How One Punch Man Explores Depression

[@baguette3025]

When you think about it, Saitama does have a lot of reasons to be depressed. We don't know much about his early life but from what we've seen it sucks. 1. As a child: he grew up in poverty, had no friends, struggled to keep up in class, and was bullied by the upperclassmen for lunch money (the bullies were also dirt poor, which makes it sadder in hindsight). 2. As a young adult: he failed to live up to society's basic expectations, was unemployed and came close to being homeless several times. He seemed to have no contact with his family - if he even had one. By the time the series began, he had became straight up suicidal. The most iconic and noticeable trait of Saitama is his invincibility, so it's easy to associate his permanent bored state with it. But the more you think about his life, the emptier it feels.

[@agentsquid9079]

The only time his life wasn’t so empty was when he got that fiery passion in his eyes after his fight with Mr. Krabs. I’m pretty sure that’s one of the only times he had fun. Even though his hero work is a hobby, he gets a kick out of the fights, sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses, which made winning that much more rewarding.. which yeah, it was empty.. now it kinda still is.. I relate to this alot.. I was once so passionate for a hobby once. I didn’t take the work “seriously” but I loved working on it. I’d spend hours perfecting it, my skills and.. I loved it.. the reason why I did it was not for work but for enjoyment.. then one day I had my account deleted for a mistake.. and that hobby of mines was gone. I tried to pick it up again, but the hours of work into it.. and the pressure and tension to get back the feeling of enjoyment was gone.. no matter what I did, no matter how much I wanted to go with my hobby.. it was.. so.. tiring. I still try to do my hobby from time-to-time.. but.. with everything going on, I can’t feel “good” anymore. It doesn’t feel the same when I try to get back into it. I felt so drained. And empty, and that hobby was probably the only thing keeping me going.. now I’m afraid of losing myself if I abandoned it.. yet at the same I procrastinate and never really picked up on it again..

[@jomsht7116]

@@agentsquid9079 this... i feel so attacked right now

[@meh3083]

@@agentsquid9079 i relate to this too much. i'm sorry use three have to go through it, and the countless others who wouldn't even read this comment and feel alone not knowing someone else is going through the same thing. thanks for this comment. (Also thank you Baguette of revenge for the info)

[@diegoparra1035]

And then genos came and actually helped saitamas isolation

[@goldman77700]

@@agentsquid9079 I feel that's right now. Replace "hobby" with college and its the same story. Re-entered college 2 years ago in my thirties about to get my degree in 6 months but man....the apathy has really been kicking it again.

[@trevork7420]

“the world is basically a playground and he’s the only adult.” this is a genius line my guy.

[@bligaderski]

God what an artist this man is. I hope he’s well.

[@perfect.stealth]

@@bligaderski I'm kinda worried tbh. He hasn't posted anything for years

[@CodeguruX]

That basically says it all. Even when they added Blast into the mix, he's still only the student assistant to the adult on charge. In the end, everything is Saitama's call to make.

[@kelvinsantiago7061]

It reminds me of a quote from Superman when he said "I have the power to do what ever I want and the responsibility to do what's right"

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

The fight with Boros shows how empathetic Saitama can be, even to a genocidal space pirate, just because he knows how empty and overwhelmingly depressing it is to be too strong. He allowed Boros to have his fun, until Boros decided to threaten the rest of humanity with his Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon.

[@cookies23z]

oh you also true

[@torizo8763]

Oh you Right

[@notvex3987]

Bruh this is your least liked comment

[@egg.8320]

I always find this guy

[@suvamtmg]

@@egg.8320 same

[@werewolf4358]

Honestly Saitama's 'handling' of the Sea king vs Kamen Rider fight is the one scene in this entire anime that left me feeling the weirdest. Like... even though he gets nothing out of it, he basically makes sure everyone believes that the other heroes did all the real work and he was just trying to claim credit for it. He literally could expect to get nothing out of doing that, but he did it anyways because he saw it as the right thing to do. That was always the most emotional ending to such an insanely emotional scene to me personally.

