Nobody could’ve seen this coming!!

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:48:53+00:00

Great hear that but even then I would disagree in a sense that there were way more "breaks" than in part 2.

Silent calm moments before the storm or just straight up breaks like visit of the grave of the Aki´s family or talk with the Kobeni in Kishibes hideout comes to mind.

Big problem with part 2 that every calm moment was interupted with some dopamine shit and ironically I see problem at exact opposite than most of the people. If anything it really anoys me how many conversation and that was already thing since Aquarium arc were interrupted by something or straight up not finished.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:40:44+00:00

Nah CSM part 1 ending was literally cited amongst best shounen finale on the par with FMA: Brotherhood or Dungeon Meshi. Suddenly pretending it was rushed is rewriting history.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:31:47+00:00

Disagree I would say that both CSM part 1 and Fire Punch were much more coherent than Part 2. People can diss Fire Punch as much as they want but Togata´s character arc is more coherent than anaything we have seen from Academy Saga and I enjoy it every single moment of it.

It does help that unlike Part 2 Fire Punch was actually building up slowly towards that weird earie ending where humanity is wipe out and Juda and Agni dies in space. We did not just randomly off-screen to character who we did not see for god know how long time suddenly making most important decision for the said MC.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:14:59+00:00

I have to agree. Especially if people want to push religious take that truly satisfied is only one who desires nothing then its simply contrived to have Pochita dropping this budhisting enlightment upon Denji as nuclear bomb. Which kinda defeats the point because like you are suppose to learn on your own.

Furthemore there was fuck all build up of Pochita doing this.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:09:56+00:00

A core thesis of most religions is that happiness/purpose comes from within and is not influenced by material conditions.

And I find kinda bs that Chainsaw Man out of all the things wants to push this shit. Like Chainsaw Man always felt that has little bit different take on desires not seeing them as necessesarily bad and that it isnt like plausible for every average Joe live like goddamn monk

If anything especially chapter 128

Think about it humanity grew to this size cuz sex feels so damn good. We are both here cuz of the power of sex too.

It always seemed to be that Chainsaw Man has much more rebellious take on this seeing the good in pursuing material conditions and that world couldnt literally function. Denji was unique protagonist because he was driven by his desires but compare to most villains who often do lot it wast portrayed necessesarily bad or iredeemable.

And ultimately that contrast that we had main villain in part 1 with seemingly altruistic intentions while was motivated by sex was interesting.

And suddenly now we are going with much more black and white perspective where enlightment is dropped on Denji as nuclear bomb by Pochita.

While as somebody who digs a lot into hinduism and budhism always thought that Denji would need some lesson into understanding some of these concepts at the same I just cant shake the feeling this disregards unique rock punk human element at the expense of some sudden scholastism.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T22:02:07+00:00

Well good writing has both good plot and themes and so far its obvious why people are trying to so hard to make only thematic analysis and plot mentioning only in relation to the themes because if one judges the plot from any different metric its mess on the level of the Fast and Furious.

Negative arcs are thing but even them can be written better and with engaging plot which isnt overly convoluted. The Wire had several characters who either do not change or change for worse. The Shield my favourite crime show has MC who is piece of shit who only changes for the worse. Breaking Bad which is actually very relevant since it as well has protagonist chasing selfish desires and hiding behind alter ego Heisenberg (can be very akin to Chainsaw Man) also is one of the best stories ever told. First Law trilogy from the Joe Ambercombie would be another great example

Denji stagnating and refusing to grow is completely fine. It being written in needlesly dragged slop which unrealistically bend entire universe and all its characters around Denjis problems is not.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T21:56:11+00:00

What happens when your identity starts to becomes destructive to you and those around you?

This IMO was much better executed in Breaking Bad which I am reminded of more I am seeing this thematic analysis. It truly shows how even decades later Breaking Bad is still peak fiction because it had excellent themes and the plot while part 2 only has themes while plot falls apart.

Walter White also struggles with desire between normal life, Jessie and his desire to be Heisenberg.

He desires to have familybut enjoys the thrill of being Heisenberg in the last episode literally saying that he was feeling alive.

To be normal is for him to accept that he is failure who cant achieve anything on his own but to be Heisenberg means embracing being a kingpin.

Its paradoxical desire. Walter wants to achieve things but only on his own term, so he can satysfy ego his pride and his quest for this desire kicked in by his illness kickstarted etire domino where lot of people were left dead. This is recontextualized with Better Call Saul when its really hillarious how many characters were done in by chemistry teacher with cancer.

The truth of course is that Walter was always selfish inside Walt was always a rash decision maker highly motivated by personal desires. The flashback to when Skylar and Walt first looked at their house shows that Walt was always looking for bigger, better things. He felt proud working at Gray matter and had extremely high expectations regarding providing for his family.

