Episode 368

This episode really didn't move my feelings as a whole from the low they were on after last episode. Giraffe neck horse wasn't a great introduction of Gaga's Skull Knight, neither was his weak ass sword swipe with a single reaction panel of a blob being slashed. That was lame as hell. Also While some characters look pretty decent and "on model" like Roderick, Gut's face looks so janky which is especially unfortunate given the kind of emotion he's going through.

Overall, this isn't how I saw the events on Elfhelm playing out. I think many thought an apostle invasion seemed most likely as this outcome was pretty unpredictable. This could be really cool, I'm just worried about the explanation so far and obviously fear things won't be addressed properly. The translation thus far doesn't help.

Are these black blobs appearing on the island from around other parts of the world, made possible through some spacial fissure Griffith made possible through the tree? Is by getting here through passages just referring to them being able to manifest from the astral world? I know it's been said this island has a history, but the type of history similar to Albion as far as untold death and suffering...if that's the case we need more of an explanation. There is a comment about them being the true lords/keepers of the island so they must be tied to it directly. The actual "event" which caused the chaos was pretty poorly portrayed and the follow up explanation so far is odd, I realize the translation is poor and will need to wait for something better.

There are so many inhabitants and characters introduced on the island, what the hell is going on with all of them? From the chaos going on all the way down to the shoreline, I would imagine a ton of them got fucked. Were they off screened? Was Skull Knight running around sending them to a safe place with the sword of actuation?
 
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Walter

Administrator
Staff member
A reminder: Only leaks are out. And not everyone here will immediately hop on the leak train. So I know this is the internet and all, but please be considerate of others and add spoiler tags within your posts until the episode is officially out, which will be in about 12 hours.
 
A reminder: Only leaks are out. And not everyone here will immediately hop on the leak train. So I know this is the internet and all, but please be considerate of others and add spoiler tags within your posts until the episode is officially out, which will be in about 12 hours.
Oh, absolutely. I can't wait to read Griffith's Aaz's and your input on this episode. I must say I liked the art in this, I think it's the Studio's best episode so far. I will happily come back on the 12th to read your thoughts.
 
I have to say I really enjoy the fact that there’s dialogue, like someone said before, gives me hope for the future. That being said, the dialogue isn’t great, to say the least, but perhaps it is the translation? Regardless, this is way more readable than the previous episodes.
I wonder if this is the end of Roderick? It would be kind if cool that magnifico survives just because he was drunk, knocked out by him and throw in the ship. There’s of course also just an enormous amount of characters walking around nowadays, perhaps we’re going to see the ling overdue death of at least 2 named characters?
I’m just here for the story, not really the art, so the art didn’t bother me actually, except for maybe the pacing. also some shots are a bit unclear like
when they’re shouting “whats happening?” Is that supposed to be the island? Regarding Casca’s abduction, definitely not a fan of that, I do believe Miura did plan it, but obviously we’re not seeing the way he would’ve tackled it, Mori prolly only remembers him saying “and then casca gets abducted by griffith” and had to work with that. That’s also the general feel I get from the Berzerk-lite episodes. It’s very literal, not really anything brought with tact, like Miura had an extreme talent for. And I get that, Mori is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Mori is trying to recall the story as best as he can and he doesn’t want to make it the Mori show by deviating. But tact is what is missing. maybe I’m just rambling
 
The story felt more stitched together this time around. It could be that Mori had more information when it came to this episode. So I am prepared for future episodes to be either disjointed or a little more complete.
 
I don't understand why they can't look at Miura's art as reference and draw the characters more on model. The episode was not bad story wise but man, guts looks so strange.
For me it's clear that there Is only one assistent of Miura (I don't know which one of them is) that get close to Miura art style and I would not care to get only 3 chapter for year if he was the only one in charge of drawing the characters
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
We have gotten scenes of Skull Knight talking to himself before, have we not?

I don't believe it's unprecedented, no, but considering their laconic reluctance thus far it's a big swing. It gives me the hope we'll get to see Guts express reasonable thoughts again... but of course, I may live to regret it.

