Chainsaw Man: A Misunderstood Dynamic in Chapter 169

This week, the newest chapter of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular manga series Chainsaw Man was released, much to the excitement of fans. Although the chapter did not follow the expected plot, readers were thrilled to see the reappearance of Barem Bridge, setting the stage for the next major battle in the series.

Barem’s reappearance in this stage of the current Chainsaw Man arc not only serves as a transition, but also has a deeper purpose. Fans witnessed Barem reflecting on the concept of animalistic adaptation and attempting to convince himself that Devils are not meant to experience emotions such as sadness, similar to animals.

Despite its focus on Pochita and being based on the opening chapters of the series, the statement is factually incorrect and reveals a different side of Barem that fans have not yet seen. This raises doubts about his dedication to Makima and whether he truly understands her and her ambitions as the Control Devil.

Barem’s Main Motivation in Chainsaw Man: A Deeply Complex and Mysterious Drive

In the finale of Chainsaw Man’s initial arc, Pochita and Denji share a conversation on the evening that Control Devil Nayuta joins Denji at his home. During this exchange, Pochita verifies that the Control Devil’s desire, also known as Makima’s dream, was to create a family. However, her ability to only build connections through fear prevented her from achieving this goal. In essence, Makima’s pursuit of “creating a better world”was her way of trying to fulfill her own dream.

In the second part of the series, Barem Bridge, one of the Weapons Hybrids who fights alongside Makima in the first part, is formally introduced to fans. Shortly after his introduction, Barem expresses his devotion to Makima and his desire for her to create a “better world.”

However, in chapter 169 of Chainsaw Man, Barem’s remarks on Devils and sadness demonstrate his lack of understanding of Makima’s desires for this world. He fails to grasp that Makima yearned for a world where she could form equal and meaningful connections with others, as her isolation caused her immense pain and sadness.

Similarly, it calls into doubt the sincerity of his commitment to her. Although he undoubtedly holds deep devotion towards Makima, it is evident that this devotion is based on a misconception of her beliefs and desires. This also indicates that he lacked understanding of the Devil’s condition (i.e., the human condition) that influenced her actions and goals in life.

Despite his unwavering devotion to her, he was incapable of comprehending Makima’s true motivations as the Control Devil. As a result, he was not qualified to make any comments on her goals. This is particularly evident in his belief that Devils are incapable of feeling sadness, which is proven to be factually incorrect by the Control Devil’s dream and the opening chapters of the manga.

Barem is also depicted as a compelling contrast to Denji from Part 1. While Denji remained loyal to Makima despite being aware of his lack of knowledge about her true intentions until the end, Barem’s devotion to Makima stemmed from his own delusion of understanding her, when in reality, he still did not. This inversion highlights the fact that Barem never truly comprehended Makima or Devils in general.