[@leem.5917]

Mumen rider my guy

[@ieuanhunt552]

When Saitama caught Mumen Rider and said. Well fought pal I'll take it from here. And later when they shared a meal in that dinky little Ramen place I cried a little. This show has heart.

[@arzaterodrigo]

“When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all” -God from Futurama

[@HYDEinallcaps]

@Bob The Builder Kamen Rider Cyclist. It's extra-subversive because he's a cool and pleasant guy who's the antithesis of being insufferable. He's the opposite of a cyclist!

[@GameFuMaster]

@@arzaterodrigo that's actually an interesting quote, which is also similar in the Dao De Jing 17. The best leaders the people barely know. The next best they love and praise. The next they fear. And the next they hate. Those who lack trust will not be trusted. Then they resort to promises. But when they accomplish their task and complete their work, the people say, "We did it ourselves."

[@jeffersondemott2125]

I think you're right about him being suicidal, although I think he wants to die fighting because it it is the "heroic" end his strength denies him.

[@mw2zorzest]

Also it would probably be pretty hard to die as Saitama, I mean he takes hits from monsters that could blow away cities and doesn't give a crap, what's a knife or a rope gonna accomplish.

[@LeJazzPanda]

I wonder what's greater, his strength or his durability? Could he punch himself in the head and kill himself?

[@Traumglanz]

@@LeJazzPanda Actio et Reactio, his body withstands his own punches everytime he punches someone.

[@LeJazzPanda]

@@Traumglanz So does an ordinary human and they get hurt when they get punched

[@upsetspaget2885]

Yeah especially in the later chapters where he talks about how he misses the feeling of breaking the barriers of self improvement. He feels like he cant improve anymore than he already has

[@biz0unc3]

I like how Saitama can also still be impressed by others, like how he admired how hard Genos tries, and even the effort that Boros put in, before he had to put him down. He never insults their effort, he's if anything, encouraging. He's a good dude. He deserves his power, and I also hope one day he can get the challenge he'd want.

[@biz0unc3]

Oh and King too. That's a fucking REAL friendship right there. Those 2 are real bros.

[@punkshotgun3421]

I like how as the series continues Saitama is gaining more friends and emotions even though he doesn't know it yet and without realizing it is helping the others around him grow to be better people

[@SWIFTzTrigger]

Its only 12 episodes and yet one of the best anime ever made.

[@PostModernToast]

@Zero Two And it looks pretty garbage based on the trailer

[@NOU-iw3gb]

@@PostModernToast It is bad. Just watched it.

[@thegamingbroz2716]

@@NOU-iw3gb Episode 3 was so good it is basically back to good animation like it was in season 1. Hopefully Episode 4 and further episodes will be good too.

[@NOU-iw3gb]

@@thegamingbroz2716 Calm down episode 3 animation is nowhere near season 1. It's good but not that good.

[@NOU-iw3gb]

@Rando You got a good point however the pacing, direction etc are all trash.

[@robohobosapien]

As someone who has had depression for years, I'm amazed that I never noticed this possibility. I may have only taken it at face value, just laughing at how he didn't care how powerful he was, but maybe my subconscious saw his depression and general situation the entire time. But I've also realized something else. Saitama's possible depression could be something that makes him feel completely uncaring about himself, making him calm in even the face of even his own death, and therefore making him the most selfless superhero ever. Combining that with his raw power makes him even more dangerous than he appears. If the show ends with his meaningful demise, I wouldn't hate it.

[@Guruc13]

I... I think that would run counter to the message of the show. Right? I think it's easy when you're depressed to imagine a noble way out for yourself. This is said as someone who's lived it. It's kinda easy to go, "Well, I don't want to be here anyway, I might as well help some people on my way out the door." Allowing Saitama to sacrifice himself seems to buy in to that idea of suicidal thinking. Maybe it's just me, but I always wanted to see Saitama take the hard road of making small changes to his life, doing stuff outside of hero work, that made his life incrementally better.

