Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid

[dangermousie]

Started watching Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid and it's wonderful.

I love that the show addresses the problem and the strain it is on Sousuke to both go on missions, guard Chidori, fight with the Arbalest. If he was capable of having a nervous breakdown, he probably would or die of exhaustion.

And having to do homework on a mission? Funny, yes. But also exhausting. But I find it telling that when Melissa tels him he should stop guarding Chidori (because she is right, as a short-term it's fine, as long-term, doing both is impossible), you can see how he doesn't want to. He is silent, but he is all mute resistance. And a large part of it is because he loves Chidori, even if he doesn't realize it (it shows how important she is to him, when you realize she is the only person who knows that his hobby is fishing. Everyone else probably thinks his gear case is another weapon. Sousuke is never communicative about himself and he doesn't realie it, probably as the result of his FUBAR upbringing). But another part of it is because he is enjoying being 'a real boy.' He likes going to school and all that. It's certainly a lot more restful than his missions. In a way, he probably thinks of it as another hobby. This is his first exposure to normalcy, his first chance to find out what he really wants and needs. Unlike Kurz and Mao who joined as grown-up and have had normal childhoods and upbringing, Sousuke never had time to be anything but a soldier, and it's kinda heartbreaking. He has really fallen s much into his school life that pretending has become real (notice how started he is when Kurz points out that he doesn't have to worry about passing, as they can forge documents for him). Mao's comment about him hiding behind orders is true, but not in the way she means. He is hiding how much he likes Chidori and normalcy, even from himself as long as he can tell himself 'it's my orders to guard her and go to school.' I wonder what would happen if his orders changed. We've already seen he'd violate orders for Chidori, but I wonder if he'd have a chance to think through, in those circumstances, what it is he really wants, for himself. Not just Chidori, but this kind of life. I hope he gets a chance to find out and do it.

The villain in this one is insane and funny, btw.

Comments

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

The thing is, school just isn't Chidori. Yeah, that's a huge part of it, but he's got normal friends now. And even if his school mates think he's a little weird, none are every actively mean to him (not that he'd GET subtle school yard taunts anyway or care for that matter). Chidori's bespectacled friend takes to him right away as does the little geeky kid who idolizes him. As much as Kurz and Melissa have been with him, I wouldn't really call them his friends. Partners, sure, but he doesn't interact with them other than in a professional mindset. Kurz and Melissa are friends with each other (frankly I'd call the two of them best friends since they seem so comfortable around each other), but they're never any better friends with Sousuke than on the surface. At school he is finally meeting people who are taking him for him, not as sargent lieutenant major or whatever he is.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

True. He's never had a taste of normal life before, so he's never had a meaningful choice before. Melissa and Kurz are cool, but they don't know him well at all, not like the way not only Chidori, but other school people do. Who know and treat him as a person, not a sergeant.