#stepyapping

[stepmarchen]

Couple Coding in ASM

So there's an interesting thing I noticed about Orka's color coding in ASM and the way it changes between different interactions.

For example, JerShu moments are commonly set during early dawn. There's a cool blue from the moonlight that shades the two, adding a sense of quiet mystique to their interactions.

Maybe it's to invoke a dream-like state where Shuri is stripped bare of her responsibilities and Jeremy is just a boy who misses his parents oh, so much. During the day, there's so much commotion and stress but when they're together at night, it's quiet and lonely, with only the moon watching over them. Because when morning comes, they're forced to return back to their normal lives like a Cinderella story.

On the other hand, NoShu moments are bright like a burning sun. It's a passionate watercolor of orange, pinks, and reds that bloom as they stare into each other's eyes.

It's pure romance the way you couldn't be sure whether the burn on their cheeks was because of the warm heat of the sun or because of something else. For a couple individually driven towards death, Nora and Shuri are experiencing living for the first time, when they're together. The way the light gleams on each other like they're always discovering new things about one another is just so perfectly lovely.

And then there's TheoShu. Theo and Shuri often interact in the morning, like a icy shock to the system. For a man plagued with too much guilt to sleep and a woman trapped in her nightmares, what's a more eerie wake-up call?

TheoShu as a morning motif is so interesting because we're faced with Theo who acts like he's still stuck in a dream where he's fated to be with Shuri and Shuri, who is trying to run away from those dreams and move on with her day. They're never quite on the same page, like the feeling you get when you're debating on getting up on a Monday morning.

Finally. RiShu. I find that Richelieu and Shuri are always in a strange state of limbo when they stumble upon each other. A space that only they know, where the light doesn't shine until Shuri walks in.

Richelieu is a man that exists in the shadows, lurking around in the dark underbrush. But he can't help but be drawn to that woman intruding upon that dark forest he lives in. She gleams like a holy light piercing the black darkness. Shuri knows what it's like to die in that forest and Richelieu wants to know what path she took to get there.

[stepmarchen]

SEASON 3 IS HERE!!!!!!! SPOILERS BELOW!!!

Chapters 137 and 138 are out!!! (aka Chapters 1 & 2 of Season 1)

Some notes:

So that one photo of Shuri (top left) ended up being church propaganda of Shuri and Jeremy!! While we all thought this was a reference to the 1st timeline, but we're finally seeing some notable crossover of the two timelines. While Shuri avoided the "Spider Widow" persona in the 2nd timeline, the Church seems to be spinning her public image to be exactly that.

Jeremy growing up and losing that reckless habit of his by practicing restraint for his family's sake. And that maturity, being what reminds Robert of Johannes. Then Jeremy looking in the mirror and seeing his father in his own face. After coming to the realization that the great man he's always looked up to maybe wasn't as grand as he made him out to be. It's sickening.

Nora staying out all night wandering the streets after having the worst night of his live (reaching the breaking point with his father, splitting up with a dear childhood friend) just to come running (literally) to Shuri's feet in loyalty and support. Keeping his emotions locked down. MEANWHILE, Shuri sees this but can't bring herself to ask because now is just not the Right Time.

Everyone's dark circles were killing me.... all meanwhile Theo was bright, happy, and unbothered (psycho king).

The upgrade in the art??? I didn't think it could get any better but it totally did??? I'm thoroughly blown away.

Richelieu's freaky ass grin (oh my god. it's so simple but the english doesn't do the original justice... he's so creepy) Even Theo was taken aback by it.

THE FOOT TOUCH!!!!! So subtle but soo sooooo effective. A touch of "hey, i'm here, it's going to be okay" unfffff

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Hi! I was wondering if you knew if this drawing from ORKA exists or if I just made it up in my head. I swear there was a school au that was drawn by ORKA and Shuri was wearing a white top with like a green skirt.. I wanted to see it again but I couldn’t find it IS THIS REAL?!

Hi!!! I know exactly what you're talking about!

It's this image from the Official A Stepmother's Marchen Limited Edition Collector's Set! The special edition artbook has a section called "What if 'A Stepmother's Marchen' was set in modern times?"

