Skip Beat: Shou/Kyouko - Why Ship Them Together
Because I like intelligent discussion, and because being in a minority in the fandom, I feel compelled to make a case, even though I shouldn't have to explain why I like a particular pairing. Preferences are that, they are personal, biased, and altogether sometimes out of the realm of what is rational or logical.
At the same time, I like exposition and general discussion. So that everyone is aware, it will happen on my lj and people are free to comment. Of course, if a person is incapable of rational discourse and ends up just flaming everyone, their comments will be frozen and/or deleted upon my discretion. I'm not about to have a flame war on my blog.
It is also full of spoilers, as I reference events up to chapter 130. So if you aren't all caught up, you have been warned!
So here is it,
I feel I should preface the discussion that I have nothing against Ren/Kyouko. In fact, bits of the Ren/Kyouko are highly enjoyable and quite squee-rific. On the other hand, I prefer Shou/Kyouko and I'll discuss the reasons in as logical fashion as possible. I have several points. There is overlap, so excuse things that are redundant. Here is why:
1. Shou as a catalyst:
We wouldn't have Kyouko be as 'fabulous' or have her demons unlocked if Shou hadn't dumped her. Was he a jerk (and other worse, and possibly fouler adjectives can be applied here, but there's no need)? Yes. Was his conduct reprehensible? Yes. Was he using and abusing Kyouko? Yes. But without all of that happening and Kyouko finding out: we wouldn't have --- a) her demons unleashing; b) her going into acting and c) Kyouko and Ren meeting up because she chose LME. Shou got the ball rolling.
We might hate Shou, but without him dumping Kyouko and taunting her, we wouldn't have the Skip Beat premise: Kyouko goes out and gets revenge!
Part of what fascinates me is their relationship. For ease of discussion, I'm discussing it pre and post break up wise.
2A. Shou and Kyouko's relationship, pre-break-up
There are so many things wrong with this relationship from a psychological perspective it's not even funny.
First - I would even argue they are not really in a relationship. I subscribe to the notion that a relationship can only exist between individuals. Kyouko isn't an individual (which is not to say she isn't a person) --- mainly because whatever her needs/desires/dreams, she sacrifices them for Shou. That may or may not be something admirable, but by doing so, she decimates her own individuality and her own needs and her own desires for someone else. Thus, she becomes an extension of the other person, since their needs, their desires, their whatever comes first.
That's not healthy.
It takes two to be in a relationship. If one of the people isn't an individual, then it really isn't a relationship, now is it?
Of course, the fact that Kyouko did this wasn't just Shou's fault. She did it at the beginning to please her mother. Then, she did it to please Shou's parents for taking her in. And afterwards, because she fancied herself in love with Shou, she did to please Shou.
Second - Kyouko herself has a skewed image of Shou. She doesn't really see Shou as a person with faults. She has a 'prince' image of him, full with girlish romantic notions. Which, of course, are cruelly dashed by Shou's behaviour. Admittedly, Shou's behaviour is horrible by most normal standards, but at the same time, Kyouko put Shou on a pedestal. Even if Shou had been a decent human being, he would have crushed at some point Kyouko's 'prince' image because no human being is perfect. Also, once you put someone on a pedestal/altar, you're not having a relationship with the person as much as the person you think they are.
At which point, you have to ask if Kyouko is in a relationship with Shou, or if Kyouko is in a relationship with the idea of Shou. More specifically even, if Kyouko's Shou isn't really just a figment of her imagination.
2B. Shou and Kyouko's relationship, post-break-up
Now, it's obvious that Kyouko at this point has a personality of her own, has her own dreams and is leading a life more or less for herself (admittedly, it started out as being fueled by revenge but its quite obvious that she enjoys acting for its own sake because she derives feelings of joy, pleasure and self-worth from it).
When Shou first encounters Kyouko in his PV, she is nothing like what he can recollect. In fact, it does force him to re-evaluate Kyouko. It also becomes apparent that they have some un-resolved issues.
When Kyouko is harassed by Reino, Shou exhibits concern, proprietory rage and overall acts very protective toward her. He even gives up on sleep and basically goes to her hotel to keep an eye on her.
Their dynamic at this point is very interesting - both of them fight alot. Kyouko calls Shou on his bullcrap, and Shou actually loses his cool, admits to her his fears and anger and drops the overall facade he has been maintaining as an entertainer. For good or ill, these two see each other as they really are.
