Episode 381

[Walter]

Yeah, it's been three years of this. Literally what the hell is actually wrong with Guts? Has he just gone mute after Griffith's last appearance? Is he braindead now? Nothing will salvage the continuation but I'd prefer they actually try to write the character. 5, 10, 15 episodes from now is he still gonna be drunk and/or mute? It's not funny anymore, just stupid as hell.

At the outset of the continuation, Mori stressed that he wouldn't write anything that he didn't remember (obviously can't be true at this point), and that he was compelled to do the continuation in this format so that Guts and Griffith's lines could be shown in a manga:

"...Or should I publish an article with some illustrations? But that wouldn’t convey the scenes that Miura described to me, or the lines of Guts and Griffith…"

"I will recall the details as much as possible and tell the story. Also, I will only write the episodes that Miura talked to me about. I will not flesh it out. I will not write episodes that I don’t remember clearly. I will only write the lines and stories that Miura described to me."

From these two statements, I'd say they've made Guts silent because special care is being given to his lines, preserving them only for ones Mori remembers.

But there's also a potential loophole in what Mori wrote. Examine his wording: HE will not flesh it out, HE will not write episodes he doesn't remember clearly. But he's not doing the daily work. Kurosaki is, along with the rest of Studio Gaga. It's possible that Mori has set some ground rules on what to show and not to show (for example, reserving Guts' lines), but otherwise has handed the keys over to Kurosaki, saying "Do as you will."

 

[Gambler]

I really expected something from a Schierke/Casca dialogue, but now it seems that after the rushed pacing at the beginning of the Continuation, they slowed things up, and then something important randomically happens, like Rakshas dying

I wonder when will we get meaningful dialogue for Guts, Puck or even anyone, hell... it feels like the main characters are just there as the story unfolds itself

Wil Guts be like this till when, when he faces Griffith? When they told they were going to be "faithful" to Miura it didnt seem like they would not make characters talk at all because "Miura didn't told them what the characters would speak, so the story will unfold itself without real dialogue", lol

So now we get ANOTHER drama with Guts, again we still wonder that the hell will happen with him, shit... but now i'm a bit curious, they will abandon him somewhere and then what? Guts being passive doesn't just ruin his character, it makes the story REALLY boring

Anyway, what about the Godhand members, where are them right now? Wasn't it implied they were at the "real world" right now, after the astral roar?

 

[Aazealh]

They don't have the guts (pun intended) to make him talk...because they don't have the writing abilities to make his dialogue make sense within this story.

Wil Guts be like this till when, when he faces Griffith? When they told they were going to be "faithful" to Miura it didnt seem like they would not make characters talk at all because "Miura didn't told them what the characters would speak, so the story will unfold itself without real dialogue", lol

Back when the Continuation started and people were lamenting the lack of dialogue and the fast pacing, I warned them that they should be careful what they wished for. We've seen the result. I am doing so again here: beware of wanting them to make Guts speak. You will not like the result.

But there's also a potential loophole in what Mori wrote. Examine his wording: HE will not flesh it out, HE will not write episodes he doesn't remember clearly. But he's not doing the daily work. Kurosaki is, along with the rest of Studio Gaga. It's possible that Mori has set some ground rules on what to show and not to show (for example, reserving Guts' lines), but otherwise has handed the keys over to Kurosaki, saying "Do as you will."

I think it's clear at this point that Mori has either abdicated his role/responsabilities or has been pushed to the sideline by Kurosaki. Because the Continuation bears little resemblance to Miura's Berserk and frankly doesn't seem to be following any sort of guidelines.

 

[Battlefield00]

But only to me does it seem that these episodes unnecessarily slow down the story? Practically nothing has happened.
Why not speed up at this point? They are releasing episodes that are completely irrelevant.

Putting aside, of course, absurd narrative choices.

 

[TheItCrow]

But only to me does it seem that these episodes unnecessarily slow down the story? Practically nothing has happened.

They’re not slowing down the story per se—after all, they wrapped up the entire Elfhelm chapter, the journey to the East (which is very questionable if that would've even happened according to Miura, since all relevant characters were already on one side of the world), and Rakshas' death in just a couple of episodes, while skipping a lot of important material (who is Skullknight again?).

The problem is, they have no idea how to write or pace a story, which is why important scenes feel rushed, yet we've still spent four episodes watching Guts literally fall on his face.

As things stand, we're probably very close to the final clash.

 

[Xenoskell]

But only to me does it seem that these episodes unnecessarily slow down the story? Practically nothing has happened.
Why not speed up at this point? They are releasing episodes that are completely irrelevant.

Putting aside, of course, absurd narrative choices.

Yes, there is a lot of unecessary dialogues and panels.

It's not just you who sees this continuation as "slow".
I guess almost everyone talked about this in the previous episodes.

The pacing is a mess.

