Tenipuri episodes 66-68
Note: Unlike previous write-ups, there are significant spoilers for future episodes here. Previous: memories or tagged.
Tezuka, Ryoma, Atobe. The Match. No crack today, but a lot of analysis and questions.
( 66. Rondo to Destruction )
Tezuka, Ryoma, Atobe. The Match. No crack today, but a lot of analysis and questions.
( 66. Rondo to Destruction )
Do you mean Ohtori? Shishido is a third-year.
I think Hiyoshi is next in line because of his ability, not his leadership or attitude. Hyotei is so strongly merit-based. Doesn't it say in one of the fanbooks that they have no fukubuchou because there's no point in being number 2?
this is Ryoma sending a message straight to Tezuka: I'll become what you want me to be, and more - I will do what you can't do, I'll hit the shots you aren't able to hit.
That's a really good insight. This is where he accepts the role that Tezuka has asked him to take.
I don't think there's any recrimination in his voice (The Breathy Buchou Voice!) when he comes back and finds Tezuka still playing. Ryoma looks at Tezuka then and sees courage, not betrayal.
I agree with that. I wonder, though, if he thinks about it later. At the time, there hardly seems room for thoughts, just gut feelings. I also wonder if it bothers Tezuka, if he feels guilt for not pulling it off.
I'm not going to comment much on the next Tezuka-Ryoma match right now because I haven't watched it in a while, but I think you're essentially right in what you say. More on it when I get to that episode.
One basic reason I think Ryoma will take Tezuka with him into the future is because I think he really does desperately want Tezuka to stay on his pedestal, as much as Tezuka wants Ryoma to remain on his.
He may want that, but I fear he will be disappointed. Maybe that's the final lesson he will have to learn: all flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
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He may want that, but I fear he will be disappointed. Maybe that's the final lesson he will have to learn: all flesh is grass and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
Hahahahaha. Or else he will go pro and fall in love with Roger Federer, and Tezuka will be long forgotten. (though Tezuka's drop shots are unquestionably hotter.)
I think one of the potential flaws of any potential relationship they'd embark in is that they do have each other up on pedestals. That's why I think it'd be so interesting as I said to see what happens when Ryoma falls off his. I think it'll be a lot harder (the Oishi-Tezuka match in the manga proves that, as you pointed out) for Tezuka to regain his status with Ryoma if he ever loses it. But it'd be sososo hard for either of them to lose it, I think.
And I'm so sorry, I must be driving you crazy with the responses. Just let me get this out and then I promise you I probably will not want to spend any time discussing TezuRyo for like the next 6 months. This always happens. aslk;djf;l. *hurries off to make last comment, hopefully*
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Yes, exactly. It's the whole objectification thing. I think they could grow out of that in time (because, good god, they're kids now), but it will be painful when they are disillusioned.
And I'm so sorry, I must be driving you crazy with the responses.
Not at all! It's the discussion that makes these posts worthwhile.
I promise you I probably will not want to spend any time discussing TezuRyo for like the next 6 months
*laugh* Why don't I believe that?
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Yes, only as I said before on Lauren's post I think they need that sort of disillusionment if they are ever to have anything together outside of tennis. If they're ever to grow together in ways that are permanent and lasting beyond what they are to each other through tennis, I think there has to be a moment when one of them or both of them realizes that neither of them are invincible, and that sooner or later they're going to experience a completely separate life outside of tennis. Dealing with that will be good for them.
The other half of my heart is completely with wonapalei and achiasa (who will probably show up here and say the same thing) in that it's a mutual pedestal, a constant push-and-pull for them both.
Except I don't see why it can't be both: the pedestal stage of their relationship is clearly just the Now stage, the pre-slash canon stage, that sets them up for the harder lessons and the harder changes and growth stages to come later on.
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On a more serious note, they do have each other up on pedestals, but I see it as being the same pedestal. Or rather, more like being king of the mountain. Tezuka pulls Ryoma up, and then Ryoma climbs to a higher peak, drawing Tezuka with him, and they just have this wonderful synergistic relationship where they keep helping each other reach new heights. And if one of them ever seriously falls or injures himself, and can't keep climbing, the other will continue so as not to let him down.
I really can't see either of them willingly giving up tennis. They live and breathe it, and love the game so much. And likewise, I can't see either of them giving the other up, precisely because they each embody tennis to the other. At some point, even they will stop using tennis as a life metaphor and realize that when somebody else embodies everything you find beautiful in life, that means love.
And I am feeling ridiculous and sappy now because of that last line, but it's TRUE, dammit! *sulks*
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What's weird is that at exactly the same moment I received this comment someone I was chatting to pasted back to me what I said in my Tezuka post yesterday: Take him mountain climbing, just the two of them, and play tennis with him in the sunset when they reached the summit. <-- when I wrote that as my answer for what Tezuka would do with Ryoma if he could do anything, I was thinking about how the climbing imagery is so apt for them both, and how they are all about reaching the summit and getting there together, and basically exactly what you have just said here.
And I completely agree that neither of them will ever willingly give up tennis. I think that anyone who thinks that Tezuka wouldn't willingly give his life over to the sport in whatever way he could hasn't really been paying attention to the love he has for the game, and is instead focusing on the self-destructive tendencies of his methods of playing it. Even if he had to stop playing, he would, I think, ultimately realize that he needs it in order to be happy. (In much the same way he needs Ryoma.)
And Ryoma willingly giving up tennis is just, unthinkable. As it would clearly be unthinkable for Tezuka if his injury weren't an ever-constant factor. It doesn't ever seem to be a factor for him, however. Injury won't stop Tezuka from playing, if that's what he wants. Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while. :))
And likewise, I can't see either of them giving the other up, precisely because they each embody tennis to the other. At some point, even they will stop using tennis as a life metaphor and realize that when somebody else embodies everything you find beautiful in life, that means love.
Shall just sit here and coo, now, thanks.
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Damn these boys for turning me into such a sap!
*hopelessly unable to turn off stupid grin*
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