What do you think about Ashura and Fai relationship with each other as his adopted father? And the past of cursed twin Fai and Yui? Both Fai and Yui trapped in the tower, they may not interact with each other, but the twin want to leave the tower together not giving up. The fact that Fai (the real one) is slightly more self-sacrificing than Yui, aside from being a dramatic misdirection aligned with the "death-seeking Fai-san," is probably because, in addition to being unable to move from the top of the tower, he couldn’t bear to watch Yui stubbornly climb toward the tower instead of the cliff outside, no matter what. So the real Fai wanted to to die so Yui can be free from the tower. Ashura did not treat Fai cruelly, he murdered the people living in Celes country just because Ashura wanted to be stronger than Fai's magic. So he can triggers Fai's curse so he can be free, but Sakura triggers the first curse. Ashura’s magic overpowered that’s causing the reason he losing himself because of his own magic put him over the edge. So he need Fai to kill him so he can free from Celes country. When Fai and the group arrived to Nihon country, Tomoyo already explained to him how Ashura wants Fai to live happy without misfortune or his curse.
My thoughts are that this plot point is very open to interpretation. Like you say, Tomoyo introduces a bit of a "free pass" to the plot in that logic in the universe is apparently not working very well, so things don't have to make as much sense. Which, as far as I am aware, only really applies to Ashura - but the upside of that is: I think the reader is free to choose to think what they want about Ashura, and it’s kind of correct either way.
It sounds like you’ve already landed on an explanation that works for you, but since you asked for my thoughts, for me it’s the opposite.
I will explain below but since Fai’s story line has some very dark elements I will give people the option to not have it on their dash if they don’t want it today.
I do agree that Ashura treated Fai kindly but that’s not necessarily the same as not being cruel. Regardless of his intentions, the mental scars he left on Fai were extreme to the point that Fai would not have survived this series of events if Kurogane had not directly intervened. Either Fai would have let himself die by Ashura’s hand, or if he HAD killed Ashura he would have killed himself straight after. (And this isn't even taking into account that Fai was already willing to die in Acid Tokyo, where Kurogane also intervened)
This is Ashura’s fault. I don’t think he did this damage to Fai intentionally - I think he either did not consider the effect it would have on Fai, or he did not care what the effect on Fai would be.
Either way, the things he did to Fai include:
Lying to him about the purpose of his tattoos
Hypotising him and rearranging his memories to suit Ashura’s purposes
Raising him in an emotionally manipulative environment, so that Fai was taught to repress his true emotions at all times and only ever smile
Brutally murdering every other living person that Fai knew
Possibly brutally murdering everyone in the country
Telling Fai that brutally murdering an entire country was for his benefit
Pushing Fai to kill the only family member he had left
Using Fai’s dead twin to manipulate him
Threatening Sakura’s empty body to manipulate him
Trying to force Fai to kill Kurogane (his new family)
When that didn’t work, actively trying to kill Fai’s new family himself to force Fai to do what he wanted
Trying to frame all of the above as acts of love
So! You know, to me, that reads as cruel. It reads as so far beyond cruel that Ashura is the only person in the plot I actually think is even worse than Evil Wolverine.
You don’t have to be “mean” to somebody to be emotionally abusive to them, and I do personally read Ashura as both emotionally and psychologically abusive to Fai. (again, to the point that it drove Fai to the point of suicide)
So that’s my read on their relationship! Though again, everyone is welcome to read it in other ways.
Spoiler-free thoughts on The Mandalorian and Grogu.
It was a very fun movie, with a lot of action, but what I really appreciated was how standalone it was.
There was no need to have encyclopedic knowledge of the Star Wars setting or the Mandalorian show to understand the plot. No giant plot hooks, and everything is neatly wrapped up by the end. References and cameos are bonuses, but not neccessary to follow the film.
Mandalorian and Grogu is simply a fun space adventure about a bounty hunter and his adopted son.
Even amongst the terrifying ordeal of watching Din slip into a coma, Grogu still honoured and respected his father's way of life. Even as Din hovered perilously close to death, even when Din would have had no idea whether Grogu had removed his helmet or not, the child respected his father's creed.
In those moments, I'm sure that Grogu really wanted to use the force to remove Din's helmet so that he could check whether he was recovering. But no... the respect he showed for Din, by giving him water/feeding him by sticking his little claw beneath his helmet... it's so moving and such a testament to the depth of their bond.
And for such a tiny child to do all of that, to show such resourcefulness and bravery while keeping his dying dad's dignity in tact... my heart.. . it hurTS... also is someone chopping onions in here?????
Dude, why would you tell someone their child has compassion for them and that’s why they’ll come for you-especially when you JUST had go ask whether or not their feelings on the matter are clear, lmfao, mister Empire Master, you dumb or what, lmfao-?? Or well. Clearly not, but still. Lacking in understanding of how empathy and compassion, especially for one’s child works. Awwww~!! Look at those cute adorable-wait are they BOWING to our favorite golden robot?? Is it because he’s golden!!? Oh yeahhhh, they definitely think he’s a god because he’s golden, isn’t it?? Lolz.
…is he intentionally trying to show his face to appeal to his dad’s feelings or-?? Is it working?? Hmmm, yes I think it isss bitchhh-! ARAHAGAJHA FUCK HEHA YEAHHH VITCHES GET’EM DADDY SKYWAÆLKERRRR-!! 😧😃😌🫵🏻💅🏻👏🏻
Oghhhh-uhhh guys he’s dying in the process of saving his son, fuck again-!!
Yayyy they’re freee and big bad stupid emperor is deaddd whohooo~!! Take THAT OBI-WAN AND FELLOW BITCHES!! :D
Wjatc, what, waitrt, is Obi-Wan. Like. Actually dead them or??
Oh well!! At least the rest of them are celebrating and happy ehihooo yayxiesss<!!
And I love how no one is ever gonna address that one Luke/Leia kiss again-OH LOOK TEHY’RE GHOSTS AND SO ADORBAKY SWEET ONESSS AS WELL JUST LOOKKK AT THEM GOOO TIHIIIXXZZZ~!! Awww. :)
Probably a good thing dude (Anakin/Darth Vader) died as he did. No way in hell the Rebellion would have let him live otherwise. Anyways. Looked really hot in those Snape-esque robes and mask tho, gotta admit. And AWWWWW FATHER-SON BONDING DOWN THE LINE MAYBE?? Off-screen obviously, but still!! :)
(Tbh, I never actually thought Obi-Wan was dead because he’s so prominent, and he kept coming back as a hallucination with information that Luke couldn’t have otherwise known. But I guess those 3 just live on within the force, huh?? Awww, how sweet. :);))
