The 13th Chairman arc picks up right where the Chimera Ants arc leaves off. I love how nearly all HxH arcs don't just push aside the last plots, but this is perhaps the best example of it. The whole arc is built off consequences from what we've just witnessed: Netero has died needing the election, and Gon is in dire straits after expending his life energy to kill Pitou. Killua's mission to save Gon by rescuing his sister Alluka, Gon's injury, and the Hunter Association's election all are disparate plot threads that eventually become weaved together in a way that's brilliant to see. It can be easy for side plots to feel disposable, but here, I cared about all of them.
First up, Killua rescuing Alluka. This is probably the main thread, and damn, is it intense. The family politics and in-fighting between Killua and Illumi is absolutely brutal. A beloved minor character dies, Illumi claims dozens of innocent lives, and Hisoka single-handedly slaughters how many pro hunters? Rewatching this reminded me just how dark this arc was. Beyond the constant cycle of death, Killua is in a really dark place emotionally. By the end of it, I was really pissed no one gave him a hug! r/HugtheDamnKillua
Back to Alluka though, she might be the highlight of the whole arc. I love Alluka's power and all the rules to it we learn; it's a real puzzle and there's a sense of danger that one wrong move could get anyone smushed into a pile of blood. And there's the mystery at what hidden rules Killua knows. However, whereas most anime would leave it there, for HxH, that's just the beginning. Once Something has been set up as this strange force, the anime starts to deconstruct that. First is the twist that healing wishes don't require a burden; an amazing "gotcha!" moment ala Christopher Nolan that I still loved the second time. Beyond that, there's no complex hidden rules behind why Killua can control Something better; it's simply because he's the only one that realizes Something is a person, not just a power. Slowly learning that Something is just as human as Allukah was incredibly powerful, and made the scene where Killua tearfully sends her away heartbreaking. I went from seeing Something as an evil force, to a misunderstood being. Getting audiences to care about Something to the point of tears is Hunter x Hunter at it's most bizarre, but also it's best.
;_; |
Gon's recovery becomes the main debate topic of the election, thus tying all three threads together. But once he's healed, he finally meets his dad. This is a long time coming, and I'm really glad the show let a lot of characters say how much of a dickhead Ging is. It always felt weird and kinda wrong that Gon idolized Ging, so it was nice to see the author aware of that. Their reunion at the top of the World Tree was sweet though, especially when they swapped their stories. And the tease for the Dark Continent arc!!
Still, when I think back to this arc and this series, getting to Ging is never the highlight. I think of meeting Kurapika and Leorio, the fun or disturbing or thoughtful challenges Gon faces, and especially the friendship he makes with Killua. I think of all the complex villains, the wacky side characters, and the heartbreaking darkness of the world. I think of how much I enjoyed the time I spent rewatching this series. Like the man himself said, take your time with the detours. Because there you'll find something more important than what you want.
Until next time~ |
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