2011-05-31, 19:58 | Link #143 | ||
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
|
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
|
||
2011-05-31, 20:22 | Link #144 |
To the beat//
Join Date: Feb 2011
Age: 32
|
^ Well it certainly is true that he confessed but he said it himself:
"I planned to wait patiently until you realized it yourself." So his confession came off more as "desperate but lost struggle". Add to the fact that he ran away. But as you say one can´t really expect much from a 16 year old. But hey, if you really wanna get the girl, get your game on track. As for Tooru, I completely agree with what Hanashi said. Tooru´s character has his insecurities, specially professional. I think the anime has done a great job so far, in slowly developing his character. Its a slow process, but I think the audience is slowly starting to get to know more about him, and eventually also starting to feel more comfortable about his presence/character. And also, not just the audience but Ohana too. What did Ohana say about him in the previous episodes? "I'm not fond of this guy, AT ALL." And what about this episode? 1. She was surprised when he patted her on the head and told her its ok what she did, that she felt it was for the best so that he was ok with it. 2. She´s starting to slowly understand him. And most important of all, she said: "Thank you Tooru-san." With a huge, grateful smile on her face. So, its not like Tooru is this jerk whose suddenly is going to steal Ohana's heart from one episode to another. I think its a great process that they're slowly coming to make Ohana realize that he isn't a bad guy at all. That he's nice, understanding, sharp tounged, but really helpful and kind in his own way. As for Ko, well, its kind of really hard for me to sympathize with him since we haven't really seen much of him since the anime aired. To me, hiis character sort of screams: "Supporting/side Character". |
2011-05-31, 20:33 | Link #145 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New York, USA
|
Say what about him? That I think pining over a friend is a little dishonest? He said that he'd always liked her. I don't know how long they've known each other, but that's about two years if they met in high school. He probably never would have said anything if she had stayed. But I think Ohana's move just accelerated events and all this might have happened eventually.
About him learning how to handle his emotions...he was afraid to lose her and he ended up blurting out his feelings and fleeing. I get it. He was scared and he didn't want an answer. He did the same sort of thing when he heard Tooru's voice--he got worried/jealous and asked where she was going without conscious thought. I like Kou, which is why I want him to learn how to put himself first. Consciously, where it will do him the most good. You need to have a healthy sense of self and your own emotions in a relationship, otherwise you can end up getting subsumed by a stronger personality or by the relationship itself. If Kou/Ohana does happen, I want it to happen in the future. I love all these characters, actually. They're growing up and trying to figure out how to deal with the changes life throws at them as they go along and they don't always get it right. Those are areas where I think he needs to grow and experience is a great teacher. [But this isn't about Tooru anymore so let's agree to disagree or move this. ] |
2011-06-01, 12:41 | Link #146 | |
Senior Member
Author
|
Quote:
1. Many male viewers can relate to Ko's pain. We've been "friend zoned" before. We've had romantic confessions go awry or suffer from bad timing. We've had some troubles in the ways of romance. Ko's difficulties are ones that I think most male anime fans can, at least to some extent, relate to. 2. Tooru, in contrast, is something of an alpha male when it comes to the fairer sex. He's smooth, he's confident, he doesn't get shy or flustered when around attractive members of the opposite sex. In fact, he seems to be pretty good at winning them over (as we see with Minchi, and to some extent, Yuina). He drives a cool motorcycle, and has a cool helmet. I'm inclined to think that he has a good sense of self, and either has few insecurities or hides them well. It's really not hard to see why female fans go for him. The female equivalent to Tooru would probably be someone like Misato from NGE, and I know she was pretty popular with male anime fans back in the day (and probably still is judging by Archon's avatar ). But all of the above makes Tooru a somewhat enviable figure to male viewers, at least when it comes to how he carries himself around girls and women. It doesn't bother me too much because I tend to like characters (from both genders) that are strong, straightforward, and a bit jovial. Plus, the anime world is frankly loaded with spineless male characters (not saying that Ko is one, at least he did in fact confess). A character like Tooru is hence a bit refreshing really.
__________________
|
|
2011-06-01, 12:52 | Link #147 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
|
I definitely think you're on-point here - you have a pretty classic alpha male vs. "regular guy" conflict in Tohru vs. Kou. There's no denying Tohru fits the mold and as in nature, when males see another male preening, it tends to rouse the competitive instincts. Why do males like Tohru preen and strut? To attract females, of course - and in nature, that's where the real competition is.
I think this is especially true among younger guys - when they see that alpha male, they get very competitive (anyone who's been to a bar and done some people-watching will know what I mean). When guys get a little older and have settled down with one woman for a while - or come to understand that it's OK to be patient until the right one comes along - it's easier to see the "alpha male" act for what is usually is, a kind of eminence front. It's a cover - but a very effective one. Of course, both Kou and even Tohru are too young to really understand any of this. Most guys - even alpha males - figure out sooner or later the ultimate flaws in that act. But in terms of entertainment the alpha male vs. nice guy routine is something we see over in over in movies and TV - it makes great drama.
__________________
|
2011-06-01, 13:15 | Link #148 | |
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
|
Pretty much spot on. Though I DO think you're overstating whatever possible emotional angst/insecurities that Tohru might have. I just don't see Tohru's personality as a matter of him being extremely insecure. He's to...relaxed. He's just not pompous enough.
