Whoa. This episode was actually really well done. The creators actually nailed this episode, and despite the fast pacing, they did not rush through the running part, in order to really make it feel like a test of endurance. And the creators actually used it for the main cast to get to know each other. I actually think that this episode was better than the running part in the original series, however…
The main reason was that Donpa surprisingly didn’t do anything. Instead he got rid of the computer kid (I already found it weird that I didn’t remember this kid). This made this arc into more of a standalone story, because the part where Tonpa originally revealed himself to the main cast… just felt a bit weird and forced. It however did lead to a very interesting Donpa in one of the later arcs, because that part fleshed him out as a villain. At this point in the original series, he already changed his purpose. In this show however, he still is the same. What will the results of this be?
But yeah, the characterization here was damn enjoyable. I love how in this series, the characters don’t seem destined for each other, but instead just bump into each other and make friends. Especially Gon and Killua connected with each other in a very natural way. Leorio and Kurapica are also a wonderful duo together who play of each other wonderfully. The one person I still can not get used to however is Hisoka. In this episode too: he’s just hamming it up. His character probably changed the most compared to the first season, and I really hope that the creators know what they’re doing with him.
But yeah: how many other shounen were THIS varied and imaginative, after only four episodes? This really shows how you can build up and deliver at the same time.
Rating: ** (Excellent)]]>
Hunter X Hunter – 04
@psgels
Actually, Hisoka’s role in this episode was the exact same as it was in the original series. His lines were word-for-word the same; the only difference is that he chose not to kill the ape in this version.
Feels like they are following the pace of the original manga accurately. This seems a reasonable goal. I just hope they keep it as dark as the manga- whether hisoka+killua go on random killing sprees, etc. Some parts of the manga are uber dark ex ant part/york shin/etc
Toto: it’s indeed not the dialogue itself, but how Hisoka said it that bothers me.
Gon & Killua’s friendship is my favorite aspect of Hunter X Hunter. I was really happy how it was portrayed in this episode; very natural like real 12 year olds.
My favorite part besides the pacing (which I honestly think is much better than the original anime) is the soundtrack. It’s amazing, the perfect feel for the anime.
I know a lot of people are against the show but I think it is an excellent remake.
i was actually just laughing throughout this whole episode. leorio and hanzo just crack me up. Also I hope they keep it dark.. but it doesn’t seem like its gonna happen sadly; it was one of the reasons i loved the original show so much
Im loving this so far… Didnt they get lost in the tunnels in the first one? And they had hallucinations or something… I thought that was annoying so Im glad they skipped it
And I have no doubts they will keep it dark, its Madhouse after all, all of their stuff is dark
@psgels you say that it is still possible for the new Hunter x Hunter to maintain a darker tone, but are you really sure about that? With the characterization they are playing out, it is almost impossible to maintain a dark tone without it seeming forced. In the later episodes, adult themes are omnipresent and will not fit with the characterization and tone that is being established now. The new HxH is a disaster waiting to happen.
Unless they change writers, it will inevitably become a mess – do you think that they would ever hire new writers on a show like this? does that ever happen? I doubt they read far through the source material/watched the original show. All of the antagonists are going to be turned from original and great to overdone and ridiculous. They cannot keep what they’re doing and stay true to the original material – they honestly just can’t lol. Their percieved demographic wont allow it. And even if they do try, it’ll seem forced and unnatural at this rate.
Also: You should remember that Tonpa tried to give everyone LAXITIVES in order to render them incapacitated throughout the challenge in the last episode. If this were the original anime, those Laxitives would have been full blown POISON. Also, Gon is looking pretty 2 dimensional so far as a character… As a fighting character, sure he’s strong wtvr. But he’s not supposed to be strong – he’s supposed to be intuitive, compassionate, and strong willed – they have shown none of that, and the final exam arc is going to suffer if they don’t start to.
They’re just surfing through the source material – that’s why I’m concerned, that’s all… it’s like they are not looking ahead at the story in the future and are characterizing based on gut instinct one chapter at a time…
@ljf
Actually, the characterization will probably work out in the end. In the case of Killua, it will be clearer in the next few episodes.
The character I was most worried about, Gon, said something pretty surprising in this episode. In the original anime, when Killua asks him why he wants to become a Hunter, Gon’s answer is only “Because my dad is one.” In the new series, he says something that boils down to “I want to figure out why my dad left me.” I think that’s a pretty telling statement without revealing too much of the character. And he doesn’t try to coddle Leorio in this version either. When Leorio stops running during this part of the exam, in the original series, Gon runs back to help him. I like it much better now, in which he stops and stares at him without trying to pick him back up.
