Gon and Killua share a lack of self-actualization and identity. They're both kids entering adolescence where kids really seek out their identity. While Killua is escaping his family's shadow, Gon is chasing Ging's shadow. And it is a sad story that happens to a lot of kids and even adults, losing themselves seeking approval and closeness.
@@joshshrum2764 damn, Togashi KNOWS how to do Shonen so well! It's just tragic it's been so painful for him. Yusuke is just every aimless angry kid, but then actually given a chance.
Its crazy huh? how we all (somewhat) had it right from the start? the non-caring attitude of a child of what others think of them. Just doing our own thing, What we like to do. We knew how to live from the start. Though i guess that's what we get for overestimating our intelligence. I'd say its great to question things even if you end up where you always were anyways taking a second look at everything is always great, but its when we get lost and start to try and convince ourselves we are something we are not is when the problem kicks in, Faking ourselves to fit in. I see it so much. Although theres a balance to everything something you like being something that hurts others etc should be tried to be fixed etc etc, The world is gray so you can't fit everything into a category. But Luckily it has rules and logic, once you start seeing things realistically everything starts to make sense, Its all on a case by case basis thats how the world is. The identity problem goes away, You are simply you. Become the best "you" but never the "not you".
Thank you. Too many people talk about him as a psychopath of darkness without bothering to understanding the severe insecurities and hangups he has, in large part due to Ging.
@@wwe12153 bump as fuck. he was unhinged in *the* scene and in many scenes, but if you really look at it objectively, it's not like being a psychopath. idk how to label it tho
The psychological trauma and scars on a boy wants nothing more than to understand the wonder of adventure are some things that go deeper than the common man might believe.
He couldn't look at the men killed by chimera ants, but he had no problem with Killua taking a guy's heart out. (I'm not saying he's a psychopath. Gon was more like a blank paper or wild animal to me. He just acted on his instinct, and that's okay for me.)
@@Aleczandxr I always knew that Gon idealized Ging, after all, it takes a certain level of admiration and determination to chase after a guy who blatantly states in a video that he doesn't want to see you, but I never noticed how it affected Gon's self-worth and influenced so many of his decisions. That was a really subtle and careful trick of Togashi, usually in stories where the main character has abandonment issues regarding their parents, it would be more obvious with them acting more withdrawn, clearly self-doubting, or acting out in anger regarding their parents. But Gon is so upbeat and idealistic that I never caught on to it. Looking back, it really makes sense as to why at times he seemed so fixated on things that seemed so arbitrary. In reality, those were just self-imposed obstacles and tests to prove to himself that he was worthy. Thanks for shining a light on this, makes me appreciate Gon more as a character. BTW: I love how in the election arc, everyone rags on Ging for being such bad dad, and Ging is just like, "Sure, rub salt in the wound even more why don't you?"
I kept saying it for years, but Gon and Killua are two sides of the same coin. They share the same path towards finding their self worth away from their families expressed in different ways. Killua in his thoughts and introspection, while Gon in his words and actions. Thank you for bringing to light this side of his character
Ging's free spirit and love for the vastness of the world led to his abandonment of Gon. Ironically, this caused his son to develop a misplaced sense of burden and fixation that trapped him and guided his life choices throughout most of the series. It's fitting, then, that Gon's realization that his tunnel-vision approach and focus on strength was misguided in his meeting of Ging. Not only does the fact that he was able to meet Ging by coincidence tell him that he was putting all that pressure on himself for no reason, but in talking with Ging and learning his character and sense of adventure, Gon is able to realize the free spirit with which Ging led his life, and that putting that kind of pressure on himself wasn't just unnecessary, but actually the antithesis of Ging's ideals all along.
Gon has the perfect balance of competence and incompetence On one hand, everyone acknowledges his supreme potential and quick thinking. Conversely, he's short tempered, impatient and cuts corners And due to that he makes mistakes along the way that piece by piece leads to worse and worse disasters To know you're capable of solving tremendous problems and still messes up each time you encounter one. What that would do to a grown man's psyche let alone a 12 year old child That's what makes his character arc fascinating
It’s crazy how you have done so many video on HxH over a long period of time and still manage to find topics and themes to cover. This just proves how good the writing is in HxH. Your videos are always top tier because of their quality and are entertaining. i really do appreciate your videos.
I adore that you talked about how both Gon and Killua have deep insecurities about their self-worth, but express that in different ways. Gon externally, Killua internally. And both of them are freed in the end :')
i'd argue killua still has a ways to go concerning his insecurities. to move away from gon, he has to latch onto another person he deeply cares about - another person who requires his protection.. another person whose messes he'd have to potentially clean. BUT, i'm hoping for alluka and killua's relationship to not be as codependent or imbalanced in the future
@@neelrahae3392 No, he didn't "latch on" to Alluka and Nanika at all. He freed them. Their relationship is beautiful and totally healthy, Killua moved past them for sure. He sees Gon as an equal now and that's the biggest sign of that.
@@neelrahae3392 He didn't latch onto Alluka and Nanika, he loves them and saved them because of what he learned through his experiences. Their relationship won't have any codependency at all, the story makes it clear that it's completely healthy.
@@jimmyichigo7410 my wording might have been bad. i'm aware he loves alluka and she does too - and that they respect each other. but that does not change the fact that for killua, solidifying the decision to separate from gon required him to have someone else (who he genuinely loves) to protect. it does not change the fact that he went from one goal (protect and stick with person i love 1) to a goal that's Very similar (protect and stick with person i love 2). he needs to find his own place in the world still, because he is a child just like alluka is - and for that he needs to find a time when he doesn't *need* to worry over a loved one. i think killua DEFINITELY took a step forward by having a more grounded perspective on gon, and by finding someone who loves him just as much as he loves them. but i still think he has many a ways to go - which makes sense. he is 14 and his journey of self/dream discovery is not close to being over. the reason why i think killua and alluka's relationship might turn out to be imbalanced is because she has no grasp over nen or any basic fighting skills (considering the world they live in that's Horrible for her), and killua is forced to take a position of authority here that no child should have to. i'm not trying to imply they harbor any negative feelings towards e/o.
@@neelrahae3392 Sure he went from one goal to another, but that's a shallow way of looking at the situation in my personal opinion. He went from one person who he constantly thought he was not good enough for, to an honest big brother relationship where he is freeing someone who he loves and sharing his life and experiences with them. He isn't latching on there in the way he did with Gon, it's totally healthy and Togashi represents it as such.
I always felt in that moment pitou, told him kite, is gone, and there’s nothing i can do for him I’m sorry, made him feel betrayed for her not being honest with him, and it broke his feelings, so he went off, and it’s why he cries to Killua, because he’s sorry he snapped at him, and just needs someone to hold him right now which is kind of what happens, this series is truly a heartwrecker man.
Thank you for this perspective on Gon's character arc, we've always known his tunnel view led him to self-destruction, but I honestly never considered how deep his insecurities regarding his strength go, because I myself was whipped by his mentality of getting stronger at all costs, since you, as a spectator, want him to succeed. But I'm glad he broke out of it in the end and is now able to live his life one step at a time without the desperation to constantly get more powerful. I hope we get to see both him and Killua finding peace and reuniting with a more mature mindset, so they can have more adventures together (though it's an unrealistic expectation I know)
It was my pleasure! I’d love to see it as well, and the tiny bits we’ve gotten of how both approach their life now is plenty encouraging on its own too!
@@emeukal7683 Innocent in the sense the sense that he’s still mostly a pure kid , very childish occasionally and very selfish but also pure of heart towards people he cares about but also also due to his mindset it leads him down a really fucked path of life revolving around his relationship with his father and who he came to be as a hunter, like a soft shithead but nice and shounen like person when he’s earnest
When I watch this anime, I always find myself identifying more with Gon than Killua, even though I like the latter more as a character. I’ve pushed myself to furthering my education, finding a better occupation, moving to a new city, meeting new people. All in the interest of feeling like I “need” to in order to “earn” the love of others. If something is “earned” it’s not love, since true love is unconditional. Yet paradoxically the need to prove myself to feel worthy is something I can’t shake, because this love creates a psychological obligation to honor somebody feeling that way about me, when in reality I’ve already done enough. It’s hard to know you’re enough when we live in a world where everything seems to boil down to a transaction, it can distort compassion into an investment instead of a gift. This would disqualify it as a genuine act of kindness, but when there’s literally a dollar value that people can use to objectify your worth, you unconsciously set obstacles in your life to overcome to receive “y” amount of affection based off of “x” goals being achieved. In reality, there’s nothing to really overcome other than a belief in my own inadequacy, which is buried underneath the day to day struggle of getting the bills paid, something that I’m not particularly great at and exacerbates these underlying issues. Gon, my lack of self-worth hasn’t led me to do the same things as you, but I feel for you, buddy ❤️
YES I love how you mention that he has a subtle but clear self-contained arc here even if his story isn't done. Because it's true, he's learned in many ways that others don't acknowledge.
