Grail said:Yeah, I couldn't help but get stuck on that detail. I was honestly a bit shocked to read that. Is Farnese really that deep in denial? And I didn't think she'd just want to drop off Casca and leave herself, seeing as how they'd become rather emotionally attached.Aazealh said:- Farnese seems to believe Guts wants to drop Casca off and take his leave. No doubt she sees that as her chance to have him for herself. Drama incoming.
Aazealh said:- ... Speaking of the symbols, these are a bit different, they feel somewhat celtic-like to me, which is fitting for an island.
- The whole scarecrows and pumpkins thing is so cool and is just another example of Miura featuring classic folklore in the story (almost in time for Halloween, too!). Same for the reference to the Golden Goose (a classic folktale that fits the situation perfectly).
Aazealh said:- While the scarecrows likely don't pose too much danger to Guts, I'm curious to see how Schierke will deal with this. Especially with her peers, who seem as young as she is (maybe even younger?). IT'S ON! DUEL OF THE WITCHES!
Theozilla said:Assuming that the translation of Korean translation of the episode's description of the way time moves slower in Elfhelm is accurate (basically a reverse-Narnia relationship). I wonder if that makes the possibility of a time-skip on a scale that allows the character's in Guts' party to age a couple to a few years more, or less, likely? Because if the former type of time-skip did occur that would presumably indicate a time-skip for the outside world on the level of several, if not decades, also occurring.
Theozilla said:Hmmm, those lines/panels also stuck out to me as well, though, I personally just interpreted them as more just general anxiety/ponderings on Farnese's part (that's not too generous a interpretation of that scene IMO?). Like, I don't think those lines/panels necessarily imply that Farnese is consciously thinking/plotting with that much foresight that she is actively viewing it as a future opportunity to capture Guts' affections.
Smith said:I was hoping the scarecrows to be as skilled as Azan/Serp and a group of them taking Guts at once, posing a real life threatening battle with Guts. Afterall this might reflect an entire level of difference in warding and magical defense as compared to Flora Mansion.
Hmm, I suppose it is still early to draw any definite conclusion. Regardless though, whether it is on Skellig or not, I do hope there is a time-skip of a couple of years at least for Guts' party since it could do a lot to cultivate and grow other individuals' skill and experience (or in cured!Casca's case relearn/retrain herself and specifically allow Schierke, Isidro, and Isma grow noticeably older).Aazealh said:It seems pretty clear from what Isma's mother says that they're not going to stay there for years. I would expect it to be weeks at most. It's also not clear exactly how it works, so it might be better not to draw too many conclusions this early on.
Aazealh said:I wouldn't say plotting, but viewing it as an opportunity? I don't see why not, given the latest developments in that regard (her and Guts and Casca on the ship). She almost asks Guts about it directly, too. The only other possibility is for her to consider staying on the island as well, but even if Casca wasn't cured, it would presumably not be necessary as others could take care of her. Like Grail said, in such a scenario it'd be a case of balancing Farnese's affection for Casca and her desire to be with Guts. Either way, I don't see it happening like that.
Theozilla said:I think she is more just generally anxious/nervous about the future (in that scene), like she is more wondering (to use the first person) what will become of "us" (referring to both her relationship with Guts specifically, and Guts' to the party as a whole) after Casca is cured/finds sanctuary.
Aazealh said:Well that's really not very different from what I'm saying.
Grail said:It's kind of surreal. I keep trying to look back on how I had imagined our first glimpse of the island, and I think I imagined the initial approach to the island being more drawn out. I was a bit surprised that we didn't get some sort of two-page spread of the island (in fact, I nearly missed it in my haste!). All the same, I'm glad that Miura decided to get us off the boat sooner rather than later.
Walter said:I can see why Miura conducted events in this way. He does address it, but leaves room for future developments. The island isn't defined for us yet. If we had been treated to something more grand, like a birds-eye-view of the island, it would be far less mysterious.
Walter said:At the core though, I had a deeper feeling that I have some trouble explaining. It's not a negative feeling, or a critique. It's like watching a kid grow up (maybe that sentiment will only resonate with parents). Good mixed with bad. Things are really moving in Berserk. We're in the midst of huge changes for a part of the series that has been slumbering for years. We've been thinking to ourselves "Well, we'll see about that after they arrive in Elfhelm..." It's been implicitly promising some of the biggest turning points of the series, and here we are stepping foot onto it. Some of those revelations could be mere episodes away. And while I expected to be excited, I didn't expect to feel somewhat worried that things will be over so soon. Because at this pace, I can see the end of the story taking shape not too far off now.
Aazealh said:You're just getting a taste of that sad feeling people sometimes get after finishing a good, lengthy story. But relax, we've still got a decade or two before it's time to prepare for the end.