[@viljamtheninja]

@@Guruc13 Agreed. Giving the depressed character a "meaningful" demise is a terrible thing to do, if we agree that the show actually is meant to portray him as depressed. It's that dangerous feeling of "Everyone will see how special I was once I'm dead" that made 13 Reasons Why such an absolute atrocity and a danger to sufferers of depression.

[@CalamityDiamond]

You know that weird feeling you get when you see someone else who you can actually tell gets what depression is? This video gives me this feeling. Good job dude.

[@moocowtoyou]

hey comrade in melancholy ... here is a useless wave of warmth from my heart to you carry that weight space cowboy

[@cathyshepard253]

moocowtoyou cool :3

[@nova_vista]

Thank you

[@SLCtica]

That was very sweet, we need people like you 😊

[@zackattack9228]

The moment he confronted his past, We became Spike,carrying the burden of others just as he did.

[@meem6227]

I've been fanboying over this anime for so long and I've never known why. This finally showed me why I fell in love with this egg looking ass's story the instant I saw it, and I still preffer it over any other anime, years later

[@FIAWOLpi]

Yes! I've struggled with depression all my life but over the last few years have seemed to have shifted my thinking. I've worked on growing up and acting more like the adult I am, face the things that are uncomfortable, and being honest with people, ya know... the right thing to do just because its the right thing to do. I connect with everything you've said about the show, and I hadn't quite realized that may be the reason I love it so deeply. I'm still depressed but it just is part of my life and when its bad I can sorta mentally check out and let the good habits I've worked on push my body through life until I feel up to checking back in.

[@yaboiaintshit4045]

Since I first watched One Punch Man I felt bad for him, I even got a little concerned for him

[@theofflineslacker1904]

I know others may complain about how fast you talk but I found it so refreshing. You are the first discussion video I stopped watching at 2x speed just because you kept the conversation going fast enough.

[@rickyroughton8098]

I don't fast forward other discussion videos, but I agree that it was nice to have someone talking at the speed of my own cognition for once.

[@hecklingAbyss]

@@rickyroughton8098 Definitely agree! I normally struggle to understand fast speakers, as a non-native speaker, but he is just speaks fast AND clearly... It's also quite funny, that his deep voice works like a watermark because he couldn't speed up post-edit, without it being pitched (Not that one should need to proof this).

[@ironvix3n845]

I am french and i can tell you i understand 1 word out of 2 lol

[@thefook9844]

He was like Genos speaking to Saitama for the 1st time xD

[@alkisleftheriotis9931]

This video alone has me shaking inside. Why did I not find you sooner sir... I will make up for lost time by watching your future content and maybe going back to any older videos of yours. Go forward, full force.

[@earthisadonut7213]

If Saitama leaves, who knows what will appear next time. Sure, there's Blast and Tatsumaki, but even we saw Tatsumaki struggling against some dragon-level threats, if a god-level threat were to appear, maybe even Blast would have a hard time. Saitama knows this and has to stick around until he dies of old age or something.

[@szarekhthesilent2047]

Unless he defeats death... in one punch, of course...

[@earthisadonut7213]

@@szarekhthesilent2047 he probably will and then come back to life

[@marbsj9633]

@@earthisadonut7213 kinda like the Marvel Storyline when Hulk never died and was the last person on Earth, all alone. That's depressing af.

[@earthisadonut7213]

@The Fantom Convoy because he only shows up when a confirmed God level threat appears. Kind of an asshole move.

[@Dustinadamharris]

@The Fantom Convoy he showed up in the manga

[@DepressionOfMyCat]

now that it's 2019: I always felt that OPM is pretty much "the power switch" with MobPsycho100(which is also written by ONE). And that show talks a lot more directly about depression than OPM does. Both storys have the teacher and student relationsship: The Teacher (saitama/reigen) is pretty chill but always trys to impress the student (genos/shigeo) who is an innocent type and gives his best to follow his master. In MP100 it is the teacher who is the most powerful and in OPM it's the student. Even tho Saitama and Reigen both have different abilities, they share the same goals; changing the world and trying to be a good person - so in other words: being a hero. But after all, both are lonely. It's mentioned quite often how Reigen has no friends and how he struggels with his job. In the webcomic he even says, he wanted to give up his business. Saitama is just the same: quitting his boring salaryman job to try something new, but even that does not turn out how he wished. He also just starts making connections with other people, when he becomes a hero and both teachers get pretty much saved when the student comes into the story.

