So I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed at how I think the anime left out some of the subtlety with the hair stick. I get that a lot of how we’re able to interpret what Maomao actually feels vs how she comes across is either in her internal monologue or in her actions, things the anime can’t always capture given the limits of time. She’s a character that often has to be interpreted, not taken at face value. In regard to Jinshi’s hair stick the light novel gives the impression that Maomao is more possessive over it than first anticipated. Although she feigns disinterest she won’t give it to Shisui and it’s the only personal possession left to her.
“Someone gave it to me,” she replied. Given to her without much ceremony true enough, still. “What if I asked you to give it to me? Would you do it?” After a moment’s pause, Maomao said carefully, “I’m afraid not.”
The anime, however, chose to go with a more direct approach that did make it seem as if Maomao has little care for the object and is merely keeping it out of fear from reprisal by Jinshi which isn’t how she actually sees the situation. (Spoilers under the cut)
In the novel, her saying that Jinshi will just find a way to bring the stick back to her because of his persistence is just dancing around that she doesn’t actually want to give it away. It’s also a hint at how well Jinshi knows her, unlike others.
But Jinshi was oddly skilled at reading Maomao’s expressions. Partly because they’d now known each other for a fair amount of time, true, but even by that standard he was quite sensitive to slight changes in her face.
There’s also the small matter of the anime having Shisui retrieve the stick from next to the bed vs the novel having had Maomao place it next to her pillow. Yes, these are small details but overall important. Especially when she gives the stick to Shisui in their final moment together. That’s when it becomes clear it has more significance.
This particular hair stick was plain, yet of uncommonly fine make. The one who had given it to her could be especially obstinate, so there was every possibility that just like its original owner, it would somehow manage to find its way back to her.
We realize that Maomao’s appearing fixation on Jinshi’s obstinance and the hair stick could be linked to her subconscious hope that by having it he would come find her, which he did, although entirely unrelated to the object. It’s her way of wishing for something she couldn’t voice out loud, which was to be rescued. She also uses it as a prayer for her friend, saying that like Jinshi had found his way to her, if she gives Shisui the hair stick maybe they’ll see one another again. But with the anime giving the impression the stick is merely an annoyance, I feel that any greater meaning is lost. Unfortunately I get how it can be difficult to get some of this across in the anime but given how much more there is left of season 2 and even deeper nuance coming up between characters, it does worry me a bit if they’re going to start leaving things surface level. Especially because some fans want to see Maomao in a light that casts her as having little attachment to Jinshi and lacking emotion which isn’t true. If the anime always plays up the joke of their dynamic being him as overzealous and her seeming so put off, as that is the outward appearance, then we’ll never get to see the payoff of all the layers underneath.
Lucy and Cooper (something else) in a hotel room in Vegas being all domestic (Coop helping her through a drug hangover) before Coop turns around and reveals he's betrayed her. (Divorced).
Barb and Cooper (married) in a hotel room in Vegas being all domestic (Barb helping him through a drug hangover - yes alcohol is a recreational drug) before Coop turns around to confront her on her betrayal aka trying to kickstart the apocalypse. (Divorced).
Now that things have calmed down for me, and more importantly we have the airdates for the next batch of episodes, it's time for me to get back the best parts posts for the first batch!
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Magical multitasking
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Camila fangirling over Cedric
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Sofia: I'm sure Mr. Cedric won't mind if I bring someone along.
(smash cut)
Cedric: I didn't say you could bring someone along.
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Glad to see being reformed hasn't diminished his capacity for being so done
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Camila: Learning a new spell from Mr. Cedric himself? I'm so ready!
Cedric: Oh, please, call me "Mr. Cedric the Sensational."
And then she does!
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"Wait 'til Mr. Cedric sees this!"
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Miss Nettle and Cedric chuckling over being antisocial
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Cedric: Oh, I've known Sofia for a long time. I'm sure she has everything under control.
Miss Nettle: And if not, I'll just have to find a new sorcery teacher.
Cedric: ?
Miss Nettle: Just kidding!
Cedric: *phew*
Miss Nettle: Or am I?
Cedric: O.O
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Camila's confidence that they just need an even harder spell, and her completely ignoring Sofia pointing out that a hard spell didn't work out so great for them already
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The scroll and book "high-fiving" when they elude Sofia
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The brief POV shot we get of Cedric's things chasing him:
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The Flintstones sound effect when Cedric runs from his things in the courtyard
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(after learning Sofia's amulet gave her a new power)
Cedric: Does it have the power to stop my books and scrolls from clobbering me?
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Cedric: Oh, I knew I had to tackle the mess in my classroom, but I never thought the mess would tackle me!
