Episode 379

[Atocas]

I don't know why they even bother including these caricatures of Puck and Isidro anymore when they're not gonna do anything with them. Has there been any consideration for how those characters might feel while they're writing this? The continuation already dips into just being fanfiction, so why not at least try to produce something of value when you're already dedicating pages to a scene focusing on a character.

 

[Xenoskell]

At this point, I just want to see Casca and Guts find the strength to face and embrace each other. I crave some catharsis; even the thought of a bittersweet conclusion was something I expected, as long as it was crafted with the same depth and nuance that have characterized the portrayals of Casca, Griffith, and Guts.

It already hasn't the same depth as before.
And it's not just worse...it's miles worse than what Miura did.

Reading the episodes before his death, the difference is night and day.
There is a sense of pacing, where they panels show the actions and words of the characters ; the paneling, which flows naturally ; the writing, in which the characters talk meaningful things and keep the story engaging.

The drop in quality right now is simply too drastic, and I doubt that they will do Guts and Casca justice in the next episodes.

And just a quick edit to comment about the episode itself...

Why Puck hasn't even bothered to talk with Guts?
They forgot how he helped him in "Black Swordsman" and "Conviction" Arc?

 

[Aazealh]

Why Puck hasn't even bothered to talk with Guts?
They forgot how he helped him in "Black Swordsman" and "Conviction" Arc?

Well their version of Puck (we might need to find new names for all these bizarro characters at this point) hasn't really cared about Guts or anyone else since the Continuation began. In episode 375 he watched stone-faced and cross-armed as Guts was dragged out in the most humiliating way, then went to sat on him. It'd be laughable if it wasn't so infuriating. But the real reason for it is that it's the Continuation team who needs Guts to be locked down and out of sight, so he'll stay there as long as possible.

 

[Kaimsel]

It'll go down in history as a cautionary tale of what not to do after an author's death.

Unfortunately, wherever I go (Twitter, reddit) I only see praise for this half-assed continuation and people also attack those who don’t like it. They say it’s faithful and exactly how Miura would tell the story because Mori KnOwS EvErYtInG. I really don’t understand how people who love Berserk can’t even spend 5 minutes of their time to read about continuation and understand that there’re no Miura’s notes, that he was a gardener writer who didn’t want to set anything in stone until he writes it, and that in fact Mori isn’t even writing this manga, it’s collective fanfic of multiple people based on some Mori’s memories of what Miura might or might not include in the story because according to Mori himself Miura could have changed the draft of nearly finished episode. Gosh

 

[Xenoskell]

Well their version of Puck (we might need to find new names for all these bizarro characters at this point) hasn't really cared about Guts or anyone else since the Continuation began. In episode 375 he watched stone-faced and cross-armed as Guts was dragged out in the most humiliating way, then went to sat on him. It'd be laughable if it wasn't so infuriating. But the real reason for it is that it's the Continuation team who needs Guts to be locked down and out of sight, so he'll stay there as long as possible.

This was the most baffling moment from "Neo" Puck imo (I'm just gonna call him that).
He was just standing there doing nothing. Whereas before 364 he never did that (with the exception of some comedy relief moments maybe).

And I guess you are right.
They are locking Guts down since they can't properly write his development, until something "big" happens next.

Now, talking about another topic.
I wonder if they are really consulting the same manga at all.
I dunno if Dark Horse translation is correct, but Silat said "All who live in the village are warriors who constantly practice their killing arts. Not even the likes of spirit creatures would find it easy to approach".

However, in the continuation, it doesn't seem to be the case.
Not all the villagers seems like they are warriors, and they certainly don't feel like they are "practicing their killing arts".
They all seem to be fearing (aside from Silat himself and the tapasa) the spirits, and it takes one huge effort for them to start drawing their swords.


Like, what the hell?
Are the staff really reading what Miura wrote for the manga?

As I said above, I understand not giving the same amount of depth and attention of detail that Miura brought to the manga.
But they are failing again and again to grasp basic concepts from the story.

It's just so sad that this is happening.
I don't even know why I bother to keep reading this continuation.

 

[Walter]

And I guess you are right.
They are locking Guts down since they can't properly write his development, until something "big" happens next.

This has been the case for a few years. Whether he's been in the ship or a jail cell, Guts is effectively on ice because anything he says or does would be too consequential, thus he's more volatile to handle than, say Roderick or Isidro.

