Skids finds the strength to confront his past through kindness, and in the end, becomes someone who wants to protect that kindness in return. Through his patience, empathy, and quiet understanding, Rung helps Skids learn how to understand and accept himself. That gentleness gives Skids the courage to finally face the parts of himself he once tried to run from.
And once he gains that courage, what he wants to protect is no longer some grand ideal — it’s Rung himself, and the quiet kind of kindness that keeps caring for everyone else while rarely being cared for in return.
Also I do think Rung has a little bit of Anthy Himemiya-esque hidden slyness to him ^^
It's interesting how Buck's love interests are all written in a way that ends because of the reason they meet/happen in the first place and then of course, we have Eddie.
Abby, who changes Buck's view of a healthy relationship but then turns around and ghosts him, making him wait for months on end and letting him realize she's not coming back on his own.
Ali, who meets Buck during a dangerous situation in his line of work and then leaves him for how dangerous his work is.
Taylor, who lashes out at Buck for using her as a fake date and saying she thought she could trust Buck to be a friend who then ends up using him for her career and chose to put his friends in danger.
Natalia, who's there to help him embrace and deal with his temporary death but it leads to their break up because of the constant talk surrounding death when Buck's not comfortable with it.
We can't confirm for Tommy till it ends but it's important to note how he offers to get Buck into his interests like flying and muay thai yet doesn't show effort with Buck's interests like dressing up according to the bachelor party theme despite Buck being stressed about it. And we also have the fact that the entire reason they got together was due to Buck's jealousy for Eddie which he then claims to be was for Tommy. Makes me think they are either going to end because of differing interests OR because of the jealousy issue popping up again.
Funnily enough, every scene above has an Eddie parallel:
Eddie co-parents with Buck and not only does this not stop after a dangerous event but Eddie also has Buck down as a legal guardian (healthy relationship - Abby).
Eddie is in the same dangerous line of work and they have each other's backs. This happens right off the bat too.(dangerous job - Ali).
The Lawsuit era and The Dispatch era - both where they "betray" each other but manage to work through it (betrayal/lie - Taylor).
Eddie doesn't pressure Buck to talk about his temporary death until Buck's ready and is more focused about him living than in his death (death doula - Natalia).
Eddie who has different interests than Buck (poker, basketball and UFC/MMA) but also manages to show interest and actively takes part in whatever Buck comes up with; he suggests their outfit for the themed party AND ends up staying there for Buck even when others leave (different hobbies & showing interest/taking part - Tommy).
Absolutely fascinating when you start noticing that Buck's relationships keep failing for one reason or another and then we have him and Eddie who face the same sort of situations but they still come out of it stronger together.
It's clear that there's a reason Buck is able to overcome anything when it comes to Eddie (that conversation with Maddie about being there for each other even at their worst 👀) and we've already established that everything Eddie looks for in a partner is already something he has found in Buck. So really, all that's left is for them to realize that hey, the one I'm looking for is right in front of me! 🤷🏽
And yes, it's been said to death (hah) but you don't find it son you make it. And Buck and Eddie have already made it.
in my mind, jabber and zanka have a similar dynamic to tyler and narrator in fight club. "i want you to hit me as hard as you possibly can" is a great way to put it actually.
a janka relationship analysis, first posted on twt. possible (?) spoilers for anime watchers — tread lightly! also if you don't watch fight club it's ok, I kind of explain both dynamics.
⭐️ twt thread & ask me more about soapshippingcore janka
╰ 1. JABBER & ZANKA'S RELATIONSHIP THUS FAR.
As a shipper of janka, a lot of people credit the way they ship them to janka's dynamic, which is so insane + boosted by the uniqueness of the characters and their writing.
Jabber is a person who seeks the rawness of pain, the excitement of battle. He doesn't truly care for winning or losing. Meanwhile Zanka has something to prove, he wants to be on par with someone like Jabber. Someone who's so good at fighting that it's like primal nature. Someone who's bound to "overshadow" a person who considers himself 'average' -- and because of Zanka's upbringings, he can't see himself as anything else. He's forced to accept this but never loses his self-loathing when he realized he couldn't measure up no matter how desperately he tried.
Putting a genius that has no real qualms about winning or losing as long as he gets what he wants from the fight, and someone who's so intensely focused on not losing anything to the point where his own pride hinders him as much as it helps him survive is a crazy combination. It's what attracts people to the ship, the way they're opposites of eachother.
Their dynamic is rough, as in Jabber is repeatedly trying to grab and drag Zanka through cracks in his shell, because he saw that potential in Zanka and he's almost obsessed with pulling it out. And Zanka is trying to beat him with the cracked shell of his self-esteem still intact anyways, because he's afraid of what happens if he sheds it again. Jabber has the upper hand as of now because he's got no such shell, physically. Emotionally might be different, though.
