Saiunkoku Monogatari: is all of this going somewhere, or is it a giant fantasy civics lesson?

[dangermousie]

Ten episodes in, and it’s official: I enjoy SM but it’s not going anywhere near my Top 10.

I have come to the realization that what I ended up watching is really an anime version of a procedural, something I don’t usually do (they exist, I just tend not to seek them out in any media). Only the ‘procedure’ here is the functioning and administration of a fantasy country. And procedurals are not something I particularly love or even have much interest in.

In a way, this is sort of a fantasy C-SPAN, and I have never been one fascinated by world-building. I might be interested to read (and have done so) a book on how the government in e.g. Ancient China or modern-day Ghana, or medieval Florence worked/works, but I don’t think I’d want a weekly show following the government officials of these places. And more importantly, I have even less interest when the world the story is analyzing is fictional. I want the fictional world to be internally coherent and consistent, but developed only to such a degree as to seem real enough. When a large chunk of the story (novel or anime) is occupied by describing the nitty-gritty of the world, I lose interest. One of many reasons I am not huge into fantasy novels.

I don’t particularly have much interest in finding out how the fictional ministry of finance works, in detail. And I really don’t care about the intricacies of governing a remote fictional province which doesn’t exist in RL.

What I want in my anime (and other media) is a tight, unitary plot and/or intense character interactions and relationship (plantonic or romantic) development, and I am forced to conclude that SM is never going to have that. It’s never going to have a Fushigi Yuugi-type fantasy quest story, or any other strongly plot-driven narrative. Most of the anime I have ever loved had a very strong narrative and strong narrative drive, and the more of it, the better (it’s pretty in character that e.g. my favorite of the three Full Metal Panic seasons is the third one, with the sole, intense arc).


The only exceptions to that rule are the purely comedic/parodic anime, such as Ouran High School Host Club, and Full Metal Panic:Fumoffu, but in those anime, even if there was no strong unitary narrative, each episode had its own, fast-paced comedic narrative. The pace of an average ep of Ouran or Fumoffu was insane and very tightly wound. SM meanders in a leisurely fashion. It makes me think, in that respect, of Cowboy Beebop, an anime where I loved the few arc-plot-driven episodes, but found the pace of the rest to be too leisurely to really adore the show. And I suppose the earlier eps of Rurouni Kenshin were not unitarily-plotted, but they did have a narrative arc in each ep, plus Kenshin’s quirkiness. Not to mention that I like watching swordfights more than watching politics.

And of course, the thing with Fumoffu was that it was a breathing space between the intensity of FMP and FMP:TSR. I would not mind non-plot-driven eps if the overall narrative was plot driven. Ouran was just its own thing and broke most of my anime love rules. It also poked fun at itself which is something I love in my anime, and SM is not doing. But also, in addition to fast internal-per-ep narratives, it had wacky hijinks and oddball characters. There aren’t really hijinks in SM as a rule, and its characters are all lovely, pretty well-adjusted, well-behaved people. Once again, more realistic, but for me, fictionally less interesting.

It’s as if in Ouran, we largely followed not the adventures of the wacky host club, but Haruhi’s studies in her path of becoming a lawyer. The shift in focus.

I basically only become really invested and perk up when Ryuuki is on screen. This does make me feel as a period-clothes version of Ouran ;) I am not too interested in seeing a General run a court properly, or a minister analyze documents, or fictional political infighting in fictional kingdom. The people are nice and competent but except for Ryuuki, leave me nothing to glom onto, as characters. They are someones I wouldn’t mind having over for dinner, but not people I want to watch in screen.

Ryuuki is funny, and quirky, and has issues and basically feels like a cool fictional character to follow. He also has a drive of a personal nature, not just ‘I like to do government stuff.’

Which brings me to Shuurei. She would be a nice person, and a proper official, but as a heroine, she doesn’t interest me much. She has no issues, no quirks, no strong-willed passionate outbursts. She has the most ‘even’ life I have ever seen in an anime heroine: she wants to become a beaurocrat and serve the state. The end. But where is the dramatic tension in it? The narrative interest? It’s a praiseworthy goal for a real person, but once again, fictionally it’s C-SPAN. She has no internal or even interesting external conflict. At all.

