Saiyuki Burial OVA 1

[louiselux]

I got to watch part one of the Saiyuki Burial OVA the other day, and I have many tiny pink hearts for Koumyou Sanzo. Note the lovely icon by moshesque.

Also, the animation is pretty! Far more pretty than any other Saiyuki animation I've seen. Well, apart from that bit with Gojyo in the shower in Requiem. Where was I? Oh yeah ...

One of the things I love most about Ukoku's Burial arc is the feeling of destiny when Koumyou and Kenyuu meet, and that Koumyou twigs almost straight away why Goudai asked him to visit.

Koumyou is a special sanzo, even among sanzos. He seems very of the moment, reacting to things as they happen, moving from amusement to confusion to calculation as the world around him changes, while he seems to stay still. Except when he has to step in and display his awesome arse-kicking strength. I do love that contrast very much.

He doesn't step in to stop Kenyuu attacking Goudai until it's obvious that Goudai can't do it himself and he treats Kenyuu like the novice he is, challenging his basic assumptions about himself. Kenyuu genuinely doesn't see why a devious, lonely, angry and secretive person like himself shouldn't inherit one of the most powerful scriptures in the world. ♥

Koumyou doesn't have enough time to change Kenyuu's mind, even though he tries. He doesn't try to stop Kenyuu attacking Goudai for the final time though, and I've always found that interesting. Maybe he sees it as necessary, or it's pointless to stop Kenyuu trying.

Also, the fact that Genjyo Sanzo's beloved master was such a fruitcake just makes me happy.

Comments

[yukie1013.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yesyes. He says 'this is a duel to the death', and every one of the monklets goes O_O 'we can't do that, sir--'

And Ken'yuu DOES.

Goudai - may even have been labouring under some old samurai code, like, he wants to go down in battle not as some invalid. if a student downs him and inherits his title he's happy.

Unfortunately Ken'yuu got it. Uh. oops indeed. XDDD

I betcha Goudai was a damn fine Sanzo in his time. And then he got old and insaaaaane.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Heeee. Goudai is enormous and very manly - all about the shouting and the physical strength.

And I love the way that Koumyou sits by, watching it with that particular weary expression on his face, like 'well, if you feel you must have a battle to the death at this point, I can't stop you.'