╰ 2. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO FIGHT CLUB?
Personally, the forcefulness of their dynamic reminds me of Tyler Durden and The Narrator. Tyler has the upper hand because he's "free" in his eyes. He doesn't care for pride, and he hates those who clutch onto it like a shield. This hatred and disconnect with the world are flipped into him being a violent antagonist because that's what such selfishly unselfish desires make him. He believes everyone wants to be like him and engage life the way he does deep inside, even though his life is objectively painful and stressful. It's his mindset alone that leads him to being so happy with it, and he leads/tries to force others down that same mindset -- under the guise of freeing them from society.
Meanwhile, The Narrator is someone with something to prove. He's suffering under the neglect of a capitalistic society, and he can't even prove to his own doctor that he's suffering. As much as he wants to let go of the burden of the world -- he also entirely defines himself in it. To escape the shell of himself would be the death of himself and the growth of Tyler. But he's NOT Tyler, he can't survive with Tyler's mindset.
╰ 3. ELABORATE?
Janka has a similar emotional premise to Soapshipping.
Jabber's life is objectively awful. He's a Raider (criminal), he's stated that people actively are still trying to kill him and that the only reason why his own neurotoxin venoms don't affect him as bad as they do to others is because he's taken so much of it that he can dose himself with neurotoxins to ignore the pain in his body. But his mindset allows him to live destructively and freely despite these bad conditions.
Zanka doesn't have the mindset to join him in this. Zanka was pulled out of the well and given a better life than he did in the Hell Guard and with his own family. Zanka is a defected solider, accustomed and accepting of society despite hatred for the systems and the acknowledgment that he couldn't make it there. Zanka has connections to the world he lives in -- through his friends & mentor, and through his job.
Instead of manipulating him into doing anything or coaxing him out the shell, Jabber violently jumps on Zanka's shell and straight up declares that what's inside him is INTERESTING. He truly believes in him in a twisted way, but by pulling Zanka down his path — he's causing him pain and practically ripping him from the stable earth he's found for himself. That blocks them from understanding each other, dooming them to fight each other.
They can't exist together as they are right now. Zanka isn't wrong for this, and Jabber isn't either. Both of their fights have always been mutually engaging despite Jabber being a genius therefore giving him an advantage.
╰ 4. CONCLUSION?
Zanka doesn't want to lose himself, and Jabber wants him to lose his shell without realizing how Zanka's self is attached to it.
Honestly, i think Janka happy ending would be the same as Tyler and Narrator's. Zanka has to kill Jabber not only to stop the violence but to preserve himself. Jabber is a force that can't be contained easily, and he'd probably rather die than set down that easy life path that neglects all of his pleasures in life. It's like Soapshipping without a Marla that allows narrator to pull away and slow his fall into despair. anyways this went on for a while but i truly believe that Janka dynamic is similar to theirs....hopefully, Janka gets the happy ending though.
People love to talk/debate about who's Daisuke's rivel in 02. Is it Takeru? Is it Ken? Is it both? Who is Daisuke's Yamato to his Taichi? I've read some opinions on this topic and I wanted to share my opinion in a little analysis thing.
My personally opinion? Digimon Adventure 02 doesn't really have a rivel, at least, not in the same way Taichi did with Yamato and not to an extreme where I can say Daisuke had a definitive/long-term rival.
Now I did make a post about these two before and how Daisuke & Takeru are not the "next" Taichi & Yamato, but that post is old but I still stand by what I said. Daisuke is not Taichi and Takeru is not Yamato, and they do not act like them in terms of the leader and their rival.
Takeru never attacks Daisuke's leadership like Yamato did. Even in the episode with MetalGreymon. While Takeru and Daisuke almost fight like Taichi and Yamato did, they don't. It is also Daisuke who makes them physical, while Takeru is trying to explain why they had to attack MetalGreymon. Takeru does disagree with a decision Daisuke is making, but this the only time it happens. This is Takeru acting like a rival to Daisuke, but it just doesn't feel the same as it did with Taichi and Yamato.
I'm not sure if I can explain it in a way that will make sense, but it more feels like Takeru is trying to make Daisuke realize he's wrong in his choice than forcing him to realize that he's making a mistake. Takeru isn't trying to make Daisuke change his mind in term of leadership, but in his definition of friendship and what it is. Sorry if my explanation doesn't make sense, but my main thing with his scene is that it only happens once.
Yes, it does show Takeru pushing back against a decision Daisuke is making, even if it's not directly tided to his leadership Takeru does get angry with him like we've seen Yamato do with Taichi, but this only happened once. It is only once in the entire 50 episode anime that Takeru pushes back against Daisuke at the same level Yamato did with Taichi, and I just don't personally see that as enough to call him Daisuke's rival.
