Finishing YuYu Hakusho For The First Time - Chapter Black & The Three Kings

SUPPORT OUR PATREON: / totallynotmark
I've never seen or read anything about YuYu Hakusho in my life! So here's my blind review of it from start to finish! I want to complete this series in time to watch the live action Netflix adaptation of it and to see if it lives up to the hype surrounding it! I'm a fan of HunterXHunter but let's see if this stacks up!
Today we're bringing this series to a close as we analyse Penultimate and final arcs of this series. Chapter Black and The Three Kings!
MUSIC USED
HxH 99 Score
Some Dragon Ball songs 😄
Moonlit Meelee (Skullgirls)
YYH Opening (Cover by Vocapanda)
Resolution (Hotel Dusk)
You Will Never Know (Katana Zero)
L's Theme (Cover by RicaadEB)
Joint Reasoning Type A/B (GAA)
Demise (VLR)
Battery / Damage Inc. (Cover by kostein)
One (Post Rock Cover by Ashel)
Lounge (VLR)
Driving Force Neon Fog (Katana Zero)
Metal Shark (MMX6)
Immora (DOOM Eternal)
The Great Secret Trial (GAA)
Cannonball (Mythos Ver.)
Wheels of Destiny (Ruroken)
Debioku (Devil Survivor 2)
In The Palace - Lamentoso (Cover by Kate Ishida)
Struggle of Sadness (Cover by Daniel Gabassi)

[@jaynguin]

It is such a shame that Togashi wasnt able to truly enjoy the final arcs like he wanted to. YYH couldve had such an awesome ending but i will say the anime's ending with Yusuke and Keiko FINALLY getting together officially felt like the greatest payoff ever.

[@Zetsuga47]

I was promised a wedding that I did not receive. Thats my only complaint.

[@jaynguin]

@@Zetsuga47 naw you right we never got the wedding and now I suddenly feel robbed too 😭

[@TheArmyduck23]

​@@jaynguina special episode where the wedding gets ambushed by one of the former Demon Kings 😅

[@Resin311]

I think yu yu's ending is one the best in anime. The fact everybody is alive at the end. To see yusuke finally get his girl and be with his best friend at the beach. Its very wholesome and feels good for an ending.

[@kuwabara_ssbu8389]

@@Resin311I would’ve liked it better if the tournament played out into a war, but yusuke and friends win, but still have the same exact ending when yusuke returns to the living world

[@ivanbluecool]

Its sad what togashi was put through for yyh but he still made an epic story with many iconic moments

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

That's the life of a Manga creator.

[@ivanbluecool]

@@SpammytheHedgehog not really. That's the rule of the editor and managers. Use you for your talent and throw you away the moment you start complaining. They would have been happy to see togashi pass if they got a few extra genni out of it. And that's for a famous mangaka. The up and coming ones either burn out or get dropped. Honestly these producers should be put in the same conditions as mangaka for a week and see how it feels. Then maybe things could be better overall

[@robcoop6521]

Feel like we need to watch Bakuman after this.

[@blacklite911]

Now the same thing is happening to HunterXHunter smh

[@theamazinghaole2384]

I didn't know about togashi when i first watched YYH. Even as a kid I was hooked from day one. I love how it is a wonderfully done manga and anime to the point it became my daughters number 2 anime. Under Demon Slayer and above Sailor moon.

[@AmbushIntheDark]

I'm surprised that Mark didnt point out that the Chapter Black tape is 1 of 2 and is never supposed to be viewed without the 2nd tape. Which would imply that there is a "Chapter White" tape where its all the *good* of humanity. That viewing Black without White like Sensui and his team did is the reason he fell into nihilism.

[@K.G444]

Or maybe there’s a 2nd tape that’s just as bad or worse

[@Barret9559]

@@K.G444 Pretty sure they outright say @AmbushintheDark is correct

[@Ceber300]

The second tape is the entirety of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

[@xxspike156xx]

@@Ceber300 Its comprised of the holy trinity: Bob Ross, Mr. Rogers and Steve Irwin

[@nichescenes]

He also said he only reviews by the manga to keep things fair regardless of the author's sickness, then bleach TYBW gets the pat on the head, ill wait for the anime to conclude...ok

[@denickart]

35:24 Just shows how much Funimation elevated the series. Instead of Yusuke just saying what boils down to "I like to fight," in the dub he says "Maybe there've been times when I've been pissed and hated things, but it wasn't from this work. My dad's a no show, my mom's a lush, and school sucks, but this job is the one damn thing I've ever been good at. And if all the crap in my life hasn't screwed me up yet, then neither will this, and neither will you."

[@sarafontanini7051]

that is a fantatic quote

[@bananaguy238]

Yea I’m rewatching the series in English cuz I’ve already seen it in Japanese and a lot of the dialogue choices have aged really well and I liked most of the dialogue for the dub airing in the early 2000s (probably cuz I grew up in the early 2000s but it’s still really good nowadays)

[@Sant323]

It's crazy how well some of the other international guns have held up over the years. I watched it in Spanish with my mom (she loved the series) and when I finally saw it subbed it showed me how different 2 of them were from the dub.

[@winster32]

It was a great quote, and a great localization. Shame that Funimation has more questionable ones now.

[@Blucham]

36:10 I don’t think Mark is reading too into Yusuke’s proclaimed love of fighting, but I do think he misread the moment when Yusuke saved the kid. Yusuke didn’t intentionally sacrifice himself, he didn’t have the time to calculate odds and ponder how he’d get out of it… He just saw the kid in danger and acted in a split second. It was as much a surprise to himself as it was to the rest of the world. He was literally muttering “Let him get run over for all I care!” Yusuke is a good guy at heart, but it’s not a calculated, showy, planned out kindness. It’s a kindness that reveals itself under extreme circumstances, when people absolutely need him. Otherwise, he’d rather mind his own business and kick some ass.

[@Velacroix]

While this is what I've gathered as well, I think he's not assessed Yusuke's growth accurately, as he makes it sound like as if his growth has diluted his delinquent language and tendencies rather than layering wisdom and empathy onto his characterization.

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

@@Velacroix That's a great point! It seemed like Mark thought Yusuke's growth means he should be less of a delinquent, but that's not the case at all. The core of Yusuke never changes. He just becomes wiser and, of course, much stronger.

[@Blucham]

⁠​⁠@@jackmanleblanc2518 Heck yeah! He’s a rebel by nature. Deep down he IS a good person, but he likes to be combative. He lives to battle, and/or resist authority. He loves fighting, but HATES taking orders even more. One of his first assignments was the Genkai tournament, and he was over it from the beginning, because it was Koenma making him do it, while he happened to be set on getting some R&R. He’ll come in clutch when he’s NEEDED, but he won’t let people take advantage of him. While writing this comment, I kinda had an epiphany. I still don’t like how it turned out, but I think Yusuke suggesting the demon tournament is brilliant, for being so in line with his personality. He WISHES he could’ve had the opportunity to knock his authority figures down a peg. He found a way to establish a ruler peacefully, but in a way that gives all the demons an outlet to legally fight back if they want.

