review of pot

[branchandroot]

Going back to rewatch the first eps of tenipuri, if only to remind myself of why I actually like this show.

And, you know, it really is clear (most especially in light of the tradtionalist on the filler-ep staff) that Echizen is set up as unsocialized. At least, un-Japanese-socialized. He's terminally blunt, and has no idea what gestures to return to, say, a social apology. He refuses the forms of self-denigration that are so much a mainstay of junior-senior interaction. And he invariably looks people dead in the eye, especially if he has any reason to think they might be competition. The first couple episodes really go out of their way to emphasize this--he even manages to rub Momo, who is far and away the easiest-going senpai he meets, a bit the wrong way. Momo, being a sweetie, doesn't make a big deal of it but does take note of it.

Which only increases my tendency to consider the filler eps, especially Senbatsu Etc., as a completely different continuity.

Comments

[maeran.livejournal.com]

I need to start doing that. I've realized recently I don't have grasp on Ryoma's character. At all.

...Senbatsu arc? *blinks innocently* What's that?

[branchandroot]

And with Ryouma it's almost all in the nuance--his Looks, who he smiles at and when, that kind of thing.

Senbatsu... I think that's another series, isn't it?

[maeran.livejournal.com]

*goggles* Ryoma smiles?

Well, other than when he's being snarky and cute at senpai-tachi, anyway. ^__~

Don't know. Might be. *bright smile* Never heard of it, actually.

[prillalar]

Yeah, I tend to do that too, for all the characters. Though I give the filler ep characterization more weight if my fic is kind of cracky.

[branchandroot]

Oh, yeah. Of course, some real character development has taken place. Kikumaru starts out far more serious and less bouncy. And Kaidou's first appearance really does make him out as some kind of psycho.

[maeran.livejournal.com]

I'm with you there on Eiji, but...

Kaidoh. Psycho. Bwahahahahahaha!

*wipes tears* He does, though, doesn't he? *cuddles the secretly-kitten-lover*

[lady-readwolf.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of it does seem terribly at of place (and, well, a lot of it is), but also, don't underestimate children's abilities to adapt some, too. Ryoma has been in emmersed in Japanese culture now for almost half a year and *some* of that--regardless of whether he's aware of it or not--will rub off. Not completely, and not all the time, but there will be moments... just being there, seeing everyone else going through the motions.... because, despite his lovable snarky attitude, I don't think Ryoma really intends to piss *every*one off (only a select few)--he's going to start going through the motions, too.

But he'll always retain some of that snarky american spirit he's got, ne?

[branchandroot]

Oh, he adapts some, all right. The main storyline shows that a bit. But the filler arcs, especially the latest ones, give him some really particular and involved cultural gestures that he could never have acquired in six months, especially when his dad clearly isn't modelling them for him. Senpai can only do so much. Though it is awfully cute when, say, Momo reminds him how to thank people properly.

[lady-readwolf.livejournal.com]

But the filler arcs

are fillers, and, as you've said so yourself, are proven to be unreliable at face value and usually, if we're lucky, mildly entertaining.