Hunter X Hunter 2011 – 51

October 14, 2012Guardian EnzoUncategorizedAnime, Hunter x Hunter, reviews

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 51 [720p].mkv_snapshot_05.31_[2012.10.14_20.33.47]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 51 [720p].mkv_snapshot_17.57_[2012.10.14_20.47.16]

[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 51 [720p].mkv_snapshot_21.29_[2012.10.14_20.51.53]

OK, that was officially my favorite H x H episode that didn’t feature my two favorite characters…

You know the drill – episode was awesome, blah blah blah. Well, sorry, but it was – with a beautifully creepy and almost sentimental buildup that led to one of the all time-sucker punches to finish the episode, with a final artful flourish for the cherry on top. Only really great shounen can be epic and intimate at the same time – the Kyoto Arc of Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite example – and we’re really seeing it in York Shin, as the forces of evil, more evil, sort of evil and who the hell knows gather for what’s sure to be one of the epic battles of all-time.

New spices are being added to this pot all the time, and a lot of the focus was on Chrollo Lucilfer this time around. Chrollo has been something of an enigma so far – mostly sitting quietly by reading a book, always restrained, but at the same time the man who’s the unquestioned leader of the most powerful criminal gang around – and the man who Hisoka actually recognizes as a worthwhile opponent. Up to know we’ve seen little of what makes him so terrifyingly strong, but that pretty much all changed this week. His encounter with Neon was fascinating, even before she told his fortune – very low-key, touching on the afterlife and Neon’s past (Galactic Grandma?). Chrollo blended in seamlessly in his suit and tie, an completely disarmed Neon (who, frankly, deserved what she got for being stupid enough to ditch her bodyguards after all that had happened).

Them there was that fortune – cryptic but tantalizing. Chrollo was curious enough to handle Neon himself rather than delegate it, and his reaction showed an almost spiritual side. It’s very clear that the first part refers to Uvo:

“The calendar looses a precious component.
The remaining months gather to mourn.
The mourners play a melody,
while the eleventh moon quietly rises.”
“The chrysanthemum withers and falls,
to lie on the ground beside bloody scarlet eyes.
But you will remain supreme.
Even after losing half your limbs.”
“Enjoy the interlude.
Search out new allies.
East is the direction to go.
You will find one who awaits you.”

I almost don’t want to try and decipher it, because I’d rather be surprised by what happens – but it’s obviously predictive, given what we know of Neon (and Togashi). Is Hisoka the eleventh moon – and is he “the one who awaits you”, perhaps for the fight Hisoka craves? The implication seems to be that Chrollo will continue to lead the troupe, but will lose many members (half). What really interests me is the chrysanthemum, and the “bloody scarlet eyes” – why are they on the ground?

It was almost possible to believe that Chrollo was going to let Neon go – he, like Nobunaga, clearly felt sentimental about the loss of Uvogin (more of those tears that infuriated Gon so much) and seems to be genuinely involved in her story. But no, she was merely a useful tool to him – to get to the upper floors of the cemetery building, and perhaps in other ways – and his method of expressing his sentimental mood is to order the Spiders to “go absolutely crazy” and turn the auction site into a gargantuan bloodbath to honor their fallen comrade. Very, very twisted – and given that what we’ve seen of the Spiders up to now is pretty much second gear at best, terrifying to contemplate.

The sheer invincibility of the Spiders – tainted only by Kurapika’s defeat of Uvo – makes their upcoming battle with Silva and Zeno Zoldyck all the more fascinating. It almost seems as if we’re gearing up for a fight with two opponents too strong to ever lose – so what the hell is going to happen? The Zoldyck’s are clearly in a different league than the other hired guns the mafia has brought in, one of whom is dispatched by Chrollo and his “indoor fish” in one of the most unsettling scenes of the entire series. What’s more, Kurapika is involved, and determined to act as the lone wolf – and he’s made the connection between Zeno and Silva and his little friend Killua. The long-awaited intersection of his path with the boys must surely be close now, as we near zero hour for the great battle at-hand, and all of them have a stake in it.