[@DizzyRobin]

Exaclty- and I think this is one reason why I defend and LIKE the Yusuke reveal (and his later comment during his conversation with the other ex spirit detective where he defends demon's right to eat humans- which many people I've discussed the series with doesn't like)- it's because *Yusuke isn't a hero*. He is a good person who looks at those others people call monsters, outcasts, trouble-makers... and sees himself in them, sees things from their perspective. Because he's always BEEN that delinquent who authority figures want to control- the point is that he is *still worthwhile and good and a benefit to everyone who gives him a half a chance*. There are a lot of similarities with Luffy from One Piece in the whole set up, the difference is One Piece had a ton of development before and after the reveal twist of the true nature of the MC. I am so incredibly sad that Togashi was so in pain and struggling that it all didn't get fleshed out as it deserved.

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

@@Blucham You know... this conversation has actually really helped me narrow down just WHY Yusuke is possibly my favorite shounen protagonist. Because, despite being a delinquent and a problem child, he goes through so much growth as a character throughout the story WITHOUT losing that identity. He finds a place for himself in the world without needing to change who he is as a person. A place where his supposed flaws are instead a strength. Some might say that means he lacks character development, but I love that. And it's not like Yusuke doesn't learn lessons and change to some extent by the end too. Sure, he's still a delinquent who loves a good fight, but he's also more mature, less reckless, and he's an overall better person by the end of it all.

[@sonicfan20]

A correction to be made, Raizen isn't Yusuke's father-father, he's Yusuke's ancestral father (AKA his great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather)

[@noshield]

Right. Yusuke is only .0000002 demon lol

[@JadenYukifan28]

Though Raizen did say "Are you too much of a man to give your dad a hug?"

[@thediaz07]

​@@JadenYukifan28bro it wasn't a literal father...it was but more like great grandfather X5 at least.

[@JadenYukifan28]

@@thediaz07 Yeah, I figured that. But, since his biological father wasn't in the Anime, they had to change it around a bit. Though, Koenma stating that BOTH of his Parents were human kind of threw me off. Yusuke's father was only in the Manga and Yusuke was raised by a single mother in the Amime.

[@pirkage]

Yes, but the story usually refers to him as Yusuke's father to simplify things.

[@tyrantravealpha]

yusuke's encounter with Doctor is one of my favorite fights in the series. Theres so much back and forth and the tension built is COLOSSAL. The anime further enhances this with its music and unique lighting, god I love it so much.

[@tariqthomas9090]

I feel like the live-action YYH took a LOT from this fight scene alone. It’s much more fast-paced than the majority of the fights in the series and the live action series’ fights are similar.

[@devaunbeats]

Its a testament to how good YYH was until the end that people still prop it up as one of the best in the genre despite it. I've never read the manga but the anime is one of my faves and even if it does stumble in the ending in that version too, there is far more great than there is bad.

[@NinjapowerMS]

Demon world arc is shaping up to be really interesting and the tournament was really fun. Didn't know what was happening behind the scenes though shame.

[@HackedGlitch265]

Honestly? The anime probably is the reason for this. Basically 0 filler, barring the final arc (which enhances it, so... *shrugs*), well paced, and honestly rather brisk to re-watch. AND IMO, the voice actors on both dubs did well, be it the OG Japanese dub OR the English dub.

[@omarmansuri7099]

@@HackedGlitch265 The anime also cut out a lot of pointless episodic shit from the beginnning and end to make the story flow better.

[@MrBigtank78]

Kuwabara's meltdown watching Yusuke getting beat up not being be able to use his new sword ability was marvelous. Chris Sabet truly amazing voice acting

[@ravenfal1496]

Unfortunately, that meltdown doesn’t really happen in the manga; it was something the anime added to add more emotion to the scene.

[@lucifermorningstar8562]

Another reason the Anime dub is considered the best version of Yu-Yu Hakusho.

[@truedarkness4052]

It's sad that Mark's channel is run by weebs. They straight up don't like the dub, which is insane. What elitism does to mfs

[@vazak11]

That is super depressing, I think the Dub is actually better than the original sub at balancing Yusuke's rebel personality with his good hearted nature @@truedarkness4052

[@stevemclovin1566]

​@@truedarkness4052the dub is overrated, especially the dub version of kuwabara which is the worst version of the character.

[@kozanightweaver2924]

Yusuke is a tsundere hero; he likes helping people but he has an image to maintain

[@treytheriot825]

I like Chapter Black more than Dark Tournament because it’s probably the only arc in YuYu Hakusho where Yusuke feels like an actual Spirit Detective

[@ggregg2667]

My feelings mirror Mark's. It's a great premise (that has aged better over time) and they fumbled at the 5 yard line. I now know that it's because of health issues but it is still a bummer.

[@abraham3673]

same, i also love how much more intricate the fights become

[@xen3588]

lol true

[@truedarkness4052]

​@@ggregg2667 The anime does a great job with handling the overall material, and Sensui is more compelling than Toguro from a philosophical and psychological perspective

[@valentds]

@@truedarkness4052 studio pierrot. until the dark tournament i didn't like that much the anime compared to the manga, but black chapter anime was great

[@morgothable]

I dont think Yusuke saying that "saving people is icing on the cake" is flanderization. I think it is how he sees himself. It shows how little he really understands himself. He is definitely in the fight to save everyone, but he still thinks that he is the same punk people thought he was before the first arc.

[@impactovernumbers5157]

Or he acknowledges that he enjoys fighting but fighting was something that made him a delinquent in the eyes of society. Even his fight vs Chu Kuwabara explains to keiko why Yusuke looks so at home in the midst of battle. Now he’s actually encouraged to fight and he gets to help people at the same time. It’s definitely icing on the cake. I think Mark is viewing Yusuke being a good person as him having to be like a superhero or something and I think that’s the wrong view of Yusuke.

[@spirit_gun3869]

He allways finds something that the character says that contradicts his idea of him.

[@joeldipops]

This - because the pivotal character moment of the arc was him deciding at the end that, actually, he didn't want to stay in the demon world forever tracking down the guy that messed up his fight with Sensui. He wanted to go back home with his friends. Even though he THOUGHT that fighting was what he really wanted.

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

Chapter Black is probavbly one of the coolest ideas the series ever had. The idea of a tape containing the absolute worst of humanity and it driving ordinary people to commit genocide against the world is fascinating.

[@Virdice]

Too bad nowadays we just call it Fox News

[@philplaysgames13]

Fascinating and insanely terrifying

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

@@Virdice Dude, all news networks do it.

[@Virdice]

@@thefanwithoutaface8105 For sure, that was just the first example of a news channel I had in mind

[@hypercube8735]

Didn't they reuse that concept in Danganronpa or something?