The next logical question is: If they're too scared to handle Guts—the main character—then why are they even doing this? I don't have a good answer for that one!

Now, talking about another topic.
I wonder if they are really consulting the same manga at all.
I dunno if Dark Horse translation is correct, but Silat said "All who live in the village are warriors who constantly practice their killing arts. Not even the likes of spirit creatures would find it easy to approach".

However, in the continuation, it doesn't seem to be the case.
Not all the villagers seems like they are warriors, and they certainly don't feel like they are "practicing their killing arts".
They all seem to be fearing (aside from Silat himself and the tapasa) the spirits, and it takes one huge effort for them to start drawing their swords.

That's because this isn't the Bakiraka hideout that Silat was referring to back in Falconia. This is the Kushan capital.

I totally understand your confusion, though. Until they clarified what this new place was, it didn't add up at all (well, it still doesn't!).

 

[Aazealh]

Unfortunately, wherever I go (Twitter, reddit) I only see praise for this half-assed continuation and people also attack those who don’t like it. They say it’s faithful and exactly how Miura would tell the story because Mori KnOwS EvErYtInG. I really don’t understand how people who love Berserk can’t even spend 5 minutes of their time to read about continuation

These sorts of comments don't matter. Five years from now no one will remember them, least of all those who wrote them. Oh and the reason these people don't spend 5 minutes on it is because they don't actually care for the series. So don't waste your time thinking about them.

I dunno if Dark Horse translation is correct, but Silat said "All who live in the village are warriors who constantly practice their killing arts. Not even the likes of spirit creatures would find it easy to approach".

However, in the continuation, it doesn't seem to be the case.

Yeah I addressed that as soon as we saw the city, in episode 375. Like Walter just said, it's because Silat was talking about a secret Bakiraka hideout located somewhere in the West in an impregnable location. It's got nothing to do with this big coastal city they created out of thin air. This is one of many reasons why I've been saying the Continuation has veered completely off track from what Miura would have done. They don't respect previously established story elements at all, they clearly don't care.

 

[Keratos]

(we might need to find new names for all these bizarro characters at this point)

This is unironically a good idea
It feels gross having to talk about these caricatures with the names of the original characters.

 

[Aazealh]

This is unironically a good idea
It feels gross having to talk about these caricatures with the names of the original characters.

Kup
Tsug
Askac
Ersipoc
Nezefar
Yrchek
Droishi
Naza

Lisat
Badai

Thiffrig
Dozz
Suloc
Shasrak
Belgrund
Niaos

(Yeah I know these are ridiculous )

 

[Keratos]

Tsug

Thinking of him as "Tsug" somewhat softens the blow. Thank you

 

[Zephyr42]

I've been referring to the continuation itself as "Bizark".

 

[Walter]

This episode opens with a shocking cameo:

Poor Mr. Game & Watch... His whole family reunion was disrupted by the ... gnawers? NO! It's uhh troll sewage. That's what that is, right? It's like the Zerg creep, I think.

Excerpt from 379:
Azan: By the way, what are you doing with all that luggage? Are you running away in the middle of the night?
Isidro: Damn it ! It's a trip. A solo trip!!

Would Isidro really abandon his friends in the middle of this battle?
Is that warranted? Sure, he's been moody since the island. But leaving everyone behind in the middle of a big fight, with Schierke in a fucking coma, all without any focus on his resolution to do so?

Plain and simple, this feels like character assassination. It makes me wonder: How far is too far? We also see Rakshas, an APOSTLE, run away from a fight in this episode. Will we see Guts run away from a fight in the near future, too? Why not? After all, this was Miura's original vision, as told to Mori, right? Who are we to question it if it made it into the pages?

Honestly, this makes me wonder if by segmenting the group, they intend to write Isidro off. After all, he's one less stray end that's not Guts or Griffith. Though they should really keep Isidro around as a warm body they feel safer inserting dialogue into, right?

In any case, in this ep, Isidro is completely overwhelmed by about 7 trolls. He's once again shitting his pants. He doesn't bother to draw his dagger before Azan appears from nowhere. This isn't the same Isidro who took down the Boss Troll in the Qliphoth. This is Drisio.

As for Rakshas...
I just realized that they not-so-subtly altered his form between episodes, so that when he emerged he was fully transformed, but now he's in a sort of half-transformed state, to the extent that when he's talking, he's not using the apostle font at all (assuming the team remembered that apostles use a different font).

