Board 8 > seabassdebeste watches hunter x hunter 2011 (spoilers)

(+) Yeah! (+)

UPDATE: well, that arc is definitely over, and we're definitely in chimera ant territory now.
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Have you heard something about them before
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yessss
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oof
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pjbasis posted...

Have you heard something about them before

only that the arc exists and is widely considered the best

no need to confirm its quality though!
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Episodes 75-76

Recap: Gon wins the quiz and thus the tournament and meets some of the game designers - Ging's friends. When he leaves, the two cards he and Killua allow them to use Accompany, taking them to a player named "Nigg." Except this isn't Ging, but a disciple of his. Ging in fact wanted Gon not to use Accompany.

Long delay, but there isn't that much to say here. Kite looks kinda cool, and it appears that our next arc is going to have no Kurapika or Leorio (cool). Lots of pumping up Ging's humanity and not a lot of talk about how he's a huge douche for abandoning Gon. At least he imparted some killer genetics, I guess. Also, that ant looks pretty cool.

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* CRAZY SLOTS - PSYCHO CLOWN

* I greatly enjoyed the silent montage of the celebration party concluding the Greed Island arc.
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The whole thing with Ging/Accompany was so over-the-top jerk that I had to start laughing.
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i laughed when the episode ended on kite's silhouette and narrator said "IS THIS GING BEFORE THEM?"
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chimera ant hype

seems like you liked greed island. I almost bailed on the show during the dodgeball arc.

Dodgeball was fun! One of the better parts of Greed Island imo.
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the really hilarious thing is that the 1999 anime ends with Gon using accompany and them finding Kite, and a silhouette of Kite looking over at them

like it genuinely feels like it ended with Gon finally finding Ging.

But it didn't.
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colliding posted...

chimera ant hype

seems like you liked greed island. I almost bailed on the show during the dodgeball arc.

The responses in this topic let me know not to expect too much. I enjoyed the characters just slowly growing, plus most of the rules to the game. The biggest issue was how small-stakes it all was. I think this is the right time to have a chimera ant arc which actually will up the stakes.

xp1337 posted...

Dodgeball was fun! One of the better parts of Greed Island imo.

It was super stupid but I did enjoy it!

CoolCly posted...

the really hilarious thing is that the 1999 anime ends with Gon using accompany and them finding Kite, and a silhouette of Kite looking over at them

like it genuinely feels like it ended with Gon finally finding Ging.

But it didn't.

this is incredible
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Episode 77

Recap: Kite introduces G/K to his Squad, who have discovered the broken leg of the Queen Chimera Ant - which has grown to monstrous size. The Queen's abilities are explained, explaining the Chimera name, and she births the first human-ant chimeras.

So this arc is clearly going to be awesome. The Queen's ability to pass on genes by eating is super-cool (and quite obviously explains the name "chimera ant"). The fact that they're born fully grown is obviously OP and ridiculous, but that's on the more fun side of things. And some of these designs are really cool.

My issue is that this episode isn't very good. The random five minutes we spend following the kid and sister who get eaten feel like a total waste. One of the squad members' name is literally "Stick Dinner" and his voice is insanely irritating, and another is literally named "Banana." The only squad member drawn to look Asian, and given a Chinese name, is a horrific caricature (stuttering, squinty, short, skinny, and bucktoothed), which is just straight-up depressing out of a Japanese production.

For now, the heroes are pretty much just kicking around and searching for clues/waiting for something to happen. No arc so far has depended so heavily upon villains to drive the plot. With so little happening, it's easy to nitpick at random stuff, like the fact that good hunters are supposedly liked by animals. So should animals be attracted to Hisoka or something? What defines a "good" hunter? One who's pure of heart or pure of spirit?
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Haha yeah, some of the names get a little ridiculous. I question Togashi's sanity regarding names at times... and don't get me started on the "official English spelling" of certain names...
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The last anime ends at episode 91 btw

So it cut off about 15 episodes.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

With so little happening, it's easy to nitpick at random stuff, like the fact that good hunters are supposedly liked by animals.