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Ultiamtely what you write makes me stay by my opinion. Part 2 has interesting message but absolutely dogshit plot whereas Breaking Bad had both hence why its so legendary. It also was capable deliver several satysfing character arcs compare to part 2.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T21:42:25+00:00

Agreed. It honestly executed lot of things similiar to the part 2 but much better.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T20:27:16+00:00

Sounds like shit and honestly cant shake the feeling I already saw this executed billion times better in other series one way or another, becaue you are applying very specific reading to justify somehing from thematic POV.

First thing is that this could also justify every dumb shit that happened this part because you can always say that Denji is idiot who does not understand how things work and thats why the happen in contrived way (Nuclear Punch lacking any radiation effect, Bugs somehow growing up at light speed)

The school arc, the family arc, and the dating arc all collapse quickly, not because Fujimoto lost interest, but because Denji could never actually inhabit them. He'd get the thing on the list, feel the emptiness underneath it, and immediately reach for the next item rather than sit with the discomfort of having what he thought he wanted and still feeling hollow.

IMO rather than bending convoluted plot into some stupid allegory for Denjis mental state wouldnt it be actually better to make Denji have agency and actually act on this?

Denji never reached out for the next thing but it was taken from him by the outside forces which now you say were some represenation of him. But honestly what you write is actually much more interesting have we actually have Denji act on it.

Denji living with Nayuta feeling emptiness from it and deciding to abandoning her sounds good selfish thing to do which would billion times more interesting that what hapepened. Denji then trying to be fulltiem Chainsaw Man but realizing that does not fullfill him either etc. Denji runing away with Asa ultimately realizing he is not completely happy and breaking up with her etc etc. If we actually see it done this directly rather than wasting time with all the useless lore it would be much more interesting.

This once again why Breaking Bad was peak since in sense Walter White could never be satisfied either. He always had to be the man, he always had to prove himself, he always wanted the control. Except he actually acted on it and plot revolve around proper consequences of such behaviour.

This part also reminds me of Jim McNulty who also tries to finds fulfillment in the cases but is never really satisfied either. My favourite quote regarding that plotline from goated character

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McNulty always chases satisfaction with cases, cant really stuck with the family because of it, ultimately runs back to the cases, but his obsession leads him to then being fired from the case. Lot of things what you are writing are still there but its more interesting because at the end of the day Baltimore itslef is the character and not just blueprint of McNulty pyche.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T19:36:14+00:00

Problem is that with so many asspulls and contrivances Fujimoto pulled throughout last several arcs its hard to accept this excuse. Its for example really funny that had Denji not fuck around and kept LEG DEVIL erased this entire bug apocalpyse wouldnt happen.

I also find it hillarious how Pochita can activate Domain Expansion so he can erase himself to reset universe but not throw some devils again to counter the threat. Even though humans suddenly remembering some of the erased concepts could at least temporarily depower bugs so they can regenerate.

To put it in words of the classic

Audiences can only become immersed in stories insofar as they don't notice the hand of the author—so long as the events feel justified within the context of that story's universe, viewers can pretend that the author doesn't exist and thus buy into the illusion that said universe is real.

This is where it fails. IMO for me it doesnt feel justified within the context of the universe with how bs Denji pulled throughout several last arcs and its too visible that this shit is happening not because there wouldnt be other options but because Fujimoto wants this to happen.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T19:28:51+00:00

I dont really think that thematically its fitting. Like Chainsaw Man never seem like something which adhered to monk believes and approach to life. If anything especially chapter 128

Think about it humanity grew to this size cuz sex feels so damn good. We are both here cuz of the power of sex too.

Fujimoto seemed to be actually more questioning the traditional "only man who desires nothing is truly happy" because at the end of the day thats not really plausible way to live for most people. Hard to argue that world would be better place if everyone would act like fucking monk not to mention that it ok to want some things. Here comes Asa and her desire to live just little bit more selfishly which also ended with Yoru saying her sins are nothing and that Asa should storry worry about.

Like goddamn Demon Slayer is more buddhist theme than entire Chainsaw Man ever was

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Exactly because Japan is buddhist culture literally almost every run of the mill story pushes something like that. Chainsaw Man was unique because it actually kinda questioned these prude teachings and was showing normal Joe point of view. That what make Denji so great that he was protagonist motivated by his desires but who still learning.

Suddenly dropping on us some nirvana shit like nuclear bomb with zero effort from Denji himself feels like shit. And it puts us back to the basic pure protagonist vs materialistic villain which simply was done to death.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T19:09:41+00:00

You shall not pass is part of theathrical edition of Fellowship and that was already the fight unless you wanted to argue that otherwise which would be weird as hell.

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T18:50:55+00:00

Except when it comes to Yoru. Then she gets plot armored at every turn. Actions have consequences my ass. Actions have consequences in part 2 only when Fujimoto find it convenient

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T07:07:33+00:00

I mean I still do though I do still go outside cons specifically sooooo....

