#SPYxFamilychallenge

[piracytheorist]

Spy x Family 30 Day Challenge

Day 13: Best moment of two of your favourite characters?

Oh hands down, the bench scene.

First of all, we see this from Twilight's POV, who is regaining consciousness slowly, so he first hears Yor's singing. He remembers his mother singing that same song to him, calls out to her, and then we see how Yor had him lie on the bench, his head on her lap, both of their coats covering him and keeping him warm.

And to me, it's so, so tragic, the way he pulls back in shock. This man hasn't allowed a single moment of vulnerability to show in front of others for years, because he would always be facing either an enemy or someone he wanted to spy on. And as such, he also hasn't been comforted all this time. And now, when he wakes up in a comforting, secure environment after a terribly vulnerably moment, his instinct is to pull away and freak out.

Meanwhile, Yor is dragging herself down, thinking herself incompetent and unfitting for her role in the family, a role she's grown to love now. She's ready to give up and move on, if it means Loid can be happy.

And Twilight realizes this can't be about him and his freak-out. Yor is hurting, and she's uncertain, and it was just made painfully clear to him that manipulation and honey-trapping won't work. So he uses honesty, as much of it as he can allow, yet more than was necessary to prove his point. He didn't have to tell Yor the very sensitive part that he doesn't remember his mother's face, but the security he's starting to feel around her made him drop that wall and open up, genuinely and deeply.

And it's enough for Yor. Loid's words make it clear that what she considers a fatal flaw of hers, to him it's a strength that means a lot to him and he admires. And to be told this by someone who's only known her for a little while, who trusts her with his child, who immediately forgives her for kicking him unconscious, is incredibly big for her. Her whole adult life she's felt on the outside, not having friends or even teenage years where she had the time to look after herself, constantly being criticized by her coworkers, and all while not knowing how to "act normal". And now she's told that it's okay, that there's nothing she needs to change. That she's enough.

So yeah, I love this moment for both of them.

[cantareincminor]

Day 15: Favorite Friendship

These two lovable idiots:

Twilight is in dire need of some lightheartedness in his life, and Franky is just the person to provide it! Franky has known him longer than anyone alive, even Handler. He accepts the grumpy spy as he is and is able to tease him without fear of reprisal. It’s always hilarious and endearing to watch their dynamic.

Franky, on the other hand, doesn’t really “need” Twilight in his life. He has plenty of other friends as we see in chapter 105. He’s well liked in the underground and just knows how to have a good time! Twilight is just one of many income sources and interesting people he associates with. The lack of pressure from Franky’s side of the friendship makes the dynamic better. It enables Franky to be more relaxed, honest, selfless, a good balance to Twilight’s high-strung, overly serious nature.

I just love how they make fun of each other in different ways, like Franky laughing at Twilight during the bullet in butt date:

And Twilight’s face in the middle panel below!! Hahahaha

And! Twilight has zero sense of humor EXCEPT when it comes to Franky. Like you can’t tell me that the opening of chapter 2 was Twilight’s best effort at making Franky into a passable wife. He HAD to be doing this as a joke!

And how about the reverse? Franky is the only friend Twilight would disguise himself as a woman for! In the Monica McBride chapter, he actually helps Franky practice dating by dressing as a hot woman!! That takes considerable effort! This is the plot of my crack fic What Friends are For, by the way.

In seriousness though, their friendship runs deep. They may not have too many serious conversations (although their two chats about not getting attached and not being able to have real relationships were quite memorable ones), but they innately trust each other. At least as much as Twilight allows himself to trust anyone. He brings Franky along as backup where no other agents are available (the art smuggling op and dressing up as SSS to interrogate Yor, for example). He won't admit that Franky is his friend (as Anya reads in his mind that time Yor says "Melinda could be like my Franky!" lol), but it's just another thing he's in denial about.