Heck even in the mp100 first ending this is remarked I wonder what the hell are they gonna do in opm season 2 (I only read the opm webcomic)

[@DepressionOfMyCat]

La Moi yep exactly! the ending is very eye opening to reigens hidden personality

[@Lukos0036]

Living entirely for the well being of others even though you don't want to live would be the definition of a hero I think.

[@walfalcon]

My additional take on the "it's just a hobby" line of thinking (which I'm not certain is more "right" than your suggestion that he does in fact do it for the benefit of others, but I think the two sides can coexist TBH) is that while Saitama indeed is a hero as a hobby, he gets no enjoyment out of it. He does it because it's something he's "supposed" to enjoy. With my experiences with depression, I will go through the motions of something that I'm doing "for fun", simply because that's the identity I've set out for myself. I'm someone who enjoys X, so I do X, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that I'm gaining nothing from it. Saitama is (in his mind) someone who enjoys being a hero, so he acts as a hero, even though doing so isn't actually enjoyable. It's easier to keep on your routine than it is to confront the fact that you're not actually *thriving* with that routine. And while Saitama recognizes that he's not thriving, he doesn't confront it. He remains a hobbyist that doesn't actually enjoy their hobby. I think I'm just restating a monologue from right before the Genos is introduced but I don't feel like checking.

[@Susie_Floozie]

Relatable is right--I appreciate your trenchant insights, Steak. I, too, struggle with depression. A life of accomplishments has given me no satisfaction or pleasure, and my only motivation is an innate drive to serve the needs of others. I'm alone now, and limitless freedom feels like a prison to me--I know I will never do anything meaningful for myself, and it's killing me inside to realize that. It's somehow comforting to know that I'm not the solitary outlier I imagine I am.

[@upsetspaget2885]

I loved the anime but the content didnt really speak to me untill i read the manga, litterally brought me to tears many a time.

[@jaredm1755]

The manga is so good that I have to read it by a physical copy cause I just really want to feel the great art

[@nategrenko4395]

Dude, I don't even watch anime but I love your analysis so much. I desperately hope you do more video essays such as this and the Metal Gear Solid 4 one. They're so good.

[@ashking109]

Honestly I watched a bunch of these analysis videos for OPM but yours takes the cake, tysm for making this!

[@SubitoKurai]

From one guy getting by one day at a time to another, good on ya man. You nailed it.

[@brovid-19]

It's been 5 years since steak released this video. _I CHECKED._

[@SandersCat_yo]

love the way you express your ideas. subbed.

[@Tungdil_01]

1:53 Dudley Stage - You Blow My Mind - Street Fighter III 3rd Strike

[@hazthebezz]

Spot on man! Saitama is super interesting because he is the most relatable non - relatable characters ever. As an introvert, his situation is like my wet dream. Society doesn't really recognize you, you become envious at all the alpha people monopolizing attention, but hey, deep inside you are actually the strongest man in the world! Sucks on them for not cherishing you! I do not know whether you have read the webcomic. But a bit of spoiler, he's actually becoming worse, deciding to alienate himself in a small, empty room after his apartment got destroyed. He cannot even relate to material stuffs in that point.

[@demoncyborg396]

No he's not becoming worse, he actually made some new hero friends and he also enjoys playing video games with king. Get your facts right

[@Darth-Nihilus1]

Fubuki, Bang, and King hangout with him and Genos

[@nin2494]

Demon Cyborg exactly! And he gets angry over losing, his friends matter to him, he just doesn’t realise it

[@AllahsStrongestSoldier]

If you want to change something, than change something.

