Chainsaw Man’s narrative stands out as one of the most distinctive in the shonen genre, largely due to its protagonist’s unconventional journey. Denji’s uncertain path has thrown him into countless unexpected twists, most of which end with him getting screwed over. Given the sheer number of hardships he’s faced, fans might expect him to have learned from his brutal experiences. However, he continues to make the same mistakes, especially when it comes to one driving obsession: his relentless pursuit of intimacy.
InChainsaw ManPart 1, Denji’s ultimate goal in life seemed to be nothing more than gaining popularity and getting intimate with as many girls as possible. This made Makima, the one person he desperately sought to impress, the perfect manipulator. Exploiting his desires, she controlled him in every way she wanted. Having already suffered from this,fans expected some growth from Denji in Part 2. However, with Yoru now recognizing and exploiting the same weakness, his story seems to be unfolding in a painfully familiar way.
Denji Should Have Learned From His Experience In Part 1 of Chainsaw Man
Makima Screwed Denji To An Extreme Level
Makima was one of the most brilliantly crafted characters in the series, largely because of how effortlesslyshe identified Denji’s desperation and used it to her advantage. Denji’s tragic childhood and daily struggle to survive made him one of the most heartbreaking protagonists in the Shonen genre. This harsh upbringing left him craving nothing more than affection, particularly from women, as he developed the misguided belief that love was synonymous with sex. When Denji acquired his devil powers, Makima saw the perfect opportunity, exploiting his loneliness to gain complete control over him.
It was clear inChainsaw ManPart 1 that Makima had no genuine affection for Denji. Any kindness she showed was merely a tool to manipulate him. By subtly implying that she might reciprocate his desires and offer him the intimacy he desperately sought, she controlled his every move. Her hold over him only strengthened as she methodically stripped away everything that brought him happiness.
Chainsaw Man Is Busy, But Face It: The Series Is Missing an Important Devil
Chainsaw Man chapter #193 highlights what Denji has been missing his whole life, and the series may introduce a specific devil to fill that void.
Makima’s manipulation reached its peak when she killed Power, Denji’s closest friend, believing that by taking away his happiness, she could make herself his only emotional anchor. In a sense, she was also responsible for Aki’s death, further pushing Denji toward the complete subjugation she needed for her ultimate goal, full control overChainsaw Man. However, her plan didn’t unfold exactly as intended. Despite everything, these events should have taught Denji that women like Makima were dangerous to him. Yet,Chainsaw ManPart 2is mirroring the same dynamic, withYoru now stepping into the same manipulative role.
Chainsaw Man Part 2 Is Repeating History With Denji and Yoru/Asa’s Dynamic
Denji’s Dynamic With Women Continues To Be His Biggest Weakness
After everything that transpired inChainsaw ManPart 1, Denji was expected to undergo real emotional growth, becoming a more developed and self-aware character. However, since the beginning of Part 2, his goals have remained unchanged; seeking popularity and pursuing intimacy with as many girls as possible. His journey through school eventually led him to Asa, a girl who harbors the War Devil, Yoru, inside her. Early in Part 2, Asa’s character was framed as someone deeply connected to Denji through their shared loneliness.
This setup within the narrative initially seemed like a perfect match, hinting that Asa could be the key to Denji’s character development. However, with Yoru in the mix, especially after discovering Denji’s identity asChainsaw Man,this dynamic begins to mirror Makima’s previous manipulation. Much like Makima, Yoru is relentlessly pursuingChainsaw Man, and after realizing Denji is him, she immediately begins using the same tactics Makima once did: seduction.
I Just Realized Chainsaw Man Has Been Lying to Us About Its Final Villain
Chainsaw Man has been hinting towards its final villain throughout the entirety of Part 2, but it’s been pointing us in the wrong direction all along.
This has led to several significant moments,most notably the infamous “alleyway incident,“as dubbed by fans.Chainsaw ManChapter #193 makes it clear that Yoru is actively manipulating Denji for her own purposes, as she openly states her intentions. In this chapter, Yoru explicitly tells Denji that she will have sex with him if he kills the Death Devil for her.
This direct admission confirms that her feelings and behavior toward him were never genuine, they were merely a means to exploit his weaknesses for her own gain. While this suggests thatDenji is once again walking the same path he did with Makima, repeating history,there is one key factor that could alter the outcome and that lies in Asa.
Asa Could Be the Key for Denji To Break His Cycle That He Has Developed With Women
Asa’s Feelings Towards Denji Will Be a Game Changer
Yoru has repeatedly stated that her feelings for Denji exist only because Asa, the human vessel she inhabits, has feelings for him. This suggests that while Yoru’s attachment to Denji is purely driven by her own personal agenda, Asa’s feelings are genuine, likely stemming from the deep loneliness they both share. InChainsaw ManChapter #193, Yoru even confesses Asa’s feelings for Denji, and with Denji now aware of this, he has become obsessed with Yoru/Asa, drawn to the possibility of real affection.
However, unlike Makima, who had complete control over Denji as a singular manipulative force,this situation is different due to Asa’s presence. With Asa having sincere feelings for Denji and constantly clashing with Yoru over her manipulative tactics, she could ultimately side with Denji, choosing her emotions over Yoru’s schemes. This would effectively push theWar Devil out of play.Chainsaw ManChapter #194 has already begun hinting at this possibility, as the chapter’s ending finally sees Asa taking control again after a long time.
She will likely use this opportunity to reveal everything to Denji, including her feelings, and expose Yoru’s manipulations. This moment could be crucial for Denji, helping him recognize the situation and resist being controlled once again by a woman seeking to exploit his powers. If this unfolds as expected, the series could break free from its cyclical narrative, allowingDenji to forge a genuine connection with Asa, the kind of bond he has always longed for. This would not only prevent history from repeating itself inChainsaw Manbut also grant Denji the meaningful character development that fans have been eager to see.
