Look. I know. Just hear me out…
Before anyone starts typing, let me say this clearly: I do not approve of Hisoka’s obsession with Gon. I do not romanticise the physical reactions. I do not defend that aspect of his character.
And yet.
Here I am.
Because if we strip away the parts that make me deeply uncomfortable and focus purely on aesthetic, charisma, and narrative presence, Hisoka Morow from Hunter × Hunter is one of the most intoxicating characters I have ever watched on screen.
My crush on him is not moral. It’s magnetic. Plus he is fictional, I am allowed to have blinders on.
The first time I watched Hunter × Hunter, I didn’t even think I’d like him. He was unsettling from the beginning. Too calm. Too amused. Too interested in things he shouldn’t be interested in. But then he said, “I’ll be the judge,” during the Hunter Exam, and something in me locked in. Not because it was heroic. Not because it was kind. But because of the audacity.
He doesn’t wait for permission. He doesn’t respect hierarchy. He doesn’t seek approval. He inserts himself into power dynamics and reshapes them to suit his entertainment. That level of confidence, that absolute certainty in his own standards, is dangerously attractive.
And yes, when he smirks and says, “I’m beginning to get excited,” the delivery alone is enough to make you sit up straighter. Keith Silverstein’s English dub performance leans into that slow, predatory delight in a way that feels almost intimate. It’s not just excitement for battle. It’s anticipation. It’s performance. It’s appetite.
Hisoka doesn’t just fight. He performs.
Let’s talk about the look.
The clown-magician aesthetic should not work the way it does. Star on one cheek. Tear drop on the other. Bright hair. Card suit motifs stitched into his outfit like he’s permanently mid–magic trick. And yet it’s cohesive. The fitted clothing. The tall, toned build. The way he stands, loose shoulders, relaxed spine, like he’s already decided he’ll win or lose on his own terms.
He doesn’t move like other characters. He glides. He lingers. He stretches fights out the way someone savours a fine drink. Even when he’s naked (because yes, the anime commits), it doesn’t feel like fan service. It feels like a power display. He’s comfortable in his body in a way that reads as confidence and dominance, not vanity.
And then there’s “I do have standards.”
That line is so small but so revealing. Hisoka is not random chaos. He is selective. He doesn’t kill indiscriminately. He cultivates potential. He spares Gon and Killua not out of mercy, but because he wants them ripe. Strong. Worthy. He is patient in a way that makes him terrifying.
That patience? That’s what gets me.
So many villains are loud. Angry. Reactionary. Hisoka waits. He infiltrates the Phantom Troupe without loyalty. He allies with Gon on Greed Island without sincerity. He challenges Chrollo not for ideology, but for thrill. He scripts his battles like stage acts, and he’s willing to postpone gratification if the finale will be better.
That level of restraint layered over hunger is devastatingly compelling.
Now let’s be honest about the red flags.
- Would I trust him? Absolutely not.
- Would I survive him? Probably not.
- Would I fix him? No. You don’t fix something that doesn’t want to be fixed.
The fantasy isn’t about taming him. It’s about standing close enough to feel the heat without being consumed. It’s about that controlled, knowing smile across a crowded room. It’s about the way he would analyse you in seconds and decide whether you’re worth his time.
In real life, that would be horrifying. In fiction? It’s electric.
Hisoka stands out because he isn’t trauma-explained. He isn’t redeemable in the traditional sense. He doesn’t crave acceptance. He doesn’t want to save the world or destroy it. He just wants stimulation, growth and the next worthy opponent.
He embodies freedom without morality.
And that’s why he lingers in my mind long after episodes end. I don’t defend him. I don’t excuse him. But I will absolutely admit that when he steps into a scene, I lean forward and pay attention.
He is a red flag. A villain who understands performance. A man who turns combat into foreplay with danger.
And I am down bad for the charisma.
Once again, do I approve of everything about him? Absolutely not. Will I ever stop rewatching his fights? Also no. Plus, his physique doesn’t hurt.
So tell me, do you see Hisoka as a predator, a strategist, or the ultimate wildcard? And more importantly… are you brave enough to admit you get it?
Leave a Reply