The road to perdition is long and bloody.
After a nearly 20 year hiatus (unless you count the 2012 film trilogy), the Black Swordsman finally makes his TV return in this bloody good revamp of Kentaro Miura's dark fantasy series, Berserk. Despite the somewhat distracting visuals, "The Branded Swordsman" gets Guts' quest for vengeance off to a strong start.
Before I go any further, newcomers should be aware that Berserk comes with a number of trigger warnings. In the past, the show has depicted incredibly graphic violence, including the brutal murder of a child, and a particularly gruesome rape scene. If you're sensitive to this type of material, Berserk might not be for you. If you're not, know that this new iteration picks up right where the 1997 anime left off, so it's a good idea to research the Golden Age arc before proceeding. (You can do so by either reading the manga published by Dark Horse, or snapping up the DVD collection). Still with me? Good.
The Dark Swordsman returns.
"The Branded Swordsman" wastes no time jumping knee deep in gore. In the span of less than 20 minutes, I witnessed a bloody tavern brawl, a child getting impaled by a spear, and an army of skeletons getting absolutely wrecked by Guts and his giant broadsword (I really liked the metal clang that accompanies every successful hit). It's a familiar pattern of violence and angst, and exactly what I expect from Berserk.
What I didn't expect was to like Guts' new traveling companion, Puck. This goofy manga character was left out of the original anime for fear his comedic role would dilute the show's somber tones, but I actually liked his silly antics (making funny faces and being a general nuisance). The bits of humor he brings to the episode nicely balance out its darker elements, and boy does it get dark.
Splattered in amongst the battle scenes are shots of the ghastly aftermath of the God Hand ritual, a grim reminder that the world has been taken over by demons. Knowing that the mountain of corpses being torn apart by ravens were once Guts' friends is heart-wrenching stuff. (I was a little disappointed that there was no sign of Casca, but also a little relieved. I'm not sure I want to know how she's doing after all the awful things that happened to her.) It's not clear how Guts managed to escape the ritual, but what is clear is that it's left him deeply scarred. I don't just mean emotionally --though Guts' nightmares and angst-filled speeches indicate there's plenty of that. The tragic ritual also left him without an arm, which has been replaced with a prosthetic that acts as a bad-ass cannon in battle. No doubt this awesome addition to his arsenal will come in handy as he seeks revenge against the God Hand and its newest member Griffith, AKA Femto.
Guts and Puck in the new Berserk.
I loved seeing the Black Swordsman return, but I can't say I loved the show's eye-searing colors. It felt like my TV's contrast was cranked up to the highest setting possible, which was a bit of a distraction. There was also something jilting about the characters' hyper-smooth movements. The CGI made it look like everyone was gliding through the air, which is hardly the effect you want in a series as dark and gritty as Berserk.
With that said, I really enjoyed the art direction. Sharp angles and snappy cutaways successfully captured the frenzy and mayhem of combat, elevated by an adrenalin-pumping score full of head-banging guitar rifts. The original anime had some awkward pacing issues on and off the battlefield, but I saw none of that here. Instead, every scene was engaging, whether that was Guts somberly skinning a rabbit for dinner or knocking the teeth out of the mouths of local toughs.
The Verdict
This new iteration of Berserk marks a strong return to a land of dark rituals and bloody battles. Despite its distracting visuals, which will no doubt take some time getting used to, I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing where Guts' demonic adventures take him next.
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