Anyway, you know what I really find mediocre and tedious about the artwork in these episodes? The complaints! We're not going to see a return to Miura form, folks. He's dead, Jim. It's the pretenders doing it now, not the chosen one, etc. That's the Faustian bargain we're all complict in here. And I'm not saying be uncritical, I just think it's odd to focus on such obvious, to be expected, ticky tack shit when the fate of the series' legacy is at stake. "perhaps this is the nature of man" :SK: :ganishka:

I know, I'm suffering from a longterm bout of extreme lowered expectations... but I think they're reasonable and appropriate given the circumstances! Again, I'm pleasantly surprised it doesn't look like this:

796382_porn4grim_skull-knight-berserk.jpg
 
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Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
The duty to support Miura?

:guts:

I get what you're saying, but I also don't think we get to have it both ways, or that it's a free-for-all because he's dead and so we get to rob his house; support it or don't, but then don't read it if you don't support it. It should be pretty organic; like, if I get so grossed out by the direction of this project that I'm going to stop buying it, I'm also not going to waste my time and patience hunting for the latest leaks and scans of something that doesn't bring me joy either.:shrug:

Essentially, the decision to stop reading it should come first.
 
Honestly this art is better than most mangas out there.
Miura also had some inconsistency with the faces...though it was still much better than this.

However, I think the assistants did the opposite of some of the previous episodes : they are paying too much attention to details and not so much on the characters.
The backgrounds have an huge amount of hatching which in my opinion could be reduced in favor of giving the characters more attention and improving the visual storytelling (which is far more important imo).

They need to find a middle line if they really want to live up to the legacy of Miura.

And about the story, it's kinda complicated.
I don't like the way they've handled Casca, but at the same time I liked the way they conveyed the dialogues comparing to the previous ones.
So it's a mixed bag.
 
Anyway, you know what I really find mediocre and tedious about the artwork in these episodes? The complaints! We're not going to see a return to Miura form, folks. He's dead, Jim. It's the pretenders doing it now, not the chosen one, etc. That's the Faustian bargain we're all complict in here. And I'm not saying be uncritical, I just think it's odd to focus on such obvious, to be expected, ticky tack shit when the fate of the series' legacy is stake. "perhaps this is the nature of man" :SK:

I appreciate your optimism, honestly! I also can't help myself but be weirded out and comment on the particulars about the artwork that really take me out of enjoying my absolute favourite thing in the world..I promise I'm not a pretender :mozgus:.

For how much I was looking forward to/dreading Skull Knights arrival and was really let down by him in action and his horse...I actually was pretty satisfied with him! He looked pretty dang good.
 
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Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
Well, I don't know how optimistic or pessimistic I am at this point, I'd like to think realistic. But one could argue my defense of this, or at least my incredulity at some of what I consider nitpicking, actually comes from a place of deep pessimism, like I'm watching someone look a dead horse in the mouth. Anyway, the fundamental question isn't whether or not the art is on model, it's whether there's a point to "Berserk" without Miura, which on the surface is crazy to even ask. He WAS what was special about Berserk.
 
The Gaga team are getting there. This episode was a good look at the team doing exposition and character work, as well as extended emotional panels. It's not perfect, but it's a decent imitation of Miura. I still feel it's often wonky, with me needing to reread certain sections to understand what is being visually conveyed, panel to panel. The art is improved and will only improve now that they are at the wheel. I wish visually they would take some breathing room and panel out actions a bit more, though Guts reaction at the fly away is great. The stuff with Roderick and crew looks good and visually makes sense.

That said this whole portion of the story feels rushed. There is no dialogue exchanged between Guts, Griffith, Casca, or Zodd. The emergence of the evil spirits is poorly set up and explained other than 'it's the same as Albion.' No cutaway to other denizens of the island as LIQUID DEATH pours out. Hogwarts is doomed. And it looks like the dead tree is falling into a giant sinkhole at the end. Was the tree a plug to the abyss? Did the world tree link everything? Was tree protecting the island and powering it from the evil energy it was absorbing? We'll see.

Disappointing that Miura's plan was to make Casca a damsel again, but then again, at least she has her mind back and hopefully some agency. It will be nice having Griffith talk to someone who knows what he really is. And Casca's interaction with the boy will be different. Might she consider her options if he visits on a full moon? And it certainly keeps Guts from considering any other option but war.
 
I hate the fact that Casca is abducted, just while we got her back after decades of storytelling. To be clear, I'd hate it even if Miura would've done it, and I'd be really, really disappointed. It would be the first time that I would be concerned about the future of the story. It's a choice that just doesn't make sense to me at this specific point of the overall story, and yes, things might be interesting with her in Falconia, of course, but this minimal interaction with the party just doesn't sit well with me, at all. It basically is a justification to every person saying all these years that after the Eclipse, Casca exist solely to be a plot subject for Guts's sadness and character development. The panels with his desperate look are the nails in the coffin.

