Berserk is a story consisting of pain and suffering, and none of the characters are spared from it. Kentaro Miura was never afraid of showing the harsh reality of Midland as well as the lifestyle of the mercenaries.
Guts slowly chips away at his mental and physical health every time he uses his armor and battles a powerful enemy. On the other hand, Casca suffers the most brutal treatment and unspeakable dishonor. Both the protagonists are broken thoroughly in Berserk, and fans have no idea if they will ever heal.
Kentaro Miura Never Said Berserk Will Have a Happy Ending
An interview with Kentaro Miura from 2000 is always quoted by Berserk fans to claim that the series will have a happy ending. The misconception has spread among the fandom, and now everyone thinks Miura is above a tragic finale. Fans are of the opinion that both Guts and Casca will receive a happy ending. Sorry to burst your bubble, but this could not be further from the truth.
The interview that is often misinterpreted by fans was originally published in September 2000, before volume 20 of the manga was released. In the interview, Miura was asked if it was even possible to have a happy ending, to which the author answered that it was a possibility. However, rather than figuring out the ending in the middle of the plot, he would prefer to decide the ending as he goes.
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 the interview, Kentaro Miura admitted that he did not like a grim ending for Berserk, like the sudden and unexplainable death of Guts. However, he never said that Guts would not die no matter what. He is just against the cheap thrill of sudden death, but he could very well create an arc to justify Guts’ death.
Will Guts and Casca Have a Happy Ending?
The interview quoted by fans to justify a supposed happy ending of Berserk is from late 2000. It is important to remember that an author’s opinion can change anytime within two decades. Even if Kentaro Miura had originally wanted a happy ending, he might have changed his view in the following years as the story progressed.
But here’s another surprising fact for you: Kentaro Miura never once mentioned Casca and Guts while talking about the ending of Berserk. He only mentioned that he might not be able to give the grim story a grim ending, and fans exaggerated it to think that the protagonists would have a happy ending.
So far in the plot, both Guts and Casca have gone through unbelievable circumstances that is enough to cripple any normal human. Yet, they trudge through. However, there is one common theme in Berserk: the stronger the characters get, the more they suffer.
This is especially true in the case of Guts since his mental health is at an all-time low due to the continuous battles and usage of his armor. At this point in the story, it is hard to say if any of the characters will receive mental peace, far less a happy ending.
You can watch Berserk on Crunchyroll.
