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Forum - View topicThis Week in Anime - Why Ranking of Kings Deserves Its Top Spot
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Errinundra
Moderator
 Posts: 6583 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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Ranking of Kings has left me cold to date. This has bothered me, given how it has been almost universally admired. It took until Boji had left his home town for it to be clear to me why I was reacting negatively: the almost total lack of female characters of any import. This is a problem of denied expectations on my part - where's the smart, autonomous, positive female character that drew me to anime in the first place? That's my problem and might not be for other people.
The only two female characters of note are the person in the mirror and Queen Hilling, both of whom are evil to differing degrees. The show is smart, so both characters are complex, but that doesn't get away from the negative portrayal of the only two female characters of note so far. I also suspect that, since Queen Hilling has completed her narrative role, she will largely disappear from view. At one level I think there is a certain degree of misogyny at play - largely through omission - but I'm also beginning to see a major theme of the series being about male relationships: their love for each other and their rivalry. Many of the male characters are camp in the way they are portrayed. When you add in how the main character is disabled, and his closest friend suffers from the prejudice of others, then it seems to me that another theme of the anime is how the marginalised and repudiated must fight to be valued members of their community. |
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Cryten
 Posts: 1137 |
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This is one of those shows that I refuse to read episode commentaries for. Because I adore it so much. I want to experience it for myself. With no influence over my thoughts.
It amazes me how the show has managed to get me very interested in characters who have actively seeked to harm Boji. Daida in particular is harsh and monstrous but also has a curious nobility and self respect that makes him endearing. I am still wondering if Daida is the architect of Boji's current circumstances or if it was Bebins own secret work. How it makes me think, are these people actually great people in a harsh world? That is a great achievement. |
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ANN_Lynzee
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 3030 Location: Email for assistance only |
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This is slander against Queen Hilling. Okay, I kid kind of, but she isn't evil by any stretch of the imagination. |
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ab2143
Posts: 756 |
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Agree! I (and many others) initially thought she was evil but should have realised that she’s a good person based on the pun in her name lmao. Btw, have you had chance to watch the latest episode yet? Obviously going to mark it as spoiler in case you haven’t watched it yet. spoiler[ Seriously worried about what’s going to happen to her… ] |
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Errinundra
Moderator
Posts: 6583 Location: Melbourne, Oz |
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Queen Hilling is a conflicted character with redeeming qualities. I liked how we learn that she cares for Boji despite earlier appearances. That said, by her knowing actions and inaction harm has befallen Boji. She must bear some culpability. Like I said, it's a smart show.
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11595 |
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I think we're all born unable to speak, and barely able to hold a sword. The latter is probably a blessing.
One thing that I haven't really seen anyone talk about is the OP song. I've never heard anything quite like it, at least not as a theme song! It's got that cheery, classic 40s Disney fantasy vibe with a touch of Wizard of Oz to it so hard that it fills your head with uninvited birdies and small woodland animals frolicking about with butterflies, while at the same time is rendered with subtle disharmonies, as if it were being played back on an old projector that's slightly out of sync, and about to jam up and burn a hole in the celluloid. Is it a hair too fast, too slow or just warped like a stretched tape or warped vinyl? Whatever they're doing soundwise, it's creepy as hell, in almost violent contrast to the cartoony visuals and can-do lyrics. I love it. |
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a_Bear_in_Bearcave
Posts: 549 Location: Poland |
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Given that IIRC Kage's mom told him their clan totally kill innocents, children, elders, women and whoever they're ordered to assassinate, it might still be the case guys who try to genocide them had some reasons to be that bloodthirsty. As for lack of important female characters, "A place further than the Universe" has practically all female crew, even more unbalanced than "Ranking of Kings" and still is one of the best anime I've watched. I think that declaring that lack of prominent characters of one or the other gender is misogyny or misandry is wrong, if the setting makes sense for the imbalance. "Ranking of Kings" seem to draw a lot from fairy tales about kings and so on, so it makes sense it's full of traditional kings and knights and male villains. And if we were to judge the Queen, in a show where there are almost no pure good or evil characters except basically kids, and not even all kids, she's still rather high on the ethical ladder. Out of adult characters, only snake guy is so far good without qualifier, assuming he didn't murder the poor advisor guy that voted for Boji too. |
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Hiroki not Takuya
 Posts: 2667 |
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I'll say there are better shows this season, so top rank for Ranking of Kings? Not to me. I saw a couple of episodes, it's OK and I can see why people might like it but that's all I can give it.
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