Jujutsu Kaisen Season Episode 5 Review: Introduction to the Rebellious Fourth Years and the Story of Cursed Corps

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 5 Passion dropped on Crunchyroll, and fans were not ready for the emotional damage. Instead of opening with flashy battles or cursed technique flexing, the episode dives straight into grief, rebellion, and underground chaos. It marks the official introduction of the rebellious fourth years, sets up the cursed corpse lore bombshell, and quietly kicks off the recruitment arc for the Culling Game. Here’s what I picked up from the episode:

Where the Episode Starts and Why Yaga and Panda’s Bond Hurts So Much

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Episode 5 Passion opens with quiet devastation instead of flashy chaos. The episode begins after the Shibuya Incident, when the conservative higher-ups finally move to eliminate Masamichi Yaga. He is sentenced to death, not because he committed treason, but because he knows too much.

This opening hits harder when you remember the manga context. Yaga did not just create puppets. He created beings that could grow, feel, and generate cursed energy on their own. That knowledge terrified the jujutsu leadership because it meant one man could theoretically create an army. But the saddest part is not the politics. It is Panda.

Panda is not a mascot, comic relief, or cute cursed creature. He is Yaga’s child in every way that matters. The anime makes this painfully clear. Yaga built Panda using multiple compatible souls that observed each other until self-awareness emerged. Panda literally grew up under Yaga’s care, learning identity, and emotions in an artificial body. This makes their bond one of the purest father child relationships in the series. So when the episode frames Yaga’s execution in silence, it feels less like a plot event and more like a parental death scene in a family drama. So, yes, even pandas cry.

Yaga’s Death and the Truth About Panda

Yaga’s execution mirrors Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 147 almost beat for beat. Gakuganji kills Yaga under orders, but the emotional core lies in the confession that follows. Yaga reveals the secret behind autonomous cursed corpses. He explains that creating a self-sustaining cursed corpse requires three compatible souls to coexist and observe each other until independent cursed energy production occurs. This is forbidden knowledge that could destabilize the power structure. Yaga chooses to die after revealing it, calling the knowledge a curse he leaves behind.

Then Panda arrives. And this is where fans expected rage, revenge, and violence. But Panda does not attack Gakuganji. In the anime, Panda explicitly states that he does not hate Gakuganji. He understands that Gakuganji was a tool of the higher-ups. So, instead of lashing out, he grieves. This restraint shows how emotionally mature Panda is compared to human characters who constantly chase vengeance. The tragedy lies in the irony. A cursed corpse displays more humanity than the humans who ordered Yaga’s death.

The Underground Sorcerer Fight Club

After emotional devastation, the episode pivots to chaos. Yuji and Megumi head to the Gachinko Fight Club, an illegal sorcerer gambling arena run by suspended third-year Kinji Hakari. Their mission is simple but risky. Recruit Hakari for the Culling Game. In the anime, Hakari is described as a potential powerhouse who could rival top-level sorcerers in certain conditions. Even Yuta acknowledges Hakari’s unpredictable strength. That makes him essential for the upcoming death game.

The fight club itself is more than a gimmick. It shows how sorcerers exist outside institutional control. While the elders cling to tradition, Hakari monetizes chaos and passion. Yuji and Megumi disguise themselves and infiltrate the matches, staging a fake fight to get Hakari’s attention. The absurdity of this setup adds comedic tension while hinting at how dangerous Hakari actually is.

Hakari and Kirara: The Rebel Couple of Jujutsu Society

Kinji Hakari is the embodiment of rebellion. He got suspended from Jujutsu High for clashing with the higher-ups. But, instead of submitting, he built an underground empire of gambling and sorcerer combat. He literally profits off chaos, turning cursed fights into entertainment. We see that Hakari’s love for combat and risk defines him. He operates on emotional highs, calling it passion or fever, and judges everything by whether it excites him. This philosophy makes him a wild card in the Culling Game.

Then, Kirara Hoshi stands beside him as both partner and gatekeeper. Kirara uses a complex cursed technique that manipulates distance and attraction, making it impossible to reach Hakari without understanding the system. In the episode, Megumi and Panda struggle to approach Hakari because of Kirara’s invisible barriers. Kirara is also socially rebellious. In the manga, Kirara presents gender nonconforming traits and exists outside conservative jujutsu norms. Their partnership with Hakari symbolizes rejection of institutional identity. Together, they represent a subculture within Jujutsu society that thrives on risk, spectacle, and personal freedom. And that is exactly why they are perfect for the Culling Game.

Yuji’s Blatant Persuasion and His Terrible Acting

Yuji Itadori is many things. Oscar worthy actor is not one of them. To get Hakari’s attention, Yuji stages a dramatic fake fight with Panda. He overacts, shouts exaggerated lines, and tries to sell the performance as real hostility. Hakari sees through it instantly. The scene works as comic relief, but it also highlights Yuji’s sincerity. He is not manipulative like Kenjaku or strategic like Megumi. He lies badly because he hates lying.

The comedy here is deliberate. JJK often uses humor to break the tension before plunging into emotional trauma or brutal fights. And yes, Yuji’s acting deserves a Razzie.

A Third Person Anime Angle vs Manga Directness

The conversation between Yuji and Hakari is one of the most interesting adaptation choices in the episode. In the manga, their dialogue feels direct and confrontational. Hakari tests Yuji’s resolve and senses his deception about Gojo almost immediately. The tension comes from raw dialogue and subtle expressions.

In the anime, MAPPA adds cinematic framing. Static-filled monitors, confined spaces, and third-person angles create a voyeuristic feel.
It makes Hakari look like a king watching the world through screens. This stylistic choice emphasizes Hakari’s detachment from institutional morality. He is not fighting for ideology. He is fighting for excitement. When Yuji’s bluff collapses, Hakari switches from casual to hostile in seconds. This shift reinforces his volatility and why he is dangerous.

Why This Episode Matters for the Culling Game

Episode 5: Passion is not about big fights. It is about emotional groundwork and thematic setup.

• Yaga’s death exposes the cruelty of jujutsu politics.
• Panda’s grief proves that cursed corpses can be more human than humans.
• Hakari and Kirara introduce a rebellious ideology that rejects tradition.
• Yuji and Megumi’s recruitment mission foreshadows alliances that will shape the Culling Game.

The episode quietly assembles the chess pieces. Personally, I feel like the cold death of Yaga was very blatant and direct, and left no room for pain addressal. The episode was paced, and as I said, JJK doesn’t linger around the deaths and damages too long.

What were your thoughts on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 so far? Tell us in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!