Why Miura Broke up Guts' Group After Albion

[Walter]

I went through a little thought exercise this afternoon that I wanted to share. It doesn't necessarily shed any new light on anything, but all the same, I wanted to write it out.

When you're merely a reader of Berserk, the sequence of events seems obvious in retrospect. Cause and effect: This happened, so that happened. But if you are Kentarou Miura, working on the pages in the moment, you have infinite options to consider. So I think it's interesting to consider Miura's reasoning when he made certain choices. In this case, I was wondering about his choice after Albion to break up the group, only to reunify them 15 episodes later.

During the events of Albion (Vols 18-21) Miura brought Guts' future group together: Farnese, Serpico, Isidro, and to a lesser extent, Azan. But after the climax, they each headed off on their own for a bit; Isidro and Farnese/Serpico chased after Guts (not necessarily together). And Azan left to report the events to the Holy See (poor guy...).

Miura obviously knew they'd all end up together again. So why break them up, only to bring them back together shortly afterward? If they had continued on as a group directly from Albion, it would have been more expedient. And a lesser writer probably would have chose that path for that reason. But Miura knew better.

First, I think it was important for the Hill of Swords scene to function as well as it does that the remaining Falcons were reunited without any distractions or necessary exposition to newer party members. Miura wanted the focus to be on Guts/Casca/Griffith for that moment—not any others. Keeping it focused on them also obscures the implications of that event, and that triad's dynamic, from the others, which adds to the enigma of Guts and Griffith for them.

Second, I think Miura wanted to isolate Guts and exacerbate the reasons he needed companions if he wanted to bring Casca to safety. Because Guts' traveling problems culminated when the specter overtook him and he attacked Casca, leading to the scene of the Beast biting Casca's breast. Could it have functioned if others were around? Maybe... But it would have completely changed the impact of it (scattering it), and it also led to a clear and present reason for Guts to accept companions.

Anyway, as you can see, I pulled a single thread on Miura's reasoning, and ended up completely understanding why he set things up the way he did.

 

[Pook]

To expand on your second point, i will list a few more important reasons, which are derivative to an extent. I agree that the two reasons you mentioned largely encapsulate everything.

1) We, the readers, witnessed the absolute misery Guts endured while caring for Casca. His usual suffering as the Black Swordsman was exacerbated by having to protect her—fighting non-stop in the rain, with little sleep or food. This was done to highlight Guts's nature as a survivor, contrast it with Griffith's simultaneous rise to power, and show how hollow Guts's quest for revenge had become. Puck even asks him if he should take Casca on the path of vengeance, while the Beast of Darkness, of course, tries to goad him into it.
2) Casca began to fear him, which grew until it climaxed with the Beast of Darkness taking control. I believe this was psychologically devastating for Guts, despite him understanding that Casca was not a rational actor at the time.
3) We got a great window into Guts's mental state and psyche, an element that was harder to recreate later with all the new companions Miura had to balance. Guts's self-doubt and fears existed independently of the Beast. As he said, he had some flicker of hope that he could reconnect with Casca and bring her back. Instead, he had to carry her in her regressed state while watching her grow to fear him. So close, yet so far.
4) Guts also had to come to terms with his monumental decision at Albion not to chase Griffith and instead protect Casca. He was, in essence, reborn. I think this is another rebirth of his, similar to what happened after the Eclipse. This time, the rebirth followed a clear narrative arc: the oath in the cave, actively choosing Casca over Griffith, and Schierke telling his subconscious that his primary identity is Casca's protector. This is also why the Beast of Darkness hates Schierke—the "bad witch"! ‍

 

[Walter]

1) We, the readers, witnessed the absolute misery Guts endured while caring for Casca. His usual suffering as the Black Swordsman was exacerbated by having to protect her—fighting non-stop in the rain, with little sleep or food. This was done to highlight Guts's nature as a survivor, contrast it with Griffith's simultaneous rise to power, and show how hollow Guts's quest for revenge had become. Puck even asks him if he should take Casca on the path of vengeance, while the Beast of Darkness, of course, tries to goad him into it.

Those early snowy sequences do underscore how devoted Guts is to her. But also, they make it clear how unsustainable his plan it was in the long run. Admittedly, Guts didn't have other options in hand, and he made do with what he had. But Casca was degraded in the process, and she began to resent Guts. So I tend to minimize the "Guts as stoic protector" aspect.

3) We got a great window into Guts's mental state and psyche, an element that was harder to recreate later with all the new companions Miura had to balance. Guts's self-doubt and fears existed independently of the Beast. As he said, he had some flicker of hope that he could reconnect with Casca and bring her back. Instead, he had to carry her in her regressed state while watching her grow to fear him. So close, yet so far.

