On a certain level, episodes like this – as fun as they are to watch – are kind of nightmarish to write about. While I do think the endless comparisons between Tower of God and Hunter X Hunter are overstated, they can be useful at times. Especially early in each series, where Kami no Tou so resembles the “Hunter Exam” arc in many ways (if Togashi had introduced Nen about 30 chapters earlier). But where Togashi was always obsessed with subtext, right from the start, one gets the sense that early SIU is more frequently content to honor the game for its own sake. And that doesn’t lend itself to a whole lot of analysis and deconstruction.
With that said, there certainly is subtext in ToG, even this soon. I’m always interested in watching the dynamic between the three core team members play out. Already we can see Rak (where are he and his silent partner getting the magically replenishing chocolate bars now, exactly?) is displaying an almost reverential tone about Khun’s strategizing (which is itself a tipoff that Gator is much cleverer than he lets on). Bam finds himself rooting for Khun’s Team A, even though their victory would come at his own expense. And Khun’s dedication to Bam seems to stronger than ever (as witness the results of this contest).
Yes, you never underestimate the Blue Turtle – he plays the long game as well as anybody. There’s lots of stuff this week regarding Khun’s strategy that one can pick up on if they’re paying close attention. Above and beyond that, it’s clear that he’s effectively toying with Quant, a ranker – which would really be the equivalent of a Hunter candidate toying with an examiner. But it’s true that we see how rankers are perfectly fallible, especially when it comes to judgment – Quant and Lero-ro both come to the wrong conclusion more than once as Team A’s test plays out.
Team B, by contrast, seems rather rough around the edges and disorganized. Naturally enough when Endorsi indicates she wants to take charge no one is keen to stand in her way, but their strategic approach seems to be rather haphazard. Not to mention the infighting – which Endorsi seems none too concerned about. There’s no indication that there’s a hidden agenda at play here as there was with Team A (though the strongest of the strong have no fears about moving on anyway). Still – they do have a wave controller on their side…
Closing things out (almost) is a rather interesting conversation between the momentarily sidelined Serena (Nabatame Hitomi) and Hoh. Serena offers Hoh her backstory, and it’s a rather harrowing one – but most interesting is her expression of doubt that she can casually eliminate the people she’s befriended in order to climb the tower. “That’s always been our relationship, hasn’t it?” Hoh asks. “We do it to climb the tower. No matter what happens, no hard feelings.” There are clearly many ways to go approach this quest, and the aspirants bring their own predispositions with them when they choose to attempt it.
animealex
May 22, 2020 at 5:50 amKhun is a stone cold manipulator and chess master, no doubt. But what makes him a standout character imo is the fact, that all of his intrigues (so far) were all spun to benefit somebody else and didn’t have him as the sole or even prime benefactor. His beloved half-sister wants to be a princess? Khun makes it happen (and suffers for it). Haz and Shibisu need some more friends for their list and Bam wants to help them? “Sigh” Here we go… And now this: Khun’s friends (foremost Bam, but the sentiment for some of the others seems to be there) are at a disadvantage and might loose their position and chance to climb the Tower (with him, of course)? He throws the match in such a way that only his tools (and one scary observant Examiner) notice it at all.
Long story shirt: Bam was warned not to become to close to Khun, but in a way, becoming close to Khun (and Rak, of course) was one of the best things which happened to Bam since entering the Tower.
Guardian Enzo
May 22, 2020 at 10:15 amThe best, I would argue.
Khun is complicated, to be sure. In the same way that the line between selflessness and selfishness in the real world can be blurry (and in other ways, too).
animealex
May 23, 2020 at 3:09 amOh, I know that Khun is very complicated, but it’s fascinating that his plans and machinations are very easy to understand, once you know whom he likes.
Also, I was tempted to write “the best”, but refrained for one reason: The whole chain of events which brought Bam, Khun and Rak together wouldn’t have happened, if Yuri hadn’t loaned Bam the Black March on Headon’s suggestion. Without the Black March, would Khun or Rak have shown the initial interest in Bam? I think not.
It’s interesting to see the “ripple effect” of one action becoming a wave propelling Bam’s story forward and (of course) speculate how far someone like Headon can plan ahead. After all, he invites the regulars into the Tower, so he could’ve timed Khun and Raks arrival to “coincide” with Bam’s…
Milferd Jones
May 23, 2020 at 4:48 pmWithout Black March Bam dies or shows his true power much earlier thus drawing even greater attention.
Milferd Jones
May 31, 2020 at 7:12 amWithout Black March Bam dies or shows his true power much earlier thus drawing even greater attention.
Hisoka messed with a Examiner in Hunter X Hunter and as he had a good reason to do so the Examiner stated ok but that the last time you do that. Difference as Hisoka failed the year before for almost killing an Examiner Hisoka is clearly Examiner level due to the nature of Hunter X Hunter were you take the Hunter Exam voluntarily at any time so you can be very hight level when taking it.
While in the Tower only nebees are allowed as regulars and while some may be way stronger than others they all are insignificant of those who leveled up 100 plus floors. Stated very early some outside of the tower irregulars were extremely powerful from the start and they might have messed with a Ranker and even won. And it seams the Rankers think Bam could be another monster like the intruders before.