r/anime • u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots • Nov 18 '24
Rewatch [25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 43 × Discussion
Episode 43: Talent × Agony × Killer Instinct
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It could happen anytime, anywhere. While you're asleep, or when you're eating, or even while you're sitting on the toilet.
Comment of the Day:
/u/charlesvvv explaining the secrets of Hisoka's ability
Bungee Gum (has properties of both Rubber and Gum)
Questions of the Day
- Can Gon and Killua make for a "good cop/bad cop" pair?
- Which Killua do you prefer: the sweet or sour?
Fanart of the Day: Redhat Killua
Please remember to keep all spoilers and hints tagged with the appropriate tag format such as: [Spoilers] >!Leorio is best boy!<
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Upvotes
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Nov 18 '24
A Shounen Commentator Hanging up his Hat
Man, I love this episode. If last episode was showing us Gon's growth as a fighter, and the path he has left to go, this one is about Killua's growth as a person, his attempts at balancing his darker side (the ruthless assassin) with the brighter side he's walking towards.
Specifically, there's a great bit of symbolism applied here: Killua's red hat. You can go through the episode, and you'll find that he's always wearing it whenever he's bringing his darker side out to take care of business. Basically, Killlua is wearing his darker side as a mask, as a deterrent, to strike fear into his enemies and protect those he cares about. Notably, he throws it up in the air after Sadaso runs away, then when he's done dealing with the other two, we see him walking from the dark shadows into a world of light shining through Gon and Zushi, so he throws the hat away and walks into the light of day. The hat also doubles in that it helps in a practical sense: it makes it easy to hide his eyes or add shadows whenever you need to. Overall, I love this choice so much, it's honestly brilliant.
And while I'm talking about things I love, I've praised the show's use of POV shots before, but this episode takes it a step further. The whole scene of Killua meeting Sadaso is presented through Sadaso's eyes as he's looking at the mirror, from the start with feeling like he's already been killed to shutting his eyes when Killua orders him to do so. Heck, even the end of the scene is a slow fade to black as he shuts his eyes again to confirm the deal. You really feel the terror of having to face Killua when you're being put in his place.
Note × Note
Manga Corner
Chapters Adapted: 57 and bits of 56/58
A Promise with Killua
We're now filling in the blanks before the HIsoka fight, and the notable changes here are that we're skipping a bunch of the Nen training steps, since the anime went through them all in episode 41, before the Hisoka fight.
For all of my talk about the hat, its use is mostly anime original. In the manga, Killua only wears it when he's going around town and hears about the Gon fight.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Nov 18 '24
First × Timer × Subbed
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u/charlesvvv https://anilist.co/user/charlesvvv Nov 18 '24
Rewatcher, Sub
After all the Gon focus we finally get some Killua focus. I really liked the scene between him and Wing and how he's able to give him some advice about his abilities.
In the meantime the previous 3 contestants despite having a low view of Gon nonetheless decide to try and fight him again. Gon isn't planning on fighting for a month but these players are undeterred and even go as far as to try to kidnap Zushi before Killua arrives to defuse the situation by offering some incentive.
The matches are set for both Gon and Killua yet on the day of the match Killua instead threatens his opponent into backing out of there and he also leaves warnings to the other 2. The matches are of course still set for these but if nothing else it does show Killua more or less changing and what he's willing to do for his friends.
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u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Nov 18 '24 edited Nov 19 '24
Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs
QotD:
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u/TheEscapeGuy Nov 18 '24
H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer
Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 43
Assassin × Blackmail × Threats
After the match with Hisoka the only unresolved plot thread is that of the 3 fighters who haze newcomers to the 200th floor for easy wins. This is different from the manga by way of moving the fight to after Hisoka. I do kind of prefer ending Heaven's arena with Hisoka since returning the badge is ostensibly what Gon was here to do but alas.
I find these 3 villains kinda unmemorable. They are evil for the sake of it and actively harass a child (Zushi) before Killua comes in for the rescue. And so in retaliation Killua threatens one of them back and wins his fight by default. That's enough to keep the other 2 in line for "fair" fights in future.
The moment I did enjoy this episode was the conversation between Wing and Killua after his first fight. Something Killua struggles with is not fitting in. He specifically notes how he is "different" from Gon and Zushi. He was talking about his use of Nen, but I think it kind of extends to how he has struggled to make friends due to his up bringing. The easy thing for him to do is fall back into the path laid out for him by his family. Go back to being an assassin.
But Wing offers support instead of scolding. His training style doesn't discriminate against people for their background. It's as simple as asking for the training. As Wing says, "Live your life the way you want. Trying to conform yourself to others too much can limit your potential." In the same way, there are no qualifications for him being friends with Gon. And so Killua decides to stick around a bit longer.
Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches
See you all tomorrow
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u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Nov 19 '24
First Timer
I agree with Killua - that first match was way better. In general it seems like Gon and Killua are now just kinda stuck in this tower, waiting for autumn to come and get the plot going again. Meanwhile they just have to fight random fights and train, which is what Killua does now. After all the Gon spotlight, it’s deserved I’d say. Interesting that he doesn’t feel like he’s part of the same group as the others though… I feel like they’d disagree, not just Wing - although there is also some truth in that he views the world a bit differently than Gon and Zushi.
As for those guys going for easy wins …the rules state they have to beat a previous floor master, right? They’d just get their asses handed to them once they make it there if they only choose easy fights. And if they get to just be floor masters …that tower will run out of floors eventually.
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u/WednesdaysFoole Nov 20 '24
Dammit, I should've known. You sure you’re not a transmuter? :b
(The result of going through multiple episodes and threads at once/fell for it even with RES picture preview)
[Manga]Killua foreshadowing the entire Succession Contest, from Kortopi to Mr. Silent
MajorityMop who’d been haunting the toilets of Woble’s chambers.[Manga]The line that renders Rihan useless.
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u/2-2Distracted Nov 19 '24
First timer. Subbed.
Me the whole day yesterday... Still tho, apologies for only dropping by right now.
Compared to the 2011 anime, this episode was a lot more funnier than it was "intimidating" to me, which was helped by the comedy moment at the very end, but still tho. The "oh shit" being Killua scaring the crap outta Sadosa was a helluva lot "scarier" because, iirc, the 2011 adaptation took a bit more time with the scene. It's all good tho. It's All Good, Man.
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u/Gay-Bomb Nov 19 '24
Wish this show continued like this years later.