Here's what we know about the AU (note: Translations are from what little I could find online. Translations may not be 100% accurate. If anyone has real scans of this book, I can offer more accurate details!)

Shuri: A 3rd year student at Gold Highschool with excellent grades, outstanding athletics, and in the advanced class. She lives in the city with her aunt and she's neighbors with Jeremy.

Nora: A 1st year student at Silver Highschool in the art club. He has outstanding athletics and while quiet, he gets along with his peers. He seems to be attracted to Shuri, who he met by chance.

Jeremy: A 1st year student at Gold Highschool. He is great at sports, but doesn't have a lot of hobbies outside school. He just floats around because he doesn't have any goals. He bickers a lot with Shuri.

Theo: A 3rd year student at Infinite Highschool and the student body president. He has excellent grades and plays the violin. His nickname is "the Prince of Infinite High" and he has a secret fanclub.

Ohara: A 1st year student at Infinite Highschool and the student body vice president. She has excellent grades and plays the violin. She strives to go to the top college in the U.S.

Elias: A 2nd year student at Gold Middleschool whose hobbies include gaming, going to arcades or computer cafes. He dreams to become a pro-gamer. He's going through puberty and he has a mother-complex.

Leon and Rachel: They are 4th year students at Gold Elementary School. They have a cat named Cherry. They are strong and healthy kids and Leon, who loves books, wears glasses due to poor sight. The two attend Alberon's Taekwondo gym.

Maximillian: Chairman of a large corporation and a self-made businessman. He is a perfectionist and often argues with Elizabeth, who has an opinion against all of his matters.

Elizabeth: A politician with a fiery personality. Her skill is wrestling and her hobby is wrestling. She is great at her job.

Richelieu: Part of the legal team at a large corporation. He graduated school early and as soon as he did, he joined Maximillian's company's legal team.

Wolffe: A senior year college student in the law department. He's overwhelmed with assignments, applications, and essays. He dreams of joining Richelieu's legal team after graduation.

Albert: A diplomat that deals with internationally famous politicians and often travels to different countries. He's sad that he can't see his family due to his overseas business trips.

Heidi: A traditional tea shop owner located in a small alley. She's very shy and quiet, but passionate about her tea.

Everette: An interior designer that focuses on giving people a warm and comfortable home and accommodating to their customer's needs. She is a hard working interior designer in Shinchang.

Alberon: A Taekwondo instructor that's large in size and blunt in personality. He practiced consistently and refined his skills to become a national representative, achieving great results. Children often fear his large size, but the twins take him aback with their fearless attitude. He opens up to them and becomes very popular.

Johannes: A resourceful businessman. He spends more time abroad than he does at home. He sponsors Alicia's creative activities. They got married for their mutual beneficial business relationship.

Alicia: She is an artist that works as an art museum curator and a writer. Thanks to Johannes' sponsorships, she's become a well known creator.

Shuri's Family: They own a noodle shop in Shuri's hometown. They work somewhat diligently and business seems to be going well.

[stepmarchen]

Angel Jeremy, Let's Talk About It

During an argument between Ohara and her father, we see a dreamy image of Jeremy as an angel from Ohara's POV, dressed in blue and white, with a long red sash and a sword.

So what does it mean?

Guardian Angel: Ever since their early childhood, I believe that Ohara has seen Jeremy as her guardian angel of sorts (whether or not Jeremy himself is aware of it). We've seen glimpses of Ohara's life living with her father, before and after her mother died and we can only infer what her day-to-day life was like. She likely saw Jeremy, the boy she was politically engaged to, as her only way out from under her father's thumb. Although she didn't "love" Jeremy, being with Jeremy meant a freedom she never got to experience.

Red Cloak and Sword: The sword and red cloak Jeremy wears are symbols of his status as Captain of the Imperial Knights. They are righteous symbols of who Jeremy is- strong, compassionate, and most importantly, loyal.

Upward Gaze: Jeremy looks upward, focusing on somewhere elsewhere as Ohara looks at him. Jeremy was never focused on Ohara, and she knows this.