Why would Tonpa’s laxatives have been poison in the original anime? That’s just speculation on your part, and they were laxatives in the manga as well. Tonpa wasn’t trying to kill anyone; he probably just thought it would be funny that someone failed the exam because they were too busy pooping their pants.
i hope to god you’re right toto…
but I’m more worried about Kurapica and Hisoka…
Kurapica because of his future, and Hisoka because it gives clear insight as to how this writer views antagonists in general. Right now it seems as if he sees them as shallow characters that only exist to exaggerate the protagonist’s good qualities. Seeing as how he wrote Digimon, I would not be surprised if this series devolved into a generic shonen. Trust me. If the budget of this series wasn’t what it is, nobody would be saying anything good about it right now.
Also:
sorry for putting up another comment but I am 99% sure they are omitting the Spiders arc from this series. The reason? Kurapica’s characterization and the fact that he didn’t foreshadow them this episode when talking to Leorio. Or did he? If he did, I forgot about it – I just remember him talking about how people liked his eyes and liked to sell them. Did he hint towards the Spiders in the manga/original anime?
Regardless, if they DID omit the Spiders arc, that is proof that they have absolutely no intention of taking this series seriously.
I would disagree. A major theme of Hunter x Hunter is morality in general. There are a lot of people who kill for different reasons, but can we consider them all “bad”? Every character in the show does “good” things and “bad” things, regardless of whether the viewer sees them as a protagonist or antagonist. It’s written into the source material, so I wouldn’t worry as much as you are.
@ljf
Kurapika talks about the Phantom Troupe from the first episode, and he definitely talked about them this episode. Go back and watch it again.
There is absolutely no way the arc in Yorknew City is being cut from this adaptation; it’s integral to the plot of the series.
Also:
again, sorry for posting again.
@toto:
What you pointed out about Gon not helping Leorio is actually a bad thing in his characterization. Gon isn’t supposed to distinguish acts from good and bad. He is supposed to act innocently, yet here he acted mature and hardened.
@ljf
The first anime might have changed your perception of Gon? He’s actually fairly mature for his age. He did the exact same thing in the manga. Even though Leorio is his friend, he isn’t going to give up on his lifelong dream at that point. This phase Leorio has to do for himself; he can’t be carried all of the way. Sure, Gon is willing to help him by grabbing his luggage and taking that. But it isn’t his responsibility to make sure that Leorio runs through the tunnels–especially considering that there was a time limit during this face.
Gon doesn’t distinguish between good and bad acts, true. But without spoiling anything, that innocence is also dangerous.
alright thanks for the clarification lol. my hopes for this series have been renewed somewhat lol.
I like this adaptation quite a bit so far. I did not read the manga, so I can’t echo the same paranoia about where this is going like the hardened vets are, but I think it would be better to see where the show goes than to assume they’ll ruin it 50 episodes from now. I get a feeling the manga ‘purists’ will go to any length to bash the show simply out of some religious fervor for the source material anyhow.
I never read the manga btw. I just watched the original series, and judging by that I just can’t fathom a Hunter x Hunter with any tone other than dark.
@Vyse: Can you at least wait until the hardcore actually bash this show before whining about it?
So far the conversation has been pretty civilized. This is an adaptation of a manga which is addition already had another (pretty damn good) anime adaptation. So comparisons are unavoidable.
I have to say, I really didn’t like the first couple of episodes, but it’s starting to grow on me. Maybe I’m getting used to the new feel of the series. It also obviously helped that this episode was well done.
At the same time I’m really worried about kurapica and hisoka’s characterizations. I remember them much more… mysterious. What we’ve seen here so far was actually pretty straight forward… Hisoka’s is evil (muahaha) and Kurapica is looking for revenge. Actually, Leorio’s backstory made more of an impact on me than what kurapica said. Also, it seems they are sticking to Gon’s reasoning for searching for his father. It was quite different in the manga and the anime, I wonder how they are going to go forward with that.
Anyway, there is plenty of room to properly develop and characterize them so we’ll just have to wait and see.
This episode is about first impressions. It may portray the characters as one-dimensional, but that will change as the series progresses (ideally, at least). Hisoka from this episode of the old series was fairly paper-thin as well, because it portrayed him as evil and arrogant. If I remember correctly, it wasn’t until the Celestial Tower Arc that he showed complexity as a character.
We’re all reviewing this chapter in terms of character portrayal knowing the characters pretty well because we’ve seen the characters’ development in the manga and old series. Remember that this episode is about the characters’ first impressions of each other – there’s no depth to it yet, and that’s as it should be.
@VyseLegend
It’s actually the HxH Original Series fans who’ve been bashing the reboot since day 1. The manga “purists” mostly like the reboot as it follows the manga almost perfectly and doesn’t butcher the main chara’s personalities like the old series did.