That makes sense -- the way Hagu approaches love is certainly different from the norm. I suppose it makes sense if you approach it with that viewpoint. The show does establish that she just cannot function in a "classic" romantic relationship, but that does not mean she cannot find happiness in a different sort of romantic relationship. It's starting to weird me out a bit less the more I think about it -- clearly Hagu does not look at Shuuji in a sexual sort of way, and I doubt Shuuji looks at Hagu that way, either.
Ayumi never annoyed me much, because I could understand her point of view. She really did honestly love Mayama. Feelings like that do not disappear so easily. Like Takemoto, she knows she has no chance to capture the heart of the one she loves. When Nomiya enters the picture, there's a real conflict there -- on the one hand, she truly wants to find love, but on the other hand, she does not want to commit a betrayal of Mayama in her heart. It seems silly and melodramatic, but that's one part of love. I didn't exactly approve wholesale of every decision she made, but I could still sympathize with her because I could see where she was coming from and what those feelings were doing to her emotions. I am glad it seems as if she ended with Nomiya, though, haha.
Prepare for a couple of jumbled cents from my pocket regarding "Honey and Clover":
I'd say the two of them (Hagu and Shuu-chan) love each other like a regular couple does, only to everyone else their relationship comes off as a father-daughter kind since it's devoid of the classic distinction of how "love" should be and is removed from the "norm". ... If that makes sense?
To showcase my point, just look at Hagu's reaction to falling/being in love with Morita. Clearly she doesn't equate her experience with feelings of love. It's not comfortable, feels too different, is completely opposite of her relationship with Shuu-chan, remember?
(... This must all come off as so unintelligible/aloof. I really wish I could explain my thoughts better/clearer ^^;)
But yeah, Shuu-chan's confession came out of the blue for me too xD
Anyway. What are your thoughts on Ayu-Ayu? Did she annoy you with all her tears/pining? Did you feel deep and painful compassion in regards to her impossible situation with Mayamoto? I'm so incredibly curious of your point of view :3
I liked the first one, I thought it was very good. The second one might start to go all meh for me. >>
The only character who I liked(Lelouch), I am now starting to hate. Well scratch that, I liked C.C. too. Suzaku bugs the crap outa me.
Yeah, I agree with you...that's really why I didn't like the ending. TOO strange for my tastes. I thought Morita would've been better. The other...just too odd. ><
Yup, 4 years. I've been waiting so long...I doubt she'll ever continue it. *sigh* And it was RIGHT in the middle of a story arc. IN THE MIDDLE. I'll never know what happens next. Hisoka will stay in that other world forever, I guess. :/ Boo.
I totally felt the same way about the end of H&C II, except that my reaction was a lot more violent, haha. Shuuji creeped the hell out of me there. It just kind of made me angry, because the resolution given to Takemoto and the other characters was soooo beautiful and meaningful and inspiring and all that good stuff.
Yes, they hold a special place in my heart as well.
Although, Pixar is just all around awesome. Monsters Inc, WALL-E, The Incredibles, Ratatouille... all awesome. The only flub they've ever made was Cars.
Code Geass isn't really something I'm following all that intensely, haha. Mostly I am enjoying the boatloads of craziness the plot is sure to heap upon the poor viewers -- I'm hoping the plot is especially psycho since I can't say I especially care about any of the characters lol.
Yeah, I finished both seasons. I liked the ending of Honey and Clover II just fine, outside of the whole Shuuji/Hagumi thing. I especially enjoyed the direction the show went in regarding Takemoto; it really felt as if he took a big step in his life at the end.
And out of those...I've see Library Wars, Yami no Matsuei (<33333), and Honey and Clover II. ^^ I liked the first series much better than II. Have you seen all of it yet? I won't spoil the ending...but I just think it could've ended a lot better.
I also wish Yami no Matsuei was longer, but especially the manga. I hate it how the author put it on hiatus, and she's never gone back to it...it's been 4 or so years. *sigh*
Absentminded One (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
I haven't really been watching Code Geass R2. I am starting to hate Lelouch a lot though. <<; The cliffhanger in the first season was terrible and the way they jumped into the 2nd season was really odd. I don't know if I'm going to be following R2 as intently as I followed the first season.
Hatenkou Yuugi had a weird way of telling the story, it jumped around a lot. I really enjoyed the anime, all the characters are really good. They fit really well. Plus the art was nice.
Well actually, about Hagu and Shuji I really thought their relationship was father/daughter so I'm waiting for the manga to see if it's changed around. I really didn't like that ending, so I'm hoping for the best.
Gundam 00 is good. Graham is easy to fan over. I like him(Though I like Lockon a bit more). I need to start the 2nd season. Oh, and Setsuna is annoying.
