Machu for the ask meme? (I’m sure there’s crossover with the Nyaan ask, so no worries if you simply wanna repeat some of your answers from that one.)
Can't believe I didn't see this ask in my inbox for like 3 weeks!
First impression: I thought her design was really great, especially her color palate! The bright reds and teals in her eyes and hair are so good. I also loved her feisty spirit & how she was ready to kick the shit out of some cops at the first opportunity.
Impression now: Unfortunately I think Machu suffered the most from the writers not having a coherent plan for the show. She ends up feeling underdeveloped and kind of generic because gqux just wasn't interested in exploring the deeper themes of her character arc. Relatively privileged girl ends up participating in risky mech fights for the taste of freedom that only militarized violence can provide is such a good setup! You've got so much to work with there! Alas the execution fell far short of what they set up, but that's the writers' fault.
Favorite moment: Nyachu mav battle is still undefeated. Fuck fighting for the military or some intangible ideal, do it so you can go to the beach with your best friend.
Idea for a story: I still think post-canon nyachu battling together on earth is such a fun concept! It would be a really cool writing exercise to contrast domestic scenes with high-energy mech battles. Again, if I wasn't in law school, I'd be writing this right now.
Unpopular opinion: Man her relationship with Shuji is just. Utterly uncompelling lol. And it could have been so good! If the focus had been on their connection as pilots protecting & fighting for each other & having a relationship couched in violence & how that relationship disintegrates when the violence is removed. Machu seeing Shuji as a friend but Shuji seeing Machu as a means to an end. We could have had it all! But instead everything was reduced to a teen crush. Lame.
Favorite relationship: Nyachu for sure but also Machu & the gqux. I have a lot of feelings about how quickly she gets attached to it & starts calling it her mech.
Favorite headcanon: Machu stays silly! Having a relatively privileged upbringing means she struggles to take things seriously, even when she really should. A lot of time she skates by on luck & charisma it pisses Nyaan off lol.
