How poetic is it, that "The light that illuminates all" has his world illuminated by a girl that has known nothing but darkness her whole life. Togashi is a goddamn genius.
It's interesting how Meruem always said "Don't make me repeat myself" yet in his final moments he kept asking Komugi if she was still there. I liked his character. Even though he was the most physically strong character in the series meant to dominate the world, the only thing he really enjoyed was a simple board game.
Because he is so strong, fighting isn't fun. It is a human trait to revel I challenges, as it stimulates us to growth. This point has been hammered through throughout this arc.
There's a guy, who is a genius of modern days, had a job at NASA at very young age, but then he retired and decided to become a teacher, when they asked why he changed his life like that, he just answered "I'm happy where I am now"
Someone else said it here, but i think it needs more recognition: When Mereum is asking if Komugi is still there, it's cause hes going blind and Komugi stroking his face is the first time she 'sees' his ant features.
What’s crazy about this arc is that the main protagonist and main antagonist never actually meet. Gon saw Meruem, but didn’t really care too much as he was so fixated on Pitou. Meruem never even saw Gon.
That happens in the movie The Fifth Element, if you’ve seen it. The protagonist never meets the main antagonist. I don’t think they even see each other. You can watch the whole movie and not notice though.
HxH managed to give us the best love story in fiction. And they did it with a clumsy, snot nosed, blind board game player and a mutant ant monster dictator lmao.
The radiation poisoning slowly taking away his sight and him not liking repeating himself repeatedly asking if she's still there is so poetic. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. :( Also the fanfare after the episode is top troll lol
Radiation poisoning isnt contagious. It was just standard poison, thus meruem never stood a chance against humanity. The bomb is cheap and easily mass-produced
Fun fact: Komugi saying "I may not be much, but please allow me to join you" is an old traditional Japanese phrase women use when accepting a marriage proposal
@@winniethepoop2978 But they were the luckiest in this arc. In the end, they found happiness ONLY because of how everything unravelled. It is bittersweet but wonderful
The importance of side characters like Ikalgo is overlooked. People praise HxH because its so well written: unlike all other shonen, the big bad guy Meruem was not defeated by the main character. In fact none of the main characters even fough, nor even INTERACTED with the big antagonist. At most Gon barely caught a glimpse of him but he was never his target. This is brilliant. But then you also realize Gon did impact Meruem's ultimate fate. It was Gon's friendly character what helped Killua, who abandoned his family values, because he wanted to learn what friendship is. Then it was Killua who taught the same lesson to Ikalgo, who changed sides because Killua taught him about friendship and reminded him of Gyro. Then Ikalgo, influenced by Killua and remembering Gyro, taught the same lesson to Welfin, who decided that it was better to live honestly and trusting others rather lying and manipulating to gain individual power. And thus finally it was Welfin who reminded Meruem of Komugi, completing his full transformation towards humanity. While Gon became a monster, the echoes of his good character were driving the monsters towards humanity. This is good writing.
99% of the side characters we enjoy in HxH would be boring, stale, lame, fodder losers in an story like One Piece. The fact that we all care about Welfin speaks volumes about Togashi’s writing skills.
Many people dislike Pouf but for me he's a top tier antagonist. I love how he hold his ideals in the highest regard, he's the most non-ant chimera because he's incredibly selfish but at the same time he's the only one who never get swayed and still focus to the actual goal of the chimera ant's evolution. Amazing, amazing writing by togashi
He is a walking contradiction Both Loyal and selfish to the extreme His Loyalty makes him Long for a perfect Version of the King that fits HIS vision of what an Absolute King should be, even if he has to manipulate things around him to conform reality to his wish. Wich end up being useless against meruem's overwhelming Power and his own ambitions. Meruem grew up as an individual through his Interactions with others than the Royal Guard and he became a VERY different person than the Tyrannic Monster he was Born as. Wich is something that Pouf simply could not handle.
People just hate the fact that he is doing his job as an antagonist which is jarringly common, Pouf is an extraordinarily well written antagonist and easily one of my favs
I can't even classify him as a villain, being loyal to your species without deviation makes you more of a protagonist if you're willing to see it from the ants' pov
46:25 That's exactly the point. Meuem is the result of a "collective effort", the pinnacle of evolution for the ants, meanwhile Netero is just an individual, even with all the training, he couldn't close that gap. But then Netero says "I'm not alone", almost like saying "wanna see the pinnacle of human race?", and the bomb is exactly that, just as the ants collectively gave birth to Meruem, the human race collectively gave birth to the atomic bomb. And just to be clear, in this case "low budget and compact" doesn't mean "weak".
I know, It’s like Meruem losing to a bomb fits perfectly with one of the most prevalent themes in this arc being the reversal of roles between the Humans and Ants and how terrible humans can be. A bomb so destructive it nearly killed the absolute pinnacle of an individuals strength, something by humans considered to be a relatively low budget and a weaker bomb not even created for the ants but to be used on each other. Like just because Netero is one of if not the strongest Nen user, doesn’t mean he was a good matchup for Meruem, there’s without a doubt in my mind other Nen users out in the world that could’ve killed Meruem via there ability. It’s what makes the power system so good. That even the strongest characters like Meruem and Netero could lose to someone who could be physically disabled just because of their ability.
yeah i think the fact that the bomb is low budget just shows even more that humans are so fucked up and made this diabolical power so accessible for dictatorships to spread terror and fear instead of focusing on other things that would actually be valuable to the human race. the parallels that togashi draws between the plot and the real world that we live in is so fucking genius. he truly is a master of writing
Meruem saying that he was unworthy of the royal guards loyalty always left me with a bittersweet feeling. He came to acknowledge and understand their devotion, while ending up caring for them too. It sucks that Pitou and Youpi never got to see him again. Pouf’s death also hurt because he really did love the king. The only problem was that it was an incredibly selfish love. Since he remained caught up in his own ideals, prioritizing them over the king’s happiness until the very end, and never really understanding what he did wrong, he was left behind by the enlightened Meruem and died all alone.
Yoo Cannon comin out of nowhere with one of the freshest takes I've ever heard, "the king gave up his resolve for his humanity, and Gon gave up his humanity for his resolve." That is the most eloquent way of comparing that juxtaposition between those two characters I've ever heard! Gonna keep that one.
@@jasonremy8688he actually was becoming more human-like. More understanding of people’s emotions including his own. Realizing that he isn’t the center of everything despite being all powerful. Realized there is more to life than to just rule over others and be a tyrant. There is love, fun, sadness, fear. Everything. He was becoming more like a human
@@chilldude10 I would personally give it to Tappei. To be able to create some of the most wholesome moments imaginable to then writing a man getting devoured by rabbits from the inside out- or the psychological torment that was episode 15 is some next level talent. Togashi is definitely up there too imo!
43:35 That's why when Netero was talking to the World leaders, he had to practically ask permission to "use whatever means deemed necessary" i.e, the hunters might nuke the ants if necessary. It didn't cheapen nen, it put it into perspective. Like you figured, the world is not run by the Hunters. Nen is very powerful but technology and human advancement still rule.
I was watching while working, and my eyes started watering and I suddenly got a call and I had to answer while my eyes were all red. It's such a poetic arc and ending. By the end, when Meruem is asking if Komugi is still there it's because he's gone blind, and when Komugi is tracing his face? that's the first time she's perceiving his features.
The silence of the boys was very loud during that final scene. One of the greatest character arcs and shows of duality on full display here with Gon/Meruem and the relationship blossoming between Netero and Meruem mirroring Komogi and Meruem. Truly excellent.