One of the most pivotal moments in Twilight's pre-spy life took place because of Franky:

This random Ostanian deserter managed to convince [Redacted] not to shoot him, actually made him laugh in the process, and then proceeded to challenge his deeply ingrained beliefs about the war and the enemy. And then, years later, somehow, they crossed paths again as an Ostanian informant and a Westalian spy. They began working together on a routine basis, poking fun at each other, and giving each other unsolicited advice. I would like to think that if either of them knew the other was in serious trouble, they would be there in a heartbeat to bail them out.

Another self plug (collab with @unhappy-sometimes): we are co-writing a parody of 21 Jump Street with Twilight and Franky as fellow WISE agents infiltrating Eden Academy as high schoolers. I daresay it's a fun read!

[gijipaw]

SPY X FAMILY 30 DAY CHALLENGE!

To start off this year, I'm giving you this suggestion: the idea is that you answer the questions, but you can do anything else!

But the idea of ​​this is to get to know each other's tastes.

Enjoy this!

[shiuefha]

Spy x Family 30 Day Challenge

Day 14: Favorite Couple?

Hmm, I guess it's more like my favorite couples, plural, because it's a tie between Twiyor, Damianya and Yurikuro.

I don't know why, but it seems like there's something like an unofficial 'rule' about how to become a good couple in Spy x Family, that the girls should have ever kick, punch, or slap the boys, and these three couples already fulfil the 'requirement' here, lol.😂

Honorable mention for Domilla, Frankiona, Bewen and Hendertha, because I ship them even though they haven't fulfilled the requirement yet.

[tare-anime]

SxF Challenge

Day 7: Favorite moments?

Hands down, the moment Yor got her motivation to fight back during cruise arc.

The latter half of chapter 53, or Season 2 ep 8

I can never stop crying during this moments. No matter how many times I reread / rewatch this 😭😭😭😭👏👏👏👏

Super awsome!!!

(Will I ever stop blabbering about Yor? Nope..never 🤣🤣🤣)

[jamereadsmanga]

Best and worst moments in SXF imo (Days 7 and 8)

Best: I think chapter one is still my favourite one overall. It's so sweet and focuses on my favourite duo and their relationship. This moment when she crawls into his arms and cuddles with him warms my heart every time. Sad we haven't gotten a moment this precious my gawd. Even reading through the chapter to get the frame really just made me giggle.

Worst: words cannot describe how much i resent the cruise arc. I am just going to leave monstrosity here for you all to ponder on.

[goldenstorm0]

Day 16 - Favorite Quote

Its two technically

Martha in the Love and War arc:

and Franky and couple chapters after:

Love little things like this. When you first read it with Martha, it hurts. She has someone that she wants to fall in love with. But there is a war and wants to protect the people she cares about. So she does what she thinks is best. And that effort just hurts her more, then sends her home to get heart broken. And it feels awful

Then you get to Franky. And it mirrors her situation so perfectly. He has someone he wants to fall in love with. He already has a hrad enough time getting a first date, this is an important thing for him. But there is a (cold) war going on. And he's doing what he thinks is best, protecting people he cares about. But due to this, he misses his shot, and has his heart broken for the hundredth time. And it's fine. Because it's happened a hundred times

And maybe that trivializes things? But I don't think it does. Because for Martha, all of this heartbreak happens when she is so young, I'm guessing she's 18-19 when this all goes down. And it feels like a huge thing in the moment, like the world is ending

But then you grow up. And you go through hundreds of heartbreaks of all kinds. And you end up eventually like Franky. Yeah, he doesn't like it. It hurts and it sucks. but you know how to deal with it and move on.

And I love it. I love that we can see Martha now, older and smarter for it and despite it. Aaand I just love it

[cantareincminor]

Day 23: Most Attractive Character

Twilight. I'm pretty basic.

But instead of filling this post with the hottest pictures of our super spy, I'll pick the silliest.

Nailed it. Truly.

Yor must have thought he was so adorable.

For the life of you, JUST LAUGH. ONCE.

I want to see Endo subvert all our expectations of a soul-crushing Twilight v Thorn Princess showdown by having Twilight make this dot-eyed face when he sees his wife on the battlefield.

Real mood.

Salmon roe eyes? Another mood.

...

