@thedude :
Of all the arcs the Chimera Ant arc narrates and tells without showing, or at least makes the pretense of doing so on the basis of indulging in combat analysis while the fights are in motion. It was one reason I didn't care for it at first until I realized the purpose was a critique on human nature, and thus was meant to be cerebral rather than thrilling blockbuster.
Contrary to this, the boat arc has been like a novel, I do understand where you're coming from there, and you're not completely wrong. However, just because there is a lot of text means
nothing, by itself. I mean, I'm specifically referencing dialogue. Characters interacting, talking and monologuing to themselves about their goals and such, or arguing/warring with their desires (like with Zhang Lei) is the very definition of showing. And honestly, telling is just as important as showing to story-crafting. In fact it's essential and when something shows more than tells, you end up with stories like Fafner in the Azure anime, where most people are left scratching their heads.
I mean, yeah, the boat arc has lots of dialogue and explanation, and I do agree with you that it could definitely be trimmed to suite certain tastes, but I really don't think that it is constructed as categorically as a story lacking presentation of its themes and plot. Everything is constantly in motion with the dialogue. It's just giving us a more realistic approach by actually including the arguments people in real life would have while under such circumstances, I think. There's always a few paragraphs here and there that seem like padding.
But HxH is a tactical story to start with. Strategy is important. And combine that with Murder/Mystery/Assassination/Politics, and you're in for LOTs of in-character scheming. That requires lots of text. Lots of it. Doesn't matter if it's showing pictures or not.
Frankly it comes down to taste I guess. For me, the boat arc encapsulates HxH's essence, only surpassed by the initial Hunter Exam arc, which is still the best. It did somehow strike the balance between wit and action. The boat's the same, just far, far more of both. And this is assuming the action grows apocalyptic later. I would assume so (Cuz rewatching the Yorkshin arc has me tearing out my beard over the prophesies. We got one down with Shizuku offering to keep Chrollo company, which was the initiation of her foreseen downfall. The others are soon to surely follow). . .
Sorry for the rant, It's not meant to be, no, it's definitely more me putting my own analysis into it. But maybe that makes your point for you, thedude? Zehahahah! After all it's a lot of text!
On a completely different note: does anyone think that maybe the initiation for the prophesies regarding the Phantom Troupe were initiated because of Hisoka's death, or because they are coming into contact with the Shinigami (Kuropika) again? I mean, I know in context that yes, the prophesies are 100% accurate, but avoidable in certain cases. But the Phantom Troupe's versions seem rather morbidly set in stone, and very, very lyrical. The other fortune we saw with the mafia boss was awful accurate and easy to understand, requiring minimal interpretation. But he requested specific fortunes regarding events near at hand. In Chrollo's case, he wrote fortunes that weren't explicit and thus hard to properly interpret.
The thing is though, didn't the Lovely Ghost Writer only present a 3-week time period? Because it's been waaaay longer than 3 weeks, but the fortunes are already in motion... hence my question. Is the prophecy triggered by something, say, and when that trigger is avoided, it rests, but then activates upon the trigger's return, like a lightswitch opening or closing the.... err... (Gon moment) circuit?
4D chess again. Dang it that Togashi!