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branchandroot) wrote2006-02-16 01:10 pm
branchandroot) wrote2006-02-16 01:10 pm
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...as Tezuka is to Ryouma
Some musings on the relationship between Tezuka and Ryouma, because Lynn got me thinking.
See, one of the things I find rather obnoxious about the Pillar Pair frenzy is that way too many of those stories take it for granted that Tezuka and Ryouma are already together or, at least, in love.
And I think that's totally unrealistic.
Aside from the fact that Ryouma gives no indications whatsoever of being romatically cognizant of anyone at all, yet, his relationship to Tezuka is not inflected romantically. At all.
He's obsessed with Tezuka. Tezuka is his lifeline, his living example that there's another way to be strong than Nanjirou's. His avatar of possibility--both his own possibilities for real growth and the possibilities of meeting other strong and interesting players if he progresses in tennis.
As for Tezuka, I think Hal got it in one. Tezuka also sees Ryouma as an avatar--Tennis Incarnate. And Tezuka is suffuciently obsessed with the game itself that he will do anything it takes to let/make Ryouma advance and fulfill his potential. If there's love, it's an utterly aesthetic thing, not romantic at all.
Tezuka and Ryouma are not in love. It would be (and, in fact, was for me) extremely difficult to get them to be in love. Their absolute focus on each other is a wonderful thing to play with, but it IS NOT ROMANCE.
See, one of the things I find rather obnoxious about the Pillar Pair frenzy is that way too many of those stories take it for granted that Tezuka and Ryouma are already together or, at least, in love.
And I think that's totally unrealistic.
Aside from the fact that Ryouma gives no indications whatsoever of being romatically cognizant of anyone at all, yet, his relationship to Tezuka is not inflected romantically. At all.
He's obsessed with Tezuka. Tezuka is his lifeline, his living example that there's another way to be strong than Nanjirou's. His avatar of possibility--both his own possibilities for real growth and the possibilities of meeting other strong and interesting players if he progresses in tennis.
As for Tezuka, I think Hal got it in one. Tezuka also sees Ryouma as an avatar--Tennis Incarnate. And Tezuka is suffuciently obsessed with the game itself that he will do anything it takes to let/make Ryouma advance and fulfill his potential. If there's love, it's an utterly aesthetic thing, not romantic at all.
Tezuka and Ryouma are not in love. It would be (and, in fact, was for me) extremely difficult to get them to be in love. Their absolute focus on each other is a wonderful thing to play with, but it IS NOT ROMANCE.
no subject
With Ryouma and Tezuka, especially, it seems like seriously short-changing the characters' existing relationship. I actually mind less when we're inscribing romance/sex onto a blank space or even simple hostility. Things are so amazingly tangled and intimate, in a weird way, between these two, the blithe leap straight into undying hearts and flowers offends my story-sensibilities.
*wry* Nothing but nothing puts my hackles up faster than people claiming that some pairing or other is "canon, omg it's so canon!". I mean, honestly. Can't these things stand on their own merits as shameless over-reading? ^_^
no subject
Okay, yeah, I totally get that. :) And as well about the simplification of their relationship -- it seems to miss the point of exploring their connection in the first place. Which is so much more complex than a sports series has any right to be.