OK I LIED ONE HOT PIC:

[cantareincminor]

Day 14: Favorite Couple

It's Twiyor. 16 out of 18 of my SxF fics feature Twiyor as a couple.

Why do I love them?

They're so respectful and supportive toward each other, more so than most couples in "real" relationships

Twilight’s respect for Yor is especially poignant, as he immediately admires her (genuinely) for working so hard to support her brother when Camilla tells everyone Yor used to be a prostitute. No judgment, just understanding and empathy. And later when he must have figured out the gossip wasn’t true, he still accepts her as she is in her clumsiness and lack of social awareness. Part of this is the low bar he sets for civilians in his mission…as long as his cover wife isn’t sabotaging his mission I think he would be OK with pretty much anything. But I think he is especially soft toward Yor because she surprises him with her kindness and gentleness with Anya, how she makes up for the places he is lacking

Yor is able to get through to Twilight in ways that no one else can. Part of it is due to his deep fondness and respect for her, and his guilt over the SSS impersonation incident. But it also must be that this is the first time in many years that he's continuously lived under the same roof with a "civilian" without using them as a target. There's no pressure on him to get anything out of Yor other than maybe Plan C with Melinda, but even there he is extremely hands off. There are so many moments when Yor takes him off guard in a gentle way, whether it's challenging his approach to parenting, or telling him she would be delighted to help him out with chores, or reminding him that it's a good thing there isn't any dire news on TV when he gets annoyed at the "Belle the seal" craze. Slowly, I believe she's influencing him in a positive way, helping him to relax and appreciate the simple things in life and learn to trust in other people (her)---although he would see this as a weakness!

They're both badass in their own right

They're so silly in their own right (Twilight with his ridiculous overthinking and catastrophizing--those 862 date ideas; Yor with her...slightly less ridiculous overthinking and catastrophizing--that subverted welcome home kiss!)

They've both suffered so much and yet remained steadfast and resilient. Twilight has committed himself to the cause of peace at the cost of his own self and identity. Yor dedicated her life to her brother, and now Loid and Anya, and is so optimistic and at peace despite suffering so much loss and a gruesome job since a young age

Their personalities complement each other, and they help each other grow in key moments in canon, but they're not the only people in each other's lives. When they eventually get together, I don’t think they will be the type of couple where their entire lives revolve around each other. Endo is telling the story of their relationship in a balanced (if very slow) way

Some lovely Twiyor moments:

Chapter 2:

Chapter 56:

Chapter 66:

Chapter 94:

[cantareincminor]

Day 30: Why I Love Spy x Family

It's a story with heart. It has several deep messages that resonate with me. Aside from the obvious anti-war, anti-greed message, there's Twilight's personal philosophy that it's worth striving to understand other people, even though we can never truly know what they're thinking. Meaningful relationships are ultimately built on trust, which is inherently risky. There's also the message that children are the world's greatest treasures. I believe this, though it's a constant struggle to live it out. It’s easy to see them as an afterthought or obstacle to one's career, personal ambitions, etc. As a parent myself, I often doubt whether all the sacrifice is worth it. But in the long run, I know it is.

The main characters are interesting and three-dimensional. Their backstories are tragic, but not overplayed for drama. They're not just scraping by and surviving, but living with purpose and strength, enough to care for and inspire people around them.

The mix of drama, action, suspense, and humor is just right. Oftentimes anime humor is annoying and over-the-top in my eyes, but not Spy x Family. It adds life and color to the characters and keeps things lighthearted when the story could easily become very dark and morose.

Endo is clearly an expert at his craft, from character design to story beats to the way he lays out different scenes and characters' inner dilemmas and emotional reactions to maximal effect on the page. It's just so cool studying how he fills the blank canvas so effectively. Several noteworthy examples include the way he kept up the mystery of who was who in the mole arc (i.e. only after the fact do you realize that the first appearance of Winston Wheeler in Shellbury was in fact Twilight looking down at the street after putting on his disguise); the Desmond family dinner chapter; the ending of the Martherson saga with Martha's heartbreak and her ballet performance; the famous Twiyor page spread when they're sitting on the grass in the Belle chapter.

