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Inuyasha: The Final Act | 13 - The Complete Meidou
Oh. My. God.
Fellow Sesshoumaru fangirls, this is a MUST SEE episode!
This is the story arc that ultimately made me fall in love with Sesshoumaru. To me, his pain is so raw and palpable, so close to the surface ~ at more than any other point in the manga, he is vulnerable, and he lashes out in that vulnerability. That is very powerful to me, and it resonates with me, that he could be so strong in the face of his worse fear, in the face of such incredible disappointment and realization. The Bakusaiga arc might be my favorite one, as it brings the storyline started here full circle, but anytime I need to get back in touch with my Sess muse's emotion, I come back to this arc.
In Shishinki, here is all of Sesshoumaru's conflicts with his father made flesh - confirmation of his worst fears, his suspicion, the resurrection of all the old hurts and wounds, when it comes to the bequeathing of the swords. Learning his is but a cast-off of his brother's, with a technique his father could not master - that *had* to hurt. Yeah, Shishinki was goading him needlessly, pushing him to the point of actually lashing out because of whatever he was feeling, but at the same time - it's something Sesshoumaru had to experience. He has to get past this final link to his father, this final bit of resentment and understanding, this final, stinging, humbling assignment.
For what was his father's purpose? That he, Sesshoumaru, train the technique and then ultimately had it over to his brother.
For someone as proud and arrogant as Sesshoumaru, that is a tough pill to swallow, indeed.
It's nice that I'm reminded of this particular storyline now, as I'm moving into the same sorts of issues in my fic Fleeting, where Sesshoumaru learns of his father's ultimate plans for him and his life. Mostly what I've been stuck on is his reaction to everything, because the character I've portrayed is a bit more indulgent of his emotions. But seeing this, it brings me full circle, gives me confirmation of the right path to follow. Inuyasha tries to help him (and then comfort him - wow!), but he is too disgusted to stay. Love it, another wrinkle in their brotherly relationship. These characters, they do nothing by halves, even if it means getting hurt themselves!
I thought this episode was beautifully wrought - lots of lovely fanservice in the way of art direction, and the action was quite impressive as well. I loved the animation of the meidou circles, and the final one that took Shishinki's life - where Tessaiga and Tenseiga work together - was pretty magnificent. Its nice to see, finally, consistently good art direction over more than one episode :P I cannot WAIT for caps of this, because there are several close-ups of Sess that are just *sigh* to die for.
Preview: As Sesshoumaru sorts out his sword issues, Naraku take the opportunity to attack Kohaku; he attempts to take his shard, but Sango's there for the rescue! We're moving right along towards the end, as this episode marks the halfway point of the new anime o.O
Fellow Sesshoumaru fangirls, this is a MUST SEE episode!
This is the story arc that ultimately made me fall in love with Sesshoumaru. To me, his pain is so raw and palpable, so close to the surface ~ at more than any other point in the manga, he is vulnerable, and he lashes out in that vulnerability. That is very powerful to me, and it resonates with me, that he could be so strong in the face of his worse fear, in the face of such incredible disappointment and realization. The Bakusaiga arc might be my favorite one, as it brings the storyline started here full circle, but anytime I need to get back in touch with my Sess muse's emotion, I come back to this arc.
In Shishinki, here is all of Sesshoumaru's conflicts with his father made flesh - confirmation of his worst fears, his suspicion, the resurrection of all the old hurts and wounds, when it comes to the bequeathing of the swords. Learning his is but a cast-off of his brother's, with a technique his father could not master - that *had* to hurt. Yeah, Shishinki was goading him needlessly, pushing him to the point of actually lashing out because of whatever he was feeling, but at the same time - it's something Sesshoumaru had to experience. He has to get past this final link to his father, this final bit of resentment and understanding, this final, stinging, humbling assignment.
For what was his father's purpose? That he, Sesshoumaru, train the technique and then ultimately had it over to his brother.
For someone as proud and arrogant as Sesshoumaru, that is a tough pill to swallow, indeed.
It's nice that I'm reminded of this particular storyline now, as I'm moving into the same sorts of issues in my fic Fleeting, where Sesshoumaru learns of his father's ultimate plans for him and his life. Mostly what I've been stuck on is his reaction to everything, because the character I've portrayed is a bit more indulgent of his emotions. But seeing this, it brings me full circle, gives me confirmation of the right path to follow. Inuyasha tries to help him (and then comfort him - wow!), but he is too disgusted to stay. Love it, another wrinkle in their brotherly relationship. These characters, they do nothing by halves, even if it means getting hurt themselves!
I thought this episode was beautifully wrought - lots of lovely fanservice in the way of art direction, and the action was quite impressive as well. I loved the animation of the meidou circles, and the final one that took Shishinki's life - where Tessaiga and Tenseiga work together - was pretty magnificent. Its nice to see, finally, consistently good art direction over more than one episode :P I cannot WAIT for caps of this, because there are several close-ups of Sess that are just *sigh* to die for.
Preview: As Sesshoumaru sorts out his sword issues, Naraku take the opportunity to attack Kohaku; he attempts to take his shard, but Sango's there for the rescue! We're moving right along towards the end, as this episode marks the halfway point of the new anime o.O
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RT leaves me with so many unanswered questions (which she probably only has the sketchiest of answers, anyway)
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If you are a fan of Sesshoumaru instead of Inuyasha, this is a very, very difficult part of the manga to get through without just a teensy bit of hatred towards InuPapa.
