Saiyuki Reload latest chapter

[louiselux]

My internets went for three days and now it's back. *holds internet close*

I really enjoyed the new chapter of Saiyuki Reload (over at radiofreebanri). The thing I enjoyed most was Sanzo's amazing expression when he realised his bullets wouldn't work on Ukoku. He has an almost childlike expression of confusion, which perhaps is how Ukoku makes him feel?

He's the only living link to Sanzo's childhood, the only person who remembers him as a child. It's interesting to me that Sanzo is on his knees in front of Ukoku at the end of that scene (oh, shhh). I mean in that Sanzo is back at child height, looking up at Ukoku, and it echoes all those other times that we see Sanzo's memories of Ukoku: looking up at the dangerous and unknowable adult.

Besides that, apart my hopelessly thinking Ukoku is just so hot and cool, um, I fret about what horrible things he is going to do to everyone in the next chapter. It makes me anxious!

Comments

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

I Know *exactly* how you feel too!

Be still my beating heart!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I am secretly afraid Minekura is going to kill everyone off in some huge unexpected showdown. She wouldn't be quite that mean to us, would she?

[7veilsphaedra.livejournal.com]

*flutters* I can hardly wait. At first when the gun came out, I thought, "Oh no, not this again!"

But the scene where the scripture seemed to be eaten away by acid (or "nothingness" like the old Neverending Story movie?) had me jumping out of my chair with astonishment and excitement. It's a thrilling set-up!

(And, dear me, yes! Ukoku is evolving into a very interesting character.)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Yes! I was astonished too, completely. Seeing Ukoku negate Sanzo's power amazed me, and Sanzo's confusion was quite painful to see.

Ukoku seems all powerful - but I wonder what he can do to crush Sanzo that Kami-sama couldn't? Take away the things Sanzo loves?

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

That was great! We've been waiting for this confrontation for how long?

Considering the images on the last page, I'm wondering if the fight and pwnage were an Ukoku mind trick on Sanzo. If so, damned effective.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I certainly read it that way, from seeing Sanzo collapsed on his knees at the end. Ukoku's manipulations all seem to be of the mind.

Heh. Maybe he even learned something from Koumyou on that score, because Koumyou seemed to mess with Kenyuu's head quite effectively.

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

Ukoku is all about conquering new frontiers. And Koumyou messed with everyone's heads. *g*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, that's true. He totally messed with Kouryuu's mind.

I agree, Ukoku is all about pushing the boundaries of his knowledge, with added mayhem and destruction perhaps just as a bonus side effect? I don't know - he is fascinating though.

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

I think the mayhem and destruction help keep him from getting bored. He's definitely fascinating, with a lot of layers.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Ukoku is like a precocious child who's even too clever for the adults around him. It's weird, I have no real idea what he really wants, or what he even cares about, if anything, but it just makes him more intriguing.

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

I get the impression that he needs challenges, and that's why he's always pushing the boundaries of everyone around him.

[joonscribble.livejournal.com]

Page 18 of Ukoku asking Sanzo "What's the matter?" is what just killed me. It's so taunting, but so flippant and it somehow worked to make Sanzo just look very young and comparatively inexperienced next to Ukoku.

The confrontation's been a long time coming and the first bit of it did not disappoint!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

No, it did not! It was so exciting. Sanzo looks so baffled, like he didn't even guess that Ukoku would be so powerful. I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome.

[kanzenhanzai.livejournal.com]

I think I'm in denial - which is completely different than being disappointed, mind you. I need the next chapter rightnowplease before I can believe that Ukoku is truly, finally meeting Sanzo face to face. *flails a little*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

You mean, Ukoku might be appearing as an apparition or something along those lines?

The whole concept of them finally meeting induces the flailing in me too - I just dread finding out what he's going to do to everyone.

[kanzenhanzai.livejournal.com]

Ukoku might be appearing as an apparition or something along those lines

Exactly. I'm sure he does want to meet/taunt/play with Sanzo, but knowing how *much* he likes to mess with people, I didn't immediately believe he was there in person. (I tend to agree that with the final panels, the fight at least appears to have been only in Sanzo's mind.)

[scribblemoose]

I know just what you mean. I'm absolutely squirming for the next chapter.

Glad you're back! *tethers you securely to internets*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Damn, that woman really knows how to send everyone into fits. I love her! :D

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to me that Sanzo is on his knees in front of Ukoku at the end of that scene (oh, shhh). I mean in that Sanzo is back at child height, looking up at Ukoku, and it echoes all those other times that we see Sanzo's memories of Ukoku: looking up at the dangerous and unknowable adult.

Ooh! Good point!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Uoku seems so grown up compared to Sanzo, by which I mean old and cynical and set in his twisted ways, with a measure of self knowledge, and I think comparing them like this does reveal Sanzo as a young man, which is not often how we get to see him.

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

I think comparing them like this does reveal Sanzo as a young man, which is not often how we get to see him.

Yes, that's very true. Also kind of poignant. He's such a curmudgeon, it's easy to think of him as much older than he is. Aw! *loves him".

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

It's easy to think he's prematurely middle aged. He is, in a way, but he's, what, 24 at this point?

[kispexi2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 24. His exalted position makes him seem older too. I don't know about middle-aged though - that conjures up a pipe and slippers (even though I have neither!) and somehow I can't picture Sanzo settling down with a cuppa in front of The Antiques Roadshow.

God, you've made me all sad for Sanzo's lost youth now. As if people reminding me what a shit childhood Gojyo had wasn't bad enough! :-)

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I could see Sanzo watching Antiques Roadshow. He is young but part of him is Permanently Grumpy Old Man. But yeah, it was another glimpse at how fucking young he really is-- and Hazel too, for that matter.

[avierra.livejournal.com]

What struck me as interesting about that whole scenario was how utterly useless and ineffectual Hazel and Gato were, bearing in mind they haven't hesitated in the slightest to stick their noses in Sanzo's business in the past.

We got to see how much of a mindfuck he did on Kamisama and chibi-Hazel, it looks like it went a lot further with Hazel than I had believed. Ukoku believes in making a lasting impression, I guess. I wonder if this is how he is starting the same process with Sanzo.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Yes! They stood and watched and did nothing, apart from looking like they knew exactly what Ukoku was capable of, and had known all along. Which really gives the lie to their happy greeting a while back, when Ukoku first appeared.

[inksheddings.livejournal.com]

Am I a horrible person for wishing to Sanzo really break down? *g* I don't know, it just seems like he's due. And with everything that's gone on recently, the timing is right. Or maybe I'm just mean. :D

But yeah, awesome chapter, and I was so thrilled to see Ukoku/Nii/whatever he's calling himself these days.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

When was the last time Sanzo broke down? The end of the first series, wasn't it? Hmm, perhaps it is time then! I'm still scared that Nii is going to do some terrible thing to Gojyo and Hakkai.

[inksheddings.livejournal.com]

I'm still scared that Nii is going to do some terrible thing to Gojyo and Hakkai.

I'm afraid of Nii doing something terrible to all of them. He would enjoy it so damn much. But for whatever reason, I worry more about Goku. It seems like Nii has a particular interest in the Seiten Taisei, and I have no clue what that's all about.

Granted, I'm an unabashed Goku fangirl, so I might be reading more into it than there is, but it's just something I've been thinking about.

Gah! I can't wait for the next chapter. *frets*

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I think that was very intentional.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I thought so, it's very much in Minekura's style to do that. Poor wee Sanzo.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Boy's got some growing up to do, for sure.