Moves they play in Gungi signifies more in-depth meaning, read this if you want to cry more: Kokoriko is an advanced Gungi technique developed by Komugi that centers around isolating the King (as in the Gungi piece, not the Chimera Ant), separating it from the other pieces and killing it off. Just like Netero and the Hunters were planning to do to Meruem. However, Komugi unexpectedly develops a counter to this technique in the middle of a game, meaning that the King piece (representing Meruem) no longer has to die (since he unexpectedly survived the nuke). Then, later on, when Komugi uses Kokoriko again, she actually develops a counter to the counter ("she reversed my reversal???"), representing that the King piece (Meruem) apparently actually does have to die after all (because of the Rose's poison). However, immediately after beating Meruem using Kokoriko (symbolizing his imminent death), Komugi and Meruem start one final game together, a game that they never finish. 1-5-1 Black King -> 9-5-1 White Lieutenant General, I believe, or something to that extent. Immediately afterwards, they die together, leaving on the board Meruem's one black piece and Komugi's single white piece, together in Gungi forever. This represents that the two were always united through Gungi, and will continue to be together even after death, undisturbed and united for all eternity. Meruem places his piece down, symbolizing his death, and then Komugi responds by placing her piece down next to his, showing that she is perfectly willing to die at his side.. The black screen/black panels in the manga show that the Rose's poison has made Meruem go blind. That's why he has to keep asking Komugi if she's still there, because he can't see her anymore. This is ironic because his name means "the light that illuminates/shines upon all". He even got some godlike light-related photon-based powers before his death, allowing him to fulfill his name. In addition, as they are playing in the bunker before their deaths, Meruem sees a blinding light radiating from Komugi as she "reverses his reversal", making her "the light that illuminates even the all-powerful light". Despite being far weaker (and blind to boot), her light shined far brighter than his. Then, as he dies, Komugi holds him and feels his head, allowing her to finally "see" or know what his face is like. Thus, as they die, Meruem joins Komugi in blindness as she joins him in death. Meruem can finally see what Komugi has been seeing all along, and knows what it feels like to be blind like her, and Komugi finally knows his face, allowing each to understand the other more as they fade away (the OST used during their death scene is called "Understanding"). Touching, isn't it? Togashi is a mastermind, and this entire story, especially this arc, is a masterpiece, a beautiful work of art, a canvas depicting love, hatred, innocence, corruption, happiness, suffering, loyalty, betrayal, anger, sadness, life, death, malevolence, destruction, resolve, determination, avarice, sacrifice, "true" power, truth, and understanding.(not by me by @jagmohanmandre7447 )
My favorite arc in all of shonen history. Super poetic, super thematic, very emotional. It subverts so many tropes in such a masterful way. The reasons some people don’t like this arc are the same reason so many people completely enjoy this arc. I never get mad that someone might not like it, it’s just a difference in perspective or type of preferred stories.
Definitely in my top 5 anime arcs of all time! So many levels and layers. Thoroughly enjoyed this reaction! Can't wait for the next either.. big brain plays only lol
If you hate Pouf, you really should consider this to be the best way for him to die. Absolutely everything he believed in, everything he wanted, every goal he had, was completely destroyed. The King fell in love with a human, rejected his own supremacy (and nature as an ant), and in the end, he wouldn't even give Pouf the satisfaction of death. Instead, he commanded him to release their enemies after some questioning. Ultimately, Pouf died alone, away from the king, surrounded by humans who couldn't even witness his death (including the audience).
the first time I watched 135 I cried so hard, there's very few anime that has made me cry that much (I tear up easily). This arc is what made Hunter x Hunter top 3 anime for me and that episode solidified it.
I’m paraphrasing but I couldn’t agree more with the guy in the grey muscle shirt saying “I was expecting something else but I wouldn’t want it to be any way.” I had that feeling so many times during this show. I kept fighting things when they weren’t happening like I wanted them but then when everything comes together it’s 10 times better than I could have ever imagined. What a show.
If you're a ruler, you definitely want Pouf on your team. Building a kingdom takes strategy, and out of the three royal Pouf he's the most important one.
the Welfin scene somehow stands out to me, one of a dozen or so named ants just getting a ton of character development out of nowhere, his entire existence culminating in literally one word
altough if u were near meruem, it would still take quite some time before it gets dangerous and get infected with the poison. the reason youpi went out first was cus he flew into the bomb site to search for meruem.. pouf next.. the king was just that durable to last so long
37:45 HxH has always been dark, but you wouldn't notice because you're seeing it through the eye of a happy-go-lucky Gon. You only realise when you re-watch it how death was treated so lightly because of Gon's nonchalant attitude..
Death tends to be treated relatively lightly in most of the older Battle-shonens to begin with in general. HxH's CA arc did have a noticeable shift of Tone compared to the previous arc, which is why people consider it "Dark"..
The creator of HxH has gone through incredible pain and suffering while writing the last few arcs of HxH. Hospitalized and all. Feeling just like Mereum dying.
It’s been years since I last watched these episodes, but it still tore me apart and I sobbed all the way through. Togashi really knew how to build these characters so intricately. The relationship between Meruem and Komugi is one of the most sincere relationships I’ve ever seen in anime and even all other types of media I’ve consumed over the years. There’s still quite a bit of people that don’t like Meruem regardless because he’s supposed to be a bad “person” but I can’t help but feel that even those people were surprised at how gentle and quiet the end of episode 135 was. It feels like a send off. To me it feels like Meruem became a human at the end of his life. Both Youpi and Pouf died in the cold outside with no one around. Meruem and eventually Komugi died in the privacy of a house, together, playing a game that they both enjoy. It’s beautiful.
This arc makes HxH what it is. This is my favorite anime arc of all time period. So profound and completely unexpected from how the arc begins to how it ends. Everything that the anime is supposed to be from what nen is, what humans are, and what monsters are is portrayed beautifully. No other anime arc compares this.
The fact that all 3 king's guards and meruem's death are so well written and completely fit the evolution of their character arc tho Especially Meruem's and Pouf's deaths hit pretty hard
The arc in the manga as they said is the next step of this arc. Much more even complex, dark and thrill. The thing is this last anime arc is just an introduction to the new characters and a closure to Gon story.
I have noticed that every arc flips between light and dark. Exam arc - light Zoldyck arc - dark Arena arc - light Yorknew - dark Greed - light Chimera - dark election - light succession/dark continent - dark. cool lil detail
Carter, what you were saying about the nuclear bombs at the end makes a lot of sense, but believe me Togashi was very aware of that. It was an intentional world-building decision. Nen is powerful, but simple weapons are still very dangerous and governments are still very powerful. The world is so much larger than it seems at first, and it’s really interesting. You should read the manga if you want to get more of a feel for the politics and scope of the world. The reason why Netero came at all was just to end the Chimera ants quickly without large civilian casualties. The ants were never a world-ending threat (except for maybe post-rose Meruem, but he was dying); if the situation got out of hand the V5 (alliance of 5 strongest nations in HxH) would just carpet bomb them to death. There are also some really interesting theories about how the chimera ants got here and if they were perhaps planted for a specific purpose (killing Netero), but I won’t go into too much detail since it would be spoilers for the next arc and the manga.
I think Meruem could've been legit the most OP good guy in the world of Hunter Hunter, the scene that engulfed Pouf the moment the king heard Komugis name is basically the representation of the Kings fondness towards her. I can only imagine with his new ability to sense peoples literal emotions he would've understood humans more and more. The King valued something much much more then raw power and its potential, honesty, resolve. He was like becoming a spiritually ascended being.
@@regalroyn1011 beyond and that kakin prince, also chrollo and hisoka counts? and that rat zodiac with illumi as well, and how can we forget ging, man the dark continent expedition arc has so so much potential, sucks we will never see the end
Man you know an episode is crammed with detail and really hits different when they're done in 15 minutes, and then there's almost 40 minutes of them just discussing. HxH really is a special series
When Welfin finally managed to say "Komugi"..that moment combined with that ost, gave me goosebumps. Just so good. And ep 135 is a masterpiece. Never in a million years i expected this arc to end the way it did, for Meruem's character to end the way it did, but it was more beautiful than anything i could have ever imagined. Just absolute stunning character work for Meruem, making his dynamic with Komugi one of the best in the series.