Couldn't finish it yesterday because I had to stop midway but yeah this is the best analysis of Gon I've ever seen/read and the most comprehensive view of his insecurities and implosion. Use of music and clips is top notch, great commentary, etc. I haven't watched them all because I've only been a sub for a year or so but this is one of your best videos.
For sure! This is an awesome video! It really made things clear, although I prolly would forget sum stuff from time to time, since there’s so many factors to Gon’s character development.
Oh I LOVE your inclusion of the Koala quote at the end because for a long time now I've been trying to put into words the comparison/parallel between his story and Gon's and why that whole part was placed in the same chapter as the conclusion of Gon's relationship with Kite.
I always return to that clip of Morel asking Gon to hit him as hard as he can or he's out of the mission. Partly because it was so cool but mostly because of how painful it was. It was at that moment that I thought "Ahh we lost him." and Killua had this uncomfortable feeling with it. Its the moment when you realize a person has gone to a place of no return, no salvation, no destination, and a path filled with emptiness.
Omg thank you for this. Finally, someone who understands that Gon isn't just a psychotic monster but a child with severe self worth issues who feels that he has to be strong enough and constantly prove himself worthy to be able to meet his own father. It's kinda sad to me that a lot of people don't really see this about him and only see his character at the surface level when it's much more complex than that.
HxH is my favorite anime, And videos like this are exactly why, Togashi's characters are so intensely detailed in their presentation that each person has a different way of describing and explaining why a character feels or acts a certain way. First off props to the examples you presented of his genuine nightmarish torment he had over trying to be strong (Actual nightmare woke him up of him being powerless and falling away from his father) Some point to the scene where Gon watches his new friend Killua rip a human beings heart out and he's just... smiling in admiration. Some use Zepile's simple conclusion that Gon is a dangerous person due to his moral compass always pointing north so to speak. And by the time we get to Greed Island he's having portions of his limbs and skin blown off and for a moment he gives his opponent a determined smile despite it. This leads people to easily believe that Gon's wires are crossed and he just genuinely has a scary mental condition, I personally believe this is true BUT a lot of people use this point of view as their only basis on his character and don't mix in other people's findings and perspectives that they come up with based on all of the very same examples, And it's perfectly fine to do that...! But I personally believe that there are enough examples given to us by Togashi that it is perfectly within our capabilities to go super nerd all out and combine multiple perspectives and try to utilize everything Togashi has showcased. And the craziest thing about it all? At the end of the day... He's just a kid. (A shounen manga kid capable of insane things yes but in the world of HxH still most definitely a kid considering nearly everyone else he talks with and fights are 16+ besides Killua.) When you put EVERYTHING you can into perspective and put that cherry on top? It's mind blowing. It's like taking a blindfold off and re-realizing this child has been communicating and fighting with adults in a world where yes THAT DOES MATTER because you do NOT see many other kids like him and Killua. To paraphrase what I saw someone say a long time ago. Hunter X Hunter is a story about human beings with super powers that are shaped by their minds and emotions. AKA their powers come from their humanity (This is part of why the chimera ants and the concepts that follow from them are also so damn interesting.) AKA Nen in the hands of an underdeveloped mind will eventually show signs of that, And if all goes well it will naturally grow in its application and understanding... After all there's no rush at that age. But in Gon's case all did not go well and there was ALWAYS a rush, And in what ways and why is realistically up to you the viewer/reader to decide, I personally choose to cram as much as I can that Togashi lays out that makes sense because I love this series just that damn much. It's not just my favorite anime. It's my favorite piece of media PERIOD.
Gon's journey has so many subtle and underlying aspects to it that can be hard to keep ahold of. This was brilliant, my favourite video from you in a long time, thank you.
And then you have Kurapika’s, journey of getting over his revenge, by at least getting the eyes of his people back, but if he ends up going off on some of the princes, and the spiders again then i guess he will be giving into darkness like Gon, did at least lowest.
Gon is my favorite Hunter x Hunter character ever since I got into the series through the 2011 anime and beyond and I absolutely loved it ever since I'm glad it's finally returning it means a lot to me personally as it's my favorite Shonen series of all time.
I feel the same way. The manga is on track to surpass the chimera ant arc. My favorite character however is Hisoka. He has my fav mentality out of all the psychos in the series.
I've been following your channel for awhile, but this instantly become an all time favorite video of yours. It amazes me how after all this years you still manage to find unexplored aspects of the series, speaks volumes to how well constructed and complex Togashi's characters are. Thanks again for the content, AJ
This video is amazing. I never understood how sad and traumatic/mental Gon’s mentality was. Gon probably wasn’t/isn’t even aware of this. And I was certain that I understood Gon’s chaotic-ness and pure development better than anybody. It’s like saying he’s even less chaotic than I thought
The point about how his sacrifice was ultimately meaningless and how that played into the whole theme of his character was a big W take. Never thought about it like that and always held that as one of the few bad writing moments of the show. But you helped make sense of it in a way I never thought of. Great video
Wonderfully said. Personally, I don't think I've ever noticed a sense of Gon feeling inadequate at any point in the anime, but now that you've talked about it, it suddenly makes a lot of sense why Gon acts the way he does (and not just out of pure shonen protagonist logic which really isn't Hunter x Hunter's style). Perhaps any sense of insecurities from Hunter x Hunter's characters was automatically linked to Killua, but Gon's insecurities aren't all that different, as you've said, but their coping mechanisms definitely are. Gon's thought process also ties in a lot with children in the real world who have had parents leave them for other things and I think Togashi handled it beautifully. Once again, many thanks for making this video. Side note: Your editing was insanely good in this video. Keep it up!
Thanks very much for the kinds words, much appreciated! I always try to do some simple but effective things with editing but yeah I wanted to make this one a bit more special in that way, so I’m glad you noticed!
That final montage on the world tree sapling now has another dimension to me. Man... you just make me want to re-watch the series with each video you post!
ahh, i love this so much. i've seen some people being negative about his arc and him losing himself so i especially love the interpretation that he found his freedom after everything instead. gon is such an interesting character and your analysis is as fascinating as always
This video is beautiful, even more so that I can see a bit of myself in Gon. As a high school student, I always aimed to be the best at everything at all costs but my ambitions were roooted in my insecurities. I got to a point where I only did things for the sake of being the best and despite my progress, I had always considered myself weak. I pushed myself too hard, started having health issues and eventually burned out. But that burnout made me realize that I don´t have to be the best and that everyday life should be cherished. For everyone reading: appreciate life for what it brings, because great experiences come along. Don´t push yourself too hard. Thank you Alec!!
weird how when ya think about it, Ging did the responsible thing of realizing he wasn't ready to be a father, and leaving his child somewhere he knew would be a good place for him to grow, and left a way to reach him when/if Gon ever wanted too. That just unfortunately had the side effect of EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
He knew that the path to get in contact with him would've likely killed him or crippled him for life. How the heck is that responsible? That path included an exam that easily kills people who take it and a competition with a convicted killer with overwhelming Nen powers, who he specifically told not to go easy on him. Even after clearing Greed Island he pulled a messed up move and set an alternate route for him if he showed up with someone else. Ging could've just left Gon and Mito a number to reach him or something, smh.
@@Sweet_Venom0027 Yeah, if he wanted to be "responsible" he should have just kept in touch with the family. He didn't need to be a stay-at-home-dad, he could have continued being a hunter and just show up every once in a few months for family dinner or smth to spend time with Gon and to tell his sister that he was still alive, well and thankful for the fact that she was taking good care of Gon. Gon would probably have become a hunter in this situation as well after hearing stories from Ging but he would have done it with a better mindset and for his own curiosity's sake rather than in a sad, desperate attempt to meet with his father.
To me, Gon was and is still a kid. A very 1 in a million kid but a kid abandoned by his old man nonetheless. He chained himself in a different way than Kurapika but got weighed down by these links of iron at the end. I love this kid and he clearly has an impact on many lives as pertains the sheer number of people who came to see him after the chimera ants arc. Now the possibilities are endless for a kid like him and I can’t wait to see what Togashi does with him at the end of the day. So many thanks for this wonderful video my friend ! It was both heartbreaking and so soothing at the same time like a light who shines too bright for its own good hiding the darkness within.
what a masterpiece, there was so much depth talked about here in such a mindblowing and interesting way that until now I have not realized. This video is absolutely awe-inspiring to the character's inner struggles along with themes connected with even my personal life. Thanks so much for making this video! liked
I was so excited when I saw you'd uploaded a video just 14 minutes ago!! This video taught me something I never understood about Gon before- thank you for your always well thought-out videos!!
