This week we dive into why “found family” hits so hard in anime, how trauma is handled differently than in Western media, and why so many protagonists start as orphans or outcasts. We also explore how anime reflects Black identity even without Black characters, and whether anime worlds are really metaphors for our own struggles.

Plus — we review Chapter 2 of Jujutsu Kaisen: Modulo, break down the absence (and hopeful return) of Yuji Itadori, and much more.