Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game Episode Leaves Fans Divided

Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season has kicked off its Culling Game arc in a way that’s got everyone talking, but maybe not for the reasons the creators hoped. Instead of launching straight into the action, the 50th episode, ‘About the Culling Game’, spends nearly the entire runtime laying out the ins and outs of the tournament’s rules. There’s no shortage of diagrams, flowcharts, and detailed explanations, with Tengen gathering the sorcerers to break down every last detail of Kenjaku’s grand scheme to flood Japan—and possibly the world—with cursed energy.

What could have been a quick rundown soon turns into a marathon of information. The episode is packed with questions from Yuji and the rest, plus so much translated text that many punters found themselves pausing just to keep up. For a fair chunk of the fanbase, it was a bit much. The reaction? A near-record low 7.7 rating on IMDb, with some viewers feeling the episode could have been summed up in an email.

Fans React to the Overload

Social media lit up with takes on the episode’s approach. One viewer summed up the mood, writing,

‘Top 3 most boring yap session anime episode I have ever seen.’

Another took the mickey out of the show’s style, saying,

‘They put fancy animation around their lore dump episode and people think it’s revolutionary.’

And, in a nod to the episode’s visual aids, one fan joked,

‘In my entire academic life the most flowcharts I’ve ever seen is in today’s jjk ep.’

Despite the grumbling, there’s still plenty of goodwill for the shonen hit. The series has built up a loyal following, and even a slower episode hasn’t put everyone off. Some reckon the detailed breakdown was needed to set the stage for what’s coming next.

Not All Viewers Were Put Off

While some found the episode a slog, others were impressed by how the show managed to keep things interesting, even without a single fight scene. One fan commented,

‘That JJK episode proved to me how special this anime is. These characters could just stand around, explaining the rules of a game for 20+ mins, and still have me on the edge of my seat. This is how you deliver an episode with no action, but in a creative, interesting way.’

For those who’ve read the manga, the difference between this week’s info-heavy episode and what’s coming up is pretty stark. The next instalment promises a return to the action that’s made the series a favourite among anime fans.

What’s Next for the Series

Jujutsu Kaisen is set to continue next week, and if the manga is anything to go by, the pace is about to pick up. For now, though, the latest episode stands out as a rare moment where the show’s storytelling style has split the audience. Whether you loved the deep dive or found yourself reaching for the remote, there’s no denying the series knows how to get people talking.