Explaining The Ending of Monster

For awhile, I've seen endless amounts of people complaining that the ending of Monster was disappointing or felt rushed. Every time I wanted to justify why the ending was perfect, I had to write many paragraphs each time. Especially on /a/. The problem was always that most people did not understand Johan or his motives, and therefore could not appreciate Monster. So, now that I have finally made this video, I hope people will stop thinking that the ending is disappointing and ruined the anime/story.

[@shavooo]

you could have added grimmer's final quote to enforce your theory about johan living a comfortable life after the show ends. "I think I must have figured out how the show ended. The Magnificent Steiner, he probably, became human again."

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

Huh, never noticed that. Nice catch. It is somewhat ironic that Roberto and Grimmer became human in their final moments, so it does reinforce that when Johan survived his perfect suicide, he became human.

[@renatacollins2699]

Yes ; Intelligent analysis

[@bigboss2174]

Yes thats true metaphorically and realistically. Grimmer always thought he was the magnificient Steiner, because Johan always saved him, who actually was his "magnificent steiner" when Grimmer got mad his emotions came back and he said the magnificent steiner became human again. In the end.. Johan is the monster and the magnificent steiner, so he's becoming human again. Then again when you think about it, he may become human after he finally kills his mother.. the real monster. Because the mother is the other monster, and he has to consume her. When you think about it in the story he has a name, like the monster in the book but when Tenma decides to tell him his name.. he tells him who the real monster his mother is.. then again the metaphor fits perfectly.

[@schuhey7021]

No grimmer is definitely the Magnificent Steiner, johan only frees grimmer, its grimmer who beats the men to death.

[@bigboss2174]

Ben Schuh Johan was Grimmers magnificent Steiner. That's why he always expected him to show up, but the very last time. He didn't.

[@jedidude6358]

It's crazy to think that Tenma despite holding a gun throughout the series never actually killed someone.

[@nanii825]

Yep lmfao. He wasnt the Person to kill someone as you might have guessed by his Character design from the beginning. But I actually thought threw out the Series that his one and only kill will be Johann. Guessed it wrong ig.

[@s6fin]

Haven't he killed sievernich?

[@SeiyaTempest]

@@s6fin It's unknown whether he died or not.

[@rejasjohnlloydc.7695]

He killed someone with the sniper.

[@ssvibhav]

@@nanii825 hey can you explain where does johan gets his title as Liebert

[@kaloyandochev9423]

"Killing is easy - just forget the taste of sugar ."

[@lly_09]

Shit! Why can't I remember this line? Where's it from? Who said it?

[@tahazia8431]

The guy that was an assassin and Nina used to work at his shop

[@lly_09]

@@tahazia8431 that guy? Ah I remember now. Thanks man

[@DoctoRojack]

But taste of sugar can't be forgotten, So killing people is never easy even for a serial killer unless you're a MONSTER.

[@lly_09]

@@DoctoRojack it's just a metaphor dude. Sugar is humanity. Serial killers have left humanity since the moment they started killing. Btw how are serial killers not monsters when they got no humanity in them?

[@VK-pk8uz]

Why is no one mentioning the fact that Tenma is an angel of redemption? He is the polar opposite of Johan in that he saves and loves and cares for people without want for recompense. He loves humanity just as much as Johan is apathetic toward it. His act of saving Johan the second time, after all Johan had done, is what settled it all for Johan.

[@Theamazonianprince]

Yes!! I've thought about this the whole time I was watching, how big the contrast is between the two and how well they and their actions compliment each other as protagonist and antagonist

[@susanedionwe7049]

Underrated comment.

[@ahnrho]

Complete contrast, yeah.

[@morpheus1345]

Tenma is like Jesus.

[@TallTapper]

oh god so medic tf2 is a fusion of johan and tenma

[@nihilisticboi3520]

How do people actually make such stories, especially with minimum plotholes?! Monster is not just an anime, it's beyond that. As someone mentioned, it's a scripture, a 74 episodes essay on human psychology and philosophy. True masterpiece.

[@iliveinsideyourhouse3943]

It's because naoki urasawa (the creator and writer of monster) is a genius mangaka. Be sure to check out his other works likes 20th century boys, Billy bat and Pluto. They're all masterpieces.

[@sammyruncorn4165]

I really liked Monster/ enjoyed watching it. Not because I like killing, but because it presents a very unique and interesting story. Still... I think I haven't quite grabbed the core of it. It's full meaning and message. Which is confusing, frustrating and fascinating to me at the same time, because usually I do (even with more philosophical heavy anime/ stories). I didn't quite fully understand how and why Johan became a Monster (also why Anna/ Nina didn't - she saw the Massacre at the Mansion and was abandoned by their mother). Why he murdered those nice people (before 511 Kinderheim) already at such a young age. The later murders (motives for them) I get. What exactly did Bonaparta try to achieve and why/ how? How can his stories turn children into Monsters? Is it the nihilism? Non-appearance of morals in his stories? Why did he abandon his son? Why did Tenma save Johan after all those troubles? Actually that one I kind of could understand.... (because of Tenma's nature). Still it's very risky to let Johan live. Given that he might kill people again and again. I just didn't understand the anime fully. All the motives/ reasoning/ histories behind it. If anyone could explain it (in a way I also comprehend 🙈), I'd be thankful.

[@abel3557]

I loved monster its my top 3. My favorite is one piece and berserk

[@HaaaTayo]

That someone would be aleczandxr. Also an amazing critic/reviewer.

[@deadby15]

but isn't this cultural appropriation? Who gave Urasawa the right to write a story about foreign countries?

[@Chocolatemilkbruh]

Lunge was a character that caught my attention from the start, I never really hated him, though at times he was annoying. Saw a lot of early comments where people absolutely hated him. Glad it turned around lol

[@dumbdude5301]

Why do people hate runge? In my opinion he's a very well written character who is professional in his work

[@Chocolatemilkbruh]

@@dumbdude5301 a lot of people were annoyed that he wanted to make Tenma the villain, and had tunnel vision in a way, since he was never wrong and had never seen Johan, so he wouldn’t believe Tenma’s story, if that makes sense

[@Sword._Saint]

yeah when I read people hated him, I was quite surprised. I found him really interesting and always looked forward to see more of him

[@anandhua.b4589]

@@dumbdude5301 it is precisely because he was so well written that people find him annoying near the beginning and like him at the end

[@anissgacem4362]

He character just made so much sense in general as he’s a "computer". Love the fact that he accepted his false judgement on tenma in the end and also giving him his excuses.

[@SixLeafCloverOFire]

This is an incredible video by the way, but I disagree with one thing. I don't think that Johan stopped being a killer because of the fact that he was "chosen by fate" since he survived his perfect suicide, I think it's a lot deeper than that. Tenma saved Johan the first time not knowing what kind of person he was. In addition, the first thing that Johan heard when he woke up was "they're better off dead!" The second time Tenma saved him was a huge surprise. Johan knew that Tenma was going to try to kill him since the beginning. Tenma saved him a second time after knowing the kind of person Johan was, but saved him anyway. This is the ultimate act of love, and it destroyed nihilism for Johan. In addition, I think Johan was listening to every word Tenma was saying to him, so he heard that his mother still loves him very much, and that he has a name! In addition, Franz Bonaparte was dead, and every other evil person in his life. TL;DR: The first time Tenma saved Johan, Tenma saved his life. But the second time Tenma saved Johan, he saved his soul.

[@aurora5092]

SixLeafCloverOFire Also Anna forgave him in the end

[@RunescaperAl99]

Yea. I loved the video, but your explanation for the ending makes more sense. The video explains the nihilism and the actions throughout the anime very well, but you capture the ending well.

[@anannymouse8734]

Perfect :)

[@apathy526]

Now you made it complete in my head... The connections that destoys nihilism existed after the final act... Care, forgiveness, love, and a name! That's the recipe that kinderhim 511 was trying to hide.

[@siddheshmisale3904]

This makes perfect sense. Great insight!

[@soummossj2624]

I'll just say this Grimmer was the perfect opposite of Johan. He had lost his feelings. He felt disregard for life to an extent too. He had a monster inside him too. But unlike Johan, Grimmer had an optimistic take on life.

[@carlosrees2301]

1000% agree, and by the end he had got the emptions he craved for so long, finally being able to mourn the death of his son. My favourite character for a reason

[@TadTadjao88887]

I think it’s because unlike Johan he doesn’t remember what happened to him

[@samaelj5735]

His mother's choice was really terrifying. The scariest moment in this manga.