Remember when he born, he didn't care about his mother, he killed penguin guy and turtle guy. Now we are sad for him, including me, some (reacters) even crying. Best character development.
Strongest being died in the hands of weakest girl. I had never thought i would cry for an antagonist whos a man eater. Masterclass writing by togashi sensei.
The whole nuclear bomb brings up a point a lot of people miss - the ants and the king never stood a chance against humanity. Nen is great against small arms - as we've seen in Uvogin vs the mob, but against a country's military, there is little difference between nen users and regular humans.In the aftermath of Netero's death, the narrator says that the nuke, Miniature Rose, was popular with small dictatorships because it was cheap and could be mass produced. The ants would've been nuked out of existence as soon as they ran into another country. Even with this one, they could only get so established because it was an isolated dictatorship, the rest of the world didn't know anything about the ants, and the people inside the country had been conditioned to follow orders. It also highlights the exchange between Netero and Meruem, when Netero tells him that he doesn't understand humanity's potential for evolution/malice, and Meruem's realization that he was checkmated before the fight even started.
Yup. Politicians knew they needed to be destroyed and the only way was a nuke, so they sent in Netero so they could blame hunter association. I’m not sure but I think it was then Neteros own plan to hire Zeno to remove the king first so the HA would be spared the blame for killing thousands.
HxH strength is that it doesn’t stick to a formula. Most other shounen you kinda understand how the arc will play out most of the time. In HxH you can be in a crime thriller, a video game or an end of the world alien invasion, and you have no idea if Gon and Killua will be the ones to save the day or will just watch the experts take care of things.
The Wrath of Humanity & our own potential for evil is a massive plot point in the later episodes of this arc. As you all agreed, there’s a massive narrative parallel between Gons fall to Darkness & Meruem’s switch to humanity. Gon represents (in this context) the lengths in which humans are willing to go to get revenge or any other desire, even if it means falling into pure malice. This is furthered by the use of the bomb to drive the plot point of the potential for malice & hatred (monstrous traits) in humanity as well as show you the lengths in which Netero was willing to go to kill Meruem. Becoming more like the monsters in the eyes of the viewer throughout the arc (a clear commentary on the real world & our ability to be horrible to one another with what we often see in the form of bombings / nukes) However it also ties into what Morel said to Killua at the entrance to the NGL. A battle isn’t won by who has the larger Aura or the better ability. So many factors go into a battle & that’s why it’s so hard to know who will win a fight. Not to mention they live in a developed world, where Nen is known to the elites. Of course there will be counter measures, bombs or weapons to use as fail safes. Remember that only a select few in the world know Nen. There are less than 650 Hunters in the association (& you are registered until you die) in a world that is comparable in population size to our own (8billion). Excluding cases like Killuas Family, that means there’s a good chance very few world leaders or military personnel use Nen, let alone any random that ain’t a hunter. So if you’re a world leader in the G5 & you know about Nen but can’t use it, what do you do? Well, like Batman having a plan for everyone in the justice league. The G5 nations (now G6) of the HxH world have to have something that can hold up to the nen users. Or to win wars, or commit horrible war crimes, as we aging often do in the real world. (This is to give context as to why something like the rose nuke exists in the world of HxH) All this just to say that in the world of HxH even the King himself self can be unstoppable & yet an unknown factor or just something as simple as a tiny poisonous nuke if used right could spell the end of said insanely strong individual, in this case the king. Which aging ties back to what Morel said. It’s a way of telling you anything is possible in this world & you never know what to expect. Truly insane writing by Togashi, the fact I can write so much & yet that’s only one plot point within the many he touched on.
46:35 this the point of netero last words to meruem that scared him. He's not lying with meruem know nothing about human potential to evolve because even a small nation had a power to wipe the entire chimera ants with these cheap nukes. Just like in the real life it's just 80 years ago the first nukes ever made(around 50 when togashi wrote hxh) as the author use real life reference and netero had living for more than a century he definitely know well about this human potential to evolve. In his era nen probably the pinnacle of human strength though as the time progress human develop weapons, planes and nukes. Thus, nen just become another thing human used to deal with the threat or each other.
About "the nuke decrease the value of nen" may sounds dissapointing which is understandable, took me sometimes to accept it as well but that is the point. No amount of nen will ever top the worst of humanity such as corruption, greed, etc. Also, no nen power in this show has ever shown destructive power as powerful as the rose bomb. Just look at Youpi blast, only destroy a tower. Just look at Netero beam, powrful but only turn the ground into some sort of magma. Nuke has always been powerful. We just didn't realized it and couldn't accept it because most other Shonen always has their "power system" being the force that rule the society or something like that. HxH is not like that. The arc in the manga that hasn't been adapted also has a new villain that is arguebly the most terrifying behind maybe Gyro and the guy is nowhere near as strong as Meruem or Phantom Troupe. Politic, Army, Science, technology, and charisma are the one that rule the world of HxH. And one last point, The Hunter Association is asked by world nation leaders to clean the ant so that they don't have to dirty their hands and so they could blame the hunter for any bloodsheds. The 5 millions people in danger mean nothing in the eyes of corrupted politic leaders.
The reason why Mereum got upset with Komugi for a second there was because during one of their first encounters Mereum actually used that "kokoriko "strategy against Komugi. Komugi refuted it and explained to Mereum how it was actually a strategy she invented, and was widely considered one of the most optimal strategies until she herself completely refuted it in a tournament. He thought she was mocking him because of this but instead she had completely transcended in skill and was able to actually make it work in the end. It's a great detail that sometimes goes unnoticed.
Her Gungi-only nen makes her unbeatable at Gungi as long as her resolve is that strong. And every match, her life is on the line, so she'll never lose.
It actually makes a lot of sense that the nuke did such a damage to Meruem. For a split second a nuke is getting thousand times hotter than the sun and just imagine how strong the shockwave must be. Meruem stood directly in front of Netero too I think it should be very clear that even the weakest Nuke deals a lot more damage than Neteros Zero hand
Not sure if somebody else mentioned it but, regarding Meruem as a character and his goals/desires, we can say that there is a before Netero and an after Netero. Yes, he was already starting to become more human thanks to Komugi but he still had strong ant instincts, as Netero realized. Up to that point, he still could have gone full mass murderer and Netero had to kill him: if he's reasonable today and crazy tomorrow, considering how strong Meruem was, he couldn't be trusted. After the fight with Netero and, at least in my opinion, especially after acquiring Pouf's ability, he emotionally evolved/matured to the point of seeing things from someone else's perspective and appreciating it. Old Meruem tried to kill Pitou without a second thought for being "insolent" while new Meruem forgave Pouf and Youpi multiple times because he could understand their feelings.
This arc is amazing. It’s so layered and it takes you on a journey without telling you exactly how to feel about it. It makes you think and it impacts everyone differently. It’s one of the best arcs if not the best and most memorable arc in shounen. It’s art.
More than finding his Dad is it not clear that Gon’s primary motivation is finding what is that thing that made Ging decide to leave Gon? Finding Ging is just the first step to his “hunt” for answers - i mean second coz first step is becoming a hunter first.
My favourite arc in fiction. Only gets better on rewatch/reread. Manga spoilers: Meruem's ideology and his speech on humans gets only better after introducion of 4th prince tserriednich. In meruem's speech, tserri is a perfect example of lowest lows of humanity yet he's at the top of his country, rich, successful and everything else... great foil to meruem and theme of the chimer ant
Now join the club of waiting until the manga continues so the anime can come back 😢 The arc in the manga after this one is so much more complicated and vast!!
