Spy x Family

Does Hemlock have a crush or a grudge? What could possibly be so bad that he'd want to kill Yor over it?

His crush was taken away by some douchebag. It's enough to hold a grudge imo. He's a cucklord who didn't take it gracefully imo.

unnecessary filler character

Maybe he thought Shopkeeper would be less angry about him taking his anger out on another assassin over her civilian husband.

he's jelly of the clout of the Thorn Princess

I'm kind of surprised Axeman announced a short chapter for next update rather than just a break. Especially because we just had a short chapter like a month ago. Think they're harping on him to create material for the anime?

Is this slop anywhere near completion? I stopped reading around chapter 50 when every new chapter just felt like filler while the plot remained frozen in place for months.

It was never about plot progression it's about healing and vibes

If he's not attracted to her right now, then he used to be at one point. He was constantly trying to talk to her, compete with her, goad her, and impress her the whole chapter. His grudge would need to be incredibly specific to explain it

Maybe around 50%? There have been some bigger plot developments lately between Desmond, Garden, and a sprinkling of backstory for Anya that have all happened pretty close to each other, but surges of plot have happened before and Axeman has left them hanging. Still, I'm enjoying myself again for the first time in a while so I'm remaining positive. All Axeman has to do is come through with that kiss he's been teasing forever at the end of the arc.

I'm putting all my coins on him being a jellyfag because Yor is infamous and he thinks he's better and she lost her edge

All right so the plot is developing but slowly. I was afraid of it becoming this super long SoL series that never ends because I hate them and just drop them forever. I'll just wait a few years until it finishes to buy a complete box set or something and just reread it then.

Garden is infamous but they're still supposed to be one of the most clandestine organizations in the story. Fame is an odd motivator for him to have even if it's just amongst themselves and their ranks.
As I keep looking at the chapter, it seems like he does things to get her attention or acknowledgement when she ignores or dismisses him. And the Mitera/mother elk works as a decent metaphor for Yor, as a powerful creature that lets weaker, miniscule ones coexist with it.

Does Hemlock have a crush

I hope he doesn't. If Hemlock is revealed to be some faggot unlikeable tsundere/yandere that bullies Yor because he's bad at expressing himself or angry that she's now taken then I'll be extremely disappointed.
We already have an annoying character like this and we don't need another.

If however he hates her because he's some efficiency autist and her happiness means that he doesn't believe in her loyalty to the cause anymore then that'd be acceptable.

how dare you play house and belittle the work we do

Something like that would be cliche but more acceptable than him being jealous that she's not a loner like him anymore or that he missed his chance.

Or if we get the reveal that he too had someone precious to him but lost them and is mad at Yor for having a family that'd be boring.

He said in the previous chapter that she doesn't work much anymore. Whether that's true or they're just not there at the same time, it implies they aren't seeing each other much these days and that that's a difference from how things were in the past.
As anons were saying in the last thread, they likely have some kind of history. I'd guess either as partners or childhood friends. Yor was as happy to see Hemlock as she was to see Melinda and his aggression towards her caught her completely by surprise. This shitty relationship between them is very, very new.

Hemlock is a sleeper agent.

And the Mitera/mother elk works as a decent metaphor for Yor

He's very weird about that elk. First he saves it, then he tries to kill it, then he looks at it for a second, gets all smug, and decides he respects it. The final shift could be because it was throwing Yor around and making her look like an idiot, but he seemed irritated about that so I don't even know. Also he decided to attack Yor while that thing was still raging in the background like he wasn't expecting it to be a huge problem.

It feels like it has moderate fluff, but it's entertaining to me. Once the series is over, maybe it would benefit from an OVA condensing the more crucial moments.

>how dare you play house and belittle the work we do

This feels less likely because McMahon pointed out to him that he has been long married and in a real marriage at that. Hemlock isn't that bothered by it until Yor starts asking about McMahon kissing his wife and then he spergs out.

I also think they have a long history, but the kind they have is unknown. Last chapter I thought they always were at odds given how ready to fight each other they were, twice. But after this one it feels like Hemlock is heavily invested in Yor's work to a questionable degree given that McMahon exists.

A lot of Japanese comments on the J+ site think he's a mole working for the people in charge of Project Apple. I think they're just haters though.

I'm okay with a crush as long as he's not literally Fiona. I'm also a hard-line believer in Loid and Yor being too comfortable in their relationship and needing to be made uncomfortable by others to advance. I don't need jealous Loid. If Hemlock comes out swinging and Loid realizes it's because he's in love with Yor, that could be just as good.

realize Yor has a suitor

consider that she could have a real family and a happy, normal life rather than the single mother widowhood he has planned for her

it will complicate the mission

which does he care more about?

