#analysis with bias

[lawbin-archive]

Lawbin Dressrosa Analysis 2 - Save me save you

When I was coming up a title for this, I thought of the song - "Save me save you" by WJSN, because Robin saved Law in this arc lol So I went to search up the lyrics and actually it fits my delulu so well. If you're curious you can search the whole lyrics, here are a few lines:

"I will protect you so you don't get hurt I can tell even with small gestures All the painful memories deep in your heart is no more I'll wrap you in my arms, now tell me"

highlighted in purple are my delulu~

Again, don't read if you don't like Lawbin. Includes lots of bias.

~LAWBIN FRIENDS PHASE~

Chapter 731 ~ 773: Defeat Doflamingo with you

Robin changed her mind after hearing the story of Dressrosa. Instead of destroying the factory only, they decided to take down Doflamingo together. Everyone changed their mind after seeing the country's situation and at the end, their goal aligned including Law and Robin. Robin actually changed a lot after time skip. After joining straw hats, she's finally showing her empathy side and feelings instead of hiding it.

Baby 5 & Law and Luffy & Robin gave me so much siblings vibes here!! It's like Baby 5 hitting his older brother, got scared and seek her another brother for protection. And Luffy is like the younger brother trying to complain everything to his older sister and seeking agreement from her haha He also did the same when the beginning of the arc where he argued with Momo that he can fly, but Robin said "he doesn't have wings though". So cute!! It would be such cute scenes if it's not happening during a disaster.

I actually think Robin is trying to confirm Law's whereabouts here. Because she already knew Zoro and Luffy are there, except them, there are Viola and Riku there. Robin haven't met Viola and her father yet so she probably not asking about them. And she knew Franky is at the toys house, Kinemon was with them before, so in my opinion, I think Robin is asking about Law. And it makes sense because she separated with him at Greenbit and probably worry about his situation after hearing he got beat by Doflamingo.

Law gave me so much Alabasta or Eneis Lobby Robin vibes here (how many times I have said that lol) To me, It's not like they don't care about other people lives, some of their actions are telling the opposite, it's like they have so much burden on themselves that they don't even have time or strength to care about others. As I mentioned above, Robin starting show her emotions now because she didn't need to pretend tough to avoid getting hurt anymore. I actually hope one day we can see Law showing the real him too. I would say he is much relax after this arc and in Wano but I feel like he is still putting a lot of responsibilities and burden to himself :(

Look at this!! Robin has Law's den den mushi contact here!!! (they all probably have to connect each other haha) But this proves that it wouldn't be unreasonable if we see Robin and Law contacting each other after Wano because she has the contact *smirk*

Ooo the Eneis Lobby vibe, Robin trying to help Law unlock his cuff just like the crew trying to do the same when she was in Eneis Lobby *sob* And I think because she couldn't help him much at Green Bit, so she's trying to help more here. I think other straw hats probably won't care as much if they were in her situation, so he's lucky that Robin is the one helping him here haha

The third time Robin use wings in front of Law!!! So elegant and beautiful!! ><

She's like I'll protect you guys just go. This women is just so hot. And I think she really treated Law like a friend here because she brought the key to Law even though there were lots of obstacles, she protected him in order for them to defeat Doflamingo, she worried about him 1/3 of the arc. She really treat him differently than the last arc and I think maybe how Law acted during Punk Hazard and Green Bit made her changed her view on him? And if I think about would other straw hat (except Luffy) do the same? I really doubt they would. And would Robin do the same if it's another non-straw hat? She probably would (for example Kinemon) but I doubt if she will be that worried and react the same for Law.

Every time I read this made me feel sad, Law literally plan his whole life to defeat him and he is finally free after defeating Doflamingo, but the time he's being free is so little. literally only a month? and in this month, he still need to worry about defeating a yonko. And Oda decided to make that worse after....sigh. I also saw a tweet that Law probably has survival guilt after all the things happened in his life. But because of this, I think he might have a character development like Robin soon. (If Oda has mercy)

Again, Robin mentioned about the key which means delivering the key (releasing Law) is important to her or she always keep that in mind. If you think about it, Robin really talked like she thank you Rebecca for doing a favour for her friend.

Chapter 779 ~ 783: Save you

Robin is worrying about Law again. But also, if I put all my bias away, it might be also because they are in an alliance so it's natural that she is worrying about him. But if I think it in my delulu, She cares a lot about him!! Even in Wano, I rarely see Robin worrying a non-straw hat (a guy) that much.

Seriously, after she saw Luffy and Doflamingo jump out, the first thing she saw is how bad Law is. I wouldn't believe if you told me they weren't more than ally because of how worried she is.