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Cedric's gentle expression when Camila fesses up to her mistakes
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The shudder that runs through Cedric when he thinks about his past
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Cedric: Forget tomorrow, let's start right this minute!
Camila: Really?!
Cedric: (flatly) Yes, really. I just said it, didn't I?
Also glad to see he hasn't lost his sarcasm.
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Of course Clover would make sure Sofia has her snack
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Zane: Good morning!
Zaria: It's too early to tell how good it is, but hello.
(later)
Zaria: It's a good morning after all.
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Zaria: I don't like surprises.
Zane: Except for surprise birthday parties!
Zaria: (small smile) I do like the jumping out and shouting part.
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Zane exclaiming excitedly when the mix it up is announced, only to sheepishly admit he doesn't know what it is.
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Sofia: I really like tea parties.
Zaria: I prefer hot cocoa.
Sofia: Because it's sweeter?
Zaria: Because it's the same color as my castle's bats.
Sofia: Your castle has bats?
Zaria: Your castle doesn't?
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I still find it a little strange that Sofia was so quick to doubt her ability to make friends with Zaria.
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Sofia: Do you like rainbows?
Zaria: I like rain.
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I wasn't that keen on the song on first viewing, but it's grown on me:
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Zane exclaiming "Not again!" after being launched from the catapult.
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Sofia: We'll get you down.
Zaria: Unless you like it up there.
Zane: I mean, it's not the worst tree I've been stuck in, but I wouldn't mind getting down.
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Zaria: (about Chomping Carnations) They're beautiful when they're not trying to bite you. Which is pretty much all the time.
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Zaria: It's all right, accidents happen. Which I usually find hilarious. Especially when they involve my brother.
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Zane doing his best to not fall in the background
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Sofia and Zaria bonding over the foibles of their brothers
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Zane: You made it!
Zaria: Huzzah.
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"Leave me! Save yourselves!"
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Sofia: I guess we can like different things and still be friends.
Zaria: Maybe even best friends. (beat) Someday.
Sofia: *nods*
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This episode must be set before Give It a Twirl, which is why they don't mention being part of the twirl squad as something they have in common.
rewatching akotsk because i'm obsessed & honestly shout out raymun for being knighted for the sole purpose of fighting in dunk's defence. true BROMANCE
episode 7 and you know how i made a blue sky so i could thank martha so she could thank the producers for including indigenous adjacent practices in their futuristic sci fi? not making it all just western stuff??? WELL after episode 7 I had to thank them again because it DELIVERED so heres my episode 7 reactions thoughts etc:
THATS A YARNING CIRCLE THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE IS A CULTURAL YARNING CIRCLE!! THAT! IS!! AN!!! INDIGENOUS!!!! YARNING CIRCLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!! points points points I was LITERALLY JUST AT ONE (yarning circle in Aboriginal Australia but I understand Circle Talks are also present in Americas Indigenous communities so its probably being based off those but it STILL RINGS VERY STRONGLY).
I think it's really cool of Gurathin that he is trying to participate in the activity, even if he's confused and uncertain and bailed halfway which is fair yarning circles get emotional. That's really cool of him, he gets some points.
The perimeter patrolling hanging from complaints to joking about it to genuine empathy of "maybe it needs a break?" tones. It's been a consistent theme, the team are noticing, maybe realising how draining they are.
Ratthi physically coaching SecUnit through its "softer approach" on getting people to MOVE. Absolutely hilarious that they successfully read each other in that moment (Ratthi that SecUnit is trying to help, SecUnit at realising the headshaking is to adjust what it is saying).
Really enjoyed Ratthi overall in this episode, being so solidly on SecUnit's side despite his own jumpiness. Including his multiple approaches to trying to include SecUnit as a team.
Arada speaking about how SecUnit has gotten them out of shit and Bharadwaj's thoughtful face. I hope this means next episode she will reconcile with it. I desperately need Bharadwaj to reconcile with SecUnit.
Laughed at Gurathin asking Mensah if she has feelings for SecUnit and her reaction is basically "wow we really need to get you to the hospital". Also chuckling in anticipation of that becoming a running theme in future seasons because ohmygod.
So many heightened tensions and snipping at each other, no-one is immune, and leading to the almost confrontation circle I so badly want these conversations resolved and not interrupted by something attacking them but they're getting there! Each argument-discussion gets slightly further each time! Shout out to Ratthi getting the ball rolling.
The way as soon as SecUnit steps away from the circle, even Pin-Lee starts being empathetic and encouraging about discussing emotions/not avoiding emotions.
