i'm jumping far ahead from what i've been commentating on with the order of episodes i've been rewatching for astro boy, but i really do want to talk about episode 50.
actually, just about Tenma. we're talking about Tenma finally.
keep in mind- i'm going to be focusing on how he's characterized for the 2003 show.
there's a lot of key details that he does and thinks that really add to his character, motivations, and downfall.
Tenma is a very intelligent, resourceful, and trusted scientist before everything happened.
Even if it was difficult to get started, the fact the project even started goes to show he IS smart. He IS respected. He IS someone who managed to be the HEAD of this Ministry. He, alongside a whole team of scientists, the best in the city/country, successfully completed a project where robots could have the same free will as humans. That is NOT an easy task.
This doesn't make him a good man before this. He was still neglectful to his son, and he carried this expectation of those below him to obey without fault. This is something he always had. He's had these traits from the very start. What changed is how he viewed the world with these in mind.
I think it is also important to note that his position as Head of the Ministry of Science allowed him great power. Not many people are going to argue against someone who is the boss of all bosses in the place you work at, especially in a science field where it's already a struggle and a half to climb up that ladder of a career.
Tenma never makes it hidden that Atom is a robot.
This feels incredibly important. It's standard to most adaptations of this story, but it still adds a lot to Tenma's decisions and thoughts for this show specifically.
Tenma was aware Atom was a different child. He calls him "Tobio", but this isn't Tobio. There will never be the first- that one died and it's impossible to bring him back. Tenma's mentality was already under the impression that a robot "Tobio" would be better; different, but better. Better in every aspect he didn't know before- and the possibilities could be endless.
Tenma did all of this knowing he wasn't going to have the same son. He wanted a similar son, but he knew it wouldn't be exactly the same. He was fine with this, thinking that he would have a more obedient son, more powerful to boot.
What he didn't account for was that free will is a double-edged sword.
Tenma didn't punish Tobio for having an interest in robots.
Tenma expected it to go in the direction he himself took it in, that all of his subordinates and coworkers took it in- to further science, to further the progress of humans.
Tenma is all about control and progress. It's all he ever talks about- in his crazed rants throughout the show, he boasts about how a singular race will rise up in the end to take over the world, to control it with an iron fist. This is what he feels is success, this is what he's seen as success. He was the head of science and that's what his success looked like- surely it must look that way for everyone and everything else in the world, too.
It's self-centered. He has always thought this way.
What Tenma disliked was how Tobio viewed robots as something to be cared for. Tenma didn't account for his neglect leading to this side effect- that Tobio, being raised by a robot nanny when Tenma isn't home often or too wrapped up in his work to care to do a lot with his son, would gain a familial and platonic affection for robots.
Tenma as a child seems to be lonely, and we get this implication in Episode 24. Tenma created/modified/did whatever to a robot teddy bear so he'd have a friend. He obviously has resentment towards this part of his life, even if it is quite similar to Tobio's own interest and sympathy in robots.
Tenma fears those who have confidence in themselves.
This one can be obvious by now as it relates to the idea of control. If someone has issues with their self-esteem, appearance, and direction in life, they are easy to control. A young, shy, nine-year-old willing to do anything to get the love and attention of his father will be very easy to manipulate. Many terrible people in the real world have children so they have someone to control over. It's simply a fact. I can't say if this was Tenma's intent with Tobio to begin with, but it's definitely what he enacts on and strives for by the time we get flashbacks of Tobio.
It's not always intentional; a lot of these sorts of mentalities come subconsciously. At the same time, a line has to be drawn with these sorts of patterns- especially if said patterns are said aloud and realized by the one enacting the abuse of control.
Tenma states directly the reasons why he shut Atom down- he was scared.
For one, he put this incredible power into this one robot, fully expecting said robot to be totally obedient- better, in every aspect- so he could use it for his own gain. For all we know, Tenma's intentions of keeping Tobio was to be much like Atlas' father; to have someone keep the wealth/status of power within the family line. This could be one of many parallels Tenma saw in Atlas' father and was disgusted by- because he saw so clearly a reflection of himself in this other man.