Now I do want to say, if you see this as enough to call Takeru Daisuke's rivel than I won't stop you, mostly because I can't but also because I don't care enough. However, I just don't see it as enough to call him Daisuke's rivel. For all the times Yamato fought Taichi and disagreed with him, only for Takeru to do it once, it just doesn't seem like enough to me.
I'm just explaining why for me personally, this one scene is not enough for me to call Takeru Daisuke's rivel.
There's also Hikari, which is what causes Daisuke to see Takeru as a rivel. I can see why a lot of people don't like this, but considering they don't really fight over Hikari and they are like, ten, I don't. Daisuke has self confidence issues, and that projects into wanting to impress Hikari, someone he finds pretty and someone who is nice to him(as well as being his senpais younger sister) and seeing Takeru as a rivel as he his close with Hikari.
Takeru also never tires to counter act Daisuke's teasing or trying to win Hikari over. He acknowledges it, but he never seems annoyed by it and just let it happens. An example, in the episode 7, Daisuke teases Takeru that Hikari said his name first, but Takeru doesn't try to counter it nor really any of the things Daisuke does to "win over" Hikari. Takeru doesn't seem to care, and that's why I don't see him as rival for Hikari's affection because in the end there isn't anything to fight over, Hikari is her own person.
Takeru is hesitant to let Ken join their group but he doesn't yell at Daisuke. He even says that they should let Ken be and see if he's truly changed, not really pushing back against Daisuke like some of the others do(mainly miyako and iori). There's also after Ken joins, and Daisuke mostly forgets about Hikari which leaves him and Takeru no longer bickering as much as they did. Takeru trusts Daisuke's leadership, and even if they did fight once, Takeru never thinks Daisuke made a bad decision again, even with Ken.
Yamato trusted Taichi as well, or at least, he learned too. They fought because Yamato thought they should do something different than Taichi wanted them to do, because he thought they was a better decisions. Takeru never does that with Daisuke. He did once, but Yamato did multiple times in Adv1999. It took time for Yamato to trust Taichi, but Takeru seems to right out of the gate. It doesn't fit the mold we saw in Adv1999, and it is nowhere near as extreme as it was before.
Now, I do think Daisuke and Takeru had a missed opportunity for friendship. They do have conflicting personalities like Taichi and Yamato, and not just with the fact Daisuke doesn't have experience with the Digital World and Takeru does, though that does play a role in their bickering. Daisuke is very straightforward and courageous, getting annoyed easily. Takeru is more calm and cool-headed, at least one the outside, and he likes teasing his friends. This is a president for how they are rivals, but again, it just doesn't show them butting heads a lot nor Takeru being angry at Daisuke's leadership.
Now I don't ship them together and don't think they should have been Jogress Partners(which is an opinion i do not understand nor agree with), just that they could have been friends is 02 explored them more.
You could say that later in their lives they butt heads more and act more like rivals, but we unfortunately don't see that and I think there's just as much precedent to say Takeru continues to be okay with Daisuke's leadership. Also that they really wouldn't be rivals, but just two friends who bicker and tease each other a lot.
Now maybe they are rivels, and I do think at least early in 02 they do butt heads a bit, but later in 02 they just don't and they never fought on the same level as Taichi and Yamato did. They don't really fight over Hikari, that was just something Daisuke did as he is a child and has self-confidence issues, and Takeru never pushed back against Daisuke as much as you see other rivels do their goggleheads.
Even if we ignore how Digimon tends to portray leaders and their rivals, Takeru doesn't fit the definition of a rival character all that well when you look at how he acts for the entirely of 02 towards Daisuke, even with the few times he pushes back against him. I just don't personally see it as enough to say Takeru is Daisuke's rival.
I wouldn't even saw Takeru is Daisuke's lancer, as while they do have conflicting personalities, it never expresses itself during a fight nor decision Daisuke is making or in a way that causes them to start yelling at each other or disagreeing. In the end, I think Daisuke and Takeru are similar because they both care about those they love, and in the end can probably agree that's what's most important(its also what takeru tries to teach daisuke in the episode with metalgreymon)
Daisuke & Takeru just aren't like Taichi & Yamato, and that's not enough to say they aren't rivels, but they just don't really act like rivals. Maybe towards Hikari, but Takeru doesn't try to win over her affection like we see Daisuke do. Takeru doesn't care that Daisuke is trying to win over Hikari, and Takeru is mostly okay with Daisuke's leadership. Daisuke no longer sees Takeru as a rival for Hikari's affection later in the series so he doesn't have a meaning to be rude to him and he doesn't once Ken joins, so I just do not see them as rivals at all.
Takeru doesn't push back against Daisuke like you would expect a rival to do, and they don't even fight a lot like Taichi and Yamato did. It's just not enough for me to call Takeru Daisuke's rival. Maybe Takeru is something less than a rival or his rivalness is more muted than Yamato's, but than I'd just say he and Daisuke bicker a lot.