[@somyasinha3392]

So she was the real monster.🤔

[@samaelj5735]

@@somyasinha3392 She was also a victim of this society. I think the author tried to say that all humans can be victims but also monsters who make other new victims depending on the environment. So it's an evil cycle that inner monster is spreading to all people. That kind of spreading is really creepy. But yup, it's true that she was the most huge factor that leads to him becoming a monster.

[@griffithdidnothingwrong4788]

i did not understand why her mothers choice seemingly had an effect on johans life. didnt johan lose all his memories from his past after kinderheim 511? he only remembered her mothers choice and the red rose mansion after discovering the nameless monster again. so it shouldnt have had such a big effect on him

[@samaelj5735]

@@griffithdidnothingwrong4788Johan had already become a perfect monster even before he went to Kinderheim 511. He saw the end of the world while wandering the East German border. And when General Wolf asked how he feels now, he replied, "You'll find out soon." Kinderheim 511 was just like a playground for him, who had such an awakening. I think there are two huge main factors that made Johan a monster. First, the mother's choice (experience of being abandoned by the most loving beings in the world, he is already completely oblivious to the concept of human love at this moment). Second, the massacre in the red rose mansion. (experience of extreme violence). If he had only the first experience, he would have grown up to be a heartless person who has a hard time connecting with someone, and if he had only the second experience, he would have just grown up to be a person with trauma from extreme violence (PTSD). But unfortunately, by experiencing both at the same time in his early childhood, Johan's inner monster woke up. As you know, Anna didn't become a monster thanks to the hypnosis Bonaparte gave. As a result, Kinderheim 511 was just a suitable playground for his monster to flourish.

[@griffithdidnothingwrong4788]

@@samaelj5735 but thats what im saying. he was already a monster before kinderheim but kinderheim made him forget about all his memories about the past didnt it? so he didnt even remember the events of the red rose mansion and his mothers choice UNTIL he read the nameless book in the library. it doesnt make sense for everyone to blame his motives on his mothers choice and the red rose mansion since he didnt even remember those events until halfway through the story

[@MrDalewin]

I think the ending is perfect. He spent all this time manipulating the main characters into being the one to kill him, only to be shot by an insignificant drunk man that he never involved in his plan whatsoever. It is my favorite way for a villain like him to be defeated. All that time, money, and people, all for this so-called perfect suicide, only for the unexpected to be what does him in.

[@observingatoms]

👍

[@rebelpoxy]

It's as if the Universe said "No."

[@kamilmagomedov2070]

Reminds of the ending of “No Country For Old Men”

[@YungPinoy]

You know what I didn’t mind him getting shot by some random drunk who was protecting his kid at first but looking at it that way really made me like that writing decision.

[@shalindelta7]

@YungPinoy i wish Johan died though. I dislike the open ended finish.

[@abhisheklaha845]

Just my two cents, Johan didn't wake up post op and cry because he was alive, he did so because his sister came into the room and saw that he was alive and ran out screaming hysterically. He extended his hand towards her and she obviously didn't take it. That probably was the final nail in the coffin for Johan the Human and the birth of Johan the Monster.

[@elantris-2002]

OHHH AND I THOUGHT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BREAK MY HEART FURTHER IN TWO 😭😭😭

[@lililkalulukalilalilalulal1438]

was just about to point this out. i remember very well it was after the camera guy was about to take pictures of the siblings "alive and well" for clout and nina fainted after screaming her head off. ngl at first i thought he was faking his tears that time but woop

[@leoncoopermarques3460]

Damn makes much more sense. Monster is fantastic

[@offeibekoe452]

He asked her to end him again and she broke down and ran away

[@goddessgreen]

Yes you're right.

[@papeechu]

The title ‘monster’ refers not to Johan himself but the deepest and darkest side of every human breathing. We all have that monster in ourselves. Every day, we battle that monster to stay good and kind despite the situations we are put into or the people we encounter. And it is also shown in the story that what ultimately defeats the monster in us is love. True and forgiving love in the character of Dr. Tenma.

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

Yes, the monster is nihilism.

[@rendere6571]

​@@The.KZbinr.with.no.Name.oh cool you still reply to people after 6 years

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

@@rendere6571 yep

[@rendere6571]

@@The.KZbinr.with.no.Name. great video man, I love your insights. it didn't get old at all

[@Vailskibum]

Johan is one of the best anime villains

[@Carlosdreamur]

You should do more manga shit. Like read and analyze some short manga like “3 days of happiness” it’s only 16 chapters long and really great

[@killerkraken3674]

oh you again

[@killerkraken3674]

johan a goated villian, just hope he didn't leave that hospital to go create doomsday again.

[@mannyoftheeast3318]

You must have been on a monster binge

[@everdedddd153]

Johan is a failure. He supported nihilizm but if he had truely nothing in his side, there would be no forgiveness towards him from anna.

[@artursouto8525]

This is the official episode 75

[@celesh3957]

Yes they should add this video at the end of the episode

[@HokageAlex]

Lmao

[@drawforge9640]

No its not pls dont

[@pviictor1066]

@@drawforge9640 it was just a joke

[@victorbastos2954]

legend

[@kidserja7997]

Love this interpretation. One can see how much work went into it and I agree with most of it. I don't think that he cried after surviving his first suicide through Nina because he survived, though, but because of how Nina/Anna reacted to him. In my opinion, up until this point, his sister was the only person he felt any sort of connection and love to. As Nina said, he wanted her to forgive him for being the way he is and for what he did, even when he gives her the chance to kill him. Well, she didn't. She shot. And when she reacts to him surviving it and stretching out a hand towards her by screaming in terror and collapsing, that broke something inside of him. I also don't think his mother dressed both up as girls to protect either of them (besides making people think she only had one daughter to make Bonaparte lose their tracks), but to make it impossible for herself to know which of her children she sacrifices. To me it meant that she loved both of them equally, but under the given circumstances, there wasn't much she could do to stand her ground or save both twins. So when she had to decide which one to "give up", she didn't know who it was. It's an impossible decision for a mother, which technically screams "which of your kids do you love less", when in reality, she never wanted to decide and couldn't. Of course, from Johan's perspective, it looks exactly as you explained it. Regarding Tenma, I believe he has some sort of respect for him. Tenma risked his career, and pretty much every security he had in life, to save him and Johan knows that, because Tenma told him so when he thought the boy was still unconscious. To Johan this is the sign of parental love he was "denied" when his mother gave one of them to Bonaparte's experiments. Which is probably why the first people he kills as soon as he can leave his bed are the ones that are responsible for making Tenma's life miserable and stand in his way. On the other hand, Tenma's belief that every life is equally meaningful clashes strongly with what Johan has experienced, be it by himself or through Nina's memories, and believes in. So he's pushing the man who saved his life as far as possible to see who of them is right in the end, and by saving Johan's life once again after being shot in the head (especially without Tenma being the one who shot, as fate spares him from doing so with something Johan could not foresee, as you already explained), Tenma won in his eyes.

[@turtleswithbombs]

Underrated comment

[@tianacastro9439]

you’re right. and with all of this as well as anna forgiving him he became human again.

[@kelsokim1483]

This 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 the theory I agree with the most

[@shikhachaturvedi8571]

Love this comment.😘it's like REALLY underrated.😱. I really appreciate the fact that you spent so much time writing this.🤗🤗🤗

[@sillypsyborg]

I agree with everything aside from the twin's mother doing the best thing for them. She could have stood her ground as OP says and shown the kids was sacrifice and love is. She saved their lives, but forfeited their souls.

[@RCrafTeroS]

That analysis is a outstanding masterpiece.

[@peachout6227]

agree.

[@strawhatglasses1786]

I couldn't agree more, well done.

[@mrsgiraffey]

So agree with this comment

[@stopplzs]

It really isn’t lmao. Didn’t even get Johan’s main goals down. It’s decent at best.

[@WowImHotAndLatinaAndBaddiep]

@@stopplzs did u not watch the video.. his main goal at the end was to kill everyone that knew him except tenma so he can die without anyone knowing he existed.

[@kingbearslug97]

so basically Johan decided he wasn't loved because of his childhood and he wanted to burn the world, but then he remembered stuff and wanted to do something else and he figured that he has no point to live, but when Tenma saves him again he's like well shit, looks like I'm wrong, silly me, better find something to do now".