Locked to a Perch: Although winged, Jeremy's sash is enclosed in his perch. In religious context, a chained angel refers to fallen angels who've done wrong against God, and are waiting for their day of judgement. Not unlike Jeremy, who has "defied the Church" and is waiting for the Holy Trial to decide his fate.

Ohara sees Jeremy, a boy who has done nothing wrong in his life, being punished by a greater power, while she looks on, unable to defend him like he deserves. It's an awfully romantic and tragic vision which lets up more about Ohara than she reveals herself. She respects Jeremy so much for being a Good Man that she's willing to go against her father for him.

[stepmarchen]

Ludovika vs Shuri, a facial comparison breakdown

While it's obvious that Ludovika and Shuri have their similarities, as pointed out by various members of the ASM cast, let's break down some of their differences, shall we?

But before we do, let's address a few things!

ORKA takes design seriously! We can't just chalk up slight differences to "one-off mistakes." As you can see below, she did a study on her OWN designs, micro detailing down to the curve of each character's eyebrows. But to be fair, we will only be using art from recent chapters, as ORKA's style has evolved since the early chapters.

Another reason why we will be only using recent chapters is to avoid differences that may be as a result of Shuri being several years younger than Ludovika. I will also try my best to take this into account as we go.

First things first, let's get the obvious differences out of the way. Ludovika has a lavender hair, parted down the middle and golden eyes. Meanwhile. Shuri has light pink hair parted to the side with green eyes. So you might be thinking, if not for the color differences, they would look exactly the same!

But that's not the case! In some instances, seen from Max or Johannes' POV, Ludovika and Shuri almost seem 1:1. However! We must take into account that given their history with her, they are unreliable narrators, and may show a warped perspective on their memories of both girls.

So why don't we remove all the color! Here we have Ludovika on the left and Shuri on the right down below.

Since we don't have a 1:1 shot, here's the two in similar lighting situations with similar expressions and another with a similar angle.

Here are all the points of differences I noticed below!

Ludovika's long arched brows vs Shuri's downward sloping brows with no arch

Ludovika's long, straight, and slightly wider nose vs Shuri's small pointed, upturned nose

Ludovika's narrow and long face with a distinctly V shaped chin vs Shuri's fuller cheeks and shorter face

Ludovika's full lips, distinctly her full bottom lip but also the way the middle of her upper lips under her philtrum has more volume, often highlighted with a tint on pink (that may be makeup) vs Shuri's thinner, almost pointed lips (almost in an elfy way)

Ludovika's narrower eyes that sit higher on her face as a result of her brow to tip of nose ratio being greater than the top and bottom thirds of her face vs Shuri's larger eyes and 1:1:1 proportioned face (though this may change with age)

It's so fascinating how ORKA illustrates the two to look so similar, yet different. Noticing these small details really shines in on the fact that the two are TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

We've seen so many members of the cast chasing old ghosts that we're forced to compare and contrast Ludovika and Shuri. In reality, it seems like there are more differences than we initially thought, right?

[stepmarchen]

Duke Heinrich's Misdoings in Chapter 142

Let's just go ahead and count off Duke Heinrich's crimes in the latest chapter of ASM, shall we?

Criticizing Servants. -for not setting out a feast for his departure???? When they were given strict orders to give him a specific meal that day? Ridiculous.

Misogynist. The Duke says that a woman should be taking care to adjust to his moods swings. AND says that Claudia, the wife he CHEATED ON (whose sorrows led to her death!) did such a great job doing so.

Being Unreasonable. Forcing Ohara to accompany him during his meal was so unbearable. How many meals does Ohara have to sit through listening to his nonsense.

Being a Gossip. Duke Heinrich is SO adamant on supporting the nonsense being spread by the Church. ALL because he'd rather be on the "winner's side"

Betraying Allies. Imagine being such good friends with someone that you promise to marry off your first born child to forever unite your families. and then, just breaking things off at the first sign of danger? And prioritizing a business deal over a trial that will change the course of your own daughter's life? Yes Ohara, no loyalty indeed.

Belittling Family. Was it necessary to make comments against his own daughter to make a point? Duke Heinrich questions Ohara's intelligence, calls her naive, and insolent for speaking up.

