Review of Hunter x Hunter

This review will probably get me a lot of hate and raised eyebrows from HxH fans, but please read it with an open mind. I do try to be as objective as I can with my review, even though enjoyment is purely subjective. Perhaps I expected too much from the hype with which my friend recommended this series to me, and thus was left disappointed when it failed to meet my expectations. HxH is still a solid anime, but I don't think it is as amazing as many people say. Story: While I do think that HxH has the best writing for contemporary shonens, itis not flawless. The plot is pretty simple and typical - adventurous shonen, with Gon setting out to meet his scummy dad. There's not much layered mystery or anything like that. No Pandora boxes to be opened here. But HxH succeeds in building a very creative and interesting world. Togashi is also good at surprising the audience. It is quite hard to predict what is going to happen next. There is not really any shocking "plot twist," but unexpected developments are not uncommon in the story.

The story doesn't go from good to great until Yorknew Arc, however, and for many people, not until Chimera Ant arc. I came in with a lot of expectations for CA, but the dragging pacing of this arc irritated me so much. I know many people don't mind the slow pace, or even think the pace is perfect, but seeing Ikalgo the octopus keep on whining and crying, unable to bring himself to kill, and Mereum's subordinates yell "Ouuu" every 3 seconds vexed me to no end. I had to skip forward. Yes, I know Ikalgo's inner conflict was integral, but did they really have to drag it out that long? Additionally, when Mereum lost his memory, I felt like I was watching a K-drama with the amnesia trope.

The story also relies on many plot conveniences that range from minor to major. There are random strangers who take interest in our main characters and guide them. Kurapika meets a random dude in the forest to help him gain his nen. Killua and Gon, on every adventure, have someone look out for them because they are iNteResTiNG. I find it funny, but these minor conveniences don't bother me that much. What bothers me is Alluka's existence and vast powers. It is hard for me to believe that Killua just forgets about her whole existence until Gon is seriously injured. Alluka is pretty much a plot device to save the protagonist. Killua can also use Alluka's power without any consequences because Alluka loves him. Talk about convenience. Why didn't Killua use her power to destroy the ants and save Kite before? And if Gon hadn't been injured, would Killua just ignore Alluka in the basement to rot for the rest of her life? So many questions.

Greed Island was very interesting, but I can't help but think "how does this work?" Did someone with the nen power to create a virtual reality create Greed Island? This sounds very Black Mirror and ex-Machina, and while it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the series, I can't help but ponder about the existence of it and what it means for the worldbuilding.

Character: I love the characters. I think they are lovely. However, while many of the characters are well-fleshed-out, some aren't. There are amazingly well-written characters and there also amazingly flat characters. Out of the four main characters, only Killua and Kurapika are very well-written. Gon is quite simplistic in his thinking, and while we do see that he hides a monster inside, we do not get to see how his development. After getting his revenge and putting his best friend, Killua, in danger to find a way to save him, the only thing we see is an off-screen apology from Gon. We don't know if he realizes revenge is bad, or that losing himself to rage is bad or not. Also, Gon at some point said he didn't want Kurapika to become a murderer because of revenge, and yet Gon went and do exactly what he was against.

Leorio? More like Leori-go. He's just a supporting recurring character, although his face is on the poster for some reason. I wanted to see more of him because throughout the first arc, he was just being an incompetent baggage of the team that got lucky to be carried. In the end, he appeared and punched Gon's scumbag father, which is nice, but that isn't much of a development if you ask me.

The Chimera Ants are well-written, and to some extent, the Phantom Troupe members too. They are all very interesting, but I don't think the PT members are as complex as people say. They are like yakuzas. Strong brotherhood, but with little understandable/sympathizable motive. They're outcast of the world so now they like to kill people for funsies and are like the outlaws. Perhaps some people like that, but because their reason for murdering people feels, to me at least, unconvincing, I am not attached to them. I feel like any viewers like to make them out to be nicer than they actually are.

There are also disgusting characters like Palm who is literally a pedophile but somehow I am supposed to like her because she is portrayed in a positive light at the end?! I am confused about that. It's not too big of a deal, but damn, can't the author at least get her to apologize to Gon for hitting on him when he's 12?

I make HxH sound like it's bad. It is not, by any metrics. It's a good show, but I think it is overrated. This will anger the HxH elitists, but just because somebody doesn't give HxH an immediate 10, it doesn't mean they hate on the show.