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Episode 136 Review
Loved the calm atmosphere this episode. There was a noticeable lack of tension as well, which after the intensity that came before was a more than welcome change. I'm pleasantly surprised that Togashi took the time to give closure to characters as minor as Brovada and Reina. It brought the arc full circle and provided for some genuinely touching moments in the episodes first half. It's especially amazing how much I've come to like Welfin; he was just kind of 'meh' when he was first introduced but has really grown on me.

So...Kite was reincarnated as an Ant? Not exactly sure how I feel about that, and I'm a bit confused as to how its possible, and more so, what's the point of this particular story development? I think I'll put my thoughts about this on hold until I see a bit more regarding this revelation, since it was kind of left hanging there.

Killua's scene in the hospital stole the episode for me. It was great, almost completely flawless in its execution. I'm glad that Killua finally acknowledged how abusive his relationship with Gon had become. Throughout the series it was always Gon being the idiot and Killua being the voice of reason that looked after him. This was often played for laughs and was seen by both as perfectly fine. Gon even told Killua directly back in the Yorkshin arc that Killua's job was to correct Gon when he screwed up. Which he did, but this time Gon has crossed the line. Like many other habits and actions Gon had done before the Chimera Ant arc, this one took on a serious undertone and as we can now see, Gon's selfishness had dire consequences on himself and his relationship with Killua.

It makes sense that Killua, whose entire life is built around his relationship with Gon, would be so pained by this. The two displayed such great companionship and teamwork in Greed Island, which makes its destruction in Chimera Ant that much more devastating. It's interesting to note, though, that Killua was already being abused by Gon somewhat by the time of the dodegball match in Greed Island. Killua agreed to holding the ball as Gon powered up to punch it, but Gon himself insisted that only Killua could do it, completely disregarding the severe burns that Killua suffered. This crucial flaw in their friendship has been hinted at for the whole series, and I'm excited that it's finally getting the full brunt of the narrative's focus. Bring it on, Togashi.

That ending though...the Zodiacs seem like an eccentric bunch, looking forward to their character interactions. And Ging is finally here in the flesh. We've seen flashes of the kind of person he is over the course of the series, but I'm looking forward to a more thorough characterization.



Episode 137 Review
Oh yes, this episode was amazing. The Election arc is off to a great start, and it's shaping up to be everything I'd hoped it'd be. Politics, psychological trickery, fascinating character dynamics, and a lighter and more relaxed undertone than the arc that preceded it. It's great stuff. The new opening might be my favorite one yet. I don't mind them keeping the same song, and the animation and imagery scattered throughout the opening sequence is more than enough top compensate. The return of all these old characters has me especially hyped.

I really like the Zodiacs so far. Their interactions are fun top watch and they all have varied personalities and eccentric character designs. I especially like how perfectly each Zodiac represents their namesake, in both appearance and personality. Dog is the calm, responsible one, Ox is suitably fearsome and seems to have a lot of integrity, etc.

Pariston could not have been a more perfect Rat. Everything about him just fits it to a t: charming, motivated by self-interest, sneaky, etc. Unlike a lot of people here I actually really like him. He seems like a fun character and I'm glad we've got a corrupt politician as blatant as him. His talk of connecting with the common folks, etc, it's so similar to so many politicians in real life it's obvious Togashi means this as some sort of satire. Pariston's interactions with Ging are especially interesting.

Speaking of Ging, we finally meet the man that Gon has been chasing the whole series in the flesh. This episode only served to strengthen my belief that Ging is a terrible, terrible father who doesn't even really deserve to be called one. On the other hand, I quite like him as a character. The way he was able to predict everything that would occur in the meeting might have been a little of a stretch, but it got the point across: Ging is an extremely intelligent, manipulative person whom you probably don't want to mess around with. I like the characterization of Ging so far, especially because it fits so well with the small clues we were given over the series of what he's like. And sure enough, this episode gave us a look into one of the most crucial aspects of Ging's personality: his priority is to always have fun. Even in serious business like this, where he's trying to carry on Netero's will, he is chiefly concerned with his own enjoyment and with what would make things interesting. It makes sense then that Ging would be so irresponsible; a man like that isn't going to spend time raising a child. Gon's a lot like Ging, actually, in that regard.

I was pleased with how many old faces we saw this episode. Almost every single Hunter we've ever met made an appearance. And yay for more Hisoka, I missed the creep. The way he reacted to the news of Gon's possible death was precisely how I imagined. Can't go losing your beloved bundle of battle potential, can you now, Hisoka?

