The Three Kings: The Tragedy of Wasted Potential
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- Wow! It's finally here! It's time to spend way too much time talking about the Three Kings arc of Yu Yu Hakusho, easily the most divisive in the series. In this video, we're going to go over the arc in its entirety, from the conflict of the Three Kings and the cool implications of that, to the disappointment that is the Demon World Tournament.
With the exception of the upcoming ReWrite video, this will be the last Yu Yu Hakusho video essay. So thank you for sticking with me on this journey. I have no plans to double back and discuss the Spirit Detective arc, so please don't ask.
Yoshihiro Togashi's letter: / togashis_long_written_...
Patreon: / somewherepastnever
SPN Discord server: / discord
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:57 - The Black Sheep of the Family
6:26 - Three Kings, Three Soldiers: Heir to the Throne
25:45 - Three Kings, Three Soldiers: Chains of the Past
35:39 - Three Kings, Three Soldiers: Who I Was, I Am, I Will Be
50:23 - Things Fall Apart
1:05:17 - Speedrunning a Tournament
1:49:11 - So I Creep
1:55:58 - Final Thoughts
Tracklist (for those interested)
Smile Bomb Jazz Cover - All That Jazz
Time Limit - YYH OST
Spider's String (Second Movement) - Shoji Meguro
Alone - Shoji Meguro
Streets of Rage 2 Super Mix - Yuzo Koshiro
Sensui's Theme - YYH OST
Tartarus Block 1-6 Mix - Shoji Meguro
Sing For The Moment (Instrumental) - Eminem
I Against I (Instrumental) - Massive Attack
Unreleased Track 9 - YYH OST
Freya's Theme - Nobuo Uematsu
Hunter's Chance - Nobuo Uematsu
Objection! 2001 - Ace Attorney OST
Lavender Town - Mikel
Gangsta's Paradise Sega Mix - Yuzoboy (RIP Coolio)
Never Return Alive - Yuzo Koshiro
Battle For Survival - Shoji Meguro
Struggle of Sadness - YYH OST
Living With Determination (Iwatodai Station Mix) - Shoji Meguro
Will Power - Shoji Meguro
Pursuit! Cornered - Ace Attorney OST
Blooming Villain - Shoji Meguro
Revenge of Mr. X - Yuzo Koshiro
Unreleased Track 31 - YYH OST
Malenia, Blade of Miquella Synthwave Mix - CthulhuSeeker
Tatakai no Hate - YYH OST
Life Will Change (Instrumental) - Shoji Meguro
Ashita ni Mukatte - YYH OST
Creep (Instrumental) - TLC
Smile Bomb - Sara White
#yuyuhakusho #TheThreeKings #anime 
Кино
![The TERROR of Team Toguro [Yu Yu Hakusho]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E1ghqjxTQhk/mqdefault.jpg)
3 kings arc should have been a full out war. story of betrayal. secret alliances. human world getting involved, etc.
Facts
Exactly…the tournament had absolutely no place in this arc…when Yusuke proposed that idea, the arc just got extremely light hearted and that was the downfall. Well actually another part of the downfall was when they just oded on the time skip
Maybe next season lol 😂
@@jadenhall7938 the biggest downfall is when he gets knocked out in the tournament and the story ends
Fr
Despite the messy last story arc, I still feel that YYH has one of the best endings of all anime I've seen.
That's only because the author of the manga died before the anime finish
@@GojosBackHand he didn’t die. This is not true
@@GojosBackHand he isn’t dead lol
@@GojosBackHand bro wtf
@@GojosBackHand in the first 5 minutes of the video bro says the author wrote fans a letter after ending the series did you watch any of the video
ive said this before and ima continue to say this for years to come. Yu Yu Hakusho, despite its rushed 3 kings arc (which is understandable cuz the creator was dam near dying tryna manage the schedule so we KNOW what it wouldve been if the fire was there) was and is the best anime of all time. its lessons, from the story and the characters development have impacted me in ways many wont understand. Thank you togashi
So you must be okay with how Bleach ended too, if not, hypocrite.
I also like the 3 kings arc, even with the structure problems. The simplicity of the tournament honestly makes it easy to come back to it and re watch. The characters and their story shine even in the truncated time. I really think adding more time to dive deep into all the events is what is needed to make it a great ending even if you keep the story the same. I would love to have a beach tybw style remake of the last ark.
@@boodatruths159what are you saying lmao. The commenter is saying that the series as a whole is still phenomenal despite the lacking final arc. Do you think all of bleach is dogshit just because the manga ending was rushed? (albeit unfairly)
Bleach final arc was filler dummy
I just wish Togashi would completely finish Hunter X Hunter. How many breaks before we never get a conclusion ever?
65% of his height is his ego is the best line I have heard in a while and describes Hiei so well.
Turned him into the biggest and baddest beast ever
Not really, would make sense if he was tall AF but he is short, implying his ego is pretty small.
@@boodatruths159 it can also be interpreted that his ego is a majority of him. That doesn't change based on how large someone is.
was hei egotistical? I don't think so
He called the man a Fisher-Price swordsman lol
Giving kuwabara sacred energy would have bridged the gap between him and the other members. From what we saw sacred energy gives you “conjuration” abilities. Summoning a real sword and armor would have looked sick. Given his control over his spirit sword. He could have replicated abilities of the elder Toguro with his spear fingers. His growth as a fighter being in his battle IQ.
Kuwabara energy is better than sacred energy in my opinion. His dimension cutting sword isn’t just a sword. That’s his Spirit Energy.
Ooh, they could have had him using his spirit sword as a sort of portal generator and worked for the Spirit World. He could have been working behind the scenes as a spy trying to keep the gang in line.
Granted Kuwabara's character doesn't really seem like they'd make a great spy, but it could work as an arc.
I don't know if you're aware, but it was stated in follow-up material that Kuwabara had also become S-class level and went on to finish his studies in school. This, alone, makes him the strongest full-blooded human, and arguably strongest human of all time since it was said Sensui was the strongest Spirit Detective ever at that time, and only broke through into low S-class levels once he activated Sacred Energy.