@@KareemK-jl3sj I read the manga, but for me everything ends with the anime because the new arcs and the dark continent will never come to a conclusion
We have all the royal guards and the king becoming more human and many humans becoming more beast like, like Netero and Gon having no compassion. Pitou gained empathy, this is easily seen when she finds Komugi's been hurt and the King is distraut about her health. Even though Komugi means less than nothing to Pitou she instantly cried seeing how worried the was and what it could mean for him if Komugi dies. Staying Loyal to the end she made sure Komugi was healed so the King wouldn't hurt like that again. Youpi gained a sense of honor, he was able to recognize the sacrifice and integrity his enemies had and instead of doing everything he could to destroy his enemies as a beast would their pray he was prepared to spare them out of respect for them. And when it seemed disrespectful to leave them he continued to fight them until they reached an understanding. Pitou is misunderstood but his sense of idealism is simply more complex ideas than the other two. Pitou was strongly loyal to the King and making sure he reached his full potential, he never allowed even the King's own desires to fault him or give him flaw, he wouldn't let them drag him away from what he was meant to be. Pitou showed pure loyalty to the King and everything he was meant to represent even when it went against what Meruem may have wanted he knew what the King must need. Totally loyalty to the King even if it means being disloyal to Meruem he upholds the King. Meruem himself obviously grew to experience love. He came at deaths door and all he wanted was to spend his last moments with the only being he loved and respected, he was even willing to bow to a weak ant and beg on his knees- giving up everything it meant to be King to Komugi. All the while Netero uses the peak of human technology for mass murder to kill the king and anyone he comes around indiscriminately and Gon becomes so obsessed with vengeance he's willing to sacrifice the lives of innocence and shed all compassion for the injured and was willing to sacrifice his fute just to murder the enemy in front of him even with an attack that can harm is friend standing in the blast range. Interestingly and conversely enough Killua, much like the ants, starts off with few human traints and later becomes filled with them. Feeling compassion for Gon, sorrow for Palm who he hated. Great grief for what his only friend has become and regret for not stopping him from going down this path.
What a journey! Even though theres still an arc to go, the chimera ant arc was definitely the "peak" of hxh anime and following you guys' journey through it all has been such an honour. Thank you guys so so much for following through with the series and how frequently you posted these. Getting to experience hxh with a bunch of invested people after years of having not watched it made it so good all again. Looking forward to the last stretch of journey!
HXH is the best show off all times every episode is stacked with importants details that can give you a whole new experience of watching but togashi never gives u a hint u should live up to his expectations and that’s what’s make it special almost every character has changed during the anime the reversed paths that he puts in antagonists are just very well placed
Crazy thing about Meruem is that he didn't need a special nen technique his power was to absorb others nen but no technical or magical power, he truly was a King
43:00 Really glad Carter started getting into the discussion about how the 'power system' isn't even close to the end-all source of power in the setting, feel like a lot of people gloss over that, but I think it was definitely intentionally done as a commentary/counterpoint on other shonen manga of the time. Think about it though. Hunters are presented as the main nen-using 'club' in the world (not all nen users are hunters, but all hunters are nen users, and no other big organizations like that have been mentioned). But they don't run the world, they don't even run a big part of the world. They're essentially just a very highly esteemed contracting agency. If Nen could take down the world's militaries, or if wars were fought using Nen or something like that, the Hunter Association would have way more political influence than what has been shown
I think in the end the whole meaning of being alive is to find and live with the thing that you treasure the most. Even for a top tier creature like Meruem who has the power to conquer the world, the meaning of life is never about the power you have but the power you can share with the others. I feel this is the message from this story.
The nen still Is important even if nuks exists. In our modern world we still have armies even when nukes exists.. the thing is, nukes are not used in same way that armies are used. Let me bring this to the table, Netero moved the battle with Meruem to a area destinated to test weapons. Someday we'll learn more of hunters world and will know what are the restrictions that society have to use em.
Yu Yu Hakusho inspired the big three and has the same writer as Hunter x Hunter.... Highlyyyy recommend it!!! Its older animation and pacing but still GOATed.
"Marshal" in the game of Gungi is the same as the word "King" in Chinese, which Komugi plays as her move. It was also the broken piece that Mereum saw in the room.
How poetic is it, that "The light that illuminates all" has his world illuminated by a girl that has known nothing but darkness her whole life. Togashi is a goddamn genius.
true storytelling
😢
It's good.
@@piusdoe8984 yh it's good ikr , but I don't feel a thing for the king tho . Don't find a reason why I should feel anything for this monster.
@@jasonremy8688then you watched/read with your eyes closed
It's interesting how Meruem always said "Don't make me repeat myself" yet in his final moments he kept asking Komugi if she was still there. I liked his character. Even though he was the most physically strong character in the series meant to dominate the world, the only thing he really enjoyed was a simple board game.
And when speaking to Palm he specifically said “I will repeat myself as many times as necessary”
Because he is so strong, fighting isn't fun. It is a human trait to revel I challenges, as it stimulates us to growth. This point has been hammered through throughout this arc.
There's a guy, who is a genius of modern days, had a job at NASA at very young age, but then he retired and decided to become a teacher, when they asked why he changed his life like that, he just answered "I'm happy where I am now"
@@firulais6735 it's because of high pressure and expectation from people. Glad he was smart enough to see what truly mattered was his own happiness.
@@happilyevernever4289 he's a genius after all.
Someone else said it here, but i think it needs more recognition:
When Mereum is asking if Komugi is still there, it's cause hes going blind and Komugi stroking his face is the first time she 'sees' his ant features.
Wow, never knew this. Adds a whole new layer.
@@TonyKeehyes it’s a sign she accepted the King as he was, no matter what he was.
And that was why he asked her if she was still there- he was worried she would run away...
What’s crazy about this arc is that the main protagonist and main antagonist never actually meet. Gon saw Meruem, but didn’t really care too much as he was so fixated on Pitou. Meruem never even saw Gon.
pretty much unheard of in most shounen and seinen. But somehow it works. It really just works.
Insane writing for it to have worked out the way it did fr
HxH is subversive shonen done right.
Exactly. In most shounen, Mereum would've looked at Gon from afar and pause, then ask Netero some corny shit. Like, " That boy.... who is he?"
That happens in the movie The Fifth Element, if you’ve seen it. The protagonist never meets the main antagonist. I don’t think they even see each other. You can watch the whole movie and not notice though.
HxH managed to give us the best love story in fiction. And they did it with a clumsy, snot nosed, blind board game player and a mutant ant monster dictator lmao.
And, most importantly, best friendship story.
Definitely not best "love story". Not even close.
"Best Love story in Fiction" is PURE Glaze..
The radiation poisoning slowly taking away his sight and him not liking repeating himself repeatedly asking if she's still there is so poetic. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. :(
Also the fanfare after the episode is top troll lol
Radiation poisoning isnt contagious. It was just standard poison, thus meruem never stood a chance against humanity. The bomb is cheap and easily mass-produced
Did not pick up on the repetition aspect!
Fun fact: Komugi saying "I may not be much, but please allow me to join you" is an old traditional Japanese phrase women use when accepting a marriage proposal
Oh come on! That makes me want to bawl my eyes out again.
KOMUGI AND MERUEM deserved better!
ok now I'm crying
😭😭😭
@@winniethepoop2978 But they were the luckiest in this arc. In the end, they found happiness ONLY because of how everything unravelled. It is bittersweet but wonderful
I can't omg
The importance of side characters like Ikalgo is overlooked.
People praise HxH because its so well written: unlike all other shonen, the big bad guy Meruem was not defeated by the main character. In fact none of the main characters even fough, nor even INTERACTED with the big antagonist. At most Gon barely caught a glimpse of him but he was never his target. This is brilliant.
But then you also realize Gon did impact Meruem's ultimate fate.
It was Gon's friendly character what helped Killua, who abandoned his family values, because he wanted to learn what friendship is.
Then it was Killua who taught the same lesson to Ikalgo, who changed sides because Killua taught him about friendship and reminded him of Gyro.
Then Ikalgo, influenced by Killua and remembering Gyro, taught the same lesson to Welfin, who decided that it was better to live honestly and trusting others rather lying and manipulating to gain individual power.
