tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post5834970897186479077..comments2024-03-22T17:14:36.551-04:00Comments on Wasteland And Sky: Escape to the Streets of FireJD Cowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03548340507655076198noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-5375055247277627952020-09-07T17:52:41.606-04:002020-09-07T17:52:41.606-04:00Watanabe was cagey. After a lot of needling he eve...Watanabe was cagey. After a lot of needling he eventually said "Well *I* think he probably survived", but that's about the extent of it.<br /><br />The consensus seems to be that the point is the *impossibility* of moving on, that Spike ultimately could not overcome the odds and push forward, that he was trapped and once that part of his life was dead so was, finally, he.<br /><br />I've never been fully convinced of that interpretation. Spike himself brings up that possibility - this is it for him - but always reminds us that he "hates that story", and that he WASN'T going off to die. Granted, Faye didn't really seem to believe him. It's a very strange ending.<br /><br /><i>But Trigun is definitely misunderstood. I've seen people say the message is about how not doing anything is correct and that the ending validated the protagonist in not doing anything.</i><br /><br />Somebody once told me that Trigun taught them that might makes right. It's these sorts of misinterpretations that prompted me to make my video on it.<br /><br />The point of Trigun and the issue with Vash is that Vash's refusal to kill was due to misplaced personal guilt and not actual moral fortitude. After Vash is forced to kill his perspective changes: If necessary he has overcome his guilt and so CAN kill and thus can act truly morally when he refuses anyways, instead of refusing because it makes him feel like a monster.<br /><br />It's not an easy message.Bellomyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13772021462887676959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-67884422095920791642020-09-07T17:39:58.513-04:002020-09-07T17:39:58.513-04:00According to Watanabe, Spike didn't die at the...According to Watanabe, Spike didn't die at the end. That pissed off a lot of people when they heard that one.<br /><br />I've always understood the ending was representing him being free from the past and finally able to move on. If he really isn't dead then I'd guess that was what Watanabe was trying to get across because there's no other point for what happened.<br /><br />Even if he died, he still accomplished something that had a positive effect, as did the others throughout the series. This isn't exactly Chinatown, here.<br /><br />But Trigun is definitely misunderstood. I've seen people say the message is about how not doing anything is correct and that the ending validated the protagonist in not doing anything. This is completely missing what the actual issue was with Vash to begin with.<br /><br />I think the problem is too many people have been taught nihilism is deep, complex, and worth celebrating, when it's actually the easiest thing you can do when writing a story.<br /><br />Thankfully, that worship of nihilism appears to be evaporating, but not soon enough.JD Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548340507655076198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-68634890091205502612020-09-07T15:50:18.175-04:002020-09-07T15:50:18.175-04:00Cowboy Bebop is an interesting case. Critics will ...Cowboy Bebop is an interesting case. Critics will almost universally describe its philosophy as nihilistic. Are they correct? I've thought about it a lot. The reason I've never made a video or article on it is that I'm not really sure.<br /><br />Does Spike die at the end? The critical consensus seems to be that he does, which is worth that and the air you breathe. <br /><br />Trigun, in contrast, is one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted shows ever made, but properly understood it is easily the most superversive anime of all time.<br /><br />Can you imagine any show or movie in the west - or even in modern day Japan - containing the scene where Spike slams his hand on the ground and the Cross rises out of the desert, turning the tide of the final battle?<br /><br />I can't. It's remarkable it even exists.Bellomyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13772021462887676959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-91924396783469975892020-09-04T10:26:15.725-04:002020-09-04T10:26:15.725-04:00It's definitely been a good experience. Thanks...It's definitely been a good experience. Thanks for reading!JD Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548340507655076198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-6358152334457102802020-09-04T10:20:41.435-04:002020-09-04T10:20:41.435-04:00Going to buy the book now! I'm glad it's c...Going to buy the book now! I'm glad it's caused so much discussion. This is something that needs to be chewed over by indies, who too often just chase the same tired topics tradpub chased.Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15019626781634777336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-13283210534228119962020-09-03T21:41:55.390-04:002020-09-03T21:41:55.390-04:00They are both great!They are both great!JD Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548340507655076198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4520528486728008071.post-7260244562127361042020-09-03T21:32:20.511-04:002020-09-03T21:32:20.511-04:00I love both of those movies, for different reasons...I love both of those movies, for different reasons.MOGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09030983067148962306noreply@blogger.com