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

[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.