I finished watching Soukyuu no Fafner.
So yeah, watched it way too fast . . . but it was really great! I feel like it could have benefited from being longer, because they would have had more time for character development (not to mention the 200+ enemy casualties that occurred during a series time jump), and could have spent more time on certain major plot elements that whizzed past very quickly. But then, the creators are also to be saluted for fitting so much plot into such a brief period of time.
There was also a very high casualty rate in the series-- and not just random faceless NPCs, but named and somewhat developed characters-- even major characters. A lot of very human reactions to war and loss and grief. Awareness of and guilt over the fact that the adults are training and sending children into battle. Great importance placed on very normal family relationships in addition to friendship.
And I rather adore Soushi, who is made of angstmuffins and yet--
Shoulder Demon: Yeah, you like the long-haired pretty boy. Never saw that one coming.
SHUT UP SHUT UP THAT'S NOT WHY.
Shoulder Demon: Suuuuuuure it's not.
It isn't! He's all cool and stuff, clearly!
Shoulder Demon: He's also the only character with long hair in the series. Except for that old dude.
I like plenty of characters who don't have long hair!
Shoulder Demon: Yeah? Let's hear this list of yours.
Uh--
Shoulder Demon: It should be observed that of all the series you've written stories for, they have always featured a person with long hair.
Not always! I wrote one about Kero and Fujitaka!
Shoulder Demon: Your favorite character in CCS is Yue. HIS HAIR IS LONGER THAN HE IS TALL.
Kujaku! I liked Kujaku in RG Veda!
Shoulder Demon: He has wings.
Sh-- shut up!
Shoulder Demon: In fact, in the series you've been madly obsessed with for a solid four years now, JUST ABOUT EVERY CHARACTER HAS LONG HAIR.
. . . . . . . .
Shoulder Demon: So, I'm thinking of growing my hair out . . .
DIE!
Soukyuu no Fafner, or Fafner in the Azure, hereby receives a hearty recommendation from me. GO WATCH IT SO WE CAN FANGIRL TOGETHER.
Nothing good ever comes of of talking to shoulder demons.
So yeah, watched it way too fast . . . but it was really great! I feel like it could have benefited from being longer, because they would have had more time for character development (not to mention the 200+ enemy casualties that occurred during a series time jump), and could have spent more time on certain major plot elements that whizzed past very quickly. But then, the creators are also to be saluted for fitting so much plot into such a brief period of time.
There was also a very high casualty rate in the series-- and not just random faceless NPCs, but named and somewhat developed characters-- even major characters. A lot of very human reactions to war and loss and grief. Awareness of and guilt over the fact that the adults are training and sending children into battle. Great importance placed on very normal family relationships in addition to friendship.
And I rather adore Soushi, who is made of angstmuffins and yet--
Shoulder Demon: Yeah, you like the long-haired pretty boy. Never saw that one coming.
SHUT UP SHUT UP THAT'S NOT WHY.
Shoulder Demon: Suuuuuuure it's not.
It isn't! He's all cool and stuff, clearly!
Shoulder Demon: He's also the only character with long hair in the series. Except for that old dude.
I like plenty of characters who don't have long hair!
Shoulder Demon: Yeah? Let's hear this list of yours.
Uh--
Shoulder Demon: It should be observed that of all the series you've written stories for, they have always featured a person with long hair.
Not always! I wrote one about Kero and Fujitaka!
Shoulder Demon: Your favorite character in CCS is Yue. HIS HAIR IS LONGER THAN HE IS TALL.
Kujaku! I liked Kujaku in RG Veda!
Shoulder Demon: He has wings.
Sh-- shut up!
Shoulder Demon: In fact, in the series you've been madly obsessed with for a solid four years now, JUST ABOUT EVERY CHARACTER HAS LONG HAIR.
. . . . . . . .
Shoulder Demon: So, I'm thinking of growing my hair out . . .
DIE!
Soukyuu no Fafner, or Fafner in the Azure, hereby receives a hearty recommendation from me. GO WATCH IT SO WE CAN FANGIRL TOGETHER.
Nothing good ever comes of of talking to shoulder demons.
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Wait. The series kill of characters? Is he one of them?
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And answering that question would count as a direct spoiler, so I can't do it here. ::coughs:: Er, but I will say that there's a movie sequel coming out in December . . .
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Both are excellent series, though, it must be said. ;-)
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majo
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I'm really, really thrilled you liked it! Anything in particular about Soushi you wish to fangirl? :D
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er. There's lots more for me to ramble about, but I must to bed . . . tomorrow!
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Ye gods, what's not to love about Soushi, anyway? I mean, I adore the fact that he's a walking angstbucket who doesn't really brood over his angst, or make a bit deal about it. I adore the way he has a foot in both camps-- the adult command team and the teenage pilots. I am perpetually amused by his awkwardness when it comes to non-command situations (when he's in a casual situation and acts like a commander it amuses me even more. I think it's a difficulty he mainly has with kids his own age . . .). His motivations are complex and mysterious, as is what's happened to him in the past, and what he's seen in the outside world. It seems he's completely given himself over to the task of fighting off Festum, to the extent that he doesn't have a personal life outside it-- or doesn't allow himself one.
Then, too, there's how he's at the heart of the whole fight. He's the one giving the orders; the pilots have to carry them out, but Shoushi's the strategist, the commander. And although he's not in bodily danger (until the end, anyway), he still experiences everything the pilots do-- emotions, thoughts, physical pain. Yet through all that he has to not only think and strategize, but also deal with the physical pain of the pilots (activate pain blockers, etc), liaise with C&C, and somehow keep everything he's thinking and feeling from interfering with what's going on. I don't think it comes through fully just how difficult what he does is. The commanders do say "it's something only [he] can do," but they never really explains what that means or what it entails. Or whether another person could be sent up into Sigfried to replace Soushi if he died . . . the pilots can be replaced, but can Soushi?
. . . I guess we find out when the movie comes out . . .
oh, there's also the incredible realization that . . . you know all those pilots who died? He was IN THEIR MINDS when they died. I mean, what the heck does that do to someone? To experience the moment of death, to literally know exactly what the dying person was thinking and feeling, and then to have to carry that knowledge for the rest of your life? And not only that, but to relive multiple deaths over and over again?
NO WONDER HIS BATHROOM SHELF LOOKS LIKE A PHARMACY. ye gods.