I like the way u point out the "end" of Gons chacter, is trully bealtiful and refreeshing to know he's trully free from expectation. I gotta admit i may had even a bit more emotion add to it because of some personal theorys of mine, i always interpretated that what Nanika did to get Gon back waesnt only to cure him, but yes to bring his body back to what it was before, before the battle, before Kite's death, before Greed Island, before the Hunter Exam, before Hunter X Hunter, what he was in the moment he was fishing "The King Of The Lakes", when he meets his dad he's nothing more then just a fisherman with an excentrical connection to nature, he's not strong, nor powerfull, he's just Gon, and still his dad looked him face to face and talked to him like he would to if he was everything he fantazises about.
Thank you for not making Gon seem like hes insane in some way (like everyone else thinks). You really summed up Gon's issues the best ive seen on youtube and its really nice to see what feels like a more genuine take on him. P.S. I wouldnt mind if u used dubbed anime clips more often cuz it makes it easier to listen to the video audio-only. thanks!
I really enjoyed the video. It's crazy how much of his development I missed. I was so enthralled by the main story I was blind to everything he was actually going through. Again great video keep up the good work👍
I know personally I see gon's final appearence in the manga as an epilogue of sorts for him, I know that if from this point on he was just someone that killua, Kuriapika and leorio just occasionally went and saw and that he was just living happy in content in some new passion he has found, i'd be so happy. Also I love Ging and gon's newly formed bond, the fact that Gon can call his dad and ask him for advice and that Ging proceeds to tell him genuinely wise words warmed my heart. a part of me would be very happy if Gon never had to deal with anything as hard as the chimera ant arc, but i know that if he ever has to get back out there (with or without nen) I think he'd have a better and more mature out look on how to handle things (looking at you Gyro)
I think Togashi is kind in letting Gon and Killua rest and enjoy some peace, some childhood. They can chill and enjoy the simple beauty of life. they were after adventures but and some adventures led them to be soldiers, to have to choose sides, to lose all their innocence over rough realities. so it's fine if they take 10 years time out just to enjoy life. Komugi reached enlightenment because she has no desire nor fear, but she also was willing to die with Meruem, that doesn't mean she is not independent. It just means she thinks life is valuable and she wants to spend it on what she finds the most virtuous and true to herself, her feelings. both Killua and Gon can be like Komugi, If from now on they do it right and start to value their own life. but the facts remains, Killua and Gon are both self sacrificial, it's a virtue, just that they need to pick the right battles. I love this time out for them. I want them to have a normal peaceful childhood like other ordinary kids. They were destined for adventures but rest and meditations are needed. The next adventure they go on together will be outlandish ❤ Gon and Killua are not dependent on each other, it's more like they find the missing pieces in the other. They don't need each other to feel complete, but their symbiosis often lead to breakthrough and discoveries, they improved and developed each other, their friendship is indestructible and untainted by even traumas and cracks, because the friendship is so unconditional and pure. Gon just want Killua to be free, and Killua just wants a friend and an equal. that's how it's always been. along the way they run into hurdles because they are figuring themselves out while investing themselves naturally in this friendship. So they grow up together, and it's been grand. I never admire such a friendship so much. it is equally as astounding as Ashitaka and San, Haku and Chihiro, Arriety and her human giant boy, Kiki and her airplane boy, Ponyo and Susuke.... The friendship between Gon and Killua is like so profound and idealistic that it will be tested again and again, and it will keep becoming stronger. When you have a true friend, being far away from them actually draw you closer to them at heart. Because now you really see what they mean to you, how their absence make you feel . Gon and Killua has a whole life ahead and together. ❤❤ I believe!!! with all my heart.
This was very much NOT on purpose, but by making this video you basically helped me see everything that has been wrong with my life in the past year. I held a very similar mindset to Gon when approaching analysis in media, and you've been my ideal, my Ging, ever since discovering your content. This year I stagnated for the first time; I felt weakness for the first time in my life in making progress towards my goals and aspirations, and I constantly tried to compensate for that. By analyzing this very specific component from Hunter x Hunter I think you might have accidentally freed me from my psychological chains. Wow. I just don't even know what to say man. You've done so much for me. I've said this many times, but truly, thank you for creating videos and being who you are. I will do my best to do what you mentioned at the end; to just live, and hopefully one day, I will be able to do what you do in my own way. I want to feel growth in my life again, but I want to experience the little detours too... Thank you.
Whoa, this character analysis is breathtaking. I listen to hundreds of analysis videos on characters I believe to be well-fleshed out, among other things, but this really takes the cake. You've taken a masterpiece work and made the answer feel like Occam's razor, almost as if what I've watched twice now should've been screaming this narrative to be in the subtext. You didn't take the "curtains are blue" approach, you didn't needlessly get verbose and start trying to impress your audience by boiling things down to far-eastern psychology/sociology/esoteric foreign literary allusion. This made me feel like I could solve a Professor's Cube blindfolded, at the same time I felt like I was being kicked in the nuts for being so arrogant simultaneously!
Amazing analysis as always, however I can't help but notice how well your recent videos have been edited- the use of clips, dialogue and the occasional soundtrack really help elevate the experience.
Man I imagine that far in the story Kilkua goes back to Whale island to see Gon happy witha family, no nen stuff going on. A beautiful picture but one that could spark more adventure when Kilkua asks for help and Gon feels obliged. As a grown man he in a matter of seconds realises he is back to an unawakened state and just has to awake his nen once again. He by his sheer will does it in another minute and ultra boosts his progress basically to where he was before the accident but now with much more knowledge about the world. And he goes off for one last adventure with Killua.
Once again an amazing analysis. I still don't love the fact that Kite ends up being ok in the end because it feels to me like it justifies Gon's denial of the situation by making him have been kind of right all along.
You need to rewatch it then. I promise you will not come away from it thinking that Gon has been portrayed as anything but wrong for doing what he did.
@@jimmyichigo7410 Slight misunderstanding. I think Gon's actions are clearly depicted as wrong. It's his insistence that Kite is fine and can be saved that's proven right in the end.
The fact is that Gon was single mindedly convinced that HE could save Kite, that the possibility of Kite being brought back to life would depend entirely on him and his ability to be strong enough, while in actuality he shouldn't have done anything at all, cause Kite would've come back to life by himself anyway. He felt like it was his responsibility, while actually it was just a responsibility he made up and imposed upon himself, as it was pointless all along
Im really glad you revisited this character Your video was one of the first to make people question his sanity It means the world you came back and took a deeper look into his character Thank you
You’re welcome. Although personally I don’t think this is deeper at all, it’s just an examination of a different side to him that’s better presented and more focused. That video is still pretty good overall. Just to clarify, people using my old video to question his sanity was them misinterpreting my point - since I never stated in that video that he was insane, psychopathic, or anything like that. People combined the overall tone with their own feelings to go too far in that direction but the actual text of the video portrays him as a normal kid wracked by grief, guilt, tunnel vision, purity and naivety.
SPORILERS FOR HXH (anime at least) The main thing about Gon is how well his dark decent into inanity and a shell to what he was prior was portrayed only to devoid Gon of consequence when he meets Kite again. I understand your points on what made Gon’s struggle for self acceptance and journey to get stronger and frankly I applaud you for being able to shed light at Gon in a way I’ve never thought of, but honestly it’s hard to not feel that Gon’s dark behavior was to an extent for noting because of the non lasting Gon’s consequences. He gets revived and is ok, meets Ging and most of all sees Kite again, so even if Gon does learn that he doesn’t need to be this perfect image for Ging, it still to some extent feels as if Gon’s actions were rewarded. Only thing he lost is his nen but he’s not doing much at this point anyways.
I dont know how but you keep surprising us with amazing videos on charachters we thought we knew. HxH writing has so much depht its crazy, thank you for helping us appreciate peak fiction even more!
with togashi posting sketches of the next hxh chapter on twitter, i cant wait to see how the future arc plays out. so much nuances to each of their motivations, no wonder the man had to take an indefinite hiatus. it's so nice to see fans like you who catch the attention to detail and explain it in a more easily understood manner so we can look back on his work and appreciate it more
I didn't think of gon from this prospective iam really impressed , whenever you think you understand everything in hxh you learn and explore more when watched again. Great video as always 👏😁
Making me fall even more in love with my favourite story with every new video, love the content and this might be my favourite video toghter with the Chrollo one
bit late on this but this was an incredible video. even though you've talked about gon a lot in past videos and on stream i always felt like there was a big part of his character that was unexplored (to me) that i knew about but didnt quite know how to vocalize. this video feels like a record of everything i've been wanting to say about gon for the past few years :)
Man this is such a great video, i had hard time putting in words this same explanation so you have basically done it for me! Amazing. I have few friends who said the same thing that they didnt understand the point of the ending and i almost felt the same, because we are used to BA BAM endings where its not as open ended aka confusing unless you think back again. It was a road of crazy ups and downs and derailing from original idea of just finding the father, that you could forget it was the goal all along, but ofcourse Gon stuck to it, but yet completely misunderstood as children do. Man i love Togashi's writing even more, hope his back doesnt hurt as much and he can wrap up the story somehow. Dudes a still living legend.