Walter said:A decade, certainly. Two? Get outta here, you!
Walter said:What does everyone think of Puck's secret "origin" story? Even though it's for comedic purposes, it could be for real — however, it omits the reason why he left the island to begin with. I still feel like there's more to his story that Miura has made conspicuous by design.
Walter said:Technically they set out for Elfhelm in 2001, leaving the continent in 2007.
Aazealh said:
- Time flowing differently on the island makes sense in a lot of ways. It provides an incentive for the group to not stay too long. They'll either have to stay forever or leave after a relatively short while. That also means anyone staying behind could be lost forever... Besides that, it provides the perfect opportunity for a time skip. Whether the world ages faster or they do, something is definitely looming on the horizon in that regard.
- Farnese seems to believe Guts wants to drop Casca off and take his leave. No doubt she sees that as her chance to have him for herself. Drama incoming.
I wouldn't say plotting, but viewing it as an opportunity? I don't see why not, given the latest developments in that regard (her and Guts and Casca on the ship). She almost asks Guts about it directly, too.
Vixen Comics said:Ugh! This stood out to me as well and honestly I'm not liking the implications here at all. I don't want to see Farnese get hurt in all of this. She has come such a long way that this delusion might hurt her growth. Not to mention I don't want conflict between Casca and Farnese. They have developed a rapport and I would hate to see that unraveled by drama over Guts.
Aazealh said:P.S. Berserk prologue arc is the best arc.
Early on, Puck jokes that the story would too dark without him.Delta Phi said:Speaking of which, has Puck broken the 4th wall in reference to the actually series itself before? I know he's referenced other properties before, but I can't recall a time he's mentioned the story he himself is in.
Vixen Comics said:this tid bit surprised me actually. It sort of puts an urgency to their stay on Elfhelm that if they linger to long and they can be in a predicament with Griffith, and they might have to rush. I sort of envisioned them staying on elfhelm and training and getting news skills for at least a year or two, but it seems that staying too long might not be to their benefit. Maybe forcing them to leave before a certain someone is ready to?
Vixen Comics said:Ugh! This stood out to me as well and honestly I'm not liking the implications here at all. I don't want to see Farnese get hurt in all of this. She has come such a long way that this delusion might hurt her growth. Not to mention I don't want conflict between Casca and Farnese. They have developed a rapport and I would hate to see that unraveled by drama over Guts.
Skeleton said:While I too think their stay on the island won't be too long, I'm hoping they leave sooner rather than later in a more natural way than because they're constantly aware of the time. Otherwise it will end up being like a scene out of Interstellar:
Schierke: "It will take us thirty minutes to walk back to the ship, Guts."
Guts: "Damn it! That's twenty-four years we can't afford!"
Skeleton said:As far as the time jump, if it happens I hope it's in the five to ten year range. I want enough time to pass for Rickert and Erika to grow into adults (preferably with Rickert looking like a younger Godot) and for the God Hand to wreck/change the various lands but not so much time that the older characters like Daiba have kicked the bucket when Guts and crew returns (hang in there, gramps! ).
Theozilla said:I actually don't think Farnese is deluding herself in the sense that she has a chance to form a romantic relationship with Guts. I think, like Schierke, Farnese is actually quite aware of the nigh impossibility of the notion. But unlike Schierke, Farnese still hasn't completely processed/fully come to peace with her various of feelings/emotions on the subject.
Aazealh said:That's a pretty odd statement. Schierke is still a little girl, and she came to terms with her feelings by taking comfort in the fact she has a very special and unique relationship with Guts anyway. But like you say, Farnese hasn't come to this realization and, on the contrary, has repeatedly exhibited behavior that makes her feelings for Guts quite clear to the reader. That includes the very last episode in which the group appeared (episode 331), where she (among other things) embarrassed herself by thinking outloud on that very subject.
Theozilla said:I don't see how it is that odd. I'm not claiming the way Schierke processed wasn't unique to her situation or anything like that. And I agree Farnese's feelings for Guts are still quite clear as you have stated, I am just saying that I do think Farnese intellectually recognizes the extreme improbability of her romantic feelings being reciprocated by Guts (which is why wouldn't describe her as deluding herself), but like I said she emotionally hasn't fully accepted/processed her feelings on that fact/notion.
Aazealh said:It's odd because you're trying to dismiss her feelings as secondary to her rational mind in a strange attempt to understate the situation. But that's not how feelings work, and nothing in the manga supports what you say anyway.
Theozilla said:Well, I am not trying to dismiss her feelings as secondary and/or understate the situation. I am just arguing that her feelings don't completely negate her rational mind's workings/awareness either (which I do think the manga supports, since if she didn't intellectually recognize the unlikelihood of her feelings being reciprocated on some level she wouldn't necessarily being going through as much emotional turmoil as she is currently going through now).