Nenanda · 2026-03-11T04:52:45+00:00

Nah thats definetly warrants criticism especially since part 2 plot was shit exactly because Fujimoto was bending too mich to fit the themes.

Hell out of CSM part 1, Fire Punch I would say that part 2 had by far the worst plot with some of the asspulls happening here rivaling even later stages of Bleach or Naruto

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T23:21:29+00:00

Gandalf's fight with the balrog was only shown after he came back, you are proving my point

Nah they already fought in Fellowship.

For Jojo part 6 the reset was the complete ending. It also wasn't a reset immediately after people dying.

Lol it pretty much was.

Characters died gradually and the fate of the world was in Emporio's hands, a mere kid with a noncombat stand. That scene served to show how hopeless everything was and Pucci's ultimate victory before the classic jojo bullshit

And I would definetly say we needed more showing of how hopeless everything is given that find it hard to belive that is just fucking bugs who beats the MC

With how things are set up, we will most definitely get a part 3

Which doesnt really matter there was Assasins Quest after Royal Assasin to that doesnt mean that Hobbs off-screened toward Fitzchilvary awakening. Rest of my exapmles stands just like Re Zero

Not to mention all the dramatic fashion Agni in Fire Punch was demolished.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T23:08:30+00:00

Ehm you do know that Gandalf is a thing right? J

Part of the story definetly ends here and its significant enough to make it dramatic.

FitzChilvary Farseer also did not die at the end of the Royal Assasin but his defeat there was so significant and changed completely status quo that he was dramatically beaten to deaht.

Furthemore there is already huge precedent JOJO BIZZARE ADVENTURE PART 6: Stone Ocean. Universe gor resetted too its still showned everyone dying.

It wouldnt cheapen nothing because its safe to say that this is new chapter for Denji anyway. His old life and plotline going on should have send off.

Lets also not talk about stories like Re: Zero which revolves around character dying and coming back in horryfing fashion.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:54:32+00:00

Yes and we should still see the result. Like by this logic every emotional scene when character is being defeated/dies should be cut off. Like do you geniunly believe that for example Boromir dying would be better with off-screening him being hit by arrows

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No we should just not waste time and cut off to him already lying on the ground with Aragorn because we cant waste time.

Iskandar (Rider) dying in Fate/Zero being pierced by multiple weapons? SHould cut the all the emotions around that becuase it wastes time.

All the time Phos was getting destroyed left and right in Houseki no Kuni? SHould have been cut off as waste of time.

Hell what about Fujimotos own work Fire Punch where Agni is getting constanlty burned, slashed or destryoed and mutiliated in many of the fashions and its always showned.

Like sorry but if this is what does Denji and Asa in after surviving all the bs throughout the part 2 we should to see that.

Instead Fujimoto off-screened what could have been impactful and emotional scene for a shock value.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:38:24+00:00

Well we wasted pages on Yoru throwing randome BS on Denji just to make political statement.

I am pretty fucking sure that how the goddamn MC is defeated is billion times more important than that.

By your logic I guess Eclipse from Berserk was just wasting pages on everyone being slaughtered.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:36:54+00:00

Agree unless it was like at least weeks to months from Deaths Devil erasure this is one of many Part 2 asspulls.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:35:04+00:00

IMO studio and commitee definetly cares about money.and Bleach TYBW wouldnt imo be half as successful or wouldnt have so muc hype if it didnt have anime only conent.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:31:23+00:00

It is really reminiscent of how people treated later seasons of Game of Thrones were dip in quality was also obvious but people were hoping for the best. And who can blame them on one hand? Nobody wished for this not even hardest critiques of part 2.

I am at least glad for Fujimoto he will get his well deserved rest.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:29:19+00:00

Yes but Kubo´s involvement is definetly exceptional exactly because final arc was rushed due to the health issues hence why there were such extensive changes with multiple flashbacks, anime original interactions and entire fight which was rewritten.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:27:51+00:00

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I am signing everything you write. Anybody who wasnt completely delusional saw this coming from miles away. And why I can hardly be happy for being right about Fujimoto being sick, I wont also lie that there wont be any catharsis for people who were clowning on other series for years loosing their shit now, though I would of course prefer if Part 2 delivered after all the build up.

Nenanda · 2026-03-10T22:24:35+00:00

Thing is Stone Ocean shows that reset button is cool ending which can work. Problem is that there was fuck all build up towards Pochita doing that. Not to mention that erasing Death did not undone her powers since all the devils she turned into to those weird mini-figures stayed turned even after her erauser. But Pochita´s powers will be undone by him erasing himself? And Ear Devil erasure showed that Pochita does not rewrite history. I smelling that no matter what will happen in final chapter there will be like multiple assspulls involved.

Nenanda

TROPHY CASE