[@crimiusXIII]

A+ for the editor. Give 'em a bonus.

[@SunGawdRa]

Yeah, don't think we missed "Geeku" during that black tape montage... Bravo!

[@Maverix74686]

First I want to say my condolences for your loss. Losing loved ones is truly the greatest pain. I also want to say thank you for this review of Yu Yu Hakusho. This series is one of my all time favorites. It holds a very special place in my heart. I believe you truly understood not the love but also the struggle that was put into this series. I've always enjoyed your content but this review series makes me want to go back and watch more of your catalogue as I my have not "heard" what you were saying. Sincerely I cannot wait for your next work

[@thacobell4700]

Mark calls out Keiko's dialogue from DT that Yusuke looks his happiest when fighting. *time passes* Mark complains that Yusuke shows too much joy in fighting that wasn't present in previous arcs. You took a much needed braeak my dude, life hits us all hard at times.

[@The810kid]

Yusuke is a naturally gifted fighter that loves a good street brawl. This was shown to us from day 1. Fighting is also how Kuwabara and Yusuke bonded. He came to respect his enemies through fists and even became good friends with the likes of Chu and Jin from a good battle. Yusuke has always been a fighter and enjoyed it.

[@jaynguin]

Yeeeeah Yusuke also loved getting in street brawls and his motivation for going to Genkai's compound was literally ringside seats to a martial arts tournament 😅 Yusuke's love and joy for fighting is KINDA what motivates him

[@jacquesmassard9226]

I don't think "too much joy" is the issue mark had with this. It's Yusuke saying that is all there is to him. I think this was the Manga industry trying to make everyone into Goku.

[@mr.protagonist5639]

​​@@jacquesmassard9226 except thats not what was said at all in that panel. If that was marks problem then it wouldn't be a issue with his interpretation but his reading comprehension.

[@thacobell4700]

@@jacquesmassard9226 That's not what Yusuke says though. He says that fighting was an end in itself for him. Its his favorite part, nothing about it being all that mattered.

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

Yusuke literally does live to fight though. It's brought up in the Dark Tournament arc. He loves it. I'm surprised Mark forgotall about that. It's when fighting that Yusuke is at his happiest.

[@Armlace]

He is still no Goku. He does care about helping others at the cost of himself. He is not brainless "fight for the sake of fighting" character.

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

@@Armlace That's true. My only point was supposed to be that Yusuke saying what he did wasn't really out of character for him or an example of flanderization at all. Especially since he was saying those words to Sensui, a guy who he probably just wanted to let know "I'm about to kick your ass. Not because it's my job, but because I really want to kick your ass."

[@index3876]

@@Armlace Even Goku isn't really like that either, though. Both characters have given up their lives to save others. But, ethics aside, they both find the greatest _joy_ in fighting for fighting's sake. They're pretty close to identical in those respects.

[@285live]

It's foreshadowing his demonic nature. He acts on the surface as if the fight is all that matters but his body tends to move on its own towards human actions.

[@sarafontanini7051]

@@285live yeah that's my reading too, that its foreashowing of his demonic potential rising tothe surface

[@Chaosic]

Good review. I like Yusuke speech to Sensui in the anime,when said his dad is no show,his mom is alcoholic, but being a spirit detective is what he is good at and he wont turn to the dark side.

[@xblade149]

I like that more than the manga

[@Chaosic]

@@xblade149 yep I like the anime more than the manga as well.

[@Reshapable]

"If all the crap in my life hasn't screwed me up yet then neither will this. And neither will _you!"_

[@Chaosic]

@@Reshapable yep that what Yusuke said in the dub.

[@Sant323]

One of the rare instances where the scene plays out better in the anime than in its original Manga format. It makes me wonder what Togashi thought of how the anime adapted his story.

[@mr.skateandwatch]

As one of many who has only seen the anime, I like how the pacing in this review is identical to the reaction of the manga. “That’s it?” Caught me off guard that we didn’t get into the three kings tournament as much as i thought the anime covered. It also gives an understanding of togashi’s work in the past in retrospect. It’s felt with HxH and it gives me melancholy seeing the mangaka struggle in finishing his stories.

[@KibaAzure]

How in the heck did you just SKIP past Kurama's takedown on the elder toguro without even mentioning how brutal that was?

[@xPinto182]

I was waiting for it

[@andagean]

He just kinda tends to gloss over sections of the story, It's a valid form of review I don't expect entire summaries but when he seems unimpressed with something the scripts for the review themselves feel uneven I've noticed.

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

@@andagean He's one of those "not in it for the fighting specifically" guys. He tends to gloss over fight scenes a lot.

[@emisor9272]

​@@jackmanleblanc2518 But what's important about that scene isn't the fight itself. It's that Kurama is f*cking pissed and becomes cruel

[@jackmanleblanc2518]

@@emisor9272 Ah good point. Been a while since I saw that.

[@vilkas640]

I personally think Yusuke's line there isn't flanderization, but rather, that it's him saying the following. That fighting has always been an end to him in and of itself, but now he has something more to add to that list of things, protecting people. Think about it this way, what's usually the best part of a cake? The icing. It's usually hands down the most delicious part, and the top layer, thereby technically making it the most important part. In a way, I take it as Yusuke saying that by it being the icing on the cake that he gets to save people, on top of the other end that is fighting, for him, the most delicious part of it all is the fact that saving people has been added on ever since he became the Spirit Detective, and that his previous only end, fighting, is now just a layer underneath that most delicious one.

[@jacobstone4070]

Chapter black was particularly awesome. I love the way Yuseke even vents about the shonen style about how obnoxious it is that there's always stronger enemies. Plus the anime got so good and pretty at this point in the story

[@truedarkness4052]

Also Mark, literally Yusuke lived to fight. It was shown in the DT that fighting and combat was the thing that gave his life meaning before making all of the connections and relationships he made during the series. I see now that a lot of his issues are pretty exclusive to the manga. Sure all the same revelations happen in the anime, but there was time to process them, and they still felt thematically relevant. Sensui's development of DID makes sense as a way to compartmentalize the trauma he experienced as well as a way to trudge onward with his plan. Yusuke becoming a demon shows how demon and humankind can bridge the gap that led to so much suffering in the first place.

[@Reshapable]

If Yusuke lived to fight he would have sought fights more. When left to his own devices he screwed around in much the same way most kids his age would. He just never did anything to avoid fights. Conflict wasn't a deterrent for him. And yes he did enjoy fighting, in much the way most people enjoy anything they're good at. But that isn't the same as living for something. And while Sensui developing DID can make sense, that doesn't mean it was satisfying to deal with as a plot point. Which is what Mark criticized. The idea is neat, the execution just soured the arc in an unproductive way. And Yusuke turning into a demon most assuredly does not do whatever the hell you're on about. What gap that led to suffering? The whole inciting mechanism behind this arc is a record of human depravity matching or exceeding anything demonkind has done. Sensui broke *because* the perception of a gap was closed. Yusuke becoming a demon at best achieved setup for a following arc, it did nothing special for chapter black. Nothing positive anyways.