[@ddh19454]

Pretty much

[@israaomer2314]

Lol😂😂

[@TheMoonlover93]

king bear-slug 😂😂😂😂

[@doyle8120]

So , what about all the killing he's done his whole life , will he feel guilty about it ?

[@mrpolililililijsoagskw5303]

Thats right

[@thiswasem]

Such a masterpiece that should be discussed in the coming years. This anime should never be forgotten for its philosophical and psychological aspects that is relevant in any time or century we are in.

[@margothebreo3030]

definitely!

[@xxolo_3161]

Hey there!! Can u pls tell me the monster anime spoilers

[@Zumorito05]

​@@xxolo_3161What kind of Spoilers

[@GodzillaFreak]

Here's an important point. The father of the child Johan threatened at the end would have been a murderer had Tenma not saved Johan.

[@solidsnake9898]

So would Nina.

[@Snoo29293]

still that wasn't the reason Tenma saved Johan, there were plenty of proofs about what had happened, many people could tell what they experienced, what Johan had been doing all that time, the kid's father would probably get away with it since he only shot to save his kid and there were people there to confirm it.

[@Mriorhan]

@@Snoo29293 But he would be a murderer anyway. It's not about comite a crime, but about kill people. Tenma wiped the blood off the boy's father's hands.

[@Snoo29293]

@@Mriorhan yes but thats still not the reason Tenma saved him, you need to remember the first time Tenma and Johan met, when they argued about if all lives are equal, Johan tries to prove Tenma lives are not equal, by making him choose between him or the kid, Tenma was indeed trying to kill Johan for the whole season, trying to convince him self that killing him is for the best, but every time he got near to kill him he just couldn't do it, at the end he accepted it, that no matter who the patient is, he should do everything he can to save him, because all lives are equal.

[@BennyAdenugba]

Can anyone please explain to scene with the mom at the ending and how it affected Johan... I don't even understand anymore lol did she pick Johan or Anna

[@keeppunching.1]

When lunge said at Grimmer.s graveyard: "There is so much to say when drinking a cold beer" i felt that

[@Shush7717]

Just finished watching it last night and I felt it as well🤧

[@yayayeye7659]

I cant even describe what I felt....

[@ProlificPops]

I'm so glad Lunge still got him that cold beer, even though Grimmer died. Lunge's a real one.

[@YungPinoy]

@@ProlificPops it’s so sad cause I was like damn Lunge finally made a friend and then for it to end with Grimmer death like that really fucking hurt.

[@Zumorito05]

​@@YungPinoyYeah I just finished the Monster today Grimmer death is so damn heartbreaking, based on his character writing he's the type of character who would actually die in the end for the ending of Anime, he did so many good things that's gon be a good impact on people's feelings if he died Naoki Urasawa really did Great for that ending But it's just so fucking sad he write grimmer character like that😕😕

[@Don_623]

I literally just finished Monster, it's definitely a classic. This explanation was outstanding.

[@lukasjacob3721]

Same.. just finished it. this video has been in my recommendation while watching the anime. So i really waited till i finished the anime...

[@jami7109]

@@lukasjacob3721 SAME!

[@lukasjacob3721]

@@jami7109 ikr!

[@aniiex2504]

SAMEEE..m so glad i’ve watched such a masterpiece

[@_vzhux5164]

@@lukasjacob3721 same

[@duhdoughdoh]

The best analysis of Monster anime I've seen. Outstanding Job! You deserve more views.

[@oliveralvarez439]

Mr Doom more like the only analysis of this anime

[@cezzuprerna1]

For one last time- *Bari Bari* *Gusha Gusha* *Baki Baki* *Gokun*

[@nekokkoko3181]

Ah yess it’s dinner time.

[@rutvikpachkawade3517]

@@nekokkoko3181 lol

[@idkwhatimdoingrn8832]

Yes.

[@morbidpizza8055]

Munch Munch Chop chop Gobble gobble Gulp

[@lililkalulukalilalilalulal1438]

i just had my dinner, yeah

[@Sirrajj]

He had a tragic childhood, that's why he turned out like this. Moral of the story is, Raise your child with full of love and kindness, don't be harsh with them.

[@kanwarpamnani3780]

well, no shit

[@everythingwillbe6904]

Such a simple thing....yet so many fail

[@rutvikpachkawade3517]

This is common with 90% serial killers. Childhood trauma.

[@ChristmasLore]

That's simplistic. He was evil before his mother made the choice. From birth.

[@Sirrajj]

@@ChristmasLore now that's generic, evil from birth for no reason, Urasawa wouldn't done that!

[@shopekuax2067]

I feel stupid every time I have to watch a YT video to understand a show...

[@senaseneva]

yeah ik sometimes i feel that way too lol but hey it's alright sometime we need enlightenment

[@yayayeye7659]

I always do this after psychological shows. Ughhh, this series is so good, I cant let go of it. These vids feels like a chaser to me.

[@saadmansakib6612]

sums up my whole life :)

[@bryansodred]

I just now finished the entire Monster anime and I initially felt cheated at the ending but this analysis made complete sense and now I see the ending was really the best conclusion. Monster is certainly a classic in my books

[@aspirewot8408]

Cheated for what lol , I was okay with the ending , I mean mentally ill persons shouldn't be killed

[@MGamerkid]

@@aspirewot8408 This video helped me understand more but, no. When you can function like Johan, put that person down or at least in a high security mental facility.

[@masterDarts4188]

@@aspirewot8408 You don't let them roam around free to commit more crimes either.

[@lololoololdudusoejdhdjswkk347]

@@aspirewot8408 the dudes gonna kill more people bro. Like what was all that for XD?

[@hystic2728]

@@lololoololdudusoejdhdjswkk347 there was no evidence against Johan so they cant do anythingm

[@Koshirozation]

Love the touch with the Sylvian's song at the end! The anime creators really did a fantastic job at bringing Monster to a another level, not just adapting it. Just like in the song (even if the song is probably not related, created for the Monster), Sylivan sings about "the love of life" that will defeat everything. One can argue what is there to defeat, but it really is simple - the love of/for life should defeat all those bad things in life. And that translates perfectly to what you just explained in the video and everything that happens with Johan, Tenma and, well, humans in Monster. I won't go for any longer, but I just have to say this. The moments of the series that had the strongest impact on me was everything that Mr. Grimmer did in the final act, his death and what he said to Bonaparta. I really like the quote a lot and I like being accurate buuut I'm on my phone (this really is going somewhere else right?) so to put it simply, what he said to him was - "People should feel." Magnificent Steiner became human in the end, or that is what Grimmer wants to think in the end. That's how humans should think. It was at that part of the series, even though I still didn't watched the final 3 episodes and couldn't understand Johan's character fully (should anyone understand it actually, did Urasawa want that?) that I felt the message was delivered. I mean, it is a common cliche to say "it sends the message!!" but that is what I got then he died. Love for life, for people, for animals, for beer and that perfect synchronizing when you are in the bus with headphones and the sun is about to set down, everything just seems so "orange", the perfect song comes on and everything outside the window looks like it came out of a music video that makes you feel. Just that, makes you feel. Every spectre of every emotion you "collected" during that day, hour, week, year. Monster transcends the story and the events that happened to Tenma, Eva, Dieter, Nina, the guy who taught Kenzo to shot, the girl that finally smiled at that man, the sniper guy who loved movies and decided to stop killing just because of seeing a person drinking coffee with 5 spoons of sugar and of course, Johan. It really captures something else. 4:35 am here and yeah, thank you for this video. thank you!

[@Finding_youssef]

That is so lovely what you wrote down here .. thank you ❤

[@Koshirozation]

Yusuf Thank you!

[@animallearnings7770]

I am sorry, but go vegan

[@ToWhateverEnd55]

"People don't lose their emotions. My emotions just wandered around in an unknown place. It's like a letter that was addressed to me decades ago has finally arrived. Is this true sadness? Or is it happiness?" Those were Mr. Grimmer's final words. He has become one of my favorite characters of all time.

[@FloridaTesfay]

Beautifuly said

[@dumbdude5301]

Roberto was the friend grimmer remembered about isnt it

[@gambeano]

Yup

[@nekokkoko3181]

Cocoa guy

[@fartandrun5939]

it was adolf reinhart wasnt it?

