May 1st, 2020
My thoughts on Tokyo Ghoul √A (in comparison to Tokyo Ghoul)...
Anime Relations: Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul √A
!!Before I begin this post I would like to note that I only have read a few of the first chapters of the manga, and I am JUST reviewing the anime. I know that the manga is much different!!!
*ANOTHER preface since people took this post the wrong way: I made this post in order to start a discussion, not to pick a fight. Sorry if anyone took that the wrong way*
**ANOTHER ANOTHER preface: this is a repost. I initially posted this in the anime discussion forum. I was not aware that it broke the rules of that forum as a blog-style post, so I am reposting it here**
I am not usually a harsh reviewer. Not just when it comes to anime though. I usually am not very picky in general when it comes to entertainment. But Tokyo Ghoul √A forced me to scrutinize.
Now, before Tokyo Ghoul fans come to defend it and tell me that it's "deeper than it seems" or whatever, hear me out.
When the first season of Tokyo Ghoul came out a few years back, I was super into it. And after going back and rewatching that first season in a short span of just two days, I understood why, although it isn't as well-written as I thought it was when I was younger. The main character is an interesting, likable protagonist who is flawed, but his motivations and overall character are genuinely good (i.e., the way he acts towards Hinami and the devotion he feels towards Hide). The development of all of the characters in general has motivation, even though it isn't perfect. The OST is honestly very good and the OP is obviously incredible. The animation could have been better in some spots but there are many scenes that stand out to me due to the detailed and well-animated nature.
Take, for example, the scene where Kaneki is trying to eat human food after becoming a ghoul, not wanting to believe that he has truly lost his human form. The animation, while disturbing, is gripping and very smooth. The plotline of Tokyo Ghoul season 1 is exciting, and the last episode got me excited to continue the story where I left off years before, even if it wasn't perfect. Despite all of the bad reviews it had gotten, I was pumped up to keep watching, especially because of how much potential the story has at the end of the first season.
But √A wasted all of that potential and more.
Yes, I will admit, I have only seen the first two episodes. But that's all I need to see to know that I'm going to hate it. If it makes some of you fans feel better, I do plan to continue to watch it and update this post afterwards, but I sincerely doubt it will change my mind.
After Kaneki is tortured by Jason, he gives in to the Rize that has been mentally torturing him since she became a part of his body and he becomes... for lack of a better term, kind of annoying. I understand that this large shift in character is done purposefully and I appreciate the symbolism used with the flowers and Rize in the last episodes of the first season, but Kaneki's character and overall arc had so much more potential than what he became.
My main problem, though, is that the borderline unrealistic shift between Kaneki's character between the first and second season is unnecessary, and it seems that his kidnapping was an excuse for this when, in reality, the story could have greatly benefitted from just keeping Kaneki's general likability. I understand that in real life, torture and abuse can genuinely do this to a person and can lead them to change and act in ways they initially wouldn't (S1 Kaneki would never resort to only violence and abandon those he cared about to "protect them"). But, as someone who has experience around the subject of abuse, that can be a major stigma that abuse victims have to deal with from those on the outside every day, so this particularly annoyed me, especially because of how much better the show would be.
In the first season, where Kaneki confronts Amon, he has a sort of epiphany as he continues to be ruthlessly attacked while giving Amon mercy. He realizes that as he is one of the, if not the only "half breed" ghouls who has experienced both a more or less full life of humanity and part of a ghoul's, he is the only one who can understand the struggles of both sides of the spectrum; human and ghoul. He understands the fear and hatred each group has toward each other. So why not create an arc where he learns to use this for good and tries to help each group understand??
Of course, I am not saying that it should have been a happy ending. In fact, I think it should have been the opposite. If Kaneki was to continue to feel this sympathy toward both groups, trying to convince both sides that neither wants the other any harm only to have nothing really change in the end... It could be a beautiful metaphor for reality that each fan could interpret on their own.
But that's not what happened. Kaneki became an annoying, stereotypical "I'm evil for a good reason" character whose justification for such came from a place of great wasted potential.
Let me know if you agree with me at all, and let me know if you disagree with me, too. I don't even expect anyone to read this really, I just needed to get my thoughts out there.
*ANOTHER preface since people took this post the wrong way: I made this post in order to start a discussion, not to pick a fight. Sorry if anyone took that the wrong way*
**ANOTHER ANOTHER preface: this is a repost. I initially posted this in the anime discussion forum. I was not aware that it broke the rules of that forum as a blog-style post, so I am reposting it here**
I am not usually a harsh reviewer. Not just when it comes to anime though. I usually am not very picky in general when it comes to entertainment. But Tokyo Ghoul √A forced me to scrutinize.
Now, before Tokyo Ghoul fans come to defend it and tell me that it's "deeper than it seems" or whatever, hear me out.
When the first season of Tokyo Ghoul came out a few years back, I was super into it. And after going back and rewatching that first season in a short span of just two days, I understood why, although it isn't as well-written as I thought it was when I was younger. The main character is an interesting, likable protagonist who is flawed, but his motivations and overall character are genuinely good (i.e., the way he acts towards Hinami and the devotion he feels towards Hide). The development of all of the characters in general has motivation, even though it isn't perfect. The OST is honestly very good and the OP is obviously incredible. The animation could have been better in some spots but there are many scenes that stand out to me due to the detailed and well-animated nature.
Take, for example, the scene where Kaneki is trying to eat human food after becoming a ghoul, not wanting to believe that he has truly lost his human form. The animation, while disturbing, is gripping and very smooth. The plotline of Tokyo Ghoul season 1 is exciting, and the last episode got me excited to continue the story where I left off years before, even if it wasn't perfect. Despite all of the bad reviews it had gotten, I was pumped up to keep watching, especially because of how much potential the story has at the end of the first season.
But √A wasted all of that potential and more.
Yes, I will admit, I have only seen the first two episodes. But that's all I need to see to know that I'm going to hate it. If it makes some of you fans feel better, I do plan to continue to watch it and update this post afterwards, but I sincerely doubt it will change my mind.
After Kaneki is tortured by Jason, he gives in to the Rize that has been mentally torturing him since she became a part of his body and he becomes... for lack of a better term, kind of annoying. I understand that this large shift in character is done purposefully and I appreciate the symbolism used with the flowers and Rize in the last episodes of the first season, but Kaneki's character and overall arc had so much more potential than what he became.
My main problem, though, is that the borderline unrealistic shift between Kaneki's character between the first and second season is unnecessary, and it seems that his kidnapping was an excuse for this when, in reality, the story could have greatly benefitted from just keeping Kaneki's general likability. I understand that in real life, torture and abuse can genuinely do this to a person and can lead them to change and act in ways they initially wouldn't (S1 Kaneki would never resort to only violence and abandon those he cared about to "protect them"). But, as someone who has experience around the subject of abuse, that can be a major stigma that abuse victims have to deal with from those on the outside every day, so this particularly annoyed me, especially because of how much better the show would be.
In the first season, where Kaneki confronts Amon, he has a sort of epiphany as he continues to be ruthlessly attacked while giving Amon mercy. He realizes that as he is one of the, if not the only "half breed" ghouls who has experienced both a more or less full life of humanity and part of a ghoul's, he is the only one who can understand the struggles of both sides of the spectrum; human and ghoul. He understands the fear and hatred each group has toward each other. So why not create an arc where he learns to use this for good and tries to help each group understand??
Of course, I am not saying that it should have been a happy ending. In fact, I think it should have been the opposite. If Kaneki was to continue to feel this sympathy toward both groups, trying to convince both sides that neither wants the other any harm only to have nothing really change in the end... It could be a beautiful metaphor for reality that each fan could interpret on their own.
But that's not what happened. Kaneki became an annoying, stereotypical "I'm evil for a good reason" character whose justification for such came from a place of great wasted potential.
Let me know if you agree with me at all, and let me know if you disagree with me, too. I don't even expect anyone to read this really, I just needed to get my thoughts out there.
Posted by sladkesny | May 1, 2020 6:28 AM | 0 comments