Finally, we have arrived one of the lawbin's famous scenes. Robin saved him and caught him using Spider Net and according to Internet, the only two times she used spider net to save or catch someone are for Zoro and Law. And she treated him so genteelly!! I also have read a fic* that said this probably the moment when Law felt he's treated like a human. During the arc, he has been fighting, calculating, and trying his best to defeat Doflamingo. He acted very rationally through out the arc. But in this moment, he felt warm, he is protected and he can be passed out without worrying about his safety which happens really rare for him :'( *Here is the fic I'm mentioned!! It's one of the favorite lawbin fics. Take my Heart & Please Don’t Break It by CericeBelle

Robin is willing to risk her body to save Law *sob* Especially when she was already hurt when she was protecting Rebecca *sob* I always wonder if Law knew he was saved by Robin here. He probably knew? Even though he passed out, I think he won't lost all his consciousness and can feel he is saved by another person. And when he was awake later, he probably knew Robin saved him because she was right beside him. And kudos to cabbage-kun, he was so nice to Robin and carried Law T-T I think he might told Law about what happen when he passed out in the next chapter because they were alone on the platform.

I just noticed this, in the left panel, did robin just hold Law without using her ability? this girl is so strong and she's still protecting him!!

So Law did tell Robin and Cabbage-kun his real goal (to strike down Doflamingo) In straw hats, only Luffy and Robin knew what his true intention is. (Sanji also guessed) I don't think they both will mind about it though because they already aiming to defeat Doflamingo before. To be honest, if Law know Luffy better in Punk Hazard, he will know Luffy or probably the whole straw hats can help him to defeat Doflamingo even without alliance. But with his personality, he probably won't say a word about what happen between him and Doflamingo. And I feel like only Luffy and Robin can make Law become more vulnerable or more willing to express his true self.

And here :( Law ready to sacrifice himself to archive his goal just like what Robin did in Eneis Lobby...so I think Robin knew exactly how Law felt here. But Robin's character developed a lot!!! Now she doesn't even think to sacrifice herself and trying to let Law feel more ease. I feel like she's trying to save him out the situation where she was. It's like when Usopp told Robin to trust Luffy q-q but you know they were both stubborn in their own ways...

Chapter 798 ~ 800: Live freely

These two scenes...don't tell me Oda didn't do it on purpose, I really think he's trying to imply Law is going through what Robin did. And Law after 13 years, he is finally living freely. Robin is a little bit lucky than Law, she found strong friends that can rely on and encountered a group of people (revolutionary army) that provide support to her and she can trusted with. That's why she changed so much 2 years later. And I seriously hope Law can also have the support he needed as well :(

Ah - the beginning of seeking "The will of D". He wants to know why Corazon saved him when he said he is a D. And Sengoku said Corazon didn't know anything about D, he saved you just because he loved you. *sob* I can understand why some people ship Law & Corazon because it's just pure love, but I see them more like father & son love just like what Sengoku did to Corazon. I think during Dressrosa -> Wano, Law is trying to ask himself what he really want to do after achieving his previous goal and probably what happened in Zou made him more curious about the D.

Yes this is the end of Dressrosa! It's funny Oda try to slip lawbin similarities even in the same page lol see how Law looked everyone in the banquet and how Robin did the same after (top left panel). Oda what are you planning for both of them!!! >< It's not just them having similar dream, right???

This is the arc that Law & Robin interacted the most. It makes sense because this arc is almost dedicated to Law and mainly focusing on him, so he must interacted with the straw hats a lot. But still I'm surprised how Law and Robin get so much closer in this arc. Because Law isn't really close to any straw hats except Luffy. (maybe he get closer to Sanji and Zoro in Wano, but I still think Robin is the second closet to him by seeing how they interacted) I wish Oda could shown more of their moments because they definitely interacted during Zou -> Wano and when they were preparing the fight in Wano, and all we got is only one scene (although I know it's one of the most important scenes)

Oh yes I was gonna say something about my perspective on other ships *again warning, just my personal opinion and please read this rationally* first of all, I think Cabbage-kun and Robin are so cute T-T I don't really ship them but I just think Cabbage caring about Robin is really nice of him. Especially when he gave his coat to her. second of all, I can also understand why lawlu is so huge because of their polar opposite personality and Law act really cute in front of him haha but I don't ship them because I see them more like best friends. (yes I can see Law is mad behind me saying they are not friends) finally, I noticed there are frobin moments here, like they were wearing couple shirt (actually it said Corrida and Luffy is wearing a tank top with a bull on it too) and one of the SBS was about franky sleeping on Robin's lap something like that. To be honest, when I saw it I also think oo did Oda trying to set them up?? but luffy was sleeping on Rebecca's lap later on too. And I wonder why - if Oda really trying make them as a couple, but he doesn't give them any interactions in the storyline at all? Like most of "romantic moments" was from colorspread (the last one is chapter 987 and after that that they rarely interact), other than that, they mostly interacted as normal crewmates, so I always wonder did Oda changed his mind in Wano... Again, I'm just analyzing the possibility...

