In defense of Ouran's Eclair Tonnerre (spoilers)
As most Ouran fans know, the anime had an original ending. The plot involves a girl named Eclair, who is Tamaki's fiance, albeit for only a few days. In exchange for marrying her, Tamaki could go back to France and see his mother again. Because she "threatens" the Tamaki/Haruhi pairing, Eclair has been ruthlessly branded a bitch, slut, etc.
Okay, I'm gonna be perfectly honest: I'm not an Eclair fan. I don't hate her, though. What I DO hate is the bashing of an interesting character simply because she gets in the way of TWU WUB. And it's not even a slash pairing, either!
Here are some comments about Eclair from blogs about episode 25:
That's an anime only character designed by BONES to turn Tamaki into an OOC from the fifth dimension >_>
Hey, I like BONES! Erm... OOC from the fifth dimension? Isn't that going a bit too far? I don't think it was that OOC of Tamaki to suddenly decide to marry Eclair and close the Host Club. Remember what his grandmother promised? He could see his mother again. Now that I think about it, this sort of exposed part of Tamaki's character. Even though he's the "Idiot King", he secretly wishes to see his mother again and would do ANYTHING to be able to do so.
UGLY WOMEN WHO’S ENGAGED TO TAMAKI!!!
Ugly...? Personally, I think she's pretty. Besides, Ouran's had uglier. And Eclair is only one woman.
I hate that girl whose all over tamaki that skank lol haruhixtamaki all the way!!
This makes the Grammar!Nazi in me scream. Skank? As far as I've seen, Tamaki's the only one she's made physical contact with, and wouldn't YOU touch the man you're engaged to/in love with? And again with the TamaHaru: IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. In fact, NONE of the pairings happened. It would be too out of character for Haruhi to suddenly fall in love with any of the boys. Write all the fanfics you want, but Ouran is a comedy before it is a romance. I think.
Tamaki's grandmother is the one who suggested the engagement to the Tonnerre family to begin with. Why do you think Eclair showed up? I'm sure she wanted to get a glimpse of the man who could become her husband. I'm sure she was charmed by Tamaki in a way similar to how his fangirls were (no, NOT fangirls who watched the show, fangirls who visited the club). She fell in love with him and really, if you had a chance to marry a man you loved, wouldn't YOU take it?
I admit, the anime gives us the idea that she is a cruel woman out to steal Tamaki away. Maybe they did that on purpose so we'd be more shocked by the final episode. Because no matter how despicable Eclair was presented in episode 25, episode 26 MORE than makes up for it. It shows a very human side to her.
Eclair notices that Haruhi is close to Tamaki and designates her as her host. Having realized that she is female, Eclair is worried that Haruhi is Tamaki's lover. Naturally, she is relieved that it isn't true. Still, Haruhi says that doesn't mean she has nothing to do with him. I'm assuming Haruhi explains her debt to the Host Club, because after she leaves, Eclair asks Kyouya how much she still owes and pays it. Because she is free from her obligation, Haruhi could leave the club now if she wanted. I suspect Eclair did this hoping that Haruhi would decide not to interfere (think about it: If Tamaki closed the club before Haruhi could pay her debt, she'd be screwed).
Later, when Tamaki's phone rings, Eclair notices a sticker of Tamaki and Haruhi. Remembering Haruhi's earlier words, she throws it into the fish tank. Jealousy is a natural human emotion. Eclair is not the first character to display signs of it.
Then of course comes the infamous car-carriage race. Haruhi extends her hand to Tamaki, telling him to come back to the Host Club. Tamaki starts to reach for her hand. Eclair pulls him back by the arm. GASP! SHE HAS THE NERVE TO KEEP HER FIANCEE AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE HIM BACK!? THE BITCH!!!!1one
Yes, that was selfish of Eclair. But like jealousy, selfishness is a perfectly natural human emotion. Several other characters have behaved selfishly, too. I don't understand why it's so unforgivable for Eclair to be human.
And this is the most important display of Eclair's character, which most of the fandom ignores:
When the carriage hits the bridge, Haruhi falls off the side. Eclair gets an anguished look on her face. Why? Because now she knows she has no choice: She has to let go. And she does. Because she does this, Tamaki is able to save Haruhi. Because she let go, Tamaki is able to embrace her. Tamaki knows she is reluctant to let go. Still, she does it anyway, and he is able to save one of the most important people in his life. He gives Eclair a smile before following Haruhi.
