Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (light novel)
| After recently rewatching Majo no Tabitabii reading @Railey2 's thread, I noticed what went wrong and how Elaina became such narcissistic and self-centered person. The answer is simple. It's all fault of Flan, who completely f*cked up in her role as a master in the very first episode. When Flan accepted Elaina as her pupil, she already had a natural talent and was quite proficient with magic, but to her disappointment Elaina was tasked only with chores like cooking and cleaning instead of honing her magic skills. Eventually, after a month or so of pouting, Flan decides to finally teach her magic. Flan teaches Elaina a lesson by combat. She is still very proficient in magic already, but still no match for Flan. Elaina is utterly defeated. So far, I think it was obvious what was happening. Flan was teaching Elaina humility, modesty and patience, which is also her duty to teach. Title of Witch grants a lot of privileges and power and it requires responsibility. So far so good. But the problem is what happens next. Elaina is humiliated and breaks down in tears. The gap in power is obvious as well as the fact, that she still has much to learn. So, what does Flan the Stardust Witch does in this situation.? Well, literally the worst thing that she could possibly do. She starts regret her actions, grovel before Elaina, try to cheer her up and the worst of all, she f*ckin graduates her. By doing so, whole month of her teaching Elaina of humility felt like nothing more than abuse and true moral of it went through the window. At this point the perception, that the world revolves around her has been permanently cemented and we ended up with such a narcissistic protagonist. Even in final episode, we learned that the most traumatic experience for her was loosing her hair and on top of that she got laid with a clone of herself. And this is not worst case scenario. I still prefer this, than boring Goody Two-shoes Mary Sue (I still have flashbacks after watching Symphogear). Flan would really make a terrible parent. What are your thoughts about this? I wrote this from memory, so I might have committed a mistake somewhere. |
PiromyslApr 19, 2021 9:13 AM
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| That thread by Railey is kinda trash tbh looking at their profile and dropped list. Another wannabe edgy elitist overthinking stuff and implying 21 century US standards on fantasy anime |
Just because you are doing something for someone else doesn't make it right. Kindness and beauty can sometimes become cruel.  |
| Haha funny witch flies to different places |
L0sMichal0s said: wow okay so I'm not really fond of posting on here anymore because SEE MY SIGNATURE, but I am gonna say something here because honestly fuck this show. So just to get this out of the way, you call me an edgy elitist who is overthinking, and that's probably a nice burn when you're 14 and think that you're owning people by calling them sjws, so I can be upfront here and tell you straight up that I don't care. So spare me your insults. Now, let's get to the interesting part.That thread by Railey is kinda trash tbh looking at their profile and dropped list. Another wannabe edgy elitist overthinking stuff and implying 21 century US standards on fantasy anime Elaina is a sociopath who can watch someone being enslaved in front of her, who can be in a perfect position to help with little to no effort, and who still chooses to fly away because she's too lazy to take that suicidal slave on her broomstick and jet off. I believe that was episode two. It's the equivalent of walking past a well with a drowning child in it and choosing not to throw down that rope. The show tries to pass it off as her being neutral, but watching someone drown while you're in a position to help isn't being neutral, it's just you being an awful person. So you have a show with an MC who is a piece of shit and still enjoy the show. It's possible, some people can sorta just ignore it and when the show doesn't start justifying the shit they do you can accept it as just another facet of the show. We're following a flawed character, and that's fine. Like look at Yagami Light in Death Note, the guy is fucking mad, a mass murderer, but the show doesn't suck his dick for it, right? The show never pretends that he's good or neutral, the author understands what kind of character he's writing and you can feel that through the portrayal in the show. Or take Guts from Berserk, the dude is insane, but the author understands that he's insane and you understand that the author understands. THE JOURNEY OF ELAINA DOESN'T DO THAT. Elaina lets children drown in wells and the show pretends that she isn't a maniac. You can tell that the author can't tell right from wrong at all, writing a complete psychopath without ever acknowledging that this is what she is. And that's what disgusts me about the whole thing. The complete lack of awareness and amorality that has to be involved in writing someone so evil without noticing and then asking me to enjoy this abomination of a character. I see this character doing all sorts of atrocious things and all I can think is "how disturbed do you have to be to write something like that and not even notice?" At that point it stops being entertaining and all that's left is me being horrified. And what's better is the people who watch this show and don't catch on. If you're one of those folks then congrats, you're on the same level as the author and I'd rather not be in a room with you because holy shit. Like the guy above me. She's very interesting and real. What the fuck? I swear, I gotta do an Elaina test. IF you watch that show and you don't notice that she's a monster, you're either insanely clueless or just disturbed, no middle ground. ok. Got that out of my system, hoooly shit I hate this show. Worst thing i've ever seen. /rant @Piromysl thanks for the ping. I wouldn't try to look too hard for canon explanations why she is fucked in the head. The real answer is that she's a psycho because the author is a psycho and legitimately couldn't tell when he wrote her. I don't think he ever intended for her to be like that. |