[@_tm.b_3532]

@@fartandrun5939 yeah, the real name of Roberto

[@FriedRice3519]

@@_tm.b_3532 damn

[@violettuce7253]

This was EXACTLY what I thought after I saw the ending, that Johan became human again. When we see Johan kill Junkers he refers to Dr. Tenma as he was his parent, his true dad. So in the end by Tenma saving him, this time by actually knowing who he is, was the ultimate proof of love and Tenma’s ideals that all lives are created equal.

[@morgboat744]

agreed! i saw someone else note that throughout the entire story, Johan always disappeared without any trace, but the final panel shows an open window and a messy bed; proof that someone had been there, and evidence that they exist.

[@AbsoluteKiNg92]

This is the best analysis on Monster I have seen anywhere. I just finished it for the first time last night and this opened my eyes to so many things I missed out on. This anime was much deeper than I realized. Your video deserves way more views

[@mminamim]

What is your opinion on Anna forgiving Johan ? I think one of the things that helped the monster inside Johan get bigger is the moment when he pointed his head, Anna actually shot him. If she truely loved him, she wouldn't have done it. Johan believed that. At some point near the end,, Anna realizes this fact and decides to forgive him. But she never get a chance to tell him she forgives him.

[@dmn4445]

neptünlü keçi I was thinking about that too

[@Mananpicar]

exactly, that's actually a major point he forgot, what Johan feared the most was losing his conection to his sister, it was all he had left in the world. When he "loses" Anna there's only one thing he has left, the one thing that never leaves anyone no matter how detached they are from live, the desire to have a purpose in life, the innate instinct to survive EVERYONE has. When Johan "loses" his sister, he wants to die, he has no reason to live but his instinct keeps pushing him to find a purpose, something to keep him alive, ANYTHING really, that's why he chooses to let fate decide, he won't do it to himself he'll let fate decide if he lives or dies. BEFORE he "loses" Anna, SHE is his purpose, his reason to live, at this point he isn't killing to test fate, he's killing to protect his sister BUT he stills wants to die because he still feels like a monster, worthless because of what his mother did to him, the only thing stopping him from dying is his sister, his reason to live, so when she walks in on him after he killed their foster parents he's afraid she'll see him like he sees himself, a monster, he's afraid he'll lose her, but at this point in his life SHE's the only thing that matters, his life is meaningless to him, so he points to his head and tells her to shoot him as if saying "Do you think i'm a monster? Do you think i deserve to live? Because i don't but i'll keep living if you want me to, the choice is yours" This is the true turning point of Johan, this is when the monster was truly born, when he lost everything. Then he wakes up, realizes he's been chosen by fate to live and enforce his philosophy on the whole world, at this point nothing matters, he has nothing, nothing at all and he just wants everyone to feel like he does. Then he finds a purpose in the library when he remembers everything, he has to kill bonaparta, something important in this, is that he also realizes that fate did not choose him to become a monster like he previously thought, it was mostly Bonaparta (with some help of course) that turned him into a monster, so he decides to test fate again, see if he is really chosen by fate, and what happens at the end is what changes everything, again something very important that is showcased throughout the show is that Johan despite losing his conection to everything still cares about Anna but since she tried to kill him he believes she wants him dead, in fact she keeps trying to do so, so altough he cares for her she is not a reason for him to live, quite the opposite in fact. SO when ANNA HERSELF stops Tenma from shooting Johan and then Tenma saves him, he realizes he was chosen by fate, but not to become a monster, because despite everything anna still cared for him and what she did before was just an act from a child who doesn't know any better, and tenma still cares for him despite having absolutely no conection to him and knowing everything he ever did, no, fate did not choose him to become a monster, in the end fate saved him and gave him a reason to keep living so he might aswell do something with it. P.S After Anna tells Tenma not to shoot him, he threatens the child because he still wants to tempt fate, despite having Anna now he still needs to test fate it's just something he decided for his perfect plan and nothing was gonna stop it.

[@Mananpicar]

What Johan is obssesed througout all of this is to prove his philisophy, his Nihilism, to prove that in the end nothing really matters, he feels empty and alone but he doesn't want to feel alone so he wants everyone to feel the same way he does. And Anna is the paralell to Johan, she has gone through almost all the same things Johan has, so in the begining he feels like a monster because Anna doesn't become like him after going through all the same stuff, but when she shoots him not only does she sever his only conection but she also proves his point, inside we're all monsters we just need to be shown that, that's why he takes great pleasure in driving people to suicide, when she shoots him and he becomes the monster he just wants to prove everyone is the same and nothing really matters, we're all monsters and since we're all monsters, nobody is. In the end not only does Anna prove him wrong, but also Roberto, Grimmer and all the others from 511 Kinderheim so his whole philosophy falls appart and that's why he never kills again.

[@cherry.25]

this is so informative, great analysis!

[@tomasc69]

But... ONE doubt that i was left with, through the show, we get moments that show how clear Johan has a connection to Anna (like the visit when they turn 20). In fact, the only connection he has is with Anna, but he has THAT one. So, how can Johan be the embodiment of nihilism if, in fact, he has that connection? I thought about this a lot, and then after reading your analysis (great by the way), i came to the conclusion that he DOESN'T. It's like you said, after she shoots him, he looses that connection, and becomes the true nihilistic monster. But then, why do we keep hearing that he cares about her? Does he or does not? What do you think? I pulled out another possible conclusion, in wich Johan doesn't consider Anna a connection, but a part of himself, as said throught the story, ----- I am her and she is me ----- (don't know how it's said in the english version, i'm from Argentina and i watched it in spanish), so is not neccesarily a connection, but i think it's a far shot... Tell me what you think about this.

[@bellbanana]

Great job on this! I've been a fan of this anime for years and of Johan in particular, and you pointed out some things that I've never noticed. A couple other things of note about Johan: -The two people who Johan wanted to show "the landscape at the end" to were General Wolf and Tenma. What do these two characters have in common? They both saved Johan's life, at a time when he seemingly didn't want to be saved. And so Johan "repays" them by allowing them to see the same desolate, despairing landscape he did when on the brink of death. -Throughout the series, Johan burns down the Munich library where he found The Nameless Monster book, the Red Rose Mansion, Kinderheim, and the Three Frogs. These are all places that are deeply related to or at least evoke memories of his childhood. -It seems to be a popular theory that the climactic scene in which Johan urges Tenma to shoot him is in fact a reenactment of the moment where Johan's mother chooses between him and Nina, with Tenma as a stand in for Johan's mother. As noted in this video, much of Johan's behavior is rooted in the nihilistic belief that human life is not intrinsically equal in value and that some people have more value than others. The source of this belief can likely be traced to that Sophie's choice moment with his mom. In the climactic scene, Johan forces Tenma to make a similar decision and to weigh his life against the life of the little boy, with the expectation that Tenma will choose to sacrifice him and thus prove once and for all that his life has less value than the life of another.

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

Nice observations.

[@hasnainali6189]

Mahn loved ur last point of value❣️🔥..comparison btw value

[@haroonrasul7134]

Nice

[@swethan3331]

this is also a good point

[@matw1x]

Tenma is truly God. Unconditional love even for the Devil himself.

[@51923ra]

"Tenma is truly God. Unconditional love even for the Devil himself" dude God damned the devil to eternity in hell 💀

[@maximvs272]

@@51923ra the devil wanted that tho

[@ToughVato]

@@51923ra true, god also showed mercy to Cain after murdering Abel and managed to make him say verbatim that is was “a punishment more than he could bear.” Gods power and love is so grand and rightfully to be terrified that mercy in gods hands would be a punishment instead of a gift in the hands of man.

[@ToughVato]

@@maximvs272 Remember that God anticipated that

[@ToughVato]

@@maximvs272 Learn the difference between permissive will and his perfect will

[@Alkis05]

It is only fitting that this is a nameless channel.

[@river3466]

Yoo lmaooo

[@beachmaster3486]

You made what I thought was a lackluster ending into something very beautiful. Thank you.

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

:)

[@GengRizzKhan]

​@@The.KZbinr.with.no.Name. do tenma get together with anna ?

[@Lilys0609]

@@GengRizzKhan that would be weird.