Despite it all, Kyouko hasn't moved on from the fact that she and Shou are broken up. It's manifested in her desire to 'defeat' Shou. Even if Kyouko is to end up with Ren, there is going to have to be some resolution between Kyouko and Shou, at which point Kyouko is going to at least have to recognize that if Shou hadn't broken up with her, she wouldn't have become an actress. She might also have to forgive him - if not to progress in her relationship with him, then at least move past him. Up to this point, I would say that they haven't 'broken up' at all, since Kyouko's actions are still influenced by Shou.
3A. Shou's Behaviour:
Okay, let's all keep in mind that Shou is still a teenager, and obsessed with himself and his own career and his own dreams. All teenagers are self-absorbed. Teenage boys particularly so. If Shou was entirely...myopic, some of it was deliberate and some of it... well, he isn't a mature individual. Not by a long shot. He's still, in many ways, a child - both emotionally and psychologically. I'm not trying to excuse his behaviour - but there is a long road toward being able to love someone as they deserve and Shou definitely wasn't interested. His preference for 'older' mature women shows that because they are 'less complicated', and he doesn't have to figure things out as they will figure it out for him and he'll just follow through. More or less.
In some ways, this also happened in the manga NANA. Ren left Nana to make it big in Japan. Because his dreams and careers came first. And it's not that he didn't love Nana, but there was something he had to do, for himself. Or else he wouldn't be Ren. But even in real life, one person will put their career first because it is part of who they are. I imagine it is the same thing for anyone that wants to be a famous singer. You have to sacrifice things - including interpersonal relationships. That isn't an excuse, but it's unreasonable to expect an emotionally stunted teenage boy to be a good boyfriend esp. when he seems hellbent on becoming the most popular musician/celebrity on Japan.
Despite that, he still knows enough about her that he can pick out what she would eat for breakfast. When you're in a serious relationship, your significant other can tell how many sugars you like in your coffee, and if you like cream or you prefer to take it black. People that care about other people pay attention to all the small details.
The notion that 'Kyouko is still his possession' show this attachment - however it is a childish and possessive sentiment. It could be more. There are enough indications (even Reino picked up on it), but Shou I don't believe has the emotional maturity at the moment to deal with it at the moment.
Despite that, Kyouko is the one person that knows Shou as who he really is. Shoutaro - who desperately wants to be cool (hence his Fuwa Shou persona) but really likes to laze around, watch tv and gossip shows and laugh. Kyouko is the only one that came make him lose his cool and who he is not afraid to show off his bad temper or his frustrations. That means that Shou trusts Kyouko. And it's also a sign of closeness. You don't let strangers see you break down. Shou doesn't even let his manager know how pissed and frustrated he really was with the entire Vie Ghoul situation. But did let Kyouko know. That means something.
The fact that he constantly bickers with Kyouko is another indication. You don't really fight with strangers. You only fight with people you aren't afraid to tell the truth to. Which could be your enemies... but it's also your friends. In a very polite society (like Japan's), I think the degress of honesty and bluntness that both of them exhibit toward each other, I think that would be taken for a degree of trust.
3B. Kyouko's Behaviour:
Psychologically, it would make sense for Kyouko, who has suffered from parental neglect (we don't know much about her father, and what we do know about her mother does not show her as a caring and responsive parent) is looking for someone to love and who will love her back. Growing up with Shou, it isn't a big leap for Kyouko to pick Shou as the recipient of all the affection she has to give and craves to be given. You could even stipulate and say that Kyouko probably believes herself unloveable, beginning by the rejection she has suffered from her parents, and it has been compounded by Shou's behaviour toward her.
Pre-break up, Kyouko's world is built around Shou. That's not healthy. You can't do that. You've got to love yourself. Kyouko didn't, and doesn't still. After the break up, Kyouko went to 'find' herself, admittedly by trying to get revenge on Shou. Slowly but surely, she came to enjoy acting for herself and started building on her own individuality.
I think one of the telling moments is when Kyouko is being assaulted by Reino, she doesn't think about calling out for Ren, but thinks of Shou. Even she is surprised that she thinks of him to come save her. The fact remains, she thought of him, under a circumstance where most people would think of the person/persons they trust the most or someone who makes them feel safe.
4. The Shou/Kyouko/Ren triangle:
Even before Shou and Kyouko broke up, Shou hated Ren Tsugura for being more popular. Ironically, Ren may have always been jealous of Shou.
