Different anon, another Casca question. During the eclipse, and a few times before that, it’s implied that Judeau had feelings for Casca. While this obvs isn’t a very dominating ship, I’m curious about your thoughts. Do you think those two exploring a closer relationship would have altered the outcome of the events leading up to the eclipse, and her dynamic with Guys and Griffith? Do you suppose anything post-eclipse would be different?

I think it would depend. like imo pretty much any tiny change would lead to no Eclipse, but if say Casca and Judeau hooked up during the year Guts was gone, I could see that leading to either

the best case scenario for Griffith of Casca and Judeau taking off together and leaving Griffith with Guts

or the worst case scenario of Guts leaving Griffith with Casca and Judeau and taking off.

tho tbh I can’t see the latter happening if Guts still had his revelation that he broke Griffith’s heart, and he would’ve still had that revelation if Casca still attacked him and screamed it at him, which probably still would’ve happened, so yeah I think it’s more likely than not that the outcome would’ve been a lot better generally if Judeau and Casca got together.

Also if they did get together and the Eclipse still happened, a lot would probably change because they both would’ve died, and Guts’ probably would’ve too without a prolonged rape scene to waste time while Skull Knight fought Zodd. But like, assuming the events of the Eclipse somehow didn’t change, I don’t think Guts’ feelings towards mentally regressed Casca would be very different if they’d stayed platonic friends rather than hooking up. Their sexual relationship is mostly downplayed after the Eclipse (except when it comes to Guts assaulting her and I sure wouldn’t miss that) with Guts mostly thinking of her as a reminder of his time with the Hawks, and I think he’d feel about the same amount of regret and responsibility when it comes to her.