Something Illumi said caught my eye: "At this rate, both of them [Gon and Killa] will die."

Gon I get, but why would Killua die? This, combined with what Killua told Knov last episode about having the doctors ready anyways even after he saves Gon, makes me think that Killua's going to sacrifice himself or something, or at least get severely injured willingly. Hm......

Also, Killua's last sibling is a brother? I thought it was a sister? Or is this another issue of gender confusion like with Pitou?





Episode 139 Review
Great episode, as usual. Really enjoyed the comedy between Hisoka and Illumi, it's great to have that kind of humor back in the show again. Killua's part of the arc is more compelling than the still very good election side so far.

I really liked the insights we're getting into the twisted psyche of the Zoldyk family. We saw some of this back in the rescue Killua arc and we're seeing more of it here. Illumi's belief that Killua loves him most, for example. Yeah, it was played for laughs, but it also hints at a very interesting side to Illumi's personality we haven't quite seen before. What could have caused him to delude himself into thinking that? I hope Togashi explores this more in the future, as it opens up a lot of possibilites.

Killua's mom is completely insane. We know from the rescue Killua arc that she cares a lot about her son and so doesn't want him to leave the house, and she obviously desires for him to grow up and become successful at his future career. Unfortunately in this case it's assassination, and so she's overwhelmed with joy when Killua orders Alluka to kill her. Her son is growing up! He's progressing well if he's capable of such cruelty! Very creepy way to think, but on the other hand its kind of genius, as all Togashi has done here is take the way some mothers act (wishing for their children's success above all) and applied it in a very absnormal situation.

It's interesting how well Milluki understands Killua. Or rather, he can follow his reasoning on an intellectual level but cannot actually comprehend it on an emotional level. He explains away Killua's actions and feelings as simply stupidity, since it doesn't align with the way his family looks at such matters.

Alluka is unbelievably cute. Makes her monstrous side all the more disturbing.

Leorio is finally back next ep! I've been waiting for this for ages. Now we just need Kurapika, and the show will finally feel like it has 4 main characters again.



Episode 140 Review
I don't have much to say about this episode aside from LEORIO ALL THE WAY! That punch was one of the most satisfying anime scenes I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. I don't care if Ging could have dodged it or not, the fact that someone finally punched that smug look of his face is more than enough for me. I like him as a character, but he is a terrible father. You deserved it, Ging.

I love how unpredictable Killua's side of he story continues to be.The nature of Alluka's powers allows Togashi to set up some really interesting turns and twists in the story and pretty much holds infinite story potential. I certainly wasn't expecting Alluka to make a request of someone else so soon, but it shakes things up a bit and builds suspense regarding what course of action Killua will take. Great stuff all around.

And..going back to the Ging punch...there are some interesting things we can infer if Ging really deliberately allowed himself to be hit. It's possible Ging is aware that his actions towards his son are wrong. I mean, did he really think Gon was in any condition to ask for him? It's likely that Ging is purposely being such a jerk because he simply can't help. He's nothing more than a child with the appearance of a grown-up: smart, powerful, but also very irresponsible and a thirst to just have fun. Gon is very much like his father in many respects, but he also serves as an interesting contrast: he's a child that often wanted to be taken seriously and regarded as a grown-up, and indeed his entire character arc is centered on just that, while his father is a guy who desires nothing more than to be a kid.

Ging is a coward. We've seen this over and over since the show started. He told Gon on that tape back on Whale Island that he simply didn't want to see him, and he went to great lengths to cover up his tracks. The whole deal on Greed Island with 'Accompany' and whatnot points to this. Ging doesn't want to be a father, and he doesn't want to face his son either. So he basically runs away. Of course he's not going to willingly visit his son in the hospital, even if he knows what a horrible thing that is. Letting Leorio punch him could be his way of punishing himself a bit, because he knows that what he is doing is wrong but lacks the will to do anything otherwise.

A lot of the above is speculation, but it's interesting to think about.


Episode 142 Review
R.I.P Gotoh. Of course Togashi killed off the most likable butler...on the other hand it does succeed in establishing Hisoka as a threat again, which hasn't really been the case since Yorkshin, or Heaven's Arena for that matter.