[@zaksbigmeatus3637]

People who actually get it

[@waseem7195]

Holy shit . What a gem of a channel I stumbled across

[@elKinesis]

Wow, you really hit on something around 7:25. That's how I've felt during my last job, and during my current job. My last job was working at a debt collection law firm. Even though I was good at my job, I always felt like nothing but a cog in the machine. I felt suicidal, but suppressed that in order to help my coworkers. Lack of satisfaction is what drove me to leave, and pursue another career in fixing other peoples' problems (electronics repair, focusing on DJ equipment). Granted, this isn't saving anyone's life, but there are people who depend on DJ gigs to pay the bills, and I help them do that. At the same time, I constantly fight with a drive to kill myself, because I really don't see any point in existing other than to serve and help others achieve their ambitions. I tell myself that I do what I do for my own personal satisfaction, but in reality I do it because others have made it clear that they don't know what they would do without me around to help. I don't continue living for my own satisfaction, but because others rely on me to fix their problems. Also, I love the use of the music from Katamari.

[@ItsB3enLikeThis]

Hope you're still here and doing better, man.

[@Pentefix]

Saitama: "Mirror mirror, on the wall, who can beat me, once and for all." Mirror cracked before speaking*

[@dustystyx8642]

Dude you have a really great voice, its like dramatic and smooth at the same time

[@nickbooze9766]

Putting Lonely Rolling Star at end of anything is a guarantee for waterworks.

[@FuchsiaNeko]

Genuinely I think you have some of the best video essays on this site

[@jon99867]

Hey dude, I really enjoyed the content/commentaries on this and your video on Ping Pong (I think it's a tragedy it has less than 100 views). Can't wait to see your future content :)

[@SteakBentley]

that's validating, thanks a ton

[@fregonatactica]

i fucking love how the most replayed part on this video is 2:58

[@JacksonCaro-b2f]

He used to be my fav back in my depressed days

[@Amtheystsky]

Saw the words depression and one punch man in the title automatically clicked...... but overall this is a great summary and ur statements are on point. I’m currently depressed and I love one punch man very inspiring. He’s truly relatable, tbh never saw it this way, and now it’s so cool to kno that there’s ways to keep going even tho u wanna give up, even if u do the right thing because it’s right and I feel like none appreciates it very relatable. Thx for uploading this

[@Chip-Chapley]

2:57 guy having sex- "huh, what's that nasty stain on the table? now i want to listen to system of a down.... mmm I wonder what i should cook for dinner tonight?" yup... thats me.....

[@Excalibur2]

Minus the sex

[@CruiserDynasty]

you fucken dumb ass lol youtube is sure full of the dumbest people.

[@Pragabond]

@@CruiserDynasty *Fuckin' It only takes something almost vaguely close to having grade school intelligence to know how to turn fuck into a verb. Long story short...you're right! KZbin is full of the dumbest people.

[@otenkov]

@@Pragabond woah. wayyy too judgemental. u gotta chill. don't call someone stupid based on langauge and literacy. that's gotta be the lamest way to reprimand this guy. there's so much more things that you could say.

[@Alassandros]

I want that clip. I've been there far too often.

[@Fodimin]

I really like the way you emphasise the S in every word, makes for really good ASMR. Oh and good video too.

[@msgalile5573]

The most strange and maybe the best video essay about one punch man that I've ever seen. Thank you man!

[@ericwaters6194]

I never really understood why I loved this anime and related so much to the main character before I watched this video. Thank you - you've shown me the way.

[@techpriest4347]

I really love any video that breaks down OPM less from it's use of tropes and more from the inner struggle that Saitama has, and you nailed it in one of the best ways I have seen.

[@daborshy4089]

After seeing the animation for Season 2, I'm exploring depression a little more intimately than I'd hoped

[@mr.joseph7088]

Oh c'mon dude, it's not that bad, but of course, Mad house is 100 times better

[@sarbartharoy6277]

Jc staff faced many troubles with the landlord bro.... They tried their best... But their landlord was a douche monkey

[@AMicroBox]

How long can a script be for a 10 minute video

[@mountainfalcon6290]

7

[@copper803]

Too

[@juanriera3200]

Treeeee

[@probably_seohyun]

Ours

[@jhonnie6778]

OMG U JUST MADE PERFECT 7 TO THREE HOURS OMG OMG

[@OPF234]

There is a reason why I like this series besides the crazy as fights that would never even appear in most series, are the characters and that is ONE bread and butter when it comes to his stories and relating his character to his audience ( and even himself)

[@barrytheblue4054]

This actually really helped me somehow

[@knirb9]

Sounds like we've had the same experience with OPM. The part about him going through the same motions as other heroes but just not feeling it was a punch in the gut, too relatable.