Yeah, introspective Guts is always nice to read. I miss that guy. That being said, Guts could have similarly been introspective with people around him. It's just that having them there at all fully removes the problems he was facing.

4) Guts also had to come to terms with his monumental decision at Albion not to chase Griffith and instead protect Casca. He was, in essence, reborn. I think this is another rebirth of his, similar to what happened after the Eclipse. This time, the rebirth followed a clear narrative arc: the oath in the cave, actively choosing Casca over Griffith, and Schierke telling his subconscious that his primary identity is Casca's protector.

I don't see what happened in Albion as an active choice on Guts' part. Instead, when Griffith appeared in front of him, circumstances made Guts' choice for him. Casca's cries momentarily held him from attacking, and almost immediately after that, Griffith flew away on Zodd. He couldn't possibly have done much more than he did.

I see that "rebirth" (how about reforged, given the other reforging happening in that same sequence?) moment as you put it happening in the cave at Godot's, when he rededicated himself to protecting Casca. That culminated in Albion when he finally got her back in his arms. Then when Griffith was within reach, Casca's presence changed his equation for revenge. But again, it didn't feel like a choice to me.

This is also why the Beast of Darkness hates Schierke—the "bad witch"! ‍

Does he say that...? In 290 he says: "That impudent little witch thinks as if she has tamed me..." I think the Beast sees her as meddling. Maybe you're making a NIN reference?

 

[Pook]

Those early snowy sequences do underscore how devoted Guts is to her. But also, they make it clear how unsustainable his plan it was in the long run. Admittedly, Guts didn't have other options in hand, and he made do with what he had. But Casca was degraded in the process, and she began to resent Guts. So I tend to minimize the "Guts as stoic protector" aspect.


Yeah, introspective Guts is always nice to read. I miss that guy. That being said, Guts could have similarly been introspective with people around him. It's just that having them there at all fully removes the problems he was facing.


I don't see what happened in Albion as an active choice on Guts' part. Instead, when Griffith appeared in front of him, circumstances made Guts' choice for him. Casca's cries momentarily held him from attacking, and almost immediately after that, Griffith flew away on Zodd. He couldn't possibly have done much more than he did.

I see that "rebirth" (how about reforged, given the other reforging happening in that same sequence?) moment as you put it happening in the cave at Godot's, when he rededicated himself to protecting Casca. That culminated in Albion when he finally got her back in his arms. Then when Griffith was within reach, Casca's presence changed his equation for revenge. But again, it didn't feel like a choice to me.


Does he say that...? In 290 he says: "That impudent little witch thinks as if she has tamed me..." I think the Beast sees her as meddling. Maybe you're making a NIN reference?

https://imgur.com/a/rms6mM0

Regarding Albion, I agree that the cave was the peak of his change, but that panel is also telling (the one i linked above). You can see Guts's first instinct, after he shook off the effect of Griffith's aura, was to charge at him. He stopped once he heard Casca, and Miura emphasized how torn he was by the way the panel is drawn as well. When Zodd began to fight the Kushans, Guts had a clear opportunity to attack Griffith, his goal for the last two years. While I agree there is a degree of speculation here, Guts did freeze in his tracks, and Puck even told him to hurry it up (or, as I see it, to make a choice).
I found the image online, if its against the forum`s TOS please let me know and i will remove it.

 

[Walter]

You can see Guts's first instinct, after he shook off the effect of Griffith's aura, was to charge at him. He stopped once he heard Casca, and Miura emphasized how torn he was by the way the panel is drawn as well.

Yep, it's what I referred to earlier as "Casca's cries momentarily held him from attacking." But I don't equate that with a choice (like the one he made in the cave). I see it as hesitation. Maybe not everyone will agree with me on that, and that's okay.

Consider as well that Guts' mission in Albion was never revenge. He'd already deprioritized that to get Casca back. Griffith's reappearance in his old flesh was a sudden shock. Miura unpacks Guts' state of mind at that time a bit more in the next volume, showing he was still conflicted about what to do ("The instant I saw him... I'd forgotten my urge to kill").

When Zodd began to fight the Kushans, Guts had a clear opportunity to attack Griffith

Ehh... I don't see anything in 175 that indicates Guts had a clear path to Griffith. It was a frantic scene. Guts was caught up in the sudden events, freezes in place, and holds on to Casca. I don't see that sequence as him making an active stand against revenge.

You could argue that him not swinging his sword is evidence he chose Casca over Griffith. But if you asked Guts, he might have said: "Well, it all happened so fast!"

Puck even told him to hurry it up (or, as I see it, to make a choice)

"Guts, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and decapitate this naked guy!" Nah, I'm pretty sure Puck was saying they needed to scram. Remember, they had previously been surrounded, so Azan and the others used the apperance of Zodd and Griffith to make a break for it.