aliceylain (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aliceylain) wrote2013-07-04 10:42 am
aliceylain) wrote2013-07-04 10:42 am
i didn't want to look at the real stars
Oh my god, hit the deck, it's a super rare fandom post!?!?!?!?!
I've been rewatching Chihaya Furu lately because goddamn, that show is so sweetly earnest that I can't resist it. I was trying to think of why I like it so much more than Hikaru no Go and I think it's definitely due to the characters. Not that I didn't like HnG's characters, I just love CF's so much more. (Seriously, Ayase is wonderful and determined and clueless and ugh.) Although, I could do without the eternal love triangle which much plague every story in creation where there are two boy main characters and one girl main character. WHO SHALL WIN THE HAND OF THE HEROINE?!?!?!?! Bleh. I'm sad that there probably won't be a third season of Chihaya Furu for several years yet since the second season apparently caught up with the manga.
I've also been rewatching Durarararararaarara and I don't have too many thoughts except I enjoy Anri Sonohara a lot more this time around. I kinda want to read the light novels and manga to see what happens with her since I know the anime didn't encompass the entire story.
I've been working on what I'm considering my Love Letter to Himemiya Anthy. After years of denial, I'm ready to admit that she's my favorite Utena character and it's about damn time that I wrote some fanfiction that pulls all my weirdo theories about her together. The story is basically what happened before the series, or how Anthy got to where she is. Writing Anthy is really, really hard because while she's a strong character, she's more of a quiet strong character. There aren't many BAMF moments in the series for her. And her dialogue in the series comes off as kind-of bland, which is also hard for me because I love snappy dialogue.
It's also hard because I'm trying to justify certain elements of the story. Like in episode 13 where it's clear that Akio and Anthy are visiting Dios in the castle. Like when Anthy says that the power of Dios sleeps within her; is that literal or just pretty words? Could Anthy have released Dios back to Akio at any time? Like why exactly does Akio want his nobility back so badly if it hurt him so much before (thoughts on that in the next paragraph). It's clear that Anthy locked part of her self away when she locked Akio's nobility away; what part of her then did she lock away? (I have my theory which I'm writing into the story.) What does it really mean to be a witch in a story?
When I said Anthy is a strong character, I should really say powerful. She is the one who literally enables the entire story. She's the catharsis, she allows it to continue, and she's the one who ends it with the help of Utena. It's Really All About Anthy.
Of course, writing such a story about Anthy means that I'm also writing about Akio, which isn't a terrible thing but I'm having to restrain myself from writing him as an utter villain. (Me = Prejudiced Against Akio.) And so I was trying to think about Akio in a rational way and had an epiphany which isn't much of an epiphany. It occurred to me that when I think about the word nobility, I usually think of the definition that means morally or spiritually good. I've never really thought about it as a system of class. But the thing about Utena is that both definitions work in terms of the story. Akio was a prince until Anthy locked away his nobility; he was no longer royalty and no longer had special standing, which means that he couldn't solve/fight other people's problems so easily anymore. Utena's heart sword didn't work when Akio tried it because she wasn't a prince. He really wants his nobility back because he wants that special standing back. As I said, not much of an epiphany but it was a new thought for me.
Tonight, I'm having kebabs and SANGRIA with the parents, so that should be fun. It's going to be a nice, relaxing day today. I hope everyone else's day is relaxing too.
I've been rewatching Chihaya Furu lately because goddamn, that show is so sweetly earnest that I can't resist it. I was trying to think of why I like it so much more than Hikaru no Go and I think it's definitely due to the characters. Not that I didn't like HnG's characters, I just love CF's so much more. (Seriously, Ayase is wonderful and determined and clueless and ugh.) Although, I could do without the eternal love triangle which much plague every story in creation where there are two boy main characters and one girl main character. WHO SHALL WIN THE HAND OF THE HEROINE?!?!?!?! Bleh. I'm sad that there probably won't be a third season of Chihaya Furu for several years yet since the second season apparently caught up with the manga.
I've also been rewatching Durarararararaarara and I don't have too many thoughts except I enjoy Anri Sonohara a lot more this time around. I kinda want to read the light novels and manga to see what happens with her since I know the anime didn't encompass the entire story.
I've been working on what I'm considering my Love Letter to Himemiya Anthy. After years of denial, I'm ready to admit that she's my favorite Utena character and it's about damn time that I wrote some fanfiction that pulls all my weirdo theories about her together. The story is basically what happened before the series, or how Anthy got to where she is. Writing Anthy is really, really hard because while she's a strong character, she's more of a quiet strong character. There aren't many BAMF moments in the series for her. And her dialogue in the series comes off as kind-of bland, which is also hard for me because I love snappy dialogue.
It's also hard because I'm trying to justify certain elements of the story. Like in episode 13 where it's clear that Akio and Anthy are visiting Dios in the castle. Like when Anthy says that the power of Dios sleeps within her; is that literal or just pretty words? Could Anthy have released Dios back to Akio at any time? Like why exactly does Akio want his nobility back so badly if it hurt him so much before (thoughts on that in the next paragraph). It's clear that Anthy locked part of her self away when she locked Akio's nobility away; what part of her then did she lock away? (I have my theory which I'm writing into the story.) What does it really mean to be a witch in a story?
When I said Anthy is a strong character, I should really say powerful. She is the one who literally enables the entire story. She's the catharsis, she allows it to continue, and she's the one who ends it with the help of Utena. It's Really All About Anthy.
Of course, writing such a story about Anthy means that I'm also writing about Akio, which isn't a terrible thing but I'm having to restrain myself from writing him as an utter villain. (Me = Prejudiced Against Akio.) And so I was trying to think about Akio in a rational way and had an epiphany which isn't much of an epiphany. It occurred to me that when I think about the word nobility, I usually think of the definition that means morally or spiritually good. I've never really thought about it as a system of class. But the thing about Utena is that both definitions work in terms of the story. Akio was a prince until Anthy locked away his nobility; he was no longer royalty and no longer had special standing, which means that he couldn't solve/fight other people's problems so easily anymore. Utena's heart sword didn't work when Akio tried it because she wasn't a prince. He really wants his nobility back because he wants that special standing back. As I said, not much of an epiphany but it was a new thought for me.
Tonight, I'm having kebabs and SANGRIA with the parents, so that should be fun. It's going to be a nice, relaxing day today. I hope everyone else's day is relaxing too.
no subject
And Chihayafuru is awesome. I didn't even think about the love triangle commonality until you mentioned it - but I feel torn myself on this one. I didn't really feel that torn in other series, I think... anyway, not important. I think I just really like the teamwork.
I loved Anri a lot more when I re-watched DRRR!! last summer. I feel like the first time around, the hype was all about Celty and I got lost in that; I'm not sure whether my tastes are "maturing" or what the fuck it is, but I got interested in paying more attention to the rest of the characters in the story and not just the "badasses." (I sound so boring saying that! Ugh.) Anyway. Any woman who can contain a blade is pretty interesting to hear more about, imo.
In short: I enjoyed your fandom post.
no subject
Let's see if I can remember what I said.
Oh yes, I love the teamwork in Chihayafuru! I just get grumpy at the eternal THERE MUST BE LOVE INTERESTS when awesome teamwork and development should be more than enough to carry a story. I really hope that a third series happens when the manga has enough material built up.
Yeah, Durararararararara is really an ensemble piece. I'm really interested in Anri and her assertion that she can't love/feel and how the whole Saika and children thing really works. A thousand voices in her head and she can encompass all of them? Wow.
Thanks! I hope to do more stuff like this going forward...
no subject
Hmm... do you mean just love triangles or love in general? I noticed a while back that most movies, stories, songs, etc. have romantic love as some part of their theme. Anyway, I'd love a third season!
I like ensemble pieces a lot. Actually, they're my favorites - much more than the ones that focus on main characters. As for your mention of Anri, I can understand not feeling anything, given her past. I wonder what Saika thinks (well, "thinks") of her, though?
If it's fun for you, I say go for it! I don't really get to read fandom posts anymore - I just see pictures on tumblr. I miss the text.
no subject
I miss the text too. Reading text posts on tumblr seems harder for some reason and there's definitely the difficulty with conversing with someone on tumblr. I'm still angry at livejournal for pissing off fandom and turning it into a ghost town because of that.
no subject
Tumblr text posts on my dash are typically one or two sentences and bring to mind a teenager pining looking longingly out of a window at what they're convinced is forever. I mean, I was there once myself but that's like 15 years ago now and I just can't find much interest in it (no offense to any teenagers). At least on tumblr, it seems like there is some sort of weird marriage-hybrid of persecution & hipster when text comes into play. Meh.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2013-07-09 07:30 am (UTC)(link)I was doing the exact same thing last week! The manga is ahead by four volumes, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a third season won't take too long. Each season covered around 8.5 volumes, and chapters seem to be compiled into volumes every three months... I'm picturing myself as Chihaya frantically writing in her notebook.
I found Chihayafuru's cast easier to love--even the minor characters have their own backstories and quirks. I kept cheering for the main characters' opponents, pfft. I especially adored Yumi, the former queen. I can't help but feel that Chihayafuru is everyone's love story with karuta, not just Chihaya's.
As for the rest of your entry, help, you're making me want to rewatch Utena and read essays.
I THOUGHT I WAS LOGGED IN
Re: I THOUGHT I WAS LOGGED IN
Ahahaha, I don't mind the main characters' opponents, but I tend to be very much a "cheer for the main heroes" person. But I do like the opponents! (Even the current Queen, who is likable despite being annoying.) And I can relate to Yumi, it's gotta be hard for her to have a regular job and try to play kurata professionally.
DO IT DO IT, I'm always impressed with how well Utena holds up over time. It's a really solid series.