#vol 198

[completeoveranalysis]

[1]

Tiny CHILDREN

TINY TSUBASA FAMILY CHILDREN

TINY TRAUMA FREE BABIES

BABY FAI SMILING GENTLY AND GENUINELY

HOLDING LAVA LAMP’S HAND

LOOKING UP AT TINY KUROGANE

AND THEY’RE ALL WEARING WORLD APPROPRIATE CLOTHING

I am slain this is the end of me I’m lying down goodbye

What does the splash text say, there's no way they could make it sad.

If there could have been a day like this

Even now, I still think about it sometimes

WOW OK I TAKE IT BACK THANK YOU FOR THE SADNESS CLAMP

[completeoveranalysis]

[4]

My favourite teleporting effect is when they just bleed into reality like this, like a water droplet that gathers up and falls and splashes away to reveal a character that definitely wasn’t in this dimension before. It’s so pretty every time. 10/10 better than yonic murder portals. 

OH THE INSTANT PAIN

“Sakura” clearly not remembering a single thing that happened and instantly being excited that they can hold hands - HAVING NO IDEA THAT THE LAST TIME LAVA LAMP TRIED TO HOLD HER HAND HE HESITATED AND DOOMED HER TO DEATH IN THE PROCESS. 

AND YOU CAN SEE IT HITS HIM SO HARD IN THE SIX YEAR OLD FEELS.

IT IS, IN FACT, THE ONLY THING HE CAN SEE.

[completeoveranalysis]

[7]

DREAM TEAM. 

I’m so glad they’re working together on this. 

THE FUTURE WOULD IMPLY THEY ARE LESS THAN SUCCESSFUL but still! I love to see it!

And very fun to see the contrast between Nadeshiko hoping Lava Lamp will help her dream will come true and Evil Wolverine wondering if Lava Lamp’s wish will be like his. They both have their wishes on the line with Lava Lamp in the middle - and though he’s clearly wanting to save Sakura, there’s still room for this to become his villain origin story. The only difference lies in just how many rules he is willing to break to make his wish happen - he already stepped over the rule that said he shouldn't be in the Reservoir chamber for the ceremony, BUT he wasn't willing to cross the line that said Sakura shouldn't be touched. And then look what happened!

There's room for him to learn that he SHOULD cross every rule to save Sakura, no matter the cost. And that puts him on the Evil Wolverine Career Path. Even though realistically it's not going to play out that way, I do love all the similarities and contrasts they're playing with as we go!

I suppose the biggest twist they could throw at us is if Lava Lamp DID grow up to become Evil Wolverine, but I’m pretty sure that would just shred the timeline to bits so I’m putting that thought right back into the freezer where it belongs. 

But still! That dark potential is very fun to think about!

[completeoveranalysis]

[6]

Clocked on the parapet. 

Nadeshiko probably knows already but I’m so glad she’s immediately taking the chance to talk to Lava Lamp about it. He’s already SO miserable and he only just got here.

Bingo! She knew straight away.

I imagine her and Fujitaka are playing it close to the chest and not letting anyone else know but OH how sad this whole family will be, with Sakura being so happy while they all smile miserably and watch her slowly die.

Also really love that at this point in time absolutely no-one knows who Evil Wolverine is? I wonder when that changed.

[completeoveranalysis]

[3]

Mokona just INSTANTLY feeling Lava Lamp’s pain and crying on his behalf is such a perfect little moment. Moments like this are why we have Mokona and SHE DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB. THE POOR LITTLE BEAN. All she can do is feel and she DOES IT SO MUCH. 

Meanwhile Kurogane immediately does the opposite and is like, “So is this just because the information is useful right?”

I mean I suppose it’s a good question but KUROGANE PLEASE. 

;_;

Lava Lamp genuinely connecting with Fai and Kurogane, sharing his past openly so they ALL know where each of them came from and what they’ve all been through. 

It is DARE I SAY these kinds of moments that set him apart from what he thinks he wants to become. He wishes he could just prioritise the mission and not care about the pain or consequences to get there, but here he is volunteering information to Fai and Kurogane to bond with them and because they’ve already gone through so much together. 

It’s the first moment of its kind that we’ve seen so far - the first time we really see Lava Lamp talk about himself, let alone what he knows about them through his lava lamp prison. It’s refreshing.

OOP wait there’s more. Lava Lamp not only doing all that above stuff BUT ALSO trusting them with information that might change their mind. Giving them the option to change their decisions about what they do next. 

They won’t, but still. Trusting them with sensitive information and giving them the full agency that the plot has denied them for most of the manga. 

And that dramatic stare!

Yes, go on Lava Lamp! Hit us with everything you have!

[completeoveranalysis]

[5]

THIS TINY TRAUMATISED CHILD

He can’t help but just instantly give in to the grief of if it all.

And the way she KNOWS he’s upset but can’t place why.

And I would bet on him probably not telling her, since that is the Syaoran way of things, which leaves SO much room for one sided conversations where Lava Lamp is instantly sad and miserable and trying not to show it every time Sakura mentions the future. Just like our original Syaoran and everything going on there!

Prove me wrong Lava lamp! Tell her!

[completeoveranalysis]

[2]

It’s particularly brutal to go from Sweet, Innocent, Happy Baby versions of them straight to Post-Trauma Miserable Adult versions of them all standing around the spot where Sakura was cursed to die. 

And Mokona cutely asks, “So you like never saw your parents ever again? Ever? And then they died off screen?”

Wonderful!

[completeoveranalysis]

WELL!

Just when we thought we were out of the flashback we are, in fact, back in the flashback.

The flashback saga continues!

Chapter by chapter we inch closer to some actual answers about this plotline. The real challenge will be finishing the whole thing before Tumblr falls apart around us.

BUT THAT'S THE CHALLENGE!

In the meantime! Thank you to everyone who has kept me very entertained with all the comments today, and thank you extra to everyone who supports me on patreon! It all would have fallen apart much sooner without you <3

First Tier of Patrons

Rien [Ri]

Sapphireswimming

Luke Wilson

Stupid Kitsune

Jordan Fredriksz

Shynerdycactus

CloudMenaceBird

Corinne Burr

Qatari Pekarsky

Fer E

MokoCharm

limitless_paper

And the Higher Tier of Patrons:

I will be here until they literally rip me out with a crowbar, but let's hope it's a long time before they find one big enough.

Until next time! Maybe try avoid having a thematic parallel with the ultimate evil in the universe!