(L+CR) Selector Spread WIXOSS

[Stark700]

Aww, I just want to give Tama a hug after watching the latest episode ;_;

[Key Board]

Darth Ulith, predictably, only likes Akira when she's miserable

And I sense that Hanayo@Yuzuki will become involved in Selector battles once again
I think it's noticeable that she's not happy about her current set up

Lastly, what happened at the end of the episode has forced the issue to Ruuko

[Haruyasha]

So I see Wixoss added dubstep to their soundtrack.

[Master_Yoma]

Akira still going off the deep end and Ruuko luck still going down but kind of see that one coming

[Triple_R]

I never thought I'd ever actually feel sorry for Akira. But now I do.

It's clear the girl wasn't quite as bad as I thought, and that some of her issues was likely due to feeling like she wasn't getting enough love in her life. Either that, or she's just flatout insane. And needs serious psychological help.

In any event, though, Akira is clearly capable of being a decent person under the right circumstances. It's just so tragic that she's getting totally used by the person she now is completely in love with.

Akira is now reaching Batman rogue-esque caliber of psychologically fascinating antagonist/villain. She is truly one of the best anime antagonists of the year, maybe the best. Ulith!Iona and LRIG!Iona are also compelling antagonists.

There's lots of great plots and subplots and melodrama and soap opera to this show. It reminds me of pro wrestling narratives at their finest. I'm certainly looking forward to more, after a thoroughly engaging Episode 3.

[Key Board]

It seems that Mayu has some issues as well
most of the cast is just so deliciously warped

[Benigmatica]

Is it me, or it's becoming more like Black☆Rock Shooter with all those "let's hurt together" and the like?

Still, what a surprise that Tama-chan is back.. as Ulith's new LRIG!

[silvercover]

Originally Posted by Benigmatica

Is it me, or it's becoming more like Black☆Rock Shooter with all those "let's hurt together" and the like?

Still, what a surprise that Tama-chan is back.. as Ulith's new LRIG!

well, wasnt there a connection to wixoss with BRS via director/writer or something that we discussed over in the previous thread?
also yep, im getting those vibes as well. I dont expect an impressive ending or story, only here for the yuri and wincest as well as the potential for protagonist corruption since that thing is pretty rare(though pretty unlikely to happen anyway).

as for akira being an antagonist, eh im not that impressed.
while I havent really seen much of the anime this year, akira's archetype is something that's been used dozens of times already.
the one who's indebted, loyal and loving to the main villain, and will do anything it takes just for said villain even if it means being punished.

also I respectfully disagree with akira being much of a decent person. while she's got the jealousy card to play with, she's still quite a bitch to every other person even her parents.
so she used to be a "decent" person, but suddenly is a bitch to others once another girl gets more attention than her? akira's still pretty popular, and im betting the reason for its downfall is more on her own fault rather than just iona being popular. kinda like how they started pulling the plug on her when she kept being absent cause she was hunting for selectors, she was probably too tense most of the time during her shoots and wasnt focusing well on the job.

this akira is just a minor improvement from the last season. we just get a bit more background on her, but otherwise she's just as messily designed as last time.

[Esclair]

Hmmm, I don't know if this will play out in Iona's favor. I don't think Ruuko would be willing to fight against Tama.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by silvercover

as for akira being an antagonist, eh im not that impressed.
while I havent really seen much of the anime this year, akira's archetype is something that's been used dozens of times already.
the one who's indebted, loyal and loving to the main villain, and will do anything it takes just for said villain even if it means being punished.

The difference with Akira is that she didn't start out that way. You're basically right that having a character completely loyal to the main antagonist due to unflinching love for the main antagonist is not that uncommon. But such characters usually start that way, at least in my experience, whereas Akira didn't.

What I find fascinating about Akira is the drastic character change she's made.

Season 1 Akira was pure malice and self-interest. Totally out for herself, without the slightest sincere concern for any other person. An abrasive trash-talker that seemed to be on a destructive rampage (the fact her very wish was about hurting another person just double-downed on how the girl was like wrath itself, personified).

