I'm going to hold off on reading that. I'm only to episode 50 so I've still got a ways to go. I do know that so far I'm really enjoying it. The pacing and way they are building the story is very compelling.
And here I found his disappearance too freakin’ clichéd. lolz It’s the psychology major in me, I swear. ._. I know those kind of sickos die so I really hate it when movies or shows portray them as if they are un-killable. As if being insane grants you some form of immorality.
From the symbolic view that the potential to do evil can’t die… I’m find with it. But the IRL side of me says… NO NONO!!! Heh.
~Crystia
Last edited by Indi at 3:24:56 PM EST on February 8, 2009.
I honestly think attempting to condense all of that or trimming out some of those connections that they so painstakingly wove in, would cheapen the series. It really feels like you’re seeing the end of an era of insanity by seeing how many people’s lives were destroyed as a result of Johan’s interference. And in spite of there being 74 episodes, it still had the feeling of barely scratching the surface of how deep that vein of evil ran. o_O
As for Eva, even though I found her irritating at times, I did find her story compelling. She was, in many respects, a very petty individual. It was interesting to see her slowly self destruct and then finally gain some tiny measure of self respect and peace. It was like having someone she held in contempt actually die for her made her see that she was running from her own regrets.
I imagine she’ll still be bitchy on occasions but I like how her change wasn’t super miraculous but rather gradual and therefore more profound. I still found her irritating and I’m glad they didn’t put her back with Dr. Tenma. That was another clichéd moment I was pleased to see them avoid. It made me like her and him more. =P
I agree in regards to Dr. Tenma not using violence, when he finally shot someone in self defense, it made you hurt to think that he had actually killed someone. He hadn’t, but he didn’t know that at first and you could see how much that just destroyed him inside.
Oh I know the writer was making a point with having Johan disappear. I just can’t help but think… insane people like that do die so killing him off would have been realistic. Managing to escape like that was just too convenient for me. It’s the ever so clichéd moment of villain didn’t die and that annoys me a lot. =P Not enough to change the fact that I enjoyed the show though.
Every show has some part that we'd rather have been done a different way. But for me, Johann disappearing was quite satisfying. I didn't want him to die, or become an invalid. I'm twisted, what can I say? XP The last scene might have felt a bit cliche, but I was fine with it.
As far as Tenma's staunch refusal to commit murder, I draw a parallel with Gungrave. Not the best made show, duh, but in the end, the main character still can't find it in himself to kill the man that had quite literally killed him earlier on. His conviction drew from the fact that they'd been best friends, not his refusal to kill an enemy, but in a similar fashion to Tenma, he stuck to his true feelings and never pulled the trigger. He simply could not do it.
I like Shin's point that the show makes us want Tenma to never use violence. That's a powerful statement from a show that is that intense.
Miss Anonymous: ARE YOU CALLING THE PLIGHT OF PIZZA EVERYWHERE STUPID?!?!? >:O
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
I am glad you enjoy the show; your thoughts are interesting to read. :)
I agree with your thoughts regarding the length of the series. Monster really earns its length, because even the episodes that seem to go off the main path of the story still serve to strengthen certain characters or motifs, whether it's the morality of Dr. Tenma, the weakness and bitterness of Eva (I am really curious to know what you think of her) or random people confronting the evil represented by Johan.
A bit more closure with the ending would have been nice. Everything leading up to Tenma saving Johan's life again is great, because I think that is the only way Tenma's story could have ended. He is not a killer; he is a humanitarian. So many shows rely on violence to propel the story -- I love how Monster gets the viewer to root against Tenma using violence to get out of trouble. The one time Tenma does use a gun is a fantastic moment (and perfectly justifiable, I would say, since it is in self-defense), but violence is just not in Tenma's nature.
Johan disappearing to -- presumably -- wreak more havoc in the world does seem like a bit of a cop-out, but I guess Naoki Urasawa (who wrote the Monster manga) just didn't see any other ending that would also make his point.
Selene Shri
Grand Otaku | Posted 02/11/09 | Reply
@Indi:
Yay! XD I would watch the show, I just don't know how since it's not airing. oO
~Sarah
Indi
Dr. Mama Cat. (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/10/09 | Reply
@Selene Shri:
*gives you a cookie*
Silly munchkin. =P
~Crystia
Selene Shri
Grand Otaku | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
I haven't seen the show. I didn't read it all. Can I still have a cookie for visiting you? XD
~Sarah
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
I'm going to hold off on reading that. I'm only to episode 50 so I've still got a ways to go. I do know that so far I'm really enjoying it. The pacing and way they are building the story is very compelling.
