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02-27-2021, 06:13 PM | #16411 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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I never really said it, but... I decided to give up on doing a write-up on each OOO and Ghost episode. That's not because I decided to stop watching them -- it's actually the opposite... the need to do a write-up each episode and how time consuming that was especially with my schedule was very ominous and made me put off episodes so many times, so I just decided to give it up after a bit. Frankly I'm at least very glad I got to get that Toucon Boost debut out; that's still been a huge highlight for me and a big turning point in how I view Ghost!
But, boy I need to give it up for this scene in Ghost Episode 18. Which, by the way, is an incredibly perfect episode all around -- the A-plot features a brilliant contrast between the relationships of Akari & Onari and Himiko & Newton, which expertly lifts up both our side characters and highlights their good points equally to the point they're now becoming some of my favourites...! And then they hardly let the B-plot here go either, as it's the start of Alain's arc; which even people who don't like Ghost will tell you is fantastic and a highlight of the season. Ask me a few months ago and I would have said Alain is my favourite Ghost character instead of Takeru, and it might just change back after I see this arc again! So, this scene? Brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT use of the visual medium! It illustrates with so few words and so many visuals just how deeply fucked up Alain’s worldview is and how he’s been conditioned; how he technically values friendship and his loved ones but can only see that through the lens of control. There's so much in this scene beforehand by the way that expertly portrays Alain's character - his looking around at normal people happily living normal lives, slowly starting to break through his brainwashing of what a 'perfect society' looks like; and readily taking on a battle so he doesn't have to keep thinking? Perfect! His struggles with Kanon laying on the love for both him and Makoto when he knows damn well what he's done to her brother? Fantastic! His looking at a Takoyaki and thinking it's an Eyecon? Hilarious and I've thought about it every day since I saw it. But this scene, this one right here is what I'd point to if I was to highlight the sort of character Alain is before his development. It's incredibly fucked up and incredibly well done.
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02-27-2021, 06:20 PM | #16412 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,394
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While it's a shame, I can see why you gave up highlighting every episode. And good on you for continuing your rewatch regardless. That said, was definitely looking forward to seeing your take on the episode of OOO that made me hate Akira Date forever(episode 18), but ah well. Hope you continue to enjoy these shows!
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02-27-2021, 06:31 PM | #16413 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Quote:
While it's a shame, I can see why you gave up highlighting every episode. And good on you for continuing your rewatch regardless. That said, was definitely looking forward to seeing your take on the episode of OOO that made me hate Akira Date forever(episode 18), but ah well. Hope you continue to enjoy these shows!
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02-27-2021, 06:57 PM | #16414 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,394
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Quote:
Not only telling Rie that he doesn't care that she wants to ruin her crush's' wedding and replace said crush's' wife, but outright encouraging her to do so? Kind of a bad message to send! This ontop of him constantly belittling and talking down to both Ankh and Eiji, as well as the show very desperately trying to portray Date as this suave, super wise dude, only served to make him truly obnoxious to me and made me wanna sigh heavily whenever he was on screen. He only got worse from here too, given later revelations about his character. But I guess I'll save that for when you reach OOO's' endgame. So yeah, that's the short version. I know people love the guy, but I really, really, can't bring myself to feel the same.
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02-27-2021, 07:30 PM | #16415 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Quote:
It's also an episode where an older man goes "Aaah, I see, it's a young girl; so obviously it's about love!", so it's not a favourite of mine by a long shot, but beyond that I can see the underlying themes the episode was going for. As for belittling Eiji and Ankh... ehhh, not really? Like, he's pretty playful with Eiji, sure; but only in the sense of once again someone older and more mature being able to navigate emotions in a way Eiji isn't capable of -- and as we've seen laid out in many many episodes, Eiji is really not emotionally stable or in a right state of mind to think of things concerning himself. And when it comes to Ankh... well, that's just comedy revolving around two strong personalities clashing.
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02-27-2021, 07:42 PM | #16416 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,394
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Quote:
Yeah, I figured it'd be that -- but to me that scene reads less as outright encouragement, and more as "I dare you". Not "you should do this", but "you can -- but do you want to?". OOO is a show about desire, after all; so what I got from this episode is a situation where both Eiji and Ankh are not equipped at all to handle Rie's desires, but someone like Date who's older and more experienced in different things is. It's the show introducing a new, wildly different player when it comes to the theme of desire; with his first set of post-new year episodes showing that in full force. This is his style of doing it -- Eiji would talk someone through it and try to convince them it's not what they want, while Date does practically the opposite and has them realise on their own it's not what they want. He gets that in this sort of situation, it's a thing where you're only going to truly come to that conclusion on your own.
