Man, I so want to interject while I'm listening. I'm literally trying to interrupt you guys.
On the translation drive, I just want to reiterate my little testimonial if anyone missed it:
I think old-timers like me owe Puella the greatest debt of gratitude since we've been enjoying her work the longest, and if you've been following Berserk at any time in the last decade you've probably enjoyed it too. I love Puella's translations because they're so thoughtful and well annotated, so you're not just getting some shorthand for the sake of expediency or style, but a very clear and nuanced understanding of the sometimes complicated words, ideas and multiple meanings being conveyed. I also remember the days when Puella didn't only provide the translations (basically our most core purpose here, following and understanding Berserk), but almost single-handedly kept us up to date with the series itself on an ongoing basis! Basically, nobody can top that kind of long term contribution to the community. So, I'm grateful for this opportunity to finally pay her back for all the time, money and effort she's invested, not only in the series and its promotion, but in us and our enjoyment.
And I'd like to add that we've basically gotten over a decade of volunteer work from her, so the least we can do is support her future work, once again,
for us. Plus, we'll be getting more! That's a hell of a deal.
Now to 337, I'm basically live-posting this as I listen...
On Griffith's fortress mentality: It could be that our perception of Griffith being largely on easy street is all wrong and too small minded. On the one hand, the dominoes are all in place for him to dominate the human world with ease, but he's literally up against the very makeup of the world and potentially messing with forces far beyond our reckoning at this point. So, when you think of it that way, that he's laying siege to the universe, it's understandable that he's not just taking everything for granted and still has his guard up. He might be waiting for a retaliation he knows is coming but we don't (after all, why send his best men to kill a dying witch).
On Cake: Griffith's white cake is his white cat that he strokes as his warheads are aimed at the U.N.
On Rickert's "reaction": I think it's not unlike Guts' anger over Griffith standing there smiling and sweet talking as if nothing happened. This was a necessary correction that even Guts didn't get a chance to administer (though his correction likely wouldn't have left much room for contemplation after =).
Also, I think it means more coming from Rickert (I typed Griffith at first, Jesus you guys) because Griffith can't dismiss his reaction like he did Guts, "Oh, you're always angry, you always swing first and talk second." Like what you were saying about Rickert's place in the world earlier, not only is he not like that, but he's a docile person who has no counter agenda to Griffith otherwise, and who in fact was only ever devoted to him and his cause. So I think for Rickertof all people to unexpectedly rebuke Griffith so forcefully makes him deal with it in a way Guts obvious vendetta couldn't. Maybe later Guts can say, "You know what I said before, when we killed the Queen, about you not being a bad person!?
I LIED!!!" Griffith:
Speaking of which, considering that Griffith did have that sensitivity in him, I wouldn't be surprised if it carried over into Femto... I'd be a lot more worried about the consequences though (Rickert still doesn't know the whole truth that Griffith was merciless killer long before he sacrificed the Falcons). His was still quite an idealized vision that was tarnished by this.