[@andagean]

@@Reshapabledemon Yusuke is symbolic I think. Demon fighting for humanity vs human fighting for humanity end. It’s a nice thematic parallel. It being special is definitely subjective. It’s a power up asspull and my least favorite part of the arc but it does have thematic resonance that keeps me from writing it off completely

[@Reshapable]

@@andagean True enough, it is somewhat poetic. Enough so that, done differently I'm not opposed to the end product.

[@truedarkness4052]

​@@ReshapableIt could have been preluded a bit better, but some signs were there. The fact that characters said that he fights like a demon, his energy resembled a phoenix (which Puu turned into) when he unleashed himself against Toguro.

[@andagean]

@@truedarkness4052 the phoenix imagery for Puu is anime only. But I agree it’s a nice touch. Stuff like this is why I prefer the anime and it’s English dub to the manga experience for yyh.

[@NinthShinigami]

One of the most goated shonen of all time. No on is ever changing my mind this isn’t one of the best shonen out there. Everything wrapped up beautifully, even if not fully explored, it had a lot to say about growing up and maturing. Togashi truly made something special with this series and thank you Mark for finally getting into this sensational series!

[@Brendanj101]

What's unique about the manga ending compared to the anime is the fact that Enma, Koenma's father actually is responsible for 90% of the problems earlier in the manga by letting demons run amock to point and say "look demons bad" and Koenma basically said he would be trying to take over the spirit world.

[@sarafontanini7051]

honestly i feel making enma the final big bad is a really interesting idea especially giving the many jokes about him early on (like him destorying the world because ofsomething in one arc i forget the details tho and it might be a dub line) fromthe sounds of things if togashi hadn't been suffering it could've been better executed if it was legthened a little and not rushed.

[@MH-tg4jt]

The ending hits hard. I am so sorry for your loss. I faced a big loss as well. Thank you for sharing about it with us. Togashi made two of my all time favorite animes and I'm glad we can both draw inspiration from him. I really appreciate your take on his courage as it's important we keep moving forward and honor the influences we gained from the incredible people who shaped us. We both had teams pulling for us and, if I may offer a piece of advice that I have received, gratitude is an action word. Keep striding and making your support network proud.

[@Pluveus]

I think a better phrase for Yusuke's line would've been "From the beginning, I loved fighting and never bothered to look for a reason and I don't know why, but I'll tell you this, having something to fight for feels way better than fighting for no reason." I think that would've done a better job foreshadowing the demon daddy while preserving Yusuke's character development.

[@wraith.ferron]

The ending is something so interesting. Togashi finds it a failure for having written it for himself, but I and many fans enjoy it for it seeming true to the characters. Yusuke never wanted to be the strongest for the sake of being the strongest, and only sought strength when it was needed, so, of course, he didn't have that as a final goal.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Fun fact: Yusuke's English voice actor, Justin Cook also voices Raditz from Dragon Ball Z.

[@deaj8450]

Also Dende and Super Buu.

[@AussieDragoon]

Yup and Kuwabara is Piccolo/Vegeta/etc, Hiei is Android 17, Kurama is Tien, Koenma is Uub, Botan is Chi Chi, Keiko is Kid Trunks/Erasa...and so on...

[@solismax65]

Genki is frieza isnt?

[@blacksmoke6292]

​@@solismax65 Yup.

[@ThelronFjord]

Mayumi Tanaka being Koenma is more of a funfact than that.

[@IsleofJaya]

Sensui had multiple personalities due to the trauma. Because he saw the world in Black & White, he believed that all demons were evil and that all humans were good. He also had a high sense of justice. Not realizing the gray area until it was too late. When he was exposed to the true depravity of man, and what they did to demons. He swore to protect humans from demons but who was protecting the demons from the humans. Realizing that humans are just as bad as demons (or worst), it broke him especially when he realized how many demons he killed. So, he created 7 personalities to help cope with his anger towards the humans and his pain/guilt he felt towards the demons.

[@CarnisianLady]

Sensui has multiple personalities because he is a BLOODY IDIOT who somehow missed the fact that humanity has things like war and murder.

[@sarafontanini7051]

a shame we only see like THREE of those personalites

[@gonzo6489]

PLEASE review the anime. It improves so much from the manga and the animation and voice acting is phenomenal and still holds up tremendously.

[@truedarkness4052]

Especially the dub

[@gonzo6489]

@@truedarkness4052 This and Cowboy Bebop are 2 anime I can easily say the dub is far better then the dub.

[@TheBlueArmageddon]

41:35

[@CerealExperimentsMizuki]

Yeah the anime Dub is a one of a kind, he does use scenes from thr anime in these videos but he's going off of the manga and hasn't actually watched thr anime, since he's using the Japanese sub. Got nothing wrong with that, anybody can go at their own pace but it would be great if he could review the anome Dub, which is technically and legitimately better.

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

@@truedarkness4052 The Dub is pretty much universallty regarded as one of the greatest english dubs of all time and one of the only instances where basically everyone watches it in dub.

[@zetsubanned4308]

When Yusuke had that speech about fighting being everything or whatever, I took that as Yusuke lying to Sensui to sound badass, and moreso lying to himself to convince himself to go the extra mile.

[@emyrstarlaw5132]

Love the video as always, you're by far my favorite reviewer. Regarding Yusuke's dialogue about prioritizing fighting and saving others being just the icing on the cake, I believe it's not a mistake or an example of flanderization. Why? Because you're paying attention to what Yusuke says, not his actions. Since the story began, Yusuke has always shown a desire to present an undesirable facade, saying and doing things that elicit rejection (like lifting Keiko's skirt, for example, even though he wasn't interested, just because he knew it would bother her). He says those things because he's a troublemaker who enjoys getting under the opponent's skin. But what does he actually do? What does he demonstrate? Good deeds. Saving the child, helping others, being kind. He's the opposite of Sensui, who says good things but has deplorable actions. With his silver tongue, Sensui managed to convince a child to take his own life. Do you see what I'm getting at? Yusuke is a false bravado, rough and direct, but underneath is a wonderful person. Sensui, on the other hand, is a charismatic cult leader, the power of a manipulative person guiding you towards nothingness, towards the abyss.

[@grapes9h5]

Chapter Black, ending aside is still my favorite arc and the decent into the Demon Realm is one of the most epic moment ever. I also love Three Kings aside from the tournament part and sudden close. The anime ending episode is honestly perfect too.

[@NotAHippopotamus]

Dark tournament is iconic but Chapter Black always stuck with me moreso than DT because of its themes. I also think Sensui is a better villain than Younger Toguro but they are going for very different things so that might be preference.

