Hunter X Hunter 2011 - 42

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_05.34_[2012.08.04_22.25.24]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_12.13_[2012.08.04_22.32.40]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_14.41_[2012.08.04_22.35.16]

Well, that had to be the shortest H x H pre-open ever. But I guess it said everything that needed to be said.

If there’s a danger with Blogging this show, it’s becoming repetitive. Not H x H, but the blog posts – because there’s only so many different ways to say “another great episode’”. Fortunately what makes the individual eps great comes in so many varieties and styles that it rarely covers the same ground twice, but the overall impression is usually the same. In fact this series has been on one of the longest extended runs of excellence I can recall – even BONES superb FMA: Brotherhood adaptation had more ups and downs. Not only has the storytelling – pacing, timing, et al – been spot-on, but the production values just continue to impress. This is Madhouse getting pretty much everything right – giving a legendary manga a classy and first-class adaptation it richly deserves. I can only hope it proves lucrative for them and this version continues for a long, long time.

Hunter X Hunter has always been able to impress with its ability to succeed across such a wide swathe and moods and tones, but I’m struck more than ever this week by the fact that it really feels like two different series: one when Kurapika is on-screen, and one when he isn’t. The dark side of Kurapika’s nature was exposited early on, but he maintained quite a serene demeanor most of the time – the transformation in the character has been almost total. Darkness hangs over him like a shroud, and the scenes directly connected to his arc unfailingly have a heavy, ominous tone to them (including, usually, in the lighting and color schemes).

By contrast, Gon and Killua’s scenes are bright – brightly lit, full of sunshine and green and bustle, and brimming with boyish energy that practically spills off the screen. That these two faces of the show are able to coexist without seeming jarringly dissonant is surprising, but they do – and Gon and Killua’s arc is further brightened by the return of Leorio at long last. He makes a memorable entrance as the boys are mulling over their choices in cell phones, and reveals both sides of his nature right away. He’s practical and street-smart, wise in the “mundane” ways of society but just as clearly, he’s well below the others in terms of his abilities as a Hunter. As some point Leorio has obviously become aware of Nen, but his fumbling attempts to sound like an expert (he actually describes Ten and calls it Nen) reveal him for the neophyte he is.

As great as the last few months have been, I definitely missed Leorio – starting with the irreplaceable Fujiwara Keiji of course, but also because he fills a unique role in the story. In effect he’s both the big brother and the little brother – the fact remains that he wouldn’t have passed the exam without a lot of help from his friends (and not having mastered Nen still hasn’t truly passed it, if I understand the rules right). Gon and Killua look after him like their hapless younger sibling, but they also drive him crazy with their exuberance and frivolousness (and Madhouse really cranked up the kawaii factor to eleven for the two of them this week) and he has something to teach them about common sense.

In this case that manifests itself in a scheme he concocts to help them come up with the money to try and buy Greed Island (he gives them a general lesson on the workings of the auction, in fact). In effect Gon and Killua (and Kurapika) are much better Hunters, but Leorio is a better non-Hunter then they are – and his straightforward and simple approach to life is a good complement, too. The results of his plan – setting up Gon to arm-wrestle marks for 10,000 Jenny a pop (as a bored Killua acts as a human jewelry case) for a chance to win a 3 million Jenny diamond – are pretty hilarious (Madhouse continues to deliver easily the funniest and most expressive faces of the season), with Gon coached to pretend like he’s suffering and struggling to beat the men who outweigh him three-to-one. Gon isn’t much of an actor, but his appearance is enough to keep the suckers coming – though, as Kil notes, he’ll have to win 899,999 times to earn enough to bid on Greed Island.

There is one opponent with whom Gon doesn’t have to act, and that’s Shizuku (Arakawa Miho), one of the Phantom Troupe that’s taken a shine to the diamond. He wins, but only at full strength – and apparently only because she used her right hand instead of her left. The Troupe has split up into three parts (with Chrollo and Hisoka among the group planning the final assault on the auction, seemingly) converging on the auction by air, by land, and below the ground. There isn’t a lot of the Troupe this week, but what there is really sticks – especially the brief scene featuring Hisoka and Chrollo as they wait for their moment to attack. It’s dialogue free but full of menace, and one can’t help but wonder what that inevitable confrontation between them is going to look like.

Finally, there’s Kurapika – on guard duty 500 meters outside the auction site (as close as the mafia will let outside security get) and still dreaming of revenge as his employer’s daughter makes Dalzollene’s life hell. The wrinkle in Kurpaika’s story is Melody, who reveals that she became deformed by listening to one movement of the “Dark Sonata” – a musical score supposedly written by the Devil. She seeks to find any remaining copies and destroy them before others suffer the same fate – and she’s lamped out Kurapika’s identity and intentions by listening to his heart. Though he’s willing to kill Melody if she squeals (she says she won’t, and I believe her) in fact she’s the first person he’s likely opened up to since parting ways with his trio of friends. And in that moment we see just a glimmer of the old Kurapika – even a glimpse of his old smile – giving some small hope that the Kurapika we saw during the Hunter Exam hasn’t been consumed by his hate, but has been in hibernation waiting for someone to trust.

