Does Palm Love Gon in Hunter x Hunter?

Does Palm love Gon in Hunter x Hunter? Explore the answer to this question as well as the relationship shared between the two.

Does Palm Love Gon in Hunter x Hunter?
Palm and Gon on their date as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Hunter x Hunter is a beloved series known for its complex characters and the intricate dynamics between them. Some popular duos include Gon and Killua, and Meruem and Komugi. However, not all pairings are positively looked upon.

Palm and Gon are an odd relationship that causes heavy controversy among the fandom. This is because the core of their bond isn’t respect or friendship but rather appears to be romantic. So, does Palm love Gon in Hunter x Hunter?

Palm did indeed have a momentary crush on Gon, even going on a date with the young boy. However, the emotion she felt at this point was not the “love” we are accustomed to, but something much shallower. Here is a closer look into this relationship.

Who Are Palm and Gon in Hunter x Hunter?

Palm as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Palm Siberia is a hunter who is Knov’s apprentice and is an extremely unstable character in the series. Palm’s personality is obsessive and goes through constant shifts, particularly because of her dependance on men.

She has strong feelings of attraction towards her mentor, Knov, and does whatever he wishes. This shifts for a short period to Gon. While Hunter x Hunter doesn’t dive deep into Palm’s psyche, subtle hints point out that she has low self-confidence and is mainly only used as a tool due to her clairvoyance. As a result, she is quick to attach herself to others in search of connection.

Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Gon, the object of Palm’s desire, is the protagonist of Hunter x Hunter. He is an energetic and friendly young boy who is very simple-minded. Staying consistent with his age, Gon is stubborn, determined, and naive.

He is true to his ideologies, which often revolve around the well-being of his loved ones. Hence, Gon is willing to push himself for the sake of protecting his friends, even at the risk of harming himself. This is what led to his first meeting with Palm.

Palm and Gon’s First Meeting in Hunter x Hunter

Following Gon and Killua’s escape from Pitou, the group was disheartened with losing Kite. Nevertheless, the protagonist remained steadfast in his desire to re-enter NGL and save his mentor.

Palm meets Killua and Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm meets Killua and Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

At this point, Palm Siberia eerily introduced herself to Gon and Killua, initially causing tension among the both of them. However, she revealed her identity of being Knov’s apprentice while sharing the challenge posed to both young hunters by Netero.

This involved Gon and Killua defeating Knuckle and Shoot should they wish to accompany the Hunter Association back to NGL. Right from their first meeting, Palm displayed her oddity by constantly losing herself in thoughts about her mentor, Knov.

At the same time, her personality quickly shifted to a threatening tone, where she was willing to kill both Gon and Killua should they not succeed in their task.

Does Palm Love Gon in Hunter x Hunter?

Palm and Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm and Gon as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

It is easy to believe that Palm loved Gon given her actions in the series. The boy’s brightness flustered her, and she went out on a date with him. During their outing, Palm changed her appearance noticeably and enjoyed spending time with him.

In addition, when Gon requested more time to strengthen himself and successfully invade the Chimera Ants’ territory, Palm grew disappointed. She punished him for hurting her feelings by making him write apology notes.  

These scenes indicate Palm’s infatuation with Gon, where her mood entirely depends upon his behavior. However, Palm’s feelings towards the protagonist were merely superficial and lacked depth. 

Palm and Gon on their date as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm and Gon on their date as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Palm might have thought she loved Gon, but in reality, she loved his unwavering spirit as well as the respect he showed her. Due to her lack of connection, she latched onto him, though unaware of how unstable the foundations of their relationship was.

This was best proven when Palm ran into Knov later in the series, where her mentor reaffirmed her value towards him. This brought back Palm’s crush on Knov, effectively causing her to break up with Gon. If Palm truly loved Gon, then she shouldn’t have been able to move on so quickly.

After becoming a Chimera Ant, Palm gained more mental stability. She remained focused on her mission and told Killua to go help Gon. Hence, this proved that Palm’s feelings towards Gon were more of an obsessive fixation than true love.

Palm and Knov as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm and Knov as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

It is important to specifically mention that Gon never reciprocated Palm’s feelings. He may have shown her consideration and respect, but his thoughts never veered toward any sort of romantic inclination.

The Controversy Surrounding Palm and Gon’s Relationship

We have seen how Palm’s feelings for Gon were created out of her being drawn in by his positive energy. Their entire bond played out as a comic sequence, where the main characters never faced any real threat despite Palm’s murderous tendencies.

Palm as a Chimera Ant as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)
Palm as a Chimera Ant as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Madhouse)

Unfortunately, many fans felt this still didn’t excuse how uncomfortable their storyline was. Palm was 22 years old when she went out on a date with the young Gon. The reasons for her feelings of attraction may be layered, but the question of appropriateness is still very valid.

Additionally, while subtle clues may give us insight into Palm’s psyche, Hunter x Hunter never seriously explored her character. We know nothing about her backstory, motivations, and reasons for erratic behavior. As a result, despite all forms of analysis, there was never a concrete reason for Palm loving Gon. 

It also didn’t help that Gon made hints regarding his experience with women back home. Regardless of how light the tone of his comments was, viewers found it hard to be fascinated. Nevertheless, the controversy soon died down once the Chimera Ant Arc rose in intensity. 

Palm’s heroic shift into one of the few who understood Meruem let fans see another side of her character. She also supported Gon in a much healthier way during his own mental descent. 

Conclusion

While Palm Siberia exhibited strong emotions toward Gon Freecss in Hunter x Hunter, her actions leaned more toward obsession rather than love. The age gap, combined with Palm’s unstable personality, made their dynamic uncomfortable to many viewers. 

Hence, while their relationship was only featured for a short period, it is a subplot that very few wish to revisit.


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