This will be mostly conjecture, but I just want to put out there something that's been on my mind for a couple of weeks.
Skull Knight's first appearance is the most enigmatic one, but it firmly establishes that he has knowledge of what is yet to come, or is in contact with somebody who can procure said knowledge. The prophecy he gives Guts is detailed enough to mention the broken sword he uses to cut his arm off. He also mentions that „the gears has indeed begun turning." It means that he doesn't just know that the Eclipse will happen, he knows who will trigger it and that Guts departure from the Band of the Falcon was an important component. So if he knows so much about Guts and the significance of his decision, it's safe to assume that at that point in time, he knew who Griffith was.
Now, if that is the case, why not kill Griffith in advance and prevent the Eclipse? Well, if the Causality truly can't be outsmarted, then it's not possible. If the IoE's influence is as vast as stated in episode 83, it must have foreseen such a possibility. If SK tried to strike down Griffith then, I think something similar to episode 69 would happen (when Zodd killed Wyald and saved Griffith's life). SK's next appearance when he saves Rickert's life from the Count and Rosine. And what's important, he doesn't kill them. The self-proclaimed foe of the inhumans blatantly spares two apostles that just slaughtered innocent lives for their own amusement. He only interferes when Rickert is about to die. When he depart's there is one panel of him looking back from above, possibly gazing at the distraught Rickert. It was not yet his time to die. He has some significance and will play a role in the future. Whether SK just acted out his own agenda, or if it's also a part of IoE plan, we don't know.
Next up, the Eclipse. Why save Guts and Casca? If his goal at that exact moment was to deal as much damage to the God Hand as possible, I don't think he'd even bother trying to save them. Sure, he attacks Void and dispatches several Apostles on his way, but he doesn't even try to attack Femto, he rushes right past him to pick up the two remaining Falcons. He specifically came here to their rescue. The God Hand reminisce over it, claiming that it was something unforeseen by them, but that it very well might have been fated to happen. We later see that it was more likely the latter (Albion). What i find even more confusing, is that in episode 92 SK denounces his intent and claims all of it was "incidental".
And this might be it – SK is, albeit unwillingly, another agent of Causality. But he knows the significance of Guts and doesn't want him to die yet, and I don't believe he does so out of pure sympathy for him. But there is another character in the series that shares a similar sentiment. Zodd. At Doldrey, him throwing the sword to Guts so that he won't die to Boscogn is never really justified. Sure, maybe he did not want a potential rival to die, so that he could fight him in the future when he gets stronger, but at the same time, after SK rescues Guts from the Eclipse, Zodd is genuinely surprised that he managed to survive.
And then their next encounter. The vow of retaliation. What SK says about the Brand and destiny greatly angers Guts, as if he is riling him up on purpose. When Casca gives birth, Skull Knight utters some words that may be very, very significant in the upcoming episode 360. "Someday it will bring woe upon you both." It may just be common sense, since, you know, it's a Demon Child tainted with evil, so it may not be the brightest idea to keep one around when you've been branded. But I believe he was, once again, referring to a certain event in the future. Specifically, who's body will the Child become a part of, and what it means for it's parents.
And then, just before he leaves, SK tells Guts that if he wishes to get revenge, he should follow the "voice" of the Brand. It may just be me, but it kind of sounds like he encourages Guts to set out on his two year journey of hunting Apostles. To abandon Casca.
They meet again, few days before the Incarnation Ceremony, and the smug bastard again knows exactly what's going to happen. He states that the God Hand exist everywhere where negative thoughts swirl in large concentration, and if it reaches a critical point, one of them can be incarnated. Now, what kinds of beings does the Brand of Sacrifice attract? Combine that with the state in which the Albion is, and...
He refers to himself and Guts as mere shadows on the water, and says that the Incarnation will be the same – a shadow of the Eclipse. But then he also says that at the temporal junction points, „minute, singular " things can occur, that even the God Hand cannot foresee. Moreover, he admits he'll gamble everything on that one point. So he intends to do something. Just like he the last time.
And when Femto is incarnated... Skull Knight does nothing. The only explanation I can think of is that at that moment SK realised that in the current state of the world, he is powerless against the Falcon of Darkness. That, or the Incarnation ceremony was not the temporal junction point at which he meant to strike.
I think his conversation with Slan in the Qliphoth supports the former. Why did he come there in the first place? To aid Guts? It's likely – it was SK who asked Flora to help him on his journey, so he clearly still cares that Guts doesn't die yet. But his visit in Slan's domain might have had another goal in mind. "So, you were the only one summoned." Was he expecting the others to come? Or did he want firsthand (no pun intended) confirmation, that the worlds had already started to overlap?
If he is indeed Gaiseric, then he must have taken part in, or at least known about the mechanism behind the separation of worlds that occurred 1000 years ago. Perhaps in his very long life he came to a conclusion that it in the long run, it had been a mistake.
In "The Proclaimed Omens" he describes incarnated Griffith as someone who exists outside the reason of this world. He likens the attempt at his life to a fictional character trying to hurt it's author. So how do you defeat a being so powerful? Well, how about merging the world in which the story takes place with the one the author resides in?
"Causality is brought to fruition with this sword stroke."
Upon hearing that Griffith knew about what was to happen, Skull Knight seems to act surprised. (Or at least that's my interpretation of the panel at the bottom of page 4, episode 304) It's hard to tell whether he was expecting something different to happen, or if Femto truly outsmarted him. I just find it very strange that someone like Skull Knight would make such a grave mistake.
At this point the worlds are merged, which means that the other God Hand members could very well be within SK's reach. If he indeed expected this to happen, we should see some interesting developements in that regard, when he and Guts meet again.