Good time to mention this is something that's actually said in Chapter 1 by Kite, which for some reason was cut out of the first episode for this adaptation.

Though I imagine everything re:kite was mentioned when you first started.
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Chrollo Lusilfer's official name is Quwrof Wrlccywrlfh

and the rest of the spiders:

Ubogin - Wbererguin
Shizuku - Chzzok
Pakunoda - Phalcnothdk
Nobunaga - Nobunaga
Machi - Matiy
Shalnark - Syarnorkl
Phinks - Phynkss
Feitan - Heytun
Franklin - Fulunki
Kortopi - Colhtophy
Bonolenov - Vonnornoth
Hisoka - Hyskoa

Kurapika - Curarpikt
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I don't think anything ever uses those.
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They're from the official HxH data book.
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animu uses unconventional names and spelling or wacky theme naming all the time

probably mostly to avoid accidentally using names too similar to real people who could sue them for damages.

like that's pretty much the reason the death note manga author gave when asked, and the death note novel has even wackier names like Beyond Birthday and Backyard Bottomslash. ok that's probably all nisioisin but still
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Mac Arrowny posted...

They're from the official HxH data book.

I know but I don't think even official merchandise otherwise uses those.
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Episodes 78-79

Recap: Hunters from all over track the chimera ant happenings to NGL, an autonomously governed region that enforces a crackdown on modern technology. G/K go with Kite's squad to check it out. Meanwhile, friction arises among the intelligent human-chimeras as they develop individuality, demand names, and begin to kill for pleasure beyond nutrition.

More villain-driven episodes. Here, our heroes still do relatively nothing, except for one cool case of the really scrubby arrow-shooting hunter showing up with Ponzu the Chick and using a nen-arrow called SEVEN SPECTRUM ARRAY - RED ARROW. I'm afraid they'll die, though hopefully not before reuniting with G/K. The main other heroic "plot point" - Gon and Killua debate what to do if Kite is in jeopardy (though of course they've sworn to abandon him). So we can expect this to happen, which has me excited.

Even more exciting is that the villains are actually fun to watch. The creativity only increases; the crocodile-dude is kinda basic, but there's a hilarious-looking penguin and a turtle whose shell enables him to be the only survivor of the first retort of gun weaponry by the human resistance. The female chimerants all seem to be extraordinarily well-endowed, which seems impractical and unnecessary. (One has a scorpion's tail, but with that aside, it was really bizarre seeing basically your standard Jessica Rabbit type among these obviously animalistic chimerants.) Most of the male chimerants have bulging six-packs, which seems to run a bit counter to the benefit of an exoskeleton.

The differences in personality, though, are what are really compelling about these chimerants. First is Colt's reluctance to kill more than is necessary (and specifically, not to kill the mother of his progenitor). His morality is a quick justification for the segment humanizing the mother and her children. This contrasts sharply against the bloodthirst of the croc-ant. Then comes the penguin/owl-ant's affinity for books - and the subsequent desire for names, which amuses the Queen.

But my absolute favorite is the nihilistic, film-noir, unsmiling, homicidal... pink koala in a suit. That dude's character design is great by itself, but contrasted against his grim countenance, it's absolutely hysterical. So for now, the chimerants are able to carry the storyline just by hanging out with each other, but I'm looking forward to seeing them cross paths with G/K.

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* The Kingsguard is coming!

* Predicting a Colt face-turn is probably too obvious at this point, but in any case, he'll definitely end as an enemy of the rest of the ants. If he doesn't manage to turn all the way to humanity's side, he'll be killed by other chimerants.

* The morality of NGL is pretty interesting.

