So far HxH, a bit at a time

[RalphVboy]

I understand where you're coming from, birdie. Though I'm a die-hard HxH fan, I realize it's not for everybody especially with the way certain events play out in the series.

The main reasons I like it are the character's, their development, their interactions with each other, the concepts of the HxH world, and the endless possibilities of Nen.

The character's seemed to be so unique and fresh to me when I 1st. saw the series. While most of them fit into generic archetypes, their unique character designs and backgrounds fascinated me. But more importantly I liked their development and interactions.

The character development and interactions were well-done, IMO. You get to see the main characters progress and grow, and base all their actions not only on the present but from their past experiences as well. Also, the minor characters play a very interesting role too. Each, yet again, have unique designs and backgrounds. Some of them are explained while others leave you with tons of questions. But I just think of that as part of the fun LOL.

The HxH world itself is awsome too. The scenery in the series was varied and great IMO. Each area had a unique feel to it, and the way the characters acted in them made the world come alive. I really don't know how else to explain it, but HxH just pulled me into its world and it's a fun ride

Now Nen is just about my favorite thing about HxH. There are just so many possibilites with nen, but there are no fool-proof trump card techniques with it. You cultivate the skill that you have into what best suits you and you go with it. Sure there are better and worse nen-users, but there are no "secret techniques" or "ascensions" possible with nen that assure you victory. You just hope that you can outsmart your opponent or you bank on you're style of nen (and the way you cultivated it) being superior to your opponents' style. So it's just plain 'ole hardwork, smarts, determination and luck required to survive in the world of nen, not just plot-contrivances. It also makes for some interesting battles.

I like the manga version of HxH a slight bit more than the anime. Mainly because I like reading exactly what Togashi had in mind for HxH and getting the full story. I also like it because the manga is going far beyond Greed Island (though it's currently at a stand-still in the Chimera Ant arc for about 5 months now ...bleh ).

Anywho, what I wrote above are just a few of the reasons I like HxH so much. I could go on and on, but I'd hate to bore y'all If any of you haven't tried HxH, give it a shot. You may find yourself liking it ^_^

- RalphVboy

[Lynxa]

Did you only watch Greed Island? Because I HATED Greed Island. I know people out there like TCGs but they make my eyes glaze over.

I'm totally with Ralph though, the characters just seemed so unique and interesting. And their interactions with each other are what make it really fun.

I could say more, but I'm REALLY tired right now I'll come back tomorrow with a better analysis.

[duotrouble]

It's okay, birdie. You don't have to like everything. I HATED 12 Kingdoms so much I couldn't finish it and I don't follow what's so great about Cowboy Bebop. So I completely understand where you're coming from as to not understanding the hype.

I enjoyed all the arcs of HxH including Greed Island. But I'm into video games and card games so my guess is you'd have to like playing them to enjoy that arc. I felt like I was there with them playing. Mainly though, I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. I'm a true study of people's responses to each other. I actually love good arguements because I want to see how the other person is going to react. (Hence "trouble maker" )

I really enjoyed having a character like Killua, who his entire life was being taught how to be an assassin. He came from a family of assassins. So my favorite scenes were where we learned more about him.

Leorio was the comic relief for me. Then as the series went on, I guess they got bored with him because he didn't do much. I wish they would have built up his character even more.

Kurapica was the smart one of the group - calm and patient. I never viewed Kurapica as a kid. I always thought of her as being the same age as Leorio. It's something I only think Leorio commented on in the beginning. "Why's a kid using that language with me?" Or something like that. Towards the end, you don't hear him saying that. Maybe he found something out.

Gon was the most boring character of them all for me. He was so gullible it was almost too farfetched. But he was the one who had to get everyone into trouble. Everyone had to like him too so they'd fall into every trap.

The bad guys were just plot devices mainly. They could have elaborated more on them but didn't until about Greed Island. I think a little too late but eh. And don't even get me started on that crap dealing with Nen. That's when I thought I was going to poke my eyes out. It was just like Inuyasha spending some time leveling up his sword. Yawn fest!

Does that help any? I like the series but I'm not a diehard of it. I'll certainly rewatch it whenever I get a chance but I have a long list staring at me so it might be a while.

