Berserk is no doubt one of the most influential works in the dark fantasy genre. Kentaro Miura’s work transcends generations, and with its epic tale progressing, it might end in a few years.
With the fame and popularity that the series has, if Berserk doesn’t have at least a bittersweet and meaningful ending, it will be a generational fumble that disappoints and disheartens millions of fans.
Miura never wanted a hopeless or meaningless ending
Many fans assume Miura intended for the series to end in tragedy due to the way that the story progressed and the constant grim, dark tropes that are intertwined with the narrative progression.
Suffering for the sake of suffering isn’t good storytelling, although the premise of the story itself is rooted in the harsh realities and struggles, what makes Berserk resonate is the presence of hope amidst the darkness.
I cannot stress how if Berserk doesn’t have a ‘happy ending’ it will in fact, be a generational fumble the likes we have never seen.
Suffering for the sake of suffering and nothing more is poor storytelling. These examples aren’t misery. The characters have hope and love. https://t.co/4xnu504zRy
— 💾Accentier📟『YokaiLive』 (@CSAccentier) February 18, 2025
It might seem weird for fans to believe that such a dark and emotional story could have a happy ending. Miura himself addressed the idea of Berserk having a tragic ending on multiple occasions.
Being the sort of person I am, though, I actually don’t think I could let such a long grim story end with a grim ending — like, say, having him suddenly die. I don’t really like that kind of entertainment. I’ll leave it to my subconscious.
In a 2000 interview, he explicitly stated that he was going to figure out the ending as he goes but he has some initial ideas.
The author couldn’t wipe the impact of the multiple volumes of the story by saying that it all ended with rainbows and sunshine. If Guts suddenly died and it was ‘The End’ or if he just gave up, it wouldn’t be a fitting end to the epic tale.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a warning for Berserk’s future
If Berserk follows the route of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, where tragedy is inevitable and suffering is the ultimate message then it would be completely missing out on the point of Miura’s philosophy.
The harshness and the inescapable tragedy and darkness of the world are not a message of despair but of hope. Edgerunners delivered a beautifully crafted narrative, but if Berserk follows through, the generational work will lose and compromise its essence.
you need to understand that not EVERY dark fantasy needs a happy ending to reach a satisfying conclusion
Guts could very well still fulfill his purpose, finally find peace, then die, not getting the ‘happily ever after’ ending, and it would still be a good ending because he was…
— Tetsuya Hikari@gacha hell 2025 (@GamingHeroTetsu) February 18, 2025
It’s not about making Berserk “happy”, that seems to be a difficult and somewhat strange thing to expect. It’s about making it meaningful and impactful, to make the long journey, not just in the narrative but also that of the readers, feel like it means something.
If the final chapters reduce Guts to just another tragic figure lost to fate, dying or giving up, then the decades that Miura spent crafting a story about the strength to keep going will be besmirched. Berserk won’t be Berserk anymore.
Berserk anime is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
