The entire episode is about putting into perspective the progress Gon and Killua have made over the course of this Heaven's Arena arc. The gaps in our base knowledge of the Nen power system are finally filled in, and both Killua and Gon graduate from Wing-san's school of Shingen-Ryu. We get a sense of where they came from with Zushi (though he's a student with incredible potential, his abilities pale in comparison to Gon and Killua's currently), and a sense of what their goal of Nen mastery should look like with Hisoka. While the pacing of this arc felt sluggish at times, this episode (and especially the last 6 minutes) made it all feel deliberate and necessary.
The dynamic between Hisoka and Gon is one of the most compelling in the entire show. Hisoka is essentially grooming Gon into a worthy opponent. He even gets stimulated sexually at the prospect of Gon's limitless potential. He sensed it from the very beginning, and knew that the payoff on his end would be incredibly satisfying if he could serve as motivation for Gon to develop. It seems Hisoka's only purpose in life is to fight and test his mettle against those he deems strong. As we've come to see over the course of the show, he's willing to go to any lengths to find and cultivate formidable adversaries (even joining the Phantom Troupe in an attempt to seek them out). He's such a captivating character, with motivations so simple that he paradoxically becomes impossible to predict.
I can't conclude this review without talking about the fight scene. This is my third time rewatching this series, and those final 6 minutes leave me breathless without fail! The scene moves at a breakneck pace. Tension builds as the background white noise gradually crescendos to the climax of the episode where everything falls dead silent, and we witness quite possibly the most satisfying moment in anime. The fight choreography and direction are immaculate, and the use of OST and sound makes this one of the most impactful scenes in the entire show. While the scale and stakes aren't as gargantuan as in Netero and Meruem's clash in the Chimera Ant arc, this fight is equally special to me. This is without question one of my favorite fights in all of anime.
This episode is easily worthy of a 10/10. It's endlessly rewatchable, and serves as a milestone for our main characters in the grand scheme of the series.
The dynamic between Hisoka and Gon is one of the most compelling in the entire show. Hisoka is essentially grooming Gon into a worthy opponent. He even gets stimulated sexually at the prospect of Gon's limitless potential. He sensed it from the very beginning, and knew that the payoff on his end would be incredibly satisfying if he could serve as motivation for Gon to develop. It seems Hisoka's only purpose in life is to fight and test his mettle against those he deems strong. As we've come to see over the course of the show, he's willing to go to any lengths to find and cultivate formidable adversaries (even joining the Phantom Troupe in an attempt to seek them out). He's such a captivating character, with motivations so simple that he paradoxically becomes impossible to predict.
I can't conclude this review without talking about the fight scene. This is my third time rewatching this series, and those final 6 minutes leave me breathless without fail! The scene moves at a breakneck pace. Tension builds as the background white noise gradually crescendos to the climax of the episode where everything falls dead silent, and we witness quite possibly the most satisfying moment in anime. The fight choreography and direction are immaculate, and the use of OST and sound makes this one of the most impactful scenes in the entire show. While the scale and stakes aren't as gargantuan as in Netero and Meruem's clash in the Chimera Ant arc, this fight is equally special to me. This is without question one of my favorite fights in all of anime.
This episode is easily worthy of a 10/10. It's endlessly rewatchable, and serves as a milestone for our main characters in the grand scheme of the series.