I appreciate that Endo has done a lot of research into Cold War era Europe, espionage tradecraft and tools, fashions, etc. Although it is a bit weird to me that he would simply remove Christmas as a holiday from a continent where Christianity has had such a strong cultural influence. Are there no churches in Berlint either? But, I suppose this isn't unique to Spy x Family; generally Christianity is not accurately portrayed in anime, so I'd prefer for it not to be there at all than to see a poor caricature of it.

It has been a delight to fill out these 30 days of questions. Thank you @gijipaw!

[piracytheorist]

Spy x Family 30 Day Challenge

Day 2: Favourite character?

Very predictably, Twilight. I am not immune to the broody protagonist who pushes his feelings away until they start spilling out of him.

One of my favourite things to do with fiction is literary analysis. And Twilight's character is full of juicy details that are begging to be analyzed. The whole way he works as a character while lacking an identity is so compelling, because whether he likes it or not, whether he realizes it or not, his true feelings and motivations manage to bleed through. And I just love finding all the moments and all the ways that this happens.

Also, as a character in general he hits a lot of my blorbo buttons: emotional backstory that motivates his present actions, a deep empathy and care for humanity (that he'd say he doesn't show himself but it's something he values and fights for), potential for Great Whump, and of course the Sad Eyes™.

Lastly, I'm not sure if it's because I've developed some writing experience over the years, but when it comes to writing fanfic, Twilight has not only been the most compelling of my blorbos to write, but also the one I "get" the most, the one I've felt the most comfortable writing in comparison to other characters. He's definitely not the easiest! Especially when you want him to not only realize but also admit to himself that he's grown feelings for his family. But I feel that this challenge is part of his charm.

Overall, he's interesting, deep, emotional, and very very very inspiring. Absolute delight of a character to analyze and to love. Mwah.

[piracytheorist]

Spy x Family 30 Day Challenge

Day 7: Best moment for you?

Okay, again, very difficult question for me to answer. There are so many moments that speak to me, that touch me, that describe the essence of this story so well.

However, I'll go with the scene that definitely sold me in the story.

And that's the moment Twilight gets ready to punch Swan in episode 4.

I was already enjoying the anime up to that point, and was already convinced I would continue watching on. But this moment absolutely sold me regarding Twilight's character. It was the proof that even though he tried to tell himself that none of this matters, it's all for the mission, they're not a real family... he actually did care about Anya and Yor's feelings and was ready to kick ass to protect them.

I remember the shock I felt in those seconds as Twilight was lunging at Swan. This instinctual moment, where his spy discipline was screaming at him to stop, could have been the decisive moment that made the entire mission go up in flames. And yet, the priority was retribution at Swan for hurting the others' feelings. The humanity pushed through and Twilight's real character and principles shone out. Because as Swan kept jabbing at Yor and her role in the family, Loid almost snapped at him, but then pulled himself back. Then Swan not only had the audacity to ask Anya - a literal child - a very inappropriate and openly provocative question, he also belittled her for crying about the loss of her mother. Which, yeah, a child crying about their deceased mother is very much a huge trauma trigger for Twilight, Swan belittling her about it only pushed him over the edge.

So yeah, in a few words, this scene not only proved how much Twilight feels compassion for others and feels in general, it also proved that he's ready to do anything to defend anyone whose feelings are being hurt. And that is not only an important moment for the story, it's also an important moment for me. It tells me the story puts human emotions first and that it really cares for humanity, and caring for other people and their safety, both physical and mental and emotional, is an idea that we always need to remember and prioritize.

[cantareincminor]

Day 7: Best Moment

Hands down, Chapter 86 of the manga. I know it's not a single moment but I can't really boil it down to just one.

The entire mole hunt arc was top notch. The ending made it even better. And not just because of the infamous Twilight Shower Scene.

It starts in the sewer, when Twilight tells a half-truth to Nightfall about why he spared Yuri:

I'm a sucker for whenever Twilight has these moments (of which there are several in this arc). That exact expression. His eyes say it all. He's defeated, shaken, not "himself." He can barely admit the truth to himself, but he has to come up with some kind of explanation to satisfy his colleague and the rest of WISE when he writes the mission report.

