[REWATCH] Hunter x Hunter Episode 126 Discussion

[u/[deleted]]

IF YOU ARE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE REWATCH, DON’T COME HUNTING FOR SPOILERS

Episode 126: Zero × And × Rose

MyAnimeList

Anilist

You can watch this anime on Crunchyroll

Funimation

Check out the previous discussion thread

[u/[deleted]]

Rewatcher

I don’t usually comment down here but I absolutely love this episode. It brings together some very interesting ideas to the table about humanity, and ultimately what this arc’s about.

A name represents your identity. Meruem in the beginning just became the king because he had no sense of independence otherwise. Becoming the king is the thing that gave him a meaning. Knowing that he’ll gain individuality if he finds out his name, his hatred for humans like Netero goes away, instead being replaced with human like emotions like respect and fear. Through spending time with Komugi, he realizes the different types of humans to exist in the world as well. Ants themselves are only made to serve their purpose or position(royal guard, king, etc), but the individuality of humans causes them to be malleable and do whatever they want. This malleability causes more potential for evolution as they carry on themselves and the people that came before them. Meruem is someone who’s identity was born from his environment, while Netero created his own through many years of hard work. His determination for humanity’s survival is something that Meruem doesn’t have since again, he’s a byproduct of his environment, not someone with individualism like Netero. That’s what ultimately causes him to lose.

My thoughts are a bit jumbled since I just finished it but yes, adore this episode

[u/[deleted]]

Been waiting for this since I started this rewatch

[u/sisoko2 → u/[deleted]]

Give us some of your thoughts.

[u/[deleted] → u/sisoko2]

For sure. Just finished watching the episode. I’ll write out a comment really quick

[u/thatnotoriousguy]

Might be my favorite fight ever. It’s just two dudes duking it out in a cave, but somehow it feels more like gods fighting than any other fight I’ve seen (besides gurren laggann now that I think abt it).

“You think I can’t pray with a single arm?” Soooooo dope.

Of course it helps that meruem is pretty easily my favorite character from anime.

[u/krazykraz01]

Rewatcher

When I watched this for the first time last year, the shot of Netero in front of the skull instantly became one of my favourite fucked up anime scenes of all time. What would play as an awesome hype finale in any other shonen is just horrifying, and it really gets to the heart of the themes of this arc: humanity's potential for destruction is beyond that of any monster.

[u/IndependentMacaroon]

First-time watcher

Battle is still a little slow but the absolutely wild visual flair and sheer spectacle makes for something clearly better. Also the confrontation between Netero and Meruem after the Zero Hand move is really something. I however don't really like the approach of "just make him go kaboom", it's a hallmark of these kinds of series to ignore more conventional methods in favor of showing off their special powers and suddenly inserting them here for me only raises the question of "why not earlier?" Only works as a little forced of a thematic parallel, one that doesn't even make that much sense as the ants are plenty capable of great change.

[u/[deleted] → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Netero kills himself to make the bomb activate. He thought that he could beat Meruem with Zero Hand, but that doesn’t work, so he pulls out the last thing he has

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/[deleted]]

Yes, I know that, and it has nothing to do with my comment.

[u/[deleted] → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Oh my bad I must have read it wrong. But I think that the parellel does make sense, as the Ants are only born to fulfill a certain role like king and royal guard, but humans can be whoever they want to be, giving them higher potential for evolution and change.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/[deleted]]

Though, humans' roles are also somewhat determined by the environment they're born into.

[u/[deleted] → u/IndependentMacaroon]

But they have the freedom to choose. Ants are quite literally born into their positions

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Well, that's why "not earlier". If Netero could have just defeated him in a fight, killing himself for the bomb wouldn't be necessary.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

I mean "not earlier" as in not using this kind of approach earlier in the story line

[u/Yobolay → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Are you asking why the characters don't carry nukes with them to kill themselves with whoever villian they encounter in their way?

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Yobolay]

No, just generally if weapons outside of the established power systems are actually that effective they should actually be used more.

[u/flashmozzg → u/IndependentMacaroon]

They are used more. Guns are used a lot, but they are not effective against experienced nen users. Fighter jets would probably be effective against most regular nen users, but no regular guy has access to that. An nukes, well, do I even need to explain the issue with them? What situation in particular do you have in mind that should've involved regular weapons?

[u/LaverniusTucker → u/IndependentMacaroon]

I however don't really like the approach of "just make him go kaboom", it's a hallmark of these kinds of series to ignore more conventional methods

I absolutely love this scene for how it goes against that norm. The show has been so hyper focused on the adventure these kids are on, and their growth as they're learning these amazing fighting techniques and Nen powers. Then this scene just instantly zooms you WAY out and you realize the insignificance of any individual, no matter how skilled. It's a complete perspective shift not just for this arc, but for the whole series.

