Hunter x Hunter (2011)

SPOILERS (AS WITH EVERYTHING I WRITE I TRY TO KEEP MAJOR PLOT POINTS OUT BUT DO HAVE TO TOUCH ON SOME STUFF)

There are very few shows that I start of disliking and grow to absolutely adore. Hunter X Hunter is one of those shows. As the story progressed and themes and plots got darker, I felt more and more that this wasn't just a regular Shonen that I was. In this review I will break down the main arcs and then go into music art and all that stuff. For the purpose of this I will be considering the Hunter Exam and Zoldyck plotlines part of the same arc just to save time.
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Hunter Exam__

I really wasn't a fan. I felt it was really drawn out and much longer than it really had any right to be. This arc is 100% required but it really wains and after a bit I found myself wanting the characters to just leave and go do something that I considered to be rather dull and just another standard piece of Shonen anime. It got to the stage that at one point I had fully dropped it and if it wasn't for the fact, I had three people praising the show, two of which had never seen it before, I would have stopped their and then. I felt the characters were just kind of fun at the start and a bit dull. However, when they finish the exam, it really dig spike by interest. The Zoldyck family segment is interesting but nothing to write home about.

Overall, one of the weakest parts of the show. Held up by the beautiful art and music as well as interesting world (even though barely explored beyond) ............7/10
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Heaven's Arena__
So, for half of this I was highly worried, it felt like we were treading over old ground again with what is effectively another goddam overly long training arc. However, the premise and the introduction of Nen and what it can do really added to the universe. Half-way through this was when I really felt the story was starting to find it's ground and the characters were starting to come more into their own........8/10

Yorknew
This single-handedly kept me in the show from when I dropped it, the promise of Yorknew and the Phantom Troupe, and oh my lord did it deliver. Chrollo is one of the best villains I've seen so far in addition to his entourage. The art in this arc is simply stunning. The music is great, and the action is mouth-watering. This arc was so good, it changed my perception entirely on the show. The new characters introduced were great and I finally got to see all of the backstory for Kurapika pay off after not seeing him for an entire arc. It's simply phenomenal..........10/10

Greed Island

Right, this was dull. I did not enjoy the Greed Island Arc. The constant joke amongst my mates was its simply Sword Art Online....and yeah, it basically is (just with a logical plot that actually makes a reasonable amount of sense). However, the main reason I didn't enjoy this when compared to the rest of the show (and yest that includes the Hunter Exam), is simply it's another training arc. I seriously don't know why these are constantly in the show, where the main characters need to leave for a sizeable portion of the run time, need to leave in order to just improve. It again extended the length unnecessarily. However, the ending is portion of the arc is decent enough to save it from being what at the time felt like filler and boost it up in the rankings. This is easily the weakest part of the show but the fact it is in the grand scheme of things at least decent, shows just how good the show is.....7/10

Chimera Ant
Wow this was just wow.... however, not the best arc in the show as many would have you believe. The beginning of it is fantastic, it really set up the peril and the build's the world superbly. Kite is an amazing new character in the arc and one of my favourites in the show despite arriving so late. There is again another training arc which does drag it down a bit for me, however as it is sandwiched in between two amazing pieces of the show with some of the best episodes I’ve seen from any medium, I can allow it. The story here is phenomenal and the new villains are great. The ending of the show is brilliant......9/10

Final Arc

Won't say the actual name as is it maybe a tad of a spoiler. This was short but it has three amazing moment's in the series that just made me feel really good and is the stuff you just love to see. One of the overriding stories is great the other is kinda meh but it's not terrible and not very long so it really doesn't bother me. I will also say that the penultimate episode, genuinely, nearly made me cry, it was that good, and only two other shows have nearly accomplished that in Vinland Saga and Season 3 Part 2 of Attack on Titan so that has to at least stand for something. Great pay off after a long show....8/10

Characters
Killua and Gon steal the show for a lot simply as they are the two main characters. Their dynamic is fantastic, and they are both voice-acted very well. Leorio is great and provides a lot of the comic relief when he's around. Kurapika is still probably my favourite character alongside Kite despite him barely being in it. All the villains are top notch and done supremely well. There are a few characters that I would rather I didn't have to listen to, Pouf and Tompa who irritated me in addition to Palm. However really solid group with some standouts.
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Art and Sound__
Absolutely beautiful. The Art is so crisp and there are so many standout shots, especially when the Phantom Troupe were on show and during the Chimera Ant Arc. The Music is one of the best parts about the show with easily the best piece being Requiem Arena. The opening is insane. I love everything to do with this and one of the reason's I kept watching when I nearly gave it up.

Conclusion

This is show is 100% worth your time. It's moving its action packed it's everything. The only criticism I have is that the start and a sizeable chunk of the Greed island Arc is a bit slow. Honestly, you could trim at least 30 episodes of it, and it would probably be better for it. However, the fact I'm sitting here singing its praises is a testament to how brilliant the show is. Great characters, great story and a lot of heart. It's the first time since I started watching that I've said to myself, I actually will have to continuing reading the Manga. Absolute great time!