To summarize, Takeru does not push back against Daisuke a lot and is mostly shown to trust Daisuke's leader and doesn't fight with him alot, while Daisuke doesn't see Takeru as a rival for the entire series, and that rivelness has nothing to do with his position as a leader but as a friend to Hikari, so I do not see enough evidence to call Takeru Daisuke's rival/lancer in 02.
Than what about Ken?
Ken is shown as being mostly soft in 02, made nervous by Daisuke's forwardness and friendship. He doesn't push back against Daisuke at all, expect when wanting to be partners but that's because of Ken's own self hatred and he doesn't get over that.
Ken is shown teasing Daisuke in Diablomon Strikes Back and standing up to Daisuke in the audio drama Armor Evolution into the Unknown, but these are again more personal. They are Ken teasing Daisuke and helping him realize his mistakes, which doesn't scream rival to me. Maybe rivals that have gotten close like Taichi and Yamato(as they do tease each other in later media) but they weren't really rivals in 02. Ken never once pushes against Daisuke's decisions because he's angry at him or disagrees with them.
He does maybe a little in the finally against Vamdemon, but Ken doesn't nearly fight as much to get Daisuke to stop. It's not because he's angry in that scene either, it's because he's scared and wants Daisuke to think for a moment. Ken also doesn't do anything when Daisuke slaps him during their Jogress, which Takeru is shown to fight back when Daisuke started a fight. Again, I don't think that scene is enough to say Takeru is Daisuke's rivel, I'm just saying Ken doesn't fight against Daisuke like you would expect a rival from Digimon, or the rival archetype, to do.
Ken is not Daisuke's rival, he's his partner, which I think explains how he acts much better than rival. Ken teases Daisuke like a partner would, he helps him realize he's special in his own way in the audio drama which is the reason Daisuke made a bad decision(because he doesnt think hes speical like ken, so ken reminds him that he is)
Ken also doesn't act like Yamato. Only once he gets into a fight with Daisuke in the audio drama and that's the same as Takeru. Other than that, Ken trusts Daisuke's leadership and doesn't fight it. He doesn't push back against Daisuke much at all. He defiantly isn't like Yamato, and to call him a rival just feels wrong considering how close he and Daisuke are. They already have a term for each other, partners.
So Ken isn't really a rival either. Takeru doesn't really fit the mold perfectly, but I would call him one if I to chose. However, Takeru doesn't act like a rival for the entirely of 02, and Ken doesn't act like on really at all. Which if you ask me, makes sense for 02.
One major theme of 02 is friendship, partnership, and connection.
While they to show the effort it can take to form that friendship, to continue Takeru pushing back against Daisuke, to me, feels wrong. They should have been shown getting closer, but once Daisuke realizes himself and no longer is striving for Hikari's affection, he is able to get closer to Takeru and no longer try to one up him. Takeru also never showed much anger towards Daisuke, so to have him suddenly push back against Daisuke when Daisuke makes relatively good decisions would have been weird.
You could have Takeru learn to trust Daisuke's leadership as a way of them getting closer like you did with Taichi and Yamato, but Takeru was never as pushy as his brother and considering his calm and cool-headed personality. I think it fits him better to have trusted Daisuke out the gate but also help him grow when he needed it. And like I said before, Daisuke is not Taichi and Takeru is not Yamato, so I liked how they bonded in their own way instead of copying how Taichi and Yamato bonded.
Ken also wasn't written to be Daisuke's rival, but his partner. Ken was meant to be an opposite to Daisuke, and while that can cause tension between two people, for Jogress. it was meant as them complementing each other. Ken and Daisuke complete and complement each other, to help them grow as people and Chosen Children.
It was meant to give Daisuke a place where he could find a purpose that wasn't just living up to Taichi's name. Ken was meant to help Daisuke find himself and grow not just as a leader but as a person. This could cause some fights between them, but not the same fights you would expect from a leader and their lancer. Plus, having Daisuke and Ken act like that when they understand each other's hearts also feels weird to me, like unnecessary tension when they don't need to get closer to each other as their hearts already beat in sync. That is just my opinion, however.
So to sum it up again, while Takeru does fight against Daisuke and act like his rival in the first half of 02, it isn't nearly as strong as it was with Taichi & Yamato and doesn't last the whole season as Takeru never pushed back against Daisuke's decisions as much as Yamato did to Taichi and Daisuke no longer saw Takeru as a rival for Hikari's affections. Ken also isn't a rival because he isn't meant to be. He's meant to complement Daisuke and never pushes back against him like we see Yamato did with Taichi.
