something
02-12-2006, 02:52 PM
Forgive me for posting this twice, but seeing as how after my post the other thread is at 199 replies, I figure that if anyone replies the thread will be OVER anyway, so I thought it would be better to just make a new one. [ the original thread is here (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&Number=1095078&page=0&view= collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1) ]. Maybe this thread won't go anywhere, but if there are still people up for discussing it, this would be necessary anyway.
Anyway, here is what I said in the other thread:
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Well! I knew it would be good but it took me so damn long to get around to it! Anyway, I marathoned eps 5-12 last night, from ?am to 9am, and just got up after 4 hours sleep to shovel away a foot and a half of snow, so forgive me if I ask stupid questions or seem like I missed something obvious.
Alright, we can start off with the basic gushing praise, because, really, why not? Traumend was fantastic, Suiseiseki is a goddess, Kanaria is adorably silly, and in general the show did an amazing job splitting time rather equitably among the seven dolls, and in only 12 episodes to boot. The pacing and writing for this show are really pretty outstanding.
Oh, and the op and ed animations are beautiful and engaging and the music sets the mood wonderfully. I love the latter part of the op where they zoom out from Suiseiseki and Souseiseki holding hands, then Kanaria and Hina Ichigo crossing roses, and then switch into that surreal tea party with Jun and Shinku <3 it
Alright, so, the show... I have to say it surprised me. Oh sure, I knew since long ago that Suigintou was returning (after all this time, do you really think I could avoid such spoilers?) so lots of surprise was lost there, but I do have to say it didn't play out like I expected. When she started to care for Megu I thought maybe she would change her ways, or at least show less glee in thrashing her sisters. She didn't, but that was fine, because they still explained why she acted like she did -- because her love for their Father was still pure and intense, and because Barasuishou was deceiving everyone from the start.
Anyway, getting to the ending, I'm pretty surprised at how it ended. Sure, it seemed too convenient that their Father would be Enju, but then again it's not like they didn't drop a hundred hints in that direction before "revealing" it. But for Enju to just be Rozen's apprentice was a nice twist, and for Barasuishou to be his revenge against Rozen tied things up nicely.
Also surprising: -- it didn't just go, "Hey, Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo just come back happily!" It quite explicitly states that Shinku has some struggles ahead of her to get those two back. What that struggle is exactly, I am not 100% sure. What we do see is Laplace's Demon (a character who I still don't understand -- whose side is he on?) in possession of their Roza Mystica, along with a (resurrected?) Barasuishou. So, who is this Barasuishou? The real one created by Rozen? I suppose Enju made a fake Barasuishou to use as his revenge, and the real Barasuishou is still out there, perhaps not awakened yet? If so, why is she with Laplace's Demon?
Lots of questions, and I did pay attention during the show (as much as my brain would allow at 9am), but I definitely missed something. I'll read this thread after I post as well, but the questions are still there if I don't see an answer. Of course, it figures this is like, post 198 so this thread is gonna be locked in no time and this whole post will be lost to the abyss =P Meh!
Anyway, after checking out this thread I'll be updating my Most Wanted list. Hmm, where to put Rozen Maiden...
Edit: I have to add -- thank god this show didn't go the fanservice route. Fanservice in the sense of trying to be sexy I mean. That would have been creepy beyond belief and utterly ruined the show.
So, three cheers and a mountain of kudos to the creators for not trying to pander to that crowd, whatever that crowd is, and for maintaining some integrity with respect to their characters. I mean, not that fanservice automatically demeans a character's existence, but in this show... just... no. It would not have worked at all.
The closest they came was that late series episode in the first season, and that was, while still sort of weird, still very tastefully done. I'm quite impressed.
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And then I just replied to the popularity poll post with:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
Rozen Maiden ~träµ*end~ Popularity Contest Results - TBS Official Site (http://www.tbs.co.jp/rozen-maiden/05special/15ninki-kekka.html)
01.?Suiseiseki
[/ QUOTE ]
Damn straight, the Japanese know what's up~
Suiseiseki amuses me like nobody's business. Easily my favorite character.