That "for the mission" defense isn't holding up so well anymore, is it, Twilight?

His solemn, defeated mood continues as he heads home as an ordinary civilian:

Again, the eyes say it all. He looks up at his apartment with something like dread. It takes effort to raise his head. He looks to be walking slowly. Like he doesn't want to be there. He knows he's heading into a difficult conversation after an already difficult day where he made a nearly fatal "mistake" and almost lost his life.

Then, against all expectations, Yor welcomes him with the sweetest smile, to the point where she has a halo around her head in his eyes. Once again, Yor defies all that he thinks he knows about human nature and women!

Look at him. That tiny dot of a mouth looks so cute. He's stunned, unable to process. I won't copy paste all the fainting he does since I don't want to copy paste the whole chapter!

So many miniature golden Twiyor moments and shoujo filter close-ups of Yor here. I love how soft her expression is, the contemplative look in her eyes and the shape of her smile. Yor isn't the best at expressing herself in words, especially when it comes to her own wants and desires, but when she tells the truth, it hits hard. She feels comfortable enough with Loid to tell him what's really on her mind, what she wants! What a major milestone for her.

Twilight looks so adorable up there! He's listening and absorbing her words. His mind is not on overdrive. It's just focused solely on Yor. What a sweet, slow moment.

Then, there's this beautiful panel of them in the midst of all this white space. Completely focused on each other, at face level, sitting on the ground. Not putting on a front, just talking as husband and wife. Other fans have analyzed this a lot so I won't say much more.

Side note, it's kind of funny that right after this Yuri bursts in, and while Loid springs to his feet immediately, Yor is still sitting on the ground. I wonder if Yuri noticed his sister was randomly sitting on the ground? What could that have implied? Allow me to have a bit of a dirty mind here, lol, it reminds me of this iconic sentence in @miss---nothing's amazing fic Little Deaths, "What makes you think we haven't sullied the floor?"

Ahem. Finally, there's Twilight's reflection on all of this:

Finally admitting that Yor is a weakness. That she is the reason he "slipped up" so horrendously and left himself extremely vulnerable, not only with debilitating injuries he could have avoided (which then cost him the fight with Wheeler), but by leaving an SSS agent alive and wondering why the hell the most notorious spy of the West would spare his life! That is a HUGE risk to take!

I just love the character development, the epiphanies, that shine through in this chapter. Twilight's still taking baby steps emotionally, but when we really think about it, he legitimately fulfilled his vow he made all the way back in Chapter 14:

He took a bullet for Yor!! Literally!! Actions speak louder than words.

He won't admit he loves her (probably will take 100 more chapters for that LOL), but he sees her as a "weakness." Which places him on the path toward that elusive point in the distance.

All in all, this is the chapter I have reread the most. It'll take a lot to top it in my mind!

[cantareincminor]

Day 9: Funniest Moment

Chapter 67. This whole concept is so hilarious. The director of the psychiatry department at Berlint General turns out to be That Guy at work. Loid's reaction is just priceless.

And what do you know, Dr. Loid Forger is another type of That Guy at work. The suck-up.

Look at Little Miss Popular Dr. Forger! About to drink a cup full of laxatives.

Little does Gorey know that Loid has plenty of experience with tummy troubles. Laxatives are nothing compared to his wife's cooking!

And can I just say that WISE should take notes! Loid purposely leaving toilet paper hanging out of his pants is ELITE SPY TACTICS. How could this innocent bumbling doctor possibly be the most wanted spy in the country:

("Is it 'cause he's handsome? That's gotta be it, right?!" Yes, Gorey, you are on to something.)

Fast forward to Nightfall and Franky posing as SSS agents out to arrest the wonderful Dr. Forger. Franky goes the extra mile:

Amazing. This just gets better and better.

Peak panel:

The facial expressions of all three people in this panel are priceless.

How much is Twilight dying inside from having to stoop this low? Meh. All in a day's work for Westalis' greatest.