Season 2 Akira is now completely caught up in feelings of love and dedication for another person. She desperately wants to be loved, accepted, and validated by this other person. "Aki-Lucky" to "Aki-Lovely" is a drastic change, one that I don't know if anybody saw coming. I certainly didn't see it coming. And what I find impressive is how, at least from my perspective, WIXOSS has managed to pull this off without it seeming unbelievable. The change has seemed a bit rapid, but nonetheless I can buy it.

One other thing I like about Akira now, and this is why I compared her to a Batman rogue, is the way they're playing up her facial scar. I think that facial scare has come to represent the inner ugliness within Aki-Lucky, and her desire to cover it over with makeup represents her desire to be Aki-Lovely instead. Whereas Ulith wanting to see that scar represents Ulith wanting to see Aki-Lucky instead of Aki-Lovely.

And while writing this, it occurs to me that Akira has become an inverted Two-Face in many ways (Two-Face probably being one of the five most famous and popular Batman rogues). Let me explain in spoiler-space below.

Spoiler for Akira/Two-Face comparisons, spoilers for those not at all familiar with Two-Face:

Most if not all versions of Harvey Dent starts out as an upstanding law-and-order citizen with a strong sense of justice. He starts as a "good guy". Then he gets corrupted, partly due to major bodily deformities making half of his face look totally grotesque. After that he becomes a villain and he flips coins to determine if he'll do the "good" thing or the "bad" thing when faced with any tough decision. He goes from "good guy" to an antagonist split between a bad side and a relatively good side.

Akira starts out as a vicious antagonist. After suffering three losses, she gets a large facial scar on one side of her face. She continues to be a harsh antagonist until she meets Ulith. Then she becomes divided between "Aki-Lucky" and "Aki-Lovely" (a relatively good side). As with Two-Face, she's torn between these two sides of herself, and again as with Two-Face, those sides are symbolically represented by physical ugliness or the lack thereof.

also I respectfully disagree with akira being much of a decent person. while she's got the jealousy card to play with, she's still quite a bitch to every other person even her parents.

No, she's still not a decent person. But she shows the potential to become one, which is honestly more than I could say about her Season 1 self.

[tuckersister]

The next episode start to get interest. I seems that Ruko and Hitoe are communicating with a certain someone over the computer. Still don't yet. We will wait and see.

[MarkS00N]

This series turns a lot more interesting than I imagined it is going to be...
Within my prediction, but still do enough interesting twist that I don't see coming (mostly about Akira-Ulith interaction)...

And I think Ruuko was lying about her 'not like battle' thing...
And this can turn ugly (which is good for me )...

[Shyni]

Hypothetically, if Ulith can win with Tama, and becomes a LRIG again, would she look like Iona or her old self? I doubt this will be adressed but I can't help but wonder.

[Kaoru Chujo]

You probably don't need this, but here's an updated characters/seiyuus page for the second season.

[Stark700]

Idk exactly how strong Chiyori is but she was surprisingly amusing to watch in the latest battle. I see Tama is fighting her but she doesn't seem too happy about it.

Ruuko and her despair ;_;

I think Chiyori is having a bit way too much fun this episode as well. Those poses...
Good to know some questions being answered although there's still quite a bit of mystery.

[HandofFate]

lol, with the book, didn't expect them to go all Chobits on this series.

[Arkeus]

Iona needs all the hugs ;_;

Also, mmh, they are now going full-on Battoru-is-sex metaphors.

[RX-78GP04G Gerbera]

Originally Posted by Arkeus

Iona needs all the hugs ;_;

Also, mmh, they are now going full-on Battoru-is-sex metaphors.

"Such a bad girl. Doing it with me while thinking of somebody else."

[Key Board]

alright, I know for sure now that Wixoss is Double Entendre: The Animation

[tuckersister]

We finally meet Fumio and of the bat is an interesting character. She seems to know more than Iona. Looking forward to her Selector battle Ruko. Iona seems to shock in the preview when she finds out something during the battle.