January 12, 2014
Awesome bit of foreshadowing
I was ruminating on two different plot devices with similar purpose. One is foreshadowing, the other best defined as a Chekhov's gun.
While watching Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari for the umpteenth time, I was once again reminded of the better uses of foreshadowing I have seen. Kenshi is the male protagonist. He is from a different world, part of the Masaki family in the Tenchi universe, as this is part of that franchise. He is very good at almost everything, as you might expect from that lineage and the upbringing it imposes on family members.
As Kenshi is being shown around campus, he is brought to an arena where mock combat takes place. The arena has pillars which can be raised or lowered to restrict ease of movement. The ones showing him this stress the difficulty of combat in such a field. He looks at the arena with all the pillars raised and makes a throw away comment: "Eh? Is it really that hard?"
Later, when he ends up having to enter into real combat, he draws several enemy into the arena and proceeds to absolutely annihilate his opponents. He uses the pillars to restrict the movements of the enemy, while making use of the structures in ways they have not thought of yet to execute surprising attacks they can't anticipate.
One of the cast who was there at the time, reflects on his earlier comments and understands why he said what he did.
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While watching Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari for the umpteenth time, I was once again reminded of the better uses of foreshadowing I have seen. Kenshi is the male protagonist. He is from a different world, part of the Masaki family in the Tenchi universe, as this is part of that franchise. He is very good at almost everything, as you might expect from that lineage and the upbringing it imposes on family members.
As Kenshi is being shown around campus, he is brought to an arena where mock combat takes place. The arena has pillars which can be raised or lowered to restrict ease of movement. The ones showing him this stress the difficulty of combat in such a field. He looks at the arena with all the pillars raised and makes a throw away comment: "Eh? Is it really that hard?"
Later, when he ends up having to enter into real combat, he draws several enemy into the arena and proceeds to absolutely annihilate his opponents. He uses the pillars to restrict the movements of the enemy, while making use of the structures in ways they have not thought of yet to execute surprising attacks they can't anticipate.
One of the cast who was there at the time, reflects on his earlier comments and understands why he said what he did.
Posted by: topmaker at
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1
Interestingly, I JUST watched that this morning. So far, I've really not enjoyed the series, but dark elf with white hair.... I can't help myself.
Posted by: Mauser at February 10, 2014 02:38 AM (TJ7ih)
2
Episode eight is where everything changes. It is the episode this post is based on. In the show, there are a fair amount of foreshadowed situations. Some are very subtle.
In spite of the glaring logic stumbles, this has become my favorite Tenchi connected show.
It was also one of the first ( I think the actual first was Ah, My Goddess) shows I saw where the protagonist does not undergo a great deal of development. Instead he/she is the North Star, if you will, for all the other characters, including the bad guys, to develop around.
You will see what I mean by the fourth episode.
In spite of the glaring logic stumbles, this has become my favorite Tenchi connected show.
It was also one of the first ( I think the actual first was Ah, My Goddess) shows I saw where the protagonist does not undergo a great deal of development. Instead he/she is the North Star, if you will, for all the other characters, including the bad guys, to develop around.
You will see what I mean by the fourth episode.
Posted by: topmaker at February 10, 2014 04:02 AM (2yZsg)
3
Ah, it was the eighth that I saw this morning. and yeah, Kenshi can't improve much since he has no room for improvement. He's a freaking GOD here.
The one bit of foreshadowing I'm waiting to see pay off is Washu hypnotizing him.
For me, the best bit of Tenchi was the first six episodes of Ryo-oki. Nothing else really lived up to that. And my god, GXP was the absolute nadir, even if it did have two of the cutest designs in one character.
The one bit of foreshadowing I'm waiting to see pay off is Washu hypnotizing him.
For me, the best bit of Tenchi was the first six episodes of Ryo-oki. Nothing else really lived up to that. And my god, GXP was the absolute nadir, even if it did have two of the cutest designs in one character.
Posted by: Mauser at February 10, 2014 11:26 AM (TJ7ih)
4
The best effect of the Washu hypnosis is already manifest in the massage technique. However there is a cooler Tenchi series effect created by the Trio of Goddesses (Chosin?) coming up at the end which is barely hinted at, but is obvious once it is engaged.
I also liked the 45 minute episodes (they split well into half episodes, as if that were the original intent). I don't think I have seen that elsewhere.
I also liked the 45 minute episodes (they split well into half episodes, as if that were the original intent). I don't think I have seen that elsewhere.
Posted by: topmaker at February 10, 2014 05:24 PM (i0rVe)
5
...and yeah, the first episodes of Ryo-oki, right up until the first villain is dispatched is very good. Especially as compared to the Zed episodes at the end.
GXP had what's the director's name sticking his trademarks all over it and cheapened the product. Having said that, I have watched the series more than once. Head is hung.