This is just my opinion and mini analysis of these three, and if you disagree that's fine. I just personally do not see Daisuke having a rival in 02, but if you do than you do you. Just don't be an asshole about it
I'm not saying you can't think either of them can't be Daisuke's rival, just that they aren't the same as Taichi & Yamato(which is see a decent amount of people say) and that they aren't even really rivels because they either don't really act like it or only act like it for a small amount of time and just once.
Daisuke just does not have a rival in 02. Takeru and Ken do not fit the rival archetype, and if you wanted my definity answer, it'd that Takeru nor Ken are Daisuke's rivals and to say they are, to me, feels like a misunderstanding of the characters.
Based on these two polls [X] [X], I will write an analysis that'll also include how I feel about the ship (similarly to my Digimon shipping game analysis posts).
Disclaimer: I won't claim this to be a conclusive/definitive analysis of all of the ship's aspects. I have watched the original 12-episode-series and movies (including Rebellion), the Magia Record anime and I've read several manga series (the Original, The Different Story, Wraith Arc, Rebellion Story, Oriko Magica, Another Story, Mitakihara Anti-Materials). But I'm aware that I haven't seen/read all of what's out there and am also not thoroughly familiar with the games. Plus, oftentimes, ship dynamics vary depending on which series/timeline you are looking at. So this is going to be my personal take on it.
Whether canon provides input on them or not.
HomuMami is a very curious case in regards to a very common theme in the Madoka Magica universe: Namely that of painting them as polar opposites/antagonistic forces when it comes to colour schemes (purple/black vs. yellow/white) and attitudes... While also ensuring there are enough similarities between them in both text and subtext to make the viewer/reader ask: "Well, why didn't they get along better?" Thankfully, there is a (semi-)authorized spin-off manga that explores their complementary/similarity dynamics in great detail - but we will get to that later, as we shall focus on their relationship and its development in the main story first.
When Homura Akemi (or Moemura for short) meets Mami Tomoe for the very first time, she's a beacon of strength and confidence alongside Madoka Kaname - two "senior Magical Girls" with a positive and welcoming attitude... And while Homura is mainly seen hyperfocusing on Madoka at this point in time (and doesn't even seem to take much note of the first time Mami falls in battle), it doesn't seem unlikely to assume that this is everything she ever wanted: To have reassuring people around her, friends that are kind, patient and supportive, functioning as role models to look up to. As pointed out in the HomuSaya analysis, Homura was initially very wary of Sayaka for considering her a liability - but Mami, at least at this point in time, didn't give her any reason to question her. Quite the contrary - while it's never explicitly stated in the original series (we will get back to that later!), doesn't it seem rather peculiar that Homura ends up choosing guns as her weapons of choice after everything else didn't work out...? Granted, they are no muskets, but you get the idea...
It's not until Mami snaps upon learning the truth about Magical Girls that Homura's view of her begins to crumble. The kind, strong, invincible mask, the pedestal Homura may (or may not) have put her Senpai on disappears and, timeline upon timeline, gets replaced more and more by skepticism, mistrust - and an overall hyperfocus on Mami being the actual liability in the group.
When the viewers first get to witness Mami and Homura interact without knowing their backstory, they get a sense of... Malice between them, they definitely are not on good terms and see each other as threats. Mami is portrayed as righteous, the "good" kind of Magical Girl - whereas Homura is perceived as mysterious, emotionless and cold, only working towards her own objectives without taking others into consideration. Where Mami approaches Homura with teasing passive-aggressiveness, Homura responds with cool nonchalance. As mentioned, putting characters on opposing ends is a theme throughout the entire series (see KyouSaya for comparison). However, it's also a theme in the series to have the characters put on fronts and facades - and that is the case for both Homura and Mami on various levels.
Where, oh where does one begin to describe the similarities between them? First of all, there may be the fact that they're both orphans, both suffering from survivor's guilt - and that one of their deepest initial wishes once was not to be alone anymore. We see this with Mami desperately wishing not to fight on her own anymore after being the only one surviving the car crash after making her wish - she is yearning for company, even more so after the (temporary) loss of Kyouko's friendship, displayed by the eagerness to have Madoka and Sayaka by her side (in various different timelines). Homura (while still being Moemura) considered herself worthless and unable to fit in, imperfect, unstable, weak... Until she met Madoka. And Mami. And this is where things become rather tragic - because with Mami losing her mind in one of the later timelines, she may also have lost Homura's trust indefinitely. The person who may have been the perfect friend, self-confident, beautiful and strong, who may have helped to cure her own loneliness - turned out to be imperfect, unstable, weak herself...
Again, this has not been specifically mentioned, but Homura may have been incredibly disappointed in Mami - and thus ended up cautious of her in every timeline going forward. Unfortunately, she is also proven right most of the time - but also often shows remorse for "having been too late" (to save her as well; while Mami suffers from survivor's guilt towards her parents, it's absolutely possible that Homura feels similarly about all the timelines she had to witnesses the other girls - including Mami - fall).