* Killua standing on Gon's horse as a method of transport is the best.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

the villains are actually fun to watch

I can't speak for everyone, but this so much is why I love the Chimera Ant arc.
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i can't wait to see that giant scythe in action
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Episodes 80-84

Recap: All other resistance besides G/K and Kite - including Ponzu and her scrubby boy, and the leadership of the NGL - are taken and eaten by the chimerants. In particular, they deem Nen-users to be "rare humans," a delicacy. G/K beat up on Rammot, but he survives thanks to Colt - and he finds that his Nen has been activated. The first Kingsguard, Neferpitou, is birthed - and she also can use Nen. G/K and Kite fight their way through hordes of chimerants, including Yunju's crew, until they're at the doorstep of the nest.

So, I want this show to stop taking us away from the action in NGL. I'm curious about the beetles that hover and listen to the phone calls of the higher-ups (especially the head Hunter Exam dude!), but this scene takes us back to the awful remainder of Kite's squad. Also, fuck that ten-minute backstory for Gyro, king of NGL, who's already dead.

The progression of the chimerants' abilities, and their understanding of Nen, is very cool. That said, the tensions and conflicts remain largely the same (Colt is diligent but not sadistic; the others are extremely bloodthirsty). And do we really need three straight episodes of Rammoh having very loud orgasms as he feels the unlimited POWAH flowing through his body? It's kind of hilarious that in the end, he doesn't wind up going insane from the power, but rather recognizing the superiority of the Kingsguard chick. Probably my favorite character trait we find here - Hagya, the arrogant/bloodthirsty/boistrous (what a standard combo!) tiger chimerant, actually retreats when he sees Kite's ferocity. Because he knows that the true strength of his human genes is his ability to learn. Love that bit of cunning.

The fact that 90% of the fighting in this show is single-combat is reaching silly levels at this point, but if that simplification is what's needed to make for good fights, it's worth it. Killua's electricity continues to impress all - Kite is drawn to it because of how unique it is. Gon finally uses a different option out of Janken - scissors - and the result is surprising and spectacular as he trisects the centipede chimerant who had braced for blunt collision. (As an aside, there is one two-on-one fight - and Rammot's first move, where he simultaneously strikes Killua and Gon, echoes Raditz versus Piccolo and Goku. He's really an excellent miniboss.)

The star for the good guys, of course, is Kite. I don't particularly like his character design, but his movement is fluid and beautiful as he dodges strikes. Offensively, the roulette dummy is always fun, and hearing Kite say "that's a bad spin" or Killua say "then why did you choose that ability?!" is becoming a nice running gag). Seeing the actual scythe in action is magnificent. Hopefully we'll see lots of cool weapons to come, but if not, give me lots of the scythe.

Gon's morality regarding killing is briefly touched upon. He claims that he won't feel a moment's hesitation for killing these chimerants, since they have such disdain for one another. Kite astutely wonders, what would he do if they cared about their comrades? I think Gon himself has answered this question as of the Yorknew arc - he's disgusted with sword-dude for the connection he felt toward Uvojin.
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* Yunju is a really cool enemy. His flickering tongue is great, the horse-body and muscular torso are intimidating, and bringing out humans on a leash... GROSS. Great characterization.

* Mentioned it before, but it is annoying how nearly every male chimerant has an animal face, while the female chimerants look far more human, presumably for fetish reasons. Ick.

* Annoying bit of translation that's repeated more than once: "They're hard to find, which is why they're rare."

* One thing I'm unimpressed by is the translation of Gon's signature technique. "First come rock" just sounds really fucking lame - I think that one way Dragon Ball benefited in terms of coolness was that it always left the "Kamehameha" untranslated. "Turtle Destruction Wave" might make me cringe in a similar way.

* This string of episodes ends with some Water Divination that reveals that she's a Specialist. Shocker. I love Nen, but specialists have been, and will continue to be, drastically overrepresented because of how dumb the "alignment" system is.

* The armadillo attacks Gon exactly you how might expect. "You managed to dodge that one!" he says, after his first strike misses. I mean yeah dude you're a rolling ball.

* Cheetu's just there to have fun, man.

* Pike the tarantulant is gross.

* SILENT WALTZ: REAPER'S DANCE. SNAKE AWAKENS. THUNDERBOLT.

