Here is a much-improved, more complete and comprehensive Meruem analysis: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o9WIh9CZ1cjGYZ8.html It doesn't speak as much about the emotional side, but it is a much more significant and all-encompassing thematic/character analysis than this video.

My nigga there are invisible onion cutting ninjas around me bruh.

Me at the end of this arc: ugly crying Me at the end of this video: ugly crying

Kokoriko is an advanced Gungi technique by Komugi that centers around isolating the King (as in the Gungi piece, not the Chimera Ant), separating it from the other pieces and killing it off. Just like Netero and the Hunters were planning to do to Meruem. However, Komugi unexpectedly develops a counter to this technique in the middle of a game, meaning that the King piece (representing Meruem) no longer has to die (since he unexpectedly survived the nuke). Then, later on, when Komugi uses Kokoriko again, she actually develops a counter to the counter ("she reversed my reversal???"), representing that the King piece (Meruem) apparently actually does have to die after all (because of the Rose's poison). However, immediately after beating Meruem using Kokoriko (symbolizing his imminent death), Komugi and Meruem start one final game together, a game that they never finish. 1-5-1 Black King -> 9-5-1 White Lieutenant General, I believe, or something to that extent. Immediately afterwards, they die together, leaving on the board Meruem's one black piece and Komugi's single white piece, together in Gungi forever. This represents that the two were always united through Gungi, and will continue to be together even after death, undisturbed and united for all eternity. Meruem places his piece down, symbolizing his death, and then Komugi responds by placing her piece down next to his, showing that she is perfectly willing to die at his side..The black screen/black panels in the manga show that the Rose's poison has made Meruem go blind. That's why he has to keep asking Komugi if she's still there, because he can't see her anymore. This is ironic because his name means "the light that illuminates/shines upon all". He even got some godlike light-related photon-based powers before his death, allowing him to fulfill his name. In addition, as they are playing in the bunker before their deaths, Meruem sees a blinding light radiating from Komugi as she "reverses his reversal", making her "the light that illuminates even the all-powerful light". Despite being far weaker (and blind to boot), her light shined far brighter than his. Then, as he dies, Komugi holds him and feels his head, allowing her to finally "see" or know what his face is like. Thus, as they die, Meruem joins Komugi in blindness as she joins him in death. Meruem can finally see what Komugi has been seeing all along, and knows what it feels like to be blind like her, and Komugi finally knows his face, allowing each to understand the other more as they fade away (the OST used during their death scene is called "Understanding"). Touching, isn't it? Togashi is a mastermind, and this entire story, especially this arc, is a masterpiece, a beautiful work of art, a canvas depicting love, hatred, innocence, corruption, happiness, suffering, loyalty, betrayal, anger, sadness, life, death, malevolence, destruction, resolve, determination, avarice, sacrifice, "true" power, truth, and understanding.

Meruem's final game always hits me like a truck.

I can't deny I cried like a little bitch when they died... And I hadn't even realised how attached I had become to Meruem until that happened.

Ah, damn you. You just had to put that "Good Night" line in at the end didn't you? **Leaves to find some tissues**

I think something important about Meruem is also something he must have realized post rebirth. He could never rule above all others. Humans are the ultimate masters of life. Meruem or the ants never realized that cause their whole life they have been hunting and living in the outskirts of civilization, their only real challenge being nen users- single humans capable of superhuman abilities. Merumem didn't know how a real human war looks like, where humans are like ants swarming the battlefield and more than he could kill in a day, die in minutes. He was brought to near death by a small, cheep nuke popular in underdeveloped countries. It wasn't even humanity's best shot. He was never ready to see the gloves come off. Humanity is the most cruel and terrifying creature in the hxh world- as the dark continent will no doubt learn as well.

I know this will mean very little to anyone reading. But I'm a rather difficult individual to move emotionally. Only twice have I ever legitimately cried through emotion ( barring the years being a toddler ) And they were in quick succession: My grandfather passing away at the age of 7, who essentially raised me and was my personal hero. And my cat Shadow, who was with me since my birth, who passed away just three weeks after my grandfather. Nothing since those two incidents has fazed me, the passing of other close family members, the loss of deep romantic relationships, childhood friendships, etc. And then I watched this fucking anime. And the passing of Meruem and Komugi, had be sobbing like an infant throwing a temper tantrum in the supermarket. And then again, a year later, while watching it with my now girlfriend, who thought it was hilariously cute that her stone-heart boyfriend cried over anime characters ( She's partial to Gon and Killua, she cried when they parted ways ) The writing of Meruem, not to overshadow the writing of the other characters, who are all brilliant, just hit somewhere in my emotional psyche so hard that it opened up floodgates for whenever I watch that scene again. Just that one episode ( 135 ) will send me into a sobbing mess for an hour or so. My respect to you Togashi. I'll wait another 20 years for the next animated season if I must.