And thus finally it was Welfin who reminded Meruem of Komugi, completing his full transformation towards humanity.
While Gon became a monster, the echoes of his good character were driving the monsters towards humanity.
This is good writing.
That’s so true. I think this is a great representation of how your good deeds can mean so much in the grand scheme of things. Like a ripple effect. ❤
99% of the side characters we enjoy in HxH would be boring, stale, lame, fodder losers in an story like One Piece. The fact that we all care about Welfin speaks volumes about Togashi’s writing skills.
i love how you said this. that chain of events is very clear, but i cant say ive noticed that before. the chimera ant arc is such a work of art
Crazy how I've watched this anime time and time again and never caught that
Many people dislike Pouf but for me he's a top tier antagonist. I love how he hold his ideals in the highest regard, he's the most non-ant chimera because he's incredibly selfish but at the same time he's the only one who never get swayed and still focus to the actual goal of the chimera ant's evolution. Amazing, amazing writing by togashi
Some people can't seperate hating him for his actions and how well the character is written.
He is a walking contradiction
Both Loyal and selfish to the extreme
His Loyalty makes him Long for a perfect Version of the King that fits HIS vision of what an Absolute King should be, even if he has to manipulate things around him to conform reality to his wish.
Wich end up being useless against meruem's overwhelming Power and his own ambitions.
Meruem grew up as an individual through his Interactions with others than the Royal Guard and he became a VERY different person than the Tyrannic Monster he was Born as.
Wich is something that Pouf simply could not handle.
People just hate the fact that he is doing his job as an antagonist which is jarringly common, Pouf is an extraordinarily well written antagonist and easily one of my favs
Yeah, people hate pouf but I don't think anyone thinks he is not a great antagonist
I can't even classify him as a villain, being loyal to your species without deviation makes you more of a protagonist if you're willing to see it from the ants' pov
im just crying whenever i see komugi and meruem interact knowing how the outcome will be
the after credit scene still makes me cry even now and i knew it was coming
legittt
I’ve seen it so many times. I’m used to the scene. I know what’s coming. Not surprised. I’m a grown man… and yes I still cry a little.
i cant believe not a single one of you cry. maybe because you're watching it as a group. lol. when i first saw this episode. i fcking cried. haha
It's DEFINITELY because they're in a group lol I wouldn't cry in front of my 4 friends
Nah, I’ve seen Carter tear up during a reaction. For example, “I have no enemies” scene in Vinland Saga season 2.
Tbh i didn't cry first time i watched it. But the rewatch? Had me not gonna lie.
(Even though i didn't cry i still felt the emotions though)
Maybe because the music after that😅
@@Kikur92 the circus music coming in after the strongest emotional moment is such a bad take on Madhouse haha
46:25 That's exactly the point. Meuem is the result of a "collective effort", the pinnacle of evolution for the ants, meanwhile Netero is just an individual, even with all the training, he couldn't close that gap. But then Netero says "I'm not alone", almost like saying "wanna see the pinnacle of human race?", and the bomb is exactly that, just as the ants collectively gave birth to Meruem, the human race collectively gave birth to the atomic bomb. And just to be clear, in this case "low budget and compact" doesn't mean "weak".
I know, It’s like Meruem losing to a bomb fits perfectly with one of the most prevalent themes in this arc being the reversal of roles between the Humans and Ants and how terrible humans can be. A bomb so destructive it nearly killed the absolute pinnacle of an individuals strength, something by humans considered to be a relatively low budget and a weaker bomb not even created for the ants but to be used on each other.
Like just because Netero is one of if not the strongest Nen user, doesn’t mean he was a good matchup for Meruem, there’s without a doubt in my mind other Nen users out in the world that could’ve killed Meruem via there ability. It’s what makes the power system so good. That even the strongest characters like Meruem and Netero could lose to someone who could be physically disabled just because of their ability.
yeah i think the fact that the bomb is low budget just shows even more that humans are so fucked up and made this diabolical power so accessible for dictatorships to spread terror and fear instead of focusing on other things that would actually be valuable to the human race. the parallels that togashi draws between the plot and the real world that we live in is so fucking genius. he truly is a master of writing
@@enzoinquiries4181 I feel the same way about the "low budget" thing. And couldn't agree more, nobody writes like Togashi.
あと、その兵器は、同じ種族向けに開発され使用されたという事。
Meruem saying that he was unworthy of the royal guards loyalty always left me with a bittersweet feeling. He came to acknowledge and understand their devotion, while ending up caring for them too.
It sucks that Pitou and Youpi never got to see him again. Pouf’s death also hurt because he really did love the king. The only problem was that it was an incredibly selfish love. Since he remained caught up in his own ideals, prioritizing them over the king’s happiness until the very end, and never really understanding what he did wrong, he was left behind by the enlightened Meruem and died all alone.
Meruem is the top tier peak character of all time. The real king 👑
Best character development I ever seen
Yoo Cannon comin out of nowhere with one of the freshest takes I've ever heard, "the king gave up his resolve for his humanity, and Gon gave up his humanity for his resolve." That is the most eloquent way of comparing that juxtaposition between those two characters I've ever heard! Gonna keep that one.
So you have the timestamp for that?
@@nirjhar4803check out 31:03!
@@nirjhar4803 31:08
Gon: The human that became a monster
Meruem: The monster that became human
Meruem: "My life doesn't matter anymore. I choose love"
Gon: "My life doesn't matter anymore. I choose revenge"
Cringe, he will never be a human . Just a strong monster never meant to do anything but destroy the world.
@@jasonremy8688he actually was becoming more human-like. More understanding of people’s emotions including his own. Realizing that he isn’t the center of everything despite being all powerful. Realized there is more to life than to just rule over others and be a tyrant. There is love, fun, sadness, fear. Everything. He was becoming more like a human
@@hemmojito Torturing and then murdering a special-needs child for no reason is love????????????
@@hemmojito I thought the exact same thing!
Meruem went from saying "I will not repeat myself", to repeatedly asking "Komugi, are you still there?" 😔
At this point I've accepted i will always cry at episode 135 lmao
Togashi is easily one of the greatest writers of all time, all media combined. What a masterclass !
Lol
i would say he's the most talented and most versatile writer ever
💯
@@chilldude10
I would personally give it to Tappei. To be able to create some of the most wholesome moments imaginable to then writing a man getting devoured by rabbits from the inside out- or the psychological torment that was episode 15 is some next level talent.
Togashi is definitely up there too imo!
Fully agree
43:35 That's why when Netero was talking to the World leaders, he had to practically ask permission to "use whatever means deemed necessary" i.e, the hunters might nuke the ants if necessary. It didn't cheapen nen, it put it into perspective. Like you figured, the world is not run by the Hunters. Nen is very powerful but technology and human advancement still rule.
komugi actually has nen, her power was to simply continually evolve/get better at gungi. thats what those bubbles were
So she's cheating all along!
@@jirenthegray11 More like she's genius/passionate enough at gungi to develope nen.
@@jirenthegray11 you made me laughed so hard damn it.
yep, and she probably would've actually died if she loss. That was the rule for her nen that made it so strong imo
@@DrPeque Michael Jackson was a nen specialist like Komugi
I was watching while working, and my eyes started watering and I suddenly got a call and I had to answer while my eyes were all red.
It's such a poetic arc and ending. By the end, when Meruem is asking if Komugi is still there it's because he's gone blind, and when Komugi is tracing his face? that's the first time she's perceiving his features.
The silence of the boys was very loud during that final scene. One of the greatest character arcs and shows of duality on full display here with Gon/Meruem and the relationship blossoming between Netero and Meruem mirroring Komogi and Meruem. Truly excellent.
