Episode 19 – ‘Black Flash (Kokusen)’
Jujutsu Kaisen Episode 19, Black Flash, opens with Megumi, Toge, and Noritoshi fleeing from Hanami. Toge uses his cursed speech to stop Hanami in its tracks. Noritoshi then uses his Blood Manipulation: Convergence – Piercing Blood. It does mild damage, but Hanami heals. The most vulnerable place on Hanami’s body seems to be its branches that grow from its eye sockets. Noritoshi intents to repeat the game plan over and over. Toge stops Hanami, Megumi and Noritoshi attack. They hope to reach the outside of the curtain. Their plan fails. Toge stalls as his throat bleeds. The difference in strength between Hanami and Toge causes strain on his throat. Megumi prepares to use his secret attack. However, Toge stops him. He uses the last of his strength to say, “blast away,” sending Hanami flying into the roof.
Jujutsu Kaisen has tried hiding Megumi’s secret technique several times in the series. Obviously they saving it for the best moment, but the constant interrupting is feeling silly. It’s fine to avoid using all the techniques too early in the series, but telling the audience that Megumi has the powerful ability but won’t use it is odd. Especially considering that they needed help against Hanami. Maki appears. She attacks Hanami with Kasumi’s katana, but it snaps against the curses skin. Megumi pulls out a three-section staff, special grade cursed tool: Playful Cloud, for Maki. She doesn’t do any damage but sends Hanami flying through the forest. Meanwhile, Megumi attacks with Divine Dog Totality, cutting into the arm of Hanami. It doesn’t matter though. Hanami regenerates.
The Black Flash
Megumi and Maki tag team Hanami, using cursed tools against the cursed spirit. Unfortunately, Megumi is attacked with a cursed bud sprout. It feeds off of cursed energy. Despite this, Megumi prepares to use cursed techniques anyway, even if he dies. Maki stops him. Aoi Todo and Yuji crash down. Todo continues his role as mentor towards Yuji. He says that he won’t “help until Yuji unleashes the Black Flash.” Yuji fails at first but Todo tells him “not to rely too heavily on anger.” Jujutsu Kaisen’s power system is complicated. It’s based on negative human emotion, but too much negativity apparently can backfire. The Black Flash is an example of its difficulty. The Black Flash is a “distortion in space” that occurs when a sorcerer applies “their cursed energy within one millionth of a second.”
It can’t be done deliberately, even Gojo can’t do it when he wants. Aoi praises Yuji for his “growth.” The friendship between Todo and Yuji at first was shallow. It’s becoming a deeper relationship. With Aoi now fights with Yuji against Hanami. Sensing that the fight will become more difficult, Hanami reveals its left arm. It’s black with a red rose at the shoulder. Hanami unleashes giant roots, forcing Yuji and Aoi to dodge. The scene is the highlight of the episode. Before the two sorcerers can get the advantage, Hanami releases the roots. Todo and Yuji fall. Hanami attacks, but Aoi and Yuji dodge midair by pushing off each other. The act symbolises the closeness that Yuji and Aoi’s relationship has reached. As Hanami admits that it’s “enjoying the fight” Todo prepares to use his cursed technique.
I love the Black Flash’s after effect- and the fact that it can’t be used on command. It’s an interesting way to nerf a technique that everyone can use.
This episodes looks REALLY GOOD- like; it’s like the animators were trying to top the ever popular “Demon Slayer Ep 19.” Like they were saying “Ep 19 is going to be very focused on because of ‘Demon Slayer.’ So we have to make this specific episode look the best we can.”