Here's a quick refresher on that one (his form from 377, then 378):

So... what happened? To start with, how'd he get inside that dude? And why did he emerge fully transformed anyway? Going by what he says, I suppose we could assume that he "DIED" while he was transformed, so he emerged here as transformed, simple as that. But then moments after erupting from a guy's back and preparing to show down with Silat and the Bakiraka, he chooses to lessen his own power, ultimately realizing these guys are toooooo much for him, so he runs away. What? WHAT the fuck is happening? As fully transformed, Rakshas made THEM run in Falconia. He lifted a horse and split it in half over him to douse flames with blood. He could have painted that whole grand hall in blood. But no, he runs away for... reasons.

Tsug

I'm okay with this.

 

[Jericho]

I'm still very bothered by the Kushan inclusion, since I think Miura made it pretty clear that Silat and co's directions was specifically towards the Bakiraka hideout, seperate from the whole Kushan empire. It undermines the mystique that we've been told about since the Golden Age and further simplifies the world and story.

 

[Aazealh]

I'm still very bothered by the Kushan inclusion, since I think Miura made it pretty clear that Silat and co's directions was specifically towards the Bakiraka hideout, seperate from the whole Kushan empire. It undermines the mystique that we've been told about since the Golden Age and further simplifies the world and story.

Yes and more simply, the Kushan empire is supposed to be over. Wiped out by Fantasia like the rest of the world, with only Falconia remaining as a bastion for human civilization. The Bakiraka as a clan of survivors was meant to be the exception because they're exceptional. It made perfect sense, and it was like their whole story arc had led to that moment.

Meanwhile this situation makes no sense on so many levels I'm not sure I could list them all off the top of my head.

 

[ApostleBob]

As for Rakshas...
I just realized that they not-so-subtly altered his form between episodes, so that when he emerged he was fully transformed, but now he's in a sort of half-transformed state, to the extent that when he's talking, he's not using the apostle font at all (assuming the team remembered that apostles use a different font).

Here's a quick refresher on that one (his form from 377, then 378):

So... what happened? To start with, how'd he get inside that dude? And why did he emerge fully transformed anyway? Going by what he says, I suppose we could assume that he "DIED" while he was transformed, so he emerged here as transformed, simple as that. But then moments after erupting from a guy's back and preparing to show down with Silat and the Bakiraka, he chooses to lessen his own power, ultimately realizing these guys are toooooo much for him, so he runs away. What? WHAT the fuck is happening? As fully transformed, Rakshas made THEM run in Falconia. He lifted a horse and split it in half over him to douse flames with blood. He could have painted that whole grand hall in blood. But no, he runs away for... reasons.


I'm okay with this.

I feel you Walter.

They've been retconning endings and beginnings between episodes for some time now. There's been Rakshas's apostle form, last episode Raksas was in an intense fight with Silat, and now they are back to talking. A few episodes ago they completely re-did the Kushan's attacking Roderick's ship. It's like they are more concerned about creating an exciting cliffhanger than they are with following through with it.

And what a wasted opportunity with Rakshas. He makes an explosive entrance around the elite ruling class for 'the resistance' to Falconia, and he mostly just stands in place and summons lessor minions. He doesn't go on an apostle killing rampage, and he seems to be on equal ground with nameless bakiraka henchmen. The battle with Silat in Falconia was well thought-out, tense, and felt like anything could happen. This is somehow boring.

And last thing: Farnese casts the Four Kings barrier over the Palace / Capital and we see some trolls disintegrate. But panels later we see trolls still engaged in combat inside the palace. What gives? Does this spell suddenly not work indoors? It was effective inside the church in Enoch. Again it feels like the team is going for iconic imagery, with little care for consistency or cause-and-effect.

 

[Jericho]

Meanwhile this situation makes no sense on so many levels I'm not sure I could list them all off the top of my head.

I really think we should've gotten Rickert's introduction to the Bakiraka from his perspective, separate from Guts and the group, simply because it would've given us more time to see him adapt to the new environment and tell us more about what the group is going to do, Rickert being the first outsider to enter the hideout was a big deal, completely skipping over that is just...why? also, this panel from 377 is so glaring to me because this whole argument shouldn't even be conceived in the first place, Silats intention was to go to the hideout, so what is he doing dealing with this stupid council?

