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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 4:35 pm
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So, now that the final volume is available in English, I'm marathon reading Pandora Hearts, from the beginning. I haven't read the series fully before (I think I've gotten a bit further than halfway), but I did get through the big reveal that Oz is actually B-Rabbit.
Taking that knowledge into the first volume, and I certainly picked up on a lot of subtle wording that indicates that Mochizuki knew right from the start where she intended to go with the story.
For example, in the first chapter, when Oz has the vision of him and Lacie, the wording is careful not to give anything away, but when you know the reveal, it gives a lot of depth to that scene.
Another one came in volume 3, where Break flat-out says that he only has a year to live. When the event happened down the road, I was shocked, but now I realize that I should have seen it coming.
I've only re-read through volume 3 (1/8 of the way done!), but I'll add more comments as I notice things.
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st_owly
Joined: 20 May 2008
Posts: 5234
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:48 pm
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I'm also planning on doing the same once I get all the volumes so I'd be interested to hear your thoughts too. I can't remember how far I've read.
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 8:02 pm
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From checking chapter titles on Wikipedia, I think I'd stopped somewhere around volume 17. So I've still got 9 volumes to go to catch up (I just finished volume 8... I'm a fast reader when I put my mind to something), and then 8 volumes after that that are brand new to me.
I'm surprised, on my re-reading, of how fast things have gone. In 8 volumes, we're already through the stuff with Cheshire, learning about Jack, and learning Break's past. I never really thought about how (relatively) early those come. Although, I suppose, it was all covered in the anime, so...
Another thing I'm realizing, is that the pacing is totally different from what I remembered. I got into the series with the anime, then scanlations of the manga, before either were licensed for the US. Waiting a week between episodes, or a month before chapters, makes it feel like things take much further to get to. But Cheshire was volumes 4 and 5, which, IIRC, were about the halfway point of the anime. And maybe that's why it feels like they should be further in, rather than a 6th of the way into the series.
Oh, well, back to reading!
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 4:15 pm
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Well, I'm into volume 17 now.
Even knowing how it turned out, and specifically watching for clues, I did not see the Headhunter/Humpty Dumpty arc foreshadowed at all. I did, however, looking closer to 16/17, pick up clues as to Jack not being completely trustworthy, although, given the type of series this is, I likely picked up on that the first time around as well.
One thing I do have to point out, since it's been bugging me all volume so far (I'm halfway through 17), is that I'm 99% certain that the incarnation of Glen before Oswald is Robes from KIBA with his hair dyed blue.
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 5:54 pm
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I just finished 24, and all I can say is "wow"... That wasn't the ending I was expecting. It wasn't bad, just not what I expected.
A couple things that bugged me, now that I've finished the series:
1) We never learned who/what Emily was. It would have been nice if it were a memento of Shelly's, or even the Rainsworth Key, that Shelly had hidden for Break to safeguard. When he had a look of surprise on his face when Lilly brought Emily to him (despite not being able to see it), I thought for sure that Emily was important, and that we'd learn its importance, but it was never brought up.
2) What was Oz's answer to Break's question of where he was? Bringing it up again, and then not giving us Oz's answer the second time was just evil.
The epilogue of the series, though, was perfect. I'm very glad I got into the series all those years ago, and I'm very satisfied with how it ended. And, of course, I still have the 3 volumes of Caucus Race to read.
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Break Xerxes
Joined: 16 Dec 2014
Posts: 223
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 10:40 pm
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Pandora Hearts is one of my favorite manga series and I love Jun Mochizuki's artwork. I plan on re-reading the series once I buy the rest of the volumes. It's been a while since I last read it, so I need to refresh my memory.
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 11:59 pm
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Watching the first episode of the anime, I'm realizing that I misunderstood some of the early scenes.
When Oz gets his vision of the two Alice after finding the pocketwatch, it wasn't him as B-Rabbit they were welcoming back. It was him as Jack they were welcoming back.
Something else I realized wasn't explained (or wasn't explained enough, at least), is where exactly was the mansion for the Coming of Age ceremony, and what was its significance? We know that it's 200 years old, predating the Tragedy of Sablier, and that Lacie's grave is there. But it doesn't seem to be Glen's home, since that was in Sablier, not the outskirts of Reveille, and the Baskerville door was at Glen's home, and that wasn't this mansion.
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Gin-No-Ji
Joined: 11 Jun 2016
Posts: 28
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 3:23 pm
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Dessa wrote: | Watching the first episode of the anime, I'm realizing that I misunderstood some of the early scenes.
When Oz gets his vision of the two Alice after finding the pocketwatch, it wasn't him as B-Rabbit they were welcoming back. It was him as Jack they were welcoming back.
Something else I realized wasn't explained (or wasn't explained enough, at least), is where exactly was the mansion for the Coming of Age ceremony, and what was its significance? We know that it's 200 years old, predating the Tragedy of Sablier, and that Lacie's grave is there. But it doesn't seem to be Glen's home, since that was in Sablier, not the outskirts of Reveille, and the Baskerville door was at Glen's home, and that wasn't this mansion. |
u may have found a plot hole i assumed it was the vessalius mansion.. but why would L's grave be there.. it shouldn't have exist anymore because of the tragedy
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 10:56 pm
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We know it wasn't the Vessalius manor, because it was mentioned that the mansion was only used for coming-of-age ceremonies, and no one lived there. Plus, Oz wouldn't care about exploring if it were his home.
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Gin-No-Ji
Joined: 11 Jun 2016
Posts: 28
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 5:58 am
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Dessa wrote: | We know it wasn't the Vessalius manor, because it was mentioned that the mansion was only used for coming-of-age ceremonies, and no one lived there. Plus, Oz wouldn't care about exploring if it were his home. |
I assumed they were only playing around and hiding from his nanny.. i still remember poor gil got the blame
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Dessa
Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 4438
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Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:24 am
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Gin-No-Ji wrote: | I assumed they were only playing around and hiding from his nanny.. i still remember poor gil got the blame :D |
Nah, they were exploring.
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