[RX78GP02AGUNDAM]

Hisoka - never really lived up to the psycho killer rep IMHO

I dont see him as a psycho killer. He's killed, he's pretty psycho, but not a psycho killer. He just likes the fighting. He's the same fighter type as Ubogin and Nobunaga. There were several times where he couldve kill Kurapika, Leorio, and Gon numerous times during the liscense test. Many of times where he didnt bother to attack or kill opponents because they werent worth of his time.

Leorio - his purpose - to drive people to their destinations, worth all that trouble to get a Hunter license

This was explained, that his goal is to become a doctor...so he didnt learn nen like Kurapika and the others who wanted to become stronger.
He wants to help his friends, but there are limits. Its like sending Keiko to battle Toguro. Kurapika wouldnt allow her friends to be killed.

Kuroro - ditto
The rest of the Spiders - Double Ditto

Kuroro is some dude to be the leader of a bunch of high class Nen users.
Like Toguro, most of the his "teammates" were fighters who lost to him...so now they obey him. Its the same for the Kumo. The story doesnt give much of what the Kumo's about if youve only gotten to GI, and still not very well after....but you get more history about the members. Most of the members admire Kuroro & Hisoka wants a piece of him....he cant be boring. He's not just another pretty face.

Pretty much all the characters are a tier or two better than his other series, including YYH. The information behind Nen (the 5 different types, special combinations like Ren, Zetsu, En), Kuroro's tactics, the GI game and cards...the story is so much more thought out. YYH was just a tournament on Earth, then a tournament in the other world. No real story. I like YYH, but if you compare it Hxh, its lacking in every way. I do like Yuusuke so much better than Gon though.




[/spoiler]

[birdie]

I was mildly entertained during the Hunter exams. But when it came to Nen training that's where it completely lost me. I couldn't take the endless explainations on nen.

And as for "character growth" I really didn't see any in Gon, Kuripica (deterioration, maybe but no growth) or Leorio. I did see it in Killua and he was just about the only saving grace for me and the only reason I made it as far as I did into the series.

I didn't go in thinking it was another YYH. My high expectations were based on comments made by fans. I've watched shows that others thought were fabulous that I thought were just "meh" but never have I had such a strongly opposite reaction to a series. I haven't even gone into my thoughts on Jin....

As I said, I just wanted to know what everyone else enjoyed about it.

[Baylor]

Ummm, Duo? Kurapica is a BOY, not a girl.

But don't take my word for it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOaqvUif ... ch=metroid

[Lynxa]

Ummm, Duo? Kurapica is a BOY, not a girl.

Baylor, I love you.

[duotrouble]

Ummm, Duo? Kurapica is a BOY, not a girl.

Oh trust me, I won't take anyone's word on it. GIRL!

Why I am the only one getting picked on? You're late to that discussion, Baylor-chan. You hated the series too though.

Birdie, I'm totally with you on the Nen stuff. Boring!

[Baylor]

I didn't hate the series. The end of Greed Island made most of it seem worth it. I'm glad I saw it, but it's definitely not one I'll buy, keep on my hard drive, or really recommend to people.

And why is it such a big deal for people to scream that Kurapica is a girl? Is it really so awful for him to be a boy?

[duotrouble]

And why is it such a big deal for people to scream that Kurapica is a girl? Is it really so awful for him to be a boy?

It's not a big deal whether Kurapica is a boy or a girl. I never understood the whole arguement anyway. As I stated earlier, if I hadn't read anything about this series on beta before watching it, I might have a different opinion.

Let's go back to the main point of HEY KIRA AND HOBBY, ARE YOU ENJOYING THE SHOW?

[kira]

LOL!

yes,so far i'm enjoying it. it doesnt matter what you say, i'll still watch.

hell with escaflowne, i know about dilandaus true self before i even started watching it.

i like all the main characters so far. even gon, though i do see what every one is saying about the too optopmistic thing.

still love hiso-chan though.*snickers*

[hobbywhelmed]

I'm not worthy....!