Moves they play in Gungi signifies more in-depth meaning, read this if you want to cry more:
Kokoriko is an advanced Gungi technique developed by Komugi that centers around isolating the King (as in the Gungi piece, not the Chimera Ant), separating it from the other pieces and killing it off. Just like Netero and the Hunters were planning to do to Meruem. However, Komugi unexpectedly develops a counter to this technique in the middle of a game, meaning that the King piece (representing Meruem) no longer has to die (since he unexpectedly survived the nuke). Then, later on, when Komugi uses Kokoriko again, she actually develops a counter to the counter ("she reversed my reversal???"), representing that the King piece (Meruem) apparently actually does have to die after all (because of the Rose's poison). However, immediately after beating Meruem using Kokoriko (symbolizing his imminent death), Komugi and Meruem start one final game together, a game that they never finish. 1-5-1 Black King -> 9-5-1 White Lieutenant General, I believe, or something to that extent. Immediately afterwards, they die together, leaving on the board Meruem's one black piece and Komugi's single white piece, together in Gungi forever. This represents that the two were always united through Gungi, and will continue to be together even after death, undisturbed and united for all eternity. Meruem places his piece down, symbolizing his death, and then Komugi responds by placing her piece down next to his, showing that she is perfectly willing to die at his side..
The black screen/black panels in the manga show that the Rose's poison has made Meruem go blind. That's why he has to keep asking Komugi if she's still there, because he can't see her anymore. This is ironic because his name means "the light that illuminates/shines upon all". He even got some godlike light-related photon-based powers before his death, allowing him to fulfill his name. In addition, as they are playing in the bunker before their deaths, Meruem sees a blinding light radiating from Komugi as she "reverses his reversal", making her "the light that illuminates even the all-powerful light". Despite being far weaker (and blind to boot), her light shined far brighter than his. Then, as he dies, Komugi holds him and feels his head, allowing her to finally "see" or know what his face is like. Thus, as they die, Meruem joins Komugi in blindness as she joins him in death. Meruem can finally see what Komugi has been seeing all along, and knows what it feels like to be blind like her, and Komugi finally knows his face, allowing each to understand the other more as they fade away (the OST used during their death scene is called "Understanding"). Touching, isn't it? Togashi is a mastermind, and this entire story, especially this arc, is a masterpiece, a beautiful work of art, a canvas depicting love, hatred, innocence, corruption, happiness, suffering, loyalty, betrayal, anger, sadness, life, death, malevolence, destruction, resolve, determination, avarice, sacrifice, "true" power, truth, and understanding.(not by me by @jagmohanmandre7447 )
Thanks for sharing the facts on the gungi plays! This was very interesting. It’s so depressing but sweet at the same time. ❤️
rise
@@queenofdragons_1244 :)
My favorite arc in all of shonen history. Super poetic, super thematic, very emotional. It subverts so many tropes in such a masterful way. The reasons some people don’t like this arc are the same reason so many people completely enjoy this arc. I never get mad that someone might not like it, it’s just a difference in perspective or type of preferred stories.
I‘ve watched hxh several times, gons rage, and meruems death always make me cry like crazy
that zoom in when he says "hopefully she doesn't die" 😂
Definitely in my top 5 anime arcs of all time! So many levels and layers. Thoroughly enjoyed this reaction! Can't wait for the next either.. big brain plays only lol
If you hate Pouf, you really should consider this to be the best way for him to die. Absolutely everything he believed in, everything he wanted, every goal he had, was completely destroyed. The King fell in love with a human, rejected his own supremacy (and nature as an ant), and in the end, he wouldn't even give Pouf the satisfaction of death. Instead, he commanded him to release their enemies after some questioning. Ultimately, Pouf died alone, away from the king, surrounded by humans who couldn't even witness his death (including the audience).
the first time I watched 135 I cried so hard, there's very few anime that has made me cry that much (I tear up easily). This arc is what made Hunter x Hunter top 3 anime for me and that episode solidified it.
I’m paraphrasing but I couldn’t agree more with the guy in the grey muscle shirt saying “I was expecting something else but I wouldn’t want it to be any way.” I had that feeling so many times during this show. I kept fighting things when they weren’t happening like I wanted them but then when everything comes together it’s 10 times better than I could have ever imagined. What a show.
134 - RIP Pouf the last standing Royal Guard & my favourite Royal Guard
135 - Beautiful episode, always emotional, RIP Meruem & Komugi
If you're a ruler, you definitely want Pouf on your team. Building a kingdom takes strategy, and out of the three royal Pouf he's the most important one.
@@夏凝-y3t Agreed
Never ever cud I have imagined in the beginning of the arc that I'd be ugly crying for mereum 😭😭
the Welfin scene somehow stands out to me, one of a dozen or so named ants just getting a ton of character development out of nowhere, his entire existence culminating in literally one word
altough if u were near meruem, it would still take quite some time before it gets dangerous and get infected with the poison. the reason youpi went out first was cus he flew into the bomb site to search for meruem.. pouf next.. the king was just that durable to last so long
37:45 HxH has always been dark, but you wouldn't notice because you're seeing it through the eye of a happy-go-lucky Gon. You only realise when you re-watch it how death was treated so lightly because of Gon's nonchalant attitude..
Death tends to be treated relatively lightly in most of the older Battle-shonens to begin with in general. HxH's CA arc did have a noticeable shift of Tone compared to the previous arc, which is why people consider it "Dark"..
I watch this a 100 times, I cry a 100 times 🙃
The creator of HxH has gone through incredible pain and suffering while writing the last few arcs of HxH. Hospitalized and all. Feeling just like Mereum dying.
It’s been years since I last watched these episodes, but it still tore me apart and I sobbed all the way through. Togashi really knew how to build these characters so intricately. The relationship between Meruem and Komugi is one of the most sincere relationships I’ve ever seen in anime and even all other types of media I’ve consumed over the years.
There’s still quite a bit of people that don’t like Meruem regardless because he’s supposed to be a bad “person” but I can’t help but feel that even those people were surprised at how gentle and quiet the end of episode 135 was. It feels like a send off. To me it feels like Meruem became a human at the end of his life. Both Youpi and Pouf died in the cold outside with no one around. Meruem and eventually Komugi died in the privacy of a house, together, playing a game that they both enjoy. It’s beautiful.
This arc makes HxH what it is. This is my favorite anime arc of all time period. So profound and completely unexpected from how the arc begins to how it ends. Everything that the anime is supposed to be from what nen is, what humans are, and what monsters are is portrayed beautifully. No other anime arc compares this.
The fact that all 3 king's guards and meruem's death are so well written and completely fit the evolution of their character arc tho
Especially Meruem's and Pouf's deaths hit pretty hard
For me Yuupi death is bad ^^'
The arc in the manga as they said is the next step of this arc. Much more even complex, dark and thrill. The thing is this last anime arc is just an introduction to the new characters and a closure to Gon story.
I have noticed that every arc flips between light and dark.
Exam arc - light
Zoldyck arc - dark
Arena arc - light
Yorknew - dark
Greed - light
Chimera - dark
election - light
succession/dark continent - dark.
cool lil detail
Carter, what you were saying about the nuclear bombs at the end makes a lot of sense, but believe me Togashi was very aware of that. It was an intentional world-building decision. Nen is powerful, but simple weapons are still very dangerous and governments are still very powerful. The world is so much larger than it seems at first, and it’s really interesting. You should read the manga if you want to get more of a feel for the politics and scope of the world.
The reason why Netero came at all was just to end the Chimera ants quickly without large civilian casualties. The ants were never a world-ending threat (except for maybe post-rose Meruem, but he was dying); if the situation got out of hand the V5 (alliance of 5 strongest nations in HxH) would just carpet bomb them to death. There are also some really interesting theories about how the chimera ants got here and if they were perhaps planted for a specific purpose (killing Netero), but I won’t go into too much detail since it would be spoilers for the next arc and the manga.