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
Indi
Dr. Mama Cat. (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
@TwistedCyberChick:
And here I found his disappearance too freakin’ clichéd. lolz It’s the psychology major in me, I swear. ._. I know those kind of sickos die so I really hate it when movies or shows portray them as if they are un-killable. As if being insane grants you some form of immorality.
From the symbolic view that the potential to do evil can’t die… I’m find with it. But the IRL side of me says… NO NO NO!!! Heh.
~Crystia
Last edited by Indi at 3:24:56 PM EST on February 8, 2009.
Indi
Dr. Mama Cat. (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
I honestly think attempting to condense all of that or trimming out some of those connections that they so painstakingly wove in, would cheapen the series. It really feels like you’re seeing the end of an era of insanity by seeing how many people’s lives were destroyed as a result of Johan’s interference. And in spite of there being 74 episodes, it still had the feeling of barely scratching the surface of how deep that vein of evil ran. o_O
As for Eva, even though I found her irritating at times, I did find her story compelling. She was, in many respects, a very petty individual. It was interesting to see her slowly self destruct and then finally gain some tiny measure of self respect and peace. It was like having someone she held in contempt actually die for her made her see that she was running from her own regrets.
I imagine she’ll still be bitchy on occasions but I like how her change wasn’t super miraculous but rather gradual and therefore more profound. I still found her irritating and I’m glad they didn’t put her back with Dr. Tenma. That was another clichéd moment I was pleased to see them avoid. It made me like her and him more. =P
I agree in regards to Dr. Tenma not using violence, when he finally shot someone in self defense, it made you hurt to think that he had actually killed someone. He hadn’t, but he didn’t know that at first and you could see how much that just destroyed him inside.
Oh I know the writer was making a point with having Johan disappear. I just can’t help but think… insane people like that do die so killing him off would have been realistic. Managing to escape like that was just too convenient for me. It’s the ever so clichéd moment of villain didn’t die and that annoys me a lot. =P Not enough to change the fact that I enjoyed the show though.
~Crystia
TwistedCyberChick
Grand Otaku | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
Every show has some part that we'd rather have been done a different way. But for me, Johann disappearing was quite satisfying. I didn't want him to die, or become an invalid. I'm twisted, what can I say? XP The last scene might have felt a bit cliche, but I was fine with it.
As far as Tenma's staunch refusal to commit murder, I draw a parallel with Gungrave. Not the best made show, duh, but in the end, the main character still can't find it in himself to kill the man that had quite literally killed him earlier on. His conviction drew from the fact that they'd been best friends, not his refusal to kill an enemy, but in a similar fashion to Tenma, he stuck to his true feelings and never pulled the trigger. He simply could not do it.
I like Shin's point that the show makes us want Tenma to never use violence. That's a powerful statement from a show that is that intense.
Miss Anonymous: ARE YOU CALLING THE PLIGHT OF PIZZA EVERYWHERE STUPID?!?!? >:O
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 02/08/09 | Reply
I am glad you enjoy the show; your thoughts are interesting to read. :)
I agree with your thoughts regarding the length of the series. Monster really earns its length, because even the episodes that seem to go off the main path of the story still serve to strengthen certain characters or motifs, whether it's the morality of Dr. Tenma, the weakness and bitterness of Eva (I am really curious to know what you think of her) or random people confronting the evil represented by Johan.
A bit more closure with the ending would have been nice. Everything leading up to Tenma saving Johan's life again is great, because I think that is the only way Tenma's story could have ended. He is not a killer; he is a humanitarian. So many shows rely on violence to propel the story -- I love how Monster gets the viewer to root against Tenma using violence to get out of trouble. The one time Tenma does use a gun is a fantastic moment (and perfectly justifiable, I would say, since it is in self-defense), but violence is just not in Tenma's nature.
Johan disappearing to -- presumably -- wreak more havoc in the world does seem like a bit of a cop-out, but I guess Naoki Urasawa (who wrote the Monster manga) just didn't see any other ending that would also make his point.
Love thy Evangelion.