I actually finished reading Zou and 1/5 Wano already, I just don't have time to write an analysis T^T I thought Zou might be an arc that I can write a short analysis but while I'm reading it, I actually have lots of thoughts in mind!! So I'll talk about it next post haha Again, thanks for reading it!!! Discussions or comments are always welcome :)

[zvezdacito]

I think it's really cool how these two cards are kind of bookends to the tsumsitter series ↓

^ Heartslabyul all raising wands together. While for Diasomnia only Malleus takes the lead as the three just watch over him with some distance.

All members of HSB are equally shined on by the sun, while the lighting on Mal makes him alone shine while separating him from the others who literally do become his followers of the night.

Very fitting for their respective group dynamics and extremely cool artistic symbolism, and one of the reasons why I see these two as the best in the housewarden tsumsitter lineup🔥🔥🔥 this really was our twisted wonderland as they say or something

[arbitersart]

Had some thoughts on the structure of recent life series seasons and went into english major mode. Thought it was worth sharing here too!

[ottogatto]

I did some googling and found some interviews, and the actor has a background I think is quite relevant to Snape - he was the working class child of an immigrant single mum who grew up in working class East London and got scholarships to private school and then drama school because he was unusually talented, where he was one of only two black kids among all the rich white students and was treated badly by teachers for being different.

I think the reactions to the casting are really telling. I suspect the showrunners made this choice partly to tick a corporate box (they can’t race swap one of the main child characters, it would be so unfair to the child actor) but partly in order to tell Snape’s story faithfully for a new audience who is very far removed from the realities of life in the slums in 1960s Britain. People just don’t seem to get the classism and prejudice and ostracism Snape faces, and don’t understand the reasons why he’s on the losing side of the power dynamic in every relationship he has, but suddenly when he’s not white everyone gets it immediately. ‘But it makes my favourite character look bad when they abuse/abandon/manipulate Snape if he’s black!’ Yes, because it was always bad. They’re so so so close to getting it. And for that alone, the choice is worth it.

Oh gosh, no wonder he accepted the role! I trust him even more to give justice to Snape. You perfectly said it all.

[causticsodaa]

Opposites Attract: A Design Analysis

(i cant think of a better title)

Wind Breaker probably has the most unique character designs I’ve seen in animanga. It’s clear that Nii Satoru puts a lot of care in them, whether it be their clothing styles to what the designs themselves symbolize, and how they pertain to the characters themselves.

This is also a common theme in other mangas as well. However, there has been one particular aspect of certain character designs that have always intrigued me: ones which involve two characters meant to contrast each other (whether narratively or just their personalities) having blatantly opposing elements in their designs and traits.

In this analysis, I’ll be talking about these specific design choices when it comes to the Wind Breaker characters, specifically Togame and Choji!

I’ve already briefly gone over some of their design elements in one of my other posts, but I’ll reiterate it here to save you some time, as well as provide some more in-depth analysis.

I. Hair

Prior to Choji becoming the leader of Shishitoren, Togame and Choji’s hair were short, most likely to highlight their youth at the time. Not much to say here, since their hairstyles look rather similar, but I’ll talk more about this later I’m still sad the anime cut their pre sstr appearances they were so cute

Right after Choji becomes the leader, Togame has noticeably longer hair that he lets down. This could represent that Togame had nothing to tie him down (ie. he was still free) before Choji went haywire. Choji’s hair stays the relatively the same.

After Togame makes his promise to Choji, he braids his normally let down hair to signify how he’s now bound to Shishitoren and Choji wishes. On the other hand, Choji’s hair is now much more longer and messier during the Shishitoren Arc, mostly likely to represent his tattered mental state.

During the climax of Togame vs. Sakura however, he removes his hairtie and lets his hair flow freely again—now that he’s seen the true error of his ways, he no longer ties himself down to Shishitoren.

On the contrary, Choji rips out his own hair during his fight with Umemiya. This is meant to further highlight his degraded mental state, and his frustration upon hearing Umemiya’s words + him not being able to understand his current situation. In a way, this could also symbolize how Choji had ripped Shishitoren apart (hence the title of the chapter being called ‘Ripped Down).

Post-Shishitoren, both boys go through a Expository Hairstyle Change and decide to cut their hair. Togame even has an undercut to solidify that he truly has nothing that ties himself down anymore. Even Choji’s hair is less messier. Their current hairstyles are also somewhat reminiscent to when they were younger in my opinion; showing that Shishitoren has gone back to normal.

Choji and Togame’s hair also contrast each other. Togame has straighter, black hair that used to be much longer than Choji’s, while the latter has beige curly hair that stays relatively short throughout the series.

II. Bodies

To start, Togame and Choji are the classic Tall x Shorter duo, with a whopping 39 centimeter (~15 inches or 1 foot and 1/4ths in 🇺🇸🦅 units) height difference:

Choji is pretty thin, while Togame is more bulkier in build.

