Forum - View topicHey, Answerman: On Strike!
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Iniksbane
 Posts: 62 Location: The great state of Mary |
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Okay, I'm going to have to agree to disagree with you on that one. The big guy with the sword is usually the blood-thirsty killer (i.e. Guts in Beserk) or the soft-hearted giant (Caramon in Dragonlance Chronicles). And generally the big guy with the sword is usually naive. So... yeah. Gourry irratated me a lot when I was watching Slayers. But, that's neither here nor there. Honestly, it all seems a bit meta for me. I've only seen the OAV, but I'd have to say from what I've seen Belldandy wasn't nearly THAT flat of a character. And there was always a question of whether she cared because she wanted to or because she was supposed to. However, I don't think she's the ideal woman by any means. But I never found her nearly as offensive as say Chi. I mean at least she has a personality. |
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Cowboy Cadenza
Posts: 243 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY |
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The girls in Red Garden are far more realistic than any of the women you mentioned above. I'm not sure how much of Red Garden you've seen, but they're well-developed and realistically depicted, despite the abnormal circumstances they find themselves in. They each break out of the archetype after which they were modeled. I'm not saying none of your examples are bad; I've already mentioned Motoko, and Revy is badass. I'm a little perplexed as to how the girls in Haibane are any stronger than the girls in Red Garden (not to say that they aren't strong). I suppose this just qualifies as a difference of opinion, but I found the characters the strongest part of Red Garden (and I liked the show). |
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Strephon
Posts: 177 |
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I think people tend to miss this point (or they don't get it because they've only seen the OVAs and think they understand the entire series). The constant references to her as a "doormat" imply that she's dating a guy who repeatedly takes advantage of her, and she doesn't stop him. It's just the opposite: he doesn't take advantage of her because she shows him trust and he doesn't want to betray this. (It helps that Keiichi is fundamentally a good person; this wouldn't work as well with everyone.) It also helps to look at the historical context of the series and the genre it's part of. Urusei Yatsura, when it began in 1978, was a humorous inversion of the "ideal wife" stereotype: Lum is selfish (or at least her attempts to be helpful invariably backfire), inconsiderate, and not much help domestically (she can cook, but doesn't care that humans find her food inedibly spicy). This left an indelible mark on the magical girlfriend genre. AMG came along two years after UY ended. Making Bell different from Lum isn't so much a cultural throwback as it is making the series different from the most recent prominent example of the genre. If Belldandy were selfish, inconsiderate, etc. the series would have been just another Urusei Yatsura clone. And Lum may be strong-willed, but it doesn't help her in her relationship any. Given that she electrocutes Ataru when he displeases her, when he pleases her, or just when she feels like it, she doesn't accomplish anything in trying to change his behavior. (All he learns is to be careful not to get caught.) Lum can't keep a leash on Ataru with the threat of electrocution; Keiichi would do anything to avoid disappointing Belldandy, just because she smiles at him. Which one is strong and in control here, exactly? |
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Berserkfury819
 Posts: 229 Location: Detroit Mi. Spider-Man is dead. R.I.P. |
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Only in later volumes. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Twelve Kingdoms and i think that it is one of the best fantasy anime series ever made, but Youko doesn't really show some backbone untill the third volume. She is a great character, but she whines a lot in volumes 1 and 2. Haven't seen Red Guarden, so I can't comment, but Revy from BL is certainly a strong character. I would argue that so is Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop. There is also San from Princess Mononoke (and pretty muth every other female character froma Miyazaki movie.) I'm probably going to get a lot of rap for this, but I like Oh My Goddess, I think its a cute/fun series. |
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Hiryu77
 Posts: 16 Location: Why here,of course. |
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You should've re-posted that big argument with that anime... what was it called again? Ahhh... it was Kodomo no Ji-*shot*
[Just Kidding, Just Kidding, you know it's a joke...right? *Sweatdrop*] |
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CCSYueh
 Posts: 2707 Location: San Diego, CA |
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I'm sure he remembers unless he's really good at accepting humiliation. No one-straight or gay, likes to be rejected (unless one has issues. That radio show I listen to has a guy who totally sets himself up for failure &, over 40, he's apparently never had a romance last long) Gourry may lack the intelligence of moss growing on a rock, but he has that "idiot hero" thing Japan likes--like Goku/DBZ. Remember that ep where he was being used & he was the mystery swordsman & he was pretty effective. He doesn't have to be smart, he's the muscle of the team. He is good with his sword. |
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Mohawk52
 Posts: 8202 Location: England, UK |
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Lets put it this way, who would make the better wife? Belldandy, or Tenchi's Ryouko?
To me this would be an impossible choice to make as both have similar basic trates they both show to their respective love interests, but both also have their individual flaws as well, even though they are 180 of each other in terms of personallity. |
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Chesis
Posts: 27 |
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I don't see it as a question of being tough. It's a matter of being her own person. Belldandy has essentially given up being a goddess to be a housewife, and it's a little hard to see what she's getting out of the relationship. It would be different if they were married and she was making a choice to stay home to take of the kids, but spending all her tme just taking care of Keniichi seems a little strange. The problem is we don't see Belldandy having much of a life outside the home, unless there's a crisis going on and she has to intervene in supernatural shenanigans. All of her non-housework interests and friends on Earth seem to be Keniichi's (going by the movie). I feel sorry for her more than anything else. |
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CCSYueh
Posts: 2707 Location: San Diego, CA |
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SLayers as a team title means each team member fills a slot. Goddesses is a harem title so the gals fill certain types. Skuld is the cute girl like Sasami. Urd is the sassy/vampy one like Ryoko. Belldandy is like the eldest Tendo girl Kasumi. I always preferred Ryoko for her spirit. I never liked Belldandy really though Urd & Skuld were fun. Belldandy is like the stereotype perfect wife material. Urd & Ryoko would keep life interesting
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jvowles
Otakon Representative
 Posts: 219 Location: Maryland |
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It's not often that I'll back up Gatsu on a point, but I think he's got one here. The boy plays with greasy car stuff all day. Do you really want him doing the laundry, or hand-making the rice balls? ISTR he offers to help -- and honestly he's far more a doormat than Bell is. I always figured that Bell was trying to build up Keichi's confidence unobtrusively, to make him less of a doormat, and he sort of rises to the challenge (limited by the conventions of the piece, of course). It's important that he NEVER takes her for granted as a rule -- and when he drifts into that territory he tries to make up for it. There is nothing wrong with doing what you're good at, and what you enjoy. So what if it happens to be a traditional role? |
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