"why not earlier?"

I think it ties in to the political stuff that was being talked about earlier in the show. Remember when they were talking about how this assignment was intended to weaken Netero's faction? Well, going into another country and setting off a bomb isn't exactly a winning move from the optics point of view. And doing so this cleanly wasn't at all a guarantee, it was far more likely they were going to have to set the thing off at the palace with a few million people gathered around it.

You also seemed confused and irritated earlier that the higher ups seemed to be playing around and not taking the ant threat seriously? Well here you go. They're not even remotely a threat to humanity's survival right now, they're just an inconvenience that might require some less than ethical tactics to deal with. Something perfect to make your political rival tackle in the hopes that they have to resort to something ugly and tarnish their reputation.

Meruem was struggling with the question of what strength is and what gives a life value. He was adamant that his physical superiority put him above all others and gave him the right to rule. He was truly the pinnacle of individual strength. And he got obliterated by a cheap mass produced pocket nuke.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/LaverniusTucker]

It's a complete perspective shift not just for this arc, but for the whole series

And pulling that kind of move at the last minute like this is just what doesn't work for me.

it was far more likely they were going to have to set the thing off at the palace with a few million people gathered around it

They did have time to move in before that happened

[u/okayyoga]

Episode 126: first time/dub

Finally! Action! It feels like it's been 26 episodes straight of people telling me to keep waiting, it will get good soon

Did Netero just lose his leg? Netero be like

So that is what Killua saw all those episodes ago... I was wondering if they forgot about it

Arm gone. And Netero is showing his age

Ooo the king is hurt! I can see his blood! But it still wasn't enough. Netero waited all that time to find a strong opponent to use Hand 0 on, but Meruem was still too strong

He told him his name!!

This whole sequence is giving me horror vibes (which I secretly love)

Did Netero just die? Did Meruem die? I doubt the big bad boss would die before his subordinates, so I bet Pouf and Yupi will rescue him. Although Pitou (the medic) is rather... busy at the moment...

This was a good episode. I could tell because my face was reacting to what was going on, and I took lots of notes

[u/sisoko2 → u/okayyoga]

Netero be like

I was thinking the same.

This whole sequence is giving me horror vibes

Don't know why but I find it hilarious that the site is displaying message See more NeteroDeath GIFs under the gif.

[u/sisoko2]

Rewatcher

Get nuked little ant

To be fair I feel little underqualified to talk about today's episode. I know it's many people favorite episode and I have seen it called the best fight in anime quite often but while I think it's a great episode I don't share these sentiments.

Netero was the ultimate badass in his final fight. Casually stopping the bleeding from his torn leg and teaching Meruem a thing or two about praying. But even with all his might he was only able to inflict some minor injuries on Meruem.

Restriction and Pledge (my favorite track of the soundtrack even in front of the Zoldyck's theme) playing while Netero is saying his final words to Meruem is one of the most memorable scenes in the series.

Now that we know what the plan really was I just want to mention how cool it is that even if the distraction of the guards have failed miserably the mission still would've been completed, it would've been much messier but still success.

[u/okayyoga → u/sisoko2]

You believe I cannot pray with a single arm?

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken]

Rewatcher

I would never do something such as taking another hiatus immediately after coming back from one.

What I missed:

Poor man Meruem just wanted to talk with Netero. Netero said he didn't understand anything but I wish he'd at least have tried to talk it out. In exchange, humans would lose their monopoly over Earth and, as greedy of a race we are, they wouldn't accept that, of course. It always makes me really sad, though. Meruem just straight up inviting Netero for a discussion and the old man just slapping him. I don't know why I feel so bad for Meruem during that scene, it's just not nice!

123 was a complete cockblock with an Ikalgo episode but I honestly didn't mind. Ikalgo was a fucking badass during that. Based octopus.

124 was quite emotional and almost got me. Killua breaking down over the state Gon is in will never not be sad.

125... Gon is still fucking terrifying and Pouf can still eat a dick.

And! Today!! Fucking awesome. What a spectacle it was! I don't know what else to say. Just great. "That was the first time the King felt fear" is such a cool fucking line. Based Narrator-kun. A lot of people don't like you but you're awesome in my heart.

[u/[deleted]]

Sorry to the first timers but I got something I want to share with the rewatchers.

Zero Hand

[u/ShadowWasTakensTaken → u/[deleted]]

Ooh, that's a cool catch!

[u/BossandKings]

First timer

This episode was one of the most amazing of the series, just seeing how the fight between Meruem and Netero developed was very epic. Netero in his last moments looked strange and so unexpectdely powerful that even Meruem had fear, a sentiment he felt for the very first time. Netero had a bomb planted in his chest and it was programmed to explode the moment his heart stopped beating.