Fall in Love, You False Angels (OPINION)
It has been a while since I have ever been in touch with Japanese media of any sort-- at least for those that I am not familiar with. I have long since discovered what media and interests I have been comfortable of and it really takes some convincing for me to step my toes into something experimental. However, coming across the PV for "Fall in Love, You False Angels" (or "Fall in Love, You Deceptive Angels" as in the MAPPA PV), something about it sparked my interest.
Having been updated with the manga chapters thus released, I present THREE (3) POINTS to showcase appreciation with the series:
(1) A Refreshing Modern Take on Shoujo
Seeing as how the manga was released in 2023, when you read the manga, you can really see the sign of the times. The incorporation of the author of the concepts, manners, and nuances of existing in a post-modern world. And the most interesting part of it is that the usual shoujo approach was not diminished.
In recent releases of series, especially as I age, I find it hard to relate with newer media. Perhaps it is because I was growing out of the target demographic but I was positive that there will be a form of media for me out there where I can relive the things that I found joy in which accompanied me through my prepubescent phase now to my full-grown adult phase.
Not to mention the nuances which include the role of parental figures and school dynamics. Being out of the academe (especially high school) for a while makes it really hard to input childish imagination in life but the chapters in the said manga made it easy to acknowledge the nostalgia of being in the spaces of the setting.
I also appreciate the fact that the MCs always sought out the consent of the parental figures before going forward with their proposals (I really appreciate that, coming from quite a strict household). As well as how they interact with their phones LOL!
The facets of school life was also given quite the depth in this series, I liked the showcase of JP school culture in it and how they transfer from one class to another. The lives of the students and their interactions were utilized quite well in relation to their school. I am really fond of it!
Even if the plot is nothing too groundbreaking, I find it refreshing that shoujo is still alive at a palatable rate.
(2) Comfortablity in Aging
I'm pretty sure there will be people who would agree with me in saying that it's difficult to find palatable media to consume nowadays.
Often, I would say that the media served to me is simply something that I am not the target audience for as a justification on why I do not find joy in it. However, there might be some media from time to time that would satisfy my tastebuds but, more often than not, it feels like a chore.
It feels like a chore to the extent that, I have to see through the expanse of the media to justify that I am still capable of appreciating something that I used to in the past.
It also came to a point of me accepting that I have left the shoujo category. That perhaps I should stay in my lane in josei or simply leave out manga in my life. But of course, I wouldn't do that because I know these things are not age-bound. I am also sure that I would continue to find joy in this hobby, albeit not all the time.
Coming across this series was an eye-opener for that I can still squeal, turn on my bed, giggling as I'm kicking my feet, and feeling the same giddy feeling as if I was 13 again.
This is one of the manga series that transports me back to when I was a hopeless romantic. (Heavy on the hopeless, knowing that no real man would compare to the Male MC's of shoujo)
(3) Personal: An Adult Woman Reliving Child-like Joy
All in all, this manga made me appreciate and be in touch with my interests again. I have long accepted that I have stepped out of the piece of shoujo, knowing that nothing apart from what I'm comfortable with would be in par to the happy experience that I once felt when I had my hands on my first ipad or when I had my first Wi-Fi phone where I end up staying up until 5 AM before the school bus picks me up.
It's been a while since something compelled me to write about my thoughts and current hobbies. It's 3 AM and I am writing about a manga that made me kick my feet and giggling.
Pleasing to the eyes, pleasing to the heart.
The manga is not perfect, I am sure of that. It's not that deep of a plot line but it gives a certain sense of being satisfied. Comparable to being resuscitated, I feel like my interest for hobbies have been resurrected.
What I think is worth mentioning that I haven't already said yet is the fact that the manga did not make me feel like I have been out of touch for too long. I appreciate that the exposition of the story did not have an age toll gate where I would say, "I'm too old for this."
In the contrary, it felt like I had my this is it moment when I saw the premise of the story. (Especially how all good-looking they are!)
While there may be inconsistencies with the personalities being portrayed, it feels quite human for them to not be all too consistent. It feels nice.
I cannot wait for the anime ^___^
