MovieChat Forums > Kenpuu Denki Berserk (2002) Discussion > Ending *spoilers alert big time!*

Ending spoilers alert big time!

posted 14 years ago by funkyfirst
7 replies | jump to latest

anyone else have trouble watching the last few episodes? not because im squeamish, but because i had not seen the manga and did not know about the whole demon plot. most of the story is a character story driven by (imo) how most of the relationships they share we can identify with. when grifith looses it and goes crazy, i was unable to relate anymore (till now i have not been possesed by rape-loving demons, and have no idea how this would change my current relationships).
it just seemed so abrupt and heavy handed to have all these reltionships we knew, turned upside down, by either brutal means, trauma, or 99% of the characters dying in one single episode. am i the only one who felt that way?

[–] Star_blazer_9000 14 years ago

This tragic moment in the series is what begins his path for revenge and Griffith's sacrifice really says something about how much he wants to rule Midland. This event makes them even stronger.

[–] Struggler9996 14 years ago

Griffith's actions during the eclipse are simply a culmination of all of the bitterness and resentment he's built up since Guts left, and his limitless ambition.

He becomes a demon because his dreams have crumbled, and it's the only option he has if he wants to achieve his goal of having his own country.

He has the Hawks killed in the process of becoming a demon because a sacrifice is always required in becoming an apostle or higher demon.

He raped Casca in front of Guts to claim her as his, to show Guts that he had not won her over, as well as simply to hurt Guts, because Griffith had grown to both love and hate him during his time in Windham's dungeon.

What happens during the eclipse completely involves all of the character development we've seen up to that point, and doesn't in any way come out of nowhere.

Oh, and how were you surprised by a plot involving demons when Zodd is a recurring character? Did you think he was just a stand alone demon that had some connection to Griffith's behelit and would remain unexplained?

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

[–] johanthoen7 14 years ago

in the manga the story is much better plotted. in the first 3 volumes there are allready apostles and such. it's only after the first 3 volumes the flashback of the golden age starts. so when you read about the eclipse it's not like a sudden slap in the face, allthough you could have known something was up. if you keep the first episode of the anime in mind.

it just seemed so abrupt and heavy handed to have all these reltionships we knew, turned upside down, by either brutal means, trauma, or 99% of the characters dying in one single episode. am i the only one who felt that way?

i think almost all of the readers/viewers felt that way. it's something so out of the ordinary and unexpected that i almost couldn't believe what i was reading. it's superb storytelling.

about the relationships and characters, except for griffith caska and guts, none of them were really detailed or very important. (individually speaking) i have more thoughts and theorys about the BotH, but i'll keep them for myself or i'll end up making a wall of text

[–] Struggler9996 14 years ago

i think almost all of the readers/viewers felt that way. it's something so out of the ordinary and unexpected that i almost couldn't believe what i was reading. it's superb storytelling.

I agree. It was superb storytelling. It's foreshadowed, so it doesn't come completely out of nowhere, but it's not something you could ever predict happening. It's for those reasons that it's almost as if the reader (or watcher) is drawn into the vortex themselves. The eclipse is sudden and unexpected, and the reader is pulled into the realm of the God Hand as quickly and mysteriously as the BotH, and have just as many questions (especially if you didn't read the manga, specifically the first 3 volumes).

"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

[–] cyguration 12 years ago

Totally agreed.

I don't really think of this as "superb storytelling" like other people are claiming, just more-so shockvalue torture-porn (and literally, the ending lives up to the very minute definition of torture-porn).

Sadly I'll be scarred for life after seeing the ending to this because it was so messed up, hopeless and surreal. Even David Cronenberg at least preps us for that kind of traumatic stuff.

But in this case...yeah...it seemed to try to follow seemingly realistic events (or as close as you can get in a fantasy anime) but then it threw the whole demon world thing into the picture alongside tentacle rape and character mutilation and it was just disturbing and disgusting.

I also think it was handled rather brutishly. There was nothing stylistic or artistic about it. It's the sort of thing that leaves your thoughts feeling ill and your mind somewhat warped. I don't see how that's "superb storytelling".

[–] superseizuremonkey 12 years ago

When in context of the Manga, it is superb storytelling. The demise is so tragic, it almost hurts.

For the anime, if you watch the first episode, you know what's in store post eclipse. The event is also supposed to be quite horrific. You have these hero's from the Band of the Hawk, invincible, amazing characters that just die so horribly and suddenly without being their normal heroic self, it hurts that much more.

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That's thirty minutes away. I'll be there in ten.

[–] UCHoodman 12 years ago

I think how brutish it is is what makes it so disturbing. That was a nightmare and quite a bad one, it's disturbing and it works, I understood something would happen from the first episode and now I know, talk about tonal shift.