[@Cableguy15]

This ties in with the criticism of CB in the video, but in the end, Sensui wanted exactly the same thing as Toguro. Both of them wanted someone to kill them. Toguro wanted someone stronger, Sensui wanted it to be a demon. He even says that the portal was only a bonus to his true plans. Felt like a massive copout. It's why I consider Minoru Sensui the best villain of the series, while I feel Shinobu is a not-as-good version of Toguro.

[@nick_j3831]

that's just the anime they changed it from the manga@@Cableguy15

[@truedarkness4052]

​@Cableguy15 Toguro specifically wanted a desciple of Genkai's to kill him to make up for how he wronged her and gave up on what he believed in.

[@keno4770]

I wouldn’t say that Yusuke’s love for fighting belittles some aspects of his character, but rather makes them stronger. Fighting was a means to his end to him as a way to let out so much of the aggression that he had because of the way people judged him. He’s still an inherently kind person, but as shown in the Dark Tournament, Yusuke was at his happiest in the Demon World, free of judgement, free to do whatever he feels. Also, Sensui being 7 people is just a result of his trauma. He’s an extreme schizophrenic who wasn’t able to come to terms with his own actions, or the actions of those he thought he was supposed to protect. Amazing video tho mark!! Loved this series and I wish you all the best.

[@AzureAetherXx]

The part with Yusuke rejecting the notion that everything is hopeless really influenced my views growing up. While things are constantly shit in the world its very easy and tempting to just write it all off. But rejecting that and continuing to try and to do good in spite of it is such a better way to positively impact the world around you. You might now have the answer now but thats ok. What do you do when you can't anything but theres nothing you can do? You do what you can.

[@Ali-sh5sx]

Yu Yu Hakusho is my all time fav series and these reviews have been amazing im glad that Mark ended up really enjoying the series And never forget toguro was only a B class

[@jadams1033]

Bravo for that detour to talk about the relevance of the story in today's world. good shit

[@keylimecookies]

Watch the dub it’s really well made!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of passion!!! Perfect voice casting!!!

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

Another thing I love about Chapter Black is how it's main antagonists are humans. The previous arcs all had Demons as the bad guys, which we accepted, but once we got to the Yukina arc the series started to show humans were just as capable of being evil as demons were, something even the early chapters alluded too with Yusuke's teacher and the random arsonist. However, here it comes completely full circle where you have Seven Humans, each stylized after the Seven Deadly Sins, plotting to bring about Armageddon after being driven to commit genocide due to being exposed to the absolute worst that humanity has to offer. And more so, Yusuke grapples with a different conflict. With the demons he had no problem going all out and killing them, but here, Yusuke is up against humans and doesn't wanna kill them, this results in him pulling his punches and weighing his mortality against what's needed. That's deep stuff and it's why Yu Yu Hakusho is probably my favorite anime.

[@BigRowles89]

I didn't know I needed Shishio arc music from Rurouni Kenshin in an anime review before, especially another great 90s series but here we are

[@inuasha1991]

The reason I give Chapter black a break with how things went down might be because of the anime's adaptation. First, I don't think people really emphasize or play out just how cunning Sensui was. Especially in that fight against Yusuke; the two aren't polar opposites, they're one in the same, and Sensui flat out explains to Yusuke that he'll end up like him someday. Even going as far as to say even the spirit world would turn their back on him, which they did. Sensui wasn't just calculating he knew how to anticipate Yusuke's attacks because how similar they were and how Sensui saw a lot of himself in Yusuke. Sensui's fight with yusuke starts off as a battle between Pessimism and Optimism; of what is, what will become, and you can't just boil down Sensui's pessimism as world = bad. He's very nuanced villain and from a reader perspective, as terrible as the things he's done, you can understand his turmoil and downfall. Where Tugoro's descent was that of greed and power, but with sensui it was the battling of Ideology and how even the purest of souls can become cruel and wicked. As for the part you mentioned about us all going into the comments about Yusuke's reaction to why it is he's fighting Sensui. A lot of that isn't an attack on his character, but rather his stubbornness and his reluctance to be vulnerable as anything other than his rough guy persona. Realizing he's outmatched against Sensui he knows at his current state he couldn't stop Sensui; so taking a page out of Kuwabara's book, he sacrificed himself to push his Friends who couldn't fully access their strength; this parallel's like when Yusuke couldn't against Tugoro. He hoped with that new conviction they'd be able to fight and defeat Sensui together using their talents. (Granted that wasn't executed as well, and some say the demon transformation was unwarranted.) Let is be said, not many Villains can put on their resume they succeeded in killing the protagonist. I spent a lot of years defending the demon transformation from a lot of fans or even friends of the series who thought it was completely out of left field. However, there was some subtle foreshadowing in the series against Tugoro in the former climax. It's easily missed and might have only been in the anime adaptation; In Yusuke's fight against Tugoro after he's released the spirit cuffs, and Kuwabara was "killed" you see the likes of Chu and other's in the stadium remarking on Yusuke's power up. I believe it was chu who even said "This energy, it even feels demon." And we as readers didn't connect anything because we had no reason to analyze it as anything other than some oversight, but when you reread or rewatch the content you pick on these subtle hints. The climax of the fight between Yusuke and Sensui is really that one of Irony that Sensui puts beautifully. A human who was hellbent on the destruction of the species with use of demons was thwarted by a demon who loved the world and humans. A final nod to the fact that where Yusuke and Sensui are similar, two sides of the same coin, one is heads and the other is tails. As for the final conclusion of the series even the animated adaptation of the Kings saga wasn't perfectly executed, but the final chapter I was at least okay with. I think the fight between Yusuke and Sensui really stands to haunt Yusuke as a character, because even against his fight against Yomi he wasn't successful. Yusuke's most challenging fight, against Sensui, was one that was ultimately robed from him and as someone who likes to fight that impacted him hard. Where I would have liked Yusuke to defeat Yomi, it really it as testament to our main character has a lot to grow yet; those new powers are foreign to him, and he doesn't have immediate mastery over them. Had another series or spin off came from this series I would have loved to see Yusuke's further development of those powers, but I'm okay with the slice of life ending we got. Mostly because if anyone deserved it, it was Yusuke.

[@richinfacts6003]

None of that was in the manga so you can’t say that was foreshadowing. At best it was the anime trying to improvise on the mangas shirt comings and even then it’s not a plot point that made a distinct difference in the outcome. Naruto for example in the land of waves literally had his hand healed on the mission before he eventually went nine tails and Kakashi alluded that the Ninetails was likely the reason way. Which made the transformation later on such fulfilling. It was earned.Also, anime studios make color changes all the time for aesthetic choices. Making Naruto’s Rasengan Blue in the anime or changing Ichigo’s Getsuga Tenshou from blue to yellow or black/red to black, or purple.

[@noshield]

Well said. Sensui definitely got a rare feat. And yusuke dealing with pain of losing and great grand dad controlling him to finish the job was a fantastic way to bring him and the story into demon world.