It’s pretty remarkable that an episode can go from being so reflective to being an orgy of violence and gore without a missed step, but this one did. The short conversation between Melody and Bassho at the beginning, where the poet asked the very pointed question as regards Kurpika – “What’s the point in living a life where you’re basically killing yourself?” – led to a quiet and somber calm before the storm, but what a storm it was. The Spiders with their leashes off are a terrible thing to behold, too terrible for the likes of Kurpika, Gon and Killua to let roam free in the world without at least attempting to stop them. Killua might just have had the cunning and detachment to stand down, but Gon never would – and with his father and grandfather involved, Killua is a part of this whether he’d otherwise choose to be or not. Capping off the episode with the normal ED replaced by Chrollo’s requiem was a beautiful touch, exactly the right mood on which to bring the episode to a close.

Gon & Killua’s Hunterpedia: “Phinks”

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[HorribleSubs] Hunter X Hunter - 51 [720p].mkv_snapshot_23.20_[2012.10.14_20.53.44]

Guardian Enzo

24 comments

A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 1:53 pm
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The 11th is Uvogin since he is member #11, and it's talking about a calender, which I assume consists of 12 months for each member (huh, I wonder where the 13th member go, if there's actually one >.> lolol)

In the old anime Uvo was referred to as the november in the prophecy
K

Kamen Rider Kekkaishi
October 14, 2012 at 2:11 pm
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I don't think the number of your tattoo matters. Since Uvo was an original member. I think Hisoka was the most recent to join.
A

Arabesque
October 14, 2012 at 2:14 pm
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Yeah, I agree with what Rider said. The number doesn't really matter much since Hisoka is No.4 and he was the newest recruit.
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm
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I don't see how it has anything to do with Hisoka or being a new recruit. And Shizuku was the most recent anyway.
They mourn (through requiem) while the 11th moon (uvo) rises quietly (not in position, more like spiritually, as in go to the afterlife) but I'm not sure, but I know it's not likely about Hisoka
T

TigerxDragon
October 14, 2012 at 9:27 pm
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The numbers aren't timed with the order they joined because the members get the number of the open slot. So Uvo was 11 when he joined and Hisoka just got the number 4 after the number 4 before him died.
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 1:57 pm
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so is danchou your favorite enzo. is he is he *_____*
admin
October 14, 2012 at 2:28 pm
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Well, he's one serious badass in a series full of them. I can't call him my favorite yet with the competition facing him, but he's off to a good start.
A

Arabesque
October 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm
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''OK, that was officially my favorite H x H episode that didn’t feature my two favorite characters…''
Hmm, you want to bet on that? 😉

In any case, you can save yourself sometime and just copy+paste this line now everytime for the next few weeks … actually maybe you should just say from now on before the cut '' this is officially my favorite H x H episode'' till the end of this arc 😛

Volume 11 technically started last week, but it's on this episode that we officially kickoff into high gear and it's all nonstop awesomeness from this point on.

The translation of the poem is interesting, since they seem they went for a more poetic and flamboyant here rather than the more literal Viz translation. I almost don't want to answer your question about the chrysanthemum and the scarlet eyes (though you can probably guess it right). I'll just include the verse from Viz's Vol. 11:

''Harvest barren, wine spilled, lovers slumber
Beside the bloody scarlet eyes''

I don't have the original poem on hand, so I don't know if they had changed it in the anime. Needless to say, I think that you can somewhat guess what the poem is trying foreshadow, but even then you'd be plenty surprised about how these events are going to unfold.

''Chrollo blended in seamlessly in his suit and tie, an completely disarmed Neon''

In more ways than one, Woof! Mamoru-san gave Chrollo some additional swag this episode that made it fun see him practice his dating skills on teenage girls. To be expected from a man whose last name is Lucifer, he sure is smooth when it comes to knocking women off their feet.

