EarlCiel said:Ok...so I'm going to put my thoughts here about the show so far. I'm someone who strictly watches the anime, so obviously like many there are a lot of things that are probably passing through me right now. My posts tend to be long but if you care to read, here I go:
I think that Tokyo Ghoul is special as a seinen psychological show that explores areas that few shows would want to touch like what it even means to have humanity. Being human does not necessarily give you more humanity than a ghoul when both kill for power, for money, etc.
This series explores these separate worlds and gives the viewers perspectives of both sides. The first season being the ghouls, and this season we are able to see it from the perspective of an investigator. That is, in times of peace but in war it shows this battle, this chaos that shows there can be no peaceful world where both sides coexist...so they aim to obliterate the other. And it is this endless cycle. In terms of this season,
this battle that continues outside goes on inside Sasaki as well, or at least this is how I interpret it and to me I am seeing how perhaps he rejects the ghoul side of him because of the emptiness he felt when he was a ghoul and literally lost all his sanity. Perhaps he saw no hope for him at the end of it, so this new identity was created in hopes of finding purpose, hope once again.I feel like Sasaki remembers or has some memory of the feeling of emptiness he had in the past and clings onto the things in the present to fill in the void he talks about in this episode. Yet, his past was 'strong' and in order to be strong he sacrificed his humanity and this is not something he wants to go back to.
What leads me to this conclusion is that Haise is constantly saying that he cherishes his team and his current memories because they are the reason he keeps fighting and fights for what he believes in. Perhaps there was this loss of purpose as Kaneki and subconsciously he does not want to go back. As a psychology major, I find the psychological aspects of Kaneki's character development very interesting and that is what keeps me hooked onto the show as well as the action. So, the problem I have with the show (lack of 'direction' it seems) is done intentionally but for someone who only watches the anime I think there are so many things that have been left out so and it feels incomplete. Now, the problem I have which is a problem for me
right now at this moment (since I don't know what happens next so don't come after me for not knowing) is that it seems to be...directionless with senseless battles that do not really seem to be leading up to anything. I could argue that at the end of season 1 it was the same. It lead to his end, and now at this 'new beginning' Sasaki seems to be heading back.
The question I have in my mind when I watch a series is...so what? What is the author trying to convey through these themes, the conflict? Is it that power corrupts you to the point of Kaneki? Is it that perhaps people remind you who you are and it is not your past that defines you? At many times I feel this show is left for interpretation but may even simulate how things happen in real life. It seems like it is going nowhere. So because of this I get this unsatisfactory feeling the more I learn about the Tokyo Ghoul world...don't get me wrong it definitely intrigues me which is why I keep watching. I wonder if the manga is the same (I do hear it is...) and I really do want to read it but don't know if it's worth investing in.
Don't worry. There is a reason to why manga readers keep bashing at this show.