So, Buddhist Two Face?
So when I first saw Batman Ninja, of all the crazy-ass shit that they show us in this film, I was very confused by Two-Face's castle mech. Because like... Unlike the other castles, it looks more like a Buddhist temple/statue than a palace...? So like... What the heck is going on here!??? I'm all for the crazy shit going on in this film, but just... Why have this be Two-Face's palace...?
I figured that maybe at least part of the answer would lie with the name. Because all of the castles have names that they didn't really translate back into English (With the exception of Arkham Castle which is... You know... They took Arkham Asylum and turned it into a castle... Somehow... >.>), including Two-Face's castle!
So Two-Face's castle in the Batman Ninja movie is called, "Fudo Omote Two-Face Castle". Now obviously, the last two bits are just saying who owns it and the fact that it's a castle. And since I don't speak any Japanese, I needed to look up what "Fudo Omote" could possibly mean.
So from the looks of it, "Fudo" means "inmovable" and seems to be a Buddhist principle of sorts. Like... It seems to represent a kind of mental state that is unflinching and unwavering- inmovable, while also being fully aware of and focusing on everything. [Longer explanation and definition here.] I really think that this must be an idea that doesn't translate into English very easily. In this context, Fudo is likely also being used in reference to Fudo Myo-o who is a Japanese Buddhist god (primarily in Esoteric Buddhism) and a protector of Buddhism itself. Fudo Myo-o seems to be a kind of wrathful deity who is very unflinching in his faith, which is interesting when you try to relate that to Two-Face and what it might imply about his character in this particular situation. [There are a few things about this Buddhist deity that I really think would appeal to Two-Face as a character specifically, but I don't want to get into it. Regardless, you can read more about it here.] So with this in mind, Two-Face's palace likely is a Buddhist temple, and the influence shows. Personally it makes me think that Two-Face REALLY got into Buddhism while in feudal Japan, and that idea just tickles me and I think it's neat! :D
Meanwhile "Omote" means "outer", "surface", or "front" but is more likely referencing the idea of having an "outer face" or a "pubic face". In Japan, the idea of having a face that you show to the public that is wholly different from who you are privately is a common idea. It is expected that your "outer face" (omote) and your "inner face" (ura) are separate. And just... Oh yes... HELL YES! I can ABSOLUTELY see why Two-Face would have latched onto this idea! This concept is just... So... HIM! I absolutely love what this says and implies about this iteration of Two-Face! Omote and ura are the ideas of being two-faced, but divorced from the negative connotation that the phrase has in English! The idea that the person that you are in public and the person you are in private being different is seen as being deceitful in western cultures. But in Japan, this is seen as just how people are! It also implies that Harvey Dent isn't gone. He just went from being the "outer face" to becoming the "inner face." He and Two-Face just switched, and so now Two-Face is who you see out there in the public, and Harvey Dent is who you only see once he's comfortable with you, he lets down his guard, and drops the pretext. I just LOVE how this one little word being here implies so much about this iteration of Two-Face! It's a whole reading on his character that is deeply Japanese and just wouldn't happen in an English-speaking mindset! To be honest, it's kinda brilliant and I love it! [You can read more about the concept of "Omote" and how it relates to "Ura" here.]
So together I guess that the name of Two-Face's castle is something like, "Inmovable Outside (Face) Two-Face Castle"... Sounds pretty clunky to me, but hey! That's anime for you! I guess that "Inmovable Outside Face" kinda describes bravery...? You know, the idea of being inmovable on the outside in the face of danger, even if you're scared on the inside...? I don't know if that was what they were going for with this, but it sure is interesting at the very least! And I certainly understand what they were going for with this castle design a lot better now at the very least! :D
I went and found this, so her throat is messed up, but we wouldn't hear her voice often.
anyways as a butch falin truther i think her voice should get deeper after fusing with the dragon
What do you think Subaru being the final villain entails? Is he still with the camps but just refusing to listen, or is he off by himself, ala that feral/homeless Subaru au I've seen? Sorry if this prys too much, I'm just very curious.
How many people do you think are going to be involved in the RBD reveal
Ideally? Everyone. And that’s…that’s kind of my guess anyway.
Because okay: RBD is great as a dramatic reveal for those who love Subaru anyway. But it’s ALSO a REALLY BIG DEAL for anyone who gives half a shit about the integrity of the Royal Selection — or geopolitics in general (Vollachia), because the knight of one of Lugunica’s factions aiming to lead the kingdom is a FUCKING TIME TRAVELER. AND NOBODY NOTICED.
This also leads into my theory that Subaru is gonna be the final villain of the story lol: I have a feeling that final arc is gonna be about everyone banning together to free him of his curse once and for all.
Mochi Miles I Would Kill For You
If I had a super power, I would want the ability to perfectly reproduce whatever image is in my head into a physical medium, like I'm a printer.
The only reason I prefer that to your idea is because for some reason I already have that power, but for cartoons.
if i could have a super power i would want the ability to perfectly catalogue what happens in all the comics i read in my brain.
"every major baddie problem in the lmk universe is caused by SWK not dealing with his shit properly"
exept he dealt with all the shit and i'm tired of people ignoring it to paint him as an ignorant, uncaring bastard.
