10 Shocking Berserk Moments That Would Never Make It Past Modern Censorship

There’s no doubt that the popular manga series, penned and illustrated by its creator, offers an intense, dark fantasy journey filled with haunting scenes. For many fans, this is exactly what makes Berserk appealing, as it fearlessly explores the depths of human psychology, coupled with graphic violence. This isn’t a light read; some might argue that it’s too intense for most audiences to stomach.

In today’s context, some aspects or scenes in the Berserk series might face criticism due to their graphic nature. If the Berserk manga were released now, several of its most disturbing and chilling instances would likely be portrayed differently or occur off-screen to make them less intense for readers. The Berserk series is characterized by numerous traumatic and difficult scenes that are rarely found in contemporary manga.

The Trauma Made Guts Afraid of Touch

A significant portion of the contentious elements within the Berserk manga revolve around sexual themes, with exceptions for instances where intimacy is consensual and emotionally sound. However, it’s the scenes depicting sexual violence that may provoke discomfort among contemporary readers, as these scenes are prevalent throughout Berserk. This includes an early incident involving Guts, who, at the tender age of 9, was subjected to sexual assault by a fellow mercenary in Gambino’s army.

Guts suffered a profound, lifelong trauma as a result of that event, developing an intense, enduring fear towards unwanted physical contact from others. While the explicit details were spared, the impact was palpable, making it challenging to process. The scene served a purpose within the story’s context, but in contemporary manga, they might opt for a different method to imprint mental wounds on their protagonist.

Griffith Was Harshly Punished for His Indiscretion

In a questionable scenario, Griffith appears to cross the boundary between seduction and assault as he enters Princess Charlotte’s chambers under cover of night and initiates an intimate encounter that initially startles her. Subsequently, it seems like Charlotte reluctantly agrees to this sudden advance, with no further objections visible to readers. This scene, in modern terms, could be considered problematic due to the prevalence of behaviors that might be interpreted as assault.

Although the rest of the sexual encounter appeared consensual, it carried an unsettling vibe, serving as one instance where Griffith imposed his desires onto others. The scene wasn’t gratuitous pornography, but contemporary viewers might ponder if a less questionable approach could have been taken. The storyline elements involving Charlotte’s allegiance to Griffith and Griffith’s eventual capture and torment were still present, making it possible for alternative scenes to achieve the same outcome.

The Menstrual Cycle Is Something Natural, Not a Joke

Berserk contains some debatable scenes involving the character Casca, initiating with an excessive humorous sequence during the fight for Fort Doldrey. Earlier in a different battle, Casca experienced dizziness and loss of focus due to menstruation, causing Guts to withdraw her from combat. This incident was observed by enemy forces, and when Casca encountered them again, the truth about her predicament was exposed.

In a somewhat awkward turn of events, Casca discussed the intricacies of a woman’s physiology and its recurring cycles, leaving the soldiers taken aback. This moment served as an attempt at humor to alleviate the gravity of the battle, but it could have been handled differently. Another subject matter could have been introduced instead to amuse the audience during the fight without resorting to the mention of menstruation. While bodily functions should not be viewed as shameful and menstruation is a natural process, it’s important that it is not trivialized or used as a joke.

Casca Was Helpless Until Griffith Came Along

Two distinct episodes in the manga of Berserk depict someone planning to attack Casca, one of which unfolds during her youth in a poverty-stricken village where hunger was rampant. A nobleman arrives and offers to take Casca to his estate, seemingly promising a better life. However, this nobleman turns out to be malicious, attempting to assault Casca on the road instead.

Luckily, Griffith stepped in just when Casca needed help, providing her with a sword to fend off the attackers. This incident marked the beginning of their alliance, though it was fraught with complications. Not only did Casca come close to being harmed herself, but the circumstances under which they met set a lopsided foundation for their relationship. At that time, Casca was still a vulnerable child who relied on Griffith’s aid, and the situation didn’t exactly foster admiration. An alternative scenario for their initial meeting might have involved Casca observing as Griffith fought off local bandits threatening their village instead.

The Orgy Didn’t Have to be Shown in Quite So Much Detail

In the adult-themed anime “Berserk”, there’s a scene where Nina, a character dealing with what appears to be a sexually transmitted disease, unexpectedly partook in an orgy within a cave. Ignoring Luca, she secretly indulged in this forbidden celebration. At that instance, Nina discarded her clothes and enthusiastically engaged in the revelry. The sequence was portrayed explicitly, showing Nina immersing herself deeply in sensual delights as a means to escape her hardships.

