BERSERK: Manga Volume 29 Reaction!
Added 2024-07-27 17:00:02 +0000 UTC*ROMANTICIZED HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
OH, this volume was SUCH a trip and a joy to read -- a RARITY in Berserk Land! Our crew thought things would be easy - just get a ship and go to Elfhelm! But nooooo, part of the "trial" they have to face is the reality things won't be as easy as they thought!
Meanwhile, we have unexpected friendships, unexpected decisions, and an unexpected rescue mission seeming to go awry! The struggle is teetering on the rails, y'all! But I'm living for it!
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
I remember during the anime that someone in the comments mentioned that -- I can definitely see Miura putting himself into Guts' shoes as the protagonist - I'm not sure how Mori (the one he was referring to as like Griffith and who took over the manga after his death) should feel about that comparison, hahaha!! Thank you for the comment! I will definitely be looking for more interviews after I've caught up to see what all Miura has to say about his writing.
Romaniablack
2024-08-05 01:39:09 +0000 UTCI'm not going to bother trying to correct her anymore. Its a good lesson for me actually. Just let people be wrong. They might just figure it out on their own later but who cares if they don't. She can believe Miura is trying to paint Griffith in a positive light all she wants. And she can believe Miura is pro SA and sexist and sexualizing. And Casca story line is sexist. And Farnese story line is sexist, although she changed her mind on that by some miracle. And Roderick and Miura are sexist for making a joke that "it looks bad for the princess to protect the knight" Miura is so sexist for that joke right? And now she is going on about Griffith being gay, Guts being bi sexual, Laban and Owen are gay, Magnifico and Roderick are gay. I thought maybe she was joking but she mentioned all her gay friends. I think she might be serious......
A mere Almond
2024-08-03 23:04:39 +0000 UTCi recall an interview with miura mentioning that Guts is supposed to be a reflection of himself, but then he also adds his life long best friend is supposed to be reflected in Griffith, because he "works hard for his goals"... so yea sometimes you can never really tell with miura lol.
Brqndvn Evcns
2024-08-02 22:03:11 +0000 UTCAhhh, that is an interesting point to bring up - you'll have to humor me the next few weeks as I've read a little ahead and will complain a little about Griffith and will have to bring up your points afterwards! I do think that we did at least get inside Griffith's head and he had more moments of vulnerability while he was human that gave him SOMETHING as opposed to now, where we don't get anything because his humanity is gone. And yeah, Sonia to me has a crush on Griffith and that fogs her from seeing the truth about him or accepting it -- which is ironic, because she's a medium. :P Thank you for the comment - I'll have to bring up your comment in a future discussion!
Romaniablack
2024-08-01 04:03:20 +0000 UTCOh no, that was okay! I guess as someone that wants to see Griffith get his comeuppance for all he’s done, it does strike me as disappointing that it’s not Miura’s goal. I get it, though – character growth and all is great –and I should applaud Guts for working towards being able to let him go…but still, a major part of me hates that he gets to “get away” with what he’s done. But that’s a me, thing, I suppose. I definitely feel Miura went on a “side plot” for character development - as an English major, I feel confident in this. Plot Point: Get a ship to go to Elfhelm - Sub Plot: On the way to do so, go on side quest with Vandimion family, which results in character development. It’s pretty textbook in terms of being a “side plot.” Like I said, I’m not mad with the character development that we get with Farnese and Serpico at all, but it IS a side plot that is deviating from the “main quest” and as a reader and someone that studied story structure, it’s very “clear” to see - I’ve said before, sometimes, I feel Miura is pretty transparent when they’re “being an author” and it’s not bad, just noticeable and I’m commenting on that. 🙂
Romaniablack
2024-07-30 12:54:03 +0000 UTCOH, any crush on Captain Jack is valid! And ooohhh, I did not realize all this with Jamie and Second Doctor was out there - that video was a darn BL waiting to be written! I love it!! Thank you for getting me onto a new DW ship!
Romaniablack
2024-07-30 12:41:59 +0000 UTCI’m going to let you in on a secret, the best ship in Dr Who is the Second Doctor and Jamie McCrommon! I love them so! The seasons aired between 1966 and 1969, so I was a baby then. Let’s just say, they are very good friends! 😉 https://youtu.be/FNA3bIob2Aw?si=vN3D0lwf5r8g_ZlR The funny thing is, Husband has a crush of sorts on Captain Jack. I’m not mad.
Moominkomet
2024-07-29 23:34:32 +0000 UTCTGBBS is one of my go-to shows when I'm grading papers! I'm not a great cook, so I'm always in awe of their craft!