Back when the Continuation started and people were lamenting the lack of dialogue and the fast pacing, I warned them that they should be careful what they wished for. We've seen the result. I am doing so again here: beware of wanting them to make Guts speak. You will not like the result.

Well...
At this point my expectations are very low.
So I don't expect them to make him talk. Nor do I want to.

I'm just saying that they chose a task far too big for them, and now they can't or don't have the courage to make Guts talk.
And they're "paying the price" (perhaps not commercially, but the quality of the work sadly is gone).

 

[cijhho123]

This one was super confusing to me.
What are those monks all about? and what's up with the great guru forgetting he ate? Why are the last mages in the world only capable of doing the most basic spell over and over?
Am I missing something?

Also art-wise this is so wacky

I brushed over the last few episodes and all the talk about the"Opening of the astral gate" just... stopped?

Look how they massacred my boy...

 

[Aazealh]

They are releasing episodes that are completely irrelevant.

This is the key part. These episodes aren't just slow-going, they're useless.

As things stand, we're probably very close to the final clash.

Very close? I highly doubt it's happening within the next 10 episodes, meaning not within the next two years. I wouldn't call that very close.

I don't expect them to make him talk. Nor do I want to. I'm just saying that they chose a task far too big for them, and now they can't or don't have the courage to make Guts talk. And they're "paying the price" (perhaps not commercially, but the quality of the work sadly is gone).

I get you but my point is that they will eventually have to make him talk, and it's all but guaranteed to be godawful.

What are those monks all about?

These are the guys who used to control the Pishacha using Ganishka's fog. They've been repurposed, only the Continuation team doesn't understand (or at least is disregarding) what Miura had established, so it doesn't make sense. It's also plain stupid to have 30 guys focus on getting Guts to walk when a single Tapasa could be carrying him on his shoulder.

and what's up with the great guru forgetting he ate?

It's a recycled joke that's meaningless out of its original context, just being used as filler to pad the number of pages.

I brushed over the last few episodes and all the talk about the"Opening of the astral gate" just... stopped?

See what I said about it at the time. It was just gibberish to justify the appearance of random monsters, which in turn were only brought in to artificially create a sense of urgency and chaos in the city (with no real consequence). It doesn't have any actual meaning or significance outside of that role. It's basically like Star Trek's technobabble.

 

[Wyld Dreams]

Everything that we've seen in these past few episodes is Studio Gaga's most contrived way to show us what Daiba wants to do with Guts. Rakshas was just a pawn that unleashed all that chaos so that Daiba could have Guts "exiled" by blaming him, without none of the Kushans questioning what he wants to do to him.

Daiba wants to impregnate Guts and make a Daka out of their love child..... And now I am officially scared.

 

[mathstruggler]

I keep waiting to wake up for the Twitter announcement that this is cancelled and it proved too difficult. They're really grasping for content to write episodes around, how are they supposed to make it to the end? I'm starting to feel they're stalling for time waiting for the lightbulb.

 

[Alonne]

I losted all hope a few chapters ago, at this point I'm totally convinced that it would have been better if Mori had just released a book explaining what he remembered and what Miura told him about the ending while giving his thoughts and anecdotes about his time with Miura and what he thought Miura was trying to do with the history instead of pushing this continuation. At least that way we fans could fill the gaps with our own interpretantion... Instead we have... Well... This.

 

[Vitris]

I keep waiting to wake up for the Twitter announcement that this is cancelled and it proved too difficult.

I feel you.

They're really grasping for content to write episodes around

Yes, but they also just don't know how to properly write a single episode, let alone a chapter or an arc. It's a loop at this point: one ep. comes out, nothing happens in it, then the next one comes and we go "These two should've been a single episode". It's a problem that they've had since the beginning, and it's now more apparent than ever.

how are they supposed to make it to the end? I'm starting to feel they're stalling for time waiting for the lightbulb.

They just keep copying (and tracing) stuff that Miura's already done, so I don't know what this "lightbulb" you talk about could be. Maybe they're waiting for Mori to remember the actual important stuff?

 

[Parkus]

They just keep copying (and tracing) stuff that Miura's already done

So much for trying to honor him

 

[TheItCrow]

Very close? I highly doubt it's happening within the next 10 episodes, meaning not within the next two years. I wouldn't call that very close.

Given it's Berserk, a manga running for over decades, I'd say that's really close to me. But true, not in the next few months.

 

[Lawliet]

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they completely butchered the final confrontation too - they'll probably give Griffith a redemption arc or some other nonsense like that.

 

[TheItCrow]

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they completely butchered the final confrontation too - they'll probably give Griffith a redemption arc or some other nonsense like that.

"Because you're my best friend Sasuke Griffith... and this is my Ninja Berserk way."

 

[Vitris]

Puck suddenly dissapeared again, after seemingly shaking of his amnesia. Amnesia must have kicked back in, en route to Guts and he's now lost.