If he decides he cares more about Yor than having to make adjustments to Strix, but struggles to let her go regardless, that could make him confront how he feels about her. Yor has had to do this, but Loid hasn't, and I think he needs it. He doesn't have to feel one way or another about Hemlock. He just has to realize he doesn't want Yor to leave.

Hemlock being an overworked assassin angry that a certain someone is seeing less work could be an interesting angle to go with. He already had a short temper and the favoritism just made him extra spiteful and violent.
It'd make him a gag character but you can't say it wouldn't be surprising.

Loid sorta acknowledged how he feels about her but he buried it super quickly for the mission and it wasn't explicitly romantic feelings. Yes he cares about her more than he should, yes his feelings for her almost ruined the entire mission, but didn't call them lovey dovey feelings yet.
We haven't seen his inner thoughts about it since and you're right that we need more of it.

He seems to like his work though. He was excited to kill everyone and wanted to make a game of it with Yor.

incel rage

Seriously though, there must be a double agent among the characters.

There is. Two actually. Twilight and Thorn Princess. They compromised the shit out of each other.

Last chapter I thought they always were at odds given how ready to fight each other they were, twice.

Now that you mention it, Yor didn't seem very surprised or offended the first time. Or when Hemlock threw his knife at "the ladybug." Or when Shopkeeper tried to behead her. I guess there's probably a lot of aggression among the ranks of Garden and they're all just used to it.

Yor impregnation when

5 months to beginning of season 3

hopefully this arc keeps the hype high when people come back

His comment about Yor receiving fewer jobs seemed like a dig, not a complaint, especially with how McMahon felt the need to defend her after. This is backed up further with how he called her a tourist this chapter and said even Gympie, a child, would be more helpful.

When they realize they both somehow married the one person that will truly understand them.

Whenever the new seasons start the last two free chapters get a boost in views on Jump+. The arc will probably be done by then but hopefully what happens after will keep up the interest.

that's why I think he is jealous of the clout that the thorn princess has, she has basically gone into semi-retirement and thinks she was never that good and was just a propaganda DEI hire or whatever.
when she kicks his ass he will double down and do the villain loser trope of

I'M GOING TO END YOUR FAMILY

and he will meet the thorn princess.

Forgot to add pic related.

mission 86

The halo was that powerful?

Cruise arc lasted seven months. Bus arc at just over half the length lasted five. We're two chapters in and have already hit a break. There is a very real chance the arc will still be going when the anime starts.

I'm guessing they grew up in Garden together, and he had a one-sided rivalry with her during their training under the Shopkeeper.

do you need to ask?

his knife cut her neckerchief off

Stop trying to strip another man's wife, Hemlock.

He's equally as obnoxious but less offensive since Axeman isn't bothering to make his actions comedic or pretend he's sympathetic in any way.

Loid probably would get suspicious of Yor being a double agent if Hemlock appears to intimidate him and stop trusting her fully

Fiona is sympathetic as she is another person besides Frankie who will try to save Loid from any danger. Many readers loved her bravery in the mole arc.

why is there another Yuri with wigs?

I'm talking about how we couldn't even get through her introduction chapter before Axeman had her make a sad face in the rain at Twilight. Even though she went out of her way to mess with his mission out of selfishness and pettiness.
At least with Hemlock his lack of tact and professionalism is treated as being completely out-of-line. If he is made to be sympathetic then he will definitely be more offensive, however.

Many readers loved her bravery in the mole arc.

This is stretching it, even when it happened most of the comments were comparing it to other shounen power breaker moments or brought up Yor's strength limits because of pic related. Nowadays readers generally tolerate her more because she saved Loid but they view her about the same as they did before.

it already feels like it's quickly escalated with just two chapters

That's pretty common. Bus, cruise, and even the dog arc had fake/blunted conflicts right at the beginning and this feels like it's probably the same. The elk is still there with them, ensuring they'll get a few swipes in at most before it stampedes them and ends the fight.

Yor is the most obvious Garden operative that has ever existed and Loid refuses to question anything because he trusts her so intensely.

I'm surprised he's still speechless after watching her destroy that test of strength bell.

The fact that he's always shown reacting implies that his brain is screaming "SOMETHING IS WRONG!!!" while his heart is replying "fuck you, that's my wife."