Great episode overall, but it's the kind that's mostly self-explanatory. Lots of psychological mind games, as usual, and a fantastic build-up of suspense for what happens next. I did particularly enjoy seeing a different side to Amane and Killua's conversation with Morel, where we see the full extent of how much Killua loves Alluka and the level of hatred he holds for Illumi, something the latter is almost completely oblivious to. Also, the way Togashi effectively tied the Election arc into Killua's arc was brilliant, a really clever way of turning what had been two mostly unrelated stories into one.


Episode 146 Review
Brilliant episode, the scene with Alluka and Killua really hit me in the feels. Surprising, considering how short the time we've known Alluka and Something was.

Gon and Ging's reunion was suitably anticlimactic, as was everything else this episode. It was touching and revealed a lot about both; Ging was actually flustered and nervous about encountering his son after so long, and Gon was of course heartbroken over what had transpired and full of guilt, as he was before what he did to Pitou, ironically. I like that, as it shows that in the end murdering Pitou as brutally as he did didn't give him any closure, and in fact made everything worse. Gon went down the path of revenge, and it gave him nothing.

I did like that Ging showed a more responsible side when he he gave some actual advice to Gon, like a father should. Of course, saying that Gon needed to be stronger isn't the best advice, as it was Gon's thirst for power and strength that set him on the path he eventually took. However, I like to think that Ging means to become stronger responsibly and for a greater purpose; not to have power, but to protect those you care about. Hopefully Gon heeds that.

Pariston's abrupt resignation kept with the theme of anticlimactic endings this episode. All the preparation and complex mind games were for naught. Pariston showed actual vulnerability for the first time this episode, as we see that he was genuinely heartbroken over Netero's death. This was already foreshadowed in Ging and Cheadle's conversations a few episode ago, as Ging pointed out that Pariston was the only one truly carrying on Netero's will. This episode makes it clear, I think, that in the end Pariston was trying to have fun with the election as Netero was no longer there, and perhaps even try to make sure it went in the right direction. His threat to Cheadle seems genuine enough. He actually cares about what happens to the Association in Netero's absence, revealing a more sympathetic side to him, even if his reasoning isn't exactly sound.

Tbh, I didn't care much that Killua healed Gon so 'easily.' Yes, I can see how people can dislike that since Alluka's overly complex rules and conditions were emphasized a lot throughout the arc, but then again so were the politics and strategies of the participants of the election, and in the end the winner just resigned and made Cheadle president, which means all her planning and complex mind games weren't really necessary. As Ging would say, though, it was a load of fun and great entertainment, so who cares? The theme of 'games' and 'fun' has been very prevalent this arc, in the form of Ging and Pariston, who ironically enough are enemies of sorts. I think it's fitting that the arc adapted such a tone, since it was done as a tribute of sorts to Netero, a man who thrived off of having a good time.

Alluka and Killua's scene was moving. In the end, Killua was trying to do to something what his family did to him, and to Alluka as well: oppression for the sake of safety. Killua was so focused on saving his sibling from his family that he almost shunned Something forever, just like his family, showing how easy it is to slip into the same types of errors, regardless of who.

Togashi was going for a message with Killua and Alluka's scenes, and his earlier emphasis on the conditions and rules was a misdirection, concealing what really mattered in the end: Killua's respect for Alluka as a human being, and the beauty of the relationship due to that. It was what made the scene where Killua commanded Something to hide away forever and them subsequently apologized after being scolded by Alluka so powerful. Something was just as human and vulnerable as Alluka. They were two separate beings who really weren't, two people who loved Killua. Killua almost forgot that and was about to shun one of them, and Alluka scolded him for it. Wishing to protect someone does not give you the excuse to abuse them. It provides the perfect contrast with the twisted relationship that Killua has with Illumi. What Killlua has with Alluka is the love and compassion that could never truly exist in its purest form with a person as sick as Illumi. Poignant stuff all around.


And, finally, my thoughts on the last episode (148):

What a beautiful episode to end an amazing series.

The montage of scenes that summarized the whole anime in the early minutes of the episode was great, and in general Gon's entire climb was awesome stuff. I really like how the anime did justice for the sheer scale of the tree, and how much thought Togashi put into the details of how the tourism surrounding the tree worked and how the tree itself was full of life. Small touches like that went a long way to making the climb interesting to watch. The completely relaxed pacing throughout really created a fantastic atmosphere and seemed a fitting way to close off a series that became so intense and huge in its later stages.