Actually, Puck IS here, but he does absolutely nothing. He was just an excuse to have the scene with Isidro in this episode. Azan, on the other hand... where the fuck is he? We joked in the chat that he went to a pub because they've made him a drunkard, and who knows, that might actually be true.

 

[Haddish Meraf]

We joked in the chat that he went to a pub because they've made him a drunkard, and who knows, that might actually be true.

Must be in the same pub as the Beast Of Darkness, 'Ye Olde Falcons Nest' is the name of the pub i think.

 

[Parkus]

he went to a pub because they've made him a drunkard, and who knows, that might actually be true.

Hey, even Azan knows how shitty the continuation has gotten. He just needs a break from it all.

 

[Lithrael]

Remind me who decided to capture The Party™ and bring them here in the first place? Shouldn't the Kushan be angry at whoever that was, if they are calling Guts a monster/plot magnet?

Very fucking weird that the Kushan claimed to have been able to hold up against Fantasia but now they're upset because they got slaughtered by an incursion of low level Berserk mobs. How in the double heck has the current writing team managed to appear to have completely forgotten about Fantasia?? That there's dragons and giants and monsters galore everywhere? It was weird before but at least they were saying 'hey we held our own cause we are so great.' But now the writing team went to great pains to show us, no, they are not so great, they are in fact fully slaughterable and panic-ridden in the face of that? What the HELL? I'm having to just imagine reasons for this to possibly make sense - the area of the Kushan city was under some kind of anti-Fantasia-monster protection field or someth that the Qlipoth Portal skipped and which Guts' presence is screwing up? If so why didn't they say so? If not how can the story be this sloppy? Can these writers not even try THAT hard to have some continuity?

I'm trying to give this team room to redeem their efforts but I can't forgive plotting that's THIS ass. They COULD have at least shown that they are interested in trying to have anything sort of make sense.

ETA: I don't know how long the story can tolerate Guts being the new Post-Eclipse-Casca without having any main focus character to carry the audience. Inverting them would have been interesting but we haven't seen Casca in quite some time now. I like an ensemble cast but Berserk has always had a main character. When Casca went nuts the story was ABOUT that for a good while! It was important and shattering! Guts REACTED to it, struggled with it! Now his whole team of bros have barely been shown reacting besides going 'oh, weird.' Have we even had a single scene where Isidro or Farnese genuinely reacts to what's happening with Guts? At least they put Schierke out of the plot before she had any contemplation time where she would have been reacting to this development.

They've spent more time on SILAT reacting to Guts' state than ANY OF HIS FRIENDS!

 

[Cyrus Jong]

I didn't even know a new episode was coming out this week until I came here today. That's how apathetic I've become about GAGAserk.

Anyway, this was all just so...pointless. 21 pages were devoted to...what? An excuse to move Guts out of the Kushan capital? Freaking waste of time, we could have just skipped to that and had the reason why explained through a few lines of exposition. The reasons we were given, though, were pretty stupid regardless, with either Kurosaki or Daiba not understanding how the Brand works (or, in the latter's case, outright lying about it for some reason), and the rest of the Kushan following suit with their grand misunderstanding, all to scapegoat Guts. And what reason does this serve for the narrative? None that I can see, aside from trying to force in additional melodrama since these amateurs don't know how to write proper conflict. And don't tell me it's all for the sake of character development because their brand of storytelling leaves no room for characters to even breathe. Everyone's become a paper-thin caricature, existing to spout stock lines of dialogue or exposit what's going on. And Guts and Casca, the characters who need THE most focus of all, don't even have that going for them.

I find it pretty comical how the last episode made a big deal about how the Kushan were a bunch of supercool badasses who only needed to be reminded of the POWER OF FRIENDSHIP! to defeat the evil trolls. Only to fold completely after the battle is done, and that they were actually horribly slaughtered. The whole thing comes off as the writers saying "OH SHIT, that went too conveniently! Quick, make it look worse than it actually was."

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they completely butchered the final confrontation too - they'll probably give Griffith a redemption arc or some other nonsense like that.

Griffith will be the coolest guy!

 

[Gambler]

What is Daiba planning to do with Guts? At first, I thought he would really just abandon him outside the city

But he clearly manipulated the situation to do something with Guts… but what?

 

[blodvind]

Have we even had a single scene where Isidro or Farnese genuinely reacts to what's happening with Guts?

To be fair, yes. A scene with Isidro crying over Guts being chained in the ship. It felt weird, like trying too hard to be dramatic, tho, as it is usual in the continuation.

 

[Ithier]

To be fair, yes. A scene with Isidro crying over Guts being chained in the ship. It felt weird, like trying too hard to be dramatic, tho, as it is usual in the continuation.

Every episode 180s from the last one so you'd be forgiven for forgetting that Isidro was histrionic about Guts' condition just six episodes ago

 

[Todd Liu]

You know what, guys, I still say that in Chinese: 毁灭吧，赶紧的，累了。