Highlights
- The new chapter of Berserk brings a significant shift in the story and the dynamics between the main characters, especially for Guts and Casca.
- Rickert’s reunion with Guts and his companions could be the catalyst that helps Guts recover from his despair and plan to rescue Casca from Griffith.
- Rickert’s knowledge of Griffith’s misdeeds and his skills in engineering and creating weapons make him a valuable ally for Guts in their mission to take down Griffith and save Casca.
The start of the new Eastern Exile Chapter of the Fantasia Arc in Berserk, has been accompanied by a massive paradigm shift in the story’s trajectory, as well as the dynamics between the main cast. Since Casca was separated from Guts and his companions during Griffith’s invasion of Elfhelm, the group’s original mission to cure her fell short of full success, as she was still midway through her recovery from the trauma of the Eclipse.
Subsequently, Chapter 375 of Berserk further altered the story’s course, when the ship carrying Guts and his companions — the Seahorse — was boarded by Kushan soldiers led by Silat. Accompanying them was Rickert, one of Guts’ oldest comrades from his days in the Band of the Falcon. In certain ways, this unlikely reunion could be the necessary catalyst to rouse Guts from his current state of despair, to plan out how he can recover Casca from Griffith’s clutches.
An Ally Of The Kushan Empire
Since leaving Godot’s cottage with Erica after the blacksmith’s death, Rickert has been on a journey of his own. This is partly due to how his life was forever altered by the Great Roar of the Astral World, culminating in him seeking refuge in Midland’s new capital, Falconia. After meeting with Griffith and gaining more insight into what had transpired between him and Guts, Rickert began to comprehend the nature of his betrayal, and realized that Griffith was no longer the person he used to be.
Having struck Griffith across the face during their conversation, Rickert was pursued by the Apostle Rakshas, who sought vengeance against him for his treatment of his master. Backed into a corner while fearing for Erica’s safety, Rickert enlisted the aid of Silat and his troop of Bakiraka clan members to fight off the Apostle, which they were able to do after a considerable amount of struggle. Through this, it appears as if Rickert has earned Silat’s trust and made an ally out of him.
Consequently, Rickert could be the exact mediator needed by Guts and his companions, in order to deal with the now struggling Kushan Empire. With Midland now a treacherous wasteland filled with demons and Griffith’s Apostles, Guts and his companions will have to find a new safe haven to plan out their mission to recover Casca, and the Kushan Empire might be able to provide them with exactly the kind of support they so desperately need.
Grasping Griffith’s Misdeeds
As one of the few surviving members of the Band of the Falcon from the Hundred-Year War, Rickert has been a constant figure in Guts’ journey. He was once the youngest member of the mercenary group, and participated in several important battles, in a supporting role for more experienced fighters. Rickert is also the only one from the original Band of the Falcon who did not experience the Eclipse firsthand, and is untainted by the Band of Sacrifice.
In fact, Rickert had little to no knowledge of the depth of Griffith’s evil actions during the Eclipse, until the Reunion on the Hill of Swords at the start of the Millennium Falcon Arc. Even when Guts came clean about what had happened, he avoided going into the gritty details, and only told Rickert that Griffith had betrayed his comrades and subordinates, condemning them to death for his cause.
While the content of Rickert’s conversation with Griffith was limited, it can be assumed that he gained more clarity on the motives behind Griffith’s betrayal, which must have triggered his choice to slap him in disgust. Realizing the true meaning of Guts’ words, as well as the person that Griffith had become, Rickert denounced his association with him and bade him farewell, signaling that he was now set on finding a path of his own.
Forging A Path To Redemption
Now that Guts’ confidence has been severely dented by his inability to land even a single blow on Griffith’s body in Elfhelm, it might be fair to say that he requires some guidance on how he can recover his sense of self. Unable to fully surrender to the Beast of Darkness within him, Guts is in dire need of someone who can help him rein in his hatred, and mount an offensive against Griffith solely for the purpose of saving Casca.
Hence, Rickert may be the ideal person to take on this role, as he is one of the few people in the world who can truly grasp the nature of Guts and Casca’s relationship, as well as the magnitude of Griffith’s betrayal of the Band of the Falcon. Furthermore, his ingenuity in engineering and creating weapons is on a level that is near unparalleled in the world of Berserk, and it might be time for Guts to gain a few more upgrades to his already formidable arsenal.
Additionally, his position among the ranks of the Kushan Empire and cordial relationship with Silat, could also be invaluable to Guts and his companions, who may have to lie low and bide their time. There is no question of a small head on assault on Falconia, as Griffith’s Apostles would easily overwhelm anyone who challenged them. Making allies with the Kushans in a bid to take down Griffith is the most plausible route for Guts to rescue Casca, and Rickert is likely to be a key figure in this kind of scenario.
Berserk is available to stream on Netflix.
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