Yusuke doesn't really count because he'd gotten to A-class as a human, and then he broke the S-class barrier after he awakened his Mazoku lineage. Not to say he wouldn't have become S-class as a human eventually, but he did it as a hybrid in this case so can't give him that.
Kuwabara's Spiritual awareness (which is what allowed him to create the Spirit Sword and Dimension Sword) is exactly what allowed him to become not only S-Class, but upper S-class like Yusuke, Yoko Kurama, Hiei. His spirit awareness sensed the looming threat of the Demon Realm Gate, and it began preparing his body for it, so Kuwabara was constantly growing stronger over time, more so during Yusuke's time away.
@@Saxandfifths I have since read the manga and after the end of the anime Kuwabara is shown using the dimensional sword to make portals and manipulate space. He actually has even crazier growth potential than I thought of at the time
ive been waiting since the " im def not going to do the 3 kings arc one line" can wait
Same 😆
We all knew it was bullshit the second he said it
Bro what even is this. Doesn't name the anime at all and is so damn vague through out
@@lifeunderthestarstv you looking for trouble mister? If you don't know Yu Yu. Then do you really know yourself
I definitely believed him lol
I feel so bad for Togashi. could you imagine burn out that bad back in the 90s? YYH will always be my favorite anime
Reminds me of Takahashi having to write Yu-Gi-Oh! on his death bed basically.
@@TheAzulmagia Didn't Takahashi died saving some kids that were drowning? And i'm pretty sure he wasn't the main writer/artist in yugioh since the original
Ignorant much? This is what it's like for every author working under Shonens rule, Tite Kubo has been the most vocal about it.
@@boodatruths159 lmao ignorant much
Togashi has a track record being lazy and not finishing what he starts so he gets zero pity from me.
Three Kings is underrated. It's not about the fights. It's not about length. It's about what was important to Yusuke, Yomi, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei and Mukuro. Raizen could've lived and easily ruled the Demon World but his promise not to consume human flesh anymore was more important to him than ruling the Demon World. That's what the arc really stresses to me. What is more important to you? Yomi thought ruling Demon World and going to war with Spirit and Human Worlds was what he wanted. Ultimately he found that being a father was more important to him. #ThankYouTogashi
This guy gets it.
Thank you
You putted it in great words my friend. This arc is about self discovery and growth. And it’s amazing that this is one of the only arcs other than Genkai’s tournament not a single soul dies.
Yu Yu Hakusho has so many themes about developing personal strengths and seeing the love of others. Why is it so hard to remember that other people don't always suck? Watch this show to restore your tolerance of humanity. Rewatch it to see tolerance turn to appreciation of humanity #thankyoutogashi
Couldn't have said it better friend.YYH for life!
i do then i get bored by the slow climbing themes tones and oversaturrated early animation when it comes to both tense and moments of high octane value.....basically i alwaysn lose interest in the free reign the main protagonist gets. not a fan of the typical protag safety
smile bomb is still one of the best anime intro songs
Anime with inspirational themes/dialogue are different from reality in case you haven't realized.
@@rabbychan youtube sucks so i dont know if youre replying to me specifically but. having the opinion this show is too ungrounded isnt at all unfair. you can take more mundane but still engaiging anime like detective kid and even fruits basket and still find a more beilevable character story. its MY opinion tho and i just cant get hooked to the same show you did sorry
I think Yusuke’s monologue during his fight with Yomi was actually pretty powerful in the sense that it was a direct reflection of Togashi’s mental state during this time. Perhaps he too began to feel numb to his purpose. I agree the pacing feels rushed and more time needed to be spent to explore this theme, but given what we know now about the author’s struggles, this felt like a genuine existential pang being communicated to the audience, intentionally or otherwise.
The whole tournament idea would have worked amazingly if it was a year or so into an actual war.
I can empathies with Togashi just wanting to end the series due to overwork and health problems but the man literally did it to himself due to refusing help.
In one of the most toxic work markets in the world, with the most infamous death by overwork countries doing one of the most time intensive jobs out there, with draconic supervision and deadlines he decided to do it all by himself.
Pride is a strong force. It can be both necessary and detrimental.
I would like to see what he would have done sans pressure and alot of the oversight
While i dont really like that this is another tournament outcome, i do think the general idea of "Everyone has a plan until Yusuke shows up and says fuck it we ball". It fits Yusuke's personality a lot and settles things in a simple brawl, which is basically all he has really known and how he basically communicates and projects his emotions.
#thankyoutogashi
As a 15-16 yo practicing martial arts, seeing yusuke train so insanely hard inspired me to double down on my own training. I’m 35 now and look back at this time and this show with such fondness and love for the extra mile it brought out of me.
I’m 14 rn and Yyh got me into gym and working out also Andrew Tate
@@SonicandDucktalesProductions Andrew Tate 🧍🏾♂️ 💀
....but did you learn Spirit Gun?
@@dboyedoe I m kuwabara and I got a sword
@@grifcheese1076 Atleast I’m in shape☠️
I feel like, if Togashi were willing, if he went back to redo the Three Kinds arc as a pleasure project, it would be amazing. Poor man was so tired and sick that he just needed to put the nail in the coffin of YYH to save himself.
I wonder why Togashi doesn't leverage it to his disciples (get some if he doesn't have). This way he is free lots of times. Win-Win for everyone
@@camn9441maybe he didn’t trust anyone to handle the series besides himself.
The sad part is, this arc could have been the best in the story. YYH is a classic example of a declining interest from the artist due to stress, pressure from the publishers and overwork which is a massive shame. It's a good thing Togashi's success with YYH gave rise to HxH which thankfully made him a big enough name to call the shots which almost all other Mangaka never get to do. The popularity of HxH still amazes me considering it started around the same time as One Piece and has basically a third of the chapters, and the fact that Jump still support him and try to keep HxH relevant.
togashi never finishes what he starts tho and that goes for hxh it will be the biggest what if
*"It's not a good party till someones on the floor"*
Yusuke is so cool, man wish we got more MC's even close
The anime did a good job of adding George as a character and making him a narrator. Also subbing out yusuke’s mom for shizuru was great
Wait what did they swap seizure for?
