What a dream comment!! First, just let me express how much i appreciate the time and effort you put into such a long and detailed review. Rereading it now and squealing once again!
Jukai's line conclusion is what i'm really frustrated about the canon. After the effort they've put into remaking his character, his line being a thread that runs through the whole story, that conclusion was underwhelming. After he was shown about to do something in episode 23, i figured it must be something really crucial but probably sacrificial, like the way for him to atone for his past. But at the same time, considering how this show has been, i had various ideas, from him carrying a pistol under his shirt to shoot Hyakki believing that he indeed has raised a monster, to covering Taho with his body and getting killed by Hyakki's hand for Hyakki's human side to wake up (and torment him with remorse for the rest of his life lol). I'm kinda glad they didn't go with anything like that lol. But at the same time, i don't like the way they did it either. The brothers were able to reconcile on their own, without anyone's help, and while i LOVED it (it was one of my favorite things in the whole anime), it made Jukai and mother coming there kind of pointless. They just arrived at the scene after everything was done and settled ONLY TO DIE. It was absolutely UNNECESSARY for them to die there, and i hate unnecessary deaths. Jukai could've given that statue to Hyakki a bit after, when they all were safe outside, without much harm to the plot. Or at least he could've died saving Hyakki, like in the stage play. But the ending they did just felt so unlogical that i really had a hard time believing that's it, I was hoping till the last seconds they will show them escape. The only logical reason for them to die there was for Kagemitsu to lose everything, but still, Jukai have nothing to do with Kagemitsu's remorse. So why they put them all three together in the end?? The three characters with the most exciting possibility of interaction? Only to destroy that possibility the very next second??? It was just natural for me to deny it because i love logic, i believe there must be logic everywhere XD And once i started to write, it all clicked so nicely together! The themes of remorse, the will to live on, the fear of harming people by helping them... They have so much in common at this point! They all are kinda broken, and together they can figure things out, teaching each other or just providing a chance for each other to look at the problem from the perspective. Because it's not just about Taho, Jukai too still has a way to change and to heal. His line isn't finished, MAPPA, dammit! The same can be said about Nui. Death is the easiest salvation, except it doesn't actually solve anything.
Thank you for highlighting the scenes you liked and for describing your emotions in detail, it is really important for me to know! This is not just about feeling validated, this is the insight into a reader's mind which is really useful. Well, as a fellow writer, you understand me :3
Totally agree with the things you said about Taho. This boy touches some raw nerves inside of me. I can't remember when i felt so emo about a character. Everything about him is so dramatic and god i love drama :D He is such a deep and promising character that i can think of dozens scenarios to put him into, ugh MAPPA what you did is such a waste. But that's it, we officially adopt him! :D
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on Chapter 1
Wed 03
Jul 201911:49AM UTC
Aww, it's nothing! I actually really like expressing my opinions and analyzing stuff, so this was very fun for me to write! Especially since to me at least, comments comments make me so happy when I get them on my work, so I wanted to support a fellow writer!! Even more especially one who wrote my favorite fic in the fandom! :D
And yes, you put it perfectly into words. The way all of their character arcs ended was completely pointless and undermined everything the show was building up to about these characters. While I was certain that Taho was going to die, I still had blind hope that the conclusion to his arc will involve him becoming a strong, good leader and getting the love he not only needs, but desperately deserves. Jukai as well! It's so messed up that he died, because the man had found his will to live just a few episodes ago. And even Nui dying was pointless! She should have lived and made up to her son and gave him the attention he craved for so long! It was just dumb and so Daigo could loose everything, but it would have been so much better if Daigo just got rejected by his family!
I am very easily emo about characters, but Taho has hit that spot in my heart and he makes me feel more then any other character ever has. I just look at this pure, wonderful boy and break down. I recently rewatched the last episode, and you know what scene made me tear up? The one when Taho is telling Hyakki about his room. I don't know why that broke me, but the passion and sorrow in his voice got to me. It reminded me that he is just a human, just a lost boy. And of course the falshback scene after it didn't help.
And yes!! We should adopt him!! I might be only a year older then him, but dammit!! I want my son!!
Actually yes, "it would have been so much better if Daigo just got rejected by his family!" TRUE. Though, knowing Taho, he wouldn't have done that. Here, i kinda gave him the chance to do it without really doing, but if he was to face his father after they were saved, how would Taho have acted, i wonder? He consciously shared that guilt with him, he too took part in this deal with demons, so i doubt he would have rejected him. Maybe have some rough talk, confront him and oppose his decisions from now on, but not abandon. So i can understand why they went with that scenario - Kagemitsu actually losing everything and first of all his treasured heir (and i think he really loved Taho, even though some of his actions made me question it at some point). Yes, it's understandable from this perspective. But at the same time, Taho is too great and unique character to serve as a plot device for others! And if we look at the story from the perspective of his character development, it's obvious he should have lived!
Oh, that scene. I rewatched all that house tour multiple times for the same reason. I remember how emo i felt when i first watched it. It was so unexpected, the way Taho suddenly opened up, let that all out, just started yelling at Hyakki, not about the domain and people and duty, but about these simple little things that pained his boy's heart, ouch, my heart is aching again as i'm writing this. I was impressed when he shut down his feelings in ep 17-18, it was painful but i found myself admiring his decision and determination; but i was beyond impressed when he let his heart speak (yell!) in the end. It might seem as weakness, but somehow it felt quite the opposite, since in fact it was his human side defeating the demon. And what an amazing job by seiyuu! I was impressed with his voice acting in general, but the last episodes were beyond awesome. Idk there's something about his voice and the way he expresses emotions that just breaks me all the time. Just perfect for Taho, subtle yet dramatic and sometimes so raw, like that scene or the scene with Mutsu quarantined. I have a thing for voices and can rant about it a lot XD
He is our son in a way, dear:) after all, when you write a character, he is like a child of yours, right? and even if Taho wasn't originally created by us, we still make him our own, recreating him in our imagination. So he's ok now! we'll take care of him the way he deserves! ;_;
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umihotaru on Chapter 1 Wed 03 Jul 2019 09:51AM UTC
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umihotaru on Chapter 1 Thu 04 Jul 2019 12:26AM UTC
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