@@benzohhhhh Please calm down, no need to swear at me. He used to be 7, with Meruem, Killua, Hisoka, Chrollo, Pouf and Kurapika ahead of him. Now he is 2.
I also grew without a father and with a mom that loves me but is kinda of cold overall, even though I kinda don't care about my father since childhood i have always had this desire this impulse of proving myself of worthiness, this mania of constantly chasing accomplishments and progress like if i desperately needed it as a "proof" that I'm worth living. I dunno but maybe having the people that are supposed to love you unconditionally abandon you really makes a score on your self-esteem even more because child's always blame themselves. My journey has been pretty much similar to Gon in his obssesion with self improvement and also like Killua in his latching himself to other person and not feeling worthy of them. Life is better know and I know the values of life and detours more but man it's incredible how much richness is in HxH and how much it kinda has helped me go with my life too and from the bottom of my heart i am also very grateful to you for touching all this themes the way how you do it and yeah you talking about one of my favorite series but in a lot of your videos i also end up with a lot of self reflection that really has helped me process a lot of my life. Beautiful day to anyone that read this walltext and let's hope we finally get those delicious new chapters from Togashi
I was JUST thinking of that TH-camr, Aleczander-chan!! Fascinating, Yung Algorithmer! You may live yet another day within Jade Curtiss's Gunchly Apocalypse!
Your content really deepened/expanded my view of hxh as a whole (and other things) its amazing that one man can explain all of these things from authors. Big Ups to you
I first watched HxH in 2017 and since then I've always found it easier to re-visit it than to start anything new and every time I seem to notice more and more things that go under the radar because of the bigger story. Also it's usually after one of your videos that I go rewatch an arc or the whole thing😂I think I've watched it at least 5 times now. Please keep making great content like this
I can't help but feel that all we have seen so far is just the prologue of HxH. Gon finished his prologue by effectively dying and losing his nen. Kurapika will most likely finish his prologue arc on the Whale. Killua is yet to finish his prologue arc with this family and his relationship with them. Hisoka is in the last bit of his his prologue which will culminated with Chrollo and the Spider. and finally, Leorio just started his prologue with getting involved with Association Politics. I believe this prologue will end on the whale as well. I feel like all these characters have been introduced, they have mostly pursued very personal goals that have helped them grow and develop as characters, and only after all this groundwork has been laid down will the "real" story begin.
I love this analisis, at the end of the day, Gon is just a really a stuborn, insecure and selfish kid, and after chasing so much after Ging, he finds Kite and latchets on to him, in a way that, when he is killed, makes him feel so guilty and frustrated with himself (even tough no one blames him for that) that he has no choice but repress those feelings, and find Pitou again to lash out. So, of-fucking-course, when he finds Pitou, their willingnes to sacrifice for Komugui and the kings happines just leaves him without the needed catharsis, and no vent to express his anger. What kind of kid, what kind of person can go through all this, and not snap when you see your loved one die in front of you again (with kites body dropping to the floor) There would be only pain, sorrow, anger, in a way that he just can't handle, so he gives everything up, willing to pay any price, for the power he needs to stop these, if he can't revive kite, at least he'll avenge him, he'll make pitou pay, whatever the cost, he will have his revenge, 'cause he'll be damned to hell and back if he cant destroy Pitou with his anger, even if it destroys him in the end.
Watching this after getting to chapter 340 for the first time after being anime-only for 7 years, this was an excellent way to put everything into perspective, thank you for all of your analyses
Thank you for that first scene, I was searching it everywhere- And I absolutely agree with you, I feel like people often villainize him as they like the idea of innocent looking beings being monsters, but Gon is not that. Gon is not a monster, nor a villain. He s a traumatized child put in impossible situations no child should face. It s normal for humans to make mistakes and hirt people, including themselves, in life/death situations, in anger or anything out of the norm stressful. Gon reacted logically and human, he s a child, his journey is to me like a loss of innocence and driven to madness or just basically despair, not getting a monster, he didn t lose his humanity, he lost himself. I think he and Killua kind of mirror each other and have quite the similarities, and I want to add he might have also did that suicide kill pitou, aside from escaping the pain, also to compensate and make up for his weakness, like if he can t be strong, he can t be. (Though you basically said that honestly) The only thing I don t completely agree with is what exactly Gon s journey is about, though your take isn t out of the things of possibilities
Just to clarify - What’s your impression of what I think Gon’s journey is about? I’m not sure that I actually stated that specifically in the video so you may be misunderstanding something I said.
Oh - Well I didn’t state that that’s what the journey was about, I just stated that that’s undoubtedly a large part of his psychology thoughout the series for the reasons I explained. But there’s a distinction between that and his journey being about self worth, and I don’t think it was about self worth.
Why does Hunter x Hunter feel so intensely different from every other shonen manga? The only thing I could compare it to is Chainsaw Man, but those two stories are still insanely different. I felt this way throughout the whole series but I think it reaches its crescendo in the Chimera Ant arc, where things don’t feel like any other shonen climax I’ve consumed. The story feels so human in a way most shonen (oddly) don’t? I wish I had the skills to articulate what I mean. Amazing video, btw. Never thought about Gon’s lack of self-worth.
Gon and Killua share a lack of self-actualization and identity. They're both kids entering adolescence where kids really seek out their identity. While Killua is escaping his family's shadow, Gon is chasing Ging's shadow. And it is a sad story that happens to a lot of kids and even adults, losing themselves seeking approval and closeness.
Adolescence is the initation into adulthood. Hence historical existence of puberty rites to mark that transition.
Darn man that’s deep, very emotional to.
@@johnrockwell5834 Yu Yu Hakusho, is all about being a young adult, and learning how to become a adult.
@@joshshrum2764 damn, Togashi KNOWS how to do Shonen so well! It's just tragic it's been so painful for him. Yusuke is just every aimless angry kid, but then actually given a chance.
Its crazy huh? how we all (somewhat) had it right from the start? the non-caring attitude of a child of what others think of them. Just doing our own thing, What we like to do. We knew how to live from the start. Though i guess that's what we get for overestimating our intelligence. I'd say its great to question things even if you end up where you always were anyways taking a second look at everything is always great, but its when we get lost and start to try and convince ourselves we are something we are not is when the problem kicks in, Faking ourselves to fit in. I see it so much. Although theres a balance to everything something you like being something that hurts others etc should be tried to be fixed etc etc, The world is gray so you can't fit everything into a category. But Luckily it has rules and logic, once you start seeing things realistically everything starts to make sense, Its all on a case by case basis thats how the world is. The identity problem goes away, You are simply you. Become the best "you" but never the "not you".
Thank you. Too many people talk about him as a psychopath of darkness without bothering to understanding the severe insecurities and hangups he has, in large part due to Ging.
@@wwe12153 bump as fuck. he was unhinged in *the* scene and in many scenes, but if you really look at it objectively, it's not like being a psychopath. idk how to label it tho
The psychological trauma and scars on a boy wants nothing more than to understand the wonder of adventure are some things that go deeper than the common man might believe.
He couldn't look at the men killed by chimera ants, but he had no problem with Killua taking a guy's heart out. (I'm not saying he's a psychopath. Gon was more like a blank paper or wild animal to me. He just acted on his instinct, and that's okay for me.)
@@ಠ_ಠ-ವ1ಣ What's the point in bringing that up at all then? Everyone knows what Gon is like
@@wwe12153 Those guys in the NFL was planning to destroy the world, starting by selling drugs tho
You've singlehandedly deepened my understanding of a character I thought I understood in such a clear and effective way. Appreciate your content mate
So happy to hear it pal, thanks for checking it out!
@@Aleczandxr
I always knew that Gon idealized Ging, after all, it takes a certain level of admiration and determination to chase after a guy who blatantly states in a video that he doesn't want to see you, but I never noticed how it affected Gon's self-worth and influenced so many of his decisions. That was a really subtle and careful trick of Togashi, usually in stories where the main character has abandonment issues regarding their parents, it would be more obvious with them acting more withdrawn, clearly self-doubting, or acting out in anger regarding their parents.
But Gon is so upbeat and idealistic that I never caught on to it. Looking back, it really makes sense as to why at times he seemed so fixated on things that seemed so arbitrary. In reality, those were just self-imposed obstacles and tests to prove to himself that he was worthy. Thanks for shining a light on this, makes me appreciate Gon more as a character.
BTW: I love how in the election arc, everyone rags on Ging for being such bad dad, and Ging is just like, "Sure, rub salt in the wound even more why don't you?"
When’s the next bleach vid..?
pretend this is a comment from Just Some Guy Without a Moustache
@@shadowwarrior3444 I would put this in an individual separate comment if I were you
I never actually noticed this about Gons character but it puts a lot of his reckless actions into perspective. Awesome work.