The parallels betweens the teams strong objection to shocking the creatures for behaving like creatures while at the same time they are upset at a secunit behaving like a secunit (and their ongoing fears about it NOT being under their control by being auto-shocked by a govmod). oof
SecUnit appreciating their pitiful attempts at helping, I wonder if it WAS feeling concerned they might abandon it and then in the action moment they FIGHT for it.
Small joys during the episode:
The people side-eying the yarning circle is on point.
Snapping fingers instead of clapping! Neat little cultural change.
Leebeebee's dead body covered (poorly) by a rug.
Really impressed with Ratthi's slightly shaken faith in SecUnit.
Bharadwaj and Gurathin cuddle pile is pretty cute ngl.
SecUnit's inability to talk to the team without sounding like it is threatening them.
Mensah just throwing it out in the open that SecUnit has been subjected to forced labor, violence and abuse.
I wonder if SecUnit can manipulate its data to see its imagined self growing vines?
That SecUnit is already thinking about running away and leaving.
The silent waiting treatment working on SecUnit is amazing.
SecUnit trying and failing to use the silent waiting treatment immediately after on the PresAux team is also amazing.
The way it just keeps slowly turning its head further and further away from the group.
I think it took it's helmet off because Mensah acknowledged it is trying to help, not that it is a person.
I also think it hears better without the helmet on, because as soon as it was off it was troubleshooting the sound.
The scientists/biologist being all nerded out about the creatures haha
The little egg sacks wiggling away and the offended mother rescuing them.
Mensah (accidentally) threatening to abandon SecUnit on the planet with another SecUnit's body.
The parallel. Two episodes ended now, lingering on a headless body.
I really enjoyed the world/CGI/graphics of this episode.
Cons that are kinda pros:
That heavy squirmy feeling the leitmotif during the end of episode 6 left with me still isn't fully resolved, although it's nice to see that some of the team is trying to bridge the emotions.
and I don't like that this episode also ended with the team at odds with SecUnit. Because I desperately need some resolution.
So cons for being negative emotions but pros for making me feel emotions i just wish they weren't back to back negative/sad/worried emotions but also I can see how the extended mistrust will lead to a book-aligned ending but the process hurts me.
Bonus, tallied all the times perimeter was mentioned and who//why:
Phylactery was a really really good episode of Objectified Comic (kind of informal analysis about grief and Dynamite and Mushroom with various side-tangents)
I'd say I don't know what to say but that is a lie. I have several things to say. I will say them now.
TW for sad I guess but you (hopefully) already read the episode one can't get more sad I don't think.
1- Mushroom Doesn't Seem Well
I could think of so many reasons why Mushroom is so determined to do this to themself. You could reason they want to desensitize themselves to the parasites, and the fear that they're going to die. This is never a great path for an almost immortal character in the scary people die comic. But if they can come back to life, then why fear it? Anyway you're strong and cool for making things worse for yourself and refusing help and they've gotta be strong and cool or else Dynamite is going to die, right? Yeah. Oh gosh.
2- Mushroom Is Tall
I know it doesn't look like it here but I swear Dynamite had to have been the tall friend once. Not even when they first met, but for just a second, and it's all he could talk about. Maybe he wasn't really taller. Maybe Mushroom just let him have that. I don't know I just find dramatic changes in the tallness hierarchy funny. We know nothing about their other friends (besides maybe Glowstick) that were kind of mentioned at the end of Into the Wild, but I like to think Dynamite is or was taller than a lot of them. He just can't compete with Mushroom.
And they're kneeling here too. They're 2.5 inches taller in tall form too. I know this is obvious I'm just grasping this. Someone seems suspiciously kinglike in height.
This growth spurt could be insane foreshadowing woah.
3- Flower Symbolism Woah
So Chester has used flower symbolism in the past (Out of Mind teaser) and this dead dandelion here seems very intentional. You can go all sorts of directions with it too. It's a flower associated with childhood and innocence and yet it's here, dead, (Bic mentions someone else who was dead here). It's a flower that transforms, yet this one never did, and is instead here, dead. And with Mushroom you have the very literal transformation to think about and the other aspect of mushroom's character one would associate with a transition. (I pride myself on being subtle and poetic) There's probably more interpretations you can make but those seem like the big ones. Also, it was crushed by a rock. Also, it was crushed by a rock. (I say with emphasis)
4 - Mushroom Oh No (ft. Spiny-Backed Orb Weaver)
Mushroom loves bugs. They did anyway. This thing that brings them joy, (and this thing that looks like them) only reminds them of being killed. "I would never eat a bug." has not aged well. (It's aged fantastically. This writing is wonderful. I'm just very hurt by how this piece of art makes me think and feel emotions /silly but this is heartbreaking)
5 - Dynamite I'm really sorry oh gosh
He's trying. He's really trying to help and he really needs to be helpful in the way he was never helped and he really needs to be needed in the way he needs people when he's learned to feel he doesn't deserve anything, much less someone he loves and adores so much. He has to be the most helpful source of joy and comfort forever and he can't because he doesn't know what that really looks like, and he just wants to convince himself he's perfect enough to deserve someone who cares about him, but he doesn't know what he needs to do. He wanted to affirm that someone trusted him to be any better at anything than what he thought he could be, to have Mushroom be open and thank him for reaching out, but that was never going to happen. He really doesn't understand that though. And it only makes him feel he's worth a whole lot less.