A blind girl teaches a god how to see. What a magnificent arc
I think Meruem could've been legit the most OP good guy in the world of Hunter Hunter, the scene that engulfed Pouf the moment the king heard Komugis name is basically the representation of the Kings fondness towards her. I can only imagine with his new ability to sense peoples literal emotions he would've understood humans more and more. The King valued something much much more then raw power and its potential, honesty, resolve. He was like becoming a spiritually ascended being.
Yeah, the villain in the manga right now are straight up devil
@@regalroyn1011 beyond and that kakin prince, also chrollo and hisoka counts? and that rat zodiac with illumi as well, and how can we forget ging, man the dark continent expedition arc has so so much potential, sucks we will never see the end
@@mananghildiyal2675Ging isn’t an antagonist but yeah, there’s many plot threads left to be explored
Man you know an episode is crammed with detail and really hits different when they're done in 15 minutes, and then there's almost 40 minutes of them just discussing. HxH really is a special series
buddy in the middle tryna keep it together lmao 20:23
"Something, somewhere, changed ever so slightly..." --Mereum. One of the most impactful lines I've ever seen/heard in a show. Gets me every time.
When Welfin finally managed to say "Komugi"..that moment combined with that ost, gave me goosebumps. Just so good.
And ep 135 is a masterpiece. Never in a million years i expected this arc to end the way it did, for Meruem's character to end the way it did, but it was more beautiful than anything i could have ever imagined. Just absolute stunning character work for Meruem, making his dynamic with Komugi one of the best in the series.
Remember when he born, he didn't care about his mother, he killed penguin guy and turtle guy. Now we are sad for him, including me, some (reacters) even crying. Best character development.
And the winner of this arc is:
*_Radiation_*
Yes yes indeed
Strongest being died in the hands of weakest girl. I had never thought i would cry for an antagonist whos a man eater. Masterclass writing by togashi sensei.
The length of the end discussion here after 135 just shows how much there is to say about the ending and story of this peak of an arc.
Probably one of the best endings to an anime arc I’ve ever seen in my life, I cry every time I swear 😭
The whole nuclear bomb brings up a point a lot of people miss - the ants and the king never stood a chance against humanity. Nen is great against small arms - as we've seen in Uvogin vs the mob, but against a country's military, there is little difference between nen users and regular humans.In the aftermath of Netero's death, the narrator says that the nuke, Miniature Rose, was popular with small dictatorships because it was cheap and could be mass produced. The ants would've been nuked out of existence as soon as they ran into another country. Even with this one, they could only get so established because it was an isolated dictatorship, the rest of the world didn't know anything about the ants, and the people inside the country had been conditioned to follow orders. It also highlights the exchange between Netero and Meruem, when Netero tells him that he doesn't understand humanity's potential for evolution/malice, and Meruem's realization that he was checkmated before the fight even started.
Yup. Politicians knew they needed to be destroyed and the only way was a nuke, so they sent in Netero so they could blame hunter association. I’m not sure but I think it was then Neteros own plan to hire Zeno to remove the king first so the HA would be spared the blame for killing thousands.
I just cried for an hour today earlier, and this made me cry for the second time again.
Really surprised Brig spoiled the Dark Continent at the end there…that’s literally one of the coolest reveals in the show…47:55
HxH strength is that it doesn’t stick to a formula. Most other shounen you kinda understand how the arc will play out most of the time.
In HxH you can be in a crime thriller, a video game or an end of the world alien invasion, and you have no idea if Gon and Killua will be the ones to save the day or will just watch the experts take care of things.
This is peak writing. How to make a character OP and still find a plausible and impactul way to defeat them
Never fails to make me sob and then sob even more while laughing when I hear the cheerful music at the end
The Wrath of Humanity & our own potential for evil is a massive plot point in the later episodes of this arc.
As you all agreed, there’s a massive narrative parallel between Gons fall to Darkness & Meruem’s switch to humanity. Gon represents (in this context) the lengths in which humans are willing to go to get revenge or any other desire, even if it means falling into pure malice.
This is furthered by the use of the bomb to drive the plot point of the potential for malice & hatred (monstrous traits) in humanity as well as show you the lengths in which Netero was willing to go to kill Meruem. Becoming more like the monsters in the eyes of the viewer throughout the arc (a clear commentary on the real world & our ability to be horrible to one another with what we often see in the form of bombings / nukes)
However it also ties into what Morel said to Killua at the entrance to the NGL. A battle isn’t won by who has the larger Aura or the better ability. So many factors go into a battle & that’s why it’s so hard to know who will win a fight. Not to mention they live in a developed world, where Nen is known to the elites. Of course there will be counter measures, bombs or weapons to use as fail safes.
Remember that only a select few in the world know Nen. There are less than 650 Hunters in the association (& you are registered until you die) in a world that is comparable in population size to our own (8billion). Excluding cases like Killuas Family, that means there’s a good chance very few world leaders or military personnel use Nen, let alone any random that ain’t a hunter.
So if you’re a world leader in the G5 & you know about Nen but can’t use it, what do you do? Well, like Batman having a plan for everyone in the justice league. The G5 nations (now G6) of the HxH world have to have something that can hold up to the nen users. Or to win wars, or commit horrible war crimes, as we aging often do in the real world. (This is to give context as to why something like the rose nuke exists in the world of HxH)
All this just to say that in the world of HxH even the King himself self can be unstoppable & yet an unknown factor or just something as simple as a tiny poisonous nuke if used right could spell the end of said insanely strong individual, in this case the king. Which aging ties back to what Morel said.
It’s a way of telling you anything is possible in this world & you never know what to expect. Truly insane writing by Togashi, the fact I can write so much & yet that’s only one plot point within the many he touched on.
46:35 this the point of netero last words to meruem that scared him. He's not lying with meruem know nothing about human potential to evolve because even a small nation had a power to wipe the entire chimera ants with these cheap nukes. Just like in the real life it's just 80 years ago the first nukes ever made(around 50 when togashi wrote hxh) as the author use real life reference and netero had living for more than a century he definitely know well about this human potential to evolve. In his era nen probably the pinnacle of human strength though as the time progress human develop weapons, planes and nukes. Thus, nen just become another thing human used to deal with the threat or each other.
About "the nuke decrease the value of nen" may sounds dissapointing which is understandable, took me sometimes to accept it as well but that is the point. No amount of nen will ever top the worst of humanity such as corruption, greed, etc.
Also, no nen power in this show has ever shown destructive power as powerful as the rose bomb. Just look at Youpi blast, only destroy a tower. Just look at Netero beam, powrful but only turn the ground into some sort of magma.
Nuke has always been powerful. We just didn't realized it and couldn't accept it because most other Shonen always has their "power system" being the force that rule the society or something like that. HxH is not like that.
The arc in the manga that hasn't been adapted also has a new villain that is arguebly the most terrifying behind maybe Gyro and the guy is nowhere near as strong as Meruem or Phantom Troupe.
Politic, Army, Science, technology, and charisma are the one that rule the world of HxH.
And one last point, The Hunter Association is asked by world nation leaders to clean the ant so that they don't have to dirty their hands and so they could blame the hunter for any bloodsheds. The 5 millions people in danger mean nothing in the eyes of corrupted politic leaders.
The reason why Mereum got upset with Komugi for a second there was because during one of their first encounters Mereum actually used that "kokoriko "strategy against Komugi. Komugi refuted it and explained to Mereum how it was actually a strategy she invented, and was widely considered one of the most optimal strategies until she herself completely refuted it in a tournament. He thought she was mocking him because of this but instead she had completely transcended in skill and was able to actually make it work in the end. It's a great detail that sometimes goes unnoticed.
Her Gungi-only nen makes her unbeatable at Gungi as long as her resolve is that strong. And every match, her life is on the line, so she'll never lose.
