Episode 138: Vandimion (Vol 29-2)

What should Berserk sound like? For much of the series, Susumu Hirasawa's music has dominated its adaptations. But in the past decade, we've seen a number of new approaches to the sound of Berserk. We dive into each of them, along with key selections and samples for the highlights (and lowlights) across the 27 year history of Berserk's music.

Is Griffith hot? Better question: Are angels hot? We delve into this and so much more in our Volume 32 re-read finale. Our hot angel comes face to face with Ganishka, in an oft-referred-to scene that revealed much about the relationship of the God Hand and apostles. This portion of the series also effectively ends the Vritannis section and the Holy See Alliance's hopes of carving up Midland like a delicious duck. Everything fell right into Griffith's hot hot hands, in the end.

The unprecedented team up of Zodd and Guts is able to vanquish Ganishka in Vritannis. And outside the city walls, the surprise Kushan assault hits the Holy See Alliance squarely when they're in the midst of chaos.

Daiba's climactic fight is upstaged by the thunder emperor himself. And the arrival of the apostles draws Ganishka’s attention from killing Guts to incinerating apostles. It's a massacre, and we've got a front row seat!

With Aazealh, Grail and Gobolatula visiting together in person, we couldn't resist recording together for the release of Ep 374, in which... well, not much happened! We also discuss the release of Volume 42, what we think is up next for the voyage at sea, and how close we feel to the end of the series, now that one of the few known developments for the future has sprung into action.

Daiba makes his grand entrance at Vritannis, after Guts goes Berserk to carve through hordes of the pischacha invaders. We also discuss this new look for Guts when he and Schierke work together to overcome the armor's control.

Covering the final four episodes of Volume 30—the invasion of Vritannis begins in full. But before Guts and crew leave the ball, he encounters Owen, who remembers him from the past. Then, they head to the docks to find them ablaze, with daka swarming, overwhelming the troops.

The re-read continues as the festivities at the Vandimion ball are interrupted by the arrival of an adorable kitten who loves to play. Federico and the Holy See Alliance come face to fogface with Ganishka, and Farnese returns to the fold. Tune in for more of our thoughts on Roderick, Magnifico, the pischacha, and Farnese.

We return to the reread to close out Volume 29 and begin Volume 30. That means this episode is primarily about the duel between Serpico and Guts, but we also get to see the result of Magnifico unveiling his master plan at the ball.

Casca awakens in Falconia, her memories clouded, and Griffith's apostles are bound for the east.