After that, Eclair talks to the driver, and we discover that Eclair's maid is Tamaki's mother. She calls Tamaki stupid for giving up what may be his only chance to see his mother again. Still Eclair is grateful that she got a smile from Tamaki that was just for her.
Okay, I'm gonna be perfectly honest: I'm not an Eclair fan. I don't hate her, though. What I DO hate is the bashing of an interesting character simply because she gets in the way of TWU WUB. And it's not even a slash pairing, either!
Here are some comments about Eclair from blogs about episode 25:
That's an anime only character designed by BONES to turn Tamaki into an OOC from the fifth dimension >_>
Hey, I like BONES! Erm... OOC from the fifth dimension? Isn't that going a bit too far? I don't think it was that OOC of Tamaki to suddenly decide to marry Eclair and close the Host Club. Remember what his grandmother promised? He could see his mother again. Now that I think about it, this sort of exposed part of Tamaki's character. Even though he's the "Idiot King", he secretly wishes to see his mother again and would do ANYTHING to be able to do so.
UGLY WOMEN WHO’S ENGAGED TO TAMAKI!!!
Ugly...? Personally, I think she's pretty. Besides, Ouran's had uglier. And Eclair is only one woman.
I hate that girl whose all over tamaki that skank lol haruhixtamaki all the way!!
This makes the Grammar!Nazi in me scream. Skank? As far as I've seen, Tamaki's the only one she's made physical contact with, and wouldn't YOU touch the man you're engaged to/in love with? And again with the TamaHaru: IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. In fact, NONE of the pairings happened. It would be too out of character for Haruhi to suddenly fall in love with any of the boys. Write all the fanfics you want, but Ouran is a comedy before it is a romance. I think.
Tamaki's grandmother is the one who suggested the engagement to the Tonnerre family to begin with. Why do you think Eclair showed up? I'm sure she wanted to get a glimpse of the man who could become her husband. I'm sure she was charmed by Tamaki in a way similar to how his fangirls were (no, NOT fangirls who watched the show, fangirls who visited the club). She fell in love with him and really, if you had a chance to marry a man you loved, wouldn't YOU take it?
I admit, the anime gives us the idea that she is a cruel woman out to steal Tamaki away. Maybe they did that on purpose so we'd be more shocked by the final episode. Because no matter how despicable Eclair was presented in episode 25, episode 26 MORE than makes up for it. It shows a very human side to her.
Eclair notices that Haruhi is close to Tamaki and designates her as her host. Having realized that she is female, Eclair is worried that Haruhi is Tamaki's lover. Naturally, she is relieved that it isn't true. Still, Haruhi says that doesn't mean she has nothing to do with him. I'm assuming Haruhi explains her debt to the Host Club, because after she leaves, Eclair asks Kyouya how much she still owes and pays it. Because she is free from her obligation, Haruhi could leave the club now if she wanted. I suspect Eclair did this hoping that Haruhi would decide not to interfere (think about it: If Tamaki closed the club before Haruhi could pay her debt, she'd be screwed).
Later, when Tamaki's phone rings, Eclair notices a sticker of Tamaki and Haruhi. Remembering Haruhi's earlier words, she throws it into the fish tank. Jealousy is a natural human emotion. Eclair is not the first character to display signs of it.
Then of course comes the infamous car-carriage race. Haruhi extends her hand to Tamaki, telling him to come back to the Host Club. Tamaki starts to reach for her hand. Eclair pulls him back by the arm. GASP! SHE HAS THE NERVE TO KEEP HER FIANCEE AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE HIM BACK!? THE BITCH!!!!1one
Yes, that was selfish of Eclair. But like jealousy, selfishness is a perfectly natural human emotion. Several other characters have behaved selfishly, too. I don't understand why it's so unforgivable for Eclair to be human.
And this is the most important display of Eclair's character, which most of the fandom ignores:
When the carriage hits the bridge, Haruhi falls off the side. Eclair gets an anguished look on her face. Why? Because now she knows she has no choice: She has to let go. And she does. Because she does this, Tamaki is able to save Haruhi. Because she let go, Tamaki is able to embrace her. Tamaki knows she is reluctant to let go. Still, she does it anyway, and he is able to save one of the most important people in his life. He gives Eclair a smile before following Haruhi.
After that, Eclair talks to the driver, and we discover that Eclair's maid is Tamaki's mother. She calls Tamaki stupid for giving up what may be his only chance to see his mother again. Still Eclair is grateful that she got a smile from Tamaki that was just for her.