[@Anxomaxo]

Mark, if you haven't, you should check Togashi's letter to the fans in the final volume of YYH. It goes into detail on his decision to end the series.

[@medchan5810]

Oh wow. I just read it and it's heartbreaking. I'm glad he ended things on his terms but it honestly makes me feel a bit guilty for enjoying the series, especially Chapter Black. I think I'll just be satisfied with the anime.

[@GalekC]

@@medchan5810 And, the dub, to be precise. But the art of the manga throughout the Dark Tournament & Chapter Black's beginnings are so breathtaking for me over much of the sakuga, imo. (other THAN Toguro's dub dialogue, the sakuga between Yusuke and Doctor. Those are among the absolute peaks for me in storytelling in general)

[@Kossa-Odessa]

Being a mangaka really seems like hell. Poor Togashi.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

The Chapter Black Arc turned Yu Yu Hakusho into Yusuke's Bizarre Adventures.

[@yungbluprint2727]

Negative

[@Matthew_Murray]

Despite its lack luster ending in the manga I feel a strong appreciation for it especially after reading more on Togashi. We tend to forget that behind every manga is a person. A person who like everyone else has their ups and downs. So in that way I appreciate the flawed ending that reflects the creator’s struggle over a perfect narratively satisfying ending. YuYu Hakusho makes me appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that goes into creating manga

[@ThineAlphaRooster]

Ever since I was a child, I have been in love with the world and characters of YYH. So much so that I would (and still) do a yearly rewatch of the series. The first time I delved into the source material and discovered the final chapters and saw how suddenly the story shifted, I felt bamboozled. I felt like the emotions I felt during the anime ending were lies. My confusion and disdain for the work rose and I tried so hard to force myself into a state of apathy for a series I had so many passionate feelings for. That continued for years and years, until I discovered the final letter togashi penned to fans of the series. It took many reads for me to begrudgingly understand the kind of turmoil he faced as a creator, and even still I cannot suppress my passion and adopt apathy, but I understand and respect him and the series all the more. Thank you Togashi, for creating my favourite series, a series that’s made me laugh and cry.

[@dassadec]

The Anime ending is absolutely perfect

[@Bikrant50]

Thank you Mark for making this great review series and I'd like to express my condolences for you and your family

[@ashzerodude]

Didn't think I'd fit this here but, for anyone who'd need it: "Nihilism and pessimism are ALSO tools of oppression, hope is revolutionary and so is optimism!"

[@SinnerChrono]

All the seaman jokes are gold.

[@TheBlueArmageddon]

It's such a shame that the final arc got rushed, as the three demon lords were so well fleshed out and intruiging.

[@gerardoa9179]

13:04 We needed this panel in the anime

[@lucidmind9676]

For the longest I thought the Dark Tournament arc was the end of the series due to not knowing the time slot change back when this aired on Toonami and Adult Swim and just recently in 2020 watched the Chapter Black and Three Kings arc and while Three Kings was kind of a step back, Chapter Black was a top tier arc and is actually my favorite of the series

[@Niall_Sene]

Although this was not the ending I had expected, I still loved your video Mark, it's ok for you to take your time and process your personal life, you should take time off when you need it if that helps you. I enjoyed discovering YYH through you and I'll be sure to check it out on my own directly, as that's how I prefer to experience works, but with this series I decided to watch your review beforehand, as I hadn't heard of this series before you covered it. I think Togashi is a great Mangaka, despite his struggles, he deserves respect for the great work he has produced, I was really loving YYH before this last segment, but it shows that when he's in the right state of mind, Togashi can make amazing stories.

[@Superhero18]

Not so much that you're reading too much into it, but IMO you're taking interpretive liberties with the Yusuke character. Yes, Yusuke chose to fight for his friends at the Dark Tournament, but it wasn't at the expense of strength. It was to use that strength for that purpose. Whereas Toguro pursued Strength for its own ends. He would have likely taken a similar path(and kind of confessed as such to Genkai in their afterlife meeting) even if Kiyrin hadn't murdered his students. It's just that strength became a way to atone for their loss. "You trapped yourself in a body you hated, hiding in the pain and now you want to torture yourself again"-Genkai to Toguro. So it wasn't just about seeking power, it's what you do with that power that was the core theme of Genkai, Toguro, Yusuke and the Dark Tournament Arc. Now, establishing that as the true character conflict of the Dark Tournament Arc we can now focus on Genkai and Yusuke, and why Genkai chose Yusuke as her successor. Both Genkai and Yusuke share one thing in common: You don't do good out of heroism or justice, you do it because you WANT to. Genkai is selfishly altruistic(as is Yusuke). Or another way of seeing it is think of Yusuke as a more character driven version of Goku. Goku saves the earth not because he necessarily wants to, but because he can. It's the exact same here. Yusuke will act for his friends or for Keiko. But the world? Eeeeeh. In large part, Yusuke doesn't see himself as that nor does he want to. You kind of skimmed over Koenma's introduction of Sensui and the Feast of Vices, but it spells this out in naked black and white. Sensui took the job of Spirit Detective literally and figuratively and that's what led him to extremes on both ends. Koenma feels a deep sense of responsibility and guilt for that, and chose Yusuke specifically for that reason: Yusuke is not Sensui, he never will be. He'll never take the job so seriously that he'll lose prospective. He'll never take himself too seriously that he'll lose sight of the people around him. When Yusuke saved that kid, that too was an act of selfish altruism(albeit, of the negative kind you touched on earlier although unknowingly): My life's stupid, so why not save a kid with it? At least that way, he'll have done some good. That's what his mindset was, and that's why the episode 1 funeral was so important. But now, by the Chapter Black Arc, Yusuke has seen the value not only in his own life but in the lives of his friends and those around him. And it's those, he'll fiercely protect. Another character to compare is Kenshin Himura. The battousai was a ruthless manslayer(hitokiri) and chose to take up the reverse blade sword and to be a wanderer so that he may never kill again, and to protect those truly weak: Those without government connections or even without a place to call home(Yahiko). Through that, Kenshin not only had to reconcile with his past, but his ultimate attack: The Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki can only be used by one who values life, both his own life and those around him. Selfish altruism isn't bad, it's actually quite good and in fact is a balanced prospective. There's no need to be a hero, but there's also no need to be a jerk either: That's what Yusuke and Kenshin have in common as main characters in their story.

[@xdecatron2985]

Even with its sometimes massive blemishes, YYH remains one of my favorite stories to return to, which I think speaks volumes of what Togashi is capable of despite his own struggles.

[@drslit]

im going to keep it 100% with you , puting a few frames of Justin Chatwin's goku while going over that the chapter black contains the worst sins mankind has committed is God tier shade. firm handshakes to the editor

[@bearerofbadnews1375]

Shout out to Scott pilgrim takes off in the final battle of that show. Scott looked like how Yusuke did in his battle against Sensui.