Gon's conversation with Ging was the highlight of the episode, of course. It was just two family members catching up with each other, but considering who was involved and that this was the achievement of Gon's 148-episode quest, it was naturally intriguing. I like the small touch of Gon always calling Ging by his name, not 'dad.' Why should he? Ging was never a father to him. He's just a relative, albeit an important one. But still, I feel that we got a lot of insight into Ging's personality here, and it drove home that he may be a terrible dad, but he's in no way a bad person. What he was sharing with Gon here was basically what he'd learned from life, the realization he'd arrived at through his experiences.

Basically, Ging really does journey a lot and do so much because he wants to have fun. Ir runs deeper than that, though, as Ging craves to live life to the fullest by forming meaningful relationships, by seeing new places, by enjoying the small things in life. He sets goals for himself not because he's actually concerned with reaching them, but because he wants to enjoy the pleasures and experiences he'll have on the way. It's the answer that Gon set out to seek: What was so great about being a Hunter that Ging would leave his son behind to be it?

"You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest, because that's where you'll find the things that are more important than what you want."

This was it. It doesn't justify Ging's actions, but it does make them understandable. And as it turns out, they weren't really pathetic or despicable at all. Ging wanted to live his life...and as this episode implies, he wished the same for his son. He left Gon a goal, didn't he? "Find me if you can." And Gon set out to achieve that goal, and along the way, he made new friends, had new adventures, and went on many, many detours that both taught him much and brought to him to the lowest depths of despair. In the end, Gon emerged stronger for it, but also much changed. He'd come of age, after a long, incredible journey, just like Ging. It's not a coincidence that Gon found Ging right after the events of Chimera Ant. It was in that arc that he finally lost his innocence, finally transitioned to adulthood, the climax of his character arc. That arc had been running parallel to Gon's mission to find his dad, and the two conclude close together.

It really completes the parallels between Gon and Ging. Father and son, both with very similar experiences. And in the end, we realize that Ging was actually trying to teach Gon something, teach him and show what he'd realized through his own experiences. It's a beautiful message, and one that applies to the show as a whole so well. Isn't that what HunterxHunter was? The vast majority of it had nothing to do with Gon finding his dad. I'd heard complaints about this aspect of the story, and have pointed out in the past that it's plain that the destination is not what matters in this show; it's the journey. That is more important than what the end goal. The Hunter Exam, Killua's rescue, Heaven's Arena, Yorkshin, Greed Island, Chimera Ant....all detours, but ultimately what the series was actually about. Those 'detours' WERE the story. They were what mattered, and they are where Gon formed meaningful relationships with each other and developed as a person.

And Ging's statement is very meta in how it applies to Togashi's writing as well. It feels like he's speaking directly to the audience with Ging. Here, when Ging is finally found (and I really feel that he is based off of Togashi, down to the obsession with games), he reveals why he writes the way he does. It's a consistent aspect of Togashi's writing in HxH, bar Greed Island, that every arc ends on an anti-climax. It's such a consistent pattern that it's obviously deliberate. Also, Togashi had a tendency to focus on side characters that seemingly had nothing to do with anything, especially in Chimera Ant? Why? Because to Togashi, the end doesn't really matter. It's the trip there that is what he cares about, and the lives and personalities of his characters, no matter how minor, are worth exploring, because they are really what the story is about. People wanted epic climaxes, lightning quick storytelling...but what Togashi is saying here is: what happens along the way is ultimately more important than what you want, i.e. big explosive climax.

Saying that a lot of HxH is filler is meaningless. That IS the show. All those detours, all those minor characters, all those small details; THEY are what this show is about. That Ging's lesson to Gon ties in thematically with the very structure of the show is a stroke of genius, a move of utter brilliance. And in the end, we see a montage of some of the most beloved people we've met over the series, the ones the show was about. In addition to all that, we end with the reveal that there lies a greater and bigger world beyond what we'd seen thus far, an adventure waiting to be written and experienced. That's how we began the series, with a whole, unexplored world before us. And fittingly, it is also how we end it. It's a breathtakingly poetic way to end a truly incredible series.

A masterpiece, 10/10 overall. Thank you Togashi and Madhouse for such a spectacular series, a stunning example of the kind of quality anime should strive for. I'm going to miss the anime, and I hope Togashi gets better and gets back to the universe which, despite his hiatuses, he clearly loves.

So long, HunterxHunter.