Togame’s face is much more broad and chiseled, while Choji’s is a lot more rounder (like a bunny….). Choji’s has a button nose, and Togame’s long and thick too.

Speaking of which, their facial features can be attributed to their namesakes; Tomiyama has the Japanese character for rabbit in it, while Togame has the turtle kanji in his.

III. Eyes

Choji’s eyes are round and wide, while Togame’s are slanted and narrow. Additionally, Choji’s eyes are sometimes colored a reddish-brown/red (it reminds me of a REW rabbit), while Togame’s are emerald; red and green are complimentary/contrasting colors.

Togame and Choji had ‘soulless’ eyes during the Shishitoren arc. It’s more apparent for Choji’s eyes—which shows the drab state of his mentality at the time and the empty feeling he has after becoming Shishitoren’s leader. Togame’s eyes are less empty on the other hand, representing the cruel façade he put up. Both of their eyes eventually return to normal and regain their shines after they reconcile.

IV. Additional Tidbits

Togame and Choji are a literal reference to ‘The Tortoise and The Hare’, from their story to their namesakes. Yes, the Aesop fable. They even mention a race in their backstory:

Since Choji is the hare and Togame is the tortoise, they are fast and slow respectively. Choji speaks very rapidly and excitedly, while Togame speaks in a very drawn out and slow way:

This translates to their fighting styles. Togame uses his weight and grappling skills against his enemies, while Choji uses his height and speed to his advantage.

Since Togame calls Choji the Sun, this implies that he’s the Moon given that he’s Shishitoren’s second in command. Choji and Togame’s relationship fits the Sun and Moon dynamic overall (Togame is drawn to Choji and Choji’s ‘rays’ allows him to shine as well, but the Sun and Moon cannot coexist without each other). You might as well call him the love of your life Togame

(ran into image limit) Togame doesn’t like texting and prefers calls, while Choji texts a lot

Choji dislikes waiting, whereas Togame doesn’t like being pressed for time (lines up with the tortoise and hare correlation)

Togame stretches first thing in the morning, Choji likes to bask in the sun

Both have eating competitions listed as their hobby

Togame’s dream is to have a quiet/retired life, while Choji wants to open a shop with Togame WE GET IT!!! YOU’RE MARRIED!!!!

[kinokoshoujoart]

scribbles based on my Another Wonderful Life file where i discovered Rock and Nami showing up together at Vesta’s farmhouse late at night on multiple occasions to cause various types of chaos and disturbance and havoc until Marlin and Vesta’s bedtime (which they both announce in unison to kick everyone out) this included

Rock levitating and attempting to rizz up vesta

Nami making a beeline for Celia’s room where she stands around making very subtle remarks (celia isn’t even in her room)

Marlin Enduring

haunting crime scene photos of the shenanigans:

[disastrid]

Coffman navigates over to the Wikipedia article about one of the conspirators—Arthur Nebe, a high-ranking member of the SS. Apart from his role in the plot, Nebe’s main claim to notability is that he came up with the idea of turning vans into mobile gas chambers by piping in exhaust fumes. The article acknowledges both of these facts, along with the detail that Nebe tested his system on the mentally ill. But it also says that he worked to “reduce the atrocities committed,” going so far as to give his bloodthirsty superiors inflated death totals. Coffman will recall that she feels “totally disoriented.” She cannot believe that an innovator in mass murder would have tried to protect the Jews and other supposed subhumans his troops rounded up. She checks the footnotes. The claim is attributed to War of Extermination, a compendium of academic essays originally published in 1995. Coffman knows the book is legit, because she happens to have a copy on loan from the library. When she goes to the cited page, she finds a paragraph that appears to confirm all the Wikipedia article’s wild claims. But then she reads the first sentence of the next paragraph: “This is, of course, nonsense.” The level of bad faith is eye-opening for Coffman. She is “very appalled.” She sees that her confidence in Wikipedia was “very much misplaced.” All it takes to warp historical memory, she realizes, is something this small, achievable for almost anyone with a keyboard. “So few people can have so much impact, it’s a little scary,” she says. She begins to turn a more critical eye to what she sees on Wikipedia. Especially the footnotes.

Emphasis is my own, because it's just so important.

Exercise a healthy skepticism for everything you read.

This goes for any kind of research, not just in Wikipedia. This happens in all kinds of contexts, purposeful or not.

Look at works cited, look at the original source. Make sure you understand the context of whatever you're looking at, be it a photo, a quote, or excerpt.

It may sound laborious, but honestly like anything else, the more you practice the easier it gets. For places like wikipedia with links in citations, it's even easier to track things down.

A works cited section in a wiki article is a great place to start your research, but your research should never end there.