[@mattis8205]

Now that you've explained it to me, I actually relate to Saitama way more now. Like to the point where i feel like a shitty, bargain basement version of Saitama, minus the super powers. But I'm definitely at least as, if not more depressed (with better reason too, probably) than Saitama and regularly experience casual thoughts of suicide or moments where I think a pain somewhere might be cancer and I'm like "boy that'd be a relief". I may be a geeky kind of guy, obsessed with details about everything, consumed by philosophy, enthralled by language, and enamored with technology, but I'm also an elite athlete, a boxer and i'm good looking despite my inability to have a relationship with a woman last longer than 2 months. I suck. Even though compared to everyone I've ever met I am awesome and even f they have one area of expertise in which they overshadow me I far outstrip them in a dozen others, but it doesn't matter because they're somehow complete, where they are meant to be and I am not.

[@sebbychou]

I think there's something about skill and work too. Leaving your job to follow your dream of becoming the best at (thing you like that you're good at) and spending the 1000\10000 hours to master the skill but in the end you're still miserable anyway

[@drumjjj777]

I needed this. Thank you, you're real and I see you

[@kingsnake545]

You voice is pretty sweet,l and you spit out many words per minute like Cinema Sins. The difference is that you're not a dickhead. Great job.

[@tropicalvikingcreations]

This explanation was way too relatable.... Stop starting into my soul, we don't go there! XD Seriously though, good video, I sorta knew this but putting it into words really gave it... Uh perspective

[@secretname3897]

Your style, writing, and humor are really engaging. It seems like you haven't uploaded much lately, but I hope to see more from you eventually (if that's what you choose to do). Either way, this is such a great video.

[@frozenintimeandspace]

A really good constructed video! You got a new subscriber!

[@garderay9994]

I just found this video in my recommend, and I cannot believe you made a 10 minute video with a half hour script. Unreal. Also changed my mind a bit on a fav series, thank you.

[@blues4509]

Yeah I relate to Saitama heavily. Usually in my dreams I feel genuinely happy in my life and have absolutely no pressures, just able to live my life playing video games and going where I please whenever I please. Then I wake up with my face in a textbook almost late for work and I get that "Oh.." moment and go on.

[@dariogutierrez6716]

My man, often insulted outside of fictional worlds, Saitama.

[@dariogutierrez6716]

he does help a literal potential suicide victim in the manga, too

[@maririantarean3720]

Did... did this man just stroke King Crimson's cheek? Oh my, I am the big happy.

[@mizuryo311]

I see a man of culture also commenting on that sweet kc figure

[@Excalibur2]

I can kind of relate to him as a college grad. All the hardest challenges I feel are behind me, for better or worse. Now, it's just an endless stream of work until retirement. It's kind of depressing.

[@celticwind4122]

probably why suicide rates spike up the older you get. being a slave until you die doesnt sound too appealing. being in college now its tough for me to find motivation when thats the goal im working towards.

[@theguardlorenzo5898]

Now i understand why he keeps hanging with king continuously, both of them connect because they are on the same situation but on polar opposite places

[@Afrika009]

I need the name of the track in the beginning. You've used it in your other videos too. It screams peak 1980s Japanese smooth jazz and I need it in my life.

[@Hell_O7]

Love the "feels it, knows it" part near the end there.

[@midknightparadigm]

Bro has the voice of an anime dub lead protagonist

[@CaciqueVanGuard]

I came here because I finished watching the Cowboy Bebop video and the video advertising this said "I literally can't remember what this video is about."

