I'm gonna start watching Hunter x Hunter
I know next to nothing about it, but I want to listen along with the new Friends at the Table show, Media Club Plus
I'm very hesitant to do so. I did not like Yu Yu Hakusho. At All. (Aside from the intro). But I do like JoJo's, which I've heard it compared to.
So I think I'll document my progress. Certainly open to being surprised, but nothing I've heard makes me hopeful. Guess I'll find out.
Well, three episodes in and I'm fairly optimistic
I'm still tired of many of the more used anime tropes, but I'm coping
And there hasn't been a Single Fight yet! (a good thing), and I'm somewhat interested in the premise, more so with the characters.
But I was also interested with the premise of YYH, and then a few episodes in it completely changed (I wanted a demon detective show and got endless monotonous fights), so I'm not entirely sold
At the very least, I'm really liking the score, the intro's all right (think I've heard it before) and the outro is absolute garbage, haven't hated an anime song this badly since that one My Hero Academia song that also overdid it on the crummy autotune (and this one adds unpleasant screamo)
All being said, I'm not dreading the next three
I enjoyed this batch of episodes quite a bit (eps 4-6)
It helps a lot that I feel like I know the premise of the show, and I don't want these posts to only be about YYH, but so far HxH seems to know what it wanted to be from a much earlier spot
And what it's trying to be is just smashing words together. The amount of weird guys in this show is staggering. The Crow that imitates speech? The big frog? The weird card guy who has a higher body count then most shows I watch? Lotta stuff going on
But the soundtrack, especially Gon's theme, is really great, and a lot of the hi-jinks are fun so far, if not a tad bit predictable
It was really nice that Gon got a friend his age, it's wild that old guy isn't that old, and the line where people with Strong Hunter Aura or whatever attract one another is just how JoJo Stand Users attract, but whatever.
And stop the presses, Snooty Gourmet Hunter Girl is my new fav, despite me groaning when the old guy focused on her breasts. Seriously it's mainly because I like cooking and cooking characters. No really I mean it. Wait No Don't Go
One thing I forgot to mention last time was just How Many People Died
So Many Dead
Anyway, just realized in the intro, when the narrator says "These are Hunters" the silhouettes are (at least) some of the examiners, so that's neat
I continue to enjoy these episodes (Eps 7-9) as I watch them, but remain... ambivalent? Unconvinced? I'm enjoying the show, but I'm certainly not In Love with it.
Speaking of death, we had a really brutal one this time, that guy was not expecting that weird dinosaur bird thing. Of all the side character deaths, his felt the most impactful. And it turns out skateboard kid isn't such a chump, in some ways those deaths were Not treated as brutally, but it really paints skateboard in a certain light.
Gon continues to be charming, I enjoy the interactions with the four friends, loved the reveal of their fifth companion
I liked the twist on expectations with the Blue Guy. He began powering up like that boring villain in YYH, but wound up just being a chump.
And the Music! There was one song that played as they learned of the tower, that had such a good bass riff, I was dancing around in my seat. Great tune, great score across the board.
In the end, these episodes weren't surprising, I knew exactly what red eyes was gonna do well before it happened, but everything is executed well, and the pacing fairly good, so, again, I'm enjoying my time.
To my joy when I start watching H cross H episodes 10-12 and find that we finally have our Second Speaking Female Character!
And then, to my disdain, when Leorio immediately pulls out some light transphobia.
Before that though, personally I found the first episode to be a bit mid. It felt like a lot of waiting (derogatory)
But seeing Anime Joker going against the guy he almost killed the previous year was pretty cool, I guess, I mean, these types of fights aren't really what I look for in the shows I like, but it was well done. Not my thing, but I can recognize the quality.
Second episode was fun, (despite transphobia, despite tropey lecherousness)
The new girl was fun, I really liked everyone else learning Killua's whole deal, but I'm beginning to get tired of Leorio being somewhat inept. They gave him a dub with noticing the eye movement, but then just beat on him the rest of the three I watched.
And the third episode at first I was a bit annoyed at, but started to really appreciate. They really made us feel those 50 hours. It felt like a lot of waiting (positive)
What I'm not looking forward to is the next few episodes. The narrator seemed to imply it'll be some sort of tournament arc, and. Honestly I'm dreading it. Hopefully it goes by quickly.
Lastly I noticed in the intro one of the hunter examiners is probably that lolita looking silhouette. I'm looking forward to them being introduced
gon: Ah, so you sneak up and surprise your prey. This is how you hunt!
me: YOU'RE TAKING A HUNTER EXAM. IT'S IN THE NAME!!!!!!!