[eeriepromis]

Mods and Deepbias - Open Letter about the Toxicity in the Official Discord

If you've been feeling frustrated, isolated, or unfairly targeted due to biased moderation and ongoing toxicity in the official Love and Deepspace Discord server, you're not alone. Below you'll find two versions of an open letter addressing these serious concerns directly to Love and Deepspace's customer service. Feel free to copy, customize, and send this letter to the game's support team.

Together, we can ensure our voices are heard, bring attention to this issue, and advocate for a safer, fairer, and more welcoming environment for all fans. By speaking out, we remind the company that their global moderation team should embody fairness, respect, and genuine support - not bias, toxicity, or unfair treatment of fans.

Your voice matters. Let's work together to reclaim a healthier fandom space.

Here's their e-mail adress: loveanddeepspace-en@infoldgames.com

You can also send these letters to the ingame Customer Service and/or mention them in future surveys.

Version 1:

Subject: Concerns Regarding Bias and Moderation Issues in the Official Love and Deepspace Discord Server

Dear Love and Deepspace Customer Support,

I am writing as a dedicated and passionate player who has grown increasingly concerned about the ongoing moderation bias on the official Love and Deepspace Discord server, particularly concerning Caleb fans and our experiences within the community.

It has become apparent that certain members of your moderation team exhibit clear biases against Caleb fans (also affectionately known as Caleb girlies). Unfortunately, these biases have resulted in unfair treatment, unjustified timeouts, and in some cases, unwarranted permanent bans. This has severely impacted the community's morale and our ability to freely and safely participate in server activities.

To outline some specific concerns:

Historical Bias:

- Before Caleb's official release as a love interest, moderators openly mocked and discouraged discussions about him, dismissing Caleb as merely an NPC. Community members who anticipated his release were banned without reasonable cause.

Recent Bias and Unfair Treatment:

- Leading up to Caleb's Myth release event, numerous Caleb fans have again been targeted with unjust timeouts. Moderators used the server's search function specifically to find minor infractions to justify extending these punishments.

- Comparatively, similar infractions by fans of other love interests often receive no punishment or merely warnings.

Lack of Safe Space and Hostility:

- Caleb's dedicated Discord channel has experienced continuous disruptions from fans of other characters without adequate moderation intervention. However, Caleb fans face immediate repercussions when defending themselves.

- Moderators have shown tolerance or even indirect encouragement toward negative comments and hostility against Caleb fans.

Impact on Community and Player Experience:

- Due to consistent negative experiences, many Caleb fans, new and old, have felt unwelcome and driven out of the official server.

- This has led Caleb fans to create external Discord servers to enjoy discussions peacefully, indicating a clear failure of the official moderation system to provide a supportive and welcoming environment.

We kindly ask for your immediate attention to these issues. Transparent, fair, and unbiased moderation is crucial for maintaining a healthy and vibrant community. We deeply appreciate the game, its lore, and its characters, including Caleb, and we seek nothing more than equitable treatment and a safe environment for all players.

Thank you very much for considering our concerns. We look forward to your prompt response and a resolution that allows all members of your community to engage positively with the game we all love.

Sincerely, A Dedicated and Concerned Fan

Version 2:

Subject: Concerns Regarding Bias and Moderation Issues in the Official Love and Deepspace Discord Server

Dear Love and Deepspace Customer Service Team,

I am reaching out to you to address ongoing concerns regarding the moderation practices in the official Love and Deepspace Discord server, particularly related to the handling of discussions surrounding the character Caleb and his fan community.

Since November, moderation has repeatedly displayed biases against Caleb fans. Initially, moderators outright banned and silenced Caleb fans who simply anticipated or discussed his release as a Love Interest. Caleb fans were denied a dedicated space for discussion, and even mentioning him in general channels or other character channels resulted in unjust bans and timeouts. Despite clear evidence hinting at Caleb’s eventual release as a Love Interest, moderators dismissed these discussions, at times mockingly claiming Caleb was merely an NPC or villain.

These actions have significantly affected the community's morale and created a hostile environment for Caleb supporters. Recently, just before Caleb's highly anticipated limited Myth event, moderators again unfairly targeted active Caleb fans, including myself. Moderators specifically searched through past messages to justify extended and unreasonable timeouts, misinterpreting messages as misinformation or moderation criticism, even when statements were factual or expressed genuine confusion over moderation practices.

Meanwhile, moderators have permitted suggestive and contentious content in other character channels, ignored hostility toward Caleb fans, and allowed misinformation and harassment aimed at Caleb supporters to continue unchecked. This clear inconsistency in rule enforcement reveals a troubling bias that damages community trust and cohesion.

Furthermore, this behavior disrespects the hard work, passion, and dedication of the game's developers, writers, voice actors, and artists, who have invested countless hours into creating Caleb’s character, narrative, and content. The moderators’ biased practices undermine the inclusive environment that the Love and Deepspace team strives to foster. As a result, dedicated fans are being driven away from the official community, harming both player retention and the game’s reputation.

