A certain series diluted, spliced and distilled
Now that we've had the Biri Biri arc that Railgun fans have been clamouring for, I'm left with the ever so slight but undeniable taste of disappointment. Keiri's contention that the characters were diluted went some way to explain my funk.
Kuroko (aka 'Desu-no chan' LOL), in particular, felt incomplete, unwhole. Thinking back, it wasn't so much that she was diluted but that a facet of her personality was very deliberately and surgically spliced off - the crazy yuri jealousy which was the source of so much merriment when I was reading A Certain Scientific Railgun. Manga Kuroko's jealousy is definitely one of her charm points, she just isn't the same without it.
At least we got some of her perviness back. Washi eloquently described how the Index poster in Megami 105 distilled all his favourite things about the Index anime. Another big reason why the aforementioned poster is Good, for me, is because who's not there: Touma. Which is why I suppose I prefer the Railgun manga so much more -he's just an occasional cameo supporting chara.
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January 1st, 2009 - 06:19
There is indeed one (but not only) thing that I hate about Touma. His speeches. It seems that his right hand dispells intellect and common sense too. At times he sounds just like your average badly played paladin character.
Almost made me drop the show. If not for other characters, I most certainly would.
January 2nd, 2009 - 22:45
@ Zyl
Yes, I think “surgically spliced off” would be a more accurate description for Kuroko. It’s understandable that it’s only in the Manga series where she acts like a jealous freak, whilst the Anime adapted her original personality from the light novels. Still, I wonder whether we would have had a different opinion of her had we not read the Manga first. Hmm… Probably we might think she’s just an annoying Desu no-chan. :/
@ LexXxich
Ah, looks like I have the same opinion as you on why I dislike Touma. Initially, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. He’s on the right side of the debate when it comes to justifying things and it’s also admirable on how he selflessly helps people but it’s the way he expresses his thoughts is what made the whole scene irritating. There are many other characters who gave speeches like him but somehow with Touma, the atmosphere felt…different. :s
January 3rd, 2009 - 00:00
Incomplete is the perfect way to put it. We DO get certain indications that she’s yuriliciously jealous, but it’s somehow bereft of the SD funniness of the Railgun manga.
Also, what’s completely missing is that beneath her slightly weird outer shell there’s a very capable, caring and dedicated judgment officer beneath who can perfectly hold her own. It’s a shame, really…
January 8th, 2009 - 18:30
Lex, well put. BTW Stripey used play a paladin in our AD&D group. LOL
Dav, thanks, I didn’t know much about the novels. So the anime is being more faithful to the novels than the manga – actually quite a pity since the manga Kuroko is such a delight!
Mentar, the ‘SD funniness’ is a great way of putting it. There’s the visual exaggeration that you can only get in the manga or anime format. And it also emphasizes that the interesting mix of Kuroko being shown to be both childish and adult in her jealousy.
Well, let’s all hope for a Railgun anime!!