Warning: SPOILERS for Berserk: The Golden Age Arc - Memorial Edition episode 2The second episode of Berserk's Memorial Edition begins with something so utterly ridiculous that it almost feels like a mistake but is still completely epic because it's essentially an anime music video that summarizes the entire Golden Age Arc.
Although they were contentious upon release, Studio 4°C's production of the Berserk films The Egg of the King, The Battle for Doldrey, and The Advent have been adapted as a television series that is currently airing internationally on Crunchyroll with some never-before-seen scenes. Some of this new content for Berserk: The Golden Age Arc - Memorial Edition has already been identified as an exclusive ending scene with new music from Sagisu and Hirasawa.
Although nothing new seems to have been added in the first episode, the second installment of the Memorial Edition begins with a four-minute video that contains moments from the original three movies in chronological order against a revisited version of the song "Forces" by Susumu Hirasawa from the 1997 anime. Unfortunately, some of those watching the Memorial Edition haven't actually read or seen any version of Berserk's Golden Age arc before because they are using this release as their excuse to finally get caught up on the late Kentaro Miura's epic saga. For anyone whose first exposure to Berserk is this special, this random AMV might be confusing. For long-time fans though, it truly shines.
How Berserk's Montage Honors the Series' Legacy
Because the video in episode two contains footage of key moments from the beginning to the end of the Golden Age, these first-time watchers who are all caught up with the Memorial Edition have now seen moments from the Eclipse including Berserk's mysterious Skull Knight, and even though it's unlikely they'll understand what they saw, it's still a shame because the Eclipse should be a surprise. On the other hand, for those who are familiar with the Golden Age, the video is entertaining since it's an homage to such an epic story and arguably one of the best moments in Berserk. Hilariously enough, the four-minute video is so carefully crafted that some might have actually been fooled into believing that what they were watching was a detailed summary of the first episode. At least, that's what they thought at first until scenes that hadn't happened yet in the Memorial Edition suddenly appeared.
Regardless, it was an interesting choice to include such a video at the start of the second episode. Even though it would have been better to release it separately or put it at the end of the final episode to avoid spoilers, if the creative team behind Berserk's Memorial Edition really felt the need to include it early on, it would have made more sense to feature it at the start of episode one.
Check out Berserk Memorial Edition now streaming on Crunchyroll!