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The family psychology you could come up with for Inu's family....
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LMAO - why do you think I love this series so much? :D It's like she's dropping little breadcrumbs for us to follow...
Sesshoumaru and his dysfunctional parents are pretty much a psychologist's wet dream.
ETA: Not that you asked, but...
I want to know why he would treat his son this way...Makes Papa seem mighty controlling/manipulative in the least
In the Fleeting universe, he does it because he can, basically *shrug* Totally self-interested and looking for a successor to that ambitious sort of drive.
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Gads what a weird mind I have.
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ZOMG, I cannot wait to own this episode in some form or fashion :D
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It is those acts. Throwing away Tenseiga, leaping into Meidou, and giving Meidou Zangestsuha to his brother that make him his own man. The true daiyoukai who stands on his own.
This episode shows what is wrong with the portrayal of Sess as the stoic quiet calculating planner. He is angry and blunders into every attack by
Shinshinki. In the end IY saves him and he knows.
He will go off to try to kill Totosai in his anger and leaves his taichi to
the mercy of Naraku. Sango saves his butt with her upgraded Hiraikotsu. Then just as at the beginning Naraku offers him a way to kill IY and he takes it for his own end. He does plan to get rid of the swords, but he expects to kill IY to do it and says so to IY during the Meidou fight.
Just another Sesshoumaru temper tantrum because the spoined brat does not get his way.
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It reminds a little of my genius Phd chess master brother whining at my parents 50th anniversary that my dad had never told him that he was proud of him for all of his achievements.
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It should make you feel good about all of your characterizations of him.
I *do* feel good about my characterizations of him. Others, apparently, don't share these good vibes :P
It reminds a little of my genius Phd chess master brother whining at my parents 50th anniversary that my dad had never told him that he was proud of him for all of his achievements.
Being taken for granted goes both ways, let's not forget. And sometimes its nice to hear someone actually say
I love you"I'm proud of you" even if you know its inherently true.Not trying to defend your brother, because holy inappropriate time and place, Batman, but still o.O Unless he's a total narcissist, in which case I see little for him to have in common with Sess...
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It really was gorgeous, too... *sigh*
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You think so? I dunno...I just feel like he favors Inuyasha over Sesshoumaru, maybe because of the fact that he wasn't around when Inuyasha was growing up? *shrug* Its fun to speculate about their backgrounds, but I can't say that I believe InuPapa's intentions were the best in the world (or that RT wasn't making this up as she went along, LOL).
It really was gorgeous, too... *sigh*
I swear to God...everytime I try to leave the craziness that is Sesshoumaru fangirlism (because JFC, you wanna talk nutso o.O), this anime drags me back in. So much gorgeousness!! I can barely contain my glee :P
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Well, the second part about RT is *definitely* true. Sometimes things don't *quite* fit.
I'm probably just hoping for the best though, lol. My own personal view is that InuPapa probably loved Inuyasha more because he truly loved Izayoi. (It's a very Jacob with Rachel and Leah kind of thing in my mind.) So there's definite favor, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want the best for them. InuPapa's plan for Tenseiga and Sesshoumaru is kind of a vote of confidence in Sess's ability to take care of himself. One son is trusted, the other is taken care of - InuPapa just made it hard on himself when he tried to make them work together too. There's a pretty big disparity between what InuPapa thought was best to happen and what his sons (well, Sess) think is best.
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One of the great myths of SK is that IY had to so good because his dad and mom loved him. He never knew his dad and his mom died young.
Sorry about the diatribe, but the favorite tag claptrap pervades so much of SK fiction. Even in SK AU he is portrayed as the spoiled little rich kid which is totally OOC. He is not rich and there are no parents to spoil him.
At least Sesshoumaru had parents. He still has his mother, but does not seem to want to visit her.
Now that that is out of the way. At the end of this episode we see IY and Sango watch as their brothers fly away. It is so poignant. Both of them just want a brother. Sesshoumaru has just told IY that they will fight until they are dead. Kohaku cannot even face Sango. So sad. Great art direction.
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Oh, I totally understand - it irritates me as well, which is why I do my best to avoid it anytime I venture into that pairing. Each of the sons had it rough for varying reasons, and it just matters which one you find more sympathetic as to which one you're going to find more realistic. One of the many, many reasons Sesshoumaru has so many fangirls is because he skirts the edge of the Icy Price Ideal, and they eat that up like a spoon (yeah, okay, myself included). And its just easier to let Inuyasha be the one who had it easy, who doesn't have a reason to feel tortured or hurt or abandonded because that's Sesshoumaru's role goddammit we can't have TWO COMPLEX CHARACTERS OH NOEZ.
Both of them just want a brother.
Indeed - I think Inuyasha wanted acceptance from someone in his relation, more than just about anything else - and Sesshoumaru knows that, and that's why he's constantly rejecting him.
I quite like the dynamics of their relationship, precisely because it is so complex and varied. It's a shame others want to simplify it, because there's so much more here beyond simple "this one's good therefore his brother *must* be terrible."