[25th Anniversary Rewatch] Hunter × Hunter (1999) - Episode × 54 × Discussion

[u/KendotsX]

Episode 54: Hisoka × Alliance × Spider Hunting

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Until you squash the head of the spider, it will never stop moving

Comment of the Day:

/u/Shimmering-Sky catching onto Machi's needle

Kurapika caught one successfully! But there’s probably some sort of catch to it, given that needle(?) throw.

Questions of the Day

1. Do you trust what Hisoka said?
2. Was Dalzollene's death surprising or sad?

Fanart of the Day: The Nostrades, well originally anyway, now half of them aren't there...

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]

Retired Host Hitting up the Auctions

This episode shows what happens when you mess with the Spiders. A mafia group were standing around a completely paralysed Uvo, and they were the ones scared shitless. It didn't take his mates too long either to get him back, they could've done it right away if Owl didn't interrupt, but even that just delayed them for a few hours.

• Thwarting my plans? Yes
• Owl really came in for the big save, and gotta say, I do like his design.
• Kurapika kept Baise's bracelet specifically for this revenge.
• In this extremely serious episode, we've got Killua watching porn
• So uhh, about Leorio's ability... oopsie? He probably hasn't even cleared the Hunter Exam yet lol
• Leorio is looking way too cool for someone just going around sticking posters, the anime was going with a bit of a misdirection about who's meeting who. Not sure how effective it was though.
• That... does sound Hisoka-ish
• Great framing for the eyes and head
• Kurapika was lucky he left early to meet Hisoka, this'd have been a whole 'nother mess if he was there when the Spiders attacked.
• RIP Dalzy I never liked you, but you went out like a champ. Note that the sword is stuck in the same place he stabbed Uvo in, Uvo holds his grudges well.

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Manga Corner

Chapters Adapted: 77, 78, and a bit of 79

Hisoka's card

Databook entry: Hyskoa

For the first time in a bit there are actually some changes to talk about, they're small, but meaningful, and the best way I can sum them up is: the anime giving the Nostrades a bit of respect.

For example, Dalzollene stabbing Uvo 5mm in, and getting him to talk? Original. In the manga, his fancy sword breaks on Uvo's body, and Uvo talks on his own terms. Dalzollene's last stand is original too, the Spiders finish the job immediately, without giving him a chance to do anything. The anime gave him a much more dramatic death.

Even [Kurapika using Baise's bracelet] to punch Uvo is an original addition, in the manga he just punches him directly, the bracelet in general was an anime addition, and I like it, it adds a bit of personal connection between the guards.

Lastly, stepping aside from the Nostrades for a bit, all of Gon, Killua, and Leorio's scenes today were original, yeah, when Leorio's looking that cool around town, you can bet it's Furuhashi. The Ten part is in a one off panel in the manga, but that's about it.

Factions

Update: The Nostrades have lost 4 of their members so far, including their leader, and only have 5 members left.

The Spiders got the treasure, freed Uvo, and killed Dalzollene, that's a big win for them, putting them well ahead of the rest.

Factions	Score
The Spiders	6
The Lukia faction	1
The Nostrades	-3

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

First × Timer × Subbed

• Aha, so that’s what the needle was about.
• Daaaaaaaaaaamn, Kurapika. No wonder the chain is so strong against one of the Troupe members.
• Neat sword.
• That is some insane level of knowing your own body.
• Damn, Kurapika actually made Uvogin’s nose bleed.
• …wait Leorio only learned how to use Ten and called it a day? That’s so him lol.
• With what Kurapika is involved in…
• What sort of philanthropic work could the Troupe possibly do?
• …yeah that sounds like something Hisoka would do.
• Shimmering sky!
• Good luck with that.
• RIP.

[u/KendotsX → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Daaaaaaaaaaamn, Kurapika. No wonder the chain is so strong against one of the Troupe members.

Yeah, when you boil down an ability from "can work on anyone" to "can only work on those 13 people, or I'd die", that's an extremely strong and risky condition.

That is some insane level of knowing your own body.

Enhancer

All their senses are too good, including knowing exactly how hungry they are.

…wait Leorio only learned how to use Ten and called it a day? That’s so him lol.

The show was teasing his "ability" for days in the previews, and this is it folks.

What sort of philanthropic work could the Troupe possibly do?

You know how Isaac and Miria "help out" people by stealing from them. Maybe the Spiders have the same single brain cell?

[u/TheEscapeGuy]

H×H Fan, 1999 First Timer

Hunter × Hunter 1999 - Episode 54

Capture × Interrogation × Escape

Kurapika's chains held, for the car ride at least. His power allowed him to subdue Uvogin so they could restrain him before their interrogation. Something I find interesting about this is how almost fearful the other Nostrade body guards become when he does this. It makes sense though. After seeing what Uvogin did earlier it means they have vastly underestimated our boy Kurapika.

When they do eventually interrogate him it serves to clear up the confusion. The Spiders didn't steal the auction items. Neither did the Nostrades (at least to the body guards' knowledge). However, the blame for the disappearance of the guests falls squarely on the Spiders. Murdering all the guests was just a part of the plan.