I urge you to thoroughly review moderation practices and ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency for all fans, regardless of their preferred characters. Addressing this issue promptly will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining a welcoming and supportive community for all players and honoring the extensive effort put forth by your development and creative teams.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to seeing improvements and your response.

Sincerely, A Dedicated and Concerned Fan

[wesleysniperking]

Usopp, Representation, and the Black Experience: My Perspective (maybe TL;DR)

Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal interpretation and connection with Usopp's character. I understand that not everyone may share the same perspective, and that's okay. This is just my own take based on my experiences and thoughts about identity and representation.

When it comes to Black characters, I’ve noticed a recurring theme where they often distance themselves from their non-Black friends or take time away due to personal struggles. It’s a reflection of the weight they carry, and sometimes there’s even some regret for doing so. I can think of plenty of shows that have touched on this, and honestly, I get it. A lot of Black people, myself included, feel the need to face things alone, likely because of deep-rooted issues tied to our history, upbringing, and the challenges of navigating predominantly non-Black spaces—especially when tokenism is involved.

I’ve been that person, and in many ways, I still am. My sister and mom often joke that Usopp feels like a Black guy with a lot of “white” friends. They also mention how Black men, especially those in subcultures like the hipster scene, often juggle two social circles. My cousin, a big One Piece fan, is the perfect example of this. Even Jacob Gibson, who plays Usopp in the live-action series, gives off a similar vibe.

I know this might come off as blunt or even as a generalization, but to me, Usopp reflects a part of the Black experience. He’s like the Lando (or Finn) in Star Wars, Link Hayes in The Mod Squad, Noah in Young Riders, and Marcellus in The Originals. He’s the Renee in Ally McBeal, Tucker in Danny Phantom, Black Panther in Avengers, Cyborg in Teen Titans, Gerald in Hey Arnold, James Rhodes in Iron Man, Chris Washington in Get Out, Ben in Night of the Living Dead, and Christopher in Scrubs. He’s that Black guy.

Maybe One Piece could show Usopp as more than just his race, but it’s hard to ignore the connection. And that’s okay. It’s something I’ve been reflecting on for a while, and I wanted to share it.

GIF credit

Usopp fan club (feel free to join)

[mcytegg]

you can love a character and still admit when they're wrong. i love roshambogames but can acknowledge his flaws (he has none) & can hold him accountable for his wrongdoings (he’s never done anything wrong in his life) & call him out for his actions (which are always correct)

[bamjammy]

ANYA IS THE MAIN CHARACTER! Here's why! (Spoilers ahead)

First things first I wanna clarify exactly what I mean when I say "main character". There is a difference between a protagonist and a main character, that being a protagonist is the perspective we see the story from, it is who the story follows. The main character, as I understand it, is the driving force of the story. They are the primary mover of the plot or progression. These roles often coincide, but not always. In the case of Mouthwashing, Jimmy is the protagonist (or Curly, you could argue, but I think we spend more time playing as Jimmy).

Anya, though we don't see the story through her eyes, is the defining factor that shapes the story. SHE is at the center of everything that happens, whether against her will or otherwise. Without Anya, the crew wouldn't have died. Without Anya, Jimmy never would've crashed the ship in the first place. Not that any of that is her fault, of course, in fact it's quite the opposite, just that without Anya, there would be no Mouthwashing.

Jimmy crashed the ship because he found out Anya was pregnant. Daisuke got hurt because Anya cracked under the pressure and locked herself in the medbay. Even though she is the first to die, everything that happened to her and even a couple of the actions she took left ripples on the story after her death.

If Daisuke didn't get hurt, Swansea wouldn't have snapped, and Jimmy wouldn't have killed him. (Not to mention all the visions he has of the "baby" even after her death)

That's why I think she is the main character, and her story is arguably the MOST important part of the game, and ignoring it is to ignore the very meaning of the game. Unfortunately I've seen quite a few fans fall into the trap of either not understanding the implications or actively ignoring them for personal comfort. I understand, it's an extremely difficult topic, but it is a crucial part of Mouthwashing as a whole that can't go unaddressed.

Anyways I love Anya I would die for her I would do anything for her unlike Curly <3

[vanesawye]

great critique of season 3 jancy by jexonite

[hopefull-mindset]

Komaeda’s Symbolic Death

:@kelperings

… I feel bad that it’s still not done, so I’ll give you a piece of what I had concerning his death itself. I have more about his death when it came to his intentions, but my shit post was about the symbolic meaning.

The song “Let Us Sing of a Hollow Victory”, also translated as “Sing the Empty Happiness”, plays three times during the second game. The first time had been in the warehouse where Komaeda’s corpse was found, presumably as a way to cover the sounds being made from the inside. A haunting choir of voices come together to sing to a tune befitting the day of judgment. His body is splayed out onto the floor and his mouth is taped over. Odin’s spear, Gungnir, fell into his chest prompted by his left hand. The right hand was stabbed by the support of Monokuma’s plush toy after cutting up his limbs.