It actually makes a lot of sense that the nuke did such a damage to Meruem. For a split second a nuke is getting thousand times hotter than the sun and just imagine how strong the shockwave must be. Meruem stood directly in front of Netero too
I think it should be very clear that even the weakest Nuke deals a lot more damage than Neteros Zero hand
fun fact: the way komugi says "good night" to meruem is how wives say good night to their husbands in japan.
Not sure if somebody else mentioned it but, regarding Meruem as a character and his goals/desires, we can say that there is a before Netero and an after Netero. Yes, he was already starting to become more human thanks to Komugi but he still had strong ant instincts, as Netero realized. Up to that point, he still could have gone full mass murderer and Netero had to kill him: if he's reasonable today and crazy tomorrow, considering how strong Meruem was, he couldn't be trusted. After the fight with Netero and, at least in my opinion, especially after acquiring Pouf's ability, he emotionally evolved/matured to the point of seeing things from someone else's perspective and appreciating it. Old Meruem tried to kill Pitou without a second thought for being "insolent" while new Meruem forgave Pouf and Youpi multiple times because he could understand their feelings.
This arc is amazing. It’s so layered and it takes you on a journey without telling you exactly how to feel about it. It makes you think and it impacts everyone differently. It’s one of the best arcs if not the best and most memorable arc in shounen. It’s art.
More than finding his Dad is it not clear that Gon’s primary motivation is finding what is that thing that made Ging decide to leave Gon? Finding Ging is just the first step to his “hunt” for answers - i mean second coz first step is becoming a hunter first.
Ngl Meruem is one of the most goated characters
I'm gonna workout during this reaction so the tears don't start flowing
I cry every time I watch the end scene of Meruem and Komugi
Their story holds a special place in my heart.
Something we never saw coming.
My favourite arc in fiction. Only gets better on rewatch/reread.
Manga spoilers: Meruem's ideology and his speech on humans gets only better after introducion of 4th prince tserriednich. In meruem's speech, tserri is a perfect example of lowest lows of humanity yet he's at the top of his country, rich, successful and everything else... great foil to meruem and theme of the chimer ant
Now join the club of waiting until the manga continues so the anime can come back 😢
The arc in the manga after this one is so much more complicated and vast!!
Praying for Togashi's health. I heard his wife is learning his art style to help make it.
@@psy_99that's old news. Togashi refuses to let anyone else draw the manga.
Manga will never continue, and never end.
I consider the anime finale the "real" ending, after that nothing exists for me
@goldexperience4312 you're missing out on the most ambitious and complex hxh arc. Top tier writing
@@KareemK-jl3sj I read the manga, but for me everything ends with the anime because the new arcs and the dark continent will never come to a conclusion
I ugly cried for 20 minutes at the end of 135. That has to be the most emotional episode of an anime I've ever seen.
TIME FOR PEAK FEELS!
Meruem and Kamugi is the most beautiful relationship in television. So heart breaking. I sob every time.
Love the absolue silence in everyone's reaction to the ending. That scene is always this powerful.
i’ve watched that like 6 times, and everytime i burst out tears, to me their the best love story of all time
This is imo the best episode in hunter x hunter
Its so sad most reactors never try to understand Poof... His character is very tragic... even more so than the king.
We have all the royal guards and the king becoming more human and many humans becoming more beast like, like Netero and Gon having no compassion.
Pitou gained empathy, this is easily seen when she finds Komugi's been hurt and the King is distraut about her health. Even though Komugi means less than nothing to Pitou she instantly cried seeing how worried the was and what it could mean for him if Komugi dies. Staying Loyal to the end she made sure Komugi was healed so the King wouldn't hurt like that again.
Youpi gained a sense of honor, he was able to recognize the sacrifice and integrity his enemies had and instead of doing everything he could to destroy his enemies as a beast would their pray he was prepared to spare them out of respect for them. And when it seemed disrespectful to leave them he continued to fight them until they reached an understanding.
Pitou is misunderstood but his sense of idealism is simply more complex ideas than the other two. Pitou was strongly loyal to the King and making sure he reached his full potential, he never allowed even the King's own desires to fault him or give him flaw, he wouldn't let them drag him away from what he was meant to be. Pitou showed pure loyalty to the King and everything he was meant to represent even when it went against what Meruem may have wanted he knew what the King must need. Totally loyalty to the King even if it means being disloyal to Meruem he upholds the King.
Meruem himself obviously grew to experience love. He came at deaths door and all he wanted was to spend his last moments with the only being he loved and respected, he was even willing to bow to a weak ant and beg on his knees- giving up everything it meant to be King to Komugi.
All the while Netero uses the peak of human technology for mass murder to kill the king and anyone he comes around indiscriminately and Gon becomes so obsessed with vengeance he's willing to sacrifice the lives of innocence and shed all compassion for the injured and was willing to sacrifice his fute just to murder the enemy in front of him even with an attack that can harm is friend standing in the blast range.
Interestingly and conversely enough Killua, much like the ants, starts off with few human traints and later becomes filled with them. Feeling compassion for Gon, sorrow for Palm who he hated. Great grief for what his only friend has become and regret for not stopping him from going down this path.
What a journey! Even though theres still an arc to go, the chimera ant arc was definitely the "peak" of hxh anime and following you guys' journey through it all has been such an honour. Thank you guys so so much for following through with the series and how frequently you posted these. Getting to experience hxh with a bunch of invested people after years of having not watched it made it so good all again. Looking forward to the last stretch of journey!
HXH is the best show off all times every episode is stacked with importants details that can give you a whole new experience of watching but togashi never gives u a hint u should live up to his expectations and that’s what’s make it special almost every character has changed during the anime the reversed paths that he puts in antagonists are just very well placed
Crazy thing about Meruem is that he didn't need a special nen technique his power was to absorb others nen but no technical or magical power, he truly was a King
Also I hate how many people just do not understand the character/arc people are crazy dumb
43:00 Really glad Carter started getting into the discussion about how the 'power system' isn't even close to the end-all source of power in the setting, feel like a lot of people gloss over that, but I think it was definitely intentionally done as a commentary/counterpoint on other shonen manga of the time. Think about it though. Hunters are presented as the main nen-using 'club' in the world (not all nen users are hunters, but all hunters are nen users, and no other big organizations like that have been mentioned). But they don't run the world, they don't even run a big part of the world. They're essentially just a very highly esteemed contracting agency. If Nen could take down the world's militaries, or if wars were fought using Nen or something like that, the Hunter Association would have way more political influence than what has been shown
If any, the nuke is what made it logical and made the Humanity still valuable. Setting is still in this fantasy "Earth" still you know.
I think in the end the whole meaning of being alive is to find and live with the thing that you treasure the most. Even for a top tier creature like Meruem who has the power to conquer the world, the meaning of life is never about the power you have but the power you can share with the others. I feel this is the message from this story.
He evolved above it all and realized happiness and being next to the one person who chooses to be by his side is the most important thing
I watch the ending of this arc so many times and cried so many times
The nen still Is important even if nuks exists. In our modern world we still have armies even when nukes exists.. the thing is, nukes are not used in same way that armies are used. Let me bring this to the table, Netero moved the battle with Meruem to a area destinated to test weapons. Someday we'll learn more of hunters world and will know what are the restrictions that society have to use em.
I consider myself a fairly masculine man, I also balled my eyes out on meruems death
Bro really told them about the dark continent ahah 😭 I so hope they all read the manga like he did
Yu Yu Hakusho inspired the big three and has the same writer as Hunter x Hunter....
Highlyyyy recommend it!!!
Its older animation and pacing but still GOATed.
Meruem
"The light that illuminates all"
MASTERPIECE 🥺😭❤❤❤
Chimera ant arc is definitely the best arc in my opinion. It was cool to see you guys' perspectives on it 😊
One of the saddest death in anime history 😢
"Marshal" in the game of Gungi is the same as the word "King" in Chinese, which Komugi plays as her move. It was also the broken piece that Mereum saw in the room.
I cried in 2014 and i cried in 2016 when i rewatched it and i cried again today with you guys