Romaniablack
2024-07-29 22:14:03 +0000 UTCI started with the 9th Doctor, but I do love the 4th soooo much! And "Fred!" :D
Romaniablack
2024-07-29 22:13:21 +0000 UTCYeah, i did realize after i rewatched the video a while ago, should have edited the comment, first time i watched it while working, hope my comment didn't sound to mean spirited or impatient, i was just pointing out my perspective as to me the story has never been about beating Griffith or the apostles but rather guts journey along with the rest who are with him and all of them growing as people, funny thing is i see the Griffith stuff as the side plot, as for the character development, i wouldn't say miura halted the story to give characters development at least to me only because it's been established that the vandimion family is the most powerful and rich family in the country and how the holy see has spread all over the place, so far guts and company have been avoiding huge towns because of the brand but after they got the talismans, they now could head to towns in peace and also to acquire transportation to elfhelm and it makes sense the huge town they went to is part of the holy see/vandimion name thus we have this arc but what makes it better for me is that it was farnese herself who went instead of the drama coming to her which i would hate as it would feel forced but instead it's showing how much farnese has grown as a character that she would go back to the place that she feared to help guts
Complex City
2024-07-29 21:34:59 +0000 UTCAlso, big fan of The Great British Baking Show! I try to be a good baker…. 😅 I did make some lemon Curd this weekend too btw. 😋
Moominkomet
2024-07-29 16:43:11 +0000 UTCI sometimes call Guts Gustavo. It’s actually a thing. Personally I have been a fan of Dr Who since I was like 6. I remember the Third Doctor, but the 4th was my doctor! So I’ve been a consistent fan for 50 + yrs! Holy Bats!
Moominkomet
2024-07-29 16:34:27 +0000 UTCYour comment is really needed Alex Kornejo. I appreciate you writing it, so thank you.
damage3245
2024-07-29 15:24:52 +0000 UTCI really like the idea of the influences that Miura includes of Spain and Italy as well! If Guts is GUSTAVO?! *pictures Fabio-esque covers* HAHAHA! Anytime you can connect Doctor Who to the story is always a good thing! I do like Serpico a lot! I definitely can’t call him Batman, though, when Guts is right there clad in literally Batman Armor with the Berserker gear. Maybe Serpico is the…Spiderman to Batman? Since he moves so nimbly? Guts does seem a cross of Batman and Superman, though. And yeah, I definitely agree that given the proper circumstance, Serpico could take Guts or at least do some major damage. I WISH we could have some happy memories hit Casca, as she only seems to be reminded of sad memories; Miura is not here to make you feel the warm fuzzies, clearly. 😛 Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-07-29 15:01:59 +0000 UTCHahaha, I’m glad to know that what Charlotte is making is Great British Bakeoff worthy! 😀Thank you for that information, and yes, I did enjoy the volume! And that info about the Colonnade is really neat, as well! Sonja and Mule definitely feel like they’re not “in the know” to Griffith’s true intentions, which does soften my judgment against them, but it also makes me want to have them wise up to Griffith and realize how evil he is and leave him, before Griffith sacrifices them like he did the OG BoTH. The pirate fight was fun, though, and I appreciate Isidro and Mule’s banter back and forth – I never expected them to have a “rivalry,” so I’m all for it! I love that Guts has adopted Schierke into the “family!” It’s very cute! I definitely love the dynamic they have in this series so far. Schierke taking care of Guts was a sweet moment. Farnese’s mother is just amazing; I agree - I wish she was in Farnese’s life more, and spread this “wisdom” sooner, honestly, but she may not have felt Farnese was “ready” for it. But yes, Miura likes a good ball, doesn’t he? I do eventually get the Iith pronunciation, but Dark Horse was weird with the way the font is in this publication. Anyway, I am all about Roderick’s character so far and can see the ship in the dock, so to speak! 😛That’s awesome about cooking up a storm and thank you for the comment and kind words! Volume 30 is going to be a fun one, I feel! 😀
Romaniablack
2024-07-29 14:44:44 +0000 UTCI did say in the discussion how I’m sure it’s to develop their characters and I always say that this is just my week-to-week reaction and you have to be patient with me as I will change my opinions and develop them as we go. :) Just be patient, I will touch back on that point in future reactions. I am very well aware it’s a character driven story - honestly, I love character driven stories the most - it’s just apparent that Miura is like: Here is your goal, but wait - I’m going to veer off-course to have some character development. It just could have been handled smoother compared to other stories I’ve read that are more seamless where that’s concerned. 🙂 Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-07-29 14:28:39 +0000 UTCYes! I knew about the Italian Villa! There are a lot of other recognizable buildings in the story! One thing that I like to do is google names in this story and see what comes up. There is a Casca coin out there irl! https://coinweek.com/the-coins-of-caesars-killers/ It’s pretty neat. Serpico has always been the tactician of the group and could probably beat Guts in an unfair fight! 😉 Ha! Tardis! Maybe! They are wealthy enough to build something that never ends!