* Penguin-guy wanted to study Nen, but Rammot just wanted to show off the bulge in his banana-hammock. Homosexuality wins again. This show man. Breasts up the wazoo, but all real sexualization is male-on-male.

* Colt says he has to protect Reina, a subconscious memory. No coincidence that his sister's name, Reina, means Queen, right?

* Gon wearing pants is such a massive improvement over short shorts.

* Ponzu's apparent lack of hunter-esque footspeed makes you wonder how she advanced so far in the exam. Also, RIP Ponzu.

* "Small pores" as an explanation for Nen activation is in line with midichlorians.

* Chimerant trash talk: Hagya hides for an ambush and gets taunted by his spritely female companion: "I thought you were the King of the Jungle."

* Killua shouting "Why did you choose that power?!" is a running gag, but it's obviously because the Roulette is a Rule that enhances its efficacy, right?
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I really like the horror-esque feel of these episodes you're watching.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

Also, fuck that ten-minute backstory for Gyro, king of NGL, who's already dead.

His backstory was way longer than needed, I agree. But keep in mind that being "already dead" is irrelevant in an arc where people can come back as ants.

SeabassDebeste posted...

No coincidence that his sister's name, Reina, means Queen, right?

This kept popping into my head as well. Togashi probably knows at least a little Spanish (due to a naming scheme later in the manga), so it's possible.
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Eerieka posted...

His backstory was way longer than needed, I agree. But keep in mind that being "already dead" is irrelevant in an arc where people can come back as ants.

Kind of a spoiler bro?
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I love the backstory though because it's weird and out of place.

Just raw foreshadowing that basically outright says it won't be relevant for a long time
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pjbasis posted...

Eerieka posted...

His backstory was way longer than needed, I agree. But keep in mind that being "already dead" is irrelevant in an arc where people can come back as ants.

Kind of a spoiler bro?

TC knows that people can back as ants. It's been established with Colt.
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SeabassDebeste posted...

The main other heroic "plot point" - Gon and Killua debate what to do if Kite is in jeopardy (though of course they've sworn to abandon him). So we can expect this to happen, which has me excited.

this happened a lot sooner than i expected.
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lol
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Episodes 85-91

Recap: G/K and Kite exchange philosophy, but their advance on the Chimera Ant stronghold ends brutally when Neferpitou senses them from miles away. Kite loses an arm and must fight her just to allow G/K to escape. Killua has to KO Gon to make the escape, and he encounters Netero along with two other high-skill Hunters, Morel and Knov, who are planning a punitive foray into NGL. It's back to training, and Gon has a mission - save Kite.

From here, we follow three storylines that eventually merge, FFVI-style. The punitive party posts up outside of Pitou's scouting range and starts picking off the chimerants squadron-by-squadron, which starts to bother Colt.

The second and third Kingsguards hatch, followed by the King, whose birth nearly kills the Queen, and who seems to have little use for her. The King splits with his Kingsguard to hunt rare human meat, and aside from Colt's faction of loyalists, the power void is resulting in different claimants. Colt seeks the aid of Netero's company in order to help his queen. Neferpitou zombifies Kite.

And finally, in G/K's storyline, they train with Bisky to defeat two of Morel's students, Knuckle and Shoot, so they can earn entry into the hunting party. While Knuckle befriends G/K and the duo gets much stronger, they are unable in the end to overcome the experience and strength differential. Gon loses and is cut off from Nen for thirty days.

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This is the stuff.

It's been true since the very first arc: action-packed, emotional climaxes in Hunter x Hunter often happen off screen and require us to fill in the gaps after the fact. This includes episode-long and arc-long resolutions. The show usually employs steady pacing, both fast and deliberate, but in more than one high-leverage spot - say, the result of the final exam in the Hunter tournament - we wake up, and it's already over. The real drama is in the fallout.