In general, Homura's arc is constantly accompanied by Mami's fate being her own sword of Damocles. Homura's wish may have been to meet and save Madoka again - but to accomplish that, she also had to try not to fall into despair the same way Mami did time and time again. Mami may have been her Senpai and gun-wielding role model once - and now she's turned into a negative example of how not to end up. Hence why Homura is generally incredibly observant of Mami's behaviour - and tells herself that she "could never get along" with her, as seen in Rebellion Story. In her eyes, it would have been easy for any enemy (such as Bébé) to deceive and manipulate Mami - since she considers her to be just that desperate for love and affection. Tragically enough, this may have been her inner monologue at this point, indirectly showing just how much Homura may have related to Mami:
"You're soft, you are weak and by God, I cannot afford to make the same mistakes you did, so I try to ignore the fact that I must have been pretty close to become like you several times over once I let my guard down, once I realize how incredibly lonely I am as well..."
One could even argue that this is exactly why they're 100% on par during their fight in Rebellion Story - because Homura tried so hard not to fail like Mami that she had to become at least as strong as Mami's strongest self. And yet... Homura still underestimates Mami. As well as her own perception of her - because not only did she STILL care enough not to kill her when she had the chance... She also didn't see her final trick coming, because Homura's view of Mami, just like of everyone else, is very idealized/condensed. She formed her opinion of them through all the time-loops - unsurprisingly so! - and thus, everything that exceeds her expectations cannot be considered by her.
It may be a coping mechanism, it may be her way of protecting herself - and a certain sense of suspicion may always remain within Homura when it comes to Mami. However - some timelines show that things could have gone differently. Wraith Arc for example at least hints at Homura trusting Mami enough to let her show her how to use guns after losing her own abilities - while Mami has an absolute blast acting in very senpai-esque (and even somewhat flirtatious) ways again.
And then, of course, there is Mitakihara Anti-Materials - a somewhat comedic but very heartfelt story that focuses on the premise: "What if Homura moved in with Mami in one of the timelines so they could actually get to know one another and there is hope that, in this one, Mami will actually survive thanks to the bond they develop...?" While it absolutely IS more of a comedy manga, it allows both of them to breathe in ways we haven't seen before; Homura sees Mami's more ditzy side and, instead of just considering her a liability, sees her as a good-hearted, inspiring companion (even if her Tsundere-attitude doesn't let her admit that out loud). Mami, on the other side, discovers that Homura's cool exterior is also just a facade and that she may actually just need a partner to lend her a hand (or someone who helps cutting her hair, which, in itself, is a huge sign of trust). Between weapon cleaning, game playing, study sessions, grocery shopping and lots of food talks, they really seem able to let their guard down more with each other here, there is familiarity, softness, friendly bickering, even physical closeness. It's even here that Homura admits that it had been Mami's suggestion to use guns as weapons! Although Homura is always aware of the threat that looms in the back, always cautious, one can feel the hopeful note that, maybe this time, things will be alright. In general - as well as between Mami and herself.
In the end, just like with almost all Madoka Magica ships, this one is pretty much doomed by the narrative. The main story always has them end up clashing and opposing one another - even if there is still this little glimpse of hope that, maybe the reason why they never end up beating each other in combat, is that, deep down inside, they may just care too much, but aren't able to convey that...
Whether I think why and how they’d work.
Without question, it may actually take something reminiscent of the timeline in Mitakihara Anti-Materials for them to work out romantically - because this may be one of the few, if not the only timeline that allows Homura to actually look at Mami beyond the rigid image of her she has created in her mind. Beyond all idealization as well as all the negativity. Instead, she may be able to see and value their similarities and how they complement one another, finding reasons to live aside from being Magical Girls on duty... It's a rather melancholic yet very soft interpretation of "a good end" for Homura where she doesn't hyperfocus on Madoka anymore and, thus, may not even get close to fall into despair. The same goes for Mami, who not only has someone to care for, but also has that same someone - who looks through her picture-perfect facade - care for her in return, without coddling, without beating around the bush. In a timeline like this - they may actually be able to rescue one another, learn to handle both their loneliness and survivor's guilt, accept each other's flaws with endearment and become domestic life partners (as depicted above).
In regards to the "original" timeline however, just like almost every other Madoka Magica ship, they may require a lot of therapy - to get over all the prejudice and resentment they have developed towards each other. With Homura being unable to look past (herself in) Weak!Mami and Mami being unable to understand and deal with Aloof!Homura, they need a lot of rekindling to overcome the mutual mistrust. (And if you take both Rebellion Story's and Magia Record's symbolism seriously, it's no surprise that they keep opposing one another - Holy!Mami and Homucifer may be framed to be enemies just as much as Madokami and Homucifer after all...)