Selling off his Daughter. Duke Heinrich made it quite the point in the early chapters that Ohara was to attract Jeremy, and now we know it's all for his name and title. And the moment Jeremy is not a great option, he's already shopping for a new man when he knows how close the two have gotten (no thanks to his insistence). He uses people like stepping stones for his own greed and satisfaction.

Physical Abuse. In the final scene of the chapter, Heinrich's raised hand is reflected in Ohara's iris. The shadow of his fingers are cast upon hey face. It's pretty well indicated what's happening here.

That's 8 all over the course of 1 meal. I can't believe what a POS the Duke is. (ugh) ORKA has hinted at what an asshole he is, but wow imagine having breakfast like this every single day? No wonder Ohara wanted to get married early.... she just wants to get out of there ASAP.

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Everyone and their father obsessing about Shuri being Ludovika's spitting image... but Albrecht chasing after Johannes' shadow through Jeremy was something I wasn't prepared to cry over today

"You're nothing like your father, are you?"

Albrecht can't help but see flashes of Johannes in Jeremy, but his attitude is the one thing separating the two. Unlike Johannes, who lived in the rain, Jeremy is like a wildfire blazing through despite the world's attempts to smother him.

"But still, it's far better than falling into despair. Anger, after all, is a kind of fuel."

Could Albrecht be referencing Johannes giving up and eventually falling into madness? He's seen his friend fall victim to his own despair and it's a total 180 from Jeremy who just doesn't give up.

[stepmarchen]

ASM Characters as Fairytales/Folktales

Shuri - Alice in Wonderland

Shuri being thrust into a world of strange characters that all seem to have it out for her is pretty in line with the Alice in Wonderland fairytale. Shuri and Alice being girls forced to "grow up" earlier than they were ready for and to help others without any promise for help in return. They're both just trying to awaken from this terrible nightmare.

Nora - Robin Hood

The character Robin Hood is all about compassion and rebellion against authority, both strong characteristics that Nora shares. Robin Hood uses vigilantism to fight against corrupt officials and has no mercy against people that take advantage of the weak.

Jeremy - The Lion and The Mouse

The Lion and The Mouse is a folk tale about a lion that takes mercy upon a mouse, and to be returned the favor when the lion is captured in a net with only the mouse around to bite through the ropes. In the early chapters of ASM, Jeremy and Shuri are in an equal predator/prey situation. Only when Jeremy is in peril with Shuri as his lone supporter, do they become equals.

Theo - The Emperor's New Clothes

They're both royals caught up in their vanity, both delusional and foolish enough to let people manipulate them for the sake of power. Theo's greed to steal the love of every parent in the country is just as foolish as believing in garments "so rich in quality that they can't be seen by the wearer."

Ohara - The Princess and The Pea

The Princess and the Pea tells the story of a princess who can't sleep despite her lavish bed. Turns out, the pressure of a pea lodged in-between the mattresses have been causing her ails all this time. While Ohara's insecurities may seem insignificant to outsiders, we know that years of her mother's foretold woes caused her to be hyper aware of her own relationships.

[stepmarchen]

this is so silly, but was anyone else jumpscared by this Heinrich panel?

[stepmarchen]

i'm about to go feral

... so we're getting a confrontation about her bruise omg

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Two Timelines Colliding

[stepmarchen]

ASM Season 3 Promo Analysis

Guys!!! Look at this beautiful promotion art for ASM Season 3! We're blessed again with some beautiful 1st timeline NoShu art. I'll be breaking down the details below!

Holy Knight's Crest: Nora wears a pendant symbolizing the church, immediately clueing us in that this is a scene from the 1st timeline. He is kneeling on one knee, almost in prayer of his deity, Shuri.

Red Petals: The red rose petals seem to drip from Shuri's body like blood. It's a gruesome metaphor for Shuri's death at the end of the 1st timeline. Even the red shadows appear like blood flowing down her neck and arm.

Dress Feathers: The flowing fabric of Shuri's dress defy gravity, appearing like wings around them. Small translucent feathers float around, perhaps symbolizing Shuri's death or maybe even rebirth.

Sword in the Earth: Nora's sword (note: it's the same sword Shuri gifts him for Christmas!) in the foreground is embedded in to the ground, which may symbolize a memorialization of a lost loved one or a symbol of the end of an era.

