Week 1 - My review of HunterXHunter's Yorknew City arc (IW)

Ian White, week 1 - Great Anime/TV arcs 

https://hunterxhunter.fandom.com/wiki/Yorknew_City_arc

    The show HunterXHunter (HxH) demonstrates how a combination of character and world-building with a tightly woven and engaging plot can have a lasting impact on an audience.  But it is in my opinion that the most engaging and watchable arc in the show is the Yorknew City arc.  It's a perfect blend of suspense and action which allows it to intensify its story.  For those who haven't seen HxH, it is a shonen (battle) anime that follows Gon and his friends (Killua, Kurapica, and Leorieo (my personal favorite)) as they all travel on a journey to all solve their own personal struggles.  The first arc Hunter exam arc is where gon and his friends meet up unaware of how they will bond and rely on each other to obtain their Hunter license. An all-inclusive pass to travel the world and explore its secrets. Following the first arc, the crew gets their license (except for Killua). They split apart in the next arc (Heavens Arena arc) which allows the show to focus on the power system (Nen) this system gives their characters unique powers and helps the audience figure out more about a character's personality.  During the 2nd arc, The characters are heavily fleshed out to prepare themselves for the third arc (the YorkNew City arc).

    The Yorknew city arc (YCA) is a powerful and dramatic portion of the show and what better to bolster that same energy by accompanying it with a great intro, ed, and music.  Music is a staple of anime and is essential for shonen battle anime, it's used to hype up the audience and get you mentally prepared for some of the action-packed fights imaginable. Every episode in this arc is accompanied by the second op (opening) also known as Departure.  The same song is used throughout the show with slight tweaks to its lyrics.  With different visuals to accompany the op with every new ark, it's clear to presume that the arc changes as the characters do and in a way, it progresses with the characters.  During each episode, the music is properly incorporated to make you feel the full array of emotions. Such as with the Phantom Troupe who is the primary antagonist of this season they get their own Soundtrack that is sure to let you know just how much of an impact they make. Finally, the ed which is my favorite ed (Hunting For Your Dream) of all time, the whole arc leaves you on huge cliffhangers at the end of each episode and the ed just helps bolster your desire to watch more. 

https://hunterxhunter.fandom.com/wiki/Kurapika

    The next great aspect of the YCA  is its character building, during this arc, the main cast, aside from Leorio (though there was plenty to get from his this season) is built upon immensely.  Kurapica was brought into the spotlight during the arc and he dramatically changes.  His only desire is revenge against the phantom Troupe who committed a grave sin towards the Kurta clan. This same revenge hurts him and only pushed him away from the main cast towards the end of the arc. Kurapicas' struggles with the troupe reinforce the show's main goal of setting out to deal with personal struggles but his character arc just proves how you can get engulfed in those struggles and lead down a path of emptiness. Other minor characters such as the Nostrade family and Melody get a lot of development.  The antagonists (phantom troupe gets a lot of characterization) members such as Uvogin, Pakunoda, and Chrollo get massive rolls in the arc and to a certain extent drive it.  The other main cast Gon and Killua go on their own journey meeting new faces and continue on the path to Find Gon's father. Overall the characterization is phenomenal and no character is static in the season, motives, desires, etc are fully explored and make the arc impactful. 

     The show's overall quality during the season is top-notch, it challenges other shows and highlights how well put together anime can dwarf other shows. in terms of sound quality (effects) it's never a miss, and for voice acting it's incredibly rememberable, and all characters sound like they fit their persona (note I listened to the show in Sub).  Art including backgrounds, fights, and character design were phenomenal once again, every aspect of a character was easily unpacked by just their look alone. Finally, the episode structure with an average runtime of 22 min (ed and op included) never dragged and was easily watched in secession. 

     

https://hunterxhunter.fandom.com/wiki/Yorknew_City_arc

    The Worldbuilding in the YCA is once again phenomenal, HxH maintains an intriguing world that extends beyond the screen.  this arc in particular constantly has you questioning the society around the characters as prior to the Heavens Arena arc you weren't given much information about how the world functioned as well as the very people living in it. In the YCA you are exposed to bustling city streets packed with character and desolate desert yearning for an epic showdown ( <-- Hint). The way the show handles its social structures with the introduction of the YC mafia and its underground dangers like the Phantom Troupe (PT). You the viewer now realize that their society is nowhere near perfect and with powerful figures using nen the whole world could be in peril. This arc truly demonstrated how it could evoke intrigue among views regarding the world around it.  

https://hunterxhunter.fandom.com/wiki/Yorknew_City_arc

    

    The plot of the YCA is SOUND, not at one point have there been any problems like holes or unintentional loose ends.  The story really flows following Gon and Killua even up to their suspenseful meetup with the PT.  Kurapica as stated previously shines immensely during this portion of the story and his struggles for revenge create blood-curdling suspense that is constant throughout the show and all the way up to the climax is a ride for your senses.  Huge battles where the Shadow Beast (a group of mercenaries hired by the mafia) fight Uvogin and eventually Kurapika are immensely enjoyable and terrifying. The climax is in my opinion one of the greatest moments of tv history.  After the Uvogin dies the PT leader (Chrollo) orchestrates a requiem lighting up the city and inducing havoc and mayhem.  This accompanied by music (actual choirs and explosions) allows for a jaw-dropping experience, as you watch the mafia unfold at the hands of the PT.  And even after the climax of the YCA  the show keeps you hooked with a fight between Chrollo and the Zoldiak family (powerful assassins, the same family as Killua).  This all ends with Kurapika meeting up with the PT and sealing Chrollo's fate during the Exchange.  The plot in the YCA  is phenomenal and has a remarkable re-watchability. 

https://thenameslynith13.tumblr.com/post/83684481308/omg-seeing-hisoka-dumbfounded-just-killed-me-my

 

    HxH's Yorknew City arc offers so much to the viewer and represents peak shonen action.  With great music characters and plot, the arc never misses a beat.  Its ability to make you feel the full array of emotions solidifies it as one of my favorite anime arcs.  HxH is one of the most engaging and memorable shows I've ever watched and is a must-watch if you even think this sounded interesting in any respect. (note. I watched this on Crunchyroll and for more info about the arc click (-__-) ) 

By, Ian White,  Jan 7, 2021