I want to do a much longer analysis on this subject, looking at the whole comic, but gosh. These couple of panels say so much.
5 - Woah Dolly intermission
I really like that we need to specify this for Dolly. I'm very curious about whatever incident could have made this clarification very important.
6 - Scary Hivecore Thing also Yay Mitosis
I'm not going to say as much as I maybe could say on this because people talk about this a lot and I'm bad at coming up with smart theories on this kind of thing, but wow this is quite cool. I'm glad we got to see some fourth form mushroom things in the main comic now, not just teasers. So ID_Shroud and ribbon guy (it was ribbon guy in the teaser) both became these mushroomy Hivecore looking things. We can assume there's two little Mushroomlings right (I initially typed little mushroom but realized it's the same size as original Mushroom)? But this Mushroomling is a Spore. Do they take longer to grow up (eighteen years, like normal Mushroom before they died)? Did this one just crawl out of the thing? When will ribbon guy spore emerge? Will this Mushroomling be special because it grew from ID_Shroud?
And then I'm terrified to see what the Mushroomlings add to the story. Mushroom is figuring out who they are and the clones of their child self running around might not help. We also see a lot of growing up / loss of innocence theming with Dynamite and Mushroom, and seeing these Mushroomlings grow up or get sent off into battle would both be equally interesting and terrible (terrible in a good way I'm just scared). Also are these things as smart as Mushroom? Are these clones or stranger little bugs that just look uncomfortably similar to Mushroom?
7 - No Being Too Sad Guys
I've said this already but sheltering Mushroom under ROCKS seems very deliberate in the talking about ID_SHROUD episode. Thinking about the start of the episode, and their forcing themsevles to go back and face and relive this experience even though they feel horrible about it seems to be showing here.
I'm realizing I could be definitely stretching things with the rock symbolism but guys Dynamite killed SHROUD with a boulder and Mushroom was there and this is the ID_SHROUD episode. These creatures make me sad.
Dynamite has seen Mushroom die twice now. And both times, especially the second, were in an effort to save dynamite (shroud was to save both of them but Dynamite thinks he could have prevented that had he been "stronger"). He feels like he's losing her because he has. He needs this connection more than anything, and losing it briefly has made him fear losing it more. And maybe he fears being serious because he doesn't think he can be depended upon. Or he's almost grieving a death that hasn't happened yet, because he needs to process the worst case scenario since he can't handle even the idea of Mushroom possibly being gone one day.
By "stupid" Dynamite means he feels worse about himself for failing to help Mushroom through any of this. He matters to her, but he feels burdonsome when Mushroom is relying on a person he feels like he can't be. It's not his fault that Mushroom is closed off, but it feels like it. And when Mushroom is this source of joy and safety, it's so scary to ask how Mushroom really feels, to question how stable it really is. But, now he has to. Things have gotten bad. It's not irrational to think it's a matter of life and death. Mushroom will risk their own wellbeing for Dynamite and they won't deal with the things that are hurting them. Something very bad could happen if Mushroom isn't helped, and because they're alone in the woods in an apocalypse Dynamite is the only one who can do that .And he's a kid, kind of, and it makes so much sense he'd reminisce about that right now, just trying to think all of this through. Of course he wishes he could go back, but he probably feels guilty knowing he could be ignorant because Mushroom will suffer for his wellbeing. And again, he can't really fathom that he deserves that at all.
Sorry if this is kind of rambly I'm just in shock gosh.
Also didn't we mention flowers being associated with innocence and youth and whatnot a few paragraphs ago oh my gosh this comic is so good it hurts.
And this episode captures so many different forms of grief, but they're for people who aren't gone, yet. Billie might be terminally sick. She's still here but Dolly feels she has to prepare to lose her. And she'll keep being silly Dolly and getting through but that person she relies on won't be there forever. She can't hide from it. It's inevitable, and this is different from Dynamite and Mushroom where Mushroom dying isn't as guaranteed, but it's a similar feeling when you think about that potential loss for long enough.
Dear goodness
That's about it for now. That was gut-wrenching. The object show furries in the woods make me feel things sometimes I must say