Thanks!
I kept saying it for years, but Gon and Killua are two sides of the same coin. They share the same path towards finding their self worth away from their families expressed in different ways. Killua in his thoughts and introspection, while Gon in his words and actions. Thank you for bringing to light this side of his character
My pleasure!
Two sides of the same coin is the meaning of the opening to the chimera ant arc
"Killua in his thoughts and introspection, while Gon in his words and actions."
Ging's free spirit and love for the vastness of the world led to his abandonment of Gon. Ironically, this caused his son to develop a misplaced sense of burden and fixation that trapped him and guided his life choices throughout most of the series. It's fitting, then, that Gon's realization that his tunnel-vision approach and focus on strength was misguided in his meeting of Ging. Not only does the fact that he was able to meet Ging by coincidence tell him that he was putting all that pressure on himself for no reason, but in talking with Ging and learning his character and sense of adventure, Gon is able to realize the free spirit with which Ging led his life, and that putting that kind of pressure on himself wasn't just unnecessary, but actually the antithesis of Ging's ideals all along.
Yep! Although someone like Ging should have never had a son.
@@berilsevvalbekret772 Get someone pregnant and abandon them, or create Gon using Nen. Both are alike Ging
Gon has the perfect balance of competence and incompetence
On one hand, everyone acknowledges his supreme potential and quick thinking. Conversely, he's short tempered, impatient and cuts corners
And due to that he makes mistakes along the way that piece by piece leads to worse and worse disasters
To know you're capable of solving tremendous problems and still messes up each time you encounter one. What that would do to a grown man's psyche let alone a 12 year old child
That's what makes his character arc fascinating
It’s crazy how you have done so many video on HxH over a long period of time and still manage to find topics and themes to cover. This just proves how good the writing is in HxH. Your videos are always top tier because of their quality and are entertaining. i really do appreciate your videos.
Thank you for the kind words, I’m so glad you appreciate them!
I adore that you talked about how both Gon and Killua have deep insecurities about their self-worth, but express that in different ways. Gon externally, Killua internally. And both of them are freed in the end :')
i'd argue killua still has a ways to go concerning his insecurities. to move away from gon, he has to latch onto another person he deeply cares about - another person who requires his protection.. another person whose messes he'd have to potentially clean. BUT, i'm hoping for alluka and killua's relationship to not be as codependent or imbalanced in the future
@@neelrahae3392 No, he didn't "latch on" to Alluka and Nanika at all. He freed them. Their relationship is beautiful and totally healthy, Killua moved past them for sure. He sees Gon as an equal now and that's the biggest sign of that.
@@neelrahae3392 He didn't latch onto Alluka and Nanika, he loves them and saved them because of what he learned through his experiences. Their relationship won't have any codependency at all, the story makes it clear that it's completely healthy.
@@jimmyichigo7410 my wording might have been bad. i'm aware he loves alluka and she does too - and that they respect each other. but that does not change the fact that for killua, solidifying the decision to separate from gon required him to have someone else (who he genuinely loves) to protect. it does not change the fact that he went from one goal (protect and stick with person i love 1) to a goal that's Very similar (protect and stick with person i love 2).
he needs to find his own place in the world still, because he is a child just like alluka is - and for that he needs to find a time when he doesn't *need* to worry over a loved one.
i think killua DEFINITELY took a step forward by having a more grounded perspective on gon, and by finding someone who loves him just as much as he loves them. but i still think he has many a ways to go - which makes sense. he is 14 and his journey of self/dream discovery is not close to being over.
the reason why i think killua and alluka's relationship might turn out to be imbalanced is because she has no grasp over nen or any basic fighting skills (considering the world they live in that's Horrible for her), and killua is forced to take a position of authority here that no child should have to. i'm not trying to imply they harbor any negative feelings towards e/o.
@@neelrahae3392 Sure he went from one goal to another, but that's a shallow way of looking at the situation in my personal opinion. He went from one person who he constantly thought he was not good enough for, to an honest big brother relationship where he is freeing someone who he loves and sharing his life and experiences with them. He isn't latching on there in the way he did with Gon, it's totally healthy and Togashi represents it as such.
Finally someone who understands gon's character and doesn't see him as just a killing machine that is filled with darkness
I always felt in that moment pitou, told him kite, is gone, and there’s nothing i can do for him I’m sorry, made him feel betrayed for her not being honest with him, and it broke his feelings, so he went off, and it’s why he cries to Killua, because he’s sorry he snapped at him, and just needs someone to hold him right now which is kind of what happens, this series is truly a heartwrecker man.
Thank you for this perspective on Gon's character arc, we've always known his tunnel view led him to self-destruction, but I honestly never considered how deep his insecurities regarding his strength go, because I myself was whipped by his mentality of getting stronger at all costs, since you, as a spectator, want him to succeed. But I'm glad he broke out of it in the end and is now able to live his life one step at a time without the desperation to constantly get more powerful. I hope we get to see both him and Killua finding peace and reuniting with a more mature mindset, so they can have more adventures together (though it's an unrealistic expectation I know)
It was my pleasure! I’d love to see it as well, and the tiny bits we’ve gotten of how both approach their life now is plenty encouraging on its own too!
Gon , one of the most dangerous innocent characters ever, hunter x hunter is such a neat series
Definitely.
Innocent..no.
@@emeukal7683 Innocent in the sense the sense that he’s still mostly a pure kid , very childish occasionally and very selfish but also pure of heart towards people he cares about but also also due to his mindset it leads him down a really fucked path of life revolving around his relationship with his father and who he came to be as a hunter, like a soft shithead but nice and shounen like person when he’s earnest
@@emeukal7683 but he’s definitely fucked up in at least 58.911 ways in the later parts of the series
When I watch this anime, I always find myself identifying more with Gon than Killua, even though I like the latter more as a character. I’ve pushed myself to furthering my education, finding a better occupation, moving to a new city, meeting new people. All in the interest of feeling like I “need” to in order to “earn” the love of others.
If something is “earned” it’s not love, since true love is unconditional. Yet paradoxically the need to prove myself to feel worthy is something I can’t shake, because this love creates a psychological obligation to honor somebody feeling that way about me, when in reality I’ve already done enough.
It’s hard to know you’re enough when we live in a world where everything seems to boil down to a transaction, it can distort compassion into an investment instead of a gift. This would disqualify it as a genuine act of kindness, but when there’s literally a dollar value that people can use to objectify your worth, you unconsciously set obstacles in your life to overcome to receive “y” amount of affection based off of “x” goals being achieved.
In reality, there’s nothing to really overcome other than a belief in my own inadequacy, which is buried underneath the day to day struggle of getting the bills paid, something that I’m not particularly great at and exacerbates these underlying issues. Gon, my lack of self-worth hasn’t led me to do the same things as you, but I feel for you, buddy ❤️
YES I love how you mention that he has a subtle but clear self-contained arc here even if his story isn't done. Because it's true, he's learned in many ways that others don't acknowledge.
Couldn't finish it yesterday because I had to stop midway but yeah this is the best analysis of Gon I've ever seen/read and the most comprehensive view of his insecurities and implosion. Use of music and clips is top notch, great commentary, etc. I haven't watched them all because I've only been a sub for a year or so but this is one of your best videos.
Thank you!
For sure! This is an awesome video! It really made things clear, although I prolly would forget sum stuff from time to time, since there’s so many factors to Gon’s character development.
Oh I LOVE your inclusion of the Koala quote at the end because for a long time now I've been trying to put into words the comparison/parallel between his story and Gon's and why that whole part was placed in the same chapter as the conclusion of Gon's relationship with Kite.
I always return to that clip of Morel asking Gon to hit him as hard as he can or he's out of the mission. Partly because it was so cool but mostly because of how painful it was. It was at that moment that I thought "Ahh we lost him." and Killua had this uncomfortable feeling with it. Its the moment when you realize a person has gone to a place of no return, no salvation, no destination, and a path filled with emptiness.
This is the best explanation/analysis of Gon's character that I have ever seen! I have become a HxH nerd so I love seeing these videos
Thank you very much!
He was already my favorite character, yet he still somehow moved up after watching this, great video!
Thanks!!
reading all of hxh and then having a marathon on all your hxh videos is a very productive way to spend my week
Omg thank you for this. Finally, someone who understands that Gon isn't just a psychotic monster but a child with severe self worth issues who feels that he has to be strong enough and constantly prove himself worthy to be able to meet his own father. It's kinda sad to me that a lot of people don't really see this about him and only see his character at the surface level when it's much more complex than that.
HxH is my favorite anime, And videos like this are exactly why, Togashi's characters are so intensely detailed in their presentation that each person has a different way of describing and explaining why a character feels or acts a certain way.
