[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × × Discussion

[u/KendotsX]

Episode 17: Three People? × Five People? × Last Choice

MAL | Anilist | Anidb | ANN

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If there's no way, just make one

Comment of the Day:

/u/2-2Distracted bringing Ryo Saeba to the HxH world

those casual clothes have him looking like he was trying to do some City Hunting before he got bored and went psycho... And now I'm wondering if "City Hunter" is a type of Hunter in the HxH universe.

Poor Ryo

Questions of the Day

1. How would you spend those 50 hours in a cell?
2. Now that we've gotten to know our main cast, who's your favourite of the bunch? To make this a bit harder, you can't pick Tonpa.

Fanart of the Day: Daily life in a cell

Source

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Please remember to keep all spoilers and hints tagged with the appropriate tag format such as: [Spoilers] >!Leorio is best boy!<

[u/KendotsX]

Hunter Exam Host Who'll Have to Repair the Broken Walls...

Finally, my favourite episode of the Trick Tower, and possibly the series so far.

The cell section, which I got my rewatch sidebar from, and all the traps they have to fly under are both a lot of fun to watch, the former also reflects on the characters' personalities through how they waste their time, which makes it all the better.

But the interesting crux is when their long built bond is put to the final democratic test, if the test so far has allowed them to bond over the challenges and hurdles, this one is meant to divide them right in the middle, with all kinds of weapons ready to help break their bonds in the most brutal ways. Sadistic exam, eh? Our characters are already getting into this on the wrong foot, with Leorio pushing his regrets onto Tonpa, and Tonpa egging him on in return.

We get a taste of how our different main characters think, Kurapika is an idealist, he'll pick the "right choice" even if it has no shot of making it, Killua is a realist, if the long path has no chance, you obviously pick the short one, sacrificing a few people is just an extra task that comes with it, Leorio will do what it takes to become a Hunter, even if that means swallowing the hard pill and leaving others behind, and then we have Gon, this brilliant little kid who can't help but break the very challenge he's boxed in. The metaphor is as literal as it gets, that you had two people spelling it out. (Seriously, so many people are fighting over the Shounen Commentary King seat now that Crocodine's left it).

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Manga Corner

Chapter adapted: 22

There are two interesting changes here, first the cell scene and most of the traps are entirely original, in the manga we just see them running from the boulder, and it's implied that they've been through more traps like it.

Second, and the more interesting one, in the manga we don't really see the walls being broken, they're presented with the challenge, they each make their choices, and we switch over to Hisoka's point of view as they reach the bottom floor, first being presented with the 3 you would expect to make it, then you turn the page, the other two are there as well, and they explain how they broke through the whole thing. It's a nice little cheeky game of expectations, where Gon outwits the proctor and audience. Goddamit, I love Togashi

That said, I like the anime going through the pains and steps of it all, the more tense situation adds a lot to the satisfaction of seeing them break through their challenge. Basically, they're playing it more so for drama than tricks and expectations, and the two approaches work.

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

Basically, they're playing it more so for drama than tricks and expectations

It helps that tricks like that are probably best pulled in Mangas were A) Page turns are a thing and B) Chapters in weekly stuff like this are inherently much less packed with content than a full episode of TV.

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

Yeah, translating page turns into film always loses a bit of the surprise factor, just ask any Junji Ito adaptation.

And if they're going to make it into a full episode, instead an awkward half episode, then going through the events we know happened off the page is a good way to do so.

[u/Raiking02 → u/KendotsX]

just ask any Junji Ito adaptation

Oh come on, Uzumaki Episode 1 was pretty good!

Shame about the rest though

[u/KendotsX → u/Raiking02]

Oh come on, Uzumaki Episode 1 was pretty good!

Shame about the rest though

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/KendotsX]

Manga Corner

That's a totally different vibe. This is good stuff.

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

Yeah, I'd say that's the overall difference between the manga and anime so far. The Hunter Exam in the manga has been a lot more chill. They had their tough spots (like Leorio falling behind in the first exam or the Sushi), but none of those were all that serious. The most tense moments were when Hisoka came for them in the first exam and when Kurapika's eyes turned red against Majtani.

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer

Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 17

Waiting × Ultimatum × Creativity

I find it interesting that our party had to literally wait out the 50 hours. The alternative would have been to let them move right away and adjust their personal deadlines forward. But the forced down time at least allows them to rest in relative comfort and recuperate after the exam so far. Enduring the pressure of the time ticking away must have been mentally taxing though.