[@malvynabelar6611]

Yuu Yuu Hakusho still is my favorite for one reason or another and still is after all this time. You definitely made me appreciate Mr. Togashi and yourself so much more. It shows a realization of life, a respect for loss and having hope in even the worst. Awesome and HONEST review. Top respect.

[@FairladyZ2005]

Wishing the best for you and your family. As someone who just finished the anime for the first time this week this is fascinating to learn what happened in the manga. I heard the end was sudden but...wow. That is truly so sad for Togashi, especially when Three Kings in the anime is arguably my favorite arc. It was so cathartic and while I know it was your goal to only read the manga it might help bring some closure for you to this whole experience to watch it, assuming you haven't already yet. A compare and contrast of how well the anime managed to conclude what the manga couldn't, might be a very interesting video on its own. Anyway, I've enjoyed your reviews of the manga.

[@lesterwilliamsjr649]

HOT TAKE The english voices for Hiei and Number 17(Dbz) fit perfectly and is one of the best examples of a voice being reused in an anime english dub.

[@kalackninja]

sad to see the last arc of the manga be like that. The anime really did feel like a good conclusion to the story.

[@ryuhitsuya21]

Chapter Black and 3 Kings arc helped during the darkest times in my life. Specifically the anime version that i just rewatched to reinstill my will to go further

[@perciusmandate]

Yusuke's fakeout of being evil in the anime (specifically in the English dub) is one of my favorite moments in the series. He's so menacing and then he flips are reveals that it was a prank. Peak Yusuke.

[@lenoxx_s1884]

I always hated how that multiple personalities BS just showed up at the end out of nowhere

[@cobaingrohlnovo]

the seaman jokes were great lmfao

[@Xiuhcoatl_]

The one thing that will always make me dislike Chapter Black and the Three Kings Arc was Yusuke being turned into a demon.... Yeah, I understand, to a lot of other people it may not seem like such a big deal. Worst things have happened in story telling. The problem to me is that Yusuke overcame Toguro in the Dark Tournament because he never let go of his humanity. He understood the strength it takes to not fight against his mortality, understands his time is limited and he should do what he can with what little time he has. Genkai LITERALLY died telling Yusuke to never run from that fight, lest he become a monster like Toguro. Then Chapter Black ends with... Yusuke becoming an immortal demon... All that strength of humanity, the perseverance, the courage to face one's own mortality.. gone because oh well nvm Yusuke is just strong now because demon. Its one of the reasons why, despite liking CB and 3K, I can't ever see them as more than just unneeded filler to an already complete series.

[@amilcarballantyne]

I agree, if it was simply just the demon strength being incorporated into his own strength while still remaining human, i would have been sort of okay with that but this rubbed me the wrong way

[@wouterd6237]

Okay I just want to say, Your videos always are incredibly good and I always take a pause from studying when you upload, so thank you and your team for granting me an incredible relief:)!

[@RowdySanta]

It seems a number of Mark's issues with Yusuke's character "betraying" his values were just instances of Yusuke being a smart ass, putting on a tough facade, or venting some of his anger. Like when Yusuke said he doesn't care about the portal anymore, it's clear he's just angry and saying that because Sensui has been pissing him off so much. Yusuke is not actually making a big reveal about his values here. Mark's analysis makes me think he may have been reading Yusuke's more juvenile and punkish lines as completely straightforward. I know he said he doesn't watch the anime, but I think watching a few episodes here and there would have helped Mark get a better understanding of the different tones of Yusuke's character.

[@Tokumastu1]

It's a tragedy what happened to Togashi for these last 2 arcs. Poor man was suffering from both severe burnout and major health complications, but Jump management was like "yeah, uh, tough it out, cause you got a deadline to meet and this series is still popular." The 3 Kings arc in particualr really is just a tired and sickly author sprinting towards the end to just be done with it all.

[@richinfacts6003]

We gotta stop acting like Togashi is the only author who had to face WSJ pressure or didn’t have a choice in the matter and hold him accountable to a degree. Toriyama, Kishimoto, and Kubo and Horikoshi all had to improvise and make changes along with some like Kubo writing with a torn shoulder labrum through the TYBW. He’s been taking breaks for HxH and other authors like World Trigger and Blue Exorcist have too. Togashi is still accountable for his own choices and he chose to keep writing despite his health issues and it lead to a weaker product.

[@nihilisticnerd832]

​@@richinfacts6003wow, not a callous and insufferable answer at all. It's like saying "all boxers suffer head trauma and are crippled at the end so like get over it bro." Just because they all are abused and suffer for you doesn't mean it's ok.

[@Shalakor]

@@richinfacts6003 You act like all those other examples didn't also lead to flaws in final product. Even forgoing having the the decency to show empathy for fellow human beings, your argument doesn't hold up on the grounds that unreasonable working conditions are self defeating to the production process in the end in all cases. What purpose does this demand for accountability of the author is hope to accomplish anyway? As if Togashi didn't already apologize. And even if he hadn't, that wasn't a choice to keep writing YYH, since when you work under a specific contract if you violate it you jeopardize your livelihood. There was no real choice to not work under those conditions. And, only then, for his next contract he had the leverage to stipulate conditions for working around what his medical issues would allow, so he even took the responsibility you hollowly claim he should have as if it were personally owed to you or something. You're basically just being argumentative for the sake of it.

[@KuwabaraMikey19]

Chapter Black is my favorite arc. I watch it as teenager and I was fascinated by the theme. At the time i didn't understand theme but as i got older i started to figure it out. At 22:28 - 25:00 you put it into words how i finally understand the world even today.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

It's sad that Yukina never learned that Hiei was her long lost brother.

[@solismax65]

I mean It’s implied that he’ll come around and tell her

[@Dayman90]

Sensui is up there with Char from Gundam and Griffith from Berserk in terms of my favorite anime villains. Hope we see him in season 2 of the Netflix show.

[@anarchond]

36:33 he means fighting evil is icing on the cake... Not the saving people part ....

[@TheTeaNinja]

Your editor deserves an award for this one

[@theFerraridkid]

Its crazy that Toonami ended airing Yu Yu Hakusho on the Episode that Yusuke died, the Bad guys won, the Demon Portal is wide open, and our remain heros in emotional disarray/chaos. There are some fans who grew up only knowing that the show ended there.

[@Chaosic]

Cartoonnetwork screwed this showed that I had to buy the dvds to finish chapter black and three kings arcs to finish the anime.

[@Telecritter78]

As per the English dub being the best way to experience YYH, Kuwabara lost his soul for saying “each other” much scarier.

[@takeshikujo2909]

19:55 Kuwabara: And I Have A Sword! It, uh, cuts through dimensions and, uh… stuff. Cell: Mm hmm, mm hmm, very impressive, kid.

[@thegreatescape4874]

I can absolutely respect sticking to the OG manga over watching the anime for the final arc, but I feel like the same could have been done for Bleach's TYBW arc too, as opposed to waiting for the anime. I'd still be very interested to hear your thoughts on the anime's Three Kings arc at some point in another video cos I feel like an exception could be made, but that's just me.