Whether I’d prefer them as platonic or romantic ship.
I probably would never have grown as fond of this ship if I hadn't stumbled across Mitakihara Anti-Materials by accident. Prior to reading this manga, I thought the main fascination in fandom stemmed from their fight in Rebellion Story (and the potential sexual tension/friction that comes from the enemies-to-lovers trope, including kinky power play with ribbons...). But now I'm seeing these two in an entirely different light - even the second season of the Magia Record anime gave the whole "Homura used to look up to Mami a lot" idea a whole new spin by ACTUALLY having her carry a part of her ribbon with her... It was the Senpai/Kouhai angle we hadn't seen to this extent yet and before I knew it, I was hooked on their potential dynamic. Once again, there are a lot of "what ifs" and "almosts" sprinkled in here, especially because the main timeline prioritizes the theme of mistrust and misunderstanding between them too thoroughly. Hence why it feels so soothing to read Mitakihara Anti-Materials, which gives them such a hopeful flavour, allowing them to pause, care about and appreciate each other despite their trauma. It's a lot of wishful thinking of course, but definitely the version of them I prefer as a romantic ship!
hi luta!
you've talked about cultural d/s (or soft d/s) relationships, specifically in asia. as an asian myself, i've definitely noticed it in my community. i was wondering what your thoughts on it were and if you think that's more or less harmful to a relationship.
in my opinion, on one hand a lot of it is not negotiated so its negative in that aspect. but on the other hand people have their needs met in a culture that is very taboo when talking about relationships.
Hey!
I might be overreaching here, but honestly? Power dynamics are baked into human life. America loves to yell, “Relationships should be equal!!” but in practice, every relationship has a push‑and‑pull relationship of some sort. Someone takes the lead on X, and someone yields on Y. That’s not inherently bad; it’s just how people function.
That’s also why so many of these romances work. They mimic the relationships we know and love. They’re not just about “love”; they’re also about how power shifts get challenged or get reaffirmed between two people. That tension makes the story richer.
Where it gets tricky is when people slap BDSM labels onto what’s really just cultural hierarchy or soft D/s vibes. Once you use those terms, you’re anchoring it in a community with its own history, ethics, true rules, and expectations.
Now, zooming out: Asian societies run on hierarchy. It’s not just “romance flavor,” it’s the operating system. Hierarchy provides order, efficiency, and a sense of stability. But it also means roles aren’t always negotiated; they’re assumed. That’s why it can feel both comforting (needs are met without awkward conversations) and suffocating (individual needs get buried).
Compare that to the U.S., where the cultural script is “everyone’s equal; even kids can call out adults.” That sounds great in theory, but it also breeds a society where no one wants to take crap from anyone, leading to a society full of violence and little respect. Meanwhile, Asian cultures prize harmony, but individuals sometimes combust under the weight of unspoken expectations.
So is it harmful? It can be, especially if people never get to voice their needs. But it can also be functional, because it gives people a framework in a culture where talking about relationships is taboo. Neither system is perfect. Honestly, nothing ever is. The best we can do is stay aware of the dynamics, laugh at the absurdity when we can, and keep aiming for that messy middle ground.
The interesting thing about Duke’s relationship with Jason is that though he is a part of the family, he wasn’t really there for a lot of the divisive things that happened when Jason came back. Duke also never knew Jason beforehand or encountered the ghost of previous Jason; Dick, Babs and Bruce knew Jason before, Tim, Cass, Steph, and almost everyone else had to live with the ghost of Jason’s death haunting their moves and their relationships with Bruce, before Jason came back. Duke, meanwhile, joined after Jason’s return, and for him the status quo has always been what it is. To Jason, having someone who never thought of him as different than the Jason he is would be very important to him. Despite Duke’s knowledge of the past, sometimes distance makes the biggest difference - and Duke has the luxury of not having any emotional entanglements into who Jason was.
In addition, Duke comes at a time where Jason is able to openly admit he has brothers - and very much considers him to be one.
Artemis: Honestly? It was like kissing my brother. If I had one.
Jason: Thank god! I was thinking the same thing. And I have four.
On Jason’s side, he seems to have decided to take a sort of mentorship role for Duke. The main instance is in the Roll Call short story in which Jason and Duke do a fight simulation on a very high level and Jason shares his hard-won wisdom.
Panel One - Jason: Lesson number one: quips and retorts should only be used for distraction.
Panel Two- Jason: Find your own way. Because following in the Batman’s footsteps and being something that you’re not -- is the fastest way to get killed
Panel Three- Jason: No. That’s a given. Lesson number four? No matter how you feel or what you think... you’re never alone
Jason makes sure to tell Duke that no matter what, he’s never alone. Jason wants Duke to know that no matter what, he will always have his back but it means more than that. Jason had long periods of time where he thought he was abandoned, and he lashed out as a result; hurting himself and others. A lot of the advice Jason gives Duke is not only useful things, but things Jason wished that he knew when he was younger. It seems to imply that Jason might see a bit of himself in Duke, and that he sees it as his responsibility to help Duke become something better.