First off props to the examples you presented of his genuine nightmarish torment he had over trying to be strong (Actual nightmare woke him up of him being powerless and falling away from his father)
Some point to the scene where Gon watches his new friend Killua rip a human beings heart out and he's just... smiling in admiration.
Some use Zepile's simple conclusion that Gon is a dangerous person due to his moral compass always pointing north so to speak.
And by the time we get to Greed Island he's having portions of his limbs and skin blown off and for a moment he gives his opponent a determined smile despite it.
This leads people to easily believe that Gon's wires are crossed and he just genuinely has a scary mental condition, I personally believe this is true BUT a lot of people use this point of view as their only basis on his character and don't mix in other people's findings and perspectives that they come up with based on all of the very same examples, And it's perfectly fine to do that...! But I personally believe that there are enough examples given to us by Togashi that it is perfectly within our capabilities to go super nerd all out and combine multiple perspectives and try to utilize everything Togashi has showcased.
And the craziest thing about it all? At the end of the day...
He's just a kid. (A shounen manga kid capable of insane things yes but in the world of HxH still most definitely a kid considering nearly everyone else he talks with and fights are 16+ besides Killua.)
When you put EVERYTHING you can into perspective and put that cherry on top? It's mind blowing. It's like taking a blindfold off and re-realizing this child has been communicating and fighting with adults in a world where yes THAT DOES MATTER because you do NOT see many other kids like him and Killua.
To paraphrase what I saw someone say a long time ago.
Hunter X Hunter is a story about human beings with super powers that are shaped by their minds and emotions. AKA their powers come from their humanity (This is part of why the chimera ants and the concepts that follow from them are also so damn interesting.) AKA Nen in the hands of an underdeveloped mind will eventually show signs of that, And if all goes well it will naturally grow in its application and understanding... After all there's no rush at that age.
But in Gon's case all did not go well and there was ALWAYS a rush, And in what ways and why is realistically up to you the viewer/reader to decide, I personally choose to cram as much as I can that Togashi lays out that makes sense because I love this series just that damn much.
It's not just my favorite anime. It's my favorite piece of media PERIOD.
Gon's journey has so many subtle and underlying aspects to it that can be hard to keep ahold of. This was brilliant, my favourite video from you in a long time, thank you.
Gon's journey of self worth is one of the most beautiful aspects of Hunter x Hunter
And Killua's Journey to self-worth is another one :)
@@contemptman3646 And Komugi's.
And then you have Kurapika’s, journey of getting over his revenge, by at least getting the eyes of his people back, but if he ends up going off on some of the princes, and the spiders again then i guess he will be giving into darkness like Gon, did at least lowest.
"Hunter x Hunter can't be better than it already is."
Aleczandxr: Hold my analysis
THE THUMBNAIL AND HOW IT REFLECTS THE EREN ONE
This video is an epitome of as to why I think Gon is one of the best written MC’s. This show is just a masterpiece.
Gon is my favorite Hunter x Hunter character ever since I got into the series through the 2011 anime and beyond and I absolutely loved it ever since I'm glad it's finally returning it means a lot to me personally as it's my favorite Shonen series of all time.
I feel the same way. The manga is on track to surpass the chimera ant arc. My favorite character however is Hisoka. He has my fav mentality out of all the psychos in the series.
@@mk_-8794 that's cool bro.
I've been following your channel for awhile, but this instantly become an all time favorite video of yours. It amazes me how after all this years you still manage to find unexplored aspects of the series, speaks volumes to how well constructed and complex Togashi's characters are. Thanks again for the content, AJ
You’re very welcome, and thank you for this kind words!
Cute Yamato, profile picture heh.
This video is amazing. I never understood how sad and traumatic/mental Gon’s mentality was. Gon probably wasn’t/isn’t even aware of this. And I was certain that I understood Gon’s chaotic-ness and pure development better than anybody. It’s like saying he’s even less chaotic than I thought
Thanks very much! It’s very underlying but totally essential to his character.
The point about how his sacrifice was ultimately meaningless and how that played into the whole theme of his character was a big W take. Never thought about it like that and always held that as one of the few bad writing moments of the show. But you helped make sense of it in a way I never thought of. Great video
Thanks!
SAME
Wonderfully said. Personally, I don't think I've ever noticed a sense of Gon feeling inadequate at any point in the anime, but now that you've talked about it, it suddenly makes a lot of sense why Gon acts the way he does (and not just out of pure shonen protagonist logic which really isn't Hunter x Hunter's style). Perhaps any sense of insecurities from Hunter x Hunter's characters was automatically linked to Killua, but Gon's insecurities aren't all that different, as you've said, but their coping mechanisms definitely are. Gon's thought process also ties in a lot with children in the real world who have had parents leave them for other things and I think Togashi handled it beautifully. Once again, many thanks for making this video.
Side note: Your editing was insanely good in this video. Keep it up!
Thanks very much for the kinds words, much appreciated! I always try to do some simple but effective things with editing but yeah I wanted to make this one a bit more special in that way, so I’m glad you noticed!
That final montage on the world tree sapling now has another dimension to me. Man... you just make me want to re-watch the series with each video you post!
Hehe, so do it then! Rewatch time! ;)
The editing in this video is amazing! Maybe the best I have seen from you. I love your HxH videos, they are simply incredible.
Thanks so much! I’m so happy you enjoy them.
Amazing video! Really love the exploration of the multiple layers of Gon
Thank you!
ahh, i love this so much. i've seen some people being negative about his arc and him losing himself so i especially love the interpretation that he found his freedom after everything instead. gon is such an interesting character and your analysis is as fascinating as always
Some of the clips you inserted were so beautiful they made me tear up. This poor boy.
This video is beautiful, even more so that I can see a bit of myself in Gon. As a high school student, I always aimed to be the best at everything at all costs but my ambitions were roooted in my insecurities. I got to a point where I only did things for the sake of being the best and despite my progress, I had always considered myself weak. I pushed myself too hard, started having health issues and eventually burned out. But that burnout made me realize that I don´t have to be the best and that everyday life should be cherished. For everyone reading: appreciate life for what it brings, because great experiences come along. Don´t push yourself too hard.
Thank you Alec!!
weird how when ya think about it, Ging did the responsible thing of realizing he wasn't ready to be a father, and leaving his child somewhere he knew would be a good place for him to grow, and left a way to reach him when/if Gon ever wanted too. That just unfortunately had the side effect of EMOTIONAL DAMAGE
He knew that the path to get in contact with him would've likely killed him or crippled him for life. How the heck is that responsible? That path included an exam that easily kills people who take it and a competition with a convicted killer with overwhelming Nen powers, who he specifically told not to go easy on him. Even after clearing Greed Island he pulled a messed up move and set an alternate route for him if he showed up with someone else.
Ging could've just left Gon and Mito a number to reach him or something, smh.
Well, the right thing would've been not having a kid in the first place lol
@@Sweet_Venom0027 Yeah, if he wanted to be "responsible" he should have just kept in touch with the family. He didn't need to be a stay-at-home-dad, he could have continued being a hunter and just show up every once in a few months for family dinner or smth to spend time with Gon and to tell his sister that he was still alive, well and thankful for the fact that she was taking good care of Gon.
Gon would probably have become a hunter in this situation as well after hearing stories from Ging but he would have done it with a better mindset and for his own curiosity's sake rather than in a sad, desperate attempt to meet with his father.
Gon is such an underrated protagonist. 10/10
To me, Gon was and is still a kid. A very 1 in a million kid but a kid abandoned by his old man nonetheless. He chained himself in a different way than Kurapika but got weighed down by these links of iron at the end. I love this kid and he clearly has an impact on many lives as pertains the sheer number of people who came to see him after the chimera ants arc. Now the possibilities are endless for a kid like him and I can’t wait to see what Togashi does with him at the end of the day. So many thanks for this wonderful video my friend ! It was both heartbreaking and so soothing at the same time like a light who shines too bright for its own good hiding the darkness within.
My pleasure Joshua, I'm very happy you enjoyed!
what a masterpiece, there was so much depth talked about here in such a mindblowing and interesting way that until now I have not realized. This video is absolutely awe-inspiring to the character's inner struggles along with themes connected with even my personal life. Thanks so much for making this video! liked
I was so excited when I saw you'd uploaded a video just 14 minutes ago!! This video taught me something I never understood about Gon before- thank you for your always well thought-out videos!!
I’m so happy to hear that, that was one of my goals! You’re very welcome :)
I like the way u point out the "end" of Gons chacter, is trully bealtiful and refreeshing to know he's trully free from expectation. I gotta admit i may had even a bit more emotion add to it because of some personal theorys of mine, i always interpretated that what Nanika did to get Gon back waesnt only to cure him, but yes to bring his body back to what it was before, before the battle, before Kite's death, before Greed Island, before the Hunter Exam, before Hunter X Hunter, what he was in the moment he was fishing "The King Of The Lakes", when he meets his dad he's nothing more then just a fisherman with an excentrical connection to nature, he's not strong, nor powerfull, he's just Gon, and still his dad looked him face to face and talked to him like he would to if he was everything he fantazises about.