[@klaasfaak4039]

Especially since so far with the TYBW arc anime there has hardly been anything worth the wait for aside from some stuff in the last episodes of cour 2. He should have just continued with the manga.

[@Ash_Wen-li]

It's because Bleach fans overhyped how much the TYBW would "stick to Kubo's true vision for the story"

[@klaasfaak4039]

@@Ash_Wen-li Yeah feel bad for Mark when he has to return it isn't even that remarkable of an adaptation

[@jamarone5902]

Thank you. I’m 33. Doing a rewatch. Classic anime helps me battle depression. I appreciate your work and happy to see the number of comments

[@perrydunetz882]

It’s not flanderization, Yusuke is all about posturing, he’s never been able to be honest about what he’s feeling without being shocked into it, the point is that he’s lying, until later in the fight, the point is that he’s becoming more and more demonic until he eventually becomes a demon prompting his character arc for the rest of the series, it’s not so much a shark jump and more a gradual built up over the course of the fight, the ending of the fight is super unsatisfying and it’s a bummer, but it’s that way for Yusuke too, that’s the point

[@Reshapable]

I don't know if that's so much *the* point so much as *a* point that is available to claim. For it to be the point the audience should be dissatisfied for the same reason as Yusuke and I don't believe most are.

[@ciregoku]

Yusuke used fighting as a way to cope not because he enjoyed it...for the most part. His whole arc is about learning to accept his emotions. He says he likes fighting for himself but he's always fighting to protect someone else even if he doesn't realize it. That's his whole realization at the Dark Tournament

[@Justpassingby204]

Yeah, I totally see it as Yusuke talking trash as a facade

[@kidFLASH891]

Mark I really want to thank you for that segment about hopelessness being easy. I've been in the worst headspace lately, just the pits of dread and despair, and the things you talked about there really helped me today. Thank you for that.

[@DandyAndy23]

Despite the ending, I LOVE the beginning of the series to the end of Chapter Black SO much that the ending doesn't even feel as bad as it objectively is. Kudos to Togashi for that.

[@tdata545]

In regards to your humanity rant. I had to have this discussion with my much older friend, who is a bit of a misanthrope as a Veterinarian. He's 61 to my 35. Something I had to learn early on and due to personal life experiences I learned before coming to the US. Being blackpilled as they call it is super easy, when you've never actually seen true horrors or have had to literally fight for personal survival. I was born and spat immediately into that situation as a Romanian Orphan during their highest mortality rate at 80%, spent 3 years in that situation before being adopted, where it was EXTREMELY rare for a child to make it to the age of 3 and usually by your 3rd or 4th birthday you'd be, in theory, pushed along to the next orphanage that deals with that age range. BUT, being Romania in the late 80s mid-civil-war, meant there wasn't any income coming in, and there realistically wasn't a next stage of foster care to go to, so... sexual slave trade it was for you, unless you were the VERY LUCKY, like 0.0001% who got adopted by a foreign couple, like I was. A US couple saw the news coverage on TV of the state of Romanian orphanages, dropped something absurd like $40k to set up the process to go to Romania which also meant working with like 10 different US embassies, since some of the countries she had to go through were also embroiled in their own war. It was messy to say the least. Since I think she was away from her family and two natural-born kids for like 3 months in total, 1 month traveling to, 1 month searching for me, and 1 month to get back home. And yes, I remember very little about my time in the orphanage, but enough... The point is, when you've actually faced death as many times as I have had to, you realize that Nihilists and Misanthropes are usually edgy kids (regardless of age, even at my friend's 61 years of age) with no real world perspective on how messed up the world can actually be, or how futile the concept of "Good" and "Evil" really are since humanity's greatest strength comes from justifying any act you can think of and making it seem like they're the "GOOD" guys. You realize that the key to winning in life is to figure out the game, figure out how it's rigged, and creating a strategy to work within those restrictions and sus out weak points you can exploit for personal gain. So, with that said, the greatest tool you as a person can have is, Empathy. Even for the most vile of people, you can't win a battle without knowing the motivations of the other side, even if on a personal moral level you don't agree with them. Like when I told my friends what I had to do to survive in that Orphanage for 3 years, they see it as just since it was self-preservation. BUT the objective reality, is I committed a cardinal sin of humanity, multiple times, and some of those times wasn't for SURVIVAL reasons but abusing my power as a stronger and older child in that situation, just because.

[@BotBehavior]

The Seaman bit hits every time lol

[@KenjuKizawa]

YYH is one of THE BEST action anime out there. While I do see Chapter Black's ending and Three Kings as a bit weak, it does wrap up beatuifully. Yusuke's demon blood seems pretty damn out of nowhere, but I'm more upset that we didn't see that form for longer. As for Three Kings, the tourmanent as a whole isn't for the readers/viewers. It's about interpersonal relationships, but I will admit Togashi did blaze through it but we already had an awesome tournament.

[@tudeslildude]

Beautiful review series, as I've come to expect at this point. Frankly, is a wonderful thing in this day and age. ~

[@Dr4wfox]

I had no idea that the manga ending was so bad. I really love the anime, and all memories it brings, from a time that wont come back

[@LordxAphelionx]

Another great video Mark! Love how the editor snuck a clip of Goku from Dragon Ball Evolution in when you spoke about the Chapter Black VHS, it killed me. xD

[@kazkatgamer6722]

36:10 the reason Yusuke says this, is cause hes always been fighting. Hes been fighting his whole life, and he'll fight for others no matter who they are. He'll keep fighting, thats who he is, and if he can save people on the way then, as he said, "thats just icing on the cake". Yusuke doesnt need a reason to save someone, that should come naturally to people, but what makes a person like that different from others is if that person can fight the battle, no hesitation. Thats what it means to be the "end all", at the end of it all can you continue fighting.

[@suzeray87]

It was me Kurama! It was me all along!!

[@DragonStar524]

I honestly think that the anime ending for Yu Yu Hakusho is better than the manga. But Yu Yu Hakusho, is a masterpiece. In both forms.

[@alexanderthered5603]

I think your issue with Yusuke saying he just like to fight and saving people is icing on the cake could just simply be Yusuke not willing to really admit it. It's not like he really see himself as a "good guy".

[@LittlexOgre]

The potential was there, the casting was there, the look was there. But the choice to cover as much as they did was just bizzare. They could have easily turned it into 5 seasons, no question.

[@Khipher]

So happy to see you back, Mark!

[@Blizz3112]

24:30 Omg, finally someone talking about our boy Slat...

[@midwesternviking_ttv2986]

LETS GOOOOOO!!!! I am so excited for this review

[@robertoveroyguitar]

great video Mark! now time to start Rurouni Kenshin!

[@gelert16]

Yeah, it is a real shame how the series ended. I am glad I saw it through to the end, though. Hell of a series.