"your act of taking away that pair of glasses has made me realize which pair of glasses i truly desire" Alec and his sister apparently talk to each other like melodramatic anime characters ahahah ..which actually kind of makes me jelly

The whole video was wonderful but those last 5 minutes or so.. man. Absolutely spectacular.

I wholeheartedly believe that the Chimera Ant arc is the best arc in all of shonen anime

I also think that the death of Netero is actually beautiful. It shows the absolute power of humanity to juxtapose its capability of choice and thinking as an individual as well as self-sacrifice for the greater good. Of course, the fact that only a messed up species capable of risk can create such a powerful, hauntingly terrible weapon as a Nuke is also powerful thematic imagery. It shows the power of progress, the death that it takes... and the will to march on no matter the cost. I felt as if both were examples of the finest ... or at least most powerful humanity has. Hence the thought of Mereum as the bomb went off... It was an inevitability for him to not win.

i think after the rebirth of meruem, he reached some kind of illumination, an epiphany cuz from the beginning he doesn't want to punish anyone anymore. he leaves wolfin lives, and wish him good luck, he humiliates himself in front of palm. he has reach like the Enlightenment in Buddhism. if he continued living, he could be the real saviour of the world at the end. that's my feeling about it. netero and zeno knew it deep in their hearts.

i have a litle tear in my eyes. Great analysis sir !

I'd just like to chime in here and compliment a part of the video that some might overlook. That glasses metaphor at the beginning was outstanding and a great way to describe Meruem's mindset at that point. Very well done.

Honestly who needs Romeo and Juliet when you have Mereum and Komugi? Man, I bawled so hard when I first watched that episode, even this analysis made me tether on the edge of tearing up all over again.

Man that ain't fair, putting that at the very end like that ;_;

Not just you, I personally believe that this is one of the best histories produced by humanity.

Komugi for best girl!

Netero's death is so perfect, it's one of my favorite "Humanity is strong!" scenes in all of media. The way Meruem becomes fearful without any knowledge of what's happening, and just instinctively knows that Netero isn't just bluffing when talking about humanity's power is one of the best scenes I've ever watched

Easily one of the most brilliantly written story arcs to have graced anime in general. Never, and I mean NEVER, have I ever anguished over an antagonist's death in the way I did over Meruem and his death. I cried in that final scene with him and Komugi so damn hard. Togashi is a genius; his ability to pull you from easily hating a character to loving what they became before sending them off is both relentless and beautiful. Hunter X Hunter, as a whole, is easily in my top five animes of all time, but this one arc alone stands at the top as my all-time favorite. Thank you for your wonderful analysis of Meruem, easily my favorite antagonist in anime!

There are so many irony in this arc. 1st is meruem who became from a monster into more human and gon from a cheerful kid to a monster.2nd is meruem,whose name means light but was darkness to humanity finds light and meaning from a blind girl

I think my favorite part about the fight is that Merurem's humanity made Netero the monster. He forces Netero to attack him again and again and again without the ant king fighting back. One of my favorite themes is a man becoming a monster and a monster a man. Netero uses the most underhanded tactic he can to stop the ant king who had finally found his humanity. Meanwhile Gon becomes a monster for petty revenge against a man he met mere weeks ago, selfishly ignoring the effects he has on those around him, belittling and disregarding Killua, while Puff and Yuki cry in anguish from a city away as they find the ashy body of their king. It’s a beautiful theme that is executed nearly perfectly.

When I was watching this arc I just wanted them to go and live peacefully in the mountains like Colt, growing old and playing gungi. Unfortunately the author skipped the getting old together part in my ideal ending and just went straight to them dying together. Still one of the best endings I've ever seen, especially since pouf died vomiting blood with his hopes and dreams crushed to pieces by the person he admires most. The author sure knows how to kill off a villain.

fuck. ending reminded me of how tragic meruem is. i cried again.

It is a mark of a great character that just hearing someone talk about them is enough to bring you to tears. It would ruin the ending, but I wish Meruem and Komugi could come back into the series. I guess it is techically possible, since Nen can do anything...