 

[Vitris]

They've been retconning endings and beginnings between episodes for some time now. There's been Rakshas's apostle form, last episode Raksas was in an intense fight with Silat, and now they are back to talking. A few episodes ago they completely re-did the Kushan's attacking Roderick's ship. It's like they are more concerned about creating an exciting cliffhanger than they are with following through with it.

Another thing that they keep changing is the distinction (or lack thereof) between Kushan and Bakiraka. It doesn't make sense for Silat to call the citizens his "countrymen".

 

[Aazealh]

It's like they are more concerned about creating an exciting cliffhanger than they are with following through with it.

I'm pretty sure this is precisely their reasoning.

And last thing: Farnese casts the Four Kings barrier over the Palace / Capital and we see some trolls disintegrate. But panels later we see trolls still engaged in combat inside the palace. What gives?

Walter and I were talking about it yesterday and my theory is they think it's a literal barrier, as in it's just a wall and it's hollow inside. I know that sounds stupid but I really believe this is the level of inattention they're at.

it feels like the team is going for iconic imagery, with little care for consistency or cause-and-effect.

That's exactly what they're doing.

also, this panel from 377 is so glaring to me because this whole argument shouldn't even be conceived in the first place, Silats intention was to go to the hideout, so what is he doing dealing with this stupid council?

Hahaha, check out what I wrote at the time if you want some to know how I feel about it.

 

[Ithier]

Oh and the reason these people don't spend 5 minutes on it is because they don't actually care for the series. So don't waste your time thinking about them.

I think they're just trying to maintain the illusion that there's a clear road map to the ending and they're in denial about the sad reality. The guilt tripping they do with Mori's involvement is starting to annoy me though.

 

[Phonon89]

I’m still not sure why but I will usually look at what different YouTube channels have to say about the new episodes when they release. I guess it’s “hate watching” because of how much they will usually glaze on how good the continuation is and not point out any faults it has. But lately my hate has turned to genuine concern. How can someone view this and go “yep this is great! It does not get anymore Berserk feeling than that!” Are these individuals so starved to grow their audience that they’ll pretend like this is the Berserk we once knew? Is their situation that desperate? I know it’s talked about here a lot but I’ve yet to see a channel on YouTube dedicated to discussing the issues and discrepancies with the continuation in a fair and nuanced way. It’s just bizarre to watch honestly. I don’t even want to be mad anymore because I’m starting to think some of these individuals need some type of help.

 

[Silmaril]

I suppose we could assume that he "DIED"

Mori & Gaga: "So Rakshas died despite there being no indication of this with his last appearance in 341"

The audience: "Elaborate on that"

M&G: "No"

 

[Vitris]

Are these individuals so starved to grow their audience that they’ll pretend like this is the Berserk we once knew? Is their situation that desperate?

The answer to both questions is: yes.

I’ve yet to see a channel on YouTube dedicated to discussing the issues and discrepancies with the continuation in a fair and nuanced way.

YouTubers don't talk about the continuation that way because the casual audience doesn't want to engage with criticism. They want to hear the same talking points from different people to feel reassured.

 

[blodvind]

That's because this isn't the Bakiraka hideout that Silat was referring to back in Falconia. This is the Kushan capital.

Didn't Silat say, in the continuation even, that the Kushan are tough people trained for war, and that is why they haven't perished in Fantasia? Seeing these last episodes, though, it seems they would perish very quickly.

Or maybe they were never exposed to Fantasia? Why? Is not the whole world Fantasia now? Trying to find logic in any of this is futile. It drives me crazy.

 

[Walter]

Didn't Silat say, in the continuation even, that the Kushan are tough people trained for war, and that is why they haven't perished in Fantasia? Seeing these last episodes, though, it seems they would perish very quickly.

Or maybe they were never exposed to Fantasia? Why? Is not the whole world Fantasia now? Trying to find logic in any of this is futile. It drives me crazy.

This is precisely what we were trying to understand a few eps ago. There’s a contradiction that they’re ignoring.

Here's me trying my hardest to reconcile it: https://www.skullknight.net/forum/index.php?threads/episode-378.16636/post-272974

 

[Wyld Dreams]

I've been referring to the continuation itself as "Bizark".

I call it "Bizarrac" or short for "Bizarre Arc".
Also, Insania that follows Fantasia.