@@marioishifranz2326 Brobably to make sure she won`t end up like Chi Chi...
from what i know the main joke about yusuke's mom in the manga aside from the early one of her being a drunk is she has random ties to the yakuza. we don't miss much with her largely being out of the picture and replaced by shizuru who gives more family context and weight to kuwabarra's actions and personal code development.
Facts!
i actually liked the differences in the connections
While Hiei and Mukuro had shitty lives and refuse to die, they have nearly no connection but the random chance that she found his necklace. they basically become a couple.
contrasted to Yusuke and Raizen, who just like all of Yusuke's family, have a blood connection and a fondness for each other, but no real bond.
then we get Kurama and Yomi who have serious history with each other and yet, ironically unlike the other pairs, these two don't bond together. they are estranged friends at best.
#thankyoutogashi
After having re-watched the show recently with my partner, my favorite character went from Hiei to Kuwabara.
He's _such_ a good person, and became more of the man he wanted to be.
Also his breakdown, at the beginning of the arc.
Less than a year, his friend dies not once, but *twice*, he learns the afterlife and demons are real, built brotherhood and changed lives. And his battle bros, the people he trusts more than anyone... they're leaving him behind. I'm tearing up just typing this.
Truth👍
His journey is amazing he loves cats and he cares about his friends. When i first seen him help his homies by not fighting i knew he was a real one. I love that he turns into a more peaceful person after everything too
Kuwabara: The man, the myth, the man, The. Man.
So mad they left him behind. I hated him as a kid but as an adult I realize that's the type of son I'd like to raise.
He might’ve not been in the Makai tournament but he was there in spirit rooting for his man Urameshi.
YuYu Hakusho was one of my first experiences with anime and instantly became one of my favorites. The amazingly catchy theme song, the action, and how passionate each story was. Each of the main characters had their own narrative that just hooked me. It got me into a world and culture that I never would've experienced without watching. #ThankYouTogashi
Yuyuhasko is top 5 best anime all time an people know this an won’t tell the truth that shit well thought out delivered near perfect they made that big dude look impossible to beat that was impressive they way they did it
DBZ was my first experience with anime and there are a few moments that stick with me to this day like Goku vs. Vegeta, Goku going SSJ for the first time against Frieza, Gohan unlocking SSJ2 after Cell kills 16, etc. But nothing has ever stuck with me or affected me like the Dark Tournament. There’s this hard tone shift from “plucky unlikely heroes having cool adventures” to “shit just got real, this man will kill you and everyone you know & love unless you stop him, and right now you can’t even touch him”. Togashi somehow made a single tournament into an entire arc without it ever getting boring or repetitive. The part with Yusuke in the cave almost killing himself trying to absorb Genkai’s spirit orb was somehow both gut-wrenching and inspirational. And Toguro was the perfect villain because he wasn’t just intimidating and brutal but he knew how to hit Yusuke where it really hurt. The part after he kills Genkai when Yusuke can’t bring himself to tell anyone she’s dead really got me. And I haven’t even mentioned the character growth shown by Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama during the tournament. Kuwabara taking on the earth ninja when he can barely stand, knowing he’s going to die, and going in there anyway because no one else could was a massive chad move. There’s so much to say about this arc but there’s a reason it’s considered a masterpiece.
real whats your top 5? my top 2 is yyh and fma@@jordanbarclay4434
To be honest after watching this I realize how good this arc could’ve been Also in this arc Kurama was easily the best written and my favorite
I think Yusuke’s plan to solve the ruling problem with a tournament was absolutely brilliant. He completely averted a war that would’ve probably decimated the world.
Agreed. Since Yusuke had been in two prior tournaments and being used to that one vs one format, while being disadvantaged in Chapter Black on whether to kill or not, it make sense given the opportunity he would go back to that format to avoid killing foes he has no grudge against. Plus the outcome keeps in sprit with his dumb luck that from the start of the series
@@brianglover2698
I’m actually glad he lost the tournament. He belongs back home at Keiko’s side not being king of the demon world.
I was actually upset with another tournament arc the demon realm was hyped up the whole series to be a bad place but nah it’s not really that bad they just all have goku/beerus complex
A War would’ve been far better. If you’re going to do a tournament it has to be Dark Tournament tier or above which it wasn’t.
YYH already had a phenomenal tournament arc. A War arc would’ve been new & great. Shame
It was brilliant but it was bad for the arc. They could’ve solved this a different way
*HUGE MEGA SPOILERS FOR THOSE THAT NEVER READ THE MANGA:*
I feel as though I wouldve enjoyed the 3 kings saga a little more if the anime even made some mention that Spirit World was behind most of the supposed demon threats to the human world. In the final volume, its revealed that Koenma did some digging after the Sensui case and discovered that demons werent really going after humans on a massive scale as originally believed. King Yama was the one who was inflating reports of demon on human attacks, and apparently brainwashed some D-class demons into committing crimes so that crime statistics would look higher than they were. (Its implied that Yusuke may have fought the demons who were brainwashed like Rando or the Beasts of Maze Castle, but its not confirmed so its left to the viewer to decide) This was to "justify" the separation of the realms, the barrier being the main reason demon crimes were low and to paint ALL demons as evil. (If Spirit Realm was so willing to separate the realms, then I think no one would bat an eye over eventual total control of Demon World)
However Koenma discovered that humans have always *used* demons to fulfill their own ends, which amounted to basically population control and war. Demon on human attacks are so incredibly rare that humans dont notice a thing. It was because of his research that the barrier was officially down.
In the anime, there was no real explanation as to why the barrier went down. It was just...down. That's it! The end! I remember re-watching the other day and was rather shook at how the barrier being down amounted to little more than a brief sidenote. Sensui was basically uncovering a huge conspiracy concocted by the big wigs of Spirit World, but it barely got a footnote in the show?
Wow I had literally no idea, since I only watched the anime and read a couple chapters of the manga here and there. 😮 That makes way more sense!