The right hand is righteous and holds authority. The left hand is lesser in power and holds judgment. It’s why Lady Justice is usually depicted with a sword in her right and scales in her left. However, the left hand has associations with sinister means and, at times, luck due to its rarity of being someone’s dominant hand. By stabbing his right hand and tying his limbs, he’s forsaken his own human authority to his belief in fate guiding his path. On the other hand, Gungnir had been used in the previous game to punish the rule breaker, Mukuro Ikusaba, who had been in disguise as her sister, Junko Enoshima.

Komaeda’s use of it, regardless if it was to heighten the mystery of his death or a narrative reference to Ikusaba’s death, emphasizes the core of his purpose by dying. To punish both himself and the others for their grievous, irredeemable sins. Nagito Komaeda’s perception of ultimate hope is similar to his perception of the students of Hope’s Peak Academy. They are symbols without their humanity in consideration, made to bring about an idea before a person. In other words, something closer to death than death itself as no person can truly be such a thing with an intact ego.

The state his dead body is left in is reminiscent of crucifixion. The spear could be said to be an allusion to the Spear of Longinus, piercing the body of Jesus to confirm his death. Unfortunately, this is a false allusion as it is Odin’s spear piercing him. Jesus Christ, as a christian symbol born from sacrifice, is generally depicted as an advocate of salvation through redemption rather than condemnation. It is not punishment handed to those who have done wrong, it is forgiveness. And on the contrary, stabbing the good to get rid of the dirt with the support of Monokuma’s plush parallels the irony to Komaeda’s methods of achieving hope through the killing game.

Thank you for the positive response to my post… I appreciate it! There’s more about the lose of humanity and becoming a tool to an ideal in the Hajime section (what it truly means to lose your humanity and ego, no longer being able to accord yourself to bias in passivity) and briefly touched upon with Peko (the act of assimilating the bias of your ego into your “objective belief” as a tool to your beliefs, as it’s the only way to truly die for them).

Man, wait till what I have to say about Chiaki (actual tool) and Makoto (narrative idealistic tool)

Original Post

[maskofenigma]

Fallen London's recurring topic of Love is really interesting to me as a sort of throughline between various stories and i want to ramble about discuss that briefly. i dont call it a theme because thematic statements are usually more complex than a single word, at least in my mind, but a lot of Fallen London's storylines incorporate love into their themes.

there's the obvious things ofc; the Manager and the King, the Duchess and the Canigaster, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Bazaar's whole situation. Love is a common motivator that many people can relate to, so it's no surprise that it appears in this capacity. Even so, these instances also underpin a lot of the setting's character, particularly the latter two examples, explaining why the neath is the way it is. but if we broaden our horizons just a bit, you can start to see it appearing all over the place (though maybe thats just confirmation bias lol).

the youthful naturalist loves discovery and life, and evolution in that context is a story about what one is willing to endure and sacrifice for that love. Love is a constant theme in the Light Fingers storyline, between moon milk and poor Edward, but also shows in Mr Fires's love for London (strange and deleterious though it may be) and the protagonist's love for either the Hybrid they protected or the diamond they'd been after. I don't know as much about the other ambitions (yet), but Nemesis is all about avenging a loved one by any means necessary, and you could see Bag a Legend as a love for the hunt or a love of fame, though even i’ll admit thats a bit of a stretch. Idk about Heart's Desire i’m still working on it but there's probably something. Its literally about what your heart desires but there’s absolutely a deeper connection with the Marvellous and stuff. No spoilers i'm still working on it :3

i dont know a ton about SMEN's story either, but i know from a ludonarrative perspective that it tests the players love for their character, forcing you to ruin this silly victorian who you are presumably quite attached to in the search for knowledge (perhaps another kind of love?) With what little i know of it, i’d honestly be shocked if there wasn’t anything there. if ao3 has taught me anything, there was definitely some kind of love going on between those two space bats, but im not sure if ao3 is a reputable source in this specific instance

The Flukes are literally sick with love for lost Axile, and a lot of the Masters are shown yearning to return to the High Wilderness. Many of the Irem Destinies regard love in this way, love for the sun, for the liberation, for ones partner, for london, for the people of the neath, and on and on. im not very far along with the railway but im 100% certain itll crop up again there, whether with Furnace Ancona or the Efficient Commissioner or the masters or whatever else. same goes for the Exceptional Stories and the myriad tales ive yet to unlock. Weve started to see a glimmer of it in firmament, with the imminent lucifer fire guy, but i wasnt really sure what his deal was. the idea extends to the other Sunless games from what i know, though ive yet to play those. Mask of the Rose is a romance, so thats pretty clear cut; sunless skies seems to have a lot of content relating to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; and sunless seas seems to have it present in a few storylines, though i couldnt point to anything specific at this time. even small things, such as the way that the railway steel seems drawn to Hell and the sorrowful properties of sphinxstone, makes for a setting that is inundated with longing and heartbreak in a fascinating way.