Damn, I considered this project an official fanfic, but from feeling apathetic towards it since its announcement and the results so far, now I actually feel angry.
 
Anyway, you know what I really find mediocre and tedious about the artwork in these episodes? The complaints! We're not going to see a return to Miura form, folks. He's dead, Jim. It's the pretenders doing it now, not the chosen one, etc.
The drawing wasn't the only important thing of Berserk but for sure it was an
important part of It.
Now nobody expects Miura to continue BERSERK from the grave, but as THEY made a statement about "honoring" Miura Kentarou's legacy they could at least give It a try( and I'm not speaking only about the drawing) or change the name of the series in something more appropriate for it ("BERSERK?")
Otherwise the only thing they are honoring it's the Young Animal editor's bank account.
 
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Doesn’t
Elfhelm somehow feel empty?

The way they portrayed it in these last episodes kind of makes me feel as if the current events are of no consequence at all. Where is everybody?

Other than that I mostly enjoyed this episode. More than the previous 3 for sure .
 

Griffith

With the streak of a tear, Like morning dew
The drawing wasn't the only important thing of Berserk but for sure it was an
important part of It.
Now nobody expects Miura to continue BERSERK from the grave, but as THEY made a statement about "honoring" Miura Kentarou's legacy they could at least give It a try( and I'm not speaking only about the drawing)

Well, I think they've given it a pretty incredible effort honestly, it's just that no matter how much they exceed expectations, or don't, they're never going to replicate Miura's standard for depicting things authentically. I see the flaws too, but it must be so overwhelming to even attempt to copy his style I don't know how they even begin. It's an impossible, no-win scenario, and that's where a lot of my compassion and forgiveness is coming from. The rest is the idea this is a tribute honoring his legacy so his work lives on, so to speak. Now, if it just straight up starts sucking in all aspects to the point it's no longer a tribute but arguably dishonoring his legacy... well, that's a different matter! :stop:

or change the name of the series in something more appropriate for it ("BERSERK?")

:ganishka:
 
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I was pleasantly surprised to see characters actually speak in this episode although skully doesn't sound quite right imo, it might be the translation idk. art wise this has been the most inconsistent mori-gaga episode so far, where you have roderick and the crew all looking pretty alright but then guts' face is just wrong and mr waffle's neck grew half a meter. The decision to have casca be abducted, even though that was almost certainly miura's intent is very disappointing; the best we can hope for is that she gets some episodes focusing on her trying to escape, I suppose. Likewise the fact that neither griffith nor zodd have said a word and that there is no explanation as to how zodd was able to navigate the world tree's branches is bemusing to say the least.
 

Walter

Administrator
Staff member
I remember being pissed about Casca being kidnapped and some people saying not to jump to conclusions, well, there it is.
It's an abduction, not a kidnapping. Are you expecting a ransom note?

And to be clear, after 367 you were butt hurt over something that hadn't happened yet. And I advised caution because things could have changed in the following ep. Afterall, how was I to know: A) Skull Knight would have protected his former girlfriend instead of taking a swipe at a God Hand member (or hell—even Zodd?), and B) that Guts would just wave as his greatest enemy flies off with his greatest love, and C) the so-called Great Gurus would be napping through this whole cataclysmic ordeal?

And now yeah, my butt kinda hurts too, because it's official. I think it's incredibly lame for Casca to get taken off like this after the promise of great things to come. But you're over here bragging that you could have been king butt hurt all along if I hadn't intervened with the voice of reason. I guess all I can say is ... I'm sorry, your majesty?

However, possibly because the Casca abduction was already a talking point over the course of the past month, it didn't even phase me as much as everything else in this episode. The circumstances are about as dire now as they've ever been. The island is falling apart. And it looks to me like the groups are being subdivided (Azan, Roderick, Magnifico, Sea Horse guys, Merrows | Serpico, Isidro, Isma, Danan, Skull Knight | Guts and likely Puck | RIP Schierke and Farnese), which could be setting up different perspectives over the next arc. That should be exciting but... just not feeling it, I guess.

If anything moved the needle for me in this episode, it was wondering if we'll get more information about these ooze dudes, which I suppose the episode title might be their new signifier. I hope it does eventually shed more light on the history of the island.
 
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