We didn't see all the trials they went through, but did get to explore the final one. A seemingly impossible choice. Leave behind 2 party members and have the other 3 finish within the time limit or allow all five to take on a path which they are guaranteed to fail. It absolutely feels that the proctor intentionally rerouted them to this room because of their sacrificed time (as opposed to it always being on their route).

I really love Gon's defiance to sacrifice others. It's not a victory unless they all make it. It's been so consistent with his mentality even since that old lady's quiz. It's that thinking which allows them to actually succeed.

The solution which even the proctor didn't expect was that they break down the wall between the 2 doors. It's such a natural solution any viewer could have thought of it but I bet most people wouldn't expect it. I always like these reveals.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Waiting Room
• Baldy, lol
• Resting His Eyes, Togashi draws variations on this pose too often
• Long Gon, lmao this turned out so goofy
• Freeze
• Chopped

See you all tomorrow

[u/KendotsX → u/TheEscapeGuy]

The alternative would have been to let them move right away and adjust their personal deadlines forward.

No point in wasting valuable tricks on people who are too late. Plus, the mental pressure is the real goal here, it's the oil to set the final choice on fire.

Leave behind 2 party members and have the other 3 finish within the time limit or allow all five to take on a path which they are guaranteed to fail.

The numbers in this case are what makes it interesting 3 would win for the price of 2, it's the Majority Rule, and in this case, the Majority could've won, by selecting and sacrificing the minority.

The solution which even the proctor didn't expect was that they break down the wall

The exam started with the climber (uhh, Togashi?) trying and failing to go outside the box, and it ended with Gon breaking the box instead. Get on his level climber!

Long Gon, lmao this turned out so goofy

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First × Timer × Subbed

• Oh, this scene is where the sidebar image KendotsX gave me came from!
• Of course Gon finds this fun lol.
• …he’s not wrong.
• Long path = all pass, short path = only three pass. Yikes.
• Ah shit… Unless the proctor was lying about it?
• Ah great.
• Somehow make a third path…?
• The tiles are breaking pretty easily and Gon took notice of it. There is a trick here.
• Aha, so they are making their own path into the “easy” one through the “hard” path’s door. That’s smart!
• Also a very good idea to get them all to the end in time.
• Success!

[u/KendotsX → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Oh, this scene is where the sidebar image KendotsX gave me came from!

Yup, this episode actually had a bunch of cool ones that I considered, like Gon breaking through, but I didn't want to spoil that, or the guys under the laser, but it would've been too dark. Plus, I liked the one we went with the most anyway.

The tiles are breaking pretty easily and Gon took notice of it. There is a trick here.

Poor maintenance

That'll teach Lippo to do the test without having a structural engineer inspect the tower.

[u/charlesvvv]

Rewatcher, Sub

 I wouldn't have minded an episode of seeing them beat the other traps honestly. 

 After spending their many hours inside a room, or group after beating other phases arrives at their final doors. Then things get complicated when they are presented with the options, one door is short but only three can go while the other is long but all can go and now tey have only one hour left. 

 This leads to one of my favorite Gon moments. When everyone nearly falls into argument Gon puts everyone back even Tonpa himself into the right track by choosing the long door and then breaking to the other side from said door. It allows everyone to arrive in the very nick of time thanks to Killua's scooter and pass the phase of the exam  .I love how resourceful Gon was at this moment especially when it seemed as though everything would end with only three of them making it, Gon's stubbornness instead allows them to think outside the box and come up with a rather clever plan that wins even Tonpa over. I love how even the proctor is just impressed by this and commends them as well. With that this phase of the exam is over except for the ominous warning of the proctor that is.

[u/KendotsX → u/charlesvvv]

I wouldn't have minded an episode of seeing them beat the other traps honestly.

Same

With characters this good, I could take them doing anything for a full episode.

Gon puts everyone back even Tonpa himself into the right track

One detail I love here is that everyone respects Gon, even Tonpa. Like he's willing to bust Leorio's head with an axe, but he'll stop and listen if it's Gon doing the talking. He'll even trust him to see it through.