Thank you for not making Gon seem like hes insane in some way (like everyone else thinks). You really summed up Gon's issues the best ive seen on youtube and its really nice to see what feels like a more genuine take on him. P.S. I wouldnt mind if u used dubbed anime clips more often cuz it makes it easier to listen to the video audio-only. thanks!
Glad you liked the video! I won’t be using dubbed audio for Hunter x Hunter videos, sorry about that, but I’m happy you found it enjoyable!
@@Aleczandxr its all good. I understand that Hunter x Hunter *is* originally japanese
The Japanese voice acting is faaaaar superior to the English though (IMO)
@@justmyopinion79 lowkey tho I switched from dub to sub at one point and everyone sounded like what they shouldve so i like both of them
Brilliant video! I thought I understood Gon but this unearthed layers that I overlooked.
Thanks! Great to hear!
I really enjoyed the video. It's crazy how much of his development I missed. I was so enthralled by the main story I was blind to everything he was actually going through. Again great video keep up the good work👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
I know personally I see gon's final appearence in the manga as an epilogue of sorts for him, I know that if from this point on he was just someone that killua, Kuriapika and leorio just occasionally went and saw and that he was just living happy in content in some new passion he has found, i'd be so happy. Also I love Ging and gon's newly formed bond, the fact that Gon can call his dad and ask him for advice and that Ging proceeds to tell him genuinely wise words warmed my heart. a part of me would be very happy if Gon never had to deal with anything as hard as the chimera ant arc, but i know that if he ever has to get back out there (with or without nen) I think he'd have a better and more mature out look on how to handle things (looking at you Gyro)
I think Togashi is kind in letting Gon and Killua rest and enjoy some peace, some childhood. They can chill and enjoy the simple beauty of life.
they were after adventures but and some adventures led them to be soldiers, to have to choose sides, to lose all their innocence over rough realities.
so it's fine if they take 10 years time out just to enjoy life.
Komugi reached enlightenment because she has no desire nor fear, but she also was willing to die with Meruem, that doesn't mean she is not independent. It just means she thinks life is valuable and she wants to spend it on what she finds the most virtuous and true to herself, her feelings.
both Killua and Gon can be like Komugi, If from now on they do it right and start to value their own life.
but the facts remains, Killua and Gon are both self sacrificial, it's a virtue, just that they need to pick the right battles.
I love this time out for them. I want them to have a normal peaceful childhood like other ordinary kids.
They were destined for adventures but rest and meditations are needed.
The next adventure they go on together will be outlandish ❤
Gon and Killua are not dependent on each other, it's more like they find the missing pieces in the other. They don't need each other to feel complete, but their symbiosis often lead to breakthrough and discoveries, they improved and developed each other,
their friendship is indestructible and untainted by even traumas and cracks, because the friendship is so unconditional and pure.
Gon just want Killua to be free, and Killua just wants a friend and an equal.
that's how it's always been.
along the way they run into hurdles because they are figuring themselves out while investing themselves naturally in this friendship. So they grow up together, and it's been grand.
I never admire such a friendship so much.
it is equally as astounding as
Ashitaka and San,
Haku and Chihiro,
Arriety and her human giant boy,
Kiki and her airplane boy,
Ponyo and Susuke....
The friendship between Gon and Killua is like so profound and idealistic that it will be tested again and again, and it will keep becoming stronger.
When you have a true friend, being far away from them actually draw you closer to them at heart. Because now you really see what they mean to you, how their absence make you feel
.
Gon and Killua has a whole life ahead and together. ❤❤ I believe!!!
with all my heart.
At first glance, Gon is a kid
At a deep glance, Gon is hypocritical psychopath of darkness
At an even deep glance, Gon is just a KID
This was very much NOT on purpose, but by making this video you basically helped me see everything that has been wrong with my life in the past year. I held a very similar mindset to Gon when approaching analysis in media, and you've been my ideal, my Ging, ever since discovering your content. This year I stagnated for the first time; I felt weakness for the first time in my life in making progress towards my goals and aspirations, and I constantly tried to compensate for that. By analyzing this very specific component from Hunter x Hunter I think you might have accidentally freed me from my psychological chains.
Wow. I just don't even know what to say man. You've done so much for me. I've said this many times, but truly, thank you for creating videos and being who you are. I will do my best to do what you mentioned at the end; to just live, and hopefully one day, I will be able to do what you do in my own way. I want to feel growth in my life again, but I want to experience the little detours too...
Thank you.
Well, my pleasure! Delighted to hear it.
Whoa, this character analysis is breathtaking. I listen to hundreds of analysis videos on characters I believe to be well-fleshed out, among other things, but this really takes the cake. You've taken a masterpiece work and made the answer feel like Occam's razor, almost as if what I've watched twice now should've been screaming this narrative to be in the subtext. You didn't take the "curtains are blue" approach, you didn't needlessly get verbose and start trying to impress your audience by boiling things down to far-eastern psychology/sociology/esoteric foreign literary allusion. This made me feel like I could solve a Professor's Cube blindfolded, at the same time I felt like I was being kicked in the nuts for being so arrogant simultaneously!
Finally got round to actually watching instead of just looking at the thumbnail. Fantastic.
THANK YOU SO MUCH IVE BEEN SAYING ALL THIS EVER SINCE I FINISHED HXH THE FIRST TIME
Amazing analysis as always, however I can't help but notice how well your recent videos have been edited- the use of clips, dialogue and the occasional soundtrack really help elevate the experience.
Very nice of you to say, thanks a lot my friend! I’m glad that you enjoy the editing.
I'm never ready for your videos. They always makes me appreciate this show more than I did the previous day.
Man I imagine that far in the story Kilkua goes back to Whale island to see Gon happy witha family, no nen stuff going on. A beautiful picture but one that could spark more adventure when Kilkua asks for help and Gon feels obliged. As a grown man he in a matter of seconds realises he is back to an unawakened state and just has to awake his nen once again. He by his sheer will does it in another minute and ultra boosts his progress basically to where he was before the accident but now with much more knowledge about the world. And he goes off for one last adventure with Killua.
This video.... This video... Just spoke to me.
Strong work!! Gon’s sense of abandonment and insecurity are often overlooked and I am glad you addressed them.
Finally! I found a review Abt gon, that I can fully get behind. This is the best, review of gon character, Ive ever watched. Thanks!
My pleasure! That’s some high praise, thank you.
Amazing analysis, essay and video. I hope this blows up for the community and that you continue to grow.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed!
Another great analysis I see! ✨
This little boy moves me to tear..
Thank you!
Once again an amazing analysis. I still don't love the fact that Kite ends up being ok in the end because it feels to me like it justifies Gon's denial of the situation by making him have been kind of right all along.
You need to rewatch it then. I promise you will not come away from it thinking that Gon has been portrayed as anything but wrong for doing what he did.
@@jimmyichigo7410 Slight misunderstanding. I think Gon's actions are clearly depicted as wrong. It's his insistence that Kite is fine and can be saved that's proven right in the end.
The fact is that Gon was single mindedly convinced that HE could save Kite, that the possibility of Kite being brought back to life would depend entirely on him and his ability to be strong enough, while in actuality he shouldn't have done anything at all, cause Kite would've come back to life by himself anyway. He felt like it was his responsibility, while actually it was just a responsibility he made up and imposed upon himself, as it was pointless all along
Im really glad you revisited this character
Your video was one of the first to make people question his sanity
It means the world you came back and took a deeper look into his character
Thank you
You’re welcome. Although personally I don’t think this is deeper at all, it’s just an examination of a different side to him that’s better presented and more focused. That video is still pretty good overall. Just to clarify, people using my old video to question his sanity was them misinterpreting my point - since I never stated in that video that he was insane, psychopathic, or anything like that. People combined the overall tone with their own feelings to go too far in that direction but the actual text of the video portrays him as a normal kid wracked by grief, guilt, tunnel vision, purity and naivety.
Mans is so free he isn't even bound by being the protagonist.
I miss Gon’s fishing pole
What perfect timing i just watched your “Morality of Gon” video and was wondering when your next would be. Keep up the great work as always man!!
Hope you enjoyed!
10:00 love the super smooth transition from aot music to hxh
SPORILERS FOR HXH (anime at least)
The main thing about Gon is how well his dark decent into inanity and a shell to what he was prior was portrayed only to devoid Gon of consequence when he meets Kite again. I understand your points on what made Gon’s struggle for self acceptance and journey to get stronger and frankly I applaud you for being able to shed light at Gon in a way I’ve never thought of, but honestly it’s hard to not feel that Gon’s dark behavior was to an extent for noting because of the non lasting Gon’s consequences. He gets revived and is ok, meets Ging and most of all sees Kite again, so even if Gon does learn that he doesn’t need to be this perfect image for Ging, it still to some extent feels as if Gon’s actions were rewarded. Only thing he lost is his nen but he’s not doing much at this point anyways.
