We’ve come a long way, Multiversity Readers. The time of the Eclipse is here and things do not look good for our heroes. This week in “The Infiltration” and “The Eve of the Feast” we watch as the evil we have felt the growing presence of for a while now emerges from the shadows and takes center stage.
1. Slugs and Elves and Demon Babies, Oh My!
Berserk is done with the foreshadowing at this point, starting off with a procession of demon babies pleading their allegiance to Griffith, their new prince. They admire what he has become, transformed in the dungeon of Midland from the White Hawk to a shell of a man ravaged by torture and fueled by hate. We will focus more on that in a minute, but right now let’s talk about all the other demonic goodies we see in the episode. I am a fan of the inclusion of the slug apostle and Rosine in the forest scene with Rickert. They could have easily been replaced by the snake apostle we saw Guts kill at the beginning of the series but instead we get some manga-reader love. The slug apostle is seen in a small arc that was cut for pacing at the beginning of the series and poor Rosine’s arc is never seen as it is skipped by the new anime series as well. We will have loads more demonic shoutouts once the Eclipse gets into full swing, but I like that they kept these in here especially since the anime really diverges from the manga in some key story pieces in these last few episodes. It was clear that they were not aiming to make more episodes with these cuts, for example, leaving poor Rickert to die at the hands of the apostles.
2. Role Reversal
Griffith points out that his and Guts’s roles have switched in these episodes. Where once Guts’s life was in Griffith’s hands, now Guts is the one in control of their fates. This of course is where Guts shines, as we have seen time and time again, he is at his best fighting to protect those close to him. To him, this role reversal is sort of surreal; Guts is almost unprepared to be the one protecting Griffith. To him, Griffith is a legend in his own time, a man without equal. Despite the duel in the snow, Guts still regards Griffith as something larger than life. He keenly feels the weight of saving this man who gave his life meaning and direction and wants nothing more than to save him. That is why even when he sees the damage a year of torture has done to Griffith, he still is willing to fight and die for him. As the others recoil at the sight of what is left of their once great leader, Guts can only bring himself to hug him and assure him he will protect him. Griffith on the other hand, tries feebly to strangle Guts with his almost useless hands.
3. Driven by Hate
Time and time again, Griffith is shown as being above the sway of human emotions. Jealousy, anger and rage seem far too pedestrian for him. The one and only glimpse of anything resembling human emotion from him is his love for Guts. Whether you want to look at it as brotherly, romantic, or some unexplainable fixation, Griffith puts himself in harm’s way for Guts over and over again. In Guts, Griffith finds a confidant, a brother in arms, and a loyal assassin. Despite his refusal to see Guts as an equal, he is broken by Guts leaving. In the year that follows, that love turns to hate. Griffith blames Guts for everything that has happened to him. His imprisonment, his mutilation, and most importantly the loss of his dream. This hate has fueled Griffith for the past year, and when he sees Guts again, he tries to kill him. But he doesn’t even have the power to make a fist, much less kill his rival. This only serves to feed Griffith’s hatred, as does seeing Casca and Guts together as lovers.
4. A Path Forward
It is heartbreaking to see Guts and Judeau talk about their future lives. Judeau is oddly chipper about living out his days as a bandit, stealing from travelers on the road to pay for Griffith’s care. Guts is finally realizing his dream, to be free to make his own way in the world with Casca at his side. Each and every one of his raiders is willing to take up arms and follow him wherever he might lead them. For one single moment, you think that maybe things are going to work out. Just maybe everyone can go on happily ever after. Even Griffith imagines what life would be life, he and Casca living a simple life. But we know that will never be; we know that Guts will end up alone fighting demons in the night, cursing Griffith’s name. That’s because Griffith cannot accept that future, he can’t let everyone go on with their journeys. They were supposed to lay down their lives for his dream. They swore themselves to his kingdom and no other outcome is acceptable. Griffith will not let his dream die, no matter the cost.
5. Your Flesh and Blood
Even as he thinks back to the day he received the behelit and the Abyss opens up around him, it’s unclear if Griffith truly understands the price he must pay to achieve his dream. Surely Griffith has paid dearly in the past year. His ambition has cost him nearly everything: his knighthood, his army, and even his body. The Griffith we see in the pool at the end of “The Eve of the Feast” has nothing left to lose. His dreams are gone. He will never walk again, much less ride his white steed into battle to claim his rightful kingdom. It’s at this moment the egg awakens, fulfilling its promise to give Griffith what he has always wanted. But has the price been paid? We watch as Griffith warns his comrades to stay away as the skies open up above him. For a moment, it seems like we may have been wrong all along about him, even in the end he is trying to protect them. Alas, he is only concerned about them ruining the ritual, the fulfillment of his destiny. Next week we will see just what that fulfillment entails and trust me, there will be plenty of flesh and blood in store.
