate need to save others, which is typical of most shounen protagonists. However, this season has tempered that energy into something more controlled. He is no longer fighting simply because he can but he fights because he understands the consequences of not doing so.

What makes his evolution compelling is that it is not defined by flashy new abilities or dramatic power-ups. Instead, it is psychological. He enters battles with more awareness of collateral damage, lives, and the effects of every decision. Seen when in the scuffle with Hikari, he understood what Hikari was getting at and even allowed himself to be thrown around just to prove himself, ultimately getting Hikari to join him on his side in the culling games.

And after the Shibuya Incident? I don’t blame him. The trauma he carries does not paralyse him however but it lingers beneath. To me, his actions feel sharper, more deliberate, and with purpose rather than just driven by instinct.

Now on to another character whose development I found interesting. In earlier arcs, Yuta is often seen as timid and lacking in confidence, though he did have a major shift to a more pseudo-apathetic personality and even agrees to fight and kill Yuji, while ironically in a bid to actually save Yuji’s life.

But Season 3 portrays him internalising responsibility, he doesn’t fight to prove himself anymore. He fights because he believes he must save the lives of his friends.

His growth is more subtle than others, but I feel has a bigger impact than people give him credit for. Yuta embodies the quiet emotional core of the season, a reminder that strength without humanity is hollow, but humanity without resolve is fragile.

Now on to the biggest or most jarring character development is that of Maki Zenin, her development in previous arcs positioned her as one of the most physically dominant fighters in the series due to lacking cursed energy, and Season 3 fully commits to that shift.

Maki was born a non-sorcerer but had superhuman physical abilities brought upon by her “heavenly restriction” in exchange for her almost zero cursed energy, which on top of being a woman in the Zenin Clan led her to becoming the target of abuse and ridicule with it.

Due to the nature of her heavenly resurrection, Maki was never able to reach her full potential because of what little cursed energy she was borned with. In the JJK-verse, twins are treated as the same person and her twin sister Mai was the one born with the innate cursed technique.

When the twins were attacked by their own father, they were both defeated and on the verge of death, Mai sacrificed her life and in doing so took all the cursed energy between them with her, fully freeing Maki from cursed energy and unlocking her full potential.

Maki took on a colder and more merciless deposition towards her clan from then on and when she was confronted by them, she massacred them – fueled by her vengeance for Mai. Once framed as an underdog within the Zenin clan’s oppressive and misogynistic hierarchy, this season however, Maki operates as a force equal to and often surpassing many sorcerers who rely heavily on cursed energy.

Beyond combat, her emotional composure distinguishes her from the others. Where Yuji visibly grapples with guilt and moral uncertainty, Maki projects control and detachment. Trauma has reforged her rather than destabilized her. Their differing responses to suffering underscore one of the season’s more subtle themes: there is no singular way to react to loss.

Whether it’s Yuji Itadori grappling with the emotional cost of his choices, Maki Zenin stepping fully into her hardened identity, or Yuta Okkotsu internalizing responsibility, the season prioritizes internal change as much as external conflict. That focus on psychological and emotional progression gives the story weight, making every fight feel like the result of who these characters have become and not just what they can do.

The action sequences in the season so far remain sharp, a credit to studio MAPPA’s continued animation quality. Large-scale battles are structured carefully, allowing viewers to follow along rather than just be blinded by pure explosions of colour and special effects. Overall, quality remains high. Impact frames, camera movement, and sound design continue to carry the intensity fans expect.

An Incomplete but Strong Season

Because Season 3 is still airing, I cannot measure its ending. However, the foundation is solid. Character arcs are progressing in meaningful ways and the conflicts feel high stakes and thrilling.

If the remaining episodes maintain this level of focus, Season 3 could stand alongside the best parts of the series. For now though, it remains a strong and still-evolving chapter in Jujutsu Kaisen.