Purple and Green Glow: On the left we see a royal purple tone in the background. And a small green glow on the right... Perhaps it's a hint at Shuri's rebirth? Or maybe just a pleasant design choice...

Shuri's Tears: Even in death, Shuri's sorrows are not left unseen! While the meaning is obvious, I think we're in for a lot of angst in this upcoming season. Prepare for tears and more tears. I think we'll be seeing more suffering than we've ever seen in both the 1st and 2nd timeline.

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The guilt that Elias carries with him.

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But what if Nora was the one who regressed instead?

Imagine Streife!Nora, in all of his tortured glory, going back in time to protect Shuri from evil. It'd be so violent but also so romantic like-

What would his first re-encounter with Shuri be like? He would probably be the one to seek her out, since they never officially met if Shuri hadn't gone shopping or organized Johannes' memorial party. Would he ever formally introduce himself? I'm kind of imagining a "lady and the tramp" situation, where Nora runs away from his family and starts a life on the streets. And he becomes the mysterious scamp that appears like the wind on Shuri's balcony window.

He'd appear at a moment's notice, somehow knowing exactly when and where Shuri needs his help. Effectively getting rid of obstacles before they even become a threat. Theo and the church would actually stand no chance.

Nora would keep remembering his promise to Shuri at her grave. Knowing that God gave him the chance he always prayed for, he would never let it go to waste.

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Soo.....I saw like Twitter post discussing how like in Ch 74 (yes I am reading it for the 60th time again) where Ali tells Rachel about how his brothers kinda kill themselves for the throne or smth and then Ch 54 where like Halima (my mother) says "No one tormented you, right? Oh well...they would have been gone" (in short of getting killed?) sooo...maybe Ali's brothers........did smth......

Idk since it's hiatus and we all are going through starvation, hallucination etc etc, I thought of sharing this , what do you think?

Hmmm... it's pretty plainly written that the brothers killed each other fighting over an inherited treasure (the throne). In my mind, I like to think that Ali was probably born after the happened, in an attempt to save the bloodline (because of coooourse a WOMAN can't be king, right?), which explains why Ali is so much younger than Halima.

With their father being quite old and less likely to continue having more kids, it's highly likely that Ali, the last surviving and viable heir to the throne would be fiercely protected by the Safavid Empire. It's to no surprise to me that they would probably execute or banish anyone that offended him or looked at him funny.

So in my mind, I don't see the possibility that the brothers' deaths being caused by an act of rebellion against Ali. If anything, the opposite (Ali dying by rebelling his older siblings) would've been more possible.

Unless... you meant it in a different way? But i still don't think they were executed by any greater authority... I think they just killed each other.

[stepmarchen]

Ohara and Shuri's Alternating POVs

So ASM works in a way that we have a neutral POV, seeing the world from everyone's POV. Which I love because it makes everyone seem so human, but it's also just as interesting to reconsider the world from their individual POVs.

We, the audience, get to know why Ohara is so paranoid about marriage, AND we get to see how this is translated in her perception of Shuri. So let's isolate it!

In Ohara's POV, Shuri is portrayed in an eerie, suspicious light. Often cast in shadow and face unreadable. She's graceful but it almost appears like a facade for what's hiding underneath. The goofy, lighthearted, bumbling girl we know is nowhere to be found in Ohara's POV.

We know why Shuri says the things she says, but to Ohara, her prophetic warnings seem threatening and unnecessary. After all, why is she so wary over something that hasn't even happened?

I think it's worth considering how suspicious Shuri tends to appear to others, even if it's unintentional. She's secretive and strangely wise for someone her age, talking about the future like it's the truth and not just an educated guess. I can totally see why Ohara would misconstrue Shuri's genuine worries as a threat.

Meanwhile, Shuri is totally ignorant to Ohara's suspicions. In this timeline, they've all grown close enough to hang out regularly and in her eyes, Jeremy and Ohara are pretty much a closed deal. Even though she's been scorned by Ohara in the first timeline, she doesn't hold it against her and seems to view Ohara as a completely new woman (understandable, considering they hardly knew one another in the first timeline).