#part of that comes down to Penguindrum really being an ensemble show but like I've seen male creatives not really know how to write women

[seasaltmemories]

Having known the general plot of Penguindrum long before I watched it I would see pics of Ikuhara's heroines together and I was always quietly a hater about it bc how could "generic sick girl who barely does anything in the plot" have the same impact as genuine protagonists

And now just cut to me just rotating Himari in my head 90% of the time, LMAO amazing how wrong I was. Turns out plot summaries are no substitute for actually watching the thing! What a twist!

I do wonder how would read to ppl with chronic illness but her depiction feels so much richer than most sad sick girls in that she is painfully aware of her role as tragic symbol of innocence that must be struck down by the narrative, like if ppl only wanted a full character study on someone in her situation they'd be disappointed, but we're given just enough to know that this on some level a performance

she isn't not a sweet kind girl who loves her family but she's never really had the chance to be anything else, and she doesn't just sit there simmering in resentment or anything, she regards the whole Double H situation with remarkable maturity, but it just all comes back to the chasing love monologue, so much of her character comes down to having to make do with a shitty hand you've been dealt, and so even if she doesn't drive the 'action' it still feels like her story too, bc having that level of agency and freedom was never an option, every choice and option she makes has to be fought with by tooth and nail, making it all the more meaningful