Gon & Killua’s Hunterpedia: “Bassho”

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_23.11_[2012.08.04_22.44.38]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_23.15_[2012.08.04_22.44.43]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 42 [720p].mkv_snapshot_23.19_[2012.08.04_22.44.56]

18 comments

HybridBloodsZak

August 5, 2012 at 7:13 am

Gon and Killua's thoughts and expressions during the arm wrestling were priceless XD

Next week's episode is going to be sick!! Enzo do you plan on ever reading the manga out of curiousity or will you just stick with this remake? If you don't it's fine this remake is pretty faithful story wise, it's just changing the order a little bit on how the story is presented, especially since the Yorknew Arc started on ep 39

admin

August 5, 2012 at 7:38 am

I'll go back to the manga, but probably not until Madhouse finishes this adaptation. It's more fun being surprised.

leokiko

August 5, 2012 at 7:31 am

I believe Enzo said he will stay away from any material, regardless of being the 1999 anime or the manga.

Anyway….great episode, next one will be awesome. Like, ultra awesome. SUPER SPECIAL AWESOMELY EPIC. Seriously. Can't wait to see how much they will censor it xD

Anonymous

August 5, 2012 at 7:37 am

While I definitely recommend the manga. It's nice to get a neutral perspective for the new anime. There isn't as much nitpicking.

Kranyte

August 5, 2012 at 8:34 am

I whole-heartedly agree with you.

So many other shows with concurrent manga/anime have so many fans/bloggers complaining about this or that, that the neutral perspective is definitely nice to see.

Overall though, from my biased view i can't see how you would not like this show/series 😛

Kranyte

August 5, 2012 at 8:33 am

OMG Next Episode is going to be (to use Zak's words) AMAIZNGLY EPIC.. I simply cannot wait for it… Gahh the best parts of this arc are coming soon.. and we gotta wait a week damn it =__=;;

I love how this episode is setting everything up, and how they "updated" the looks of phones/computers to be more in-line with today's tech, its a nice touch to say the least.

More though it started the Melody/Kurapika friendship that I enjoyed throughout the manga.

As for the manga, anyone know when it'll come back from hiatus? I seriosuly hope its not another year+ hiatus 🙁 We were just about to embark on that … sigh 🙁

@GE: I like your approach, especially for this series. The surprises and developments are definitely the most entertaining and fun part of this series, along with the growth of our main characters. I, too, hope this adaption goes at least to the end of the chimera ant arc.. though, if I had a wish, a good ending for the anime series would be the end of the Alluka Arc (dubbing it the Alluka arc so as not to give too much away). The ending would be a nice ending.. especially the dialogue towards the end of it. Though, I do hope the manga has a whole other arc done by the time it reaches that point, but nonetheless, the suprises you're in store for in the coming next few mnoths are going to be amazing to watch develop 😀

I do recommend the manga to those interested what has HxH fans excited in this arc and whats to come. For me (iono for others) despite knowing what happens.. seeing ti happen and animated is what I'm looking forward to

Thanks again for blogging this awesome show GE. Probably the only one I can find actively blogging it. BTW, what area of NorCal are ya from by off chance? I go to school down in the San Diego area :O

admin

August 5, 2012 at 3:55 pm

SF Bay area.

Anonymous

August 5, 2012 at 9:47 am

Next episode will be… can't describe it. What leokiko said. ^^

belatkuro

August 5, 2012 at 4:20 pm

You can think Kurapika changed after the Hunter exam but I think he just reverted to what he truly is: a person out for revenge. He can be carefree back then but now that he has the authority(Hunter license) and the power(Nen), he finally showed his inner self.
My 2 cents.

There really is a big contrast with the atmosphere between Gon's part and Kurapika's part of the episodes. It will be interesting when they finally meet and how the atmosphere and mood would be.

And hot damn, preview is amazing. This will be a sight to behold. Next episode can't come any faster.
It's amazing though how close the Troupe are with our protagonists with them meeting Shizuku here. Last episode, the cars of Kurapika were passing Machi and his group on the road.

admin

August 5, 2012 at 5:33 pm

He may not have changed, but the word I used is "transformed" – and I'd argue he definitely did from the audience perspective…

Kamen Rider Kekkaishi

August 5, 2012 at 6:03 pm

Hope you put this on RC. People need to stay aware of this great series.

Anonymous

August 6, 2012 at 7:27 am

I second this. Having more people aware of Hunter x Hunter can help it gain enough popularity to be licensed in the near future. Or at least, that's what I hope will happen…

SinTei

August 6, 2012 at 8:56 am

Still waiting for HXH post in RC.. :))

admin

August 6, 2012 at 5:05 pm

Sorry Guys, but as I said that was basically a guest appearance. I just don't know that I have time this season, which is so weekend-heavy. It was nice to give HxH a little exposure over there, though.

SinTei

August 7, 2012 at 2:22 am

It's ok. If you have the time, maybe another guest appearance on a major event in the series. Which is very soon. :))

Agustín

August 6, 2012 at 1:25 am

I always liked how Shizuku loses against Gon.

To have a member of the main villains loosing so easy against the main character shows the great potential of nen. It's not just about raw power.

Anonymous

August 7, 2012 at 3:53 am

I found your blogs not to long ago and i'm here to say i really appreciate what your doing. You should definitely hold off on the manga and just continue with this series.

Maybe, (later on of course) you could give us an idea if the 2011 did the manga justice. I know i can judge this for myself but your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Also you should probably watch the 1999 anime once the 2011 gets passed where it left off. It's still an excellent watch when you have the time but yeah, keep up the good work.

admin

August 7, 2012 at 6:18 am

Thanks, that's very kind of you to say. I do in fact plan to watch the '99 when this version finishes, as well as read the manga. Looking forward to it, but I hope it's a long way off!

Hunter X Hunter 2011 – 42

Guardian Enzo

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