[cantareincminor]

Day 28: Favorite Theory for the End

I haven't looked into many fan theories for the end! But I did write my own version of the end in my longest fic, tying up Project Apple and other political threads.

Spitballing, I think the canon ending is likely to have these elements (rather boring predictions):

Forgers stay together, Twilight is allowed to retire as Loid Forger (there is precedent for this in the lives of real spies)

War is averted, and Ostania and Westalis establish more peaceful ties

All of the Forgers' individual secrets are revealed to each other, and while the journey to acceptance may be rocky (especially between Twilight and Yor), they ultimately forgive and understand each other

The "bad guys"---the political and scientific figures behind Project Apple, plus the warmongers, are defeated

Bonus: Franky gets a girlfriend!

Beyond this, there are more nuanced questions I'd like to explore:

Will Twilight have to leave the Forgers at some point?

This one's 50/50 to me. Having Twilight disappear for a while--whether it's because his cover is blown or because WISE needs him elsewhere--could introduce a lot of active tension and mystery. From a storytelling perspective, if Endo chose not to reveal Twilight's fate or narrate from his POV for an entire arc, it would help put the spotlight on other characters and give them a chance to shine.

It would force characters like Yor and Anya to change the status quo of their behavior, ask questions, hunt for answers. Especially if Anya came clean to her mother about her and Bond's powers and was able to assist in finding Twilight and helping him out of whatever predicament he might be in.

Will Twilight and Thorn Princess have to fight each other, even if just for a few minutes when they're taken off guard?

This one's 75% likely to me. While Endo teased it in Yor's drunken imagination, that could still have been legit foreshadowing of the eventual showdown. There are so many great fics about Twilight and Thorn Princess running into each other on the job by accident that explore this already, I won't go into the potential setup here.

The main reason I think it's likely is because the whole premise of the story is these two extremely competent underground professionals from opposing countries living together and having no clue about the other's identity. It would make sense for them to have an explosive surprise encounter where the house of cards falls apart.

But what happens after the encounter is the main question. Does one of them leave the Forgers? Do they fully come clean or does Twilight continue to lie and try to trick Yor? Does all the trust they have accumulated in their relationship vanish and have to be painstakingly rebuilt? Or will it be a quieter scenario where they each own up to their guilt, and commit to understanding the other? I'd like to lean toward the latter, especially with Twilight's personal philosophy of relentlessly trying to understand every unknown he comes across. As he told Donovan Desmond, he believes that it's worth trying to understand other people even though it's very difficult.

Will Anya be captured/threatened by Project Apple in some way?

75% likely. This again has been explored in many fics.

From a storytelling perspective this makes sense because it would serve as a unifying factor for Twilight and Thorn Princess to work together, and WISE and Garden perhaps as well (or for their best operatives to go rogue, which can be even more interesting).

Anya, and children as a whole, are cast as the beacons of hope and innocence, worth protecting at all costs, throughout the narrative. This is apparent from chapter 1 when Twilight reveals his inner motivation is to make a world where children don't have to cry. It's reemphasized through Yor's own backstory of raising Yuri at great cost to herself; when we see Twilight's own tragic backstory of everything he lost and how he became a spy; when Sigmund Authen says that children are the world's greatest treasure; when Jeeves looks on Damian and his friends and is happy to see him loosen up and be himself, instead of constantly feeling burdened by adults' expectations. All this is to say that, when an author sets up a person/concept like this as "The Precious" in a story, they're likely to threaten it with grave danger as the pinnacle of the conflict--for all the competing sides to give up their differences and come together over the one thing they can agree on.

Will any important characters die?

75% likely. To fuel the narrative, Endo may kill someone off, as is common in longer mangas. The convenient way to do this is with an older mentor figure like Sylvia or McMahon--which leaves their subordinates devastated and lost and looking for answers or retribution. If Sylvia dies, Twilight may be forced to step up as commanding officer of WISE until the parent organization can send a replacement.

Other than that, I really have no clue.

How will Yor and Yuri confront each other about their respective secrets?

I believe this will happen after Twilight and Yor find out about each other. It might come as part of the identity reveal convo, where Twilight discloses this to Yor. He would definitely need to prevent her from giving away any signs to Yuri that her husband is a spy.

