HUNTER X HUNTER #43 + 44 is Full of Filler!

If there’s a dial that measures the filler quotient of any given
episode, I have to think it was rather furiously licking the red during most of episode #43. 'Filler' is when the focus shifts to supporting characters and
other incidental characters that you don’t care about, no? Well, the Phantom
Troupe never got a clear and proper introduction, so it was tough feeling for
them this time (let alone keeping track of a single member’s name).

Again, going back to YU YU HAKUSHO and all the random tag teams that
were introduced during the “Dark Tournament” arc, I have to think that Togashi
plays a game with himself every time he introduces a new group of bad guys. How
lame can he make their designs and still get away with it? I was thinking
about that a lot when the Shadow Beasts were taking up precious screen time.
Sure, the way the one Phantom Trouper patiently kills them, one after another,
was alternately kickass and wickedly funny; but the portions where they all
get into exhaustive detail about their powers felt seriously padded.

And what’s another word for padding? Oh, right. Filler.

== TEASER ==

There were definitely some nuggets of prime meat scattered throughout
the filler, don’t get me wrong. The sheer absurdity of these bad guys mowing
all the gangsters down until there’s pretty much a river of strawberry jam is
too metal not to get into. And the image of that whole mess getting sucked up with a magic vacuum
was too absurd not to find amusing. And the 30-episodes-in-the-making
callback/payback about Kurapika’s hatred for the Spider Gang was actually quite
satisfying (don't forget, kids - - there's actually some pathos to this character!)

However, the pace is so slow, and the excessive expositional lines are
so numerous, that I almost wish there were a third version of this series that
tightened the pacing even further. Sheesh.

Watch “A × Shocking × Tragedy" and “Buildup × To A × Fierce Battle" and
decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode.

About the Author

Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk