Archive for the ‘Mai-HiME’ Category
May 7, 2008 – 1:48 pm
When I updated WordPress, I also installed the stats plugin. After a couple weeks it’s interesting to see that my most-read posts are about Mai-Hime, specifically Shizuru and Natsuki. I guess it’s not surprising, since Mai-Hime was in and of itself a highly popular show, and Shizuru and Natsuki garner much attention from the fanbase. That said, I am glad that others find this as fascinating a couple as I did.
When I finished Mai-Hime I was most unhappy with the happy-go-lucky, no-consequences ending portrayed. It was just too pat, because a whole lot of shit happened between Shizuru and Natsuki that doesn’t just go away because you killed each other out of love then came back to defeat the bad guy.
But I left it at that, because well after all is said and done it’s just a Sunrise TV series.
Then the other day, I came across a fanfic. This was a ShizNat fanfic, but it dared to go where no other fanfic writer had gone, and that was to write the aftermath of the Carnival for Shizuru and Natsuki. Shizuru’s guilt and fear and tenuous sanity. Natsuki’s courage and trauma and confusion. And how these two could ever, ever hope to bridge the gap in trust and friendship left by Shizuru’s horrendous betrayal and hideous crime of murder.
This fic is called Windows of the Soul and it is on FanFiction.Net. Read it, please. It is an amazingly good story. It’s still incomplete, but the author updates quickly in and volume, such that in 4 months we have over 310,000 words describing in detail, from Natsuki and Shizuru’s POV, what it could have been like to hold on to your most important person.
After Mai-Hime ended, I wanted, more than anything else, a realistic portrayal of Shizuru and Natsuki. So I am amazed and extremely happy to discover that sometimes we do get what we wish for ;)
Posted in ANIME, Fanfiction, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
March 31, 2005 – 8:09 pm
Erm… Okay.
On the good side, it wasn’t some cheesy reset.
On the other hand, it was the corniest revive I’ve ever seen. Um, so basically after painting everything in swathes of blood-red angst and black despair, we have… Sentai Hime! Please, I like my anime slightly less schizophrenic.
Then again, I have to give kudos to the fact that it wasn’t a reset, that everyone is back for the ending, with their memories, and life goes on as usual. Gee, talk about having your cake and eating it, and getting seconds too. Excuse me while I go into a sugar overload.
Personally, I was pretty much done with ep 25. That was the whole story of Shizuru and Natsuki, and since I don’t really care much for Mai-HiME as an anime, ep 26 is just kind of an extra, heh. So, even though absolutely nothing made sense and nothing was explained and stuff just happened to the whims of the writing staff as opposed to following some even vague rule of logical consistency and human motivation, I’m not particularly bothered.
I am slightly disturbed, however, by the idea that everything that came to pass had no bad consequences whatsoever. I think we really got hammered by the idea that we should no deny our feelings of love, that it’s best to accept them straightforwardly, fully. But, uh, hello… There was a particular someone who significantly reduced the population of the city.
Uh, but dammit… they’re cute! Argh!! They’re so cute! It’s makes me want to gag but they’re so cute I think I’ll just turn off that side of my brain and take it for what it’s worth. -_-;;
One thing I complained about was how the resolution in ep 25 neatly rested on the fact that Natsuki and Shizuru avoided any sort of aftermath… I mean you say what you need to say, then you die, so no worries about how to deal with the situation in the future. This ep turned that right on it’s head, since everyone comes back at the exact instance they green-sparklied. And Shizuru, ah Shizuru, crying into Natsuki’s arms, “Forgive me, forgive me!” That seriously, seriously made the whole thing worth it.
Everything else can be considered a different show *laugh*
Dammit, damn Sunrise and their stupid “Cast Level 99 Gag Anime Transformation”. I guess it’s consolation for those who liked eps 1-7.
I’d love to see a back story on how Shizuru and Natsuki really deal with the aftermath, that very evening once they have some time together alone. Wouldn’t that make a great psychological exploral?
As for Shizuru herself, the only way I can accept her return to normality is if her mental deterioration and subsequent rampage were due to the “curse of Kiyohime”, and that once she revived her mind became clear. Otherwise… bleh, you just substitute one brand of insanity for another.
Ah… demo Kaichou… yappa saikou da (*´Д｀)
So what I guess I’m trying to say is, Shizuru and Natsuki, Forever! In any shape or form? Ah, what weak-willed creatures we are; despite our eternal complaining, we’ll roll over and take it all, as long as you feed us enough warm fuzzy shots of these two :P
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | 5 Comments »
March 26, 2005 – 4:58 am
Now that I’ve made my mild displeasure at the previous episode known, I figure it also deserved a treatise on what was good. Yes, despite the fact that I considered the Shizuru x Natsuki wrap-up too pat and neat (not to mention that I was still quite unhappy that Shizuru continued to be psycho for No Good Goddamn Reason), this episode was packed with some pretty tasty bits.
Before we get to our favourite girls, I’d like to take the opportunity to rave about MIYU, who was simply incredibly awesome and cool. Should have figured Sunrise would do mecha in true style! As an old school mecha fight fan (well, old school as in Masami Ohbari of BGC and Detonator Orgun), I get seriously pumped to see beautiful action execution. Forget content, this is all about the style and atmostphere, and ho-boy does our little robot girl deliver! Cheesy and corny, but dang it had me grinning when she selects “Mode Scarlet - Artillery” (woo woo!) and her clothes shimmer to red. Ahh… joy… *happy tears*
I have to say, the fights in this ep were also pretty good. Yep, we’re talking MIYU blasting away, but the true stars must be Natsuki and Kaichou, of course. Oh, and Mega Duran ^^
First, Natsuki firing at Shizuru, and Shizuru hitting aside the bullets with her naginata (that girl’s gooood…), then the massive, massive Duran appearing out of the ice, with Natsuki riding on top, then big huge mechs clashing… Good stuff. Almost good enough to forget Shizuru’s recycled animation :P
Favourite Shizuru/Natsuki parts in this episode:
- Shizuru hefting her naginata and going, “But I really do love you” with the saddest eyes
- Shizuru calling for Kiyohime after that (that voice, that tone!)
- Natsuki summoning Duran, who turns out to be suddenly a LOT bigger than before! And she stands on his nose while he howls into the sky
- Shizuru saying, “Do you hate me THAT much?” after Natsuki says the Child grows out of the depth of emotion
- Kiyohime chasing Natsuki out of the trees, and then you see Duran’s leg step into the frame, and you know with that crunching sound Duran has just whacked it aside
- Natsuki brushing Shizuru’s hair away tenderly
- Natsuki when she shouts, “DURAN, LOAD SILVER CARTRIDGE!”
- “UTAE!”
And then green sparklies.
Okay, now comes the treatise on Natsuki and Shizuru. Actually, when I think about it, for a 26 episode series that had a gadzillion characters and tried to fit everything but the kitchen sink into its plotlines, Natsuki and Shizuru got some real airtime. Although Shizuru’s story was too abrupt and convenient to be called good writing, it was still treated very well, especially in the midst of everything going to hell. In fact, you could say that Shizuru was the central point of this final arc, and they did manage to squeeze a heck of a lot out of it. Or perhaps that’s because I’ve been reading the reams of debating going on on the ‘net for the last 5 weeks ^^;;
What’s surprising about how things turned out through the last 5 episodes is that right on par with Shizuru’s fall into insanity was the breadth of Natsuki’s growth and compassion. Back then in ep 21, we thought Shizuru was the coolest thing sinced sliced bread, and that Natsuki was totally useless. Then, Natsuki returns with a conviction that outshines any of the other HiMEs because it comes straight from within herself. I think Natsuki is without doubt the hero of this story, an immensely strong, noble and selfless character. She was a bitter young girl, then a distant, single-minded teenager with only one true friend - a friend who went on to shock her by violating her trust and revealing herself to be not quite right in the head.
When Shizuru, who had believed that she must not ever let Natsuki find out that she desired Natsuki, because there is no way Natsuki could ever return “these twisted feelings”, is abrubtly revealed, she loses it completely. It is utterly disturbing for us to see a Shizuru who kills everything that stands between her and Natsuki, all the while declaring that she will protect Natsuki, and then when faced with Natsuki again, says “Natsuki, I will make you mine.” We could not possibly imagine the extent to which Natsuki herself is recoiling in horror at the way everything has disintegrated.
Helpless and lost. That was Natsuki stumbling through the streets in the rain. That was Natsuki who could not find the strength to summon Duran. That was Natsuki bound in threads by Nao, who could do nothing but shout for the two HiMEs to stop fighting… Until Nao’s comment laid a flash of insight into her heart.
That was when Natsuki realized how important Shizuru was. Shizuru was important, more important than even her mother - who had been her mainstay until her betrayal was revealed - because it was Shizuru’s patience and ever cheerful presence that drew Natsuki out of her solitary darkness. Without Shizuru, she would have been as misguided as Nao, but because Shizuru stood by Natsuki, even as her lone friend, Natsuki became the person she is now.
And with that, the stage is set; Natsuki would do everything in her power to deliver Shizuru from this black fate of the HiMEs. And that’s why she knows she has to fight Shizuru, because stopping Shizuru is the kindest thing she could possibly do for this most important person in her life.
My main complaint about Shizuru’s madness - aside from the fact that I still think it makes no sense for someone who is otherwise a cool and collected, yet teasing and fun-loving girl, to suddenly believe that committing murder is a fully acceptable way of demonstrating affection - is what she hopes to accomplish with Natsuki. Surely she knows that the more she kills, the further away she pushes Natsuki. But still she tells her, in ep 24, that she will go destroy the remnants of the First District and then return because “you are mine”. She knows, all too well, that Natsuki is shocked by her “twisted feelings”, and that there is little chance that Natsuki will return them. Yet all her actions indicate she now operates in her own little world where nothing else matters but her obssession to “destroy everything that stands between me and Natsuki”, and damn the consequences of her actions on any hope of repairing her relationship with Natsuki. Even when Natsuki regains her powers from rediscovering what is important, Shizuru only seems sad… and then she leaves.
Perhaps it’s because I can’t believe Shizuru could be so crazy as to be completely divorced from reality, even if she might be more than a little obssessed with wanting Natsuki, and wanting to hide that from Natsuki. Cognitive dissonance causes, after all, an immense amount of mental stress, and one does snap when the load is too much. But Shizuru wasn’t crazy at the beginning, she was just a very confused girl like yours truly, and so once the big shock wears off, you’d think she’d be a little calmer.
So, two nights of rampaging around later, we have Shizuru sitting at a desk in school, sipping tea. Natsuki busts in on her bike (okay, granted that’s not exactly the best of approaches), and Shizuru is so dead calm it’s freaky as hell, dammit!! And then Natsuki declares she will stop Shizuru once and for all, and Shizuru replies, with a sigh, that “I guess you won’t accept my feelings after all. In that case..” and materializes naginata and rushes Natsuki.
I’m sitting there going… duh!! Of course! You just killed a bunch of people, you’re insane, and you’re utterly unpredictable now because who knows who’s next on your list?
Well, you know the rest of the episode. Natsuki leads her out. Shizuru follows on Kiyohime, saying that she really didn’t want Natsuki to suffer. And then she finally shows emotion, in a voice that’s cracking with sadness… “Natsuki… Demo uchi yappari Natsuki suki nan dosue.” And those eyes… narrowed in pain and perhaps hopelessness - “That’s why, even if you hate me, I will try to make you mine.” And when Natsuki summons Mega Duran and says that the depth of feeling becomes the power of the Child, Shizuru, tears streaming, attacks whle crying out, “Do you hate me THAT much?”
When I rewatched it, this part really hit me again. Shizuru’s pain is incredible. Because, you see, she believes completely that Natsuki hates her. Hates her, despises her, will oppose her at any turn, because Shizuru betrayed Natsuki by falling in love with her and, worse, by being unable to control her own feelings.
I really didn’t like how neat the resolution was to these two. No, I did not begrudge Natsuki her feelings towards Shizuru. Shizuru was obviously important to her, but that was also mixed up in the need to save the world by stopping Shizuru. And Natsuki had decided her course of action knowing that if she destroyed Kiyohime, she herself would die, and once Natsuki died, Shizuru too would follow. Strong and noble, yes, but what about Shizuru?
Shizuru, who had snagged the bell which had encased Natsuki, broke it into pieces, wrapped her whiplike weapon around this girl who could never possibly come willingly to her, and pulled her in to a deep embrace. I didn’t understand this, didn’t understand what Shizuru really wanted or hoped for. Why the sadness when she finally held Natsuki in her arms?
I knew why Shizuru was happy when Natsuki told her she did indeed love her, although not in the way Shizuru would have wished. That’s just straightforward. But there is also her surprise when Natsuki ordered Duran to fire and commit both Childs to destruction, and her final little smile, her quiet “ureshii” while the two of them fade away while holding each other… Was it simply just because of Natsuki’s words, “I love you”, and the implication that Shizuru is Natsuki’s most important person?
No… no it wasn’t. Going back, I suddenly realized what it was Shizuru really, truly wanted. More than Natsuki to feel the same about her, more than Natsuki herself… What Shizuru really wanted was Natsuki’s forgiveness. Shizuru had gone on a rampage precisely because she believed that once Natsuki found out about her “sin”, there was nothing left. That smidgeon of hope she had always had in the corner of her heart, that one day Natsuki might actually feel the same way back, was shattered the instant it became obvious Natsuki had overheard that fateful conversation with Haruka and Yukino.
And that’s why Shizuru lost it. It wasn’t sudden insanity, it was but the blackest of despair, the total absence of hope, that drove her to such extremes. After all, she had nothing else to lose, and so why shouldn’t she do as she wished? Nothing would change how Natsuki felt to her, nothing could erase Natsuki’s disgust at her sinful existence, nothing would turn that recoil from her touch to acceptance. Natsuki hated her. And that was that.
And so that’s why Shizuru was so shocked by Natsuki’s kiss and her subsequent words. I think, more than the touch of Natsuki’s lips or hearing Natsuki’s “confession of love”, Shizuru was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that Natsuki had forgiven her, forgiven her all her sinful feelings and her betrayal and her killings. And she realized that Natsuki had actually never hated her… despite everything she had done.
All Shizuru wanted was forgiveness. I think she could have lived with Natsuki not feeling the same towards her. But she was so frightened of losing Natsuki if her real feelings were to be known, that it blinded her to how Natsuki would really react to the news. When she realized she did not lose Natsuki, in fact had never lost Natsuki, that Natsuki would always love her and accept her for who she was… That was the greatest happiness for Shizuru. Shizuru, tormented and tortured soul of a woman who can never have want she wants, finally knows peace.
And Natsuki, Natsuki was the greatest friend a person could ever wish for. The Childs reflect the nature of their HiMEs - Natsuki is truly the epitome of loyalty.
Dang, this is long. Took me forever to write, and I still didn’t get it to come out the way I wanted it to. I think I violated quite a few rules of good writing, too. ^^;; Bah, it’s too much trouble to fix my sentence structures and pronouns.
I guess I will close by saying that I was very moved that Shizuru’s sad and tragic tale got the best saviour one could hope for. Natsuki, who did indeed love Shizuru with all her heart, who would have done anything to save her most important person from this suffering. Natsuki, who understood Shizuru exactly, and would be the one to protect and care for Shizuru to the very end.
Who knew that one could find such an amazing story of love in a moe Sunrise anime?
Who knew I would care so much for a make-believe character to be sitting here writing psychological analyses?
Shizuru is an incredible phenomenon… I don’t think the creators even dreamt she would attract so much attention from anime fans the world over. What is it about her that draws us in? Heh, I guess we’ve all fallen in love with Kaichou.
Time to hand it over to the doujin artists and fanfic writers.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | 6 Comments »
March 25, 2005 – 5:29 am
How ironic that the ending we all desperately wanted should taste of ashes.
Natsuki and Shizuru, yes they did kiss, yes Natsuki did express her love for Shizuru, yes they did die (or rather, go sparkly) in each other’s arms… And yet, I found little joy in the situation.
Natsuki is straight; she made it clear that she did not feel that way for Shizuru. So in the end, you have a situation where Shizuru is still crazy and obssessed with Natsuki, and Natsuki is a loyal friend of Shizuru to the very end. I do not deny Natsuki’s sincerity of feeling, but the kiss and the expression of affection and love… if you take yuri-based pleasure in that, you’re reveling in nothing but “service” stemming from an unnatural situation.
Seriously, the above scene would not have happened if 1) Shizuru wasn’t a murderous rampaging rapacious obssessed psycho,; 2) they had to green-sparkle to save the world, and this was the only way to do Shizuru in; and 3) there’s no need to deal with the consequences of said event, since they are green-sparkled.
Get what I mean? It happened, because it had to happen that way. It didn’t happen for love or romance. I argue that this conclusion is far less a natural outshoot of the characters acting in character than it is simply scripwriters forcing the outcome.
That’s why I can’t take real pleasure in this. Then again, I suppose I would have been more upset if Natsuki didn’t accept Shizuru and Shizuru didn’t go out in peace. Ah well.
Dammit, we need a separate series for these two!!
“DURAN! LOAD SILVER CATRIDGE!!” Way to go Natsuki, you frickin’ rock!!! :D
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | 4 Comments »
March 17, 2005 – 12:23 pm
Damn, suddenly Natsuki is unbelievably cool!! And drawn awesome, too :D
Shizuru, off in la-la land, cleans house with the 4-headed Snake from Hell. She’s rackin’ up quite a body count there, not to mention copious amounts of property damage.
Of course, Shizuru stops by Natsuki’s place as Nao (also known as the Really Messed Up Girl due to Traumatic Childhood Experience) announces to a once-more strung up Natsuki that she’s bait. I would like to add that Nao is also one Really Stupid Girl, since she actually thought she could take on Kiyohime with Julia. Guess she didn’t see Shizuru deflect Kagutsuchi’s Death Beam without breaking a sweat.
Nao takes the fight to the rooftops. Oh no! Kiyohime is caught in webbing! Oh shucks! Turns out Shizuru’s pretty handy with that naginata - in a flash Julia’s legs are little itty bitty pieces as Natsuki falls to the ground with a painful thump. (Shizuru, you baka, this was your chance to catch her gallantly. Guess you were too busy proclaiming your love to the world.)
Nao is quite unhappy. Rather, make that she’s finally realized she’s in real deep shit. Oh yes. I would panic too, if I had a psycho Shizuru smile and say, “You think I’m going to let you get away with just that, after you hurt Natsuki?” She basically screams what the hell is going on and how no one can be trusted and how love is just a bunch of crap etc etc.
Oh yeah, sometime, Kiyohime just had Julia for lunch. I’ll have to rewatch to confirm when this happens, but basically Nao’s MIP is her mom, and she’s pretty devastated.
Shizuru’s about to finish Nao off, permanent, when suddenly a newly enlightened Natsuki runs in front of Nao.
“Why, Natsuki?” asks Shizuru.
“Because, we are alike.” We then get a flashback to Natsuki’s younger, more disillusioned days. She is about to crush a flower, when a young Shizuru (ka.. kawaii… ToT) admonishes her and says that flowers are pretty because they bloom and should be left to for their short lives, or something philosophical like that. “We both trusted nobody.”
The Natsuki says, “The reason I didn’t turn out like Nao, was because you were there for me. I should have realized earlier, what was really important!” Then she materializes her guns!! Woo woo!! Go Natsuki!! Ah, she’s so cool ToT *happy dance*
And Shizuru stops, and she gives a sad little smile, and says, “Good, your powers have returned.”
Short pause… Then, “I’ve just been over to the Old Ladies Association to murder the filthy lot. But there’s still a couple pockets of dastardly old people left here and there. Can you give me a bit of time before our showdown?”
Then the girl takes a real classy exit by stepping right off the side of the building and riding her snake off into the sunset.
Preview - Shizuru in ripped up kimono! Looks like she’s been pretty busy tearing up the town. Guess she and Natsuki go at it… uh, not that way, you perverts!!
Mai-HiME was pretty sucky the last episode, what with the deus ex machinitis the writers cast on the HiMEs to utterly change character and act without logic or reason. The bad writing continues, but damn, Natsuki is sooo f*ckin’ cool (’bout time, geez), and Shizuru, even in insanity, is once more proven to be Still Damn Hot. Therefore, I may actually buy the DVDs.
At least I go to sleep happier tonight than I did last week.
But wait, so if Shizuru has now taken Natsuki’s MIP spot, and Natsuki is Shizuru’s… Uh… Dude, no matter which way you cut it, neither is gonna survive this fight. But, oh, what a way to go!! This had better give us some satisfaction on the yuri front, or I can imagine hordes of highly pissed off yuri fans rising up against the Sunrise staff in righteous fury. Or, maybe not.
Mai? Yeah, stuff happened with her and Tate. I guess it was a big deal, but I was too busy thinking, “Oh my god, Natsuki doesn’t hate Shizuru after all!” to pay much attention.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
March 10, 2005 – 12:25 pm
Just a short note to mention that the Mai-HiME writers have officially earned my Evil Glare of Disgust for the millenium.
I’m sorry, nothing justifies Shizuru going from zero to postal in 3 seconds. This came way out of left field, more than any other plot device such as Takumi biting it. Better scripwriting, SVP.
Ah, well, I think I can reallocate this to the backburner again… EXCEPT!! Natsuki is suddenly cool ^^;;
So we’ll continue to watch. I have no more expectations for Kaichou though.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
March 6, 2005 – 7:35 am
As you could judge from my previous entry, ep 22 traumatized me. Tremendously. In fact, it is 3 days after the episode aired, and I still feel outraged and depressed and disgusted and heartbroken and sickened and manipulated.
Setting aside the fact that it’s actually quite ridiculous to angst over make-believe characters on celluloid (or, now that anime is digital, computers), I think my reaction stems partly from the betrayal of the writers in twisting the expectations of their viewers, the indescribable disappointment associated with being able to rave about an anime character for exactly one episode before having the mat pulled out, and the unpleasant light that this episode’s events have played on my own personal philosophies.
Or, to put it in a simple way, I’m just really pissed that they turned Shizuru from ultra-cool to despicable.
Why was Shizuru cool? Well, it wasn’t because of the Kansai-ben, despite what other fans may say :P Shizuru was cool because she was the calm and collected shachou who knew exactly what was going on (but no-one knew she knew, except for Mashiro). She was cool because she was rational, knew exactly what she was doing, and chose to sit on the sidelines until she absolutely had no choice but to act. She ruled because when she did finally act, she kicked ass like no tomorrow, and then disappeared again. She was the hero of all fangirls, and guys, because she appeared just to save Natsuki, who was her Most Important Person. And of course, she was freakin’ awesome because she had a thing for Natsuki, cared deeply for her, and looked damn sexy whenever she smiled fondly for our little stoic Kuga-san.
We also thought she put Natsuki above all else, would willingly sacrifice all (and defeat all!) for Natsuki, and would be forever there for her, silent and patient and selfless, even if Natsuki’s “like” was different from her “like”. Not that we really thought it was all that different, for long. *laugh*
Make that, *ironic laugh*.
Ah yes, Sunrise’s writers. I was not terribly upset when they messed up the other HiME. Tate kisses Shiho? Hah, Mai never really got my sympathies anyway. Akira’s CHILD gets zapped? Ah well, too bad. Mikoto gets brainwashed, Mashiro gets soundly thrashed… Eh.
To be honest, I was not a Natsuki fan either, so the whole “betrayed by mom” bit was simply an interesting plot device.
Oh, but Shizuru… Shizuru-sama. Now that’s a whole different game. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve really liked an anime character? Probably the last one was Umi-chan, and that was, what, 1997? Ah yes, f*ck you Sunrise, for screwing with our feelings so totally and utterly effectively.
When I look back, it was so well executed, I have to admire them for their balls. With 5 episodes left to go, they, in one fell stroke, stoked up all expectations and admiration for Shizuru, and then completely demolished it in one of the most stomach-turning ways imaginable. Not a Kannaduki, but close enough.
You see, you thought Shizuru was the noblest of characters, the white knight in shining armour arriving in the nick of time to save the damsel in distress and take her back to a safe place where she can recover from all the pain she’s been through. Then, oh and how well, they start painting it in a more sinister light. Ah yes, you don’t think much of it, but when you go back, you see the signs… When Natsuki plays with the puppy and says, “Hey, whatcha licking there, it tickles!” Shizuru’s expression… could possibly be construed as sad… or something a little less innocent. Notice how they’ve alternated the shots of Shizuru’s face, and the back of Natsuki’s exposed neck. You can tell she is staring.
Then, of course, the infamous scene that Haruka and Yukino happen to spy. Shizuru, who can’t help but be tempted to steal a kiss from a sleeping Natsuki. Boom, the shit hits the fan, and the scene is set for another confrontation, this time between Shizuru and Yukino.
Yukino tries to call Shizuru back, for the sake of Haruka. Shizuru couldn’t care less. The otherwise demure Yukino then resorts to blackmail - “If you won’t come back… I saw, just like you kissed her just now, what you did to Kuga-san who was asleep… How could you do that to somebody who trusted you completely as a friend!”
At which point we get the other, extremely infamous, scene.
It’s reality, however, is ambigious. Did it really happen? Was this what Yukino saw? Or was it simply Natsuki’s shocked imagination run wild after her “nightmare” of a ghostly Shizuru trying to kiss her? I subscribe to the latter… because of the way the sequence was constructed.
So I was more than sickened to read on some posts (most posts!) that that scene was taken as fact, that Shizuru did in fact molest Natsuki in her sleep. And this is where on the personal philosophy side, I am more than slightly upset. Because there is no excuse of non-consensual actions, and if taken at face value, this means that Shizuru is nothing more than the most selfish and perverted of individuals.
Dude, that hurts. I’m way past the age of childhood, but dang it I subscribe to the right to worship fictional characters. Therefore, I claim also the right to bitch when they turn out to be despicable. Doesn’t happen very often, which is why this whole episode hit me so hard.
I’ve gone back and watched the scenes several times, and the sad part is that I can’t help but hope that a rational explanation exists for all this. I cannot accept that Shizuru is simply a half-way rapist psychopath!
Remember, we can only take what the other is willing to give. This should be the guiding philosophy of human interaction. I’m sure something similar is somewhere in Buddhist scripture :P
That fateful moment when Shizuru can’t resist temptation.
Two busybodies see something they shouldn’t have… And make the mistake of not getting away with it.
At which point they adjourn to the courtyard for the catfight of the century. Shizuru looks incredibly cool, and so I shall screencap plenty of her, and none of Yukino or Haruka.
“I saw it!” Is this what Yukino really saw? Or is it just Natsuki’s imagination, horrified with the revelation that…
Um, bunch of Shizuru screencaps follow. I think I will skip the captions on these… Shizuru is freakin’ scary as hell. Dammit, there’s no sane reason to pull out your naginata!!
And there you have it folks. Final scene, highly highly well-done. When the wind springs up and the maple leaves start blowin’ by and the lonely notes of the piano begin to play…
“Would you do anything for the one you love? Yes, so would I…”
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
March 3, 2005 – 11:58 am
Excuse my French but…
SHIT! NO!!!!
There goes our dreamed of happy ending… -_-
I should’ve known the writers would shit all over each and every HiME.
Oh my god Shizuru you… urgh! And judging from Natsuki’s reaction, there so no hope left. Whatsoever.
Ugh, what a waste of an amazing character. Although, you could have seen the signs coming a mile away. Just didn’t want to think it.
*puts head in hands and cries*
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
February 26, 2005 – 4:31 am
Dame da… Shizuru rocks… I am an utter Shizuru fan, bow and worship at her awesomeness. (Tonikaku anime de kokoro wo iyasu…)
This entry comes with alt tags (title tags in Firefox) - mouseover each image.
First, we begin with episode 20, when a mysterious figure appears in the nick of time to save Natsuki.
After all the hell breaks loose, we follow up in episode 21, when Natsuki hears something she really didn’t need to, and in her despairing state falls into Nao’s trap. She doesn’t even try to fight back, which pisses Nao off to no end.
So Shizuru whoops Nao’s ass with little more than a flick of a wrist, and takes Natsuki back to a secluded spot where she ravishe^H^H^H^H^H^H attends to her injuries.
Actually, I really liked that scene where Shizuru tells Natsuki that she’s grateful how Natsuki tried to keep her away from the HiME trouble, but this time she simply couldn’t stand back… she would give up her work, everything, for Natsuki… And Natsuki begins to cry…
BTW, the Mai-HiME Drama CD is really, really funny. Shizuru, yappa hentai da…
More screen caps and comments on Ep 21 from Memento and Moyism.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | 3 Comments »
February 24, 2005 – 12:42 pm
Dudes, if you thought ep 20 was a doozy… This week has managed to keep the pace, quite a feat considering everything that went on last time. Admittedly, the revelations are probably less shocking, since you could see them coming based on last week’s episode. Doesn’t lessen the impact of seeing it all unfold, though.
Quick summary (SPOILERS!)
- Shizuru rocks like nobody’s business! Shows up and kicks ass from here to Pluto! And all in the name of love… :) Nao does point out that Shizuru’s the one who probably needs counselling… heh.
- Natsuki has a little spell of despair. At least she tells Shizuru, “Watashi mo Shizuru ga suki,” in response to Shizuru’s statement that she would protect Natsuki at all costs because, well, she likes her.
- Before we all start cheering, however, Shizuru steps out and with more than a bit of sadness, says to herself, “But, that’s a different type of suki, isn’t it.” Shizuru, don’t give up!!
- The Black Lord dude is revealed. Mashiro is revealed. Shit happens.
- Mai? Who cares? :P
So those are my feelings. Dammit, I want Shizuru and Natsuki to take center stage! I think the reason why I didn’t like Mai-HiME until now is because I don’t really care about Mai and her little despairs at all! And Mikoto is actually pretty annoying too, as a sidekick. Takumi, Tate, blah, the guys all suck in this show. Shizuru, Natsuki, oh please, I hope the writers don’t pull a gut wrenching tragedy on us! I’m not willing to bet even a buck they won’t, though.
At least, seems to be more Natsuki again in the next episode. Oooh, I can’t for this one to be out on BT, gonna rewatch Shizuru in super kick-ass mode. Any girl with a naginata has coolness points doubled! Too bad Kiyohime is a real ugly squid with snake head tentacles. A real, big, incredibly powerful, badass squid.
Shit, I really feel sorry for Nao. She’s like the series dumping bag, and through no fault of her own at all.
Shizuru, Natsuki, FIGHT!! Kimitachi saikou!! Amazing how 2 mins of these two suddenly rocketed this show to my Flavour of the Month list.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
February 22, 2005 – 9:00 am
Watched ep 20. Two words.
HOLY SHIT
Dammit, next episode, please!!!
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
February 20, 2005 – 11:49 am
Finally getting around to writing this overview of Mai-Hime.
I’d been meaning to do a writeup since I started this blog, but what happened was that I got interested in other stuff, and my enthusiasm with Mai-Hime waned around ep 8 or so. I actually liked it a lot at the beginning, what with the decent art and animation, the girls with powers, humour, slapstick that’s not overdone, and the mystery level. Plus, Mikoto has a great big badass sword.
However, I never really got into the show, which is strange since it tells a pretty good story, and the filler is not bad and the plot moves pretty okay, albeit in spurts. I guess I never felt much for any of the characters; how else to explain my lack of any desire to watch the next episodes despite the “holy shit it’s all hitting the fan!” type previews… I just forced myself, slogged through one ep at a time, even after ep 13 or so when all hell started to break lose. Just couldn’t connect with the show somehow, but at the same time I didn’t feel like stopping halfway, not because I really cared to know the story but rather because I felt somehow obligated to see through a show that others were raving over and that I did admittedly enjoy, if only for a little bit.
I don’t think it’s the fault of the characters themselves that explain my general apathy. Indeed, they are all interesting, and original enough that you give the writers a nod for creativity in stereotypes. The interactions are also surprisingly realistic, given that it’s a highschool highjinks show part of the time. But, dammit, doesn’t mean I don’t wanna just slap Tate, Mai and Shiho around. Actually, belay that. I don’t wanna slap them, I just want them to friggin’ take it outside where I can’t see, and deal. Finito.
Well, eps 17 on are really getting into the meat of the show, but truly much of it is highly depressing and distasteful. Too much unscrupulous manipulation going on, and it turns my stomach. Too much whining, too, from various HiMEs… but again I have to admit that the execution, while melodramatic, is surprisingly realistic.
I dunno, maybe I just liked the show for the cool action, and don’t really want to see the girls get messed up and all that. It’s far easier to watch a show when the protagonists fight evil plainly, as opposed to this one where the protagonists are under the thumb of the bad guys who mess with their heads and get them to fight each other. Bleh. I think I need a hero(ine) in this show, and sorry it ain’t Mai. Not that she doesn’t have my sympathies.
But!! In ep 19, yes, finally, reward for having made it this far!!
Hmm… looks like Shizuru x Natsuki might actually be more than vague subtext :P Never really liked Natsuki that much, despite the long-blue-hair-stoic-coolness factor, but with this little scene, these two are actually cute. I think I may have found some motivation for further viewing, although any further interaction will probably be minimal, since there’s like 50 billion characters but only 7 eps left to clear up the mess.
Memento does an amazing job of summarizing and reviewing Mai-HiME.
Posted in ANIME, Mai-HiME | No Comments »