(very very minor s4 spoilers, so the cut)
Demon Bull King? Got his ass whooped and was sealed away for however long years it took for an entire ass megapolis to be built literally on top of him, causing absolutely no trouble to anyone whatsoever. Oh, and what sealed DBK? The staff. And if you'd care to know SWK outside of the LEGOverse, you'd realize how strong was SWK's resolve to seal DBK - keep him relatively safe, one might say - by using his trusty staff. The guy would literally die seven times over than let go of this thing.
Also people like, ignore the fact that canonically SWK stuck around the area (for the most part to stalk MK, but still), so he was literally there to deal with the DBK family if something went southwards? He didn't, because MK was able to hold the staff and the legend of the Monkie Kid then began.
(also zero antagonistic feelings towards DBK from SWK, like, whatsoever. i bet the dude actually wanted DBK to be free, cuz he felt bad abt it)
Macaque? In a morally gray manner, still very dealt with. SWK killed the dude. He was literally as dealt with as it can be. Or what, should SWK have predicted that after thousand upon thousand of years later a spirit (he dealt with too) would pull Mac out of Diyu? Yeah, I'd like to see that thought process.
SWK isn't omnipotent, he isn't even that far-thinking. Never was, actually. So holding that against him is like, very stupid. Especially because you don't do it to any other character in the show.
Spider Queen? Wouldja look at that, also pretty much dealt with. We don't really know how exactly, but we know that she lost literally every ounce of power she had and had to resort to living in the sewers, prolly never to cause troubles ever again because, well, we never even heard of her until the special. SQ was pulled onto the scene by the Lady Bone Demon.
Which is, again, something SWK couldn't predict even if he tried.
And now into the fun part.
Lady Bone Demon? Was sealed away by Tripitaka and also didn't cause any trouble until DBK decided to use this freaky coffin he knew literally zero things about for his plans.
"But he should've killed LBD!!!"
He tried. Believe him he tried. This decision just wasn't his, and if you hold it against him and not Tripitaka, shame on you.
"He should have told the crew about LBD!"
He really couldn't have.
And people thinking that are blatantly ignoring SWK's character. Not that obnoxious fan favorite uncaring bastard one.
SWK deals with things on his own. That is just how he is, how he always was and he never learned to do it the other way around. If that's a fight, he'll do it, because he's damn strong. If it's to scout the mountain, he'll do it, because Bajie is a lazy ass motherfucker. If it's to find food for Trip, he'll do it, cuz he's fast and his eyes are awesome.
Same applies here.
LBD? Tried to kill her and Trip didn't let me -> Basically I didn't do the job right -> WTF I always do my job right, I am Sun Wukong hello???
It was, dare I say, a question to his pride, and SWK will forever be prideful. And when he acts on his pride, he does it with style and flare, in the most stupid way possible.
Hence all of the s2 off-screen investigation arc.
"Well, he should've told about the Samadhi rings!"
It would've endangered Mei, questioned his at this point in time very shaky authority and ability to handle shit, and prolly would've fucked Mei up a very whole lot.
You don't go and say to a person that they are a part of the most dangerous seal in the world and could die and destroy everything they love because you fucked up long time ago (again, very much jabbing at his mentality of 'Sun Wukong can do no bad job, and if he does he'll better fucking die trying to make it right').
Was his plan a shitty one? Obviously. Like, no question asked, it was a shit show of a plan. Very in character, though (SWK handles all the shit because he thinks he can).
And this little character arc of SWK not learning a damn thing results in him, oh golly you would not believe it, running off to do things on his own because he thinks he can handle it, because he's THE Sun Wukong who already handled this in the past.
Who woulda thought.
MINOR S4 SPOILERS START HERE
And the new addition to the baddie group, Azure Lion. Won't be addressing all 'SWK is a betraying bitch' because the show refuses to give us SWK's perspective and I hate it.
But you already know what I will say, because you know the truth. He was dealt with. Got his ass whooped and sealed away in the inky scroll. To be pulled back onto the scene by a third party that Wukong literally couldn't have known about.
See a pattern?
SWK deals with the shit, some unknown variable meddles in it, suddenly SWK is an incapable asshole who left the problems for the poor lmk crew to deal with.
MINOR S4 SPOILERS END HERE
Wukong did his job. Someone fucked him over by undoing his job. He tried to deal with it again the only way he knows how, but the solo play doesn't fly anymore, so he made it kinda worse.
He's not an unbearable, incapable asshole because of it.
And I'm tired of people not seeing this.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk, I am Sun Wukong Apologist till the day I die.
Have a nice day!
Yuko and Mitaka are red and blue. Yuko and Mitaka are one likes olives and the other doesn’t. Yuko and Mitaka are different sides of the same coin. Mitaka shys from people and resolves to live selfishly. Yuko is extroverted and wants to enact justice on every person around her. Yuko took her contract gladly. Mitaka didn’t have a choice.
They want to save each other.
Yuko and Mitaka are meant to be. Yuko and Mitaka.
i’m rewatching the mandroid fight and after the base goes howl’s moving castle these three arachnamechs find each other and fall together and the last thing they do before the camera cuts is grab hold of each other and i’m not ok???