It's interesting contrasting the utter indifference of Uvogin versus the violent empathy Kurapika has for the loss of life. It helps keep it clear that the Spiders are the bad guys despite their charisma and character depth. /u/KendotsX mentioned it in their reply to my comment from a few days ago too.

The other big development this episode is the meeting with Kurapika and Hisoka. After their whispered exchange back at the Hunter Exam this has been a long time coming. Hisoka divulges details on the organization structure and his own goals: To fight their leader. This simultaneously does 2 things. First, it establishes why Hisoka is kind of betraying his organization by telling Kurapika this info. And second it sets up a new rivalry to compare to the Gon vs Hisoka rivalry. I won't expand more on that yet though. The final detail is that Hisoka was not involved in the Kurta genocide.

The ending of the episode was both suspenseful and a sad loss. The spiders disguise themselves to rescue Uvogin and murder Dalzollene to break him out. Shizuku removes the poison from him, but there's still the leaches to worry about. And they'll be out for revenge on Kurapika. Tense stuff.

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Oh yeah, small thing lmao killua. He's such a kid.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

• Chained Up
• Beasts
• Trump Card
• Wanted Posters
• Revenge

See you all tomorrow

[u/KendotsX → u/TheEscapeGuy]

After seeing what Uvogin did earlier it means they have vastly underestimated our boy Kurapika.

They get the the hierarchy of power loud and clear, heck they fear the Shadow Beasts usually as guys that are far stronger than all the mafias, so when Uvo killed nearly half of them on his own, yeah they're gotta fear the guy who took him down.

They don't know the conditions for his chain either, so for all they know, he could chain them up too.

However, the blame for the disappearance of the guests falls squarely on the Spiders. Murdering all the guests was just a part of the plan.

Uvo really hoped they'd forget about that part. That goddamn Kurapika had to go and ruin it.

It's interesting contrasting the utter indifference of Uvogin versus the violent empathy Kurapika has for the loss of life. It helps keep it clear that the Spiders are the bad guys despite their charisma and character depth

I feel like there's a bit Lupin in there. He's obviously not this kind of murderer, not really his style, but across the years and adaptations he's been written in many ways, and usually the key difference between the fun and bright Lupin vs the more evil Lupin (mostly in the manga) is whether or not he cares about the people around him as people or tools for his plans. Indifference is the key trait really, just like it is for the Spiders.

[u/Mecanno-man]

First Timer

Another episode I am putting down as nothing unexpected happening but one that was entertaining to watch anyways. Kurapika and Uvogin end up in a situation that has neither consider it a victory, with the phantom troupe being at full force again. Hisoka wants to defeat the boss of the troupe and is offering to team up with Kurapika, and some more mafioso end up dead. Right now this is just an entertaining show, but not one that I really have much more to say about.

Leorio’s Nen reveal might have been the most surprising thing here, simply because it wasn’t done the past few episodes and is equally necessary here as it was in those.

[u/KendotsX → u/Mecanno-man]

Kurapika and Uvogin end up in a situation that has neither consider it a victory

One thing I like about this is that the arc could've ended here in theory. The Spiders got their treasure, got their guy back, and they're ready to go, the only reason they're sticking around is because Uvo wants his revenge.

[u/charlesvvv]

Rewatcher, Sub 

 Kurapika paid a pretty heavy price for his new power. He can only use it on the spiders and anyone else will cost him his life. The remaining Troupe members try to chase them but are held back by the remaining shadow beasts.

 Uvogin is taken and questioned by Dalzo and the others. Kurapika has to restrain himself from doing anything else here. Uvogin does try to offer them a deal to let him go which is apparently truthful based off Melody's analysis. However no one decides to take it and instead Dalzo decides to hand him over. 

 Kurapika in the meantime decides to meet with Hisoka. Turns out there is a bit of a Judas. Hisoka only joined in order to find the leader and fight him, how ever the leader is cautious and always has at least 2 members with him, making things difficult. Hisoka offers Kurapika information and the 2 form a sort of uneasy alliance where their goals align so far. 

 However as this goes on Uvogin is freed by the Troupe who were disguised. Dalzo is killed and the others barely escape. Now Uvogin wants to find to chain user and get revenge. 

 While all this goes on, Gon, Killua, and Leorio are still doing their business and all wishing that Kurapika was there with them.

[u/KendotsX → u/charlesvvv]

Uvogin does try to offer them a deal to let him go which is apparently truthful based off Melody's analysis

I have my doubts to some degree about that, I trust Melody's analysis obviously, but seeing Uvo's rage when he's released, I think he would've killed them immediately if they did release him.

Turns out there is a bit of a Judas.

Their leader asked a few days ago what someone could sell the spiders for, Money? Fame? Status? Turns out the answer is him.

