It’s back home for Gon for awhile with Killua in tow, getting a feel for what a simple home life is like.
What They Say:
After learning Nen and becoming a true Hunter, Gon returns to Whale Island with Killua. When he arrives, Mito has a box for him. She was told by Ging to give this box to Gon once he became a Hunter. However, it appears that the box cannot be opened.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Gon’s progression over the last thirty-six episodes, or three seasons if you prefer, has been pretty solid. The show started with him going off to become a Hunter and we’ve seen him go through the Exam and all its phases and deal with the painful way he acquired his license and nearly gave it up for expected reasons. His addition of some strong friends was well done, especially in that a pair of them went off screen for the past season so we could focus on Gon and Killua as they become best friends and go through some much needed additional training. Gon’s growth through all of it has hardened him in some ways but also kept him as the young boy that we knew from the Exam phase. And now he gets to go home for a bit, having mastered Nen and spent his time in the Heaven’s Arena.
The time back at his island home with Aunt Mito is a good bit of fun, especially since it lets Killua have the surreal experience for him of something of a normal family life for a little while. Gon showing him all his favorite things to do there, from fishing to hanging out at home, is all rather endearing even if it does help to highlight the stark differences in their childhoods. But there are similarities as well that shine through and it’s made clear why the two have gravitated towards each other having had little experience with others of their own age. While there’s an odd moment or two, at least through Killua’s interpretation of things, what we get is that these two have found each other and are important parts of each other’s lives and will be for a long time going forward. Which makes it easy for Killua to avoid going back home for a bit longer and instead joins Gon on his search for more about his dad.
The conversation the two has is really important, especially as it talks about Gon’s parents, and that’s something that Mito hears, which softens her heart even more. And it gets her to talk more about Gon’s parents and what happened with them, though it’s mostly just more mystery in the end. This is especially true with the box that was left behind for Gon, a mystery box that can’t be opened. The mystery of the box is definitely fun and seeing Gon and Killua work through it, knowing that it must be a way for him to understand his father more and provide clues that could help. When they make their discovery, it’s something that is used from the new foundations added during the Heaven’s Arena arc and helps to add a much larger world to the picture now.
In Summary:
While the episode is mostly filled with downtime, Hunter x Hunter shifts the story in a new direction here while also holding onto some of the past elements as well with where Gon and Killua will go. The pairing of these two has always been my favorite part of the story, especially since they really aren’t overpowered in a way, but this is the turning phase to their lives as the move further away from the whole Exam that dominated things and the new skills learned in the Heaven’s Arena. That’s all prelude, very good prelude, to what Gon’s life will become from here as he now has a bead on his father and a better understanding of at least a part of his past. There’s a lot to like here even as it takes a mellow approach to things and adds more back story in a very well done well.
Grade: B+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDS-R70XBR2 70″ LCoS 1080P HDTV, Dell 10.1 Netbook via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.
