How’s it going Multiversity Readers? This week we’re looking at the episodes “The First Battle” and “The Hand of God”, two episodes that span about four years, bringing us from Guts’s induction into The Band of the Hawk all the way to the 100 Years War. On the way, we learn a lot about our main characters, and get introduced to the key to the whole series: the behelit.
1. “Who The Hell Is He?”
These episodes give us our first confusing glimpses into the Band of the Hawk and their enigmatic leader, Griffith. Remember, we first hear his name screamed into the night as Guts is tortured by the demonic Godhand. We know that Griffith becomes a villain, however the Griffith we see in these early episodes appears as somewhat heroic. He is difficult to peg down, by the characters in the show or us at home. Guts points out that his piercing blue eyes can hold both childlike innocence and frightening malice. He is just as comfortable joking around with Guts as he is dislocating his shoulder. This air of mysteriousness makes Griffith such an intriguing character. Which is the real Griffith? Is it the warm and caring leader that draws in everyone around him or is it the cold killer who will sacrifice anything to achieve his dream? Is Griffith’s declaration to Guts that he will “determine the time and place of his death” a vow to protect him or a threat to keep him in place?
2. A Boy and His Sword
We get treated to another flashback to Guts’s childhood in “The Hand of God” and we begin to understand a bit more about our hero. We see his affinity for his oversized sword, the origin of his scar, and exactly what happened with him and Gambino. It is shocking to see our almost comically masculine hero so continually broken and weak. We see his tortured past leave its scars on him, unable to be touched and only able to sleep clutching his sword like a child’s stuffed animal. This makes Guts so much more than just a stereotypical Shonen hero and something I’d like to see more of in the genre.
3. Death on the Battlefield
In “The First Battle” we see The Band of the Hawk in full swing. We learn that they are also known as Death on the Battlefield, which sounds more like a heavy metal band than a band of mercenaries. They are known for their ability to overcome impossible odds. We see them in action decisively defeating multiple enemies despite being vastly outnumbered. The mix of Grittith’s strategic planning and Guts’ sheer brutality pair perfectly, and allow Guts to quickly move up the ranks. This brings us to the most shocking part of the Band of the Hawk story: just how happy they all are. We see Guts finally find a home. We see him opening up with his comrades and they, in turn, quickly grow to trust him. There are scenes of true levity, with drunken parties and touching heart to hearts. As a viewer you get lost in it, but then you remember that this is only a fleeting moment. You know this is going to end, and by the state you see Guts in at the beginning of the series, you know that end is going to be bad.
4. The Behelit
Not many series would introduce their McGuffin with a naked water fight, but it feels just about right for Berserk. As Griffith describes it, the behelit he wears is known as the “egg of the king”, and will allow the wearer to “rule the world in exchange for your flesh and blood”. Not exactly the most encouraging description of a living necklace but it’s apparently enough to satisfy Guts’s curiosity. It strikes me as odd how nonchalant both Griffith and Guts are about the behelit. It’s one thing to ignore the prophecy of a traveling gypsy, but another to shrug off the damn thing blinking. In regards to the prophecy, it’s interesting to note the Griffith says that the behelit will exchange his flesh and blood for the kingdom he desires. I wonder if this is an accidental misinterpretation, or a subtle lie he tells Guts. We already saw in the opener that it seems that it was Guts who ends up paying in flesh and blood. Once again, Griffith is a mystery; it’s just as plausible that he is naive to the true nature of the behelit or a villain from the start.
5. The Tide of Fate
The opening of each episode asks us to question whether man is capable of free will or simply a slave to destiny. “The Hand of God” gives us a glimpse into both Griffith and Guts’s answers to that question. We hear Griffith explain that it is his destiny to rule his own kingdom, not his desire or his goal but to him, simply what he deserves. He refuses to be held back by his common birth; he will swim against the tide of fate to achieve his dream. This shines in stark contrast to Guts’s world view. A child born of death, his entire life seems to be guided by a doomed fate. Guts knows he is simply being pushed through life by forces he cannot control and drowns them out with the rush of battle, swinging his sword to block out the world. Seems simple enough, but how free is someone if their destiny is tied to a talisman of prophecy or what happens when someone who feels simply a victim of fate decides to stand up against it? These questions will linger throughout the season; we’ll revisit them in a few weeks when Zodd weighs in with his perspective. That’s when the fun really begins.