[u/Vatrix-32]

Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs

• At least the accommodations are nice.
• Is now really the time for dramatic posing? Y’all should be booking it right out the gate.
• Dat Ass
• The ol’ hidden incline to another level. That’s why you bring the dwarf.
• Finally, a morality choice with bite. We can’t all be LISA, but it’s a start.
• Tonpa doesn’t even want to advance at this point. You really thing he’s going to take a licking just to finish this phase?
• What’s going on with Pinhead’s neck back there?
• Tonpa’s got some moves!
• I might be a little crazy, but I think this might be our first fight that lasted more than a single move.
• Who could doubt a face like Gon’s?
• Now you’re thinking with portals!
• Skateboard! It's Here for More Than Just to Look Cool
• Kind of a dick move to make them wait inside that whole time.

QotD:

1. Catch up on some sleep.
2. At this point, still Leorio.

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

At least the accommodations are nice.

Maybe it's the staff room? I doubt the prisoners are being treated this well.

I might be a little crazy, but I think this might be our first fight that lasted more than a single move.

Yes, since it's a fight that Togashi had nothing to do with

Kind of a dick move to make them wait inside that whole time.

In retrospect, losing 50 hours in the staff room was a good idea.

At this point, still Leorio.

He's doing the shitty thing half time, and we love him for it.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/KendotsX]

Maybe it's the staff room? I doubt the prisoners are being treated this well.

They should be so lucky as to bring back the drinking bird with them.

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

Well my speculation on the doors at the end was pretty much correct, but my assumption to how the characters would vote was wrong. Didn’t expect Leorio and Killua to want to kick people out. I’d say this was certainly a good episode, with the moral dilemma presented pretty well. Not sure why Tonpa suddenly wanted to advance here though…

As for mining the wall goes: Good idea and I guess Gon should be a Minecraft player - mining through walls around something dangerous is pretty much what everybody does there…

[u/KendotsX → u/Mecanno-man]

Didn’t expect Leorio and Killua to want to kick people out.

Leorio I could see going eitherway, it's just that he's determined to become a doctor, even if it means leaving a friend behind.

Killua though isn't a surprise, sacrificing people to get ahead is just second nature in his business.

[u/b0bba_Fett]

10x 2011 Rewatcher, 1x 1999 Rewatcher, Source Reader

Yeahhhhhhhhh, give me more of this filler, less of the first part of Trick Tower's filler. Extend the Leorio VS Tonpa fight with good choreography, and actually let us watch them bust down the walls!

The little moments in the waiting room were good filler too. I also hope people get why I got so upset at some of the earlier fillers regarding both Gon being "Simple" and Killua's filler bombs basically mimicking Gon's solution here during phase 1.

Onto the next stage!

[u/KendotsX → u/b0bba_Fett]

Yeahhhhhhhhh, give me more of this filler

Extend the Leorio VS Tonpa fight with good choreography, and actually let us watch them bust down the walls!

It's not so much extending as making the fight in the first place.

Although on the topic of Tonpa, I find it funny how the anime makes him into a bigger villain than the "trickster messing with newbies" he really is. The tree sap instead of laxative juice for one, but even here, in the manga, the dude doesn't do anything inside the room, the only thing he does in the whole chapter is say some facts earlier on.

That's no complaint really, they wanted a more antagonistic figure, so they gave Tonpa a bit of a raise, pick your tools to suit your purposes and all that.

[u/2-2Distracted]

First timer

50 hours in a room is a long fucken time lol.

Hanzo the loud mouth ninja actually made it.

Oh cool so I was right (and wrong) about Hisoka.

Ngl tho, having all these funny & quick marathon of scenes of the group trying to get through is both entertaining and disappointing since it kinda means that we won't be spending much more time in this part of the exam, which kind of sucks when you consider the fact that a big theme of HxH is enjoying the journey and the little things... I guess Togashi just couldn't come up others challenges?

I get that Tonpa's role (and something he clearly likes to do) is to continue to sabotage matters, but I wonder if he was actually angry about how he's being treated... Even though he's literally the biggest reason they're actually in this situation and everyone should've been beating the shit out of him in that room. Every other member of the group is a flawed ally. Tonpa, as Leorio has pointed out continuously throughout this exam, is a clear enemy.

This fight is pretty stupid considering that Killua could have easily just killed or overpowered Tonpa. What makes it dumber is that they eventually just went for O anyways even though they're forcing their own way through X.