Kinda makes sense . Look at the Dark tournament for example . It was humans that ran the entire thing all for the purpose that they can be rich at the expense of demons and other humans killing each other . And let’s not forget Sakyo’s plan was to open up a big portal that leads to demon world. If Toguro won
Then there’s the sensui rebellion
Stlill a bit contradictory because it was explained in he manga that they eat humans on a regular basis, Yusuke's father literally can't eat something else.
Damn another thing Bleach kinda copied from YYH. Soul Society was also directly responsible for everything wrong with the afterlife and evil creatures (Hollows/Demons) attacking the living world.
@@KR811 and yet as we got to the end of yu yu hakusho , most of the A and S class demons that were “claimed “ to be most evil group of them all were actually decent beings and weren’t evil ( Raizen ,Mukuro, Shigure, the six dark tournament fighters that became A/S class fighters ,Raizen minions and friends , and Yomi and his son )
This was unfortunately back in the day where taking a break was pretty much out of the question. If he had taken proper breaks during the series (like is afforded now after litigation), this likely would have turned out much differently, and his long-lasting health concerns might not have followed him. (The early days of berserk suffered this which put the latter half of the series on constant haiatis until the unfortunate end)
Very excited to hear your rewrite. I've always been just as deflated when such an interesting arc dwindles down to another tournament.
The character work in this show was always top notch, even when the story started to fall apart towards the end. Hiei’s story in this arc particularly always stuck with me.
ditto on hiei. becoming mukuro's lover essentially and bringing her her abusive father to do with him whatever she wishes is a truly sweet thing from him, given who hiei is, and it's a remarkable character progression from the gate of betrayal to here.
@@tdarkhorse4yeah in the manga her story is far darker. It goes into a lot more detail about the rape and torture etc. pretty grisly stuff
For me YYH was an outlet it great to see a troubled teen venting through his challenges for the story to take the route that his lashing out was part of his response to his environment was something I personally lived through. But the biggest take away was the strength Yusake found to overcome the big bad was always fighting for others. Understanding that things were bigger than him. That was a great lesson I still hold close to this day! #ThankYouTagashi
Couldn’t have said it better myself
@1:56:23 Yomi is my personal favorite of the kings. Loved his design, his voice, his connection to Kurama/Yoko and his match with Yuskue. Something I always wondered was HOW he grew 4 more ears. Were they a natural part of his body? Was the kind of demon he was a breed that had multiple ears?
Not to mention, I wonder if he had ever run into Shigure for the ear operation...or why not go to him in order to get his sight back via eye surgery or something. I don't know maybe because doing so would mean a drastic loss in power like Hiei going from what I think A to D class for the Jagan operation.
Oh well, I would've loved to see more from his character.
I always just figured his body mutated those extra ears to compensate for his blindness.
@@100navat makes sense to me!
This Arc actually added alot to the lore in my opinion and tbh hints that if Togashi ever wanted to he can go back to drawing YYH
Given the circumstances i think this arc still turned out pretty good. I mean it's far from perfect, and went in the opposite direction i wanted it to - but given Togashi's situation, at least he took the time to wrap up the main cast's arcs in satisfying ways. He could've just dropped YYH altogether, so I'm happy we have the Three Kings Arc even if it's easily the weakest in the series.
Before even watching this I want to say thank you for making this video because that's something I had an issue with and I never really thought about it consciously until reading the title of this, there was so much more they could have done and I was kind of surprised to see it cut short
#thankyoutogashi This was one of my first anime as a teenager and I bonded with the fact Yusuke was a punk with anger issues who found purpose in his life after a tragic incident in his life. I have the same feelings about the last arc but what saved it for me is Yusuke finding his purpose again. As an adult, I get burnt out from work and I sit back and rewatch the fight with Yomi as a refresher on why I decided to go into my field.
*raizens friends effectively retired and lived off the grid. not that they couldn’t make a difference in the power struggle if they wanted to, but they didn’t want to, until raizen dies and his half breed son shows up and shakes things up, which inspires them to come out of retirement. remember what koenma said about demon world, there are depths full of all kinds of immensely strong demons that we don’t know about. it’s not a stretch at all that some S+ class demons existed but didn’t make their presence known because they just didn’t care to get involved in the politics of the day. it wouldn’t surprise me if there were even stronger demons than them somewhere in demon world. just because you’re strong doesn’t mean you crave or seek political or territorial power. the “Demon World King” title is a misnomer. the king’s authority doesn’t appear to apply to ALL of demon world, only select portions and constituencies. you actually nailed it when you compared it to the presidency.*
The fact is though none of Raizen's friends are stronger than any of the 3 kings. Raizen was dead Mukuro was fighting at half power if that and Yomi nearly had a draw with Yusuke and was too exhausted for the next fight. Sure all of them were S+ but no one said there were only 3 S+ demons in demon world. I am quite certain all 3 kings at full power can wipe the floor with any of Raizen's budies.
@@endefisto123 maybe, maybe not. they lost to raizen when he was stronger. the raizen we saw was a small fraction of his former self, and he was still basically equal to yomi and mukuro
Important to remember in the manga is arc was a mere 22 chapters. Just too short to cover the ambitious setup, given togashis health issues / desires. Glad we got what we got, but man its a messs
Yu Yu Hakusho will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was my gateway anime, and has, to me, the best first episode of any show
#thankyoutogashi
Found your Yu Yu Hakusho series while working on stuff and it was just what I needed! Your narration and flow is soothing to listen to, your exploration of the material is through and your quips are always on point. Keep it up!
waiting to get home from school and watch a new episode of YYH got me through one of the hardest years of my life. For a time, Yusuke was the best friend of a very lonely little girl, and I will always be grateful for how this series inspired me and helped me make friends who also love this (at the time) very uncool, very nerdy thing called anime. #thankyoutogashi and thank you Justin Cook for bringing the show to so many in the US
I appreciate that Togashi was honest about y he ended the series. I didn't feel that way when I was younger but I can understand now. It's my favorite anime and has been since I was a kid even if the ending was rushed it doesn't take away from all the amazing episodes and moments preceding it. I'll always be grateful that he created it in the first place. #ThankYouTogashi
I thought Yu Yu Hakusho was an amazing action anime growing up as a kid, an absolute favorite of mine.
