Despite a nearly four-year wait, Jujutsu Kaisen fans remained eager for the return of Nobara Kugisaki. The character had been sidelined from the story after sustaining a serious injury during the Shibuya Incident arc, leaving her fate uncertain.
Despite the announcement that the manga would end on September 30, 2024, many fans had lost hope of Nobara’s return. However, to the surprise and mixed reactions of the audience, mangaka Gege Akutami managed to subvert expectations once again by bringing back Nobara in chapter 267 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Upon sharing their thoughts on her return, fans had one main concern—that it seemed to serve as a mere “plot device”for Sukuna’s demise, a stance that can be understood to a degree upon further consideration.
Why Nobara’s Return to Jujutsu Kaisen Feels Like a Convenient Plot Device to Defeat Sukuna
Despite the mixed reactions from fans, Nobara Kugisaki’s comeback in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 267 caused a division within the fandom once more. While some were delighted to see her return, others criticized the timing of her comeback, deeming it too convenient for the plot.
The fans criticized the decision made by the mangaka, Gege, to bring back Nobara during the final stages of the fight and use her as a “plot device”to defeat Ryomen Sukuna at the last minute. They believed it was not a favorable choice.
Upon careful observation, it was noted that her return lacked any significant build-up and her sudden awakening, just thirty minutes before the climax of the battle, seemed too convenient for the storyline. Her implementation of the Resonance technique ultimately aided in weakening Sukuna’s grip on Megumi’s body, resulting in their eventual separation.
Despite the excitement surrounding Nobara’s highly anticipated return, many fans were dissatisfied with Gege Akutami’s execution, arguing that her revival was solely for the purpose of dealing a final blow to Sukuna while he was already weakened. Furthermore, they believed it was done to simply appease fans of her character before the manga’s inevitable ending.
Reflecting on the past, Akutami’s decision to drop subtle clues about Nobara’s fate, such as her appearance in Yuji’s vision of deceased loved ones, suggests that the author intended her comeback to be a major plot twist in the series. This was particularly surprising as her return was unexpected at this point in the story. Nevertheless, some fans felt that the timing of her return was a bit rushed.
Despite differing opinions, Nobara’s return has sparked ongoing discussions on social media. Some view it as a ploy to generate hype, while others draw parallels to Katsuki Bakugo’s resurrection in Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia manga. This topic remains a prevalent point of debate among fans, who either criticize the decision or compare it to similar occurrences in other animanga characters.
The fans’ disapproval of Nobara’s return is based on the fact that the character was killed off early in the story and then neglected for the remainder of the series. This was followed by a sudden reappearance just four chapters before the manga’s conclusion.
Exploring Nobara’s Popularity with Fans
Nobara Kugisaki’s popularity is largely attributed to her distinct personality, strong relationships with other characters, and her significant role as an equal member of the team with Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro.
Despite not possessing the same level of power as her male counterparts, she never became a hindrance to them. Instead, she found her own ways to shine during battles against stronger foes.
Undoubtedly, Gege Akutami’s greatest accomplishment lies in the ability to deeply connect fans to the majority of Jujutsu Kaisen’s characters, despite their limited screen time. This is evident in the immense popularity of individuals such as Satoru Gojo, Kento Nanami, and Nobara Kugisaki, with Nobara even being hailed as one of the top female protagonists in the shonen anime genre.
Despite the initial complaints from a significant portion of the fanbase upon her return as a plot device to defeat Sukuna, they ultimately found joy in seeing her alive and reuniting with her friends.
Notably, fans were overjoyed to see her comedic exchanges with Yuji and Megumi in the leaked images of Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 268. The beloved trio are captured engaging in silly antics and sharing a genuine laugh, harkening back to their earlier days in the series.
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