#ons 127

[lavandulaphoenix]

ONS Chapter 127 x Pandora Hearts

Hey guys, I’m back with my PH parallels. As I said in this post, there are elements in both stories which I find it very similar. The most recent chapter just reinforced the similarities, which if it’s good or bad is up to you (though I do give my opinion at the end).

Here we go: so are you saying that for the sake and concern with his father Mika killed himself, but he was used by one of Shikama’s servant? Manipulated to suicide? Ok, so let me get this straight: Mika, out of love, killed himself. It was a selfless move, leaving Yuu desolated.

What about PH? In chapter 74, we are revealed that Alice actually kills herself in order to stop Jack. Mostly motivated by her love for Oz, not being able to bear his suffering.

Both Alice and Mika already grabbed my attention to their similarities, but the fact that both of them killed themselves was… something else.

Look here:

Both Yuu and Oz are seeing these scenes, MEMORIES. It’s not the mere past being shown to us, it’s being shown to them! And with the help of a third person sharing some strange connection to one of the bodies. Demon Mika, in ONS case, and Jack Vessalius, in PH.

If I’m going to be 200% honest with you all, Pandora Hearts dealt with it much, much better. Not only in writing perspective, but also the panels. They convey the emotions much better and feels more natural. To this day, Alice’s truth still hurts. Oz was broken to find out the truth. It’s dense, sad and the readers were able to get inside his heart, whereas in ONS I’m feeling a little bit too disconnected at this point in the narrative. We started the chapter with Yuu needing to get back to eat, which is kinda pointless and anti-climactic. The truth and the power it holds should be shown in his eyes, it must be completely blowing up his mind by now. Instead, he is looking a little bit too robotic. The dialogues and the panels are not helping at all.

When we talk about a parallel as strong as this one, comparison is inevitable. If this was intended or not I don’t know and I can’t be sure of it, but I’d risk to say that Kagami-sensei must have read Pandora Hearts or some source in common with Jun Mochizuki.

And btw, I am a MikaYuu fan, so speaking at a MikaYuu perspective, for me this kinda reinforces them so there’s that.

[rev3rb]

It’s nice to talk to you for a bit longer again, and we’re really on the same wavelength! The Yuu food refuel scene, the explanation, and explosion (that was only noticed by like 2 ppl) were all things I was gonna mention but didn’t want to seem too nitpicky about lmao. Plus, I agree that I would prefer if God remained more of a background presence than an active character. While I always find it interesting to see how writers interpret religious figures in their works, I feel like it’s too late in the story for God to be smoothly integrated into the plot. Especially in comparison to the other powerful characters that have had way more build up, interactions, and impact.

Also, I think you’re right about the visit to the past ending soon. When it does, I’m curious to see how the characters plan to deal with what they learned. Until next time :)

It is nice!

Wow we really are on the same page, because yeah, it is generally pretty interesting to see religious figures in works that aren't necessarily inherently religious. BUT! Exactly like you said, it's a bit too late in the story for that. While I don't think introducing characters late is necessarily a bad thing if done right, because of how central to the plot taboos and punishment are, it feels like God would be a pretty important figure. Maybe God would even be the penultimate "villain", and I'm personally not a fan of the big bad of a series being introduced super late. There are exceptions ofc, but when we've been led to believe that Sika Madu was the big bad here, it'd feel a bit too much like a bait and switch that I don't think I'd enjoy. It seems like it'd make God too bland of a character to enjoy as the penultimate obstacle to overcome. Would much rather have God be a faceless presence/entity that has to be overcome if that's the route we go. ...really it's as you said. I also don't think God's inclusion could be done in a smooth manner.

That's a really good question because it seems like there are only going to be two groups that know what's going on here. Mika and Yu and then the vampires. That leaves a good portion of our main characters in the dark regarding all that, so I'm wondering if we're going to be put into a situation where Mika and Yu find a good reason to do what they want to do here in the past and so they go tell Guren, Shinoa, and co. about it, therefore reuniting them. I'm honestly not sure how I'd feel about that... I seems too easy at the moment, but maybe I would need to think on it more.

Thanks for the follow-up!

[rev3rb]

Hiya again! This month’s chapter was pretty straightforward and simple. Although I actually expected Paimon to go for something a little more subtle and strategic than a knife lol. And I am a bit confused on how Mika’s power caused the explosion. Poor thing though, he really was just trying to understand and do the right thing. But it doesn’t seem like this sacrifice prevents God from punishing them, which is what I really wanna get to. Rn I’m guessing that the punishment will involve the first turning into a vampire and the other angels turning into humans?? Regardless of what the punishment is, I’m a bit lost on what it does for the story. Like are we supposed to accept God’s action as the laws of nature or question his rules? When it comes to almost all of the other characters, we’ve already gotten information on their motivations and goals. Now that God has been introduced he’s a new unknown that I would some answers about. What about you? Thoughts on the new chapter?

Hey! Long time no see even though we talked briefly last month!

Simple and straightforward is a good way to put it. For once, the chapter isn't bombarding us with too many unanswered questions which is refreshing in a way.

I expected something more subtle too, especially bc this is supposed to be Rigr, and Rigr is all secret plans and subtlety. Guess these angels aren't exactly one to one... though given how little time he had, maybe Paimon just didn't have many options/opportunities for subtlety.

Eh, I have a feeling we won't get an exact explanation of angel Mika's powers just bc he's already kinda dead lol. He's powerful and that's probably all we need to know. Why he's that powerful is the real question here, one of which I'm not sure how to answer. Sika Madu obviously made him special but it's hard to speculate what that means exactly.

Ah, God. I'm not entirely sure if we're heading toward God being an actual character or if God will just stay as this punishing presence. I could see the story going either way. I think I'd honestly prefer God staying a presence as we already have a heaping of characters that are all doing similar things for their own selfishly selfless reasons. With that trend, if God became a character, there'd also probably be some sympathetic reason that 'the laws' need to be upheld or whatever. I'm ok with not having that and just having God stay 'taboos must not be committed bc this all powerful presence will punish you'. As for the actual punishment? I'm thinking that the punishment is going to come later after Sika Madu does something else to try and resurrect Mika. Mika is dead after all and Sika Madu seemingly hasn't found a way to cure that disease yet, so any taboos have been corrected. I would guess that there has to be some other taboo committed before any punishment actually happens. Considering all these angels aren't around anymore and all the ones we recognize are now demons, I would think it has something to do with destroying all that has been built here and killing or otherwise changing the angels on Earth. Only time will tell though I suppose. Maybe Sika Madu created mankind or something. Wouldn't that be something?

Now for my thoughts beyond this? Just one off thoughts here and there:

We really wasted more panel space watching Yu go "this stuff is exhausting but I'm eating so I'll be good". It feels unnecessary at this point. It didn't add anything, but we ended at a good stopping point so I'm not too upset about it.

"There's no time to explain" Paimon says as he then proceeds to explain everything lmao

In that same line of thought, you'd think Sika Madu would have gotten to the scene sooner since that explosion happened a fair amount of time before Mika did that to himself

I'm thinking that the Yu eye thing we see is going to be recycled into Sika Madu's next project that involves reviving Mika, that taboo I mentioned earlier. That's probably partially how the Yu we know today has memories of all this.

The cycle that is sacrificing yourself for your loved ones continues spinning round and round, though it's been slightly more subtle before now.

It feels like the past is starting to ish wrap up so I'm wondering if we only have a chapter or two more here in the past