Comments | dangermousie: Escaflowne: the obsession continues

dangermousie

Escaflowne: the obsession continues

Jan 13, 2006 13:16

katranna came over and stayed the night so we ended up marathonning Escaflowne and I went to bed only when my eyes were literally not working any more. And we watched 2 more eps in the morning during breakfast. I am pretty fried today (obviously). It’s psychotically addictive, though, and I have only 4 episodes left ( Read more... )

anime3, escaflowne

Comments 15

crumpeteer January 13 2006, 19:24:18 UTC

I liked Allen simply because he wasn't the typical "hero" figure. He's got an illegitimate kid and is blatantly screwed up. He has no grand "love story" in the scheme of things. Allen really lost everything; his sister, his lover, his son, his country. It's understandable that he doesn't have a ton of scruples when it comes to doing things sometimes. It's amazing he has as many as he has. I respect the series because Allen DIDN'T get the girl and the girl DID end up falling for her husband (who you can't hate because he's a really good man). I personally find Allen too screwed up to convincingly get anyone in the series ( ... )

dangermousie January 13 2006, 19:39:58 UTC

I actually screeched when we first saw the Duke because then it became clear that Allen was Chid's father and I thought it would be hinted at most, as a possibility, not shown as a certainty, this blatantly. I love the fact that when we first meet Allen he really is a very perfect knight, with a slightly superior manner, but the more we learn about him, the more interesting he becomes, and the more layered, and the more screwed up (character development in animation? Heavens!)

It's amazing he has as many as he has

Exactly. Allen strikes me as someone who could have easily gone the way of Folken if it wasn't for the fact that:
a. he didn't come across Dornkirk at his lowest point and
b. Folken is an idealist of abstractions, while Allen's notions of loyalty and honor are very personal. Folken can sacrifice pesonal views/people in the service of the greater good, while Allen is very Van-like in (IMO) not being able to do it.

I respect the series because Allen DIDN'T get the girl and the girl DID end up falling for her husband ( ... )

crumpeteer January 13 2006, 20:01:18 UTC

Because this isn't grand Tristan & Isolde love story perhaps, but it's very realistic.

This is true. Tristan/Isolde romances are rare, honestly. In the natural progression of life, sometimes if you're not with the one you love, you love the one you're with. You make do. She had a child and kingdom to think about and was married to a kind man. It makes sense that she'd end up loving him. HE was the one that was there domestically for her instead of Allen, HE was the one who obviously loved her and was with her. It makes perfect sense.

He clearly loves Van and I think is haunted by his abandonment of him. I love family dynamics (as my Supernatural love would attest) and this really is a relationship between brothers. Folken didn't WANT to hurt Van, but he thought it was for the greater good. He was misled. Folken carries around that guilt all through the series. He's not a bad man, he's not inhuman, he's just forced into an incredibly difficult situation and used. I think part of Van's anger stems from the fact that he DOES still ( ... )

dangermousie January 13 2006, 20:21:31 UTC

She had a child and kingdom to think about and was married to a kind man. It makes sense that she'd end up loving him.

Exactly. Reality has a way of intruding on everything and you either deal with it, or you break down. I like the pragmatism she ended up with, really.

He was misled. Folken carries around that guilt all through the series. He's not a bad man, he's not inhuman, he's just forced into an incredibly difficult situation and used

Yes. He wanted to face the dragon to spare Van the pain (I love how everybody points out that Van isn't agressive enough, and no matter how effective a fighter, killing really messes him up). And then he expected to die. He seems so young and vulnerable when he goes "I am going to live?" once the dragon leaves. And he doesn't precisely has much of a chance once he wakes up in Zaidbach.

Thread 8

plazmah January 13 2006, 19:29:59 UTC

Heehee! It's wonderful hearing you muse when you haven't finished the series yet :) I hope you like what ends up happening in the end.

Do you have any of the Escaflowne music?

dangermousie January 13 2006, 19:42:23 UTC

No, I don't even have the Escaflowne DVDs yet. They are on loan from the super-kind katranna. Though I am buying my own.

And yeah, I am addicted.

plazmah January 13 2006, 22:18:22 UTC

FWIW, the music/character songs are some of the best ever when it comes to anime soundtracks, IMHO :)

dangermousie January 14 2006, 04:10:47 UTC

Thanks. The theme song is definitely stuck in my head forever and ever and ever, honestly.

wasabi_girl1 January 13 2006, 21:40:05 UTC

Ooh, Chid is my fave character. HE kicks the most butt out of anyone. Seriously. He is the greatest kid alive! :D

Merle is wicked too. As you can see, I'm one of those people who loves the characters who don't get enough respect. :)

Love that you're addicted. ^^

dangermousie January 14 2006, 04:08:29 UTC

I actually found Chid kinda annoying and by the time we parted with him, I was more than ready to ditch him. Child characters just usually bore me quickly :P

wasabi_girl1 January 14 2006, 05:32:13 UTC

Aww, I thought he was the coolest kid EVER! I guess being young makes me like kid characters, right?