Discovering the Golden Age
24th of August
Introduction
The early 2010s was a time for discovery for me, particularly shows and movies. A blank canvas with no personality, values or purpose standing in front of the mirror, impressionable to the bone with little muscle standing in between. There were many great shows, movies and documentaries which I can recall having a deep impact on my love for good storytelling, creating core memories whilst growing up, a true escapism from my reality as a socially awkward teen living in Ireland post 2008 where financial stress felt like another member of the family. Whilst in thought or reminiscing on my upbringing with shows and movies I had watched for the first time, nothing compared to the 1997 anime Berserk.
Forever a Deepcut
Anime shows were no stranger to me having consumed the likes of Naruto and Bleach prior whilst in my early teens. These shows appeared surface level having a clear depiction of good and evil throughout, angels among demons could be seen from afar for the most part in these stories. Linear storytelling that had nice payoff arc wise with redemption and growth given the main characters worked hard and respected those before them.
When coming across Berserk I had the same expectations, but what I found was something beyond violence and profanity. Each episode slowly built momentum following Guts and his journey with the band of the hawk, there was nothing like it on a first time viewing, no punches were held when depicting violence and sexual depravity in the world of Berserk. Characters were depicted with such depth and subtlety that it challenged how I viewed positions of power and leadership within a world so full of desire and despair. Those who lost their humanity were once people in a position of power leading others only to be consumed by their own despair forever being a slave to their own desires.
Characters such as Guts, Casca and Griffith commanded such respect not only from those in the anime but from myself as a viewer, watching the dynamic of their relationship change over the course of years in the show was something I had never seen before. Guts’ connection with Casca is a catalyst that forces him to question his own purpose within the world. This attachment towards Casca coincides with the separation from Griffith’s plan to lead people into the ideal world. Never had I been so invested in a group of characters who embodied the trials and tribulations of friendship. Witnessing a journey of growth with a group of friends such as the characters in the band of the hawk was very satisfying; small achievements in status and reputation compounded as the group moved up in both class and politics.
However this was all short lived having my heart torpedoed and sank to the bottom of my own internal despair watching the end. Watching the ‘Golden Age’, a realization dawned on me at the end that this is where the story arc ends for the group, nothing was going to be the same from this point onwards. A bitter truth was told showcasing the same violence and dark sexual nature that had been prevalent from the beginning, only at the end it cut deep, it was forever a deep cut personally, one that I haven’t experienced in any other story since.
Adulthood into the manga
Years passed since my first encounter with Berserk, I had discovered the Golden Age arc from the manga was adapted in 1997 and nothing more. Since becoming a fan of the show the representation of the characters and story of Berserk online grew in popularity, certain corners of the web celebrate the immense strength and lack of emotion Guts expresses as he attacks opponents, a damaged man with no purpose wandering a cruel world.
"... who is my EQUAL"
In my early twenties a decision was made to revisit Berzerk as a whole, experiencing the story as it was originally intended, through the manga. A decision that I’m thankful for having witnessed the journey of Guts beyond the ‘Golden Age’, a true story of healing, friendship and growth. The series introduces new characters along with new corners of the world, it expands upon ideas of spirituality, politics, religion and death. The sexual undertones with each new arc remain but the story's themes slowly evolve with the characters. Personally I see the focus of the golden age to be on sex, violence and status, one’s purpose and aspirations. As the story continues I found there to be more moments detailing trauma, confronting the past to heal and move forward, accepting support from those around you and growing to create friendships you thought you might not have again.
Nothing impacted me more than the ‘Golden Age’ arc on first viewing. But having matured and grown throughout the years into adulthood I have resonated more with the later arcs produced by Kentaro Miura. Maybe it was the change in how I consumed the story going from anime to manga but nonetheless there was more value found watching how Guts has healed and found a new sense of belonging with new friends as he holds onto the memories of those before them. Following on from the passing of Kentaro’s in real life, a bittersweet feeling developed finishing the last chapter. I often see Berserk to be among its own golden age when pondering on the manga’s released at the time and the story being told by Kentaro himself. This story has influenced and contributed to my own growth navigating at times a pointless and cold world, it warms me to the touch knowing I can trace back a feeling as experiencing the ‘Golden Age’ for the first time during those formative years.