Recently I've begun watching Hunter X Hunter. Although I was skeptical of why this show was anything special at first, I soon came to realize why it has gained its reputation. The best aspect of this show is the execution. I'm about 20 episodes in and I've gotten that far because the show has its own miniature secrets that serve as hooks for the viewer. "Hunters", the basis of the show and what the characters hope to become, haven't actually been explained yet within the world. Because of this, it's interesting to see what steps one must take to become a hunter, as each step gives you more insight into what a hunter is. Another hook that the show has is Hisoka. This villain is set up right from the start, and has already established himself as a great villain. His movements are erratic yet complicated. Hisoka is best described as dangerous, and this is highlighted by his aura of mystery. This aura stems from his repeated showing of supernatural feats. Sure, there are many supernatural aspects to this show, but with a title like "the magician", Hisoka is already framed as a supernatural entity. The funny thing about these two hooks is that they only work because the world itself is under-explained. It seems mashed together and I honestly don't find the world of Hunter X Hunter nearly as interesting as shows like Naruto. However, the shows underreliance on its setting allows it to execute its plot and concepts without fear. Hunter X Hunter is effectively one giant tournament arc from the start, and I don't normally enjoy these arcs, but the show pulls it off perfectly. The "hunter exam" has creative concepts that both show the viewer the world and prevent the arc from getting stale. Even though all of the events are technically synthetic, it doesn't feel that way, as the environments and tasks are consistently changing every few episodes. The art style and music are also pretty appealing. The settings are very colorful, the character designs are recognizable, and the music is just fun to listen to. However, even with all that it does right, this show still has issues. Its worst issue so far is the majority of its cast, which consists of characters from the flat archetype. These characters work well in context of the story but can't really stand outside of it. I'm hoping for the best as I move forward with this show, and I will create a full review when I finish it.
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AuthorMcRae Walker, an 20-year-old writer and lover of many dorky topics. Archives
September 2022
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