The Party's Over, but I'm Still Dancing...

[cynchick]

I've been pondering something the past few days (though the seeds have been germinating for several months). So how do I put this without sounding whiny...?

Comments

Observations Cont.

[anonymous]

3. As has been said before, canon is REALLY not giving us much to work with anymore. I am a mid/minor character appreciator, with the exception of Kakashi, and I am tired of never knowing anything about them even though Kishimoto gives us some weird or interesting quirk or background tidbit, or suggests how they may be important, and then leaves us hanging, never mentions them again, or shows them only superficially. Even some of the big characters feel overlooked or disappointingly absent because he just seems to be rushing through. The characters, as the story goes on, all just feel like wasted potential. You can only love a character for so long without anything new or interesting to go on, and I feel like alot of people are running out of steam because of this. Not to mention the filler, the repetitive storylines ("New villain!" -- "I hate the guy!" -- "Wait, I understand him...he's just like MEEEE!" -- "You're my friend now, come here comrade!"), out-of-characterness, emotional cop-outs (The resurrection of everyone after Pein's attack, not that I like to see characters die but losing some would have given the story some much needed maturation and substance, Gaara's father suddenly loving him, never showing the ever-noble Kakashi going on his rampage, etc.), focusing obsessively on beaten to death plots and characters meanwhile ignoring fan favorites or characters of substance and worth, the list goes on and on. It's all just rushed, wasted potential.

I am SO, so sorry for my long rant, English major hot air and all :) It just breaks my heart because I only got into this fandom about a year and a half ago, and as usual I come in as something is on its way out and missed out on some beautiful fansites/artworks/pairings. My husband and I have given up on the anime because while we watch most in Japanese, for some reason this one we just can't and it is so disheartening to know that with filler we will have to wait at least a year before we can watch the attack on Konoha, the war, etc. I keep hanging on to the manga, simply because I can't quit now and some small part of me still has a little bit of faith that the ending will be great and redeem the last year or so.

All that being said, I sincerely, sincerely hope you don't give up, because even though your area/pairings of the fandom seem to be shrinking there are those of us out there, and many I would bet, who would be heartbroken to lose yet another talented and appreciated artist. Will of Fire is one of my favorite fanfictions of all time. It is creative, original, and extremely well written, and the illustrations/character designs are incredible. Again, I am a lover of mid/minor characters, and the realistic and seamless way you integrate them is wonderful. I love the Genma/Shizune pairing you placed into it (now THERE'S a character it's hella hard to find good fan writing about!) and hope to see more development in their relationship, and the death scene of a particular character involved with them was heartbreaking. I hope somewhere down the line one of the lovely illustrations you have planned involves them :)

Anyway, bottom line, I understand why you feel discouraged and will understand if you abandon the fandom, but for the sake the fans out there (and I'm sure there are many, many of us out there, you just don't know because you never hear from us) I hope you don't leave us missing yet another brilliant, talented mind.

Re: Observations Cont.

[cynchick]

Thanks for de-lurking in support. :) I'm a terrible lurker myself and usually only comment when I have something specific to say. And it's nice to see someone else who can't look past bad technical writing in fanfiction. All of your points are great and they are all contributing causes. Kind of like you, who came into the fandom a little late, I just wish it wasn't happening when I still want to participate. WoF is only 3/4 finished, so I will be around for several more months at least, and after that I'm sure I'll still be lurking and doing a fanart now and then.

Pretty sure I will do a Genma/Shizune pic, because I've never done them and they're a much under-appreciated (but more canonically plausible) pairing.