[@dackel4253]

The finale is him and one kick man giving it their all and during the fight become truly happy

[@zaksbigmeatus3637]

Nice job dude. Enjoyed the video. I'm definitely going to subscribe.

[@Aaron.Reichert]

That seems like an insightful commentary on OPM and also you packed a lot of words in under 10 minutes

[@sabrinalucyvega]

AAAAAAH I KNEW IT ITS THE MUSIC FROM KATAMARI, NOT ONLY THE VIDEO IS GREAT BUT THE MUSIC CHOICE IS A TREASURE! well done bro

[@ModifyBankai]

I know I'm like 4 years too late, but this might just be the best video about Saitama I've seen.

[@HinnyHinaika]

Awesome analysis! Already at 1:29 you nailed it - why Saitama is such a great hero

[@richardyasushiii3848]

Great interpretation of the series, Steak! It's a good metaphor for depression - and it totally reminds me of the Venture Bros. in tone and feeling, especially since the latter is basically about failure. I should watch it again. You've got a real radio voice too.

[@colinmiller513]

First video of yours I've seen. 4 minutes in I was a subscriber eager to go through your back catalog. Excellent stuff.

[@JackVogel2024]

Was depressed on and off for twenty plus years and almost ruined it all because of it. After one deep dive in buddhism it's hard to enter that state even when intentionally explored. Dunno what happened but it's great, although everything is a bit stoic ever since. Good trade off though. On topic, love when animated shows explore the dark sides of living. Often capture something live action doesn't, for some reason.

[@CommissarCerreto]

Yo Lonely Rolling Star has got me through several suicidal breakdowns, perfect application my dude. Solid analyisis, subscription inbound.

[@TauGeneration]

5:22 i love that you have king crimson (angry boi) with the rest of the manga

[@doppled]

was this a j- anyways nice comment, it just works

[@davidsterling7570]

Really appreciated Lonely Rolling Star, and all the colorful language around depression. Fun analysis, I'm even more inclined to getting around to this series now!

[@electroflame6188]

2:58 The lolz alone make me need the source of this clip.

[@bendover3398]

Same

[@faisalliot]

THIS. IS. THE. _SHIT._ You got this so spot on, thank you so goddamn much for making this hfjsjdhgfjf. FANTASTIC VIDEO. One thing I wanted to add on, though: You're right--My Hero Academia and One Punch Man aren't that comparable. They're both starkly different in many respects, but there is one thing that they ARE comparable in, and that would be the key message they give. As you said, Saitama is an unappreciated, unremarkable at a glance, and unsatisfied man who has been blessed with incredibly strong power and uses it to help people. What I want to point out is that, just like Saitama, Midoriya Izuku is ALSO unappreciated, unremarkable at a glance, and unsatisfied and has also been blessed with incredibly strong power and uses it to help people. But the incredible part about this is that the "incredibly strong powers" that they were blessed with aren't necessarily what make them remarkable or "heroic" It's their hearts. Throughout both series, we continually see Midoriya Izuku and Saitama doing outlandish things to help people, and not for glory--they do the things they do because they _want_ to. Time and time again we see Saitama and Izuku alike do wild things for anyone who looks like they need it, and THAT'S the key thing that makes people notice them. Like, an example: Midoriya breaking his whole ass arm to help Todoroki resolve his self-hatred and learn to love himself, and Saitama talking down a man from suicide from the top of a building in a very abstract but effective way. And, as said, it's not a glory thing, it's not self-centered in the least. The two of them both saw someone in need and helped in the ways they knew how, which imparts that key message I spoke of earlier that makes them comparable to begin with: "Strength isn't the key to being a hero. Being a hero comes from the heart." The deliverance of this dually-shared message isn't the same, but it's still understood in both series, and THAT is the sole thing that makes them truly comparable and, frankly, makes BOTH of them highly satisfactory series and just genuine strokes of genius. Thank you for the great video, dude.

[@ZANcomix]

Happened across the channel. So weird to hop into this video 4 years later and see digibro name dropped. How things have changed. So much.

