Hunter x Hunter (2011) Episode 128 Discussion

gedata said:


Is there any need to post a major spoiler in response to someone who hasn't read the series?

akihikosama said:
So Meruem survived thanks two Pouf and Yupi putting their liquids into Meruem's mouth while yelling with pleasure... That is an interesting turn of events.

katsu044 said:
i'm both happy and sad the King is alive simply because i wanted to see more of him but Why is he stronger?!

katsu044 said:
damn that first half..it was so Fabulous i wasn't sure if i was supposed to be laughing but i did

i'm both happy and sad the King is alive simply because i wanted to see more of him but Why is he stronger?! i feel with this memory lost hes just gonna go off on his own way and quit this whole ruling thing as crazy as that sounds

akihikosama said:
So Meruem survived thanks two Pouf and Yupi putting their liquids into Meruem's mouth while yelling with pleasure... That is an interesting turn of events.

Minagatachi said:
Actually I thought his memory loss would make him act the way he used to, i.e. a maniacal killing machine.

BGMaxie said:
Those voice actors must have laughed their asses off an entire week they did that.

MrAM said:
Well.

The first 10 minutes or so of that episode managed to both be gut-bustingly hilarious and extremely disturbing. I haven’t laughed that hard while watching an anime episode in a very long time. In short, it was great, and it as well as the King’s rebirth was basically the entire focus of the episode.

While the scene with Pouf and Youpi feeding the King was indeed comedy gold, it was also a very important moment for both Royal Guards and a fascinating look into their psychology. We’ve seen their undying loyalty and dedication to the King displayed throughout the arc (especially Pouf, the over-the-top behavior he showed here has been a part of his character since the episodes just before the Invasion began), and how they are always putting his interests first and always aiming to protect him. Obviously, they feel strongly towards the person they were born to protect. Seeing him so close to death brought out their deepest and most passionate feelings, which is why they were so ecstatic that they had managed to revive him and that more importantly (to them) the King had complimented them for their efforts. Now, at the end of the sequence where they are reviving him, we see flashes of various animals feeding their offspring, topped off by a mother breastfeeding a child.

Basically, Youpi and Pouf think that their feelings towards the King are the feelings parents have for their children. Many animals have a natural, innate instinct to protect their young, and the Royal Guards were born with this instinct, which manifests itself as “unconditional love.”
However, the imagery and phrases used during that particular scene are not consistent with expressions of maternal love. The moaning, the blushing, the repeated use of words such as “pleasure” and “bliss”….those all have connotations of sexual desire and pleasure. The Royal Guards are confused- they are associating their feelings for the King with the feelings parents have towards children, when that’s clearly not the case. This depth of feeling from creatures who are supposed to be simple animals is likely a result of human influence, the same influence which brought about their individuality and fractured social structure. There are possible rings of Freudian theory here (which wouldn’t be the first, as the “ego” has been referred to before explicitly); there are some possible vague references to the Oedipus complex in the Royal Guard’s behavior, considering its nature and their age, but it’s not too strong a similarity so I won't go too far down that train of thought.

Still, it’s a momentous moment for the Royal Guards; they have achieved their ultimate purpose in life, protecting the King, and by nursing him back to health have essentially become like parents to him. They have reached the pinnacle of their established roles as Ants. Ironically, this probably would not have been possible without the interference of their human genes, highlighting again the good and bad of acquiring traits common to humanity.

The way the King is restored quite literally resembles breastfeeding, and his actions and lines afterwards all emphasize his rebirth. The fact that he has almost no memories, that he’s stronger and healthier than ever before- the King literally resembles a newborn child, arguably as much as when he was born the first time. The biggest difference with this second birth is that the King has decided to be called by his real name- an indication that he’s retained his human qualities. This has interesting implications and makes the story even more unpredictable than it already was- there are so many ways events can progress from this point forward. I’m glad I was right about the King’s survival (as insane as the bombing was, if he had died it would have been rather anti-climactic), but at the same time it does make Netero’s sacrifice seem a bit worthless…unless Togashi decides to be hyper-realistic and make it so that the Ants actually suffered radiation poisoning, Netero’s efforts seem a bit wasted. It’s a minor point, though, I’m not too bothered by it.

Looking forward to next week. Pouf better not kill Komugi- it’s about the only thing he could do that would probably make me actively dislike him. Or if he kills Killua. Or Knuckle. Or Melereon. Or….never mind.

Valaskjalf said:
meh I hated the first part, it was literally gay.

bleachjoj said:


It's comments like these that make some complaints with the Ant arc look so ridiculous. As if homo erotic scenes (which this isn't) scares the crap outta some people.

bleachjoj said:


It's comments like these that make some complaints with the Ant arc look so ridiculous. As if homo erotic scenes (which this isn't) scares the crap outta some people.

TonyTonyStark said:


Request: Can someone who knows how to make GIFs do one where the King spins his wings around?

Trembllar said:
To be honest, I would have preferred if the king just died in the explosion, it would have been a great example of the triumph of technology over problems that cannot be solved with human strength alone.
I do wonder what is going to happen next, as none of the remaining hunters would be able to scratch the king given his effortless triumph over Netero. Well, I look forward to how they are going to resolve this arc.

AJWilliams said:
I actually thought the King was dead. If there is one thing I noticed in HxH it's that the arcs and especially the fights are very anticlimactic. I dont see how they are going to kill Meruem now. The only way i see him dying is if he spontaneously just blows up, an after effect of the bomb or gets some incurable disease.

And what the hell happened to Youpi?? His personality took a 360 and now hes orgasiming over Meruem like his Homo bro Pouf...