I dont know how but you keep surprising us with amazing videos on charachters we thought we knew. HxH writing has so much depht its crazy, thank you for helping us appreciate peak fiction even more!
My pleasure! Thanks for the kind words.
with togashi posting sketches of the next hxh chapter on twitter, i cant wait to see how the future arc plays out. so much nuances to each of their motivations, no wonder the man had to take an indefinite hiatus. it's so nice to see fans like you who catch the attention to detail and explain it in a more easily understood manner so we can look back on his work and appreciate it more
Yet another great video to listen to. Glad i turned the bell on
Edit: BTW did i ever tell you that you choose the background music so well
Thank you so much!
I've been waiting for this and as always you deliver in exapnding my knowledge and understanding of a character. Great work yet again AJ!
Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed it!
Ging made him do all this and he didn't even mean to😭
I didn't think of gon from this prospective iam really impressed , whenever you think you understand everything in hxh you learn and explore more when watched again.
Great video as always 👏😁
Thank you!
I really need this video in my life thank you and thank god.
Making me fall even more in love with my favourite story with every new video, love the content and this might be my favourite video toghter with the Chrollo one
I've been waiting for this, HxH streams on Twitch have been amazing
Ahh so glad you’ve been enjoy them! Hope you like the video.
Amazing video, showing Gon’s true mindset and being able to understand him better than misconceptions show
Thanks!
bit late on this but this was an incredible video. even though you've talked about gon a lot in past videos and on stream i always felt like there was a big part of his character that was unexplored (to me) that i knew about but didnt quite know how to vocalize. this video feels like a record of everything i've been wanting to say about gon for the past few years :)
Thanks very much pal :)
Man this is such a great video, i had hard time putting in words this same explanation so you have basically done it for me! Amazing. I have few friends who said the same thing that they didnt understand the point of the ending and i almost felt the same, because we are used to BA BAM endings where its not as open ended aka confusing unless you think back again. It was a road of crazy ups and downs and derailing from original idea of just finding the father, that you could forget it was the goal all along, but ofcourse Gon stuck to it, but yet completely misunderstood as children do. Man i love Togashi's writing even more, hope his back doesnt hurt as much and he can wrap up the story somehow. Dudes a still living legend.
Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed!
Does anyone else feel like he’s gotten better at communicating his main points?
Yeah definitely
Wow you have actually broadened my perspective of this character many thanks for this analysis
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed!
This single-handedly raised Gon 5 spots in my HxH character ranking lmao
To what spot? He's 3 for me
How the fuck are there five over him?? Netero killua meruem kurapika I guess?
@@benzohhhhh + chrollo, Shaiapouf and maybe hisoka?
@@bobbyzamora6389 Now he's 2. Meruem is 1.
@@benzohhhhh Please calm down, no need to swear at me. He used to be 7, with Meruem, Killua, Hisoka, Chrollo, Pouf and Kurapika ahead of him. Now he is 2.
Super well written video! Your analysis are always on point, loved watching this!
Thank you, happy you enjoyed!
I also grew without a father and with a mom that loves me but is kinda of cold overall, even though I kinda don't care about my father since childhood i have always had this desire this impulse of proving myself of worthiness, this mania of constantly chasing accomplishments and progress like if i desperately needed it as a "proof" that I'm worth living. I dunno but maybe having the people that are supposed to love you unconditionally abandon you really makes a score on your self-esteem even more because child's always blame themselves.
My journey has been pretty much similar to Gon in his obssesion with self improvement and also like Killua in his latching himself to other person and not feeling worthy of them.
Life is better know and I know the values of life and detours more but man it's incredible how much richness is in HxH and how much it kinda has helped me go with my life too and from the bottom of my heart i am also very grateful to you for touching all this themes the way how you do it and yeah you talking about one of my favorite series but in a lot of your videos i also end up with a lot of self reflection that really has helped me process a lot of my life.
Beautiful day to anyone that read this walltext and let's hope we finally get those delicious new chapters from Togashi
I was JUST thinking of that TH-camr, Aleczander-chan!! Fascinating, Yung Algorithmer! You may live yet another day within Jade Curtiss's Gunchly Apocalypse!
Your content really deepened/expanded my view of hxh as a whole (and other things) its amazing that one man can explain all of these things from authors.
Big Ups to you
This was an amazing and insightful analysis.
Helped me see the show in a completely different light
Thank you, glad it was valuable!
Thank you you made me look at Gin like I have never done before
I first watched HxH in 2017 and since then I've always found it easier to re-visit it than to start anything new and every time I seem to notice more and more things that go under the radar because of the bigger story.
Also it's usually after one of your videos that I go rewatch an arc or the whole thing😂I think I've watched it at least 5 times now. Please keep making great content like this
You make the greatest videos about Hunterxhunter I swear
Thanks!
THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN UR BEST WORK!!!LOVED THE VIDEO SO MUCH GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!❤❤❤
Glad you enjoyed, much appreciated!
I can't help but feel that all we have seen so far is just the prologue of HxH.
Gon finished his prologue by effectively dying and losing his nen.
Kurapika will most likely finish his prologue arc on the Whale.
Killua is yet to finish his prologue arc with this family and his relationship with them.
Hisoka is in the last bit of his his prologue which will culminated with Chrollo and the Spider.
and finally, Leorio just started his prologue with getting involved with Association Politics. I believe this prologue will end on the whale as well.
I feel like all these characters have been introduced, they have mostly pursued very personal goals that have helped them grow and develop as characters, and only after all this groundwork has been laid down will the "real" story begin.
I'd be surprised if it went on THAT long considering Togashi's health, but I get what you mean
I love this analisis, at the end of the day, Gon is just a really a stuborn, insecure and selfish kid, and after chasing so much after Ging, he finds Kite and latchets on to him, in a way that, when he is killed, makes him feel so guilty and frustrated with himself (even tough no one blames him for that) that he has no choice but repress those feelings, and find Pitou again to lash out.
So, of-fucking-course, when he finds Pitou, their willingnes to sacrifice for Komugui and the kings happines just leaves him without the needed catharsis, and no vent to express his anger.
What kind of kid, what kind of person can go through all this, and not snap when you see your loved one die in front of you again (with kites body dropping to the floor)
There would be only pain, sorrow, anger, in a way that he just can't handle, so he gives everything up, willing to pay any price, for the power he needs to stop these, if he can't revive kite, at least he'll avenge him, he'll make pitou pay, whatever the cost, he will have his revenge, 'cause he'll be damned to hell and back if he cant destroy Pitou with his anger, even if it destroys him in the end.
Watching this after getting to chapter 340 for the first time after being anime-only for 7 years, this was an excellent way to put everything into perspective, thank you for all of your analyses
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for that first scene, I was searching it everywhere-
And I absolutely agree with you, I feel like people often villainize him as they like the idea of innocent looking beings being monsters, but Gon is not that. Gon is not a monster, nor a villain. He s a traumatized child put in impossible situations no child should face. It s normal for humans to make mistakes and hirt people, including themselves, in life/death situations, in anger or anything out of the norm stressful. Gon reacted logically and human, he s a child, his journey is to me like a loss of innocence and driven to madness or just basically despair, not getting a monster, he didn t lose his humanity, he lost himself. I think he and Killua kind of mirror each other and have quite the similarities, and I want to add he might have also did that suicide kill pitou, aside from escaping the pain, also to compensate and make up for his weakness, like if he can t be strong, he can t be.
(Though you basically said that honestly)
The only thing I don t completely agree with is what exactly Gon s journey is about, though your take isn t out of the things of possibilities
Just to clarify - What’s your impression of what I think Gon’s journey is about? I’m not sure that I actually stated that specifically in the video so you may be misunderstanding something I said.
@@Aleczandxr Getting past self worth issues I thought
Oh - Well I didn’t state that that’s what the journey was about, I just stated that that’s undoubtedly a large part of his psychology thoughout the series for the reasons I explained. But there’s a distinction between that and his journey being about self worth, and I don’t think it was about self worth.
@@Aleczandxr Oh yea, agreed. Can I ask what you think it was about?
Wow your videos have really changed my perspective on hxh, amazing
Glad you finally made this. The community needed to know
Why does Hunter x Hunter feel so intensely different from every other shonen manga? The only thing I could compare it to is Chainsaw Man, but those two stories are still insanely different.
I felt this way throughout the whole series but I think it reaches its crescendo in the Chimera Ant arc, where things don’t feel like any other shonen climax I’ve consumed. The story feels so human in a way most shonen (oddly) don’t? I wish I had the skills to articulate what I mean.
Amazing video, btw. Never thought about Gon’s lack of self-worth.
Thank you very much!
This was an amazing video 💜
Thank you!