Review of Hunter x Hunter

Ooooh my goooood. OOOOOOOOH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. If you're having doubts about watching Hunter x Hunter 2011, don't. Watch it. Like, right now. The amount of work put into this series, this franchise, really shows. I honestly cannot think of one thing wrong with this series, besides how sad it gets. (Killua deserved better ;;) Let's start with story. The plot seems bland, reading the synopsis on MAL and Netflix. However, this bland setup makes the series really shine where it should. Gon is a 12 year-old boy who's searching for his long-lost father. Yawn, boring right? Not at all. If you think the plot is boring or clichejust from the first couple episodes or the first season or what your friends say, force yourself through it. The progression of the story and its attention to detail make for a smooth and plothole-less experience. Every little moment is taken into account by Togashi and Madhouse and not a single plot device is left forgotten. The handle on story really makes this story enjoyable, even if every other area was mediocre. That is, IF. Every other area also got a 10/10.
Next is art.
Madhouse truly gave us eyecandy when producing this anime. The art reflects a typical shounen style, but gives us something else underneath, something that even now, I can't quite name. Not to mention Madhouse perfectly captures aging and stress, something that all four main characters are exposed to. The expressions leave me breathless, honestly, just how amazing these characters always look. The animation is stunning. It flows so well, you'd think it were a Western cartoon if you didn't know any better. The fight scenes are spectacular, and the gore is realistic but not over-the-top. You can find similar Madhouse majesties in Death Parade and Parasyte: The Maxim, just to name a couple. If you're looking for excellent art and subtle character growth expressed through the designs, HxH is the way to go.
Now, sound.
The opening of HxH never changes (good thing it's an excellent song). The song remains the same, though it switches through different parts of the full song, and the visuals change through the varying arcs. The opening is always, always aesthetically pleasing to the eye and really shows each arc the way they are meant to be shown. Some are darker than others, and it reflects the feel of each arc very well. The OST sends shivers down my spine and oooh god I get chills just thinking about it. The ending songs do change, and oh man do they change. Each one, once again, changes according to arc, and I can't pick a favorite. Madhouse, once again, pleases us with its attention to detail, even in the ending credits. I could look up the HxH OST and listen to it for days.
Aaaand then there's characters.
I can't even think about the main characters without tearing up. They all go through such tragedies in their own ways. Gon, who grew up sheltered with his family, finally experiences pain and agony throughout the course of the series, and it really changes him. Killua, the good kid with a bad upbringing who only wants to make a friend. Kurapika, whose entire family, everything he'd ever known, was massacred. Leorio grew up in poverty and lost his very best friend to an illness, and now only wants to give medical care for those who can't afford it. They all go through hardships and trauma, and their development in response to that makes them stronger characters. Some even have negative character development, where it's excellent development in a not-so-optimal direction (no spoilers, but it's excellently portrayed and it's very realistic, unlike many shounen out there). The side characters are also incredible. The antagonists range from questionably bad to disgusting garbage. The Chimera Ant arc really shows the show's true nature as far as darkness and existentialism. It plays with some very touchy themes, but never over-does it. Talking about representation, this show is very diverse in its ethnicities, like with Canary and Squala, and even LGBTQ+ inclusion. Pitou, for example, is genderless, and Alluka Zoldyck is a trans girl. It made my experience a lot better knowing that there were such relatable characters even to the extent of appearance and gender. It's representation presented realistically, and not so over-the-top in-your-face like some other franchise do.
As for my enjoyment, it without question gets a 10/10.
This series is so amazing in the fact that it has such a wide audience capability. Of course, a shounen's target audience is always younger boys, but Togashi really manages to capture a different audience, the audience being everybody. It's a shame this anime isn't more popular in Western cultures, because I think everybody and their mother deserves to enjoy this series and what it has to offer. There's always a character to relate to and so many tear-jerkers that I had to pause the episode because I couldn't read the subs through my tears. No character gets off completely scott-free after a major event or battle, and while it's sad, it's realistic. I never cried harder over an anime than at the end of the Chimera Ants arc. I'm very glad I decided to watch this series, because even I had my doubts.
The series ended because it caught up to the manga, which is currently on hiatus with Togashi's health issues. It ended in a phenomenal way, and though some parts of the anime diverged from the manga, it was never enough to affect the plot, mostly just things switched here and there. The anime series is likely on hiatus with the manga, until the manga begins to update regularly again (whenever that may be.) (Togashi come back to us.) (I love you.).
TL;DR, do yourself a favor and watch HxH.