I also can’t ship her with anyone, because she isn’t interested in anyone. I can’t even ship her with Ryuuki, because even though he is in love with her, her attitude towards him is ‘I love you like I love 28 of my closest friends.’ Leaving aside that this is shoujo, in RL, I would say there is NO chance she would ever reciprocate. Yes, in RL, sometimes people end up falling for each other after being friends for a while first, but then at least there is some UST first. If she isn’t interested at all by now after knowing him really well as a person, and after he rescued her from a tower full of assassins, or passed a decree allowing her to take the imperial exam, she is never going to be interested. Seriously. It pains me to say so, but it’s true.

Basically, SM is very good, but unless it picks up a plot, which I don’t think it will, or develops interestingly intense character bonds (or spends more time on those it mentioned)* not really my thing. I like it, but alas, no new favorite is born.

Also, enough with 40 new characters, or what feels like it! How many main characters can the story have?

* I did not talk much above about my other alternative love, character relationship exploration, but once again, this does not seem to have a driven, changing, intense interaction between characters (as romantic, friendly, antagonistic, or whatnot). They are all nice people interacting nicely so dramatic tension isn't really there.

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Heh...your description of Shuurei and falling for people is the problem I have with Haruhi in Ouran falling for any of the guys.

(And your description of the approach really does keep sounding more and more like 12k...except 12k stays pretty action driven)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oddly, in Ouran I can see Haruhi/Tamaki because (as I am crazy) I do see frissons of something there now and then, and also because she is so clueless about feelings. I don't think Shuurei is.

And then, in the anime, which is my basis anyway (as opposed to the manga), she really was jealous and miserable when he was force-engaged.

To be totally fair, I see a little bit of it in SM too, she does get a little noticy and blushy now and then. It's just IMO, because the pace is so slow, that is slow too, and I think if they do get together, it won't be any time soon. I mean, the guy kissed her. Twice. And she is not shown thinking about it (except in 'must slap you') way which means she has a loooong way to go.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Well, I've only read the first 8 volumes of the Ouran manga, and at the start, the manga-ka flatout says that she doesn't really see Haruhi with anyone but especially Tamaki, but if she did fall for anyone, it would probably be Mori. It was pretty obvious that when it started going a Haruhi/Tamaki direction, it was because he was popular, not because it was what seemed best for the story.

Tamaki is the kind of character I can utterly adore...but have serious problems with shipping with anyone, unless he seriously tones it down.

It sounds (from everything I've read here and elsewhere) that she understandably thinks he's the sort to go around kissing anyone and everyone, which may be why she doesn't think about the kiss(plus, personally, little interest in my heroines spending all their time fretting over their love lives, what it meant when he did what, etc...there are other things to do)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It was pretty obvious that when it started going a Haruhi/Tamaki direction, it was because he was popular, not because it was what seemed best for the story.


If not Tamaki, I could see her with Hikaru, or even Kyuoya, but not really Mori. I can't see her with Mori at all. At least I suppose, in RL, he is the most sober one of the bunch, but narratively I think it would be pretty boring. I could more see her with Kyouya, if Haruhi really needed the serious-by-nature partner. I can't see Mori with anyone really. No idea why.

I actually narratively like the thought of her with Tamaki, because common-sense-girl and hyper-guy is something I find fun (I love couples where one is sober and serious and the other hyper, and this is basically a gender reversal of that trope). Plus, it will sort of be her parents all over again. Plus, she needs fun in her life.

Also, Tamaki is usually the guy in the manga who never gets the girl (think Nakatsu in Hana Kimi) so I want it to work out, for once.