"Humans are no different from ants...no...we are far worse" #Neverforget *CLAPS* Beautiful. I'm crying yet again. This is why hxh 2011 is the greatest piece of art in our age and all ages before. It is the holy gospel on which to base all moral and spiritual teachings. PRAISE BE TO TOGODSHI'S NAME! Meruem died for humanities sins. He died so that we could go on. On the topic of human-ant relations, the ending theme for this arc perfectly reflects this idea of humans and ants being 2 halfs of the same coin (The title; hyori ittai, actually translates directly to "2 sides of the same coin"/being inseparable). The song itself is so deep and it's been my favorite song ever since I first heard it, even before I knew what any of the words meant (imagine my reaction to how perfectly it actually fit even after the arc ended with gon and killua XD). It's so beautiful and well crafted that besides when rewatching the series I only listen to it on special occasions! My favorite scene of the show was somewhere between the discussion and meurem's rebirth (I'm always switching as the whole sequence of episodes was a masterpiece of godly proportions sorry lol). One of the most shocking moments of my entire life was when meruem sat down and said he wanted to discuss the fate of the world with a human on equal terms! Can you believe it! It was like not even watching the same guy but at the same time you were it was so awesome! And that's so rare in television in general as well! (As far as Ive seen only the best of the best shows can have a discussion between the "hero's" and antagonist in which the antagonist tries to change the others view be entertaining and even convincing. I also think the reason the kings death was an issue for humanity was because he was well on track to saving humanity. Given the speed of his development of humanity, his intelligence, and his raw power which would all continue to grow stronger with time, as that is the nature of the ant's, Meruem would have been able to create the world without inequality that he wished for even without having to kill most humans. And that is why I think ToGODshi used a word that could mean both malice and evolution. ToGODshi was telling meruem (and thus the audience) not to underestimate humanities potential for evolution (the likes of which COULD reach meruem's one day i.e our potential to grow and evolve) but also not our potential for *Malice* which historically has also won out to many times. It was HUMANITY and not the ant's who created the most demonic weapon of all, the nuke. Though this story and arc I think toGODshi was trying to tell the viewers not to be so quick to see humanity as the ultimate hero's in a human center story, to not ignore the world, nature, and less fortunate around us, but rather view ourselves as a larger part of a whole world. A species that can evolve to do spectacular things, should we overcome our malice. inversely it could be read as a cynical piece about how it is only our amazing ablitity to kill that keeps us at the top of the food chain but I think what happens to meruem in the end with his death and the way he died negates that reading :)

I literally teared up when we got to Komugi and Meruem dying in the video, and I *legit* have cried everytime I've watched the season over. Meruem is one of the best characters that I know of, and my favourite character in Hunter X Hunter besides Gon, and I think you did him justice.

Just watched this arc again...... ep135 made me cry-smile. This was a masterpiece of writing, art direction and animation. And more so when watching it as an adult. Damn

Bro....wtf. I'm at work with tears running down my face. Bravo.👏 👏 👏

I don't think I've ever cried so much from an anime arc. That final bit from the video with the original sound from Meruem and Komugi was enough to make my body paralyze for a moment from goosebumps. I cry for this and don't feel ashamed one bit. This was truely art in anime form.

The last seconds were absolutely brilliant, it gave me chills. I must request a Netero character Analysis, it will be amazing!

God fucking dammit I'm even crying at a fucking analysis video of this arc

Beautifully said.

Jesus christ 17:35 these voice actors did a wonderful job at feeling the effort and mastery that was put into this character and brought it to an end that I can't help but tear up when I hear it.

This is inarguably the best anime yet (for me that is.) What a great continuation from part one! Your uploading makes me so happy. No matter how long it is. 😊

Welp, The Chimera Ant arc did it again. I am blown away every time I watch it or a thought provoking discussion of it. There's just so much to think about and then love in such a openly brutal (but also uplifting) and intentionally dense (but also beautifully relatable) story. The contradiction is what breeds thought and value for me in the overall themes and in the characters.