Moominkomet
2024-07-29 14:18:07 +0000 UTCThis comment is just for A mere Almond: Sorry, I don't know how to put this without my own comment sounding a bit mean spirited, so I apologize for that and know that I have enjoyed reading other comments of yours: "That is Miura's intention." "Miura expects readers to know" "you have to remember" " is a very planned out plot... or Or Kouji Mori is a liar" "you should know the answer to this question" "I was very disappointed by that" " I was expecting you to say something along the lines of" Authoritative sounding lines like that are probably not too conversation inducing, so it's why she probably might be skipping said posts. At some points it even sounds like there's a Romania you're having a discussion with in your mind and then get exasperated when real Romania doesn't have the same take as mind Romania does. Anyway, all of this is coming from somebody that does feel about Griffith the way you probably think she should be feeling about him. He reminds me of another Villain that she'll meet soon enough, so now I'm nervous about that too... P.S. I'm probably going to regret this comment by tomorrow morning, so again, sorry about that...
Alex Kornejo
2024-07-29 06:46:00 +0000 UTCAbout Griffith, I think he's portrayed the same way he was at the start of the story, a beautiful figure, a distant beacon to the band of the hawk to marvel at, their lives revolve around him, while he does the bare minimum to humor them... Back then all those things made him seem gallant and mysterious, but now the same things are dread inducing because now we know better. To borrow the title from that Ted Bundy movie he's 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'... yet people fall for him because he's handsome and charismatic and they don't know better. Even Sonia who probably is smart enough to know better, still probably thinks 'he might be a monster but he's OUR monster.'
Alex Kornejo
2024-07-29 06:11:15 +0000 UTCYou know, originally I pictured midland as a sort of fantasy England or Germanic like in so many other medieval fantasy stories, but the longer the story goes, the more I think of it as a sort of Spanish or Italian setting, maybe generally Mediterranean land, so many landmarks seem to be taken from Italian and Spanish locations, the presence of the Holy See, the closeness to more 'moorish' or asian cultures and and so many romantic (as in romance languages) sounding names, Serpico, Isidro, Farnese... I'm starting to think Guts might be short for Gustavo. Although it's funny that Berserk's colonade is actually about half the size of the real thing in Cordoba, usually fantasy locations tend to go bigger not smaller in scale. You're the resident Berserk scholar so you're probably aware of it but I'm 95% sure the exterior of the Vandimion household is based on an italian viila called Villa Rotonda by Palladio, but just the exterior, the interior is quite different, and wouldn't even fit inside said exterior... I'm cursed noticing these discrepancies, perhaps the Vandimions live inside a sort of 'House of Leaves' or have some sort of Tardis technology, hahah. Serpico is such a clever fighter, I'm starting to think of him as Batman to Guts' Superman, he might be weaker than Guts, but given enough prep time and choice of location, I think he could actually beat Guts if conditions are just right... Am I taking crazy pills here? About the ball, For a second I thought they were going to sneak as attendees and I was half hoping it might trigger a memory in Casca of happier times with Guts, alas, it was not meant to be.
Alex Kornejo
2024-07-29 05:29:50 +0000 UTCRight now in the story, Griffith is being depicted as a deceiver. That is Miura's intention. Miura expects readers to know that Griffith is being deceptive. If you absolutely demand Miura to make it clear, then you have to remember the scene where Griffith was sending the souls of dead soldiers to hell. Everyone was so amazed and happy to be reunited with loved ones. Visually, it looked beautiful, poetic, like a painting. How can damning souls to eternal suffering in hell look so beautiful??? And why are people falling for the trick????? Its social commentary on real life. Mule asked if the souls were going to heaven or hell. And Griffith responded by saying the souls are going somewhere where they will become one. A place that us readers have witnessed firsthand is the vortex of hell. Is that not pure manipulation by Griffith? You mentioned qliphoth, all the demons, all the darkness. And all the controversial scenes in the manga. One of the reasons for including all of that is so the readers do not side with Griffith. Miura wants readers to understand that Griffith is one of the leaders of demonkind. The whole point of the "Farnese leaving plot" was that Guts was not going to abandon his comrades again, even if it means postponing his main objective of getting to Elfhelm. It had nothing to do with the papers for the ship getting burned. Its simply continuing the character development of Guts. And as you noticed, it is also connected to the Ganishka Griffith plot. Its definitely not something added spontaneously. Its a planned plot. Its been confirmed that Berserk is a very planned out plot. Or Kouji Mori, the current writer of Berserk, is a liar. So I don't understand