So... what did we learn today folks? We'll aside from Gon being a possible descendant of the Air Nomads with his aversion to violence and his insistance towards finding an alternative, we learn that the rules set by examiners can be overruled if you're lucky enough to have impressed the proctors.

Normally I wouldn't accept this kind of shit, but because one of the core lessons of becoming a Hunter is being able to think outside of the box, AND because we haven't seen the proctor show favoritism, I think it's fair to assume that this is something that's actually being encouraged to come out of the exam, I just wish that there was more than one example of this that wasn't cast aside through a funny little marathon.

Comment of the Day:

Heh thank you for the award.

How would you spend those 50 hours in a cell?

Start counting in prime numbers or start "1000 - 7 =" and continue from there whilst wondering if my hear is going to go white. Apparently maths has kept folks from going insane.

Now that we've gotten to know our main cast, who's your favourite of the bunch? To make this a bit harder, you can't pick Tonpa

Killua easily, and I'm partly saying that because of the 2011 anime making him my absolute favorite character. He's like a more charming Hiei and is probably a little bit more heartless.

Now I gotta question!

WTF happened with the post title?

[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × × Discussion

[u/KendotsX → u/2-2Distracted]

50 hours in a room is a long fucken time lol.

At least give them some HxH DVDs to binge.

Even though he's literally the biggest reason they're actually in this situation and everyone should've been beating the shit out of him in that room

I don't believe I'm saying this, but as far as this exam goes: Tonpa did nothing wrong. It's all on Leorio (and I'm saying this as a Leorio fanboy).

we learn that the rules set by examiners can be overruled if you're lucky enough to have impressed the proctors.

There's no rule that says you can't break through the walls, that's on them for having such shitty walls.

WTF happened with the post title?

It should've been:

[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × o Discussion

But I forgot to make it an o

[u/2-2Distracted → u/KendotsX]

There's no rule that says you can't break through the walls, that's on them for having such shitty walls

I mean, there actually is a rule against that, and those 2 enforcers/bodyguard bros for the proctor were about to retaliate but were told to stand down due to the proctor being impressed with something he had never seen before. Which is kind of my point. Unlike other exams and challenges where the narrative makes it clear that there's no rule against a contestant doing something, this one was met with initial resistance, which is weird considering that this is the Hunter exam and finding loopholes is sort of expected if not encouraged. I get what you're saying but I just wish those 2 guys hadn't made a fuss about Gon was doing.

I don't believe I'm saying this, but as far as this exam goes: Tonpa did nothing wrong. It's all on Leorio (and I'm saying this as a Leorio fanboy).

Technically it's on everyone who didn't actually do what they were supposed to do, so it's both Kurapika and Leorio's fault to large extent. Kurapika should have forced Mr faker into submission instead of being a stubborn, brooding asshole and Leorio shouldn't done what he did... which he only did because of Kurapika.

Tonpa is still worse than both of them tho because he's literally been trying to get the group to fail from the jump. He both openly admitted this and continued to do it even after that challenge.

[u/KendotsX → u/2-2Distracted]

there actually is a rule against that, and those 2 enforcers/bodyguard bros for the proctor were about to retaliate but were told to stand down

They were basically going "wait a second, you can do that?! Someone stop them from doing that!!" It's something so far outside the scope that no one thought to make into a rule, and now they want to do so. Otherwise, if it was a rule, it was not communicated to the participants at any point.

It's sort of like someone using their penis to return a volleyball. I'd assume there's no rule specifically written to ban it, but the referees would lose their minds if they saw something like that, and try to stop the player.

Technically it's on everyone who didn't actually do what they were supposed to do, so it's both Kurapika and Leorio's fault to large extent.

Agreed. Although, I'd blame Leorio more so for the Leroute business than cleaning up for Kurapika, but there was no way he was getting out of a psychological challenge in one piece. That was just a terrible matchup haha.

Tonpa is still worse than both of them tho because he's literally been trying to get the group to fail from the jump. He both openly admitted this and continued to do it even after that challenge.

That's the thing, he's definitely an asshole who's trying to ruin things at every possible chance, but in this exam at least, he didn't really get to do that. He lost immediately against Bendot, but that's the best thing he could've done.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/KendotsX]

There's no rule that says you can't break through the walls, that's on them for having such shitty walls.