I never forgave meruem for his actions earlier in the arc but I definitely didn't want him to die like he did but I guess that was the most peaceful end he could have gotten :'(

When you said ya sister reacted by saying she wanted the other pair of glasses more because you took them away hit different. Even tho the York new arc was better this arc moved me more. As I kept watching everyone hint at the downfall and potential evil in gon. And even the evil in kurapika. It shows I kept watchin analysis about the series about this arc. But I could never understand it. Like I watch this analysis a few days ago entirely but I feel like now I can feel it. A story about love, a story about humanity, a story about evil, a story about this wicked world, a story about morals, a story about responsibility, a story that shows that everyone has a story nobody is right nor is nobody wrong. Meruem is the best anime villain ever in my opinion. The last episode of the arc just was so perfect. I don’t see how you continue this type of storytelling this deep conveyance throughout more of your story. But this is truly amazing I know you will come through with something amazing Togashi.

Me at the beginning of the arc: Meruem is evil he should die Me at the end of the arc: *crying* *my parents thinking I wet the bed* *depressed and crying for like 999999 hours* AAAHHHHHHHGGGHHHHHH MERUUUUUEEEEMMMMMM KOOOOMMMMUUUUGGGIIIIIIIII

Such a beautiful and fantastic story for such an amazing antagonist. Great stuff here mate.

when I first saw this anime I was what ever about it but I couldn't stop watching it just kept getting better and better and this arc this character it was beautiful everything about it days weeks months after watching it I still think about it the philosophy of all it was written In a way I never seen in anime I try to get my other friends to watch it so I can talk about it :/

Out of every anime I've ever seen - the key scenes from the Chimera Ant arc will always stay with me the most. Just unbelievably strong - heartbreaking, haunting, so thematically and visually deep

I didn't even watch the rest of hunter x hunter after this ark. I legitimately sobbed. It was such a perfect ark.

I never realized this before, but Meruem is almost like a reverse Jesus. Born a virgin birth, came back to life after death only to die again, all powerful and destined to save Humanity. Theres nothing big there or intentional, just found it interesting.

I initially put these two videos on in the background while doing some cleaning, as I've never seen the series before. By the end of this video I was crying like a baby.

Cant believe i cried as much as when i watched the arc Just prove how much you have dissected this beautiful series Thank you so much

I'm convinced that the Royal Guard's devotion and loyalty (their humanity) was an influencing factor towards appealing to Meruem's humanity. After his rebirth, he gained Pouf's ability to read an individual's emotional state. Ironically, Pouf was the one who tried his hardest to guide the king towards conquest yet his ability allowed Meruem to empathize would others.

do netero next

WHY IS THERE 1 DISLIKE???!!!!! this deserevs no dislikes!

Masterful analysis of Meruem. The finale of this arc is one of the best things I've ever experienced in my life. Thank you for uploading

You are amazing. What an excellent character analysis!!! :) just phenomenal. Makes me want to watch HunterxHunter all over again

Your channel it's the best i've ever seen about anime reviews, keep going

Hunter X Hunter is so good because a similar level of depth to this is present in most of the characters, take Welfin for example.

Something I'd like to point out At 19:24 of episode 135 (the last episode of the arc), where Meruem was coming to his realization, we see two Gungi pieces falling through the air, one black one white. Having played Chinese chess, and after some digging I found that the characters on the black and white pieces mean 'king' and 'spy' respectively. And it makes so much sense. When taken out of context, Komugi could be seen as a spy, who threw the Meruem off of his initial goal of world domination by bringing out his humanity. This also made me think back to an earlier scene, when there was one match where the game seemed to be going in Meruem's favour, only to have all of it subverted by Komugi's 'spy' piece, as if to say that the king's realization of his humanity was inevitable from the very beginning. As usual, great video man. U deserve more subs.

AMAZING!!! pt1 and 2 were very well put together.. you made this feel like a movie!

damn it togahsi, we need more of this

Imagine if Meruem could've survived and became a good guy he would be helpful asf in the dark continent

This by far not only the best anime I have ever whatched but just the best show I've whatched in genral.

This never fails to make me tear up at the end T.T such a beautiful story i never felt this much for a "bad" guy since Greed from FMA:B

awesome video, I love your character analysis videos

This should have 100x the views...

Omg even as you're mentioning this I'm still crying in a river of tears, seriously it brings so much feels that even thinking back makes me want to cry.

I cried again. Their death scene was so beautiful and heart wrenching and I was so sad.

I'm more of a York city arc guy, but I have to admit this arc did blow me away, but mostly in that Netero panel, a character who used to be so noble and suddenly uses a pretty dirty tactic while clearly enjoying himself does reflect the message quite a lot Humans are the best at overcoming monsters because they are the worst monters there is. Also I watched all your vids, and they're great +1 suscriber And I will not ask you a video on York arc but if you feel like doing one...