26 years old, handsome face, nice build, sensitive enough to cry at her writing, dreamy voice … what a lethal combo to a young girl in her teen years…

''[Neon], frankly, deserved what she got for being stupid enough to ditch her bodyguards after all that had happened''

Well, you do have a point there, though do try and see what lead to Neon behaving in this manner, her father pretty much lets her do what ever she desires in exchange for her ability, leading her to becoming a very spoilt princess who never actually think of the dangers surrounding her due to her ability. Not making an excuse for her childish and reckless attitude, but much like everything else in this show, there is a reason for it.

The Galactic Grandma bit was more about giving us an insight into Chrollo's beliefs and character in contrast to Neon I think, since Neon was someone so … well I don't want to say shallow (thought that probably accurate) but rather simple to like a philosophy of a fraud and base her world view on them while Chrollo, despite being evil, still believed in souls and that he wanted help put Uvo's to rest and put them into action. Neon in contrast had only used her ability not to improve other peoples lives or help those close to her out of a sense of altruism or love, but because daddy was going to get her some more stuff if she did as she was told :/

''It was almost possible to believe that Chrollo was going to let Neon go''

Typo? (did you mean to say impossible?) Also, yeah, but then again he had more pressing matters to attend to … I mean this was the night he fulfilled his dead friends wishes (and yes, those tears do piss me off greatly, for exactly the reason Gon highlighted)

''It almost seems as if we’re gearing up for a fight with two opponents too strong to ever lose – so what the hell is going to happen?''

I foresee you asking that question a lot in the coming episodes of not only this arc, but even the future ones lol

“What’s the point in living a life where you’re basically killing yourself?”

I have several answers to this, one of them being ''Do evil onto evil''.

Of course, like everything else in the show, there is more to this story than that, so let's wait till the end of the arc before we give an answer.
A

Arabesque
October 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm
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PS at this point in the '99 series, we would be reaching the penultimate episode just about now. If the pacing remains as it is, we should be reaching the point where the original anime concluded by episode 53/54. Just to give you an idea of how explosive this is about to get.
admin
October 14, 2012 at 2:31 pm
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Well, I'm hoping I don't have to say "that didn't feature my two favorite characters" too often in the next several weeks. To be clear, I'd still take eps 16 and 35 over all comers at this point.

I did mean to say "possible to believe" because it really seemed Chrollo was showing a soft, sentimental side. In a way he was, but his expression of it was altogether twisted.
c

chacha
October 14, 2012 at 3:02 pm
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Neon only cares on Eliza, the bodyguards not so so… They changes faces every time they died…

Senritsu Demonic Hearing is useless (in this episode)… No wonder they wont (?) be getting their bonuses. The money she needed so much to find the person who had the Sonata.
A

Athos
October 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
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Hou… I was kind of expecting them to reuse an old ost for the requiem, specially after Kurapika vs Uvog's used up all the dramatic latin choirs. I'm very pleased.

It did kind of lost impact using the same footage of the Spiders going wild twice, and I could've lived without hearing the exact same 12 lines of fortune telling up to 4 times without even trying to analyze them once, but I guess they were trying to stall for a bit in order to get the right cliffhanger.

Looking forward to the fireworks next week.
A

Agustín
October 14, 2012 at 2:44 pm
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I'll just say, the eleventh moon is Ubo. Remember that his tatoo had that number.
The first 4 lines refer to the Requiem for Uvo.
I guess the "melody" that the mourmers play is this bloodbath.
M

Mormegil
October 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm
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Next week's episode is going to be fantastic! Hunter x Hunter just doesn't let up.
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 2:49 pm
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"Chrollo was curious enough to handle Neon himself rather than delegate it"

There is a very good reason for this, and in the next chapter you'll know why. And that also will explain why he hasn't kill her and has just knocked out her in this chapter.

