Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Faces Fan Backlash Even After Delivering Its Best Episode Yet

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The newest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 beautifully adapted a fan-favorite part of the Culling Game Arc. However, some viewers have noticed a small detail missing from the anime that was important in the original manga. Episode 4, titled “Perfect Preparation,” showed Maki’s trip to the Zenin clan to gather cursed tools before the Culling Game. Unfortunately, the visit quickly went wrong when her father and the rest of the clan decided to kill both Maki and her sister Mai, and falsely accused them – along with Megumi – of being involved in the Shibuya Incident as allies of Satoru Gojo.

When Maki reaches Mai, Mai is already mortally wounded by their father, Ogi, who then attacks Maki as well, leaving both sisters for dead. While dying, Mai transfers her remaining cursed energy to Maki, altering her abilities in a way that mirrors Toji’s limitations. This is the part of the story fans are upset about. The manga made a clear connection between Maki and Toji with specific visual panels, but the anime adaptation handled the scene differently, and fans feel it didn’t emphasize the importance of this parallel effectively.

Jujutsu Kaisen Fans Complain the Anime Ruined Maki and Toji’s Parallel

One issue I have with the Jujutsu Kaisen anime is that it doesn’t always feel as powerful as the manga. The manga has a really intense and emotional feel, and some of that gets lost when it’s adapted into animation – they just don’t quite feel the same.

— K1K1 (@k1k3art) January 22, 2026

Maki is unique among sorcerers because she doesn’t use cursed energy; instead, she relies on incredible physical strength. This is due to a special condition called a Heavenly Restriction, which greatly enhanced her body. However, being a twin, Mai’s presence held Maki back from reaching her full potential, as twins are considered unlucky in the jujutsu world. Toji, on the other hand, had a complete Heavenly Restriction, demonstrating the peak level of power Maki could have achieved with ideal circumstances – something the recent episode highlights.

Toji Fushiguro was a terrifying figure within the Zenin clan, and his reputation lingered even after his death. After Mai’s sacrifice, Maki gains a new body and, symbolically, takes on that same intimidating presence. The manga clearly shows this connection through Ogi’s visible fear, using multiple panels to draw a direct comparison. The anime handles this differently, briefly superimposing Toji’s image over Maki’s – a subtle moment many viewers missed. Fans have pointed out that this understated approach doesn’t have the same impact as the manga, and that needing to pause to catch the reference diminishes the intended effect of Maki inheriting Toji’s fearsome aura.

However, some viewers believe Maki is designed to be her own unique character, not simply a copy of Toji. They point to how the anime highlights her individuality through careful presentation. Regardless of this debate, the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen has been a huge hit with fans, beautifully showcasing Maki’s growth. This is reflected in its outstanding IMDb rating of 9.8.

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2026-01-23 18:13