Tenma knows what he's doing in terms of using others to get what he wants. He may not be thinking completely logically, but we see that even in these disillusioned ideas of what the future of the world should be like, Tenma is entirely capable of using his habit of power and control to sway things towards his favor. Tenma knows the kinds of people he can control. He specifically uses the most terrifying moment for "Tobio" to try and control Atom- the Kill Collar.
Atom breaks that. Atom breaks the fear of control because he's done so much in his own stead to be the one to control a situation instead.
Shadow broke that, too, when he turns against Tenma in Episode 47. Shadow has gained his own view of the world and confidently lives by that now, helping decide what is the best future for Robotonia.
Whenever Tenma praises Atom's evolution and how advanced it is... all he is ever praising is the mind of a child growing and maturing. Maturing far faster than it should for anyone Atom's mental age, of course, but Tenma is simply observing what a life is like- how life grows and changes and adapts. The fact it's coming from a robot is truly fascinating and a miracle, of course, but the way he talks about it seems to imply he doesn't believe humans are capable of this at all.
If he ever saw Tobio learning to be independent, speak his mind, and be creative with his talents, would Tenma praise it? Would Tenma instead think Tobio is doing something unnatural, something abhorrently wrong that no son should do?
Tenma's praise turns back on itself and punishes him, because with growth comes self worth.
Tenma was terrified of Atom's powers, but worse of all he was terrified of not being in control of those powers. By "guiding" Atom throughout the show to "evolve" into a "king," Tenma was grasping at anything that could possibly rein in Atom back in his control again.
Tenma didn't do anything significant when he told Atom he isn't fit to be Atom's father anymore.
At least, I don't think so.
By this point, Tenma has clearly given up the idea that Atom is going to be anything like a son he wants. He HAS known this. He's forced a disconnect to Atom. His connection to Atom is instead a desperate attempt to control something in his life again. Atom is so full of potential and Tenma needs that in his hands.
Atom didn't let Tenma die because he doesn't want anyone to die- not even Tenma. Not a single person deserves to die in his eyes. Atom stopped expressing his feelings and took Tenma in, so that Tenma wouldn't die.
Atom has far moved on from Tenma at this point. To move past being mind wiped again and living with Tenma again, then being forced to talk one-on-one with Tenma in the ministry else the whole place blow up, there's so much resilience that Atom has to have to be able to approach all of that, and then speak his mind again without holding back his honesty. He's always been someone who never beats around the bush with his feelings, and he wasn't going to do it here. Unfortunately, when it got to the point that Tenma was going to truly go through with harming himself and the city over their relationship, Atom had to discard that for this moment so he could neutralize the situation.
To me, the hug isn't supposed to be a cathartic moment. It's a regression. It shows that Tenma's desperation is very hurt, difficult for anyone to navigate, and truly hinges on this one child, which is unacceptable and impossible for one child to bear alone. This final scene with Tenma and Atom well and truly shows that if Tenma wants to change, he has to change outside of thinking about Atom- and any concept of having a son, or anything like that.
Tenma told Atom he isn't fit to be a father anymore. EVERYONE knows this. Tenma may have finally accepted it, or at least felt it in the moment, but it may also be something said that he would have changed his mind on about later, should Atom continue visiting Tenma under good terms. We really can't tell- not with someone as emotionally and mentally unstable as Tenma was for months on end.
It is a turning point, though- Tenma isn't going to be Atom's father. Never was, never truly tried to be, and never will be in the future. Even if he tries to come back around, there's too much ingrained in Tenma as a person that would not work in terms of being Atom's father or any sort of parental/influential figure to the kid's life.
Umataro Tenma is a very very VERY interesting character. He's terrible, but his whole arc through the show is consistent, builds all of this up, and then resolves it in a very mixed but understandable way. We don't see him 'get better' with anyone, because it's clear that he is in no state to be around the people he's forced himself into the lives of. He has to move on, and he has to move on alone. Everyone he's dragged down will do better without them.
He will do better without them, too, and maybe he'll be able to gain enough humility to do so.
