[Sol Falling]

Originally Posted by musouka

Sorry, gotta agree with Yaichi. Akitsu is fascinating to watch, and probably the most interesting character in the series so far. It's not so much a matter of weakness as it is watching him desperately attempt to hold on to his morals while confronted with something he really longs for--people to talk to, who seem to accept him. Akitsu can refuse the gold--and even feels a sort of superiority in his hunger pangs--but he can't refuse the sound of his first name coming from someone else's lips.

Haha, well, I can't disagree, though the thing about Masa longing for people is part of what I'd characterize as his 'weakness'...Indeed, the conflict with his pride and morality is somewhat interesting, but like Yaichi pointed out, the trajectory of where Masa's leanings are taking him is already clear. Given that, I'm not really so sure the conflict remains especially notable...at the very least, I'm not in any suspense over his future actions (for now).

(That's also why it's so interesting when you realize he's being lied to. Five Leaves is already complete without him.)

I'm actually not clear on this yet...and I suppose an explicit betrayal like that might make the discussion about Masa's characterization above more imminent. What I understood, though, was that Masa seemed to have mistaken Ume's elderly acquaintance as one of the House of Five Leave's members...unless it was Okinu instead? Yaichi, Ume, Otake, and Matsu only make four, so if that indeed was the mistake, Masa really would make five. Then again, I was somewhat curious as to Okinu's ambiguity over Matsu's motivation for visiting...I suppose some deception might well be going on anyway.

Just because a writer has done male/male work in the past, it doesn't mean this colors all of their work that isn't under that label. While I can't disagree that there aren't (very faint) homoerotic undertones, I think your tone here is a little glib and not befitting of the nuanced situation put forth by this series.

:P I'll admit I was a little glib. I don't think it necessarily disrespects any of the nuance of this series though. I know for a fact that yaoi and yuri works can have incredible emotional subtlety and depth. I also know (or at least I think I know) that this work doesn't intend to approach the line of explicit romantic interest. Nonetheless, what we have here are two guys fascinated with each other. From my experience, this is more female fantasy than reality, just like yuri is for me--and to be clear, I'm not saying that homosexuals don't exist, just that portrayals of them in media arts like anime and manga often reflect the interests of a largely heterosexual audience moreso than actual GLBT experience. As I said, I've got nothing against female fantasy, particularly a well constructed one, and indeed have even occasionally swallowed some yaoi in the interest of broadening my perspective. That kind of exercise is to a degree what watching this anime feels like to me, however, so my 'yuri' comment was basically to say I'm not at all confident I will appreciate this series on that enjoyment level.