Other than that, I really have no clue again, lol

And finally, a less important question, but one I've seen fans debate about now and then: will Twilight and Yor have more children together?

50/50. (This includes both biological children and adopting--to cover the possibility that one or both of them have become infertile due to the demands of their jobs.)

Obviously I do not think this will happen until way later, after all the identity reveals, after peace has been achieved. Endo might conclude the manga with a timeskip to show what our main cast's lives are like (and the overall political landscape), and that might be when we glimpse a Twiyor baby or two.

From discussions with other fans, I think that opinions about the "Twiyor baby" largely hinge on a fan's personal preference for whether they want children in their own lives. Of course there are exceptions, but in general, fans who have or want children of their own headcanon that Twiyor will have more children, while those who don't want children hc that Twiyor will stick with just Anya.

Given that much of this question is speculating on future Twilight and Yor (I'd say at least 3 canonical years after where we currently are in the manga), it's really hard to say where their mindset will be at that point. But, I'd say Yor is more likely to want another child than Twilight. Family life with the Forgers has given her new purpose and joy; she loves being a mom to Anya, and whenever we see memories of her youth, we see her happily taking care of Yuri and treasuring those times with him. Twilight, on the other hand, needs to undergo A LOT of character growth before he'll even consider a question like this. Right now he doesn't even acknowledge Anya and Yor as his family beyond mission purposes, is trying to emotionally distance himself from them, and is still committed to the whole "hero who casts no shadow" business.

Thanks for reading this far if you made it down here!

[cantareincminor]

Day 8: Worst Moment

It's hard to remember any moment in Spy x Family that I would really characterize as "bad." There are a few contrived (minor) moments that came off a bit lazy or not well thought-out to me, such as the way Twilight as Robert broke off his relationship with Karen in chapter 1. Telling her she's stupid and then leaving her with the bill at a fancy restaurant? And I don't like how Damian repeatedly bullies Anya and it's played for laughs, but I don't tend to reread Eden-focused chapters so nothing particularly stands out.

If I had to pick a "worst moment" that made me pause and go "What? That's it?", it would be Twilight's reaction to the bus hijacking.

What's with that bored face? Boredom?? I get it, Twilight is a spy who repeatedly tells himself his family is just for the mission, but even then, would his reaction really be boredom instead of relief and gratitude when his daughter was literally just in the hands of a terrorist? The guy held her up as a meat shield and the SSS nearly shot her! If it hadn't been for Martha Marriott's intervention, Anya would have died or been severely injured!

The next day isn't much better:

He's extremely clinical about the experience, and even though he recognizes the trauma that it must have caused Anya, there doesn't seem to be any level of emotion in his thoughts. It reads more like a "This variable happened so I must do XYZ to counteract it." Which does tend to be the way Twilight thinks about everything, BUT this scenario is so much more extreme than anything he's encountered before as a direct threat to Operation Strix! His daughter ALMOST DIED.

The most reflection we get out of him is this:

I'm really trying to understand Twilight's point of view here, and as a parent myself I can sort of stretch my imagination to get halfway there. There are many times when I am so mentally and emotionally exhausted from the constant neediness of my kids and lack of sleep and lack of breaks that the next time they cry or trip on something and get hurt, I really struggle to drum up any sympathy and compassion. I have to force a smile and some comforting words out of my mouth. Twilight just came back from a gang infiltration mission in another city, and he's never taken a vacation ever, and he plays rationalization/compartmentalization Olympics in his mind to prevent any true emotions from ever surfacing. So maybe, maybe he's just super burned out and deadened to any empathetic response.

But still! ANYA ALMOST DIED.

I know other readers have felt disappointed by this part of the manga as well so I won't say much more. We can try to defend Endo and say that he's acknowledging once again that no parents are perfect, or that Twilight has a lot of character growth to undergo before he's a "real" father. Or that maybe Twilight had more emotional thoughts offscreen, or whatever. But the whole "maybe it happened offscreen" argument falls flat when it comes to a momentous event like this.