(eps 14-16 btw)
Look I love my boy Gon and I love that sometimes he's a dumb kid too
Anyway, I'm so happy at my 180 from how I was feeling last time. I truly was expecting a tournament arc, but am so excited they're doing a the pest most dangerous game with everyone
This is a much more exciting premise to me then two dude's fighting. Gon has to wait for the exact right opportunity to steal a little piece of plastic, but How is he going to do it, what other complications might arise, and what about after? A fight is a winner and a loser. Sure they're moves have fancy flourishes, but especially in this genre, "main character" is going to win. In here it's so much more tense because we know What Gon is trying to do, but the How has so many variables.
And this is the first set up episodes that really sold me on how villainous Anime Joker truly is. Yeah, we're told he's bad, he's killed a lot and threatened a kid, but this time it's really apparent, and very well done. Also Yo Rattly Pin Man What The Heck???
Lastly I still love the music. Love basically every tune as it's deployed, and we got a minor key piano rendition of Gon's theme this time around which was really lovely too. Lovely's the wrong word, but you get it.
(I think this show is starting to win me over)
(In episodes 17 and 18) Couldn't tell you how relieved I was! Of course we'll probably never see them again, but I'm so glad Killua didn't go all out
Also, we all love and respect out Bee Infested Poison (try out) Hunter. She had a very brief performance overall, but I do love her
Once again really happy with these episodes. It seems each one introduces a new puzzle, and it's so exciting seeing how our characters solve them. Sometimes they involve fights, but most have Gon being the absolute best. I especially enjoyed how his reaction to failing was the need to help others. The need to feel useful
Still waiting on the Leorio Being Useful arc. He's at least promised one at this point, but his constant failings are truly tiresome.
And I can't believe I'm this excited to see the next few! After the interview, my initial guess is everyone else has to fight against Anime Joker, which would be a good fight in and of itself (in this world, I would presume Hisoka stand's down? maybe? after Gon is able to punch him in the face, as was promised will happen a couple episodes ago)
But after seeing some screenshots from the "next on" section (tried to look away but saw some good faces) it might not even be a fight! They might have to play one another in Mahjong! That's be just as good!
Just finished watching the final three episodes of this first "arc" (19,20,21)
Woof, that first episode was rough. Even though they didn't show it, Gon getting so beat up was intense.
And, once again, the threat of a tournament arc was skillfully averted, both by the fun twist of losers continue up the bracket, and how they really only focused on Gon's battle*, everyone else was brushed over.
I had the thought multiple times where I love this show the most when it's people talking to each other, and even though these episodes looked to have more of the former, they reveled in the dialogue.
And, alternate title, Saxophone Cover Of The Main Theme: Let's Go
Speaking of music, episode 20 did some fantastic work.
*During the Killua "fight," they did my favorite thing (notably during the Third Impact in End of Eva) where a horrible event is occurring on screen while cheerful music plays over. This "fight" was a truly excellent example of this. And I now completely get why people like Killua so much, and why the hosts of Media Club Plus almost unanimously said Rattly Pin Man was more evil than Anime Joker. It's like, sad, of course. Great character work on both his and Killua's part; it was so delicious seeing this pure manipulation happen on screen.
And then they get their hunter licenses, we learned more of Gon's absentee dad, onto the next adventure.
Over the past weeks, I've really reveled in just how sad Gon is as a character. Initially, he's stated his motivation is to "be like his dad," to see "what being a hunter was all about," but him stating "I want to be a hunter to find my dad" is heart wrenching. This kid just wants his daddy, and is going to go through so many trials for a reunion that could never possibly live up to the expectations.
And now this motivation is rivaled by Killua's "I want to be friends with Gon" and having the worst of the worst manipulators as a family.
It's been a slow burn these past 21 episodes, but Gon and Killua have really grown into very intriguing characters.
I've also seen some scuttle over on the FatT discord about this series "not covering enough" and "taking too long." I think anyone saying this is absolutely wrong. As another first time watcher, this is truly the best pace to be taking. (As a person who likes to binge) We have taken binging shows too far. Taking this two or three episodes at a time is so much better for really sitting with what's happening on screen, and, for me personally, I feel like it's just enough time for me to get really excited to see what comes next.
I am probably a bit unique, it seems most other people have fallen head over heels for this show by now, whereas I just like it quite a bit, but still. The pace is perfect, we should take things slower.
Anyway, that's it for the Hunter Exams! Gonna wrap up this post with this arc, it's already getting long in the tooth. I'll start a fresh one with whatever the hell the next arc is called! I have no idea! It's exciting! Other than finding Killua, Anything can happen! We haven't seen that gorilla! Haven't met anyone from that league of bad people! I have No Idea What A Chimera Ant Is! I'm looking forward to slowly learning this and more over the next two years or so, lol
