Interpreting Maki's Scaling in Jujutsu Kaisen: Beyond Yuta's Endorsement

In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Maki Zenin, a member of the Yuugi Group, has grown significantly throughout the series, especially after her extensive training and experiences in the Shibuya arc. Her transformation from a weak, cursed energy-adversing student to a formidable battler speaks volumes about her potential. Yuta's recognition of her strength suggests that Maki does indeed have the potential to scale to formidable heights within the narrative. However, the extent of her scaling compared to other characters such as Yuji Itadori is still debatable among fans. This article delves into the nuances of Maki's power growth and provides an alternative perspective on her scaling.

The Role of Yuta's Endorsement

The fact that Yuta, a seasoned student who has experienced numerous battles, recognizes Maki's strength is significant. However, the true measure of Maki's abilities is best understood through her actions and outcomes in battles within the series. While Yuta's recognition is important, it is not the ultimate measure of her prowess. Fans often debate whether Maki's scaling is on par with other high-ranking students like Yuji. Factors such as her unique abilities, cursed energy manipulation, and the context of her battles all contribute to this discussion.

A Reinterpretation: Strength to CE Comparative Sense

One alternative interpretation of Maki's scaling stems from a comparison between her and Yuji Itadori based on their CE (Cursed Energy) amounts rather than their raw power levels. During the Shibuya arc, both Maki and Yuji faced the reality of their respective curse energies. Maki, by her own admission, lacked control over her CE and relied heavily on her physicality in conjunction with cursed tools, much like Yuji who possesses an insane amount of human physicality even without his curse energy.

The battle between Yuta, Maki, and Cho-su revealed that Yuji has a record-breaking amount of human physicality, which far surpasses Maki's natural abilities. This observation can lead to the conclusion that Maki's strength should be compared to Yuji's CE rather than her raw power. This interpretation contextualizes the comparison and provides a more coherent narrative.

The Historical Context and Plotholes

Earlier in the series, Maki was directly stated to be inferior to Yuji when compared to a vastly weaker version of Yuji (Shinmura Yuji, also known as SI Yuji). This comparison serves as a baseline for understanding Maki's limitations. If we consider the statement that "GW No CE Yuji Maki ~ EO SI Yuji," it implies that Maki's strength is comparable to that of an earlier version of Yuji without his curse energy. This comparison avoids many of the plotholes that might arise from a direct power comparison.

The Limitations of Scaling

Some fans argue that Maki could have gotten stronger if she had tried harder, but her sister's statement provides a plausible explanation for her plateaued strength. "No matter how hard you try to get stronger it'll all be useless because I don't want to get stronger. In conclusion you'll always stay half-assed as long as I'm around." This statement, given that identical twins in Jujutsu Kaisen share cursed energy and techniques, suggests that Maki's growth is directly tied to her sister's influence. As long as Mai prefers to maintain her current state, Maki will continue to struggle to reach her full potential.

This interpretation means that Maki's scaling is limited by her sister's presence. However, if Mai were to die, the identical twin rule would no longer apply, and Maki could potentially become as powerful as Toji (the strongest student in the series). This constructed ending leaves room for speculation and alternative storylines, adding depth to Maki's character development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the scaling of Maki in Jujutsu Kaisen can be reinterpreted as a contextual comparison rather than a direct power comparison. Factors such as her unique abilities, her sister's influence, and the nature of her curse energy all play significant roles in her growth within the series. While Yuta's recognition of her strength is important, it is merely one part of the larger narrative.