As an observer, I noted that Nina wholeheartedly agreed to the situation, voluntarily participating in the group event as a means of boosting her self-confidence. Indeed, this experience significantly influenced her character development. However, considering contemporary sensitivities towards such depictions in manga, it might have been more appropriate to show Nina’s involvement indirectly. A possible approach could involve showing Nina preparing for or approaching the event, followed by a conversation with Luca later on where she explains her experiences.

That Incident Was Entirely Unnecessary

Initially, Farnese emerged as an adversary towards Guts, going so far as to torment him in a bid to extract information. However, the tables turned when Guts seized Farnesse and made her join his journey. Unfortunately, Apostles assaulted them both, leading Farnese to a dramatic turning point as she witnessed unimaginable terrors. Yet, the horrors escalated beyond what even she could bear.

In a silent and menacing display, one of the beast-like horses hinted at attacking poor Farneze, leaving her helpless and fearful. All she could do was tremble in terror until Guts swiftly ended the Apostle, thus preventing Farneze from enduring immense suffering. It’s fortunate that Farneze was rescued in such a fashion, yet it feels somewhat overboard to insinuate the threat of impending sexual assault to emphasize her distressing predicament.

Children Shouldn’t Be Depicted That Way

In the series Berserk, although young character Schierke didn’t experience assault or trauma, there was an unnecessary sexually suggestive scene involving her. Later in the narrative, Schierke became part of Guts’ companions, and for comedic effect, she accidentally slipped out of the bath while fully nude, colliding with a fully grown man named Guts. Schierke was deeply embarrassed by this incident.

In a more suitable manner for her age and character, Berserk could have employed different means to elicit laughter, such as the comical antics of Puck or the witty banter among characters. However, the depiction of an underage girl like Schierke in such a way was unnecessary.

The Imagery of the Eclipse Was Raw & Vivid in the Manga

By the onset of the Golden Age arc, Grit had already carried out some extremely dubious actions. However, he reached the pinnacle of his questionable deeds after this point. For the narrative’s development, it was crucial for Griffith to betray the entire Hawk Band and offer them up to the God Hand. Yet, it wasn’t essential for him to physically harm any member of the Band. He did so merely to express his resentment towards his former companions.

In a regrettable turn of events, Griffith, in his transformed state as Femto, cruelly harmed Casca – an act that Guts bore witness to. What makes this act particularly appalling is that it was unnecessary; Griffith chose to inflict harm simply because he had the power to do so. Narratively, this assault resulted in Casca’s unborn child becoming tainted, thus giving birth to the Demon Child. Some manga readers might ponder if there could have been a different way for the Demon Child to be introduced into the story.

Readers Rarely See the Good Side of the Kushan People

The epic storyline of “Berserk,” particularly the Falcon of the Millennium Empire arc, introduced a fresh faction: the formidable Kushan Empire, complete with an impressive military force. This new adversary, the Kushan Empire, served to endanger Midland, thereby offering Griffith an opportunity to emerge as a savior for all. This dramatic turn of events played a significant role in Griffith’s pursuit of his dream. Consequently, the reformed Band of the Hawk was widely acclaimed as heroes, despite the presence of Apostles within their ranks.

In essence, the portrayal of the Kushan Empire in the narrative often oversimplified them as merely a foreign, invasive force, with little depth or balance to their characterization. This stereotyping tended to cast the Kushans as an alien and unwelcome culture. To provide a more nuanced perspective, it would have been preferable for the story to present the Kushan Empire in a less extreme manner, portraying the invading army as merely the emperor’s decision rather than embodying the entire Kushan civilization. However, the narrative did manage to humanize some Kushans by showing their transformation into citizens of Falconia, offering a glimpse of their individuality and complexity.

Wyald Went Too Far to Show What a Monster He Is

Typically, manga antagonists carry out cruel acts to bolster their menacing image, such as killing off minor characters or causing destruction. However, Apostle Wyald surpassed this normality. Not only did he make an intimidating entrance with his raw power and penchant for violence, but he also viciously attacked an innocent village girl for sheer amusement. He later dismembered her body and displayed the torn torso on a spear.

In Berserk, it would have been more fitting to exclude the scene portraying senseless sexual violence, as it didn’t significantly contribute to the development of Wyald’s character. Instead, his essence lay in his role as the leader of a ruthless band of warriors who pursued the Band of the Hawk. His success in this endeavor should have been his defining trait.

2025-05-08 03:39