where this idea that Miura is stuck in a corner writing things spontaneously to solve problems is coming from. Its a very common phenomenon for people to become drunks, drug addicts, recluses, or even suicidal in response to trauma. Who is to say your views are the same as theirs? Clearly, their wishes do not align with yours. And Miura actually agrees with you that its a bad response to trauma. All that struggler Guts crap right? Essentially, you are asking the question "why is Miura making the character make a choice that Miura doesn't agree with???" Romania, you should know the answer to this question....... You keep on bringing up the idea that this is a fantasy story and Miura can write anything. But only a story with social commentary is any good. That is why you don't create a fantasy story where real life problems are written away. That creates a shallow story. This comment is essentially the same as my comment from volume 27, but it seems like that comment was ignored for spoilers or was too mean or something. You are asking the same question as you did in volume 27, so I am giving a similar response. In my volume 27 comment, I mentioned that Miura was able to "out feminst" you with the Farnese story line. But you never acknowledged it. You just said its good. I was very disappointed by that. I was expecting you to say something along the lines of "You win this one. Doesn't excuse the rest". Just as a reminder, you wanted Farnese to follow in the footsteps of men and become an amazing sword warrior. Perpetuating the narrative that women can only be valued for being "man like". Me personally, and Guts, actually valued Farnese just for being a baby sitter and a thinker who is able to change her views. But instead, Miura put her on the path to become part of the most powerful class in the Berserk universe. Personally, I was so happy for Farnese when I read that chapter.
A mere Almond
2024-07-28 20:38:05 +0000 UTCGlad you enjoyed this volume! Two thing to point out that are real….. Princess Charlotte is baking a cake called baumkuchen. Here is how to make it. https://youtu.be/-TLnvxbZh00?si=gxgRnPHf4yvHvqGX It is wonderful with coffee or tea! It must be difficult to bake that on the battlefield! Princess Charlotte and Anna worked their butts off for that cake! The Colonnade is of course, a real place! https://youtu.be/05PO-z2xNCA?si=-OQOMMsOH7leMz5j I was reading this part of the story when my mom looked over my shoulder and saw this and was like, “oh, I’ve been there! “ my mom used to go to Spain a lot. It looks like a cool place! Pirate fight: I love this part! The side quest the kids are involved in is a scaled down version of what they usually do. To me Sonja and Mule is a bit innocent here. Here they are just kids. Guts waiting at the gate for his kids like a bored parent watching them play in the park…. I love it! Schierke’s new outfit for the day was nice. I thought she looked cute! Yes, when that bar fight breaks out and Guts says, “ our girl! “ yes, Guts just adopted her, you can’t change my mind! So when I was a kid, my mom got very ill with the flu. My dad was out of town and it was just my sister and I there at home. So, we took care of her. She was in bed and I made her some soup and brought it to her in bed. Schierke is adorable trying to take care of Guts and this page always reminds me of me and my mom. 😭 The Ball! Miura can throw a good party! And Farnese’s mom! WTH! She just throws down the advice, I do wish she was more involved in Farnese’s life, but that might not have been an option. Yeah, I’d run away too…. Magnifico and Rodrick! 😘 I feel you girl! Rodrick is from Iith. That’s a capital I as in Indiana. Oh Rodrick 😍😍😍 he is another good looking guy along with Laban and Guts of course. I can see why you ship him and Magnifico. Well, let’s see where this goes. I didn’t get into to much detail because I’m tired. Husband and I cooked up a storm! The fridge is packed for the week! Tally Ho to Volume 30! Holy moly! Great reaction as always, thank you! ❤️ 👁️👁️👁️ FEB Spoilers⬇️ 👁️👁️👁️ Necessary Unnecessary Drama Volume 29: 0! I didn’t see any!
Moominkomet
2024-07-28 00:26:26 +0000 UTCI wouldn't say the farnese thing is a side plot or unnecessary as berserk to me has always been a character driven story and this was bound to happen sooner or later with farnese and serpico's character, while they have developed as characters compared to what we saw them but there was still one thing they both had to deal with and was clearly foreshadowed to happen sooner or later and that is confronting the thing they ran away from in the first place, the vandimion house, they just up and left it without any sort of confrontation of sorts but instead just buried it under the snow like serpico mentioned once in his flashback and how they both don't have the power to melt the snow and guess what farnese said in this volume, that being with guts and everyone else is like a campfire and that campfire melted all the snow around farnese and serpico which has finally exposed them to experiencing their emotions and learning new things about themselves which they were running/hiding from and things they hid and now they have the strength to confront those things they never would have before which has led to this and i love it
Complex City
2024-07-27 22:39:07 +0000 UTC