I put the discs away a while ago to get some real life done, and haven't pulled them out again to watch. Every time I sit at the computer, it's mostly to catch up on four years' worth of cel-scanning. Subtitles are not compatible with this! (I really don't even know where my To-Be-Watched pile is at the moment - we had a 24-hour notice before an appraisal, and after making the house look better than it would with normal people living here, I still don't know where I shoved a lot of things.)

Of all places, I stopped just as Kurapica was about to snuff some serious popo. But I know I'll be re-starting from much further back, probably from when they met up in New City, or even the tournament tour bouts.

I do like Gon, though. He's Clark Kent, ever the innocent but learning maturity without losing that. For that matter, he's DB's Goku! (Maybe a little more intellectual....)

Hisoka is definitely not a psycho killer, per se. He's psychotic according to normal standards, yes, and obsessive, and only the fact that he IS so good at fighting and - nenning? -- obscures the fact that he does have an impulse control problem (which he is smart enough to recognize). He really doesn't have empathy, is perceptive on an intellectual level. Given the whole world structure there of people doing battle all over the place with nen (and fists), his personal sociopathy fits right in.

Got no problem with Kurapica being a boy. Why is it so odd they made him pretty, with great hair. Have you people never read manga? And it matches the overly decorated sort of clothes he wears. If he's part of a tribe or clan, there might be some sort of regional dress code involved (and probably a certain amount of inbreeding), although I get the feeling they're just laying on symbols - the clothes conceal, the gender-signs are muted - everything sort of represents his clan's conditions of life - hide what you are, control your emotions.

Killua is my favorite. Despite his emotionally barren, rather peculiar childhood, he's taking emotional chances and looking for that human connection. In a way, he and Kurapica are traveling in opposite directions; one opening up and the other binding himself, cutting off his emotions.

I do like the amount of detail in the HXH universe, and they got a lot of it into the anime. I can see foreshadowings of the whole nen thing - you didn't think Hisoka had razor-edged cards, a la some old James Bond movie? It's a variation on the Naruto chakra thing, the Saiyan power-ups, and more convincing than 18 pounds of magical-girl implements. (And at least these kids are wearing sturdy shoes! Explain the whole ninja "open-toe wrap-sandal" thing, please!)

And, oh, I do love the body-eating nen vacuum cleaner! That is just so deliciously sick!

Ok, enough. I got to go feed the lizards. (Which is NOT a metaphor, BTW).

[RX78GP02AGUNDAM]

And as for "character growth" I really didn't see any in Gon, Kuripica (deterioration, maybe but no growth) or Leorio. I did see it in Killua and he was just about the only saving grace for me and the only reason I made it as far as I did into the series.

Gon and Leorio are Kyoukakei. Hisoka's nen personality theory, Kyokakei Nen users are Tanjyun BAKA (they all agree). Simply Stupid. They will never grow up...like Yuusuke & Kuwabara.

Kurapika's changed. The end of TV and the first OVA shows it.

And why is it such a big deal for people to scream that Kurapica is a girl? Is it really so awful for him to be a boy?

Maybe its because everyone screams its a boy in the first place. Gotta scream louder to be heard.

[kira]

only at ep 11. hobby's further then me.

but i have gotten some cels. heh.

*points to hobbys post*that made me think of hisoka from yami no matsuei. there's this one cover pic, that makes him look like a girl. yes, i know that was ot. i'll have to find that pic.

[hobbywhelmed]

Kira - of course I've gotten cels too!

Isn't it terrible to start collecting cels from a show before you've seen the whole thing? You have to figure out which cels you'd most likely kick yourself in the future for passing up now because they really were from a really good scene.


and:
that made me think of hisoka from yami no matsuei. there's this one cover pic, that makes him look like a girl. yes, i know that was ot. i'll have to find that pic.

Or name a dozen others. God forbid you're the shorter, younger, or blonder member of any anime pair of males. You could have testosterone higher than that of a bull elephant in must, but you'll still be portrayed as demure and femmy in at least half your pro artwork! (Sometimes, all you have to be is blond, for the doujinshi to send you for a chromosome recount. I've seen some Saiyuki fanzine depictions of Sanzo that make him look like an estrogen-drenched hermaphrodite with rickets (with behavior last portrayed by Cartman's cat on SouthPark).