Railey2Jan 10, 2022 4:05 PM
| "my life at this state could be transposed into a pretty massive biography" - Cneq, "the guy who was literally using BTC in 2012 to make deals in the first main instance of a digital itemized economy forming naturally in all human history (also the precursor of NFTs) and who had 20k+ total trades.", 23 years old MAL's most prolific antivaxxer, Noboru. |
Railey2 said: L0sMichal0s said: wow okay so I'm not really fond of posting on here anymore because SEE MY SIGNATURE, but I am gonna say something here because honestly fuck this show. So just to get this out of the way, you call be an edgy elitist who is overthinking, and that's probably a nice burn when you're 14 and think that you're owning people by calling them sjws, so I can be upfront here and tell you straight up that I don't care. So spare me your insults. Now, let's get to the interesting part.That thread by Railey is kinda trash tbh looking at their profile and dropped list. Another wannabe edgy elitist overthinking stuff and implying 21 century US standards on fantasy anime Elaina is a sociopath who can watch someone being enslaved in front of her, who can be in a perfect position to help with little to no effort, and who still chooses to fly away because she's too lazy to take that suicidal slave on her broomstick and jet off. I believe that was episode two. It's the equivalent of walking past a well with a drowning child in it and choosing not to throw down that rope. The show tries to pass it off as her being neutral, but watching someone drown while you're in a position to help isn't being neutral, it's just you being an awful person. So you have a show with an MC who is a piece of shit and still enjoy the show. It's possible, some people can sorta just ignore it and when the show doesn't start justifying the shit they do you can accept it as just another facet of the show. We're following a flawed character, and that's fine. Like look at Yagami Light in Death Note, the guy is fucking mad, a mass murderer, but the show doesn't suck his dick for it, right? The show never pretends that he's good or neutral, the author understands what kind of character he's writing and you can feel that through the portrayal in the show. Or take Guts from Berserk, the dude is insane, but the author understands that he's insane and you understand that the author understands. THE JOURNEY OF ELAINA DOESN'T DO THAT. Elaina lets children drown in wells and the show pretends that she isn't a maniac. You can tell that the author can't tell right from wrong at all, writing a complete psychopath without ever acknowledging that this is what she is. And that's what disgusts me about the whole thing. The complete lack of awareness and amorality that has to be involved in writing someone so evil without noticing and then asking me to enjoy this abomination of a character. I see this character doing all sorts of atrocious things and all I can think is "how disturbed do you have to be to write something like that and not even notice?" At that point it stops being entertaining and all that's left is me being horrified. And what's better is the people who watch this show and don't catch on. If you're one of those folks then congrats, you're on the same level as the author and I'd rather not be in a room with you because holy shit. Like the guy above me. She's very interesting and real. What the fuck? I swear, I gotta do an Elaina test. IF you watch that show and you don't notice that she's a monster, you're either insanely clueless or just disturbed, no middle ground. ok. Got that out of my system, hoooly shit I hate this show. Worst thing i've ever seen. /rant @Piromysl thanks for the ping. I wouldn't try to look too hard for canon explanations why she is fucked in the head. The real answer is that she's a psycho because the author is a psycho and legitimately couldn't tell when he wrote her. I don't think he ever intended for her to be like that. i think you misunderstood the show and what is it about and yes her character is quite real because a lot of people just pretend nothing is happening they are bystanders and she said it herself too multiple times that she is a bystander. Also a lot of times its not your place to take actions or interfere. She is not god like being or president of the world. She is common wandering witch traveling trough the world. You are clearly overthinking it and trying to push 21 century US agenda and standards here where it doesnt belong at all. Not everything is supposed to go your way. There are dark, fucked up and unfair things just like in life. |
Just because you are doing something for someone else doesn't make it right. Kindness and beauty can sometimes become cruel. |
| I think her current personality helped make her more engaging and enjoyable |
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| I think OP misunderstood the episodes where Elaina was in training. Flan was told by her mother to make her stay. She wanted to prevent her daughter to go on dangerous adventures. So Flan gave her absolutely boring tasks. |
| The Gods and Demons you fear and worship are as nothing to me! |
L0sMichal0s said: I agree. the show was very explicit about how elaina is not some hero to save the day. she's just travelling and doesn't mettle with things that don't concern her. i reallyloved that concenpt because real life is often like this. for example, ill be on discord and often people will say that everyone hate them. sure i'll tell them i dont hate them, but it's not my job to make them feel better aboutthemselves. i don't know them. You can be a hero, obviously. but its at your own expense. and so this anime shows what its like to be a bystander. and i really liked how it portrayed it. Railey2 said: wow okay so I'm not really fond of posting on here anymore because SEE MY SIGNATURE, but I am gonna say something here because honestly fuck this show. So just to get this out of the way, you call be an edgy elitist who is overthinking, and that's probably a nice burn when you're 14 and think that you're owning people by calling them sjws, so I can be upfront here and tell you straight up that I don't care. So spare me your insults. Now, let's get to the interesting part. Elaina is a sociopath who can watch someone being enslaved in front of her, who can be in a perfect position to help with little to no effort, and who still chooses to fly away because she's too lazy to take that suicidal slave on her broomstick and jet off. I believe that was episode two. It's the equivalent of walking past a well with a drowning child in it and choosing not to throw down that rope. The show tries to pass it off as her being neutral, but watching someone drown while you're in a position to help isn't being neutral, it's just you being an awful person. So you have a show with an MC who is a piece of shit and still enjoy the show. It's possible, some people can sorta just ignore it and when the show doesn't start justifying the shit they do you can accept it as just another facet of the show. We're following a flawed character, and that's fine. Like look at Yagami Light in Death Note, the guy is fucking mad, a mass murderer, but the show doesn't suck his dick for it, right? The show never pretends that he's good or neutral, the author understands what kind of character he's writing and you can feel that through the portrayal in the show. Or take Guts from Berserk, the dude is insane, but the author understands that he's insane and you understand that the author understands. THE JOURNEY OF ELAINA DOESN'T DO THAT. Elaina lets children drown in wells and the show pretends that she isn't a maniac. You can tell that the author can't tell right from wrong at all, writing a complete psychopath without ever acknowledging that this is what she is. And that's what disgusts me about the whole thing. The complete lack of awareness and amorality that has to be involved in writing someone so evil without noticing and then asking me to enjoy this abomination of a character. I see this character doing all sorts of atrocious things and all I can think is "how disturbed do you have to be to write something like that and not even notice?" At that point it stops being entertaining and all that's left is me being horrified. And what's better is the people who watch this show and don't catch on. If you're one of those folks then congrats, you're on the same level as the author and I'd rather not be in a room with you because holy shit. Like the guy above me. She's very interesting and real. What the fuck? I swear, I gotta do an Elaina test. IF you watch that show and you don't notice that she's a monster, you're either insanely clueless or just disturbed, no middle ground. ok. Got that out of my system, hoooly shit I hate this show. Worst thing i've ever seen. /rant @Piromysl thanks for the ping. I wouldn't try to look too hard for canon explanations why she is fucked in the head. The real answer is that she's a psycho because the author is a psycho and legitimately couldn't tell when he wrote her. I don't think he ever intended for her to be like that. i think you misunderstood the show and what is it about and yes her character is quite real because a lot of people just pretend nothing is happening they are bystanders and she said it herself too multiple times that she is a bystander. Also a lot of times its not your place to take actions or interfere. She is not god like being or president of the world. She is common wandering witch traveling trough the world. You are clearly overthinking it and trying to push 21 century US agenda and standards here where it doesnt belong at all. Not everything is supposed to go your way. There are dark, fucked up and unfair things just like in life. |
Railey2 said: L0sMichal0s said: That thread by Railey is kinda trash tbh looking at their profile and dropped list. Another wannabe edgy elitist overthinking stuff and implying 21 century US standards on fantasy anime THE JOURNEY OF ELAINA DOESN'T DO THAT. Elaina lets children drown in wells and the show pretends that she isn't a maniac. You can tell that the author can't tell right from wrong at all, writing a complete psychopath without ever acknowledging that this is what she is. And that's what disgusts me about the whole thing. The complete lack of awareness and amorality that has to be involved in writing someone so evil without noticing and then asking me to enjoy this abomination of a character. I see this character doing all sorts of atrocious things and all I can think is "how disturbed do you have to be to write something like that and not even notice?" At that point it stops being entertaining and all that's left is me being horrified. And what's better is the people who watch this show and don't catch on. If you're one of those folks then congrats, you're on the same level as the author and I'd rather not be in a room with you because holy shit. Like the guy above me. She's very interesting and real. What the fuck? I swear, I gotta do an Elaina test. IF you watch that show and you don't notice that she's a monster, you're either insanely clueless or just disturbed, no middle ground. letting children drown in wells? in the flower story.. the town guard and his sister are already too far gone to be saved. The guy is poisoned, and the sister already turned into a plant. So it feels logical for Elaina to just get the hell out of there. the slave story is a bit more of a gray area.. but there would be consequences on trying to help Nino... slavery looks like it's legal in that area.. so taking the slave would be stealing, shooting the bastard mayor with magic would be murder. And we don't even know if the broom could carry two people. |
_Maneki-Neko_ said: She is neither narcistic nor TOO self centered. She acts much more human than your next generic shounen protagonist does. In some situations she wanted to help, but she knew what consequences would follow if she does or she knew that the situations would be dangerous to her. You know, most real people don't act so "heroic" like someone like Deku does. It was more idiotic than anything else, when he even threw himself in dangerous situations without any powers. That's surely not heroic. If anythimg, that's a hero complex and people do this to prove their own worth not to help others in first place. That could be interesting, if the story criticize that kind of behavior but it often doesn't. But it seems like a lot people only want overidealized idiots as main characters. Also it's really, really nice to see a female main character, who knows that she is beautiful and isn't a shy wallflower. I would buy that argument if not for the fact that in one episode she takes on a king and his guards when she had every opportunity to move on. If this is the kind of person who would take on a kingdom just because she feels like it, that reflects badly on the instances where she could have easily helped but just flew on by without a care in the world. |
| Shoot first, think never. |
| Jeez. What kind of bullshit I just read now. Elaina became "like this" not because Fran lol, but because she's been traveling through a crazy and dark world for 3 years. Moreover, the director significantly nerfed Elaina and cut out her rotten and dark personality at all. Ah yes, "narcissism" is the lightest thing Elaina has in her personality actually, but this trait was terribly hyperbolized in Anime which still pisses me off. |
AlabamagodDec 4, 2021 8:34 AM
| Elaina's not a virtuous superhero, she's a wandering traveller, she never set out on a quest to 'save the innocent', she went on a 'journey to see the world'. People projecting their own expectations on the character are hilarious. Elaina admits to being a bit greedy and self-absorbed and makes no bones about it, as well as having strong caution tempered by her mother's advice about 'watching her back', why would or should she stick her neck out unnecessarily? She never swore some virtuous oath to defend the innocent, she became a fully ranked witch and decided to travel. |
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Railey2 said: Elaina is a sociopath who can watch someone being enslaved in front of her, who can be in a perfect position to help with little to no effort, and who still chooses to fly away because she's too lazy to take that suicidal slave on her broomstick and jet off. I believe that was episode two. You misunderstood that, first of all it takes place in a fantasy world, which means slavery was most likely accepted in that world. Second, Elaina didn't remember the suicide part of the story until after she left, she didn't return out of fear that the slave did do suicide. |
Eiyuu Senki Theme Until MAL Adds The Manga  |
| Why does everyone call her narcissistic? Since when did liking yourself become narcissistic? Do you only like characters that are at their worst, have no self-confidence or try to make up for it by doing some heroic stuff otherwise you can't relate to them? This is ridiculous. Elaina had no business helping the slave, buying slaves there was not something illegal. The commenter that said it's not right to impose 21st century US ideals on characters of a Japanese fantasy anime is completely right. I feel like you lot often seem to forget that there are places/countries/people even in the real world that DO NOT share your views, ideals and way of living, it's way too foreign to them. Your common sense could be extremely bad manners to someone else. The guy and his sister were too far gone, so it was obviously the right decision to leave. I personally immensely enjoy the fact that she's a self-confident successful young beautiful girl that knows her worth and does not dive into everything without thinking, this is very realistic and very positive. She's a very nice and objective person that clearly knows when it's okay to stick her nose into things and when it's not. Regarding the fight with the king, she helped out the witch that lost her voice and the whole city in general. It was a big thing but it was nothing illegal and it would not lead to any bad consequences whatsoever. If you can't see the difference between the slave story, flower story and the sword story, then I really can't help you there. She's not obliged to help everyone. Not to mention it's clear that her role in the whole story is that of an observer rather than the main character. I'm amazed how judgemental people can be of self-confident people and characters that know their worth, this is the part of the society that's really toxic. |
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