[@Nemo_Emo]

I just finished Monster a year ago and have always loved it and the ending. This helped me understand more about the story and makes me want to watch it again. Thank you so much for this video, I have come across many people try to explain the concept of the anime and have it fail, but you explained it perfectly and to the point. Thank you so much for this experience and helping me fall back in love with the idea of the show.

[@vvt66410]

i just finished watching it, im still getting chills from the ending. johan is terrifying but I wanna give him a hug lol

[@fyrik5872]

Now i get why Johan seemingly had 2 personalities. One was his human one which was the one where he had memories of his past and about his mother while the other one being Nihilism, the aspect that made him the monster, the exact thing that 511 Kinderhiem wanted him to be. Jesus Christ this writing is brilliant

[@LONE_SKUM_DOGE]

You need to read more books then

[@__k2xg]

​@gijane2cantwaittoseeyou203 do you have suggestions then. i dont read deep philosophical stuff like this very much but now im interested

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

Do you think his human side was a sincere friend to Carl? It was really sweet of him to tell Schuwald about the rabbit’s foot so that he would be reunited with his son, I half expected him to tell Schuwald that it was his rabbit’s foot and make him think Johan was his son.

[@dorvrith]

​@Nuclear Cat Baby it's hard to say honestly. He may have done it out of friendship, or to just get close to him and control/destroy the economy

[@animationtaku6366]

Dude, you don't know how long I've been searching for a video like this, I even thought about making my own. Also there was one concept I never even thought of, it was the 'chosen by fate' stuff, great job for digging it out. Nice work man.

[@LordAizenBankai]

Good job, this should have more views!

[@techworld6163]

Not many people have watched this Manga...yet

[@rajyavardhansingh4491]

@@techworld6163 that's a tragedy.

[@kiyotaka.]

AIZEN SAMAA

[@Giveup00]

I didn't know that you loved this story 6 years ago .

[@katelynpringle5506]

For me the ending wasn't disappointing, it was FUCKING TERRIFYING. He could be behind you right now!

[@demigod5598]

😂 fr man he kinda ruined the mystery ngl

[@kamna..3854]

OMG SAME HERE BRO!!!!!! lol

[@rajyavardhansingh4491]

@@demigod5598 why u watching analysis of ending?

[@demigod5598]

@@rajyavardhansingh4491 the same reason why ur watching an analysis of the ending

[@rajyavardhansingh4491]

@@demigod5598 which mystery was ruined for u?

[@stefanostsougkranis5851]

Outstanding analysis, just like these series. Really, you just reminded me how much and exactly why I adore Monster as a creation. This is one of those works that are meant to be taught and analyzed in psychology classes, that fully and effortlessly trascend the medium they were created in. I sincerely thank you.

[@drmosaddegh]

philosophy class, not psychology class.

[@reyalvear2633]

9:50 - 10:01 You missed a huge moment in the series that might have you recontextualize or add to Johan’s motives/feelings. Johan is crying, because he reaches out to Anna/Nina and she screams in horror (Remember when the head director of the hospital wanted to give the media a happy photo of the children together?). She is still traumatized from the events that took place at the Lieberts. Anna was the only thing Johan had left to cling to. He loved her more than he loved himself (not like he loved himself anyway). Johan says, “you are me and I am you” multiple times throughout the story. Johan sees himself and Anna as being one whole person. In a way, I think Johan saw himself as the monster (the bad side) and Anna as the good part of himself. This concept itself may explain why johan operates the way he does, and may explain the weird things he does (cross dressing). I believe Johan wanted to perform a perfect suicide that night at the lieberts, so he asked the good side of himself, his light, (Anna) to kill him. And she obliged. When he wakes up from the hospital, knowing that he survived, he assumes it was fate that willed it so. Was it a second chance? When he reaches out to Anna, maybe it was him asking for forgiveness? Asking for redemption? Does Anna see any redeeming qualities in him? Anna denying him and screaming in terror completely destroyed Johan. That may have been a moment that sealed his fate into growing into the complete monster. Also it explains why Johan thinks he’s the one who witnessed the massacre at the Red Rose Mansion, cause he sees himself as being one and the same with Anna.

[@xxbrosskiiit1142]

U misguided bro, ure too obsessed with johan

[@reyalvear2633]

@@xxbrosskiiit1142 it be like that

[@whydoweneedahandlehun]

WoW

[@Garvant_]

​@xxbrosskiiit1142 bro Anna literally says in Bonapartas house "this is my fault, if I had just forgiven him none of this would have happened" I literally just finished monster a couple hours ago and at first when I heard this part I was confused wondering at which point should she have forgiven him, right after the murders? At the abandoned house? In Frankfurt? But after reading this comment I realize it, she meant when he reached out his hand, if she had forgiven him Johan might have become whole again. OP is correct and I understand the story a little more now thanks to them

[@Garvant_]

​@@reyalvear2633good analysis

[@calicowarlock]

if you wanna go even further, since the anime kicks off with a bible passage of Revelations; there were only four survivors of 511 Kinderheim, like the four horsemen. I loved this analysis and I loved the ending because only Monster could end that way, in a perfect loop, keeping Johan a mystery and leave us only with his presence of an empty bed, just as he haunted the entire show. I've never seen a story keep so close to its themes and have almost no plotholes and keep every single character interesting and important. But, I think Johan always had a connection to his sister unlike the others. In his own twisted way, he took on Anna's monster (just as the monster of the east consumed the monster of the west) to save her by internalizing her experience and making her forget somehow. When they ran way, he killed to protect both of them and to erase their trail. He truly loved her I think. He chose Anna to kill him because to him they were one in-the-same and the monster would die regardless who was shot, going back to how their mother probably couldn't tell them apart. He even says he would live on with her, but the monster would be destroyed. But because he survived a point blank shot to the head, he lost his memories besides the Kinderheim brainwashing. Johan went around trying to prove that nothing in life mattered, that being a human was just a construct of a name. We never truly know his "plan" and others can only assume what it is and each time it gets subverted. The moment he reconnects with Bonaparta's books, the memory of his mother's choice, how he waited for Anna to return home. He is awakened from his "dream," or the Kinderheim brainwashing, and I think it just reminded him of why he was doing it all in the first place: to prove he was the unwanted nameless child. Because I don't think he ever truly had a plan outside his perfect suicide. But then he was brought back to life again, given a name, given connections: his sister, his mother, and Tenma, someone he had chosen to fill in his father figure role (as seen in their first encounter). Johan did die, as a monster. Now he has the chance to be human.

[@joshuamelton9148]

Best explanation of Johan's motivation that I have seen on the web. Monster was one of the best anime of the 2000s.

[@shanekenny9082]

Joshua Melton a classic indeed

[@MeowChew-t1y]

"I am sorry, Dr. Tenma"

[@yayayeye7659]

Damn, I love Lunge a lot

[@nelsitcho]

Underrated comment.

[@AhanaNags]

Really great analysis of monster! It's literally impossible to find anyone who analyses it, and you did an awesome job.

[@Hamaielzoila]

At the core of it, I think we all have Nihilism lingering in some part of us. It's pessimistic but this anime gives you a proper look at how prevalent it really is.

[@bakchodbabajijoletajaancho2538]

Yes just tomorrow i was having nihilist thoughts about how my life is shit and i should kill myslef lol, And then suddenly my brain started playing the anime ending theme " for the love of life." chills

[@whydidyoutubeputmynameherefml]

Oh my god. About 10 years ago, this series was my fav thing in the world. I went through a tough time and found comfort in watching it. But I never really understood why I thought the story was so compelling. A lot of things about it spoke to me, but I couldn't piece it together. Over the years I kinda forgot about it, not sure if the anime would hold up for me because I couldn't pinpoint what I got out of it. And then just now, your video essay opened my eyes to it. I remember how much I loved it then, and now with my newfound appreciattion for it, I can't wait to rewatch it. Thank you so much for this vid!

[@dariathelazy]

I've watched this video, like, 4 times since last week, when I first discovered it, - not because there were things I didn't understand, but because of how eloquent you are and how insteresting your arguments are. Fantastic job, my friend!

