Template:Arc Infobox The Golden Age Arc is the second story arc of Kentarou Miura's Berserk. The arc is the most prominent of Berserk, having been adapted as both an anime series and a film trilogy.
Story
The Kingdom of Midland and Tudor Empire have waged war against each other for approximately 100 years.
The fighting abilities of lone swordsman Guts pique the interest of mercenary leader Griffith, following the former's defeat of Bazuso during the siege of a Falcon-held fortress. The two later engage in a decisive duel, in which Griffith successfully recruits Guts into his Band of the Falcon by defeating the swordsman.[1]
For three years, Guts aids greatly in the Band of the Falcon's military efforts, gaining rank as the Falcon's Raiders Captain. With their consecutive military victories and ever-increasing fame, the band eventually wins over the confidence of the King of Midland, who enlists their aid in Midland's Hundred-Year War with Tudor. In a siege on a Tudor-held fortress, the Falcons encounter the legendary mercenary Zodd, believed to be immortal. Despite being overwhelmed by Zodd's inhuman strength and ferociousness, Guts and Griffith leave with their lives after Zodd notices Griffith's mysterious Crimson Beherit and ominously leaves.[2]
Midland's generals eventually set their sights on recapturing the border fortress of Doldrey – Tudor's seizing of which ignited the Hundred-Year War. Griffith assures the King of Midland that he and his Falcons are all that is necessary to recapturing the fortress. True to his word, Griffith successfully leads his mere 5,000 cavalry against the 30,000-strong legions of Tudor forces and recaptures Doldrey, thus concluding the Hundred-Year War.[3]
At the height of the Band of the Falcon's glory, Guts acts on his growing dissatisfaction with fighting for Griffith's dream and departs from the Falcons,[4] to discover and pursue a dream of his own. Losing his most-treasured soldier throws Griffith's mind into turmoil, compelling him to impulsively bed Princess Charlotte on a fateful night.[5] Captured the morning after and imprisoned for treason against Midland's royal house, Griffith is sentenced to a year of prolonged torture by the incensed King of Midland and the Falcons are consequently branded enemies of the state.[6]
A year later, having received word of his former comrades' continued activities, Guts reunites with the remnant Band of the Falcon and aids them in rescuing Griffith from beneath the Tower of Rebirth.[7] Now a crippled shell of his once-glorious self – having been completely ravaged by his perverted torturer – Griffith activates his Crimson Beherit in a moment of utmost despair and is granted new life by the God Hand, reborn as their final member Femto in exchange for sacrificing his Falcon comrades during the fifth Eclipse.[8] The group of sacrificed Falcons is feasted on by ravenous monsters called "apostles"; Guts loses his left arm and right eye, and Casca's mind collapses after being raped by Femto. The two are left the only surviving sacrifices of the hellish event only due to the Skull Knight's intervention.[9]
Guts vows revenge on the apostles and God Hand;[10] clad in a black armor and cape, and equipped with the Dragon Slayer and a prosthetic cannon arm, he embarks on a personal war against his sworn enemies.[11]
Major Battles
- Guts' duel with Griffith[12]
- Guts and the Falcons' battle against Zodd[13]
- Guts combating 100 Blue Whale Knights[14]
- The Battle for Doldrey[15]
- Guts' second duel with Griffith[4]
- Guts plowing through Midland guards while escaping the Tower of Rebirth[16]
- The remnant Falcons and Guts fending off the Bakiraka[17]
- Guts fighting Wyald[18]
- Guts battling numerous apostles during the fifth Eclipse[19]
- Guts battling an unnamed roaming apostle[11]
Anime and Manga Differences
- While Shisu isn't seen in any anime adaptation, she is briefly mentioned by Gambino in the 1997 anime series.
- The 1997 anime series omits Donovan, while the Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Egg of the King alludes to him during Guts' coma.
- Guts' first battle with the Band of the Falcon is omitted in the Berserk: The Golden Age Arc film trilogy.
- Guts and Casca's dialogue by the tree is absent in Berserk: The Golden Age Arc.
- Neither the 1997 anime series nor Berserk: The Golden Age Arc establish the Queen of Midland as Julius' secret lover.
- Griffith's deduction of the King of Midland's lust for his own daughter is omitted in the 1997 anime.
- The King of Midland's sexual assault on Charlotte is cut from both the 1997 anime series and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc.
- The Bakiraka are omitted in the 1997 anime series, Silat being the only one of them to appear in Berserk: The Golden Age Arc.
- Both the 1997 anime series and Berserk: The Golden Age Arc omit Wyald.
- The arc ending is only present in the Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Advent. The 1997 anime series ends with Guts losing his right eye.
- Neither adaptation includes the birth of the Demon Child.
- Guts' fight against the unnamed roaming apostle is omitted in both anime adaptations.
- In the 1997 anime series, all moments featuring the Skull Knight are absent.
References
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- ^ Berserk :: Volume 5, "Nosferatu Zodd (4)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 8, "Battle to Capture Doldrey (6)"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 8, "Morning of Departure (3)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 9, "Beginning of the Endless Night"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 9, "Demise of a Dream"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 10, "Reunion in the Abyss"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 12, "Parting"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 13, "Escape"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 13, "Vow of Retaliation"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 14, "One Who Hunts Dragons"
- ^ Lua error in Module:Qref at line 19: attempt to index local 'episode' (a nil value).
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 5, "Nosferatu Zodd (1)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 7, "Ready to Die (3)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 7, "Battle to Capture Doldrey (3)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 10, "A Way Through"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 9, "Fugitives"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 11, "Demon Dog (4)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 13, "God of the Abyss (1)"
Appendices
| Golden Age Arc | |
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| Manga Episodes |
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| Volumes |
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| 1997 Episodes | |
| Other Media | |