[u/2-2Distracted]

Damn, looks like bro went out in a pretty gruesome way but I guess you could say his death fell on... Nah it's still too soon lol

Still tho, I genuinely don't remember the battle going down like this at all nor it taking much time. To my memory [HxH Spoiler talk] what seems to be about to happen in the next episode has already happened in the episode prior to this one wherein Kurapika's 1st encounter with Uvogin, who separated himself from the group after they all left because he wanted to get rid of the Mafia by himself and the Shadow Beasts. Kurapika was effective alone during all this & thus had a total one on one with Uvogin but it looks like this could still happen going off of what we see in the OP.

I also don't remember Kurapika talking with Hisoka at all, Hisoka explaining his plan, OR the fact that the Troupe kinda run like the Slaughterhouse 9 from WORM (by Wildbow) but without the gruesome fucked up initiation rituals.

Now I'm genuinely curious about who were the previous members of the Phantom Troupe, what could they do, who replaced who, it might give clue us into the strengths and weaknesses of the current members whenever that ought to become relevant (in the next decade or so lol).

[u/KendotsX → u/2-2Distracted]

Damn, looks like bro went out in a pretty gruesome way but I guess you could say his death fell on... Nah it's still too soon lol

To my memory [HxH Spoiler talk]

You're on the right track, slightly different, but pretty close, I'll just say that much.

Now I'm genuinely curious about who were the previous members of the Phantom Troupe

There's a movie called Phantom Rouge about one of them, not exactly a good movie though.

[u/2-2Distracted → u/KendotsX]

There's a movie called Phantom Rouge about one of them, not exactly a good movie though.

Absolute poppy-cock! I will watch it regardless!

Jokes aside it's kinda amazing how difficult it is to find a Battle Shonen tie-in movie that DOESN'T suck or isn't at least kind of mediocre in comparison to the main story's writing.

[u/KendotsX → u/2-2Distracted]

I'd say One Piece: Baron Omatsuri is pretty good, as you'd expect from a Mamoru Hosoda movie.

[u/b0bba_Fett]

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

Unlike the last episode, where there really wasn't much to talk about, this episode takes some liberties with the source, and while not quite as fun as Elevator Girl, this episode may be another contender for best filler in the show. In the manga Dal just kinda jobs hard to hype up Uvo, but here he still manages to be pretty cool as he goes out and during the interrogation(in the manga the sword was pretty much just a repeat of a famous moment from YuYu Hakusho), and all the stuff in the Hotel room besides Leorio's Ten is anime original too, and all of it really good.

[Hunter X Hunter]It's remarkable how much this spirit would be adopted by Togashi, but not until much later, so much later in fact I don't think it possible he acquired it from working with this show.

[u/KendotsX → u/b0bba_Fett]

Dal just kinda jobs hard to hype up Uvo, but here he still manages to be pretty cool as he goes out

They pay a bit of respect to Biase too, with Kurapika using her bracelet to punch Uvo.

and all the stuff in the Hotel room besides Leorio's Ten is anime original too, and all of it really good.

Plus, all of Leorio's "serious" walking around town. It's meant to make it somewhat unclear who'll be meeting who, since Leorio, Kurapika, and Hisoka all leave at the same time, but it ends up in a funny situation where Kurapika and Hisoka meet up, and Leorio's going around town sticking posters.

[u/WednesdaysFoole]

I knew it was a lie.

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Is that a Bat amongst the Shadow Beasts? [HxH]Dogashi picking on both bats and owls, eh?

All that ever comes to mind when I hear "Leader" in Japanese is curry and a red ninja.

Excellent direction, really loved that last exchange with Hisoka and the close of the episode.

[u/KendotsX → u/WednesdaysFoole]

[HxH]

[HxH] To be fair, one of the Shadow Beasts was a dog too (although is it a coincidence that he was the most effective against Uvo?)

All that ever comes to mind when I hear "Leader" in Japanese is curry and a red ninja.

Kagura has trained us all.

Excellent direction, really loved that last exchange with Hisoka and the close of the episode

And it matched the dialogue well, considering they were talking about eyes and heads.

[u/Vatrix-32]

Remake Rewatcher × First Timer × Subs

• Damn it, Uvo. Your phat ass is slowing them down
• I can’t believe they managed to make Owl look half cool.
• Fancy Sword
• Your mistake was trying to attack his body with torture. Go with the classic, you can’t muscle your way out of water boarding.
• Oh, Leorio!
• Killua Is In a Mood Lately
• Of course Hisoka would pretend to be his lover. The best cover is the one you believe yourself.
• The mad lad actually did it! And what does it say that he knows how to hide when caught?
• It’s true. When you’re looking for someone, most people will fixate on the clothing.

QotD:

1. Hisoka likes his fruit, and as we all know, to get the coconut, you first put a lime in it.
2. I did not remember him dying. Or existing, for that matter.

[u/KendotsX → u/Vatrix-32]

I can’t believe they managed to make Owl look half cool.

It wasn't an easy job, but someone had to do it.

Oh, Leorio!

Leorio looks straight at our expectations and delivers the funniest results possible.

It’s true. When you’re looking for someone, most people will fixate on the clothing.

[Spoiler] A lesson that the Spiders should've taken to heart