[Spoiler Review] Anime 'Jujutsu Kaisen' Season 3 Episode 49 (Episode 2) "Once More"

Aired January 18, 2026. With the excitement of Yuta Okkotsu's appearance as the ultimate assassin still lingering, this episode introduces the messy internal affairs of the Zenin clan, one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families, along with a flamboyant new face!

Overall Impression: Naoya's "Beautiful Scumbag" Energy and Choso's Full-On "Big Brother" Mode

Episode 49, "Once More." The highlight is undoubtedly Naoya Zenin's debut. His "terrible personality" was already expected, but with voice acting and animation bringing it to life, it was amplified even further. Social media erupted with reactions like "He's handsome but the worst!"

Meanwhile, the interactions between Yuji and Choso carried a strange warmth, perhaps the only one left in this desolate Tokyo. What stood out was the change in Yuji's fighting style. After the Shibuya Incident, his hesitation has vanished as he tries to become nothing more than a "curse-exorcising machine." This dangerous shift was beautifully expressed through the cold color palette of the animation.

The power struggle among the Big Three families and the hunt for Yuji. Multiple agendas intertwine, raising the story's resolution to a new level.

Episode 49

The story begins with the reading of Naobito Zenin's posthumous will. The revealed conditions for transferring headship to Megumi Fushiguro deeply wound Naoya's pride, brilliantly setting up his motivation to eliminate both Yuji and Megumi.

• The sharp, dynamic animation of Naoya's debut attack, reminiscent of his Projection Sorcery
• The peculiar trust forming between Yuji and Choso as they continue their "curse hunting"
• Choso's resolve to "fulfill his duty as a big brother" and Yuji's response

The standout is the Yuji-Choso team battle. The seamless action connecting Choso's Piercing Blood with Yuji's hand-to-hand combat is classic MAPPA quality. However, Naoya's "speed" as he appears before them carries a qualitatively different kind of threat from previous enemies.

And we must not forget Yuta Okkotsu's looming presence. With Naoya as a new threat and Yuta closing in from behind, can Yuji escape the simultaneous pursuit of a "Special Grade" and a "Special Grade 1" sorcerer, no matter how strong he's become? The episode cuts away right at peak tension, and I nearly screamed.

Next Episode Preview

Episode 50 is "About the Culling Game." At last, the full rules of Kenjaku's unprecedented jujutsu terror attack are revealed. Can Yuji and his allies stop this "forced-participation death game"? It feels like the main course of the story is about to be served!