A little love letter to JJBA: Stardust Crusaders... ♡♡♡

This is the part that made me fall head over heels for this wonderful series, which has been constantly on my mind, every single day.

After my abrupt introduction to the saga way back in 2020 — when I was a much more intolerant and closed-minded person — I had to stop halfway through Part 2 because of a sense of boredom that led me to label JJBA as shitty for 5 LONG YEARS (even though I really liked Phantom Blood???), I was compelled to give it a second chance starting with Part 3, the part where Jojo finally took shape into what it is today. I thank the heavens for giving it a try. It’s truly incredible.

It only took a few episodes watched at just the right time to make me completely lose my mind; even though I’m known to love shounen but loathe fighting scenes… here I was greeted by an INCREDIBLE and FASCINATING combat system??? that I just couldn’t STOP wanting to watch??? The concept of Stands is, in and of itself, very unique. The reflection of a character’s soul and psyche is transformed into a sort of “guardian” that acts and moves according to its host, and each one is granted a different power that can be used in various ways. Besides making for some AWESOME and super cool characterizations, this gives rise to one of the things I love most about the series: the fact that EVERY Stand can be a massive problem if used correctly. Unlike many shounen series, JJBA doesn’t follow the classic pattern of strong villain > STRONGER villain > EVEN STRONGER villain, etc., but rather, every battle is equally difficult, and you always have to win through LOGIC (!!!!!!) and never just brute force, even though many Stands are focused on fighting. I absolutely loved this aspect, and it had me on the edge of my seat for most of the episodes. It’s such a simple formula, sprinkled with the over-the-top elements surrounding it, and it works so WELL.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way... The Crusaders. I’d better not go on and on about the characters and their arcs, because I’d never stop talking. I love the “found family” trope, and I can assure you that I’ll rarely come across a group with such a strong sense of connection. I’ve grown way too attached to them, and they’re the reason why, right now, Stardust Crusaders is still my favorite part. I think about them every day, and I’m still ready to burst into desperate tears the moment I come across their iconic Polaroid or some angst-filled fan art (curse those things). They were so well-matched, and the love between them... it was all so beautiful to witness, starting with how they automatically stayed united even after doing their own thing (as in Polnareff’s case).

Speaking of them, the thing I appreciate most of all about the JJBA universe is the lyricism of death. I usually avoid watching things where people die; it’s not something I like to see as a sensitive person, and to me, killing off a character often feels like dumping them in the trash.

This isn’t the case with JJBA. Every death is well-timed and well-written; it hits you like a thunderbolt from a clear blue sky, even though you’re constantly expecting them to happen. Every character exits the stage with honour, leaving a lasting mark. They are portrayed as they fly into the sky in peace, embraced by the clouds, as if to reassure the remaining members and the viewers themselves that everything is alright and that they are ready to be welcomed into paradise. They are remembered, thanked, and mourned with so much love and pain... I can’t take it—I’ve cried so hard, but I love it too much. It makes me so happy to see these things.

For now, I can only thank this saga for everything that it’s making me feel... A big toast to the old me from 5 years ago who was just supposed to shut up and suck a dick!!

─ A Jojo Fan ♡