[@xmarksitoften5395]

yup, good job

[@CelestialAura]

I figured it made sense for Johan to disappear (symbolism aside), considering the fact that otherwise he was going to prison. I'll have to read the novel you mentioned, but if it makes no mention of thwarting the police or at least setting things up so he can't be found, I'll be disappointed in Germany's justice system haha. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Johan was moved by a fear of prison, but it's a variable I haven't found yet. My first impression of the ending was that the question was posed to Tenma, and then Johan left to find out. But I like your analysis that it didn't matter which one she meant to sacrifice, either or would have severed his connection to love. Parental love is supposed to be pure. It now makes more sense why he relates Tenma to a parent earlier in the series, and why he can't kill him. I also initially thought both kids were dressed as girls because the mother wanted to protect Johan (the male child). I imagine that was probably who'd be targeted. I guess in the end it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

[@lly_09]

This really is a well written plot, prolly after so much research. It's one of the best psychological anime out there. And it deserves some real recognition and respect

[@zlackool]

Everything have purpose. Even this Anime was created to teach us how to kill a Monster... Not the Monster we mostly think of (A Ugly, Big, Horrifying,Creepy Creature) But the Real Monster who lies in each human being. Who forces us to do the things we don't want to , forces us do things that should not be done by a Human ..After all thats the purpose of a Monster , to kill Humanity... Johan Leibert was a very rare case... Things happened with him, Resulted in awakening of a True Deadly Monster, First Time in the human history... His true personality and things happened to him were so precise and accurate...That lead him to Become the Monster ... Dr.Kenzo Tenma was a actuall opposite of Johan ... He was too a very rare case ... I don't know his past which made him this.. But he was the True Angel... Thatsbecause, till the ending Tenma was holding a Gun , he wasn't able to kill a single human being... His Purpose was to kill the Monster who was responsible for destroying Humanity.... The Answer of "How to kill a Monster ?" is LOVE And thatswhat happened In the Ending .. Dr.Tenma finally accomplished his desire to kill the Monster. At Last he was able to show Johan what is True Love by saving him the Second Time.. He Showed Johan that inspite of what he had did..He saved him ... By this The Monster inside of Johan finally Died...And the True Johan Leibert came back to life..

[@itchytriggyfinger6590]

YES! THANK YOU VERY MUCH I NOW FINALLY UNDERSTAND IT THE TRUE MEANING BLESS YOU 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@ChristmasLore]

At the end, we learn Tenma's father was part of the team leading the experiment too...

[@whydoweneedahandlehun]

@@ChristmasLore when? How? Did i miss something?

[@kabitak06]

​@@ChristmasLore wait where was that , i think i missed it

[@ChristmasLore]

Can't remember, it was so long ago, but if I picked up on it, it's not a secret. I only watched the anime, so it's probably somewhere in the last 2 episodes, as I wrote back then "at the end"

[@lauren3198]

It's been almost 4 years since you've uploaded this, but I just finished monster and was looking for something to help piece my thoughts together since I was a bit confused at the show. Your explanation helped me realize how incredible this show really is (so glad I found this other wise I would definitely have overlooked a lot of aspects). Also I usually find other video analyses a tad boring, but your video was extremely fascinating and well thought out. I could've watched two more hours of it at the very least! Thank you so much for your great content :))

[@lauren3198]

I'm not the best at expressing myself through words, but I hope you know that your content is INCREDIBLE to say the very least!

[@IamJacksSTD]

I always interpreted the ending in a sad light. The fact that Johan wakes up after Tenma says that his mother gave him a name and then Johan revealing the moment his mother surrendered Anna always made me think that Johan won't be satisfied until he gets his revenge on her. Tenma's reaction to Johan's revelation looks like he's terrified, like he knows that the monster isn't done.

[@doyle8120]

tenma looked terrified because he knew the answer to johan's final question. the mother told tenma that she wanted johan to avenge her husband , she saw johan as a tool for that. if tenma tells johan this , then his nhilism will comeback again .

[@animeballsdeep]

Great video

[@johnmarkneilcardona1417]

Ow hello Adil if its you 😄

[@homerevision9928]

dammnn abd iwas here

[@diorv2402]

yoooo adil, did you like monster

[@pury5365]

damn ain’t know you were a monster fan

[@animeballsdeep]

​@@diorv2402yes❤

[@kalls2k907]

Highly impressed by your theory when you said that Johan was testing his fate again just to see if he's chosen by it. Hell of a psychological thriller!!!!! Thank you

[@MartinOEiken]

Before watching this video: When the last scene showed Johan's empty hospital bed and the window opened, I immediately concluded that he killed himself. Haven't seen anyone else saying this somehow, it seemed really obvious to me. Johan is a broken human being, shaped by trauma and even though we as an audience can sympathize with that and hope that people like that can achieve redemption and change, I don't think that a good person would be able to forgive themselves for it. So I do think he went through with his suicide, because he no longer has anything to live for. And whether he changed in the end is up to us to decide.

[@dikshaverma8751]

he knows fate gave him another chance in life so why would he commit suicide ofc he will live but it depends on him if he chooses the good path or bad one

[@Reespec]

no he escaped the hospital just like the first time tenma saved him and he will go back to his old ways of playing with the line of ants

[@TheWanderbugChannel]

I thought Johan was another personality of Nina because her actual twin died when they were younger and she couldn’t deal with the trauma.

[@MeowyGet]

" Even though he now had a name, there was no one left to call him by his name . Johan. It is a wonderful name".

[@bangnee]

Still gives me the chills.

[@microwavecoffee]

I think the mother (Viera) gave Nina away for the experiment, because she thought it would break Johan. There was no risk of them dying due to them supposedly being the future elite. I think she wanted to minimize the emotional scarring, and chose Nine to go as she was more mentally stable. Viera was really smart academically, so I think it's fair to assume it was calculated.

[@kristianlama3217]

yes! even if she chose johan, it wouldn't get better (he forgot anything besides red rose house anyway)

[@WHYISEVERYHANDLEALREADYTAKEN9]

Ik it's been 3yrs lol but, what indicates that Johan was less mentally stable than Anna?

[@microwavecoffee]

@@WHYISEVERYHANDLEALREADYTAKEN9 I'd say the fact that he's a psychopath and somehow rewrote his memories that he was the one sent, is good evidence he's less mentally stable than Nina.

[@AdaraFukuchi]

so there IS an end! we DO know if he keeps killing or not! took me 25 minutes to get there but it was well worth it. this is an EXCELENT video and analysis of monster. kudos my friend. you done good :>

[@celesh3957]

Great video linking things from the very beginning, what i really find interesting is that how every person is his own special individual like despite johan and nina having similar lives plus the traumatic incidents (red rose mansion knowing that their memories got mixed up and each thought they were the ones in the mansion), each had a very different reaction reflecting their lives, people are unpredictable and the human mind is truly amazing

[@Eltiburonmma]

The biggest questions, the most mysterious things that happened in the show were, why is every town is so empty, and why didn’t they hear the drunk father screaming at johan to get away from wim

[@Syphrilyn]

Nah, the biggest questions were how did Johan put poison in the candy when he was a kid.

[@Moist_patato]

@@Syphrilyn man literally caused an all out frenzy in an orphanage at the age of almost 10 without any outside help and that is your biggest question?

[@SirDerpofCamelot]

@@Moist_patato yes

[@bloodlustaxe1500]

@@Syphrilyn Maybe im a bit late, but in the anime they mentioned, that which type of poison did he use. He mixed some of the components of the medicine that they used to treat him.

[@rollforever85]

So I've just finished Monster. As much as I did enjoy it, I found it confusing and felt it was convoluted at times. This video explains a lot that I didn't quite understand and makes me feel more satisfied with the ending. Thank you.

[@italian724]

That last minute of the final episode changed everything for me...the mother choosing to let go of one of her children. The true villain reveals itself: all the nihilistic rooted evil acts committed by Johan in this harrowing anime.... are rooted and birthed in one quick simple act.... of feeling unloved... Parents, love your kids no matter what....it will save countless lives and prevent library burnings

[@kristianlama3217]

bro i think she could do nothing about it and had to sacrifice someone of them anyway

[@brunonascimentorodrigues8160]

​@@kristianlama3217this scene is very similar a Sophie's choice.

[@Hyperversum3]

@@kristianlama3217 She could, at least at Johan eyes (and really, to many as well). Seriously, she doesn't have to make the choice. She can refuse to make it. It's not even like they were ponting a gun at them or her, they weren't beating her up. Protecting them more is probably what a child expect of their parent, even if not consciously. She on the other hand acted on impulse and gave away one of her children at random to keep the other safe. She reasonably didn't expect the child to die, but still...