It was only in my teens and adult years that I had begun to recognize its brilliance. Many lessons such as "not half assing things and dedicating yourself wholly to something" was something that really struck out to me as a teen and as an adult I finally understand why: this is the start of breaking away from child and towards adulthood.
Hell, Genkai minimalizing Yusuke's aptitude for fighting was a way to shatter Yusuke feeling of being special, the thing that entitled his ego. Him throwing a tantrum afterwards was just perfect on top of it, to show that he's still a child mentally.
I look forward to seeing your rewrite. I think there was so much potential lost in this arc and I wish there had been more time to flesh it out
I believe Hiei was summoned because he was a finalist in the tournament. It probably caught Mukuro's eye. He was also the mastermind who broke into the spirit world vault, so there is that. He has a list of feats under his belt.
Three Rulers arc,had a great ending, though the pacing at times,was slow,but I could relate Yusuke,Hiei trying to find there place in this world,still has one of the best endings of any anime I have seen.
While not perfect, Yusuke Vs Yomi is a Fantastic final fight for this series, in my opinion at least. Why? It’s not some dramatic ideological clash like Yusuke Vs Sensui or seen in most other Fighting Animes, but the lack of character and arc development makes it feel like another fight within the series. This series has a lot of typical shonen moments, even this fight in particular, but something about it makes it feel special for me, this series is largely based on fighting, and with the final one just being 2 fighters enjoying the fight instead of a fight to the death or ideals, without the stakes it just makes it fun like how the characters perceive it. Overall I think we all wanted a more drawn out and an arc with higher stakes, especially with the fights, but the simplicity of Yusuke vs Yomi works well enough for me.
Love the Yu Yu Hakusho content ❤ I will be tuning in bro ! Keep up the great work 💪🏾
Glad to hear it! Hope you enjoy the video! 🤘🏾
This Arc hits different in the Manga. But I understand that the Anime made changes after all the Manga was pretty dark for a Shonen democratic e.g. Mukuros backstory (Manga Chapter 172) still gives me chills to this day.
Agreed. I liked his review but YYH manga is different. The beginning and ending are different than in the anime. The fact that it basically touched on how discrimination can be institutionalized and how perceived roles effect behavior. Its in the anime as well but its clearer in the way he ends the manga.
The Raizen friends scene would have been more impactful I think if Yusuke was moved seeing the parallel with his own wake at the very beginning of the story
I am so excited for your rewrite project!!!!
Idk, I feel like the 3 kings arc, the finale of Yusukes story, could only have ended in a tournament. It's what he knows, it's what he is most comfortable with.
Thank you togashi and thank you somewhere past never for this deep dive and breakdown of the entire series.
3 things: It's handled better in the manga. There's a mini arc after this that shows Kuwabara's usefulness and makes the beach scene come together nicer. Your jokes and edits had me in actual tears laughing.
And then it all comes down to this Anime series so much to end of the Three Kings. I think it was good to come out like this. Nicely done.
Just here to say I can't wait to hear your version of a rewrite. Love your thoughts on the series as a whole and can't wait to see where the fantasticly set up plot lines can potentially go when not rushed! 😊
#THANKYOUTOGASHI for growing in me an acceptance of conflict, and that sometimes taking one head on is necessary to grow. That's an important theme in both his series, and I wouldn't be as successful today without learning that from the spirit detective arc first.
I think in the manga it was made clear that Yusuke, Kurama and his squad had no chance of beating Yomi, but if they all fought him he would be weakened enough to definitively lose to Mukuro afterwards, who was right there.
bro this makes so much sense LOL. i watched anime so i thought it was so random that raizens old friend won LOL. i thought it was simply because they wanted all the main chars to go back home. but if without raizens friends thye would have lost im a lot more happy with it going the way that it did.
This makes a lot more sense, considering that Kurama seems keen on preserving the status quo, and all sides point to Mukruo being the solution. She would probably still have been rather brutal, but even the decription of the 3 Kings listed Murukro as the one who was willing to "curb their apatite," even if just a little bit.
Basically the manga makes it clearer that a tournament would put both Yomi and Mukuro at a disadvantage. And Yomi knew this very well, but decided to participate anyway because he wanted to fight Yusuke. Not to mention that during the match he suppresses his power to match Yusuke, so they can have a real fight, which is why he loses the next one.
Can't wait for your rewrite project. It's taking me multiple days to watch this but I love it
Oh HELL yes! This was everything I wanted and so much more. You really have a terrific analytical style, and even though this arc is massively flawed, there’s still some great ideas and character development to be found.
Yes, it’s definitely sad that the series didn’t get the send off it deserved, but I don’t hold the ending against Togashi; nobody should suffer like that for any job, let alone their art.
I do find the actual final images to be satisfying though. All the characters I love end up in the right place and there’s enough left open for more if that were to happen.
One thing I will say though, I actually don’t mind how Kuwabara stays home for this one. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Kuwabara so much and I wish we had seen more of him, but this is the first time we see him put himself before anything else. Leaving aside that he as a human wouldn’t last a day in Demon World, Up til now, he’s been the sacrificing friend, always laying his life on the line. But in three kings, he takes everything he’s learned and applies it to his studies, making the most of the human world he IS connected to, becoming the best version of Kazuma Kuwabara he can be.
😅 sheesh, that was longer than I intended. Anyways my friend, this was truly excellent as always, and I’ll be leaving another comment about what the series means to me.
I think Kuwabara’s new sword would be the perfect way to raise the floor. It would’ve been a very easy excuse to buff him and give new abilities.
I would kill for one more arc or a continuation with a older kuwabara in one more Great case that's getting into these great fights with his potential fully realized and turning himself into a legend.
@@stevemclovin1566 that not what he wanted though...he wanted to go to a good college and get a good job, he just fights cause he enjoys it. It's a hobby, not his career or life. Kuwabara got everything he wanted by the end, and it's wholesome as shit.