Just putting my thoughts out there. I hope that you at least had some fun reading through them.
Skull Knight's first appearance is the most enigmatic one, but it firmly establishes that he has knowledge of what is yet to come, or is in contact with somebody who can procure said knowledge. The prophecy he gives Guts is detailed enough to mention the broken sword he uses to cut his arm off. He also mentions that „the gears has indeed begun turning." It means that he doesn't just know that the Eclipse will happen, he knows who will trigger it and that Guts departure from the Band of the Falcon was an important component. So if he knows so much about Guts and the significance of his decision, it's safe to assume that at that point in time, he knew who Griffith was.
Now, if that is the case, why not kill Griffith in advance and prevent the Eclipse? Well, if the Causality truly can't be outsmarted, then it's not possible. If the IoE's influence is as vast as stated in episode 83, it must have foreseen such a possibility. If SK tried to strike down Griffith then, I think something similar to episode 69 would happen (when Zodd killed Wyald and saved Griffith's life). SK's next appearance when he saves Rickert's life from the Count and Rosine. And what's important, he doesn't kill them. The self-proclaimed foe of the inhumans blatantly spares two apostles that just slaughtered innocent lives for their own amusement. He only interferes when Rickert is about to die. When he depart's there is one panel of him looking back from above, possibly gazing at the distraught Rickert. It was not yet his time to die. He has some significance and will play a role in the future. Whether SK just acted out his own agenda, or if it's also a part of IoE plan, we don't know.
Next up, the Eclipse. Why save Guts and Casca? If his goal at that exact moment was to deal as much damage to the God Hand as possible, I don't think he'd even bother trying to save them. Sure, he attacks Void and dispatches several Apostles on his way, but he doesn't even try to attack Femto, he rushes right past him to pick up the two remaining Falcons. He specifically came here to their rescue. The God Hand reminisce over it, claiming that it was something unforeseen by them, but that it very well might have been fated to happen. We later see that it was more likely the latter (Albion). What i find even more confusing, is that in episode 92 SK denounces his intent and claims all of it was "incidental".
And this might be it – SK is, albeit unwillingly, another agent of Causality. But he knows the significance of Guts and doesn't want him to die yet, and I don't believe he does so out of pure sympathy for him. But there is another character in the series that shares a similar sentiment. Zodd. At Doldrey, him throwing the sword to Guts so that he won't die to Boscogn is never really justified. Sure, maybe he did not want a potential rival to die, so that he could fight him in the future when he gets stronger, but at the same time, after SK rescues Guts from the Eclipse, Zodd is genuinely surprised that he managed to survive.
And then their next encounter. The vow of retaliation. What SK says about the Brand and destiny greatly angers Guts, as if he is riling him up on purpose. When Casca gives birth, Skull Knight utters some words that may be very, very significant in the upcoming episode 360. "Someday it will bring woe upon you both." It may just be common sense, since, you know, it's a Demon Child tainted with evil, so it may not be the brightest idea to keep one around when you've been branded. But I believe he was, once again, referring to a certain event in the future. Specifically, who's body will the Child become a part of, and what it means for it's parents.
And then, just before he leaves, SK tells Guts that if he wishes to get revenge, he should follow the "voice" of the Brand. It may just be me, but it kind of sounds like he encourages Guts to set out on his two year journey of hunting Apostles. To abandon Casca.
They meet again, few days before the Incarnation Ceremony, and the smug bastard again knows exactly what's going to happen. He states that the God Hand exist everywhere where negative thoughts swirl in large concentration, and if it reaches a critical point, one of them can be incarnated. Now, what kinds of beings does the Brand of Sacrifice attract? Combine that with the state in which the Albion is, and...
He refers to himself and Guts as mere shadows on the water, and says that the Incarnation will be the same – a shadow of the Eclipse. But then he also says that at the temporal junction points, „minute, singular " things can occur, that even the God Hand cannot foresee. Moreover, he admits he'll gamble everything on that one point. So he intends to do something. Just like he the last time.
And when Femto is incarnated... Skull Knight does nothing. The only explanation I can think of is that at that moment SK realised that in the current state of the world, he is powerless against the Falcon of Darkness. That, or the Incarnation ceremony was not the temporal junction point at which he meant to strike.
I think his conversation with Slan in the Qliphoth supports the former. Why did he come there in the first place? To aid Guts? It's likely – it was SK who asked Flora to help him on his journey, so he clearly still cares that Guts doesn't die yet. But his visit in Slan's domain might have had another goal in mind. "So, you were the only one summoned." Was he expecting the others to come? Or did he want firsthand (no pun intended) confirmation, that the worlds had already started to overlap?
If he is indeed Gaiseric, then he must have taken part in, or at least known about the mechanism behind the separation of worlds that occurred 1000 years ago. Perhaps in his very long life he came to a conclusion that it in the long run, it had been a mistake.
In "The Proclaimed Omens" he describes incarnated Griffith as someone who exists outside the reason of this world. He likens the attempt at his life to a fictional character trying to hurt it's author. So how do you defeat a being so powerful? Well, how about merging the world in which the story takes place with the one the author resides in?
"Causality is brought to fruition with this sword stroke."
Upon hearing that Griffith knew about what was to happen, Skull Knight seems to act surprised. (Or at least that's my interpretation of the panel at the bottom of page 4, episode 304) It's hard to tell whether he was expecting something different to happen, or if Femto truly outsmarted him. I just find it very strange that someone like Skull Knight would make such a grave mistake.
At this point the worlds are merged, which means that the other God Hand members could very well be within SK's reach. If he indeed expected this to happen, we should see some interesting developements in that regard, when he and Guts meet again.
Just putting my thoughts out there. I hope that you at least had some fun reading through them.
Last edited: