#not out of some desire to impress the other but because they're seen and understood and loved and supported

[coleramse]

you didn't have to tell me that. i want you to know who i am.

[the-force-awakens]

I think something that no one talks about is how Poe leans more towards being an anti-hero than just plain hero. He's willing to do the "wrong" things for the right reasons, ex: willing the kill bad people to save the innocent, basically willing to do the dirty work that no one wants to talk or think about. and I think it should be talked about more. Your post was just *chefs kiss*, the way you understood Poe is so refreshing compared to what I see him reduced to in canon

Poe definitely is willing to make the tough calls, including being willing to kill bad people to save innocent people (or destroy a planet to save countless others), but I wouldn't necessarily sort him into the antihero trope myself, more the "good is not nice" trope.

Because for as much as Poe is willing to shoot the bad guys, or blow up a planet if it means saving the galaxy, he's usually the first person to lower his blaster or offer someone a second chance. The biggest source of conflict between himself and Zorii in Free Fall is the fact that Poe can't fit into this life of shades of grey, and that's a trait that does follow him to the Resistance. He can lie (badly) for them, he can steal ships, be labeled a criminal if it's done for the right reasons/for the Resistance but at the same time, he also......really can't wrap his head around and seems uncomfortable at times with Suralinda's way of manipulating or recontextualizing the truth for propaganda purposes (which i wish had...been better explored in the comics it's Fine, but like I wanna know more about Poe "can't lie" Dameron and Suralinda "i'm here to tell a good story" Javos. I WANT TO KNOW MORE LUCASFILM), even if Suralinda is doing those things for the Resistance, so they can gain more support.

There's also this quote of Rian Johnson's, that I really love, and that I feel like sums up Poe the best for me:

“Oscar is like a reincarnation of my favorite old movie stars; he has that old school magnetism paired with insane acting chops. Poe is a straight-up, good-guy hero, and although he gets put through the wringer in this film, because of Oscar you never lose faith that he’s going to come out the other end all the better for it.” [from this post]

I'm having trouble wording/it's kind of hard for me to explain, but like. I view Poe as someone who is, like Rian describes him, as a good-guy hero, who usually cannot quite stop the instinct to do the heroic thing, and how that can make him quite reckless (I do believe Oscar actually described Poe during the TFA Press Tour as "recklessly heroic" sir I'm sorry i ever doubted you about Poe being reckless, I thoroughly learned my lesson #13 Poe issues and a knife to Poe's hand later) - but I think also that doesn't mean that Poe needs to look like the hero, and I think TLJ proves that? He does what he believes is the best for the Resistance, and seizes control of the Raddus. It's a last resort, of course, and I don't think he necessarily cares about what people might think of him for it* - he's a commander, he makes the hard calls all the time, and regardless of his own desire to be a hero, I don't think Poe necessarily wants to be praised as one. He's just gonna do the right, most heroic thing at any given moment, and doesn't care what people say. I mean...we kind of get the impression he's used to being seen a certain way, y'know? Poe doesn't seem surprised in the least when Holdo berates him, he just has this look of "oh this banthashit again I thought I'd heard the last of it", y'know?

*y'know except for leia. because he definitely makes a face when she says that thing about holdo in the transport. anyway moving on because this got completely. the train jumped the track here. adhd moment.

As much as he is willing to do some hard things for the Resistance, I feel like Poe would. not last a day in the Rebellion - the Rebellion is just gray. You have to be, fighting something like the Empire, they're quick and dirty and. manipulative and liars and assassins, and Poe...wouldn't have the heart for that, I think. So I do believe there would be a line, in what Poe would even be willing to do for the Resistance.

That said, I do wish canon/fanon would be more willing to explore....any of his. nuance. that everyone seems very allergic to acknowledging, and I'd especially be interested in seeing more of Poe's - I'm a dw nerd sorry I'm just gonna call it this every time - "oncoming storm" side because it's so much fun. There's some other facets of his character I'd love to see explored in more detail, but that one especially. It would honestly be a dream, I think, if Alex Segura got to write for him again, but perhaps this time in the Resistance era, because I think that man would have a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with writing a good spy adventure.

[msfbgraves]

You’ve mentioned before in Knights and Pawns, that Daniel is concerned for the rights of his people—other Omegas. Does he want his pups to be more considerate of them? Does he especially want his Omega children to have more choices than he did, though he’s apparently happy with his life? I get the impression that Omegas are preferred by Society to get married young/want to get married young, and be homemakers. Still, we see that Omegas work in hospitals for instance—are these only the non-upper class Omegas that are allowed to work/want to have paying work? Can they have paying jobs even after they’ve been married? How would Terry feel if Daniel maybe wanted to get a paying job one day? Like, something part time maybe when the pups are older. Would he be okay with it? He seems old-fashioned somewhat, and seems very much to like being the head of the household too. Would Terry scoff at Daniel’s desire, would he allow it? How does Terry feel in general about Omega rights? Considering that he pretty much forced Daniel to marry him…

This story is set in the late 1930's onwards, so you have to take that into consideration, even if it is an AU. It's a very interesting question anyway! Terry's view of omega rights is that every omega deserves an Alpha who will provide for their safety, their health, their wellbeing. Till death. An Alpha should die for what is theirs. An omega should never have to fend for themselves because then Alphas like him will take advantage. They're stronger, and Terry has that twisted sense of might makes right. Look he has a responsibility to his own, but he has no responsibility if other Alphas drop the ball. (That doesn't make sense, but Terry simply won't discuss it.) Any Alpha worth their salt will make sure that their omegas - be they mate or blood relative - don't need rights or they're unworthy of being called Alpha. And yes, that includes sacrifice. As soon as Mandy turned out to be omega, it was Terry's whole entire job to get her as safely settled as was in his power so he made her marry into the aristocracy. Which means they can't officially be seen with each other but she is set for life. Terry owes her no less. He misses her terribly but it's his responsibility as an Alpha. And since there are so many Alphas and so few omegas, an omega by virtue of being one has the chance to find a strong enough provider. You have to be discerning but they don't lack for choice. So he finds the whole Johnny Lawrence situation ridiculous. Get the kid married, John, there are always takers!

Still, there are other opinions. Alphas may want to hoard omegas but you actually need them in public life to some extent. Alphas need to be neutralised. So they can hold jobs, even if they're mostly pink collar. In Terry's view, it is totally OK for an Alpha to have 'their' omegas work with them in a business or profession. Unmarried omegas may work seperately, but to Terry, married ones? No. Any Alpha worth their salt will be able to have their omega work with them.

So Daniel wanting a paying job? He has a job, what are you talking about, baby? Now if Daniel expressed an interest in helping a pup on their way in society, that's different. He'll have a chaperone arranged for them. But purely for his own fulfillment? What? Doesn't he offer him enough to be fulfilled by? Have you been talking to my sister, love? Don't listen to her, she's always been a strange one.

Daniele LaRusso meanwhile has grown up in a conservative mob family himself. And he's always understood he has to work within a set of limitations. So this isn't strange to him. And again, the wanting to be a homemaker is a very strong instinct. Anthony was raised, before he presented, with the expectations placed on boys - he could turn out to be Alpha or beta too, and he'd have to be able to provide for people. Girls learn this too, for if they turn out to be Alpha, so it isn't as strictly gendered as with us, but for Anthony, being allowed to embrace the instinct to be a carer rather than provider was a huge burden off of his shoulders. Daniel is more like a beta than his omega boy. But yes he wants all his pups to not take advantage of omegas because all omegas-have-a protector is bullshit. He's quite sure, still, the answer for his babies is to mate them well but he wouldn't want them secluded in omega school. They can hire tutors for that stuff. He wants to spare them the heartbreak he himself suffered in falling for another omega. Terry doesn't agree there. Why shouldn't they get some practice, nudge nudge wink wink?

Daniel does get tired of fighting the constraints of his gender, and he's made himself very comfortable and happy in his life, but if they fight, some of these pressures do bubble up and Terry has a hard time understanding them. Which Daniel can kind of live with because he would buckle under all the responsibility Terry has taken on his shoulders; Daniel truly doesn't want that.

[webethepeachesfromrockford]

Okay okay but how about a little ditty about Greta and Carson through Jess’s eyes since she clocked them earlier than anyone. Like little stolen moments that Jess caught because she was some how always at the wrong place and time and Greta & Carson weren’t aware they were being *that* messy.

Yes, yes, yes! I love this so much. I think Jess is a character that has a lot of depth they can explore. Let's see where this goes! Drop your prompts/ideas/desires here!

In her day to day life, Jess is the sort of person that's counted out more often times than not. That's the way of society, especially one that's not ready for a person like her. She can't stand the dresses or the makeup. All the prissy shit makes her feel like an alien in a body that already doesn't really fit. That's all a long winded way of saying Jess is constantly treated like wallpaper. She understood that long before the world decided to turn its back on her. Growing up around five brothers that never once hesitated to put her in her place always made it easy to fade into the background and exist in a space where no one ever really looks.

She's good about reading situations because of it. As a wallflower, taking in the room and understanding what's going on is the only true method of survival. Jess knows who to avoid and what situations are going to end messily. There are secrets none of the other girls know that Jess picked up on long before the people they're about became aware. Her gift is both a blessing and a curse. Jess finds it hard not to slap sense into people who aren't looking in the right direction. On the other hand, it's nice to be aware. At least then she's not blindsided by obvious shit the way Lupe is when Carson Shaw walks into Rockford's little gay bar. Jess knows long before her friend does that Carson isn't trying to out them; it's entertaining to watch Lu splutter and try to make up excuses. Watching Carson do the same is even funnier.

Jess can't help herself when she says "I've known since that first night at the bar." The way Carson's eyes get big and wide like a bug is worth giving up that sacred piece of knowledge. She wanted to keep it in her back pocket for a rain day when blackmail is needed but it's out now and there's no going back. Lu and Carson both look at her in surprise, so Jess continues on. "But also, a couple of weeks ago you fell asleep in my room with Greta. Rookie." Jess smirks before flicking on her lighter to start up a cigarette.

What Jess doesn't say is that she's seen a lot more than Carson and Greta think. That first night at the bar is fresh in her memory. Jess was trying to track down another beer when she sees Greta's approach. The square of her shoulders is recognizable in a way that Jess finds a little eerie. She probably does the same thing when she sees a pretty dame worth approaching. It's a surprise to witness Mrs. Shaw light up like a Christmas tree. Jess doesn't need to watch the two of them disappear together to know what's going to happen, though it's a pleasant sight all the same. Carson is a changed person when she comes flying out of whatever secret spot Greta dragged her into. Jess tries not to smile at the chaos that is about to ensue.

It's not like she keeps a close eye on them after that or anything. Jess is naturally a silent but deadly person, so turning off the detail collecting is a hard thing. There's an awkward time where Carson and Greta dance around each other - Jess desperately wants to smash their heads together to fix the problem. She knows from experience that a knock in the head and a firm talking to always does the trick. Matters of the heart aren't hers to dabble with, though, so she stays out of it. The tension isn't enough to be a problem, anyway. Greta Gill is an impressive woman that knows how to handle her shit. Jess knows personal drama won't be an issue - that girl is bottled up so tight, nothings seeping out.

The night that Carson bursts into their room with a look of determination on her face is the instant Jess knows things between them are for real. Carson completely forgot that Jess existed in the room, too. She looked a second away from pouncing Greta on the bed. It's a hilarious thing to watch Shaw come up with an excuse for her presence and a reason to draw Greta from the room. Jess is half a second away from saying it's all okay when Greta saves the day. She's got nothing to do but nod and try not to laugh at the unsubtly way Carson grabs onto Greta before the door is even closed. It's a wonder the whole house doesn't catch on with the way they're thundering down the stairs together.

Jess tries not to make anything between her teammates any of her business. She says stupid shit like "we're doing our nails" when Carson comes running into the room with some half baked invitation to go to a library that's long closed. They get worse and worse by the try. Jess has contemplated writing them down somewhere to make into a joke book or something later. Instead, she plays ignorant and covers for the two of them when someone asks about Shaw and Gill, gone together again. Jess tells herself it's not meddling if she stays silent and out of their business. Being a buffer is something she's willing to do for any of her friends. No way she's grown a soft spot for those two dense and dumb knuckle heads.

It's a relief not to have Carson breaking into her room at the convent, though. Jess recognized the plan early, long before Shirley bumbled through some bull shit explanation. It's clever on Shaw's part and Jess is glad to finally see those brains working out the right problems. Rooming with Jo isn't the worst thing, either. De Luca understands what it's like to be tough on the inside and outwardly look like it on the outside, too. Jess never tires of meeting other people who understand what it's like to live and exist on the outskirts of a world that doesn't make much sense to begin with. Never mind the fact that it's peaceful to not be interrupted by Shaw and her stupid excuses.

There's some beef within the team that makes it hard to be anything other than grumpy and dissatisfied for a while. Not just at Shaw or Lupe or Greta who's attempt at pulling away is ruining everyone's lives. The whole situation is a difficult one that's not easily solved between women so hard headed they don't need batting helmets to protect the little brains they have. Jess doesn't do well when the scales of consonance and dissonance aren't in balance. She's got her own shit going on, anyway. There's a frustration bubbling under the surface as all the personal drama grows and manifests and spreads like a viral weed. Something's gotta give and Jess hopes it happens soon.

Thankfully, Carson's raw attempt at leadership pulls them all together - the chick is terrible at talking but the fire that exists in her is contagious. It's easy to see why Greta took an immediate interest in the little firecracker. Jess is even more pleased to see Lu get her stride back - Shaw will always get her vote of confidence for bringing back her depressed friend from the brink. Watching Lupe pitch is a thing of beauty and Jess is loathe to admit she's missed seeing it. Not to mention the fact that her hermano's arm is mint. With her back on the mound, Jess is sure that the Peaches are going to continue to win, maybe go all the way.

She'll never admit that seeing Carson holding Greta in the small bed perpendicular to her own is heartwarming. There's been tension between the two of them that Jess hates to see. Many women aren't like her - they crave connection and camaraderie in a relationship. Jess likes to think about it like a transaction. At least, she's never been bitten by the bug that makes her want to settle down like the girls clinging onto each other so obviously do. Too bad the world's view is narrow and two dames together in a bed is cause for being committed. Locking the door before climbing under her own covers, Jess smiles over at the two love birds then turns onto her side to let sleep take her. She's up early enough the next day to watch Greta shake Carson awake with a soft little smile. They kiss and rub noses and do vomit worthy things until stalling anymore isn't an option - the house will be awake any minute.

After recalling all of that, it's funny to think that Carson Shaw believed herself to be sneaky. Any one with eyes and the depth perception to see past the end of their own nose could see such a match. It's lucky for the two of them that people aren't like Jess, she figures. At least they're not being found out by the wrong people. Between her own experience and the horror stories she's heard, Jess doesn't wish that fate on anyone. Still, the idea that two people so in love can hide it from others that function the same is a silly one. Jess recognized the glint in Carson's eyes the second Greta started to walk in her direction. There's something different about being on the prowl with undecided intention. For those two, it's leading to an unknown place that is obviously new to them both. That's the thing, though, Jess is rooting for them because of the uncharted waters they're going to face. She's sure in the fact that both Greta and Carson are strong women. If it's real and they both want it enough, Jess can't deny the simple way they just sort of fit. She's not one for love but it's nice to know that it still exists for people like her. Maybe one day the spark will catch up to her, too.

For now, Jess sips on her beer and takes it all in. Now that she's given so much of herself away, it's time to crawl back into the shadows and watch from afar. There's something in the way Carson looks that makes Jess think her watchful eye just saved someone's life. Why fix a habit that's not broken?

[nagirambles]

what's your favourite ships in the show?

I don't passionately ship anything in the show, honestly.

I guess you can take it as 'I'll ship anything if you convince me it's cute', but most of the time, especially for the Big 4 because it's Mashima's job to convince me of that, I already have impressions that probably won't change.

Gajevy's 'the rough one is soft for the cute one' bond, but I never saw it immediately romantic. The 'big scary guy's always got a loli' trope or even 'cute little sister with overprotective big brother' uses this dynamic as well. I only saw it as Gajeel trying hard to make up for what he did, and he felt responsible to protect Levy. Yes, it's endearing, but is that apparently a declaration of love already? Darn, now I see why some people think Gajevy was forced. Anyways-- I can be incredibly passionate talking about these two, but do I go around seeking out fluff romantic fanfic about them? Nah, they're cute as a couple now, but shipping in general is just not my thing. I enjoy seeing it play out between the lines of the Fairy Tail manga, and cute fanart of them is always a joy-- but that's it, really.

Gruvia was very one-sided, so child me never understood it. In the same way Gray needed to break it to her, Juvia needed to take a hint-- or she was blatantly ignoring the obvious hint, which grates my gears, because speaking as an aroace, it's not cute. You're not going to get me if you lay jewels at my feet for long enough. They finally progressed after the timeskips though, and I like where they were trying to go with it. Using their battle with Silver as a crux, things are better in their dynamic now. It's getting somewhere.

Jerza was probably one I wanted to see most (of the clearly intended to be canonical ships, aka the Big 4,) because it was a slow journey of recovery between two people, and while it's weird they almost kissed on that beach, I believe it was done to tell the audience that right now, Jerza is going to take three steps back. They're not going to kiss, they're going to set this back and Jellal is going to find redemption first. It's called overcoming trauma and the miracle cure is not 'finding your true love'.

As for other ships in the show that I quite adore, high on that scale would probably be Gray and Loke. The anime tends to eradicate a lot of casual intimacy outside of Big 4 ship moments (which is why all the Nalu hugs are there untampered but somehow the Gray and Erza hug in the Phantom Lord Arc was the most awkward thing I've ever seen) so things like Gray being the only one worriedly looking at Loke and consistently asking him if things are fine because something's not right? I fully appreciate them, and I fully want to explore the partnership between them that we never see. Loke is rarely shown to have as significant a relationship with people in the guild other than Lucy, so this stands out.

I also kinda ship Chendy, RenxSherry, Bixloke, Canalucy, Nali, Gratsuza, and Thunder Legion trio. But once again, I'll ship even rarepairs or crackships if someone manages to convince me that their dynamic's interesting to explore.

I also ship Laxana for no reason other than the fics I've written and contributed to. They have near zero interactions in canon and yet, because I explored them interacting in childhood in the guild-- I've started to see them working in a rather endearing way. (I still spite the source material because Cana, my favourite character to write, is such a waste of potential in the main story.)

But once again-- I don't passionately ship anything. If I do write them or think of them, it is almost always intended to be platonic or an endeared character study, because romance in general is just not my thing. Yes, I can rave about ships, I can squeal about them when they have a wholesome interaction in fanfic, fanart, or the show itself-- but do I particularly seek out instances them kissing or dating or expressing their desire in a deep, meaningful speech? Do I try to interpret 'clearly' romantic motives into every impactful gesture each of them do for each other? Not at all. I feel this exact same way for the Big 4, maybe stronger.

Honestly, I watch Fairy Tail for the nakama power. That's genuinely all I really want to take away from it.

[honey-lets-fucking-run]

Rebecca Ferguson: The Art of Versatility

A recent discussion with the lovely @imfmi6 has given me the spark to finish an essay on which I was fumbling for a couple of months. Therefore, I decided that I must be courageous enough to publish it, so here it is.

However, before we begin, I shall give to all of you some predisposition: this post may be very long and contain lots of letters for I'm an insatiable movie geek, and maybe, I'm partial to analyzing everything I watch and read. Maybe a little too much. Anyways, you have been warned, so...

I'll start at the beginning: a little over two years ago, one dear friend of mine suggested to me that I should watch the latest two entries in the ”Mission Impossible” franchise. For more precise effect, the suggestion was supplemented with a picture of a very beautiful woman, looking at someone unseen, but with such deep affection evident in her gaze, that I was immediately intrigued. That was all it took. A picture. Intrigue is a very tricky feeling at its core, indeed.

So that same day I sat down to watch ”Fallout”. To say I was blown away by it would be a huge understatement.

To elaborate, I had seen the first four entries of the franchise before, I sincerely admired them for the precision that a viewer can rarely encounter in an action flick, but at that time, MI wasn't something I would grasp after. Now, after looking back, I'm pretty sure it was for the best. As they say, some things tend to come right back to you.

Back to the matter at hand. I fell in love with everything. I fell in love with the direction. I felI in love with the cinematography. I fell in love with the cast and the characters. I fell in love with the way in which the film was so cleverly written, even though I had a certain amount of difficulty understanding some plot points, because I was watching out of order, but even then, I pretty much understood everything that was necessary to get. But there was one person with whom I had ended up being enamoured the most. That person was, as I'm sure, you had guessed already, Rebecca Ferguson.

To say what it was that affected me the most? Of course, Ilsa Faust is badass. I mean, she can fight without seeming ridiculous. She takes her heels off, because it's practical and easier to fight without them. She's an expert bike driver. She looks every bit as lethal as well believable while holding a weapon, be it a knife or a gun. She can be lethal without a weapon, and if that's not a definition of true badassery, then I don't know what it is. But, as much all this serves the purpose of being integral to her character, that wasn't what surprised me the most.

What surprised me the most was the plain fact that Ilsa, while being badass, is also very human. It was evident in every facet of the character, be it her seemingly untrustworthy nature of pursuing a goal of her own to the very end, or be it her vulnerability. Vulnerability that was not treated as a weakness, but as an another facet of Ilsa's personality. Human are vulnerable beings, and throughout both Rogue Nation and Fallout, we're reminded of that hundred times, sometimes in a brilliantly subtle ways. And that's the entire point of my never-ending rambling here, because, at the end, I was blown away and became totally fascinated with one thing. Which was, of course, Rebecca Ferguson's acting.

First of all, she doesn't give the impression of acting. Throughout both movies I was a witness to a transformation so complete and sublime, that I forgot about the acting part. I saw only the character. I saw Ilsa's tiredness and emotional insecurity (over her job and moral ambiguity that comes with it, which was surprising in itself, given that female characters who are stressed over something that's not tied to her male partner, are a rarity). I saw her as a complete equal to Ethan; she doesn't need him to save herself, but they understand each other on a much more deeper level, which you can't squeeze to a simple: ”oh, they're in love, look at that”. (There's not only love. In their relationship, respect and mutual recognition comes first and foremost to any romantic feelings). I saw her desire to escape from the spy life before it was plainly stated by her in the scene at the train station. Why? Because it was all over her face in the scenes before that one.

And that is the key. Not only Ferguson does not give the impression of acting by transforming so completely, you forget the word ”acting” in the first place, but also she has such an incredible in-depth understanding of her character's emotional and psychological undercurrents that she's able to transfer it into acting without being overly explicit. It's all in the details: the lighting-quick slideshow of different emotions, from fear to utter contempt, demonstrated by her in the ending seconds of ”Fallout”, during which Ilsa was captured by Lane for a brief time; the complete loneliness and sense of not belonging within any group, hidden beneath the mask of a world-famous opera singer (Jenny Lind was glorious, and she had her reasons, no one will trick me into believing otherwise); again, tiredness and the feeling of emotional drainout, which she transfers brilliantly from Rogue Nation to Fallout, not only without seeming illogical or out of place, but altering that state into something completely different (you can see that Ilsa is on a verge of the burn-out, you can see it so clearly in the scene at the alleway alone, that you literally feel like your heart is going to combust); the aura of evil hidden beneath such affability, that you cannot help being hooked, even knowing there's something unquestionably wrong with the owner of that ”magic” hat (Rosie, darling, I want that hat, seriously).

I can go on and on, but to bring the point home, you know what the greatest part is? The greatest part lies in the fact that Ferguson is so goddamn flexible in terms of acting ability, that her characters totally differ from each other. I mean, they completely different. Usually, you know, there's a trademark, some kind of trait that actors bring with themselves from role to role in order to be distinguished from others. Ferguson doesn't even have that. Each new part is a clean slate. Literally. The only trademark I was able to find that unites all of the characters she played, other than the obviousness of being portrayed by her, is her perchant for being barefoot (aside from some unintentional sarcasm, I find that incredibly cute and free-spirited). And each time, I don't know what she will do. I mean, I know she will deliver something mind-blowing, I know I will be surprised beyond being able to form an adequate and coherent reaction in response to what I have seen, but I can't and absolutely would not try to guess how she'll manage to surprise me.

In conclusion to all this, I would like to say, that, in terms of acting, Rebecca surely embodies something I have never seen before. And that's exactly what makes her so gloriously distinctive in her own way.

P.S. The picture that had started it all:

[shoujocentral]

Symphogear S1- Now this is MY kind of anime!

Every once and awhile when I'd log onto Twitter, I'd see people saying "watch Symphogear" accompanied by images from the show. From looking at the pictures, I assumed it was just another magical girl show like Precure but with less magic and more... techno. Oh, and apparently they sing while they fight? Sounds kinda dumb...

Buuuut... I have heard that there's some yuri content? Maybe I'll give it a try. I mean, I'm always open to watching new stuff, even if it's just a silly little kid's show 😅

😳

Well........ color me hooked.

I have to say, this show is not at all what I was expecting in the best possible way. It feels a lot more like a Shounen action show along the lines of Fullmetal Alchemist or Neon Genesis Evangelion than a Magical Girl show (if that's even what it's supposed to be). Today, I'm going to be giving my first impressions of Senki Zesshou Symphogear season 1, which will be spoiler free for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Plot:

So what is Senki Zesshou Symphogear about?

In the not too distant future (next Sunday A.D.), Japan is under attack by monsters known as Noises, the likes of which cannot be killed by military weapons. The only thing that can kill them are girls clad in weaponized armor known as Gears, which is activated and powered by singing catchy techno-pop music.

One day, a girl named Hibiki Tachibana is caught in the middle of a battle, and one of the Gear users, Kanade Amou, sacrifices herself to save her. Two years later, Hibiki discovers that a piece of Kanade's Gear was embedded in her chest during the fight, giving her access to the Gear's powers. Hibiki is recruited by the Disaster Relief Squadron, the organization that created the Gears, to help defend Japan from the Noises.

However, Kanade's former girlfriend partner, Tsubasa Kazanari, sees Hibiki as nothing more than an obnoxious, naive girl trying to be Kanade's replacement. Will the two learn to work together, defeat the Noises, and possibly uncover a deeper plot to all the attacks?

Symphogear's plot might not be the most original thing ever; evil monsters attack, teenage girls transform into superpowered warriors to fight them, evil mastermind tries to take over the world, etc. But what makes this story stand out is it's unique approach to the fights. Having the Gears be powered by music, resulting in every fight being accompanied by a song, is either a genius way to amplify the fights, or a genius way for the producers to sell a techno soundtrack.

I was worried that the constant use of insert songs would become repetitive and annoying, but on the contrary, they heightened my enjoyment! The fights in Symphogear are easily my favorite part of the show: fast-paced, badass powers, lots of screaming, and downright brutal at times! Hibiki has officially joined the ranks of my all-time favorite battle cries, right up there with Goku from DBZ and Souma from Kannazuki no Miko.

If there was one thing I had to nitpick, it would be that most of the fights take away the credibility of the Noises. They're supposed to be this terrifying threat to Japan that can't be harmed by the military, but as soon as the Gear wielders show up, they're reduced to nothing more than cannon fodder as Hibiki and her comrades seem to waltz through them without breaking a sweat.

Thankfully, the versus matches between Gear wielders are much more balanced. My favorite has to be Hibiki vs Chris (see above), but then again, any fight with Chris is an absolute win!

Characters:

Hibiki Tachibana

Hibiki is your typical genki girl protagonist: optimistic, hyperactive, naive, and pure. What makes her a more compelling hero, however, is her slow growth into becoming a strong Gear wielder. Unlike most magical girl protagonists, who seem to master their powers after one line of "EH?! What just happened to me?!", Hibiki takes time to learn how to fight. She starts out with the mindset that she has to be Kanade's replacement and thus tries to fight just like her. However, she eventually comes to invent her own battle tactics that work much more in her favor. Mainly, punching the everloving shit out of everything in sight.

Hibiki is, in my opinion, a flat character done right. She doesn't go through any personal growth or development throughout the show (learning to fight doesn't count), but her belief that all humans can get along if they communicate and desire to protect people just because she wants to is the cause for most of the change in the people around her. The world is in a dark place, and Hibiki is the light. She doesn't need to change, because she's exactly what the world needs.

Tsubasa Kazanari

From what I've learned, Tsubasa is a favorite amongst Symphogear fans. Me personally, though, I have a few issues with her character. Now, I have nothing against brooding, damaged characters. In fact, Tsubasa's recovery from Kanade's death and learning to cherish her own life was incredibly engaging... for the most part. Sorry, but I can only take so much edge. Her constant repitition of "I am a sword, I exist only to fight" grew old after the first 10 or so times.

Also, while I love her overall development, I feel that her acceptance of Hibiki was a little rushed. For the first four episodes, she hates Hibiki for carrying Kanade's Gear to the point where she tries to fight her to the death. Then, after another fight sends her into a coma, she has a (extremely gay) hallucination of Kanade telling her to get over herself. Next episode, she's treating Hibiki as if they've been friends the whole time. Did I miss something? Did Hibiki even apologize for saying she wanted to replace Kanade? Did Tsubasa apologize for trying to shishkabob her?!

Development aside, her fighting style is awesome and unique, and leads to the best choreography in the show. Hopefully as I watch more seasons, my opinion of her will improve.

Chris Yukine

Best Girl. No questions. Anyone who disagrees is wrong. Deal with it.

Jokes aside, Chris is my favorite character of the show bar none. Maybe I just have a weakness for evil-turned-good characters, but I adored her "don't take no shit from nobody" attitude and her soft side emerging as the show progressed. And let me tell you, Tsubasa would have no right to brood if she knew what Chris went through as a child. I won't give anything away, but just a few brief images and harsh words were enough get the picture across and tug at my heartstrings.

She also had my favorite Gear and fighting style in the show. If there's one thing that always gets my blood pumping, it's gatling guns and an endless supply of missiles. Seriously, I could watch this girl fight for hours.

Kanade Amou

A moment of silence, ladies and gentlemen.

......

Kanade would be my favorite character if we had gotten more of her. But alas, she has to die in the very first episode. DAMN YOU, PLOT!!!

Even though we get very little of Kanade, she makes it her mission to leave a lasting impression. Her sacrifice at the beginning sets the tone for the rest of the show, and her flashback is the best of the bunch. I got hard chills when she transformed for the first time. Let's just say she's psychotic in all the right ways.

Kanade died for our sins. Remember that... 🙏

Finé

Our main villain of the show. That's it. There's really nothing much else to her. She's cruel, manipulative, and powerful beyond belief, as most big bosses of these kinds of shows are. She was honestly my least favorite part of the show.

Fine's motivation is incredibly confusing on first watch. I had to go back to pause and read the subtitles multiple times to understand her backstory, but maybe that's my fault for being a slow reader. On the other hand, the explanation as to who she is and why she's so powerful comes right out of nowhere and doesn't seem to connect to anything the story had been building up to that point. Also, by the time I understood her motivation and actually found it a little intriguing, she dropped the dreaded "I'm going to take over the world" line. Aaaaand.... all my interest just went out the window.

There is a twist involving her connection to a certain other character in the show that I genuinely didn't see coming, but in the end, it wasn't nearly enough to make up for her shortcomings.

Miku Kohinata

God bless this little angel. Miku is a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected at all costs. Thankfully, Hibiki's got it covered 👍

Words cannot express how much I love this girl. She may be only a supporting role for the time being, but good lord, does she support! It always broke my heart whenever she tried to spend time with Hibiki or talk to her, but the Disaster Relief Squad kept pulling them apart. I know DRS is classified, but Miku deserves better than to have secrets kept from her! Life sucks when your girlfriend best friend is a superhero...

Well, that was a mouthful. There's a lot more characters in this show, but I don't really have much to say about them. However, while we're on the subject of Miku, let's move on to the reason I checked this show out in the first place, and the reason I'm sure most of you read my stuff.

Yuri:

No sooner did I finish this show did I start looking up HibiMiku fanart 😍

I was expecting a fair dosage of yuribait going into Symphogear, but mother of all that is gay, did I get an overdose!

First and foremost, the main ship: HibiMiku. These two are dating. Nothing anyone says will change my mind. They compliment each other perfectly, with Hibiki's energy and Miku's sweetness... HHNNNGGH! IT'S TOO PRECIOUS! I sincerely hope these two get more time together in the next few seasons. Now if only they'd stop with the damn F word...... 😡

Next up, TsubaKana. This one seems more like it was one-sided feelings on Tsubasa's part, judging by how dedicated Kanade was to fighting the Noise. Regardless, you don't just lose all sense of your humanity and self-worth after your "partner" dies. And all that hardcore blushing in the flashbacks and naked cuddling dream sequences... nah, Tsubasa was hella hot for Kanade. Sadly, our lord and savior was taken from Ms. Brooding too soon.

Finally, there's Ryoko Sakurai, the DRS's head scientist. She was initially hinted to be gay, what with her being all too eager to have Hibiki undress and wanting to "pop her cherry" (yes, an adult said that to a 15 year-old). However, after a certain conversation occurred, it seemed more like she was straight or at least bisexual, if all that dirty talk wasn't just teasing.

I've heard future seasons introduce more potential couples, so I'm keeping my eyes open and my yuri goggles on tight 😋

Conclusion:

I enjoyed the first season of Senki Zesshou Symphogear through and through. As someone who enjoyed Akanesasu Shoujo and Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka, I have a soft spot for shows about badass girls kicking monster ass and unleashing their inner yuri. Overall though, I think Symphogear might be my favorite of the bunch so far. It has its fair share of flaws, sure, but I think its positives outweigh the negatives by a long shot. If I got this much enjoyment out of the first season, I cannot wait to see what the following seasons have to offer!

Symphogear delivers a fun, action-packed story with colorful characters, kickass fight scenes, head-banging music and plenty of yuri content. Anyone who loves Magical Girls or Shounen battle shows needs to check it out!

Rating: 8/10

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go binge Symphogear G. See you next time, my fellow yuri lovers!