Jason: -- How many times are you planning to die, Duke?
Roll call also has a scene that drives me insane in which Jason recreates being beaten to death by the Joker in front of Duke. It's pretty ambiguous whether or not this was on purpose. If it was on purpose, was it to show Duke what happened to him, was it to confront his fears on his own terms with his brother next to him? If it was by accident, did he brush it off to make Duke feel safe, or was he okay with Duke seeing him like that because he trusts Duke? Either way, Jason is comfortable enough around Duke to feel safe with him seeing one of his biggest traumas.
Joker (standing over Jason with a crowbar): I guess it’s over your dead body
And, after they finish the simulation (and Duke of course jumps right in to help Jason), Jason's right back to joking with Duke.
Jason: Heads up Narrows, more clay bastards on the horizon. Batwoman and her crew usually warm up in the mud room on a level four practive setting.
Duke continues to help save Jason, notably in the Cheer’s story arc.
Jason: ... Have your back (urban legends 6)
(Although, it equally drives me insane that despite Duke helping Jason and Bruce in this arc, he’s the only member of the family to not be in both Jason and Bruce’s dream worlds which drives a lot of questions - do they not want Duke to have been a vigilante and thus part of the family? Has Duke's entrance into the family been too recent for them to add them to their fairy dream worlds? Is the author simply forgetting to mention Duke being there even though Duke is in the comic saving Jason and Bruce? My personal interpretation is because Cheer deals very much with Jason wanting the Joker dead, a dead joker means that Duke’s parents were never Jokerized, and thus Duke couldn't be a part of the family in a dream world where Joker was dead.)
Their relationship with what the Joker did to them is another huge parallel between Duke and Jason. When the Joker killed Jason, and when Duke’s parents were Jokerized mark a difference in both of their lives - now divided in the before Joker touched their lives and after. It's interesting to see how both Jason and Duke expected Batman to save them initially, and ended up needing to take their lives into their own hands, though there are huge differences in the way Jason fought for revenge, when Duke’s feelings were expended on fixing his parents and not towards the joker. Of course, the two situations are not completely comparable, but it is a similarity that impacts their lives.
Duke (to Batman): I know you can save them. My parents. All of them. Just like you always do.
They also have nicknames for each other! Jason calls Duke “Narrows”, which is a pretty outspoken acknowledgment of some of their similarities, being children from Gotham.
Panel One - Jason: Narrows, meet crime alley. we do things differently. Find a functional outfit.
Panel Two - Duke: Need help? Jason: No, narrows, I don’t
It is important to note that Duke and Jason’s living situation are not identical, though they are similar - the Narrows is often neglected in Gotham.
Jim Gordon (about the Narrows) : Its Gotham’s poorest neighborhood. Made up of nearly a dozen diverse communities. Its been let down over and over by the mechanisms put in place in order to protect it. Under-protected. Under-represented. It’s been burned so many times you are practically feel the embers everywhere.
However, as opposed to Jason, Duke did have a stable family as a child, his mom was a social worker and his dad was a construction worker. After his parents were jokerized, Duke had to live in a series of foster homes, so both Jason and Duke (along with Dick) were impacted by the childcare system in Gotham.
In addition to Jason being comfortable sharing himself with Duke, Duke is able to get by with a lot of jokes about sensitive topics in Jason’s life.
Duke (about Batman): And he’s not my boss. Or the the target of my daddy issues.
Jason: you’re the latest robin. You’re supposed to... whatever. Brighten his dark side. All that crap. So he doesn’t propose to a villain and then run off and do... This!
Duke: Jay, what? Dude, when you were robin you got dead then came back as a vigilante villain! And you’re telling me to “brighten his dark side”. (Batman 33 (2016))
Duke: Question. Didn’t you die already?
If that had been anyone else, I don't think Jason would have brushed it aside that easily!
Anyways, Duke and Jason have a super interesting relationship and I hope more people keep exploring it!
Could you give this AO3 work of mine a signal boost? I'd totally understand if you don't want to because it contains your NOTPs too, along with Johnlock. I was just curious.
I actually wanted to share my observations about the show with as many people as possible.
Thank you! :)
The Theory of Multiple Ships in BBC Sherlock. by Gregorovitch (G, 2,294 w., 1 Ch. || META || Character Analysis, Romance, Sexuality, Queer Themes, Relationship Discussions) – A different way to look at the character of Sherlock Holmes in BBC Sherlock and various ships in this show.
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Hi Lovely!!
Absolutely honoured to share your meta! Everyone go give this one some love!!