@@casteanpreswyn7528 he's wasting his life. I really can't call His resolution wholesome or even good. He was shelfed with nothing reason to make it look better. He was forced into it by his sister. he's still chasing after yukina after years with no real progress or at least learning to move on. let's not even get started on the horrible way he got there, or the ways he was continuously undermined and used. Kuwabara deserved a lot better.
@@stevemclovin1566 he isn't wasting his life. He literally achieves his dream. Sure, he doesn't get the girl, but he was a 16 year old with a crush, not someone with a deep relationship. He got everything he wanted and still has the ability to fight if he feels like it, what isn't to celebrate?
Honestly, the saddest person in his family is his sister who, after meeting the one person who will probably understand and love her, had to watch him die. You severely misunderstood Kuwabara if that's your take.
@@casteanpreswyn7528 boy that's kind of presumptuous just because I see for what it actually is, shelving. My interpretation of him is just as sound as yours. For one thing, I personally can't stand his sister. Her relationship with the guy you are talking about wasn't even in the original Manga, it's one of the rather bad addition the anime added.
Second, togashi went through the trouble of confirming two random people getting married in the final chapters of his manga. Nothing would have been lost if the yukina subplot/gag was dropped the moment the dark tournament started. It's literally another joke at his expense. He was pigeonholed into mediocrity, going to school off screen with no transition period instead of properly refining his abilities under Genkai. Kuwabara can be so much more than that and that's where yyh fails at.
Did you read the manga? IMO the manga version post Chapter Black arc handled everything infinitely better, the dialogue, power creep, and structure. The timeline of 1 year, the downplayed fights, the returning characters powered up then turned cannon fodder, are all much more palatable in the manga. There’s also the official final wrap up arc, with the evolution of human and demon worlds, the futures of all the characters, the religious cult, and the return of Urameshi, I loved all of it in the manga, it’s a shame anime didn’t get any of that.
Yu Yu Hakusho was the franchise that made me fall in love with anime. It was the first anime I watched with my little brother who is now a fan too. I love every single bit of this show - even in its lowest moments. I think this video is a comprehensive list of all of the issues with three kings, but after a rewatch..: I still really like it. I think it’s important to reflect on the fact that so much of your video is about “missed opportunities.” The standard set by previous arcs was incredibly high, and while this arc doesn’t meet with those insanely high standards I still love it in its own way. The time skips were frustrating but in rewatching with my brother we just paused the show and made up our own stories for the characters. During the tournament we would pause and imagine what the fights would’ve been like if they were given the dark tournament treatment. Honestly that process was one of the MOST fun things I’ve ever done with watching anime and it gave me a new sense of appreciation for the arc. I stopped thinking of it as a complete story and instead as the outline for a story penned by a man struggling with so much, and I now pretend he did this so we could fill in the margins and build a different story every time. #ThankYouTogashi
Saturn, thank you. Just cannot express how grateful I am to have been able to watch these. YYH & FMA have always been wrestling for top spot as my favorite Anime, and the way you articulate and dive deep into these topics.... Simply Thanks 🙏
I do feel they could have done something interesting with Kuwabara to keep him competitive with the others IE having him undergo training to receive divine energy instead handing that off to Yusuke.
I always thought that Kuwabara not going and admiting his limits showed a lot of growth and was a bold move on Togashi's part
@@dantecrottogini529 yeah that was always shown to be one of his biggest flaws in the anime where he would always try fighting yusuke despite every time ending with him beaten on the floor without landing a hit. so finally realizing sometimes you cant always beat everyone.
As bad as the three kings saga may have been, they always kept the integrity of Kurama’s character intact. And as he’s my favorite and in my opinion, most dynamic and well-rounded character, I will always be thankful for that.
YAY I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS! I don't have time to watch this just yet but I'm so excited to see you again! Will listen to this on the way to work and back later! Expect another comment! Love your content man!
I found your channel through your Dark Tournament video. I’m glad you continued through these, they are great in-depth takes.
Great video essay! Love how you share your thoughts in every point. This arc does drop the ball from chapter black. You feel Togashi is just rushing through the story.
But I do get Yusuke's attitude during the fight with Yomi. He's trying to find himself and kinda loses that answer halfway through the fight. So without the answer he's looking for, what's the point in fighting. I think it's not that he forgot the other reasons, but lost its meaning.
15:00 having watched this recently, the idea to me, that seemed to be made clear in the same episode, was that Yusuke pretended to be weak, knowing that they wouldn't actually kill him, since they want him to join them, so he was accessing their motives and trying to confirm for sure if what he knew was actually human that he smelled on them, after the fact, Yusuke holds back a lot less and ends the fight, as Hokashin himself says, before he even knew that he was beaten.
Just found your channel and you have earned my sub not that it means much but the sheer fact that you go so in depth in your overviews of these shows is the exact kind of content I love
I've watched your Yu Yu Hakusho videos all up to this point and this came across my feed was surprised cause you said you would but glad you did. I always knew it wasn't liked, I remember as a kid, when I liked everything regardless of it being bad or not, I always felt off about this arc and you encapsulated that feeling into words. Earned a subscriber with this one. #thankyoutogashi
I love Yu Yu Hakusho show because it's a story about youth,growth and friendship. What I leaned from Yusuke never judge a book by it's cover we all make mistakes no one is perfect .I appreciate all of the hard work and sacrifice to make it anime and manga I agree Yoshihiro Togashi his health is just as important I want to say thank you for the video man can't wait to see the next video.#thankyoutogashi
AND YOU SAID YOU’D NEVER DO THIS ARC 😂 that said, as wasted as this one feels, I love the much more detailed backstory given to Kurama and Hiei, and the ending of the show still feels suitable finale to everything that came before it. Yusuke and Keiko are my favorite anime couple
I can see why you haven't made anything worth showing the world.
@@boodatruths159 what?
So hyped, been waiting for this banger
Awesome video, brother. I just finished this video and I already watched your Chapter Black and Dark Tournament videos. YYH is easily my all time favorite anime and you touched on a lot things I always thought about the show. Can't wait to see that Three Kings rewrite video as like I just said, you touched on things I always thought about (like how the Three Kings Saga could have differed).
