Episode 4 of Berserk begins with Judeau as he picks Guts’ brain about the Band of the Hawk. Guts remains apprehensive while Judeau shows the truth behind the motivation behind their ragtag bunch of mercenaries. His description of Griffith is amazing foreshadowing with the “larger than life” adjectives and certainty that he is driven by something greater than everybody else can understand.
Guts finally gets the better of Griffith with their water fight and it gives us a great look into the playful nature that the two can thrive off of each other with. Griffith is showing clear favoritism to Guts, but why? The scene ends with our first true introduction to the most important object in this entire franchise: the Egg of the King. A gross little blob that Griffith was given long ago, but it contains so much more.
As we enter into our next battle, Guts is bewildered at Griffith’s lofty expectations for himself. This draws him deep within his own mind and we get the slightest touch of his truly tragic backstory as he grapples with himself.
Another flashback?
As a child, Guts fell victim to the brutal world of Midland. We find out that his adopted father Gambino’s wife died to save Guts and that scar changed Gambino forevermore. He brings a child into battle with him and the results are much of what you would expect. The anime skips an extremely important sequence here (read my manga review to find out what) and flashes to a crippled Gambino beginning his steady abuse of Guts as his mental state worsens. As he lashes out at the vulnerable boy, Guts is forced to kill Gambino in self defense before being cast out by the only people he’s known as family.
Guts goes Berserk
Griffith shows his battle excellence again with his tactics bringing fright to the Midland army. Guts is sent in as a one man wrecking crew before the Band of the Hawk expertly flanks the larger force! Just how is he so strong? Why is Midland the way it is? And what the hell is that Behelit? Find out that and more in the next synopsis and review of Berserk!
Weeb Rankings
- Narrative: 3/5 – The first and most in depth look we will get at Guts’ tragic backstory. Trust me, its WAY worse than the anime is willing to show and I highly recommend reading the manga for a true understanding of the man that will become the black swordsman.
- Animation: 4/5 – The water splashing scene between Guts and Griffith is one of the only chances we get to see the two interact in such a playful manner. That 90s hand drawn intensity really shines through until you get to the battle.
- Level of Intensity: 3/5 – This episode is a far cry from the all important first and second clashes between Guts and Griffith as it slows down to give us more information about our protagonist.
- Overall – 3/5 – While it just grazes the surface of what the manga dives into, this episode is a great indicator that something mysterious is afoot. As we move deeper into Midland politics, keep an eye out for how Griffith’s charisma truly leads the Hawk. How exactly does the “Egg of the King” work and why the hell is Griffith okay with wearing a living amalgamation of mass on his neck? Stick around to find out!