Komugi is of my my top favorite characters in this show i cried when she was attacked by the hawk and when she and the king died shes so pure a ahhh her relationship with the king is so well thought out and well scripted i very much enjoyed this whole arch

Beautifully done. Meruem truly is the most fascinating antagonist I've ever witnessed in fiction

I just cried again watching this, thank you so much for dedicating your time to this story. I needed this.

Can you please do an analysis on Monster

Are you planning on making more videos about HxH? Awesome video.

bro, i am here to tell you, that this the third time i come here to watch this analysis, and i am still crying at the end, thank you. have a nice day everyone

What a beautifully crafted analysis. Blew me away and brought me to tears. Great job.

I was struggling hard to hold back the tears. You just had to include that final moment didn't you? 😢

I wish that the king would survive

I love this show and I love that you make videos so smartly breaking it down. I thought the Ant Arc was some of the best anime ever produced! For most of the reasons you stated. And, yes, I nearly cried and felt very uncertain after Meruem and Komugi’s fate. It definitely felt like something was somehow wrong or missing... Heh, I don’t know. Great vid. Keep them coming!

this is really late for a comment but i have to say this is one of my favorite anime analysis videos ever and its beautifully deep and meaningful. it shows a great understanding of the characters and their story progression as if you spent time living in their minds. i hope this gets back to you! really brilliant stuff you made here C:

Even though I'd been cheering to see Netero destroy Meruem, by the time it went down I was so mad at Netero, it was brilliant...I had small hopes too...and bawled my eyes out the entire episode 135...and kamugi is so cute their friendship was just so ahhhhhhhhh so satisfying but so depressing !

Meruem was only a few weeks old. if he could have gained more experience or power like he had post rose bomb he could have easily escaped from the Bomb blast. I guess that is why Netero said he knows nothing... to underestimate an opponent is foolish. and he paid the price.

Your videos really help me appreciate how ingeniously well crafted certain characters can be in the anime and manga medium.

Just wanted to say that you're doing some real fantastic work. Please continue what you're doing here. This in-depth level of analysis is an absolute rarity on KZfaq and it takes a special kind of talent to articulate it in such an accessible way. I'm really looking forward to your future content!

still a better love story than twilight on another note the feels .

This was perfect.

The way I viewed Meruem at the end was a monster who could only be killed by the worst humanity had to offer but could only accept defeat by the best humanity had to offer.

Thank you my friend for these two amazing videos. never have I been so moved by a KZfaq video. Thank you for helping me understand this story on a much deeper level. Thank you for your time.Thank you for you hard work. I am beyond thankful for this masterpiece.

if only togashi-san stops playing dragon quest and get on working on this. he would've finished it.

please make more these videos are amazing and there are so many great characters in HxH

You made me feel this show all over again, great job man.

Wonderful and excellent video. Thank you for making this amazing work on Togashi's piece of art

Excellent video! BTW why is it that so many Hunter X Hunter videos are coming out :O or was I living in an internet cave before :P?

Your videos are AMAZING

This really made me tear up really badly, easily one of the best analysis on the subject, great video and editing, hope this gets a lot of views

the long comments represent how much people adore meruem's character arc. HxH gave me my favourite shonen fight(meruem's vs netero) , power up(Gon) antagonist (meruem), and evil group (phantom troupe) . It is the best shonen, no doubt.

You know seeing how togashi is big fan or toriyama and how both of his works seem to have a lot of similarity to dragon ball I wouldn't be surprised if meruem was inspired by all the Dbz villains. He already looks like cell that was definitely the inspiration for the design and the whole perfection complex. The tyranny of frieza and the ever lasting effect that I person can have on you like hercule had on buu and komugi with meruem. Togashi just pays a homages to Toriyama Dragon Ball something that not many Togashi fans never would like to accept. He even praised him as a god in hxh jump ryu lol.

Meruem-sama 😢😢

Your analysis almost made me tear up thank you so much fo rmaking these videos

Das war einfach überwältigend gut ! Ich danke vielmals für dieses fantastisches Video und verbeuge mich hochachtungsvoll.

Amazing analysis all the way through keep up the great work, also do you plan on doing an analysis on Killua's development as well as his relationship with Gon, I'd love to see your take on that as well.

I'mma subscribe now so when you make your 100,000 subscriber video, I can brag that I've been here since 1,000.

Beautifully done, the last words with Meruem and Komugi at the end got me.