"is Hisoka the eleventh moon – and is he “the one who awaits you”, perhaps for the fight Hisoka craves?"

No, the eleventh moon is Uvogin. Hisoka is the fourth moon. The moon is the number of the tattoo that all of the trope members have.

Very good chapter, i have enjoyed it.
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 3:44 pm
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The episodes coming after next episode is going to be awesome featuring your favorite characters Enzo. With Leorio..
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 6:31 pm
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Just noticed that new scenes were added at the opening xD
A

Anonymous
October 14, 2012 at 6:55 pm
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HELL YEAH! every series I really like has this one momment, one episode, that gets me going "F*** YEAH this is why I love this series!" HxH has had multiple episodes before hand and this was the latest addition!

I'm not exactly the poetic type, nor do I feel I'm one to catch on to deeper meanings on the first watching, but having read the manga I think I finally get most of that poem was trying to say. of course I won't tell you my hypothesis as it has a bunch spoilers, but I'm just as curious about the scarlett eyes. I get the 'chrysanthemum' but not why its besie the scarlett eyes. You'll see what I mean at another time but for now, bask in the awesomeness of this episode.
o

oooo-
October 15, 2012 at 2:05 am
Reply

I liked this episode too!
Since I learned something new because of this episode, I thought I'd share. 🙂 I haven't read the manga, so this is purely from the actual anime content.

The eleventh moon referred to in the translation was originally 霜月 which seems to be the 11th month in the Japanese Lunar Calendar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_calendar). The line with the chrysanthemum actually says "the chrysanthemum together with the/its leaves" in Japanese. The 8th and 9th months in that calendar can be called 葉月 (http://jisho.org/words?jap=%E8%91%89%E6%9C%88&eng=&dict=edict) and 菊月 (http://jisho.org/words?jap=%E8%8F%8A%E6%9C%88&eng=&dict=edict), respectively, which use the characters for leaves and chrysanthemum, respectively. So… Yeah. It seems to be clearer in Japanese.

Well, I suppose these are some of the things that get lost in translation. Since it's poetic in nature, I think it can be hard to balance what you'll keep and how you'll keep it and all.

I don't know what happens from here on, so I could be reading wrongly into this… But I think it makes sense. w
A

Anonymous
October 15, 2012 at 2:50 am
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"It was almost possible to believe that Chrollo was going to let Neon go – he, like Nobunaga, clearly felt sentimental about the loss of Uvogin (more of those tears that infuriated Gon so much) and seems to be genuinely involved in her story. But no, she was merely a useful tool to him – to get to the upper floors of the cemetery building, and perhaps in other ways -"

Technically, he did let her go. I mean, she's still alive, isn't she? What he did keeps her away from the Auction and therefore the carnage. And, well, given that he was the one who helped her get inside it's doubtful that he used her to get in or anything like that. He seemed mostly interested in getting his fortune told, and that's really the only thing she could have offered him.
G

Gan_HOPE326
October 16, 2012 at 9:19 am
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"…and that's really the only thing she could have offered him."

Well, not the ONLY one.
e

elianthos
October 16, 2012 at 2:11 pm
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@Gan: please let's not go there…
G

Gan_HOPE326
October 16, 2012 at 5:35 pm
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Trust me, I was not going "there". I can't say any more ;).
G

Gan_HOPE326
October 16, 2012 at 9:18 am
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Just to clarify further: the Chrysanthemum is related to November as well. The Chrystanthemum is the flower of the dead and the flower of November, and November the 2nd is the day of the dead. November is the 11th month, so Chrysanthemum = November = Uvo, who lies "withered", i.e. dead, next to Kurapika's "bloody scarlet eyes". The prophecy hints at Kurapika being part of the Kurata clan, though Lucifer still can not realize this.

Hunter X Hunter 2011 – 51

Guardian Enzo

24 comments

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