In the span of seven episodes, that happens twice here. The buildup to Kite's demise is there - that conversation about "what do you do if Kite is in danger?" wasn't just sitting around taking up space. Kite also lets us in on his philosophy - that in the end, it's about resolve, tells us that he won't be training them - foreshadowing, anyone? But in an inversion of the show' tendency to draw out decisions in agonizing length, it's resolved in a flash: when they hesitate in listening to Kite, his arm is immediately lost, before the battle begins. As predicted, there's no decision to be made for Gon - he immediately fires up the Ren. But Killua, more of the face of the internal struggle, also acts without thinking, forcing the retreat.

And the show is particularly sadistic afterward. With Gon down and out, Killua becomes our POV character, and we see how he sees Gon, who won't even blame Killua for injuring him in saving him. It's too much for Killua to try to dispel Gon's optimism in Kite's survival, but the internal monologue lets us know just how pure Gon has to be to have this type of hope. You are light... sometimes you shine so bright, I must look aside. But even so, is it okay that I stay by your side? And then before the episode ends - bam - Kite's head sitting in Neferpitou's lap.
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The unique cruelty of it is that we get the knife twisted again shortly afterward. Knuckle gets a surprising amount of character development for what appears at first to be a throwaway role. But he become Gon's mentor even in smashing him, and we have to wait a whole episode to find out that Gon doesn't make it back, even after all that training. Killua also faces what's almost literally his internal demons, thanks to tough love from Bisky. The beginning of this training has Killua wondering if he can stay with Gon, and Bisky informs him that his fear of being the underdog will lead him to betray Gon. So he can't lose, right?

Defeat has never felt more bitter on HxH. Gon has always known that willpower alone can't win you everything, but he's still hoping for that miracle. Now? "I never knew how frustrating weakness could be." As for Killua... well, he didn't beat his demons. With Illumi in one corner of his mind and Bisky in the other... Illumi's side came out on top, for now. The action in the fights (Gon's is particularly boring) is almost entirely beside the point compared to the internal struggle that will come as a result of losing them. I'm really excited to see the fallout.

No major surprises on the villainous front. It's sad of course to see the benevolent turtle and penguin guys get their head annihilated, but we're moving on in the story. With the queen's loss of power and the order already in chaos with the squadrons' being taken out, it's Lord of the Flies down there. The penguin and turtle chimerants are Piggy and the conch cast aside - everyone that remains is a savage, Nen-using warlord, intent on propagating his own line. Colt's face-turn ahs been a long time coming, but this isn't how I anticipated it to go down. It makes sense - but it also might be too little, too late.

Reality of the series that has become a major point of emphasis in the last mini-arc: power isn't everything in a fight. Anyone can lose any fight. Presumably G/K will defeat stronger enemies, but I'm interested in seeing how else this plays out over the rest of the Chimera Ant arc.

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* Killua, unable to stop himself, in self-loathing. "You reacted quickly." No! I'm just running away!

* Knuckle's ten-minute math lesson is truly unwelcome. TBH, I related a ton to Gon with steam coming out of his ears and finally getting KO'd.

* Palm, the wispy, uber-creepy student of Knoz... she's just hilarious. Everything about her and the way others react to her. Can't act normal for a second, including putting more sugar than tea into her tea, being a great cook (and weirdly enjoying talking about it!)... and she's an Enhancer. Most against-type Nen-character yet? Also, I'm pretty sure she wants Gon's D. Yikes.

* Oh hey, we see Paper. It kinda blows, though. It's neat hat Gon is learning feinting.

* Annoying names to track: Shaiapouf "Shia LeBoeuf" and Menthuthuyoupi ("Youpi"). Growing random wings is amazing.

* Nen bunnies multiply like crazy.

* "Our goal isn't to defeat Knuckle and Shoot... it's to become stronger, and return to NGL to save Kite." LOVE Gon's philosophy.

* It really is nice seeing Bisky again. PINK RELIEF: PIANO MASSAGE.

* Jajanken got a name.

* The King got dat ass. He's a dead ringer for Perfect Cell, though the tail is more of an early-form Cell artifact.
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Now this is a pace
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Yeah, I caught up in Supernatural and Jane the Virgin, have had lots of free time/have been procrastinating, and my friends suck/don't want to meet up.
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Well it's a good timing anyways, keep it up friends
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At this pace you're going to pass where I am in the series within a week instead of the month or so I figured it'd take! That was a good block of episodes, though, yeah. Knuckle/Gon and the stuff with Kite was great.
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Nobody really uses the full names of the royal guards. It's safe to call them Pitou, Pouf, and Youpi. Especially Youpi because holy shit his whole name is difficult.
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kite's head messed me up man

one of a handful of anime moments that made me feel physically upset

at least two more of those are yet to come in hxh too!

oh baby thats the stuff
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Episodes 92-95

Recap: Despite best efforts from the human surgeons, the queen chimerant passes away before Colt's eyes - and leaves behind a small, human-like fetus. As reparation for his failures, Gon takes Palm out on a date. Killua babysits by killing the lurking Rammot, and Palm attempts to kill Gon for letting her down easy. Morel and Knov return with the deranged zombie Kite, inspiring G/K to join the new mission to attack the King and the Kingsguard.

Lots of small segments in here, so we'll take them on bit by bit. First, regarding the unified enemy threat - they seem absurdly powerful. Netero is the strongest human, and Colt is pretty clear that strength-wise, he's below even the Kingsguard, much less the King.

Speaking of the King, the just-named Meruem, Light that Illuminates All, gets stronger from eating Nen-users - and he's set up a pipeline for more people to be fed to him in the kingdom he took over. Given his absurd strength (even though he couldn't kill Pitou before, which as he then told her, earned his respect), and the fact that Netero's plan involves isolating him, the fact that he can grow even stronger pretty much guarantees that trickery will be involved in bringing him down. Perhaps he'll be fed poisoned humans (Netero himself?), whose consumption limits his Nen somehow?

The scene where Meruem gets his name twisted my heart up into a ball. I didn't expect the dying queen to bring up these feels, especially since in her dying words, she makes it clear that her goals are entirely evil - she wants her son to take over the world. But when Colt starts lying to her about the King to comfort her, and then the fetus comes out, and Colt flashes back to his human memories... Morel and Knuckle both start tearing up... damn. It's an incredibly powerful scene that stands out among other, recent, powerful scenes, in part because of how unlikely it is.

On the flip side of things, Gon's handling of Palm has to be one of the great humorous sequences of the show, especially in conjunction with Killua's reactions. Killua is increasingly horrified to learn about Gon's experience in dating, especially older women. (On that note, there's no fucking way Gon is still twelve. Didn't Greed Island take around a year in-universe?) And then Gon is actually really sweet on his date, planning out where to go (the aquarium is a vet move) and even making her feel special in the woods. Can't help the crazy, though, no matter how nice she cleans up. Killua stalks them the entire time, with the framing conveniently putting a conspicuous arrow over him in the frame of the date.

I don't even know what to make of Rammot and Killua. Is there literally something in Killua's brain that Illumi implanted, or was that a metaphorical barrier that he overcame? It's a spectacular scene with Killua at both his lowest and highest, but I'd like some clarification. In any case, Rammot the Hammot continues to be an excellent enemy, with his orgasmic enthusiasm for power/villainy. It certainly seems like Killua has quieted the Illumi in his mind, though - at least for now.

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* The King's preferred method of killing people is a little bland. Fewer points for creativity.

* I suddenly feel really creeped out by Knov - he's playing Palm's emotions, but it seems primarily for her blood?!

* A lot of baseball metaphors in that Morel/Knuckle vs Cheetu fight. Also, if Cheetu is a level 1 soldier, then... man, that's insane.

* Splitting the three teams by power level (G/K, Knuckle/Shoot, Morel/Knov) seems worrying, but presumably it'll work out all right for them all. Chemistry is important, I suppose.

* Gon's 'let him hit me' strategy returns against Kite. The shot of the puppetmaster's Nen is great.

* Killua, on Gon's dating experience: '"T-Teach him things?!" These women are grown-ups!"
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There was definitely a literal element to illumi's influence.
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I agree with everything you said about the scene with the dying queen. I wasn't expecting feels, and I got them.
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cheetu is a squad leader; like the same level as hagya
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pjbasis posted...

There was definitely a literal element to illumi's influence.

Thanks for the clarification! Not sure if this is as good as a solely internalized issue, but at least it lets us have a cool triumphant scene.

Eerieka posted...

I agree with everything you said about the scene with the dying queen. I wasn't expecting feels, and I got them.

Too soon to relive it, but I'm super-excited to see Colt again. Dude has so massively exceeded expectations.

MysticBrohan posted...

cheetu is a squad leader; like the same level as hagya

Ah alright, maybe Morel/Knuckle were mistaken, then. Cheetu's still out there with his Nen blocked - wonder what will happen.
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Episodes 96-97

Recap: Chimerants have spread across continents, including to Meteor City, home of the Phantom Troupe. Six of the remaining Spiders - including the new Kalluto (Killua's sister?!) - descend upon Zazan, the source of the infestation.

It became pretty clear as Kurapika's revenge arc ended that we would no longer be seeing the Phantom Troupe as primary antagonists. Their inconsequential impact on Greed Island pretty much confirmed that they'd be occasionally fun side characters. So when an episode centers around them, we're pretty much assured at this point that it will be a gaiden with minimal canon consequences.

And holy shit, I really enjoyed this gaiden. We get to see everyone in action - Phinks's ridiculous windup punch (suspiciously similar to the Jajanken), the mummy guy's ridiculously stupid holes-in-the-body-tornado move, death by paper cuts from Kalluto, Shizuku's body (pretty much the main justification for her part), Shalnark showing what happens when his first option as a Manipulator is taken away, and some neat tricks from Feitan. They're all reasonably cool, and done against enemies that are moderately threatening, but not enough to make us fear we'll lose some of these lovable, evil psychopaths.

It's also delightful watching the crew's dynamic in general. Perhaps the best encapsulation of their attitude is Phinks's refusing to mercy-kill the transformed humans after Zazan is killed - "Hell no. Attack me, trash!" Everyone shows up and spectates Feitan's duel with Zazan. We're given Kalluto as our POV character to show us the level they're operating at and as a WTF angle for their bizarre code of ethics. No one steps up to help Feitan when he appears to struggle, and they instead play janken to pick who gets to attack Zazan next, should Feitan fail. We're also informed that Kalluto is by far the weakest among them.

From a plot perspective, it's not a total throwaway, either. The male chimerants have talked about spreading their seed (albeit we have yet to see them sexing up a human woman - possibly just because it's too gruesome to show rape?) but it was unclear how the very few females would prosper. Zazan shows us how she can forcibly mutate humans into her thralls. (Since becoming a queen, her ridiculous boobs seem to have grown even more - and her ass, too.)

Really, the nice part about the gaiden is that it's a break that lets us do some different, low-stakes stuff. The Phantom Troupe is fun, but they can't really fit into the main plot - let's hang out with them and let them flex a bit. Seeing that zombifying/mutating power in action is something we can't really fit in the context of the main plot. And of course, it's nice to get closure (and revenge) on Zazan and Pike, who were responsible for the deaths of Ponzu and the scrubby Hunter.

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* But for real, at some point, Kalluto has to have significance, right?! It feels like with the end of the series approaching, we're not going to see Killua get revenge on Illumi, and certainly not Hisoka coming to reap his fruit. Or Gon meeting Ging lmao.

* Fantastic named attacks these episodes. SEXY STINGER OF REBIRTH. BATTLE CANTABILE - PROLOG (and JUPITER). KARMIC LOOP - RIPPER CYCLOTRON. MEANDERING DANCE. RADIATING LOVE. PAIN PACKER - UNFORGIVEN - BURNT BY THE SUN.

* Phinks wearing headwear at the beginning in the desert was an unexpected delight.
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There's something I want to say, but this time I don't know if it's a spoiler or not because I don't know if it was actually revealed in-series or just in side materials.
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Put it in spoilers and maybe someone else can confirm
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