anime: Rose of Versailles eps 10-21
I watched the first 9 episodes of this in 2008, and then got sidetracked by other things and have had it sitting on my hard drive ever since. I am very sorry I got sidetracked!
This is the crossdressing/bodyguard/historical soap opera shoujo of all sparkly shoujo!
I’m told that this is where various existing subplots are wrapped up, and that the really good stuff starts right after this.
I got somewhat bored in the first handful of these episodes when it was people who weren’t Oscar or Marie Antoinette politicking, but it picked up once Rosalie and Oscar met.
I’m glad that Rosalie isn’t suddenly a great swordswoman just because she’s crossdressing and learning to use a sword, but is going slowly. She spends an awful amount of time dramatically collapsing and bemoaning her life, but it somehow makes her endearing. I did think it was a little too obvious who her biological mother was, but I have thirty or so years experience in fiction on the series.
For some reason, I’m very fond of Oscar’s new habit of dramatically standing at the window and also sitting at her table, sipping tea. Also, I feel kinda sorry for Andre, who almost serves as her punching bag when she’s frustrated. Also, he’s growing up rather dashing.
If this were a current fandom, I wonder what kind of ship wars it would have. Oscar/Rosalie vs Oscar/Andre, with a small-but-valiant Oscar/Marie Antoinette faction on the side?
Can anyone tell me how other arcs break down? (Without spoilers that aren't well known historical facts.)