Now that we're in chapter 130 in the manga, we know for a fact that both men are aware of each others feelings. Shou in fact was positively livid when he discerned what Ren's true feelings for Kyouko were. As for Ren, he's always been troubled by how much space in Kyouko's psyche Shou occupies. In fact, Ren has an almost fatalistic take on Shou/Kyouko and feels like it has been destined by the gods. And both of them have realised that Kyouko (despite all other hints and indications) doesn't really think of Ren as boyfriend material. Her mind is still occupied with defeating Shou, and as long as she makes that a priority in her world, she won't have time for romance or to really think about anyone else.
And even so, before Kyouko can move on and have a relationship with anyone, she needs to get over Shou and work past her feelings for him.Seriously, no guy is going to go out with a girl who, once she hears some other guy's name, goes into a frenzy (even if it's a homicidal frenzy), basically because if she gets *so* worked up about someone *else*, then there's something wrong with the relationship (i.e. she cares more about someone else).
Oh, and the other thing, Kyouko needs to stop looking up to Ren as her super-can't-do-anything-wrong-sempai. She's idolizing him. This is probably done on purpose done by the mangaka for plot purposes (i.e. how Kyouko might or might not re-act to Ren's past once it is revealed).
In all probability, and given indications from the manga, Kyouko will end up with Ren... however that isn't entirely for sure at this point.
My personal theory: the guy that kisses Kyouko first will be the guy she ends up with. See Tokyo Crazy Paradise about that. Tsukasa ended up with the guy she kissed first.
5. Why I ship Shou/Kyouko
It's more interesting. The drama makes it more interesting. The fighting makes it more interesting. The fact that Shou drops his 'cool' around Kyouko. I also believe in second chances. I think people grow up - esp. if they are teenagers.
I also like how Shou is no longer going to let his confidence be shaken. He is taking his career to new heights, and he expects Kyouko to catch up to him. That's a backhanded compliment right there. He thinks she has the talents and guts and capability to climb up to the very top of the slippery slope of stardom.
I want to see Kyouko the successful actress confront and stand on even ground with Shou the superstar musician. Even if they had remained together, if Kyouko hadn't changed, their relationship was probably doomed. A non-celebrity with a celebrity? The intense pressure would have probably been too much for their relationship.
Comments, further analysis and discussion and other points of view welcome. Leave a comment.
Oh, and if you're a Shou/Kyouko shipper, let me know I'm not the only one!
At the same time, I like exposition and general discussion. So that everyone is aware, it will happen on my lj and people are free to comment. Of course, if a person is incapable of rational discourse and ends up just flaming everyone, their comments will be frozen and/or deleted upon my discretion. I'm not about to have a flame war on my blog.
It is also full of spoilers, as I reference events up to chapter 130. So if you aren't all caught up, you have been warned!
So here is it,
I feel I should preface the discussion that I have nothing against Ren/Kyouko. In fact, bits of the Ren/Kyouko are highly enjoyable and quite squee-rific. On the other hand, I prefer Shou/Kyouko and I'll discuss the reasons in as logical fashion as possible. I have several points. There is overlap, so excuse things that are redundant. Here is why:
1. Shou as a catalyst:
We wouldn't have Kyouko be as 'fabulous' or have her demons unlocked if Shou hadn't dumped her. Was he a jerk (and other worse, and possibly fouler adjectives can be applied here, but there's no need)? Yes. Was his conduct reprehensible? Yes. Was he using and abusing Kyouko? Yes. But without all of that happening and Kyouko finding out: we wouldn't have --- a) her demons unleashing; b) her going into acting and c) Kyouko and Ren meeting up because she chose LME. Shou got the ball rolling.
We might hate Shou, but without him dumping Kyouko and taunting her, we wouldn't have the Skip Beat premise: Kyouko goes out and gets revenge!
Part of what fascinates me is their relationship. For ease of discussion, I'm discussing it pre and post break up wise.
2A. Shou and Kyouko's relationship, pre-break-up
There are so many things wrong with this relationship from a psychological perspective it's not even funny.
First - I would even argue they are not really in a relationship. I subscribe to the notion that a relationship can only exist between individuals. Kyouko isn't an individual (which is not to say she isn't a person) --- mainly because whatever her needs/desires/dreams, she sacrifices them for Shou. That may or may not be something admirable, but by doing so, she decimates her own individuality and her own needs and her own desires for someone else. Thus, she becomes an extension of the other person, since their needs, their desires, their whatever comes first.