1. This means Date is full well willing to risk people's' safety and mental well being on a mere hunch that he has about how someone else feels. Dangerous move and very presumptuous on his part. 2. Even if Date DOES somehow know the whole story, we're never shown that. Infact, everyone(audience included) has basically every reason to believe the opposite, since, and correct me if I'm misremembering here, each Yummy DOES pretty accurately gun for every person's' desire, even if taken to a destructive extreme alot of times. Rie admitting to her basest feelings doesn't help. 3. It also means Date is a man of inaction and really only cares about his bottom dollar. I get that OOO is all about the moral gray area, but it doesn't exactly make Date someone I wanna root for. Ankh does the "selfish standoff" style of arc much better, I feel. Quote:
It's also an episode where an older man goes "Aaah, I see, it's a young girl; so obviously it's about love!", so it's not a favourite of mine by a long shot, but beyond that I can see the underlying themes the episode was going for.
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As for belittling Eiji and Ankh... ehhh, not really? Like, he's pretty playful with Eiji, sure; but only in the sense of once again someone older and more mature being able to navigate emotions in a way Eiji isn't capable of -- and as we've seen laid out in many many episodes, Eiji is really not emotionally stable or in a right state of mind to think of things concerning himself. And when it comes to Ankh... well, that's just comedy revolving around two strong personalities clashing.
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02-27-2021, 08:03 PM | #16417 |
Showa Girl
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 9,064
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Okay, sure, but here's the problems I have with that.
1. This means Date is full well willing to risk people's' safety and mental well being on a mere hunch that he has about how someone else feels. Dangerous move and very presumptuous on his part. 2. Even if Date DOES somehow know the whole story, we're never shown that. Infact, everyone(audience included) has basically every reason to believe the opposite, since, and correct me if I'm misremembering here, each Yummy DOES pretty accurately gun for every person's' desire, even if taken to a destructive extreme alot of times. Rie admitting to her basest feelings doesn't help. Which leads into the most important part: I don't really think these stories should be taken so literally, nor should Date or anyone be judged as we would an actual person. And yes, I know; that line of thinking taken too far can lead to some... pretty awful justifications by certain creators, but at the end of the day Date is just a narrative tool used for storytelling and to further the arc of these characters. It's a constant thing in not just Toku but any type of story to see characters go on these sorts of gambles to get to the heart of the matter; it's just how these stories are told and it's not at any point about a literal human person. It's just the sort of tools drama employs. again though not a set of episodes i love i just think they did the job
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02-27-2021, 08:15 PM | #16418 |
Warrior of Delusions!
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wait, you dont know either?
Posts: 5,825
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I'm glad somone else is pickign up the Makoto/Alain dynamic, cause it's a really interesting pairing that the show dos a good job with tying into Alain's whole worldview, but then kinda bubbles under all the stuff with Alain and his family for a while and is never really revisited until the V-Cinema (and of course, if I'm missing something, Fish will tell me). But that scene, where Alain is blissfully happy with Makoto brainwashed because "Hey, that's how friendships work, right? We're all happy here. Aren't we, Makoto? See, he can't answer because of how happy he is."
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Check out my occasional ramblings! https://akibamusings.blogspot.com/
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02-27-2021, 09:48 PM | #16419 |
The Immortal King Tasty
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Every diner you've ever been to.
Posts: 3,833
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Quote:
I never really said it, but... I decided to give up on doing a write-up on each OOO and Ghost episode. That's not because I decided to stop watching them -- it's actually the opposite... the need to do a write-up each episode and how time consuming that was especially with my schedule was very ominous and made me put off episodes so many times, so I just decided to give it up after a bit. Frankly I'm at least very glad I got to get that Toucon Boost debut out; that's still been a huge highlight for me and a big turning point in how I view Ghost!
That being said, you can't begin to imagine my joy when I saw you had written posts like this for three different shows in separate threads basically at once. Or, wait, no, maybe you can imagine it, because I think this is exactly what you're always telling me? There's a real passion that comes across when you're writing about a show you enjoy, and it makes reading it so much darn fun. ...And hey, while I'm giving out all this praise, I should probably mention how much I adore the whole possessed Makoto arc? First of all, much like when Specter stole Edison, it was crazy surprising and novel to see the show essentially make use of the merchandise in such a creative way. It wouldn't have been weird if the sound the Necrom Eyecon makes in the Ghost Driver stayed just a fun bonus bit of compatibility for the toys, right? But beyond that, like you said, it's such an absolutely perfect microcosm of the differences between Takeru and Alain's worldviews at that point in the show. The sheer sincerity with which Alain views Makoto being an obedient drone as the pinnacle of friendship is so, so telling. Well, I'm sure DreamSword will at least agree that Date is very much a tool. Quote:
I'm glad somone else is pickign up the Makoto/Alain dynamic, cause it's a really interesting pairing that the show dos a good job with tying into Alain's whole worldview, but then kinda bubbles under all the stuff with Alain and his family for a while and is never really revisited until the V-Cinema (and of course, if I'm missing something, Fish will tell me)
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02-27-2021, 09:51 PM | #16420 |
Some guy. I'm alright.
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,394
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i was considering typing another response but then you had to go and sum the post up in one sentence how could you
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