Reflections on the End of Chainsaw Man:
Today marks the official end of Chainsaw Man, and I have an overwhelming number of thoughts. Did I enjoy the ride? Absolutely. I initially rated the series a 9.8 out of 10, and despite the complexity of the final chapters, I am comfortable keeping it there.
The last chapters were particularly striking. Denji’s journey comes full circle with fire, chaos, and intimate moments with Asa and Yoru. Denji faces the Locust devil and is seemingly defeated and eaten. At this crucial moment, Pochita realizes that Denji has been regressing rather than improving and that this is not the kind of happiness Denji wanted to show. Pochita sacrifices himself by eating himself, essentially rewriting the entire world and freeing Denji from the expectations of being Chainsaw Man.
In the final chapter, Denji is back to the start but now he is saved by Power and joins Public Safety, which is now operated by Nayuta rather than Makima. He eventually encounters Asa, who was about to fall on Bucky, the Chicken Devil. In the original timeline, this fall would have killed Bucky and caused Asa to be ostracized by her classmates, which led her to form a contract with the War Devil Yoru. In this rewritten timeline, Denji grabs Asa before she falls, essentially rewriting her future and allowing her to live a normal life. By the end, Denji has all the basic necessities of life and true companionship with Power. He lives under his own terms, free from the expectations that once bound him. This is also a social commentary, reflecting Fujimoto’s ability to end the story on his own terms without needing to satisfy mainstream expectations of the Chainsaw Man fandom.
On a meta level, part 2 of the story seems almost autobiographical. Fujimoto explores the tension of his creation going mainstream, reflected in Denji’s struggles with identity and public perception. The series mirrors Fujimoto’s reflections on storytelling and absurdity. In one interview, he referenced The Big Lebowski, noting that while nothing in the film is fully resolved, the protagonist develops and the story progresses, leaving the viewer with a sublime, absurd aftertaste. Chainsaw Man achieves the same effect.
Yes, there are plot holes and unexplained threads. Yes, some arcs are abstract or even baffling. But much like a modern-day Episode 26 of Evangelion, it is not about complete resolution. It is about the themes, the journey, and the emotional resonance. I do not see the need for a Part 3. To continue would dilute the thematic core and it would no longer feel like Fujimoto’s story.
Themes and Character Observations
At its heart, Chainsaw Man is about control, how it manifests, corrupts, and shapes human behavior. Denji anchors the story, evolving from a survival-driven teenager to someone navigating complex societal and personal dynamics. The artwork continues to impress, blending grotesque violence with intimate moments in a cinematic way. Some social commentary, such as Denji’s reflections in the bathtub, is missing from the anime, which is a shame because it adds significant thematic depth.
Makima represents systemic control, dominating Denji and others while maintaining a chilling, manipulative presence. Her arc’s conclusion, being consumed by Denji, is both horrifying and narratively satisfying. Asa is a fascinating addition. Her contract with the War Devil Yoru represents humanity’s forgotten primal fears, emerging only after nuclear technology. The arc simultaneously critiques American war-mongering and political greed in Japan, blending societal critique with deeply personal storytelling.
Denji’s relationships with women consistently explore power, obedience, and desire rather than innocence or love. Characters like Reze, Power, Makima, and Asa challenge Denji, highlighting his vulnerability and the pervasive influence of patriarchal structures. Asa mirrors Denji in complexity. She can be arrogant, confident, strategic, and deeply human. Her apparent clumsiness, later revealed to be situational, forces the reader to question perceptions versus intentions.
Why Chainsaw Man Matters
To me, this is the shonen with the most thematic depth I have encountered. It does not shy away from societal issueswar, labor exploitation, patriarchy, and fear—while telling an intensely personal story of survival and identity. Its violence, absurdity, and unpredictability are deliberate and meaningful. The treatment of trauma, relationships, and power dynamics elevates it beyond simple action or comedy.
Denji’s growth, how he mirrors, clashes with, and ultimately grows alongside those around him, forms the emotional and thematic heart of the story. The manga succeeds in being both literal and metaphorical, visceral and reflective, absurd yet profoundly human.
Despite plot gaps and unresolved threads, finishing the final chapter leaves a sense of closure. It is not that everything makes sense, but it does not need to. The story works because it captures the essence of life: chaos, absurdity, fleeting moments of joy, connection, and personal agency.
In short, Chainsaw Man is not just a thrilling shonen series. It is a meditation on humanity, desire, control, and resilience. Highly recommended for anyone who wants shonen with teeth, literally and metaphorically. 