That's not healthy.
It takes two to be in a relationship. If one of the people isn't an individual, then it really isn't a relationship, now is it?
Of course, the fact that Kyouko did this wasn't just Shou's fault. She did it at the beginning to please her mother. Then, she did it to please Shou's parents for taking her in. And afterwards, because she fancied herself in love with Shou, she did to please Shou.
Second - Kyouko herself has a skewed image of Shou. She doesn't really see Shou as a person with faults. She has a 'prince' image of him, full with girlish romantic notions. Which, of course, are cruelly dashed by Shou's behaviour. Admittedly, Shou's behaviour is horrible by most normal standards, but at the same time, Kyouko put Shou on a pedestal. Even if Shou had been a decent human being, he would have crushed at some point Kyouko's 'prince' image because no human being is perfect. Also, once you put someone on a pedestal/altar, you're not having a relationship with the person as much as the person you think they are.
At which point, you have to ask if Kyouko is in a relationship with Shou, or if Kyouko is in a relationship with the idea of Shou. More specifically even, if Kyouko's Shou isn't really just a figment of her imagination.
2B. Shou and Kyouko's relationship, post-break-up
Now, it's obvious that Kyouko at this point has a personality of her own, has her own dreams and is leading a life more or less for herself (admittedly, it started out as being fueled by revenge but its quite obvious that she enjoys acting for its own sake because she derives feelings of joy, pleasure and self-worth from it).
When Shou first encounters Kyouko in his PV, she is nothing like what he can recollect. In fact, it does force him to re-evaluate Kyouko. It also becomes apparent that they have some un-resolved issues.
When Kyouko is harassed by Reino, Shou exhibits concern, proprietory rage and overall acts very protective toward her. He even gives up on sleep and basically goes to her hotel to keep an eye on her.
Their dynamic at this point is very interesting - both of them fight alot. Kyouko calls Shou on his bullcrap, and Shou actually loses his cool, admits to her his fears and anger and drops the overall facade he has been maintaining as an entertainer. For good or ill, these two see each other as they really are.
Despite it all, Kyouko hasn't moved on from the fact that she and Shou are broken up. It's manifested in her desire to 'defeat' Shou. Even if Kyouko is to end up with Ren, there is going to have to be some resolution between Kyouko and Shou, at which point Kyouko is going to at least have to recognize that if Shou hadn't broken up with her, she wouldn't have become an actress. She might also have to forgive him - if not to progress in her relationship with him, then at least move past him. Up to this point, I would say that they haven't 'broken up' at all, since Kyouko's actions are still influenced by Shou.
3A. Shou's Behaviour:
Okay, let's all keep in mind that Shou is still a teenager, and obsessed with himself and his own career and his own dreams. All teenagers are self-absorbed. Teenage boys particularly so. If Shou was entirely...myopic, some of it was deliberate and some of it... well, he isn't a mature individual. Not by a long shot. He's still, in many ways, a child - both emotionally and psychologically. I'm not trying to excuse his behaviour - but there is a long road toward being able to love someone as they deserve and Shou definitely wasn't interested. His preference for 'older' mature women shows that because they are 'less complicated', and he doesn't have to figure things out as they will figure it out for him and he'll just follow through. More or less.
In some ways, this also happened in the manga NANA. Ren left Nana to make it big in Japan. Because his dreams and careers came first. And it's not that he didn't love Nana, but there was something he had to do, for himself. Or else he wouldn't be Ren. But even in real life, one person will put their career first because it is part of who they are. I imagine it is the same thing for anyone that wants to be a famous singer. You have to sacrifice things - including interpersonal relationships. That isn't an excuse, but it's unreasonable to expect an emotionally stunted teenage boy to be a good boyfriend esp. when he seems hellbent on becoming the most popular musician/celebrity on Japan.
Despite that, he still knows enough about her that he can pick out what she would eat for breakfast. When you're in a serious relationship, your significant other can tell how many sugars you like in your coffee, and if you like cream or you prefer to take it black. People that care about other people pay attention to all the small details.
The notion that 'Kyouko is still his possession' show this attachment - however it is a childish and possessive sentiment. It could be more. There are enough indications (even Reino picked up on it), but Shou I don't believe has the emotional maturity at the moment to deal with it at the moment.