viewed through this lens, fallen london's perspective on love is tragically earnest: love is painful and unfair and yet so very necessary. as someone who's aromantic and a hater, i call that an L. but from a thematic perspective its very interesting how often this occurs and how it connects a lot of fallen london. In so many other narratives, love is a conclusion, a reward or climax. In fact, mass media seems allergic to depicting an active and healthy relationship, and instead relegates such matters to a single ceremonious kiss. But for fallen london, a game where kisses are currency and romance is taxed, the concept of love is afforded such an interesting amount of care and reverence. Fitting for a setting wherein the insisting incidents all relate to love in some way or another

it may be comedic and at times quite absurd, but fallen london to me is a game deeply concerned with love and its influence on people. and idk i think thats interesting. if you're looking for the theme or message of a given fallen london story, look to love, always.

does that count as a thesis? i certainly dont know

[animation-is-my-jam]

Tobey, you're so close to Becky...

How did you NOT hear that?!

The amount Becky was also caught up slipping up with her identity around Tobey of all people isn't much, but also more than enough.

Becky is so lucky that people of this city somehow lose their hearing whenever she whispers around them in close proximity. The audio engineer who works with the narrator should be given a raise/lhj.

And yep, it's not surprising that he's the one always trying to accuse her.

Unrelated, but this scene is interesting because yeah, of course, Tobey wouldn't really know what kind of person Wordgirl would like. Tobey has this dedicated crush, but I always got the feeling he doesn't actually know her well enough yet. I mean, he knows some stuff as we can see in. "Have you seen my remote", but thats because it's also things he enjoys (they have things in common), and I mean, how would she not be thrilled over dictionaries? But when it comes to other things, yeah, of course he wouldn't know. They are enemies. So he's putting these assumptions of what someone like Wordgirl would like, aka this emphasis of needing to be some superior person to match her. I have this whole Tobey analysis of how he changes his process of how to get Wordgirl to like him, and this method of thinking that he has to be the one to prove that he's smarter, stronger, or in this episode have "power". Well, Wordgirl is an alien superhero. He has this idea that she's above everyone (and uh, ig Becky herself in a way thinks this but shh thats for another time), and that's why he likes her because in his dumb ego mind, he's found his equal, but in this episode and some glimpses of others he also thinks that even he has to catch up to match her because he's just an earthling. So he either tries to prove he's smarter or stronger with his robots against her, or he tries to gain notoriety and power amongst other humans so she can be impressed as he thinks. Plus, how he says it. "Guys with power." Hmm, I'll repress my Tobey and gender analysis for now, but it's clear how he wants to just be perceived as this powerful dashing guy because probably he's been bullied a lot for his appearance and ofc his lack of physical strength. And we know he has the world's lowest self-esteem, and he just masks it all by putting on his typical arrogant facade where he thinks this is the reality. Cause sometimes he's not doing it just for Wordgirl to get her attention, he does it because he doesn't want to be seen as a failure or as lesser (he sometimes throws away his plans for it being about Wordgirl at first just to not lose). He's got issues with self-worth, doesn't he...

[legosreallyarekissable]

PART 2 JAY'S FULL POTENTIAL ANALYZING RANTING TIME BECAUSE IM REWATCHING NINJAGO S1!!!

where do i start ahhh "Just remember. You are the best you." - Nya Then mf thought he was the mc, stood up, and got his full potential. That quote from nya says it all. I LOVE WHAT THIS EPISODE IS SAYING because it hints that Jay is pretty much insecure and therefore, lies to cover it up. Like really. Creating spinjitzu. In the episode we see Jay trying to impress Nya on multiple occasions and lying. Knowing Jay has been trying to impress her from the start, he's faking as he thinks Nya may not enjoy the "real" side of him. From my reading. He was constanly worried for the date, practicing the LIES he would say. Look me in the eyes and tell me he's not insecure in the slightest. FURTHER evidence/implication is when nya said "I like you best when you were you" and proceeed to kiss him. It wasn't about this kiss if you believe that you hate jay to the point you downgrade him as just a Twink /lh /hj The WORDS brang comfort to Jay even showing the effect as his snake form litterally broke away ( fairy tale ahhh ) So the thing that was holding Jay back was none other then himself. He thought he wasn't good enough or was unconfident of the version of himself, something along that lines. So hearing someone else, the person he loved, say it to him must've made him realize he could be just HIM! Which unlocked his full potential. Off topic but do you guys remember the scene he was getting beaten up at the resturant cause he was a snake 😭😭 for me its a little symbol of how he likely had people that put him down before ( bullies as you may say )