With the conclusion of Gege Akutami’s “Jujutsu Kaisen“manga, fans are taking a moment to reflect on their favorite characters and the memorable moments that defined the series.
From Satoru Gojo’s impressive feat of holding off Sukuna in a 3-on-1 showdown to the King of Curses showcasing his dominance over the cast even while weakened, “Jujutsu Kaisen“offers countless unforgettable scenes that resonate with almost every character.
However, one character stands out, who, despite garnering considerable backlash from fans after an infamous moment in the Shibuya Incident arc, finally received her time to shine in the concluding chapters of the “Jujutsu Kaisen“manga. This character is none other than Mei Mei, whose pivotal moment was unfortunately overshadowed by her controversial actions during the Shibuya arc.
How Mei Mei’s Spotlight in “Jujutsu Kaisen“Chapter 269 Was Undermined by Her Controversial Scene in the Shibuya Arc
In “Jujutsu Kaisen“chapter 269, Akutami shocked readers with revelations about why sorcerers outside the New Shadow Style School could employ the Simple Domain, despite being limited by a Binding Vow.
Atsuya Kusakabe initiated this discussion by explaining that the originator of the Simple Domain had established a Binding Vow that rendered the technique off-limits to Curse Users. Over the years, the technique transformed into a closely guarded secret, primarily controlled by the head of the New Shadow Style School.
To master the technique, one must become a disciple of the New Shadow Style School, subjecting themselves to unnecessary Binding Vows. Consequently, access to this powerful technique remained nearly impossible for those outside the school. Furthermore, rumors suggested that the head of the school absorbed the lifespans of Simple Domain users, although this claim lacked substantial evidence.
Confirmation of this theory seemed impossible until Mei Mei uncovered the school’s head’s identity and validated the speculation. Subsequently, she killed the head of the school, who intended to turn her brother into “damaged goods”by absorbing his lifespan—arguably her most significant moment throughout the series.
This pivotal action also paved the way for Kusakabe to become the new head of the New Shadow Style School, effectively nullifying the Binding Vow that restricted the technique from being taught to outsiders.
Although Mei Mei’s assassination of the New Shadow Style School head can be seen as her singular noble act in “Jujutsu Kaisen“, it remains overshadowed by her contentious portrayal in the Shibuya Incident arc.
Fans on social media recognized this act as Mei Mei’s finest hour in the series; however, they remained reluctant to forgive her for the highly problematic depiction of her relationship with her underage brother, Ui Ui, in the Shibuya arc. In this moment, it was revealed that she was involved in an inappropriate relationship with him.
To make matters worse, this moment seemed unnecessary to illustrate Mei Mei’s moral corruption, as her abandonment of fellow sorcerers during the Shibuya Incident was already indicative of her character’s flaws.
Therefore, even though Mei Mei’s action of killing the New Shadow Style School head was crucial for the final confrontation against Sukuna and in preserving the lives of injured sorcerers, it wasn’t sufficient to redeem her character in the eyes of many fans.
On this note, numerous fans concurred that if it weren’t for that one controversial scene involving her brother in the Shibuya arc, Mei Mei’s actions in “Jujutsu Kaisen“chapter 269 would have restored many fans’ faith in her character.
Conclusion
Mei Mei is arguably one of the most disliked characters in “Jujutsu Kaisen“, potentially even more than Ryomen Sukuna. The intense criticism she faces from the fanbase is undoubtedly warranted and is unlikely to diminish, even in years to come.
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