Despite that, Kyouko is the one person that knows Shou as who he really is. Shoutaro - who desperately wants to be cool (hence his Fuwa Shou persona) but really likes to laze around, watch tv and gossip shows and laugh. Kyouko is the only one that came make him lose his cool and who he is not afraid to show off his bad temper or his frustrations. That means that Shou trusts Kyouko. And it's also a sign of closeness. You don't let strangers see you break down. Shou doesn't even let his manager know how pissed and frustrated he really was with the entire Vie Ghoul situation. But did let Kyouko know. That means something.
The fact that he constantly bickers with Kyouko is another indication. You don't really fight with strangers. You only fight with people you aren't afraid to tell the truth to. Which could be your enemies... but it's also your friends. In a very polite society (like Japan's), I think the degress of honesty and bluntness that both of them exhibit toward each other, I think that would be taken for a degree of trust.
3B. Kyouko's Behaviour:
Psychologically, it would make sense for Kyouko, who has suffered from parental neglect (we don't know much about her father, and what we do know about her mother does not show her as a caring and responsive parent) is looking for someone to love and who will love her back. Growing up with Shou, it isn't a big leap for Kyouko to pick Shou as the recipient of all the affection she has to give and craves to be given. You could even stipulate and say that Kyouko probably believes herself unloveable, beginning by the rejection she has suffered from her parents, and it has been compounded by Shou's behaviour toward her.
Pre-break up, Kyouko's world is built around Shou. That's not healthy. You can't do that. You've got to love yourself. Kyouko didn't, and doesn't still. After the break up, Kyouko went to 'find' herself, admittedly by trying to get revenge on Shou. Slowly but surely, she came to enjoy acting for herself and started building on her own individuality.
I think one of the telling moments is when Kyouko is being assaulted by Reino, she doesn't think about calling out for Ren, but thinks of Shou. Even she is surprised that she thinks of him to come save her. The fact remains, she thought of him, under a circumstance where most people would think of the person/persons they trust the most or someone who makes them feel safe.
4. The Shou/Kyouko/Ren triangle:
Even before Shou and Kyouko broke up, Shou hated Ren Tsugura for being more popular. Ironically, Ren may have always been jealous of Shou.
Now that we're in chapter 130 in the manga, we know for a fact that both men are aware of each others feelings. Shou in fact was positively livid when he discerned what Ren's true feelings for Kyouko were. As for Ren, he's always been troubled by how much space in Kyouko's psyche Shou occupies. In fact, Ren has an almost fatalistic take on Shou/Kyouko and feels like it has been destined by the gods. And both of them have realised that Kyouko (despite all other hints and indications) doesn't really think of Ren as boyfriend material. Her mind is still occupied with defeating Shou, and as long as she makes that a priority in her world, she won't have time for romance or to really think about anyone else.
And even so, before Kyouko can move on and have a relationship with anyone, she needs to get over Shou and work past her feelings for him.Seriously, no guy is going to go out with a girl who, once she hears some other guy's name, goes into a frenzy (even if it's a homicidal frenzy), basically because if she gets *so* worked up about someone *else*, then there's something wrong with the relationship (i.e. she cares more about someone else).
Oh, and the other thing, Kyouko needs to stop looking up to Ren as her super-can't-do-anything-wrong-sempai. She's idolizing him. This is probably done on purpose done by the mangaka for plot purposes (i.e. how Kyouko might or might not re-act to Ren's past once it is revealed).
In all probability, and given indications from the manga, Kyouko will end up with Ren... however that isn't entirely for sure at this point.
My personal theory: the guy that kisses Kyouko first will be the guy she ends up with. See Tokyo Crazy Paradise about that. Tsukasa ended up with the guy she kissed first.
5. Why I ship Shou/Kyouko
It's more interesting. The drama makes it more interesting. The fighting makes it more interesting. The fact that Shou drops his 'cool' around Kyouko. I also believe in second chances. I think people grow up - esp. if they are teenagers.
I also like how Shou is no longer going to let his confidence be shaken. He is taking his career to new heights, and he expects Kyouko to catch up to him. That's a backhanded compliment right there. He thinks she has the talents and guts and capability to climb up to the very top of the slippery slope of stardom.
I want to see Kyouko the successful actress confront and stand on even ground with Shou the superstar musician. Even if they had remained together, if Kyouko hadn't changed, their relationship was probably doomed. A non-celebrity with a celebrity? The intense pressure would have probably been too much for their relationship.
Comments, further analysis and discussion and other points of view welcome. Leave a comment.
Oh, and if you're a Shou/Kyouko shipper, let me know I'm not the only one!