[@strikermodel]

3:50 I'm pausing here to write down my own idea of why Saitama doesn't feel like the hero even though he wanted to be. He saw the end goal as all that mattered. Once he got there, it lost all meaning. What is the goal if you are already at the top? As someone who suffers from depression myself, I was blessed with learning this lesson before depression would have consumed me. We've all heard "It's not about the goal, but the Journey." The thing is, sayings have a basis. Achieving a goal leads to not having something to do. Something to feel passionate about. You shouldn't feel depressed about not meeting a certain goal. In fact, be happy you have something to strive for. With this new mindset, I now go from seeing myself on floor 2 in GG Strive a failure and more as "I have over 7 floors worth of climbing content!". It means there's more adventure and improvement. Saitama learned this after hitting the top, and wants to experience the climb he watches others go through. He is probably Jealous of Mumen Rider

[@juliamccoll5732]

Your little "Garou is better though" caption made me laugh. I appreciate. 👌

[@tchao1995]

Hey man I only just found your vids, today, but I'd like to say you, yourself, are incredibly relateable, somehow. to play katamari music while speaking on the perceived elements of depression in OPM. oof. whenever I start to completely fall apart and cut off from the rest of everything, and simply start thinking about not wanting to exist anymore - my method of stopping myself from thinking on those dark thoughts is to listen to the katamari soundtrack (all of them, in a huge playlist), and just read comics until I feel distracted enough to do something productive. I discovered your channel via your MGSIV review. I liked it for four big reasons. it was a really nice analysis. Your editing is the tops. Your use of The Protomen anytime Liquid Ocelot showed made me feel very happy. I love ocelot. I own every Protomen album on Vinyl that I could get my hands on. You explored themes that made me think on my own life in a serious and emotional way. Now here in a roughly 10 minute video I'm left rethinking why I feel more connected to certain pieces of media than others.

[@Tragicide]

Wholy shit this man gets it. I don’t usually agree on alot of things with most people who do reviews but wow, this man really gets it. I’m subscribing just because of this.

[@NormFC]

just found this video. It was a delight from start to finish. And I'll be damned if you'll ever make anything so perfect again in your life. But that being said, I wish you good fortune. Thank you for the laughs.

[@brokencreationlordmegatrol3037]

I will forever know him as a professional sad boi now.

[@ChickenInTheRaw4]

I’m late but this is an amazing video. Plus the katamari damacy Lonely Rolling Star makes it even better

[@sdlstr91]

I found another gold mine! YES! Good stuff Steak!

[@dragonator36]

King Crimson action figure. You have my like

[@Shibbsy]

Dude, please make more videos ..... funny, insightful, and original. subbed

[@bebopcowboy1385]

Props to the “third strike” background fight music, nice touch. Good taste.

[@cgates2]

Yo! This video is really good. Checked your channel hoping for more of your video essays to watch. My soul was crushed. You need to make more video.

[@sh1tb1rd]

Hi Steak that was a great video, your pacing and timing are just right. Keep it up!

[@priyanshugoel3030]

That katamari damacy at the end man ,it touches heart.

[@RandomBJJGuy]

It has a lot of other positive messages too. For example, it explores the idea that there is no easy secret to success, rather simple hard work without stopping will give you success.

[@onslaught147]

Very nice video, sad you don't have more like this.

[@robertcrawford377]

I think at the core the character of Saitama was created in an attempt to embody altruism to the fullest extent. That being - Saitama not only doesn't gain anything from others, but at the same time isn't rewarded by a positive feeling. Ultimately Saitama's oblivious state to external recognition neutralises said recognition regarding personal reward centres. This leads to a likeable character due to an undying level of humility - almost as if Saitama is on a higher spiritual level, akin to a guru. Maybe that's why the creator dressed Saitama with a yellow/red colour code - colours associated with Buddhist monks. The same could be said for the bald head - all designed to trigger our subconscious and shape our perception of Saitama as a spiritual being.

[@VocalMabiMaple]

oh my god I need the sources for 2:58, that's hilarious

[@NeutralGrounder]

Wow what a different perspective you have. I really enjoyed this, thanks