Spice & Wolf is awesome. Horo and Lawrence are great. I can't wait to see the next episodes. Horo is so cute. I love her. <3
And about Yami No Matsuei, well now. . .I liked the Devil's Trill arc, but it's WAY better in Japanese, the devil's voice was SO lame. >>
After Muraki got back it gets better. I don't know how he does it. I thought the bit with the roses was amusing. Also, the poker game was hilarious.
Last edited by Driffter at 7:59:08 PM EST on December 5, 2008.
... I keep watching random episodes of stuff... Ta for that website link ^^ I keep thinking "oh! That was supposed to be good" and off I go...
I watched ep 1 of NANA last night, and ep 1 of Tsubassa... Then I had to find some Tsubassa music... And i'm FINALLY watching the remains of Oran HSHC...
Not to mention my daily dose of youtube sillyness ^^
I always end up skipping, like, half of these posts because you've gotten faster releases and are farther in the series than me...
At least I am hanging back on ef - a tale of melodies. >>
The end of H&CII also confused me a bit at first, but I think Shuuji was prepared for a one-sided love. He cared enough for Hagu that he was literally giving up everything else for her. So, even if Hagu wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, he'd continue to take care of her.
I agree. It just surprised me because it seemed to come out of nowhere -- or maybe there were signs of Shuuji's love for Hagu being more than that of a doting father figure that I just didn't notice. Who knows.
Abundant Love (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
I always end up skipping, like, half of these posts because you've gotten faster releases and are farther in the series than me...
The end of H&CII also confused me a bit at first, but I think Shuuji was prepared for a one-sided love. He cared enough for Hagu that he was literally giving up everything else for her. So, even if Hagu wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, he'd continue to take care of her.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/06/08 | Reply
@Mimmi:
That makes sense -- the way Hagu approaches love is certainly different from the norm. I suppose it makes sense if you approach it with that viewpoint. The show does establish that she just cannot function in a "classic" romantic relationship, but that does not mean she cannot find happiness in a different sort of romantic relationship. It's starting to weird me out a bit less the more I think about it -- clearly Hagu does not look at Shuuji in a sexual sort of way, and I doubt Shuuji looks at Hagu that way, either.
Ayumi never annoyed me much, because I could understand her point of view. She really did honestly love Mayama. Feelings like that do not disappear so easily. Like Takemoto, she knows she has no chance to capture the heart of the one she loves. When Nomiya enters the picture, there's a real conflict there -- on the one hand, she truly wants to find love, but on the other hand, she does not want to commit a betrayal of Mayama in her heart. It seems silly and melodramatic, but that's one part of love. I didn't exactly approve wholesale of every decision she made, but I could still sympathize with her because I could see where she was coming from and what those feelings were doing to her emotions. I am glad it seems as if she ended with Nomiya, though, haha.
Love thy Evangelion.
Mimmi
Otaku Eternal | Posted 12/06/08 | Reply
Prepare for a couple of jumbled cents from my pocket regarding "Honey and Clover":
I'd say the two of them (Hagu and Shuu-chan) love each other like a regular couple does, only to everyone else their relationship comes off as a father-daughter kind since it's devoid of the classic distinction of how "love" should be and is removed from the "norm". ... If that makes sense?
To showcase my point, just look at Hagu's reaction to falling/being in love with Morita. Clearly she doesn't equate her experience with feelings of love. It's not comfortable, feels too different, is completely opposite of her relationship with Shuu-chan, remember?
(... This must all come off as so unintelligible/aloof. I really wish I could explain my thoughts better/clearer ^^;)
But yeah, Shuu-chan's confession came out of the blue for me too xD
Anyway. What are your thoughts on Ayu-Ayu? Did she annoy you with all her tears/pining? Did you feel deep and painful compassion in regards to her impossible situation with Mayamoto? I'm so incredibly curious of your point of view :3
Driffter
Absentminded One (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/06/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
I liked the first one, I thought it was very good. The second one might start to go all meh for me. >>
The only character who I liked(Lelouch), I am now starting to hate. Well scratch that, I liked C.C. too. Suzaku bugs the crap outa me.
Angel Zakuro
bird nerd. (Otaku Angel) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Yeah, I agree with you...that's really why I didn't like the ending. TOO strange for my tastes. I thought Morita would've been better. The other...just too odd. ><
Yup, 4 years. I've been waiting so long...I doubt she'll ever continue it. *sigh* And it was RIGHT in the middle of a story arc. IN THE MIDDLE. I'll never know what happens next. Hisoka will stay in that other world forever, I guess. :/ Boo.
Dagger IX1
Team | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
I totally felt the same way about the end of H&C II, except that my reaction was a lot more violent, haha. Shuuji creeped the hell out of me there. It just kind of made me angry, because the resolution given to Takemoto and the other characters was soooo beautiful and meaningful and inspiring and all that good stuff.