Plus *small voice* when I started college, over 10 years ago (but I was still older than Tamaki :P), I was totally a live-action female version of him. Not the issues, obviously, but the demeanor and the hyperness and the solipcistic bounciness and sort of drive. And utter lack of shyness or inhibitions. My freshman year roommate (who is still a good friend) told me later she thought I was a blonde, before she met me, and was shocked to see that I am actually clever, with the hyper endless chatting and energy bounces. All my friends think I have almost unrecognizably calmed down since then (partially because of Mr. Mousie) so I guess I am rooting for Tamaki because he makes me think of younger version of me /*small voice*

little interest in my heroines spending all their time fretting over their love lives

I don't really want her to fret, but at least a brief moment wondering, even if then she is like 'ehh, whatever' would be nice. Plus, I think even the densest heroine is bound to realize if the guy kissed you, then sent you tons and tons of love letters every day (she has a huge stack), and presents every day, and tehn came to visit and kissed you again, he just might...you know...be mildly interested?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I picture Tamaki getting murdered if he and Haruhi ever got married, to be honest. The only guys in the series I actually can picture with anyone are Mori and Kyoya...they're the only sane ones.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heh. If I can have a functional marriage, any nutter can :)

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

I like Shuurei because she's not thinking all the time about who kissed her. And because she is trying to stay levelheaded. And because


POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT


she does get swept off her feet later and thinks her way out of it, but not without a lot of heartache and serious self-questioning.

It does meander because it's setting up a big story. Personally, I found the payoff worth the wait. Not that you have to like it, of course.

PS Did you say you could divulge links to the second season?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, who sweeps her off her feet? spoil me, please! I am excited by the prospect.

I don't mind if it takes time to set up the story, I was just worried there was no story to set up. Now I can sit back and relax and enjoy.

I will link you to links:

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/1058404.html

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, who sweeps her off her feet? spoil me, please! I am excited by the prospect.

well, I'm not sure I am capable of doing him justice but he is the twisted but oh so sexy possibly could be saved by the love of a good woman scion of the evil clan that's exploiting Brown Province (or whatever it's called in the translation you're watching). He has fabulous long hair and is prettier than Ryuuki and very very charming. And dangerous. And has a history with Seiran.

It does take a while to set up though, and it seems at first as though it's going in the wrong direction. I admit I'm not sure I totally paid attention to the details during this arc. But it definitely does get more emotional and you grow to like the new characters and they have important roles to play.

There are some Lymond-like aspects to it all. Think of Shuurei as Philippa.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think it's called 'Sa Province.' Hmmmm, so I guess she decides not to redeem him :P

Is this him?

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1616/saimono2623lx5.jpg

it definitely does get more emotional and you grow to like the new characters and they have important roles to play.

I definitely hope so, because now I am basically 'ugh, all these new characters, how many of them are there, they are taking time away from characters I am interested in' Let's hope I get invested in them.

Think of Shuurei as Philippa.

But this story has no Lymond :(

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

that's him!

[kirusai.livejournal.com]

And you've just given a fabulous explanation on why I lost interest in SaiMono so quickly. I really thought I could watch the shiny anime and sparkly characters, but they're trying to build a fictional world based on ancient China, and I have no patience for it.

There are tons more new characters because I think novel-wise, it's up to book 12? or is it 11? I stopped paying attention.

I managed to finish season one and that was it. Couldn't touch season two once I started on those novels.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

SM is trying to give me one type of story when I want another. So I am going to give up, as it's clear I will never get what I want.

I don't hate it or anything, but there is such a huge amount of things out there, why watch something unless I really like it and am not bored?

[fire-snake.livejournal.com]

Finally, an entry to which I can comment, since it doesn't necessarily require the familiarity with the show:) I don't mind world building if it unfolds along with the plot line, e.g. Guy Gavriel Kay's fantasy novels (yes, I know that they are not your favorites, plus too much of them reflexes European medieval history) or even Tolkien's way of inter-spreading the action with the ancient lore. Another good example that I can think of is the Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, where a pretty intricate world is being developed along with the plot, and the Empire of Videssos cycle by Harry Turtledove (that one is loosely based on the early Byzantine and Persian history).
My problem with most of the fantasy novels is that instead of treating me like a traveler in an unfamiliar land (where you discover everything by immersion), I am being treated like an alien from another planet reading a bad monthly almanac article. It tends to make the books bulky and indigestible.
I would make the exception for RR Martin and Robert Jordan, but their books are too damned long. They just don't fit into my life cycle:) I can't focus all my energy on trying to track and remember all of their various characters in a brave new world!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

am being treated like an alien from another planet reading a bad monthly almanac article. It tends to make the books bulky and indigestible.

Exactly.

Which is why I stay away from most fantasy. I have enough trouble keeping up with real world, why add a fictional one to it :)