GXP had what's the director's name sticking his trademarks all over it and cheapened the product. Having said that, I have watched the series more than once. Head is hung.
Posted by: topmaker at February 10, 2014 05:32 PM (i0rVe)
6
Another thing repeated from GXP and (War on Gemenar is the English title on the set I've got, which includes and English dub I've avoided) is the excessively-improbable double role: Ryoko/Elma and Mexia/Doll.
Posted by: Mauser at February 13, 2014 09:42 AM (TJ7ih)
7
I never made that connection, but you're right.
Even though I think it is the weaker series, GXP has a better justification for the shape changing than War On Geminar (which, I think, actually translated to St. Knight's Tale in Another World, or something).
Cute bit about cross changing the window and curtain colors with Doll/Mexiah.
The next is only if you finished the series:
Even though I think it is the weaker series, GXP has a better justification for the shape changing than War On Geminar (which, I think, actually translated to St. Knight's Tale in Another World, or something).
Cute bit about cross changing the window and curtain colors with Doll/Mexiah.
The next is only if you finished the series:
Posted by: topmaker at February 13, 2014 06:42 PM (i0rVe)
8
Of course, the big common thing amongst all the Tenchi series is behind this definite spoiler. This is a major one, and I recommend you wait until you have watched the series through:
Posted by: topmaker at February 13, 2014 06:48 PM (i0rVe)
9
Doll has a Mexiah Complex. :-)
Seriously though, that whole ruse really stretches credibility. How long did Doll have to pretend to be Chiaia's sister to have that kind of familial love? Likewise, how long did Ryoko have to spend shape-shifted into Elma to rise to the top of the science community, and still find the time to become a famous pirate captain? It's WAY too long a game if you think about it for the mere opportunity to shock people when a beloved comrade turns out to be an enemy (And inevitably becomes a comrade again). I mean, there doesn't seem to be a POINT to the deception by the time the Scooby-doo mask comes off.
That's what pisses me off about the writing. Well, that and Kenshi being a servile God at everything.
Seriously though, that whole ruse really stretches credibility. How long did Doll have to pretend to be Chiaia's sister to have that kind of familial love? Likewise, how long did Ryoko have to spend shape-shifted into Elma to rise to the top of the science community, and still find the time to become a famous pirate captain? It's WAY too long a game if you think about it for the mere opportunity to shock people when a beloved comrade turns out to be an enemy (And inevitably becomes a comrade again). I mean, there doesn't seem to be a POINT to the deception by the time the Scooby-doo mask comes off.
That's what pisses me off about the writing. Well, that and Kenshi being a servile God at everything.
Posted by: Mauser at February 16, 2014 08:40 AM (TJ7ih)
10
That was a pretty good one.
Contrasting what I said upcomment, the rationale makes a bit more sense in WoG than it does in GPX considering Doll was raised up from the depths (sans food, sans oxygen, sans - everything) in human form, so it is explainable that Naua Flan tried to keep her as human as possible, and discouraged that which might awaken her.
But yeah, Ryoko/Elma is utterly nonsensical.
Have you noticed the references to Photon in this series?
Contrasting what I said upcomment, the rationale makes a bit more sense in WoG than it does in GPX considering Doll was raised up from the depths (sans food, sans oxygen, sans - everything) in human form, so it is explainable that Naua Flan tried to keep her as human as possible, and discouraged that which might awaken her.
But yeah, Ryoko/Elma is utterly nonsensical.
Have you noticed the references to Photon in this series?
Posted by: topmaker at February 16, 2014 07:21 PM (2yZsg)
11
Nope, and the only Photon I can think of at the moment is the laser-tag game from the late 80's.
The worst thing about the Ryoko/Elma duality is it's pretty much impossible for anyone to do slash fan art of them.... :-)
I haven't gotten up to Doll's origin yet, but there are only a couple episodes left.
The worst thing about the Ryoko/Elma duality is it's pretty much impossible for anyone to do slash fan art of them.... :-)
I haven't gotten up to Doll's origin yet, but there are only a couple episodes left.
Posted by: Mauser at February 17, 2014 04:24 AM (TJ7ih)
12
Hmmm, so you have not been to the Barrier Workshop yet. Exposition city, that episode is.
Photon was an early work by Masaki Kajishima, the Tenchi franchise creator as well as Dual! Parallel whosiwhatsis and others. It was a very silly six episode OVA that I go back and watch every year or so. The koro got their start there, if I remember right, and there are numerous hat tips to the series, particularly the names. It's well worth a watch if you get the chance.
Photon was an early work by Masaki Kajishima, the Tenchi franchise creator as well as Dual! Parallel whosiwhatsis and others. It was a very silly six episode OVA that I go back and watch every year or so. The koro got their start there, if I remember right, and there are numerous hat tips to the series, particularly the names. It's well worth a watch if you get the chance.
Posted by: topmaker at February 18, 2014 01:26 AM (2yZsg)
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