[/ QUOTE ]
Anyway, here is what I said in the other thread:
------------------------------------
Well! I knew it would be good but it took me so damn long to get around to it! Anyway, I marathoned eps 5-12 last night, from ?am to 9am, and just got up after 4 hours sleep to shovel away a foot and a half of snow, so forgive me if I ask stupid questions or seem like I missed something obvious.
Alright, we can start off with the basic gushing praise, because, really, why not? Traumend was fantastic, Suiseiseki is a goddess, Kanaria is adorably silly, and in general the show did an amazing job splitting time rather equitably among the seven dolls, and in only 12 episodes to boot. The pacing and writing for this show are really pretty outstanding.
Oh, and the op and ed animations are beautiful and engaging and the music sets the mood wonderfully. I love the latter part of the op where they zoom out from Suiseiseki and Souseiseki holding hands, then Kanaria and Hina Ichigo crossing roses, and then switch into that surreal tea party with Jun and Shinku <3 it
Alright, so, the show... I have to say it surprised me. Oh sure, I knew since long ago that Suigintou was returning (after all this time, do you really think I could avoid such spoilers?) so lots of surprise was lost there, but I do have to say it didn't play out like I expected. When she started to care for Megu I thought maybe she would change her ways, or at least show less glee in thrashing her sisters. She didn't, but that was fine, because they still explained why she acted like she did -- because her love for their Father was still pure and intense, and because Barasuishou was deceiving everyone from the start.
Anyway, getting to the ending, I'm pretty surprised at how it ended. Sure, it seemed too convenient that their Father would be Enju, but then again it's not like they didn't drop a hundred hints in that direction before "revealing" it. But for Enju to just be Rozen's apprentice was a nice twist, and for Barasuishou to be his revenge against Rozen tied things up nicely.
Also surprising: -- it didn't just go, "Hey, Souseiseki and Hina Ichigo just come back happily!" It quite explicitly states that Shinku has some struggles ahead of her to get those two back. What that struggle is exactly, I am not 100% sure. What we do see is Laplace's Demon (a character who I still don't understand -- whose side is he on?) in possession of their Roza Mystica, along with a (resurrected?) Barasuishou. So, who is this Barasuishou? The real one created by Rozen? I suppose Enju made a fake Barasuishou to use as his revenge, and the real Barasuishou is still out there, perhaps not awakened yet? If so, why is she with Laplace's Demon?
Lots of questions, and I did pay attention during the show (as much as my brain would allow at 9am), but I definitely missed something. I'll read this thread after I post as well, but the questions are still there if I don't see an answer. Of course, it figures this is like, post 198 so this thread is gonna be locked in no time and this whole post will be lost to the abyss =P Meh!
Anyway, after checking out this thread I'll be updating my Most Wanted list. Hmm, where to put Rozen Maiden...
Edit: I have to add -- thank god this show didn't go the fanservice route. Fanservice in the sense of trying to be sexy I mean. That would have been creepy beyond belief and utterly ruined the show.
So, three cheers and a mountain of kudos to the creators for not trying to pander to that crowd, whatever that crowd is, and for maintaining some integrity with respect to their characters. I mean, not that fanservice automatically demeans a character's existence, but in this show... just... no. It would not have worked at all.
The closest they came was that late series episode in the first season, and that was, while still sort of weird, still very tastefully done. I'm quite impressed.
-------------------------------------
And then I just replied to the popularity poll post with:
[ QUOTE ]
disarm said:
[ QUOTE ]
ArseneLupinIII said:
Rozen Maiden ~träµ*end~ Popularity Contest Results - TBS Official Site (http://www.tbs.co.jp/rozen-maiden/05special/15ninki-kekka.html)
01.?Suiseiseki
[/ QUOTE ]
Damn straight, the Japanese know what's up~
Suiseiseki amuses me like nobody's business. Easily my favorite character.
[/ QUOTE ]