This arc is what makes the series great. The "how do we get to a point where we can all co exist" without it being super cliché. A perfect ending to a series that was very well rounded
You don't coexist with evil. They just changed the premise of the previous arcs where demons are generally evil, but also pursue their own goals, to demons not being really evil at all.
@@bobjohnson1633 but in the real world what's evil? Lime honestly ask yourself whose truly evil and whose truly good. Yusuke would be the first to tell you he's not perfect and the same can be said about demons. His ancestor literally ate people until he met the right person. Not only that but think about all the other characters throughout the series. There was evil and good on both sides. So it wasnt always clear cut. This arc was basically saying everybody and everything aint evil a and not only that the winner of the tournament was literally put in charge to keep order between both worlds. So it wasnt just blind coexisting. Evil actors got dealt with accordingly
If you plan on re-writing this ending, it would be neat to implement a rhyme of Yusuke onto Raizen. It was clearly intended for Raizen to be just as much of a stubborn mule as Yusuke and his story ends where Yusuke's begins twice; in death. I see Raizen almost as a fusion of both Genkai and Toguro for Yusuke and there should be moments where they drive each other nuts as well like Isshin and Ichigo are in Bleach, but also the serious undertones that should shine through with the encroaching problem of Raizen's hunger and lingering death by starvation.
I've waited SO LONG for this!
Yaaaaay! You're video on Chapter Black was so enthralling that I went from "ya, I've got yu yu hakusho sitting on my hard drive. I should watch it sometime but I always get bored before the dark tournament" to "THIS IS AMAZING! The themes! THE THEMES!"
So... great stuff dude. Props from some dude in middle-of-nowhere, Canada.
I'm glad you enjoyed both the content and the anime once you dug in!
19:25 Makuro mentions being able to feel the emotions of Hiei, and was likely able to feel that she and Hiei would have a powerful connection, she's also shown to have his mothers Stone, so there's a lot there to unpack, but it is clear that despite the lack of past, she's made it clear that he was the key to her being freed from her hatred, for what little it's worth..
When I first finished the show I thought the ending was lazy or the writer died or something. To me as a kid, it felt worse than dragonball GT. But you showed me there's so much foundation in the storyline that was never unraveled. I can't wait to see your rendition. No rush! :)
For me the final YYH arc hits exactly how The Last Jedi did. It subverts expectations but not in a way I personally find satisfying.
Like: "Look the 3 kings were not the strongest demons all along. Some guys over there were just as strong!"
"How did the tournament go?
Oh it happens off screen (in the manga at least)"
"Does Yusuke win?
Nope."
"Who wins the final battle?
Some guy."
I admit I did not expect those things, but satisfying answers those were not
Dragonball GT ending was great, what u on about?
@@rop4996 facts
@@rop4996 i thought he meant the entirety of GT. Seeing as how their was a lot of padding in the anime...meaning the manga didn't have as much content.
Thank you for delivering and even keeping us occupied with your analysis!
Thanks for tuning in!
Found this video, then paused after 2 min to go back and watch your other videos before starting this one 😂 good stuff! Cant wait to see more
Honestly, I've always interpreted Yusuke's sudden reluctance and boredom with fighting as a means of Togashi venting out his frustrations with making manga. It always rang as one of those "author soapbox" moments, and while I hard agree that it wasn't properly set up and rushed, like the entirety of this arc, I still resonate with the sentiment of aimlessness. It's one of the few things that this arc does properly as a means of capping off the series as a whole, even if it was bungled to shit.
This was a great series of videos! It feels like only recently people have been giving YYH the proper reverence it's always deserved.
I love this series so much. The last arc tho was rushed and could have been much more! Let's hope hunter x hunter gets the life it deserves! And I hope Togashi health will improve
Excellent take on the last arc. I love how even though you make your distaste for it is made clear I really appreciate how you dont just shit on it. You point out clear plot holes explain why they are plot holes and you explain the outside influences in Togashi's life that effected his effort. I Only just discovered you but I cant wait to watch any other Video's you put out. Thank you for making the effort.
Thanks for deciding to do this analysis on the three kings arc, which I felt was an underrated arc that's not as bad as some people think that it is. I am honestly glad that the author of Yu Yu Hakusho did complete this great story, despite his health issues and Shonen Jump's strict scheduling conflict.
I honestly like the three kings arc, even though I agree that the Chapter Black and Dark Tournament arcs were better. The three kings arc definitely developed the main characters of Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, and even Kuwabara. Yusuke goes to demon world to further figure out the type of person he wants to be, Kurama has to deal the consequences of his past actions while dealing with an identity crisis between his human identity and his original demon self Yoko Kurama, Hiei is dealing with a sense of not having a purpose and not even having a desire to keep on living , and Kuwabara stays in human world to live a normal life showing that he wants a life beyond just fighting. I honestly like the three rulers of Raizen, Mukuro, and Yomi, and I wish we got to learn more about them. We do learn a bit about Raizen, his old sparring buddies, and the woman who would ultimately lead to Raizen's death through malnutrition. We learn a bit about Mukuro's dark past, and how it is slightly similar she is to Hiei. We learn the most about Yomi, his past with Yoko Kurama, his ambition to control all 3 worlds, and how Kurama is most responsible for Yomi being a threat by trying and failing to have Yomi killed. It was nice to see that by the end of the series, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kurama don't surpass Raizen, Mukuro, and Yomi respectively. In fact, no one surpassed Raizen at his peak. Even at his weakest, Raizen was still upper S class demon on par with Yomi and Mukuro individually. It just makes you wonder how much more powerful Raizen would have been if he had sustained his power. It's even implied that Raizen was originally the 1st or true king of demon world, with Mukuro and Yomi becoming rulers afterwards. It just feels fitting for Raizen's death to lead to great change in demon world, spirit world, and human world. Raizen will always be my favorite of the three rulers not only because he's strong, but because he may actually have best interests of the 3 worlds. As much as I would have loved a full scale demon war, I am actually glad that Yusuke went for a more peaceful way to settle the dispute in demon world via tournament. It's more sportsmen like, and it's something Yusuke is more used to. The demon world tournament is not as good as the dark tournament, but it still had great character moments for Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, Mukuro, and Yomi. Yusuke and Yomi was good, and it ended in a satisfying way for Yusuke to lose by circumstance yet Yomi still loses because of the injuries sustained from Yusuke. I ultimately liked this arc, and loved Yu Yu Hakusho as a whole.