Quote:
I'll admit that the lack of strongly defined male characters IS kind of annoying. Perhaps because I'm less of a person to be concerned with how much I relate to the characters on a personal level, so much as how interesting I want them to be. |
|
2011-06-01, 13:43 | Link #149 |
To the beat//
Join Date: Feb 2011
Age: 32
|
Lack of defined males...annoying? Hell to the yes. I don`t even know how many male characters in many different series I have come accross whom are either completely wimpy, clueless or seem to get their own harems for some unknown reason. :/
And Tooru is definitely what you would refer to as an alpha male. He`s got the personality, the looks and the motorcycle. On 4chan, people refer to Tooru as alpha and Ko as beta. o.o Saying beta is kinda harsh though. xD;; |
2011-06-01, 13:58 | Link #150 | |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
|
Quote:
One thing is factual - Tohru is a man, and Kou is a boy. It's not a fair fight when you're talking about a 23 year-old with a career and a motorcycle vs. a first-year high schooler with a part-time job and a discount train pass. But if you take the worst-case view of Tohru, Kou isn't doing too badly - he's already proclaimed his love for his girl while as far as we know Tohru has never done more than elementary-school teasing. Problem is, despite his physical remoteness to the story we know more about Kou than we know about Tohru. We know Tohru mostly as a symbolic figure at this point - and very little of his personal life or feelings. Maybe he's already been engaged for all we know, or maybe he sleeps with two women every weekend and then tosses them aside. We really have no idea - all I'm doing and all anyone can do is project based on what behavior we see on-screen. So far, they haven't given us anything else.
__________________
|
|
2011-06-01, 16:12 | Link #151 | ||
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
|
Quote:
Spoiler for musings:
Though as you said. Ko is hardly a good example of an *uninspiring wimpy male protagonist*. The show seems to go about portraying as a more regular teenage boy, instead of a wimpy nice guy ubermensch you see so often in some series. How exactly? While he has ribbed on Ohana/Minichi for their inexperienced, he's not really carried on with any kind of overt narcissism. Quote:
*Not white knighting. But I AM a bit amused how many possible background variations for Tohru you have. |
||
2011-06-01, 16:25 | Link #152 |
Seishu's Ace
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kobe, Japan
|
Indeed, though, any of them could be true - we just don't know. It almost seems as if Tohru has been deliberately set up as a blank-slate that audience members could project their own interpretations onto. That's the point - when you don't have any facts to go on, there's an infinite amount of background variations that could be true.
I can guess - anyone can. I can psychoanalyze based on his behavior (and indeed I have ) but your guess is as good as mine.
__________________
|
2011-06-01, 17:40 | Link #153 |
To the beat//
Join Date: Feb 2011
Age: 32
|
Anybody here read the HanaIro manga? xDD
There´s a great TooruxOhana moment in chapter 3. Here: http://www.mangareader.net/hanasaku-iroha/3/29 |
2011-06-01, 17:42 | Link #154 |
Ms. Procrastinator
Join Date: Mar 2010
|
I read it just now! and then I hoped someone at the forum read it too. Such a cute moment and it made my crappy day a bit better. Too bad Ohana thought of Ko during the time when she was getting teased... TT.TT
__________________
Last edited by Sugarless Ocean; 2011-06-01 at 17:58. |
2011-06-01, 17:47 | Link #156 |
To the beat//
Join Date: Feb 2011
Age: 32
|
Pfft, well it kind of makes sense that Ohana would think of Ko, I mean...the guy did confess to Ohana two days prior to that incident. :P
But I think its great how flustered Ohana and Tooru both were. xD And Tomoe telling them they looked cute together was great. xD Plus, Tooru being flustered was so cute. <3 EDIT: Holy crap, I just realized it wasn't Tomoe who said "I think you look cute together." It was Nako. xDD Burn Minko, buuuurn. lol jk. XD;; |
2011-06-01, 18:13 | Link #157 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: New York, USA
|
Quote:
That was adorable. But manga and anime adaptations don't always turn out to have the same pairing as the original. I like Tooru/Ohana but I'm going to try to sit back and enjoy the ride. I kind of like the idea that we might get majorly trolled at the end of the series. Ren-san as a dark horse? Anyone? Anyone? *crickets* |
|
2011-06-01, 18:14 | Link #158 |
Ms. Procrastinator
Join Date: Mar 2010
|
I think I like the anime better though. xD Not because of the Ohana thinking of Ko thing but because the manga is less detailed. The manga didn't introduce the other characters like the anime did and I don't really like how everyone in the manga looks like a chibi. It's cute but makes me think that the manga-kas are too lazy to draw actual, detailed faces. :/
EDIT: Btw, my favorite line was, "A chef and a waitress would make a great couple!" XD
__________________
|
2011-06-01, 18:50 | Link #159 |
To the beat//
Join Date: Feb 2011
Age: 32
|
RenxOhana??
Hanashi, -puts hands on your shoulders- I know age is just a number. I really do and I also know that love knows no age. But no...just no. -shakes head apologetically- BTW, I found it really funny how in the anime Ohana is this great ass cook and in the manga...well...I bet even my 9 year old sister could cook better. xD;; |
Tags |
characters |
Thread Tools | |
|
|