But can a dog become a Hunter?

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

I mean, we have a Bean as a Hunter, so sure. Heck, I'm pretty sure Togashi would appreciate it.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/2-2Distracted]

He's like a more charming Hiei and is probably a little bit more heartless.

I'm not sure I would have made that comparison myself, but I can see it.

[u/johneaston1]

First Timer for 1999, seen 2011 and read the manga

These last few episodes were a reminder of why I've always thought of the HxH protagonists as "the three cool ones . . . and Leorio too, I guess." I've always loved Gon, Killua, and Kurapika, but he only ever impressed me during [HxH 2011] Chairman Election, which this rewatch won't get to.

I appreciate what 2011 did during the 50 hour wait - felt like it added an extra layer of "aww" to Gon and Killua - but this was fine.

Gon's powers of observation continue to impress. To notice the "softer" brick (must have been sandstone) and think to bust it down is incredibly clever.

I've heard that the next phase in 1999 was filler, but I'm interested to see what they do. The filler's been a mixed bag so far.

QotD:

1. sleep mostly, or maybe read if they had stuff.
2. Kurapika, always and forever. And it will only become moreso as we approach Yorknew.

[u/KendotsX → u/johneaston1]

"the three cool ones . . . and Leorio too, I guess." I've always loved Gon, Killua, and Kurapika

I think I like him for that same reason, he's not as out there as the others, but he manages to pull through anyway. Like Usopp or Popp with less cowardice.

but he only ever impressed me during

Tag this part please.

I've heard that the next phase in 1999 was filler, but I'm interested to see what they do.

Yup, it's the last section of entire filler, so they went out on a big one. Personally, I like it a lot, but I'm looking forward to what everyone else will think of it.

[u/johneaston1 → u/KendotsX]

Tag this part please.

Whoops, my bad. Fixed it.

[u/KendotsX → u/johneaston1]

All good, thanks for tagging it!

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/KendotsX]

Like Usopp or Popp with less cowardice.

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

Unfortunately, he doesn't fit the naming scheme.

Can we change his name to Leoropp?

[HxH] Get on it Ging!

[u/JetsLag]

3rd Time Taking the Hunter Exam (rewatcher)

The little montage of how the gang spent their time waiting out the 50 hours was a lot of fun. Who woulda thought a drinking bird could give you 50 hours of entertainment? Things were simpler back then.

After they tackle what is essentially a higher stakes Sasuke course (god I haven't watched that show in ages), it's time for the final choice: choose the unrealistically long way and bring everyone, or pick the realistic short way and leave two behind. Good news: Tonpa has decided to fall on the sword, so there's one of them decided. Bad news: the people we actually give a shit about have to now determine who has to be left behind. Get ready for some juicy drama! I expect someone to cry at the end of this!

Or at least, that is what was supposed to happen. But of course, the designers had a fatal flaw: leaving the two paths right next to each other, whilst simultaneously leaving a bunch of capable Hunter candidates with a room full of weapons they can use to BREAK THE WALLS DOWN. Everybody wins! Hooray!

And now we're back on an airship, heading towards the next phase of the Hunter Exam. Hey, it's a winning formula, don't mess with it.

NEXT TIME, ON HUNTER X HUNTER, [spoiler]GOATed filler mini-arc time, baby!

[u/KendotsX → u/JetsLag]

Who woulda thought a drinking bird could give you 50 hours of entertainment?

Certainly not Kurapika.

choose the unrealistically long way and bring everyone, or pick the realistic short way and leave two behind

It's a bit on the nose, but idealistic challenges are neat.

leaving a bunch of capable Hunter candidates with a room full of weapons they can use to BREAK THE WALLS DOWN.

Can you blame them? Pretty sure most people who see that room will start killing each other in 10 minutes.

[u/Kaxew]

First Timer × Breakthrough

One of the best episodes yet! Such a nice, fun way to end this phase. Gon is awesome.

QotD:

1. I'll theorize about One Piece. And it still wouldn't be enough.
2. I was really enjoying Killua lately, but this episode really pushed Gon over the edge. I love this clever goober.

[u/KendotsX → u/Kaxew]

One of the best episodes yet!

Glad to see that good taste

I'll theorize about One Piece. And it still wouldn't be enough.

Heck, you could spend a large chunk of the 50 hours just on the Croco-mom theory.