Miss Anonymous
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Indeed, twasn't terrible... a little weird, but not MST3K awful by any means.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Miss Anonymous:
And Cars isn't even that bad. It's just average compared to everything else Pixar has made.
Love thy Evangelion.
Miss Anonymous
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Yes, they hold a special place in my heart as well.
Although, Pixar is just all around awesome. Monsters Inc, WALL-E, The Incredibles, Ratatouille... all awesome. The only flub they've ever made was Cars.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Miss Anonymous:
The Toy Story movies are still my favorites from Pixar. No way that reference is getting past me.
Love thy Evangelion.
Miss Anonymous
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
Good, you got the reference. :D
If you hadn't, I would've had to employ some harsh measures to teach you a lesson.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Miss Anonymous:
Toy Story ftw.
Love thy Evangelion.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@:
lol, yeah, it is. I barely watched anything today, because I needed a break, haha.
Love thy Evangelion.
Miss Anonymous
Vagrant AI (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
You sad, strange little man.
You have my pity.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Driffter:
Code Geass isn't really something I'm following all that intensely, haha. Mostly I am enjoying the boatloads of craziness the plot is sure to heap upon the poor viewers -- I'm hoping the plot is especially psycho since I can't say I especially care about any of the characters lol.
Love thy Evangelion.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Angel Zakuro:
Yeah, I finished both seasons. I liked the ending of Honey and Clover II just fine, outside of the whole Shuuji/Hagumi thing. I especially enjoyed the direction the show went in regarding Takemoto; it really felt as if he took a big step in his life at the end.
Ick, a four year hiatus? Ouch.
Love thy Evangelion.
Angel Zakuro
bird nerd. (Otaku Angel) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
And out of those...I've see Library Wars, Yami no Matsuei (<33333), and Honey and Clover II. ^^ I liked the first series much better than II. Have you seen all of it yet? I won't spoil the ending...but I just think it could've ended a lot better.
I also wish Yami no Matsuei was longer, but especially the manga. I hate it how the author put it on hiatus, and she's never gone back to it...it's been 4 or so years. *sigh*
Keep watching that anime! ^_^
Driffter
Absentminded One (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
I haven't really been watching Code Geass R2. I am starting to hate Lelouch a lot though. <<; The cliffhanger in the first season was terrible and the way they jumped into the 2nd season was really odd. I don't know if I'm going to be following R2 as intently as I followed the first season.
Hatenkou Yuugi had a weird way of telling the story, it jumped around a lot. I really enjoyed the anime, all the characters are really good. They fit really well. Plus the art was nice.
Well actually, about Hagu and Shuji I really thought their relationship was father/daughter so I'm waiting for the manga to see if it's changed around. I really didn't like that ending, so I'm hoping for the best.
Gundam 00 is good. Graham is easy to fan over. I like him(Though I like Lockon a bit more). I need to start the 2nd season. Oh, and Setsuna is annoying.
Spice & Wolf is awesome. Horo and Lawrence are great. I can't wait to see the next episodes. Horo is so cute. I love her. <3
And about Yami No Matsuei, well now. . .I liked the Devil's Trill arc, but it's WAY better in Japanese, the devil's voice was SO lame. >>
After Muraki got back it gets better. I don't know how he does it. I thought the bit with the roses was amusing. Also, the poker game was hilarious.
Last edited by Driffter at 7:59:08 PM EST on December 5, 2008.
Kaerlyn
Tea pixie (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
... I keep watching random episodes of stuff... Ta for that website link ^^ I keep thinking "oh! That was supposed to be good" and off I go...
I watched ep 1 of NANA last night, and ep 1 of Tsubassa... Then I had to find some Tsubassa music... And i'm FINALLY watching the remains of Oran HSHC...
Not to mention my daily dose of youtube sillyness ^^
Internet, I love thee...
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@Desbreko:
I always end up skipping, like, half of these posts because you've gotten faster releases and are farther in the series than me...
At least I am hanging back on ef - a tale of melodies. >>
The end of H&CII also confused me a bit at first, but I think Shuuji was prepared for a one-sided love. He cared enough for Hagu that he was literally giving up everything else for her. So, even if Hagu wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, he'd continue to take care of her.
I agree. It just surprised me because it seemed to come out of nowhere -- or maybe there were signs of Shuuji's love for Hagu being more than that of a doting father figure that I just didn't notice. Who knows.
Love thy Evangelion.
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
@:
Yes. Yes, it is.
Love thy Evangelion.
Desbreko
Abundant Love (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 12/05/08 | Reply
I always end up skipping, like, half of these posts because you've gotten faster releases and are farther in the series than me...
The end of H&CII also confused me a bit at first, but I think Shuuji was prepared for a one-sided love. He cared enough for Hagu that he was literally giving up everything else for her. So, even if Hagu wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, he'd continue to take care of her.