Thoughts on Mai-Otome including the end*SPOILERS*

[Dylonius Funk]

I wasn't sure if this should go in the current thread. I choose to start a new one since the current one seems to be focused on discussing the upcoming OVA, so I didn't want this to get missed in the midst of all that.

I have to say that I liked the ending to this series a lot better than the ending to Hime. It was a nice ending and tied up the story pretty well. There are still some things left hanging that I hope get answered in the OVA (<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>such as the back-story between Yoko and Midori </span>) There were a few things I had trouble with though.





<span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>1. I had written a long rant about the Nina/Sergay thing but I decided against posting it. We all know what happened and if we want we can discuss wither it helped or hurt the series.

2. What was the deal with Erstin? I mean that was a bombshell that came out of nowhere and made me wish I hadn't accidentally spoiled myself by reading the entry for the OVA on ANN. Still her death was one of the most tragic moments in the series and served as a way of kicking the other two into gear. I really liked the character myself, and felt really bad for her when she had to reveal her true nature.

3. So what was the deal with Mashiro and Takami? I thought we would see him again but he never showed up again. I guess his purpose was to kick Mashiro into gear and make her take a hard look at her life as queen.


4. Apparently in anime falls off cliffs don't kill people, they just make them vanish until the final episode when they bare suddenly close to characters they had been close to in a previous series but hadn't shown any indication they knew each other in this one. If you have no idea what I’m talking about you haven't seen far enough yet. Mind you I took a break between episode 8 and 9 and haven't had a chance to rewatch the first episodes so if there was any indication of a connection between the two in question then I apologize.

5. Though it was an obvious ploy to justify all the shojo-ai/yuri fanservice, Natsuki's explanation of how the school values girl-girl relationships due to the fact that Otome's lose their powers if they are no longer virgins actually makes sense. The Spartans had a belief in the importance of male bonding because it served to solidify the unit as a cohesive force. This was in the day when the most common unit was a square of spear wielding infantry called a phalanx. The phalanx had to be kept close together or else it would fall apart and be exposed to the enemy. So I can buy an explanation like that in this universe to explain why they put so much value on the relationships between the Otome, though it seems ironic when you consider that they go into this knowing they may end up fighting their sisters.</span>

Anyway this went on longer than I intended. Overall I will say that I enjoyed the show, like Mai-Hime it was a fun watch with interesting likeable characters, a plot that had enough turns and twists to be enjoyable, beautiful animation, and of course lots of shojo-ai fanservice. Who could ask for anything more?

[Dagger]

4. It was clear that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Chie and Aoi were very close friends in My-Otome. They'd been shown going on a "date" and otherwise hanging out, and they always acknowledged each other in a friendly way when their paths crossed. Chie visited Aoi in the hospital well before that final scene. Plus, there was also that adorable scene of Aoi returning Chie's glasses.</span> /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[pianocello]

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Dylonius Funk said:
Anyway this went on longer than I intended. Overall I will say that I enjoyed the show, like Mai-Hime it was a fun watch with interesting likeable characters, a plot that had enough turns and twists to be enjoyable, beautiful animation, and of course lots of shojo-ai fanservice. Who could ask for anything more?

[/ QUOTE ]

It needs a massive yuri orgy. /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

[Teiresias]

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Dylonius Funk said:

5. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Though it was an obvious ploy to justify all the shojo-ai/yuri fanservice, Natsuki's explanation of how the school values girl-girl relationships due to the fact that Otome's lose their powers if they are no longer virgins actually makes sense. The Spartans had a belief in the importance of male bonding because it served to solidify the unit as a cohesive force. This was in the day when the most common unit was a square of spear wielding infantry called a phalanx. The phalanx had to be kept close together or else it would fall apart and be exposed to the enemy. So I can buy an explanation like that in this universe to explain why they put so much value on the relationships between the Otome, though it seems ironic when you consider that they go into this knowing they may end up fighting their sisters.</span>


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A better analogy here would be the Sacred Band of Thebes:

Linky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_of_Thebes)

[Dylonius Funk]

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piano_cello_conducting said:
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Dylonius Funk said:
Anyway this went on longer than I intended. Overall I will say that I enjoyed the show, like Mai-Hime it was a fun watch with interesting likeable characters, a plot that had enough turns and twists to be enjoyable, beautiful animation, and of course lots of shojo-ai fanservice. Who could ask for anything more?

[/ QUOTE ]

It needs a massive yuri orgy. /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but that can be said about most anything. /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[something]

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Dylonius Funk said:
1. I had written a long rant about the Nina/Sergay thing but I decided against posting it. We all know what happened and if we want we can discuss wither it helped or hurt the series.

[/ QUOTE ]
I honestly don't know either way (assuming you're talking about the "sex" scene). I think by the end it was just sort of... there. I don't know that it had much of an effect either way on my enjoyment of the series. About all I can say for it is that it was a bit confusing. They made it look like it happened (to me at least), and then when they show later scenes, she still has her powers, but... ::shrugs:: I know a lot of things in the My~* universe are intentionally misleading, but it's usually done in a cool "woah that was a twist" kinda way. This was just strange and confusing.

As for them ending up together at the end? Well, part of me says "Meh, too clean and neat, and a tad creepy". But a larger part of me says... "Isn't that better?" Sure, Nina being dead after the clash with Arika would have been the ideal situation (not out of any hatred towards Nina per se, but simply from the standpoint of emotional impact). Still, what they did -- having them removed from everyone else, by themselves, living their own lives together -- is better than some stupidly cheery "Everyone made up and is happy =)" nonsense where Nina stays with everyone else as Windbloom and it's like nothing ever happened. So from that perspective, good choice on their part.

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2. What was the deal with Erstin? I mean that was a bombshell that came out of nowhere and made me wish I hadn't accidentally spoiled myself by reading the entry for the OVA on ANN.

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I'm glad I wasn't spoiled on that one! Sure it was a possibility that had been discussed, but it didn't suddenly come up the episode before it happened -- people had been calling her death for weeks to no effect. And then it happened, and at Nina's hands, no less.

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I really liked the character myself, and felt really bad for her when she had to reveal her true nature.

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Agreed! There were some in the Otome threads who disliked Erstin quite a bit, saying she was useless, fanboy fodder, what have you, but I enjoyed her character from beginning to untimely end. Her role as the final catalyst for, well, the whole final conflict just made her all the more interesting, and her death was the most tragic part of the show (next to Arika having to destroy Rena). As much as I loved Erstin though, I'm glad she didn't magically come back to life. Her death had far too much meaning in the grand scheme of things for a reset to have been acceptable.

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3. So what was the deal with Mashiro and Takami? I thought we would see him again but he never showed up again. I guess his purpose was to kick Mashiro into gear and make her take a hard look at her life as queen.

[/ QUOTE ]
They did sort of blow that all off, huh? =P But yes, he was just the motivation Mashiro needed, and thank goodness. She was not a very enjoyable character early in the series, once the novelty of her 180 degree personality shift from HiME wore off. And besides, Takumi has to get busy with those hot hot threesomes with Akira and Mai that you know he craves. That perv.

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4. Apparently in anime falls off cliffs don't kill people, they just make them vanish until the final episode when they bare suddenly close to characters they had been close to in a previous series but hadn't shown any indication they knew each other in this one.

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Heh, I see the Chie/Aoi thing as one of the more subtle(?) nods to HiME. They didn't talk nearly in Otome as much as they did in that series, but it would just be assumed by HiME fans that they were together, in whatever fashion.

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5. Though it was an obvious ploy to justify all the shojo-ai/yuri fanservice, Natsuki's explanation of how the school values girl-girl relationships due to the fact that Otome's lose their powers if they are no longer virgins actually makes sense. The Spartans had a belief in the importance of male bonding because it served to solidify the unit as a cohesive force.

[/ QUOTE ]
And isn't that the best kind of fanservice? The kind that can be justified? =D

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Overall I will say that I enjoyed the show, like Mai-Hime it was a fun watch with interesting likeable characters, a plot that had enough turns and twists to be enjoyable, beautiful animation, and of course lots of shojo-ai fanservice. Who could ask for anything more?

[/ QUOTE ]
So which did you like better in the end? I wavered a bit on favoring Otome when Arika got all emo, but after that great run-up to a fantastic ending, I have no problem saying Otome is the better show. The massive difference between my enjoyment of Otome's ending and my enjoyment (or lack thereof) of HiME's ending is absolutely a tie-breaker, and then some.

Of course, that said, the two series sit one right after the other on my all time top ten, #5 and #6. Or since these forums tend to group them, sharing #5.

[Fencedude]

All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[Suwako Moriya]

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disarm said:
And besides, Takumi has to get busy with those hot hot threesomes with Akira and Mai that you know he craves. That perv.

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Okay there is a problem with that. No not the incest aspect, but the Mikoto aspect. Is Mikoto willing to share Mai? Note who we are talking about here.

[Suwako Moriya]

Tomoe is rather interesting villain in some regards and it's nice that they don't magically justify her actions later. Of course part of the fun with her is seeing her suffer at certain moments. Still her character does suffer from being a bit one tracked, but then you could claim well she's dedicated.

[something]

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Anri Misugi said:
Okay there is a problem with that. No not the incest aspect, but the Mikoto aspect. Is Mikoto willing to share Mai? Note who we are talking about here.

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I thought about that too, but then stopped, because I don't like to think of "Mikoto" and "sex" at the same time.

[Fencedude]

Wimp

[something]

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Fencedude said:
Wimp

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Mikoto is creepy =P I'd probably rather even think of Mashiro, and that's creepy enough.

[Suwako Moriya]

Mikoto and sex or Mashiro and sex? Personally I don't find either idea creepy which means I've said too much. Plus err Otome Mashiro is older so one can feel less guilty. Yeah I definitely like both of them, but then I like various girls from the series for different reasons both in terms of personality and character design. Take that as you will.

[Ty]

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Fencedude said:
All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[/ QUOTE ]

Provided you haven't seen a single episode of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. /images/graemlins/wink.gif The image of a little girl <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> stabbing herself to death in the head </span> doesn't leave one's mind easily.

[Fencedude]

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Xcalibur said:
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Fencedude said:
All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[/ QUOTE ]

Provided you haven't seen a single episode of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. /images/graemlins/wink.gif The image of a little girl <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> stabbing herself to death in the head </span> doesn't leave one's mind easily.

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Eh? Totally different things.

The only person in Higurashi who approaches Tomoe's level of sheer psychopathy is Mion in the Watanagashi-hen arc.

Rika Stabby Stabby is not anything like that.

[pianocello]

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Dylonius Funk said:
3. So what was the deal with Mashiro and Takami? I thought we would see him again but he never showed up again. I guess his purpose was to kick Mashiro into gear and make her take a hard look at her life as queen.



[/ QUOTE ]

Why would we still need Takumi to be around Mashiro when Mashiro has Arika for some hot yuri fun? /images/graemlins/shy00000.gif

[pianocello]

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Fencedude said:
All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[/ QUOTE ]

She must be one of the best survivors in recent history. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> How can anyone fall from so high and land with a loud splat and not end up being a bloody mess of scattered flesh and bone? </span>

[Fencedude]

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piano_cello_conducting said:
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Fencedude said:
All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[/ QUOTE ]

She must be one of the best survivors in recent history. <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'> How can anyone fall from so high and land with a loud splat and not end up being a bloody mess of scattered flesh and bone? </span>

[/ QUOTE ]

Nanomachines!

(if you ever have any question about why something happened in My~Otome, the answer is ALWAYS Nanomachines. This logic also works for Kiddy Grade)

[LupusUmbrus]

As a whole, I enjoyed Otome more then Hime, as the story just seems to flow much better. Hime had a number of moments where the story telling seemed a little herky-jerky.

And include me with those that enjoyed Eri. Her role was so critical and tragic that I just have to love her.

[Splitter]

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Fencedude said:
All this talk about Otome and no mention of Tomoe?

She's only like....the best psychopath in recent memory.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would, but nothing more needs to be said about her that already hasn't.... well, except am I the only one who thinks <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>she's more batshit crazy than HiME Shizuru?</span>

[something]

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Splitter said:
I would, but nothing more needs to be said about her that already hasn't.... well, except am I the only one who thinks <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>she's more batshit crazy than HiME Shizuru?</span>

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I think she's just more prone to let her insanity show than HiME Shizuru was. More angry outbursts and all.

Also keep in mind that Tomoe was revealed as crazy almost from the get-go, while Shizuru didn't become an obvious factor until near the end of HiME. Tomoe had a lot more time to act crazy (and annoying, but that's just me).

[Dylonius Funk]

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Anri Misugi said:
Tomoe is rather interesting villain in some regards and it's nice that they don't magically justify her actions later. Of course part of the fun with her is seeing her suffer at certain moments. Still her character does suffer from being a bit one tracked, but then you could claim well she's dedicated.

[/ QUOTE ]

My problem with Tomoe wasn't that she ehrself was a bad villian per say, but simply that at no point did i belive that she had seduced Shizuru or that Shizuru had consiously betrayed Natsuki. It was obvious form the begining that Shizuru was useing her as a means for furthering her own plans. That and i had the viewer knowledge of knowing how popualr the Nat/Shu pairing was wiht the fanbase and that the writers would not break those two apart unless it was for massive dramatic effect, and Tomoe just never seemed like a powerful enough person to do that. Still she did have dedidcation to ehr own goals and one could say that if her only plan was to get some action with Shizuru she achived that, she just didn't realize she was being played like Billy Joel at a piano.