[@kristianlama3217]

@@Hyperversum3 i think we don't know what they would do with her in case she hadn't sacrificed that child

[@Hyperversum3]

@@kristianlama3217 Considering that Klaus Poppe was planning to murder everyone else involved in the project to keep her safe and that he was effectively the scientific director, all he had to say "Don't the touch her, we Need her alive and healthy"

[@hata1499]

This is probably the best video I have ever seen on youtube. So impressive, especially right after finishing this amazing manga.

[@noahfenech3369]

The idea i got upon finishing the show was that in most shows, they try to absolutely explain why a character behaives a certain way or did terrible things, often with a single event or reason. But Johan, like real people, didnt have a single absolute reason for his behaviour. And also unlike many fictional characters, Johan doesnt fully understand himself and his motivations either. He has his own explanation, so do many other characters. But at the end of the day, a person is a mystery box that doesnt have a solution, but facets that reveal themselves and disapear at different times for different stimuli.

[@nafeeahnafsiraj]

One of the best videos on MONSTER's amazing ending that is often misunderstood by people who take it on face value, it has much more to it than just that and you perfectly put it in this video 👏

[@publicstaticvoidmainstringargs]

Amazing job Mate! This analysis, like the series, was a masterpiece! Watched all your anime videos and hope to see more great anime videos from you! You explain way better than any other anime youtuber I've seen.

[@sumitsen2665]

Crush ; you have a crush on someone ? Me : well yeah Crush : wow ! Who is she ?? Me : She is me and i am her You are me and i am you

[@Shush7717]

Perfect ❤️

[@seekthetruth9490]

You are one hell of an advanced soul aren't you ! that's the highest level of love beyond the you are mine and i'm yours, May God Bless you, in Jesus Name, Keep that beautiful mindset, you are walking on the stairway to heavens.

[@jundellas9202]

Really awesome analysis.It shows how much time you spend on this series to figure out and understand it's messages.

[@WillCawrse]

An important addition at the end is along side surviving the perfect suicide, the revelation that Johan had a true name all along given by his mother meant he finally had a true connection that tied him to the world, and love was the origin

[@amjadsiddig2085]

Brilliant video! So I have a hot take (assuming the sequel novel isn't Canon and purely based off the story) According to Johan's philosophy, he's chosen by fate no matter what. This idea didn't get shattered when he was shot by Wims dad since he survived just as he always does. His plan was to "play his game" and live. Nina was simply wrong on the perfect suicide theory as she has been about Johan in the past. Nina also told him she forgives him in that stand off scene and Johan tells her it's far too late for that which means the damage is already done. When Tenma tells him his mother loves him, just like with Nina, he wouldn't be convinced by this nor would it drastically change his outlook on life. Being saved by Tenma the 2nd time would only further enforce the idea that he was meant to live. This is in line with psychopaths in real life. Getting insight about themselves doesn't undo the psychopathy. Ultimately, he's beyond saving because his bonds were shattered at a vital point in his life. Receiving those bonds in the future changes nothing for him. Johan went out that window to return to his regular self that plays games and manipulates others.

[@lonogugeadult]

Man this is a really dark take and hope it's not the case 😂

[@tianacastro9439]

this was such a great anime. i understood a lot of the anime before watching this but the ending confused me a little and this cleared everything up and explained it. this anime was probably pretty popular when it first came out (2005) but over time lost its popularity but in my opinion it deserves to be popular today along with death note. this anime was so interesting and had amazing characters and plot.

[@pomponi0]

The rooftop game isn't just about planning ahead. Almost everyone has the ability to walk in a straight line, so they should technically be able to walk on the edge of a rooftop. In reality, it is fear what makes us doubt, which in turn makes us likely to fall down. Someone with no fear at all would find it just as easy than walking along a line painted on the pavement. Johan's game is an even more extreme version of this. Having no regard for anyone or anything, he wanders through the world without a long term goal, just little experiments to maybe amuse himself (though I'm not sure he gets any satisfaction out of this).

[@darkbrightflow9406]

I'm usually not a fan of mystery detective series and this is actually the first time i got really interested in a series like this and i loved some characters, this is what i say to non detective mystery horror anime watchers, watch Monster even if you aren't a anime mystery horror watcher

[@derek6376]

Shaman Xeed fr finally someone who understands this show is dudu! Doesn’t compare to the the genius of Beyblade Metal Fusion

[@funkycensoredcat9000]

@Shin Shaman hell yea dude, this show is so dumb! People dare to compare it to the masterpiece we know as Boruto: Naruto Next Generations? Haha, this dumb thriller will never even compare to Boruto.

[@ShotSecured]

What I wanna know is how the hell Johan put poison in that candy that killed them people if he was just a little kid

[@gal9340]

OMG THANK YOU 👏 LITERALLY.. WHAT ABOUT THE WINE? IS IT ZEKES SPINAL FLUID AGAIN OR WHAT?!?- 😂 istg

[@ShotSecured]

@@gal9340 seems to me like he actually has powers

[@ProlificPops]

My only problem with Monster is that Johan has plot armor sometimes, despite just being a regular human. Like that time he apparently killed the old couple on the farm that found him and Nina when they escaped from the hospital with a rock, but Nina didn't see him do it nor hear the old couple screaming. How the hell does a child overpower 2 adults and kill them with a rock anyway?? It was pretty dumb.

[@ShotSecured]

@@ProlificPops Exactly they need to explain these things

[@Syphrilyn]

That is the true mystery I also wondered this.

[@RexBuyeo]

I'd like to know how Tenma's innocence didn't involve Johan going to jail.

[@nakymawlot]

Did you even wacth the show lol

[@nakymawlot]

Detective lunge tells the world that it was Roberto The master mind behind all the crime

[@RexBuyeo]

@@nakymawlot Why would he do that? Johan is a murderer.

[@nakymawlot]

@@RexBuyeo I don't know man.... watch the last two episodes carefully

[@thtlightskin]

Naky Mawlot still confused....

[@keeppunching.1]

The father of Wim seeing Johan as a real monster with 9 heads was so great i Fucking love this anime

[@octaviosander8898]

It was weird tbh

[@rinber13]

The show starts with a passage from the Bible, the Apocalypse by John. The beast is described the same way drunk dad saw Johan.

[@ChristmasLore]

Most people forget about this. Yet it's key.

[@thus.spoke.zarathustra]

@@octaviosander8898 How come?

[@rencecs6720]

Seven not nine

[@drmosaddegh]

i have one last question before i can find closure. what was tenma’s childhood like? lunge deduced that he didn’t have a good relationship with his family, and we only ever got to see one flashback of his childhood, where his friends called him “scaredy cat tenma”. how did that contribute to the story? why was that the only scene shown from his childhood? tenma grew up to be righteous, so he was shown love in his childhood, but by whom? didn’t he have a bad childhood? none of his family members cared about him enough to ever visit him in germany. he was a good kid, why didn’t they care about him? and if he had a bad childhood and wasn’t shown love why didn’t he end up as a “monster”?

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

There's a scene where Tenma is about to kill Johan in the library, and we see a flashback of Tenma's childhood. He is playing hide and seek in the woods and he is afraid and alone. This shows that Tenma is afraid of not being recognized or seen by others and that he cannot stand the nihilism of loneliness. Johan seeks to be the last person left alive standing on a dead world while it scares Tenma. Arguably, it's the reason why he is so altruistic; he knows what it means to be afraid and alone and doesn't want anyone to feel like that.

[@smithholder5057]

Does anyone have a clue as to if a monster really existed or was the term "monster" used metaphorically...

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

@@smithholder5057 There is no 'actual' monster. The term is used metaphorically to convey nihilism that eats everything. The bigger the monster inside a person, the greater their destructive impulses. To lose your attachments to reality is to lose your humanity and unleash the monster that is inside us all.

[@smithholder5057]

@@The.KZbinr.with.no.Name. okay. I asked because the drunken man claimed he saw a 5 or 7 head monster just before he shot johan

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

@@smithholder5057 He was drunk and delusional. It's a reference to the beginning of the show with the biblical quote of the Anti-Christ.

[@minatodroger7890]

Every time i watch monster i realize a child book saved Europe from a damn massacre. Because Johann should have replace shultz and made that guy chancellor and oh lord

[@The.Youtuber.with.no.Name.]

Johan was aiming for much more than just Europe. With the billionaire's fortune and that guy being a chancellor, Johan would have power on the world stage. He was going to do what he saw at the Red Rose Mansion, and what he did at 511 and in that village but on a worldwide scale.