I don't think the Three Kings arc is bad, just a weak way to end the story
@@ForrestFox626 I respectfully disagree with the assessment that the 3 kings arc was a weak way to end the story. Technically, the adventures of these characters in this series doesn't really end, so much as we don't see what happens next. In the anime in particular, there's an ova that shows team Urameshi taking part in the next demon world tournament, but we have no idea what happens next.
@@StareachValcin You can tell me all that, but I don't really care about the new characters outside their relationship with the three protagonists. And at the end of the day I just think this story was rushed.
@@ForrestFox626 I am not going to pretend that it wasn't rushed at certain points, but the character development of the main characters was sound, the new characters connected with the main characters were all right, and the story did end strong.
@@ForrestFox626 I also felt bad for what the author went through to end this story somewhat on his own terms, but he created a satisfactory manga which became a satisfying anime.
The final arc of yu yu hakusho definitely hurt. The characters I watched struggle and rooted for so relentlessly, just kind of felt completely secondary to the series resolution . That said Yu Yu Hakusho is still my favorite anime, I loved Genkai’s tough love, Yuske and Kuwabara’s friendship and so many other aspects . So thank you Togashi and be well!
I knew it was only a matter of time until you made the decision to make this video and I was waiting i’m so glad you got it done.
I was watching your Chapter Black video the other day and was thinking " Man it's too bad he isn't gonna cover the The Three Kings". But man I'm glad to see you dropped this!
#thankyoutogashi
YYH is my go-to anime for crappy stuff happening in my life. Ever since I first saw it on Adultswim then Toonami at 10, I fell in love with it! I'm sad it's not getting the attention it deserves. Even though I would love more of the series, as a creator myself I understand when your work becomes more draining than fun. I rather he ends it soon than hate it later. Thank you for creating this series Togashi! I still love it to this very day!!!
Despite this arc’s many missed opportunities, I still like it a lot. It’s definitely the weakest out of the four arcs in the series, but for me it doesn’t make it bad by default. Going into this series without knowing anything about it besides the OP,EDs and the first few episodes was the best thing that I have done for any series. I wish I could forget it and experience it for the first time all over again, this series is my personal favorite Shonen anime of all time despite its flaws.
Just started and soooo glad you did this!
Thanks for making this after you said you wouldn’t! I really appreciate it
Honestly for riazens friends I don't see it as a bad thing. Demon world is Hugh and riazen seemed to be the only one that would have friends and actually understand demon world unlike the others. He could even be older then them. So him having friends or just demons out there just casually being OP makes sense.
#thankyoutogashi YYH stands alone as a masterpiece. But after watching HXH and the hundreds of think-pieces associated with it, I’ve come to fall in love with Togashi’s mastery of symbolism, emotion and the human condition.
Many fans of both IP’s might say that These characteristics are demonstrated mostly in HXH instead of YYH. However the nuances in early YYH give an earnest relatability that unlike in HXH, can be appreciated by the layman upon their first watch.
Some might say YYH is the poor man’s HXH, but I believe that they almost make up for each others weak points and both paint a vivid picture of what Togashi is capable of.
I was probably 9 watching YYH and 17 watching HXH (2011). Both served as coming of age stories for me and really shaped how I am. I would be hard pressed to find another author or IP that could inspire me to write such a long comment. Thank you Togashi
Love this series of videos man💯.
The fact that you dropped my favorite What if in Anime( Three Kings had so much meat on the bone they could have dived into) for my favorite Anime of all time on the day before my birthday. Stars aligned! Thank you! love the content!
I hope you end up having a very happy birthday! 🎉
Kuroko changed her mind the way she did because she has children. Yusuke is already seen as the strongest person in living world and said he understood PEOPLE being seen as FOOD concept, cut her a break.
With all the wasted potential the three Kings arc had. I will always love the ending it feel satisfying honestly
I have no idea how you placed your memes so perfectly. Everyone of them has gotten a laugh out of me.
I watched this and the previous 2 arc videos you made and I gotta say, I genuinely enjoyed every second of all 3 vids. You remind me of a homie who breaks it down to me.
Sorry about the wait! I hope you're all doing well! I'm done with YYH for a while after this lol.
The video has already been copyright claimed, but instead of delaying the video to edit around those claims, I decided to just go ahead as scheduled.
Patreon: www.patreon.com/somewherepastnever
SPN Discord server: discord.gg/8t3mu6ZD5j
What got claimed. When I get paid I'll donate to your Patreon. Love your content and didn't think you'd make this since you said you didn't like this arc.
Personally I like the Arc and have a few defenses of it. But I understand the history of it regarding Togashi health and how repetitive it is. I think if the Arc had been an actual war Arc instead of tournament it would have been stronger overall.
I might chat on your Discord but my 2 major defenses if the Arc are actually character related not necessarily overall plot.
Without the 3 Kings Arc you don't receive closure to Kurama back story of being a thief king, Hiei back story of being Kuinas brother and the resolutions to both characters.
Yusuke's feels contrived because if not for the whole "half demon Mazaku" thing then this arc has no narrative focus.
The 2nd reason is that ending it with Chapter Black leaves some narrative loose ends. Like all this time Yusuke has been a spirit detective to essentially maintain balance with human/demon kind, yet save for Saint Beasts arc we never see Demon world again or for that matter know how Shunsei and Togoro meddling effected Demon world.
The 3 Kings saga isn't perfect at all. But it gives some resolution to the overall theme if the show and plot points set in motion since the beginning. The epilogue (King Enma is evil and the investigation with Yusuke and Kurama) could be cut out entirely *that's why the anime did it originally.
You gotta make a cyberpunk edgerunners video. It has become my favorite anime ever