[@cibra3060]

To me, the problem with the ending, is that the story is built up as if it was gonna do a big reveal at the end about why johan is the way he is (by withholding information, like the memory that he knows that Nina doesnt), but at the end they dont do it. Its origin was in things that we already knew. It would be a good finale if they didnt make us think that at the end was gonna be a big reveal

[@cibra3060]

Great video by the way, a perfect explanation on Johan's character

[@erangvee]

I just so love this analysis. I didn't even notice that a whole 25 minutes 40 seconds had passed. Monster will always, always be a classic. The story, easter eggs (somewhat), and characters were so complex and interesting that they set up a great stage for psychoanalysis.

[@kenker_ape]

Just rewatched the show after a good while and wanted to fully understand it. You delivered a great explanation. The part with the symbolism of children representing all good and all evil traits of humans was amazing You not having a name for your YT Channel really put the cherry on top :D

[@wasakarumi1959]

This explanation was one of the most satisfied explanation that I've ever encountered.

[@pragyan394]

This is one of the best analysis video I've seen.

[@pragyan394]

@Shaman Xeed [Attention for insecurities]

[@shielinglai1599]

@Shaman Xeed It is also sad to see that a person who is criticizing other people's IQ has perhaps one of the lowest IQ in the whole comment section. Bro, roll off to some overrated trash series and praise them. Sad thing.

[@quynhanh13]

I love how at the end, all characters changed to a better person, the character development is really well-written, you cant even hate any single one of them

[@dullinator1059]

Eva and runge went from really hateable characters to really wholesome ones. Runges apology to tenma hit really hard

[@Just_B0red]

Also unrealistic af.

[@anaditullio]

Amazing analysis. I just finished watching Monster yesterday. One of the main aspects of this work, for me, is the "name" thing. I was really thrilled by it. It reminded me of "The name of the Rose", and also the semiotic aspects of naming someone/something. I watched a few of the episodes dubbed in English, and there is a passage that really added some more layers to it. When Nina go after the Baby for the first time, and he tells her: "You're name is Nina, now?". Then he goes telling her that, in the end, names doesn't mean anything. And he ends with a quote of Shakespeare: "A rose by any other name smells as sweet". That got me thinking about names, and what do they mean. In the end, having a name is what defines us as human beings, and not animals or monsters. To have a name means that someone loved us enough to look at us and naming us. The psychoanalyzes have some theories on this. So the fact that Johann and Anna were not named after being born is the first element of inhumanity that the boy felt. Not having a name means you're not a person, you're not part of society. That's why Nina/Anna felt so confused when she was confronted with her past, and not knowing who she was. "Am I Anna, am I Nina? Who am I?". Johann read the book of the nameless monster and immediately identified with it, that's why he chose the name Johann. But in the end it was only after knowing that his own mother actually gave him a name that Johann understood that he was, in fact, loved. At least for a second, someone loved him enough to name him. But I confess that I was frustrated by not knowing their real names by the end! I wanted to know!! 😅 Anyway, an amazing masterpiece, indeed. So many references, perfect characters, soundtrack. Almost perfect. It's impossible not to fall in love with Tenma. I was left with only a few doubts: in the end, the Red Rose Mansion massacre had the only intention of making the child be confronted with death? I got a little confused. And also, I couldn't understand the moment when the twins were separated from their mother. They run away after Anna came back from the Mansion, but where was their mother?? Anyway, thank you so much for this video, amazing job. In the end, I couldn't see Johann as a villain anymore... I was just wishing that he could find love, and Tenma saving him in the end led me to so many tears. A good work of art is that when the conceptual boundaries between "good" and "evil" are taken away and we have to think that every person in this world is a human being, and the consequences of that.

[@M-yue882]

Also it revolves greatly about that dilemma of chosing between 2 equal choices: The mother who chose Nina most probably she had to cover that her twins got different sex so that they won't both be taken away So as it is not possible to cover both as boys especially when the girl gonna grow She covered both of them females and as they gonna undoubtedly check the child's body thoroughly The mother chose to give Nina away Here Johan as maybe because he loves his sister has resented his mother for that or as implied in his question, either ways in his naive young age he couldn't really get his mother's choice So he felt his sister being left out, both of them possibility being "thrown away", himself being given up onto! That's why he only allowed Nina and Tenma to see "the landscape at the end" To kill him! Coz for him only both of them gave him unconditional affection.. This dilemma of 2 impossible choices was not only symbolized in the twins but also since the very start when Tenma had to treat someone else instead of the Turkish man! Do people really act on the principle of Human lives being equal or is it just a mindless blabla?

[@ladygrinningsoul357]

One detail: Johan playing with Anna with the acorns happens after Johan came off from Kinderheim 511, not before. So he still has a bound with her after the brainwash. When she shots, he cries cause he was betrayed by the only person who he cares about, Anna was his cocoa cup equivalent. But Johan never got revenge against her.

[@sunjoexys7251]

When I first watched Monster when I was 19, I thought the ending is a major copout. Now I have finished Monster both in manga and anime multiple times, and each and every time something new occurs to me. A few years ago I read the manga again. For instance, while Dr. Tenma represents humanistic salvation/relief (at the beginning, only physically saving Johan; but at the end both physically and mentally by giving original name back to Johan), Johan seems to be lukewarm/non-responsive towards such an altruistic move by Tenma. It's as if the Beast from Revelations having a conversation with an overtly kind monk: "who do you think you are, that you presume to be able to save me by your unremarkable humanism?" That alone makes this ending unique.

[@jays3652]

Hey, I know this is old, but I finally watched the show, since I loved the manga, and there was one interesting detail I wanted to add. I don't know if this is true or on purpose. But the idea of Johan wanting to see if "fate chose him", in order to disprove his nihilistic beliefs may also be rooted in his insecurity about whether his mother "chose" to save him or not. It's like he was confirming whether he deserved to be alive...regardless, this was an amazing video, and it made me appreciate this anime/manga a hell of a lot more.

[@swethan3331]

makes sense

[@JoTheVeteran]

"Children are born heartless and selfish, unable to express self sacrificing love until they can relate that feeling of love, with the fear of loss. When they learn that association, that's when they begin adulthood." I fully agree with that statement, it's just the one I've always had in my mind goes a bit different. "Children are monsters, and then they are not, they gow up into people. For whatever reason some don't, and remain monsters." Excellent series, and excellent analysis. Good job!

[@johnmars5282]

Daaaaaamn I even half-forgot this series, but with your review it rendered new light into it and it started coming back. What an amazing story Urasawa crafted , so many Nietzschean themes taken with outmost existential seriousness and attention, especially the part about Johanhn and the children reminded me of the three transformations from Zarathustra. Thank you, for this careful and very insightful analysis.

[@mrnarason]

Amazing analysis, best one on KZbin. I can't wait for the live action.

[@Loofy101]

The Seven Headed monster that Wim's father saw was the one described at the very beginning of the show. A bunch of text which I thought would be important, eventually forgot and then remembered when the dad said it

[@willofm]

Thank you so much for this ! I was very dissatisfied with the ending (especially not seeing Grimmer in action, or the village incident ) but this has shown me that the ending made sense all along. I still put Griffith above Johan (because I’ve seen his monster) but this makes me put Johan in my top 5 anime villains

[@iganokab-ann-maru]

It is really fascinating to read the commends here, so many ideas and different interpretations that are actually very interesting. Having chanels like yours that give such chances is really amazing! This anime is impressive , as well as your analysis, honestly. Thank you very much for the time you spend on it !

[@Myers_Johan]

Thanks for explaining the end brother, I was so confused at the end but now I feel relieved.

[@elimalnar8262]

Has anyone also noticed all the moths/butterflies in the show. Milosh kills one, one is flying around the light when grimmer is attacked, when grimmer is talking to former 511 kinderheim director theres a moth that even has a face on it... idk what they represent but my guess is that its something good around us, i think it represents the beauty of life because its always in very harsh moments maybe its there for contrast or maybe it doesnt even mean anything at all...

[@pruthvirajchaudhari7653]

I think moths represent change. Roberto who didn't like to kill insects became a hitman later in life. Grimmer became human in his final moments. Johan lived a normal life after the nightmare in Ruhenheim. It shows that people change albeit for good or for worse.