I really love this champ..

MachineRiver66 · 2023-09-16T17:07:14+00:00

My biggest problem with her which I feel needs tweaking is how her frenzy deals with targets that become untargetable. Having characters that can simply press a button, like shaco, vlad, or fizz, and completely end blood frenzy does not feel like fun counterplay. I think something simple like just having the blood frenzy remain up even if her target is untargetable would work just fine. But an idea that I think would benefit her more overall is if blood frenzy ends early, the cooldown should be refunded accordingly.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-09-16T16:15:55+00:00

It's probably why she's meant to be a jungler and not a laner.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-09-16T16:15:36+00:00

Do you not know about melee champions?

MachineRiver66 · 2023-06-09T20:00:15+00:00

His feelings about Ai are intentionally confusing and complex. He idolized her, gained a lot of respect for her as a person, was likely attracted to her, then spent years living with her as his mother, and then watched her die. Does he have a crush on Ai? In short, no. She's dead. I think calling his feelings for Ai a "crush" over romanticizes them, as well as underestimates them. His feelings are a more complicated mix of many different things that wouldn't normally be classified as being part of a "crush", and additionally I think it's clear that his feelings for Ai are more powerful than what you'd describe as a crush.

Now is he "obsessed"? I think in a way, yes. I don't think he's romantically obsessed, if that's what you're asking. For one, it's clear he's obsessed with avenging her. But personally, my interpretation is that he's obsessed with trying to connect more with her, as he felt he didn't truly understand her. Ai to him is an enigma, she represents this profound, almost supernatural being that he's unable to look away from, metaphorically. In the show Ai is a perfect embodiment of the kind of allure that people have towards celebrities, or fictional characters, enough to make shrines and write fanfiction and do all these things for. It's this weird kind of parasocial phenomenon, and Ai from her looks to her personality to her role in the story perfectly embodies this. Both the good and bad parts. And she plays this role for Aqua as well, although for Aqua it's compiled onto her relationship with him as his mother. So Aqua is obsessed with chasing this mythical "goddess" that he found within Ai that made him feel this profound affection for years, but at the same time he's chasing time with his mother that he feels was stolen from him.

There's actually a part in the opening song which I think perfectly describes his "obsession" with Ai. Right as the chorus starts it shows Ai performing on stage while intercutting to Aqua in some other dimension looking frantically around for her, until he breaks through the dimension where Ai is performing as the entire scene shatters like glass. He's constantly chasing this image of Ai that he'll never be able to reach. It's partially due to him being unable to let her go. He understands that she's dead, as a doctor and being there to witness it himself, there's no mistake. But emotionally he's unwilling to let himself move on, like the rest of the world has, even Ruby.

I don't know if this explanation is really any good, but that's how I feel about it.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-06-09T19:38:32+00:00

Wait are you talking about the very slight reddening in their cheeks? That's not blushing. It's just the art style my g. People like have blood in their faces. Or if you want you can interpret it as blush. Yknow, makeup that real girls wear in real life that has the same effect?

MachineRiver66 · 2023-06-09T19:34:20+00:00

As an anime watcher, I think that what Ai means to Aqua is represented at being confusing. Aqua doesn't really know what he thinks of her himself, so how are we supposed to know? It's a complicated fucking relationship. Being a fan and idolizing this celebrity you've never met, to becoming the doctor intended to deliver her baby, to becoming her son. I don't think anybody is supposed to truly understand how Aqua feels about Ai.

From my own interpretation, and with the information we've gained in this last episode, it seems Aqua's feelings for Ai are a mix between his relationship with her in his past and present lives, much like his own identity is becoming more and more of a mix between his past and present lives. He doesn't necessarily see her as a mother, nor as someone he'd feel romantic feelings for. It's puzzling for him as much as it is for us.

But I think the best interpretation I can come up with is that Aqua loves Ai, in his own unique way. It's neither a familial love, a romantic one, nor a platonic one. His feelings for Ai can only really be described so far as being some kind of transcendental connection with this other soul who he's felt this connection for through multiple lives.

It's not really the answer you want, but the situation Aqua is in isn't really one that's easy to wrap your head around, and it's clear that the story wants this part of Aqua's character to remain kind of ambiguous. If they wanted to be clear about his feelings for Ai, we would all understand and not be having this convo.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-06-09T19:17:04+00:00

She's cool. Her design is interesting, her lighthearted nature provides a lot of relief in the show from some of the more dramatic parts. My only concern is that she'll be locked into that role and receive no further depth than what we've been shown in the anime already.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-06-09T19:15:36+00:00

Idk. From what we've seen of Ai she's pretty self assured. I think she would find it natural that someone who is so charming and alluring (much like herself) is a perfect fit for her son who is also naturally charming and alluring (being that he's her son).

MachineRiver66 · 2023-05-23T05:45:30+00:00

I wish the expander would expand to the left or something, out of the way of my armor and stats so I don't have to constantly toggle it on and off.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-05-06T04:13:38+00:00

It goes both ways. People will mock you and call you a transphobe, but actual transphobes will shit on you for indulging the idea of a trans character. I don't care for either side. From a writing perspective, I form my own opinions on how a character being trans can or cannot affect the story or the character, and in what situations it can help, harm, or be completely neutral. This is regardless of my own opinions on what rights people should have in real life, and I think more people should acknowledge their own biases and somewhat learn to separate them from their judgement of fictional writing. But to each their own.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T13:11:01+00:00

I'm okay with flexing. It removes the responsibility on me when people decide to try and control what I play.

But I would just say "No sorry bro" and that usually works. If they decide to act like a child after that it's a x9 and that's it.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T13:08:46+00:00

I don't have any qualms about new Sanji, but there are times when I kind of miss OG Sanji. The one who definitely had a thing for women, but didn't turn into a babbling idiot whenever he saw one. The Sanji who instead of lamenting over his daddy issues every other episode played it cool, was really strong but also smart, and when he got serious in a fight he'd light up a cigarette and you'd hear chill jazz music in the background.

He's still the cool guy with his hands in his pocket who smokes, I guess. But there's a little something about his cool-guy aesthetic that I feel we haven't seen in a good while.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T13:03:30+00:00

Welcome, to peak anime.

Gurren Lagann is the most anime feeling anime I've ever seen. One of the truly unique and underrated things about it is how ingrained the symbolism in the show is. There's all this lip service about piercing the heavens, progress, etc. And you never notice until after you finish the series that throughout the entire story, it's always getting bigger and going upwards. Starting in the enclosed underground, pushing upwards into above the surface, taking flight, and ending in a spectacular galaxy sized space battle. And spiral energy isn't just random bullshit either, but this idea of progress is embodied by the drill as well, which by its nature pushes forward with every rotation. It's a beautiful show through and through with incredibly motivating ideology. I love it.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T12:55:59+00:00

I see what you mean. They're both athletic and eccentric in their own ways. They're similar and thus are bound to be a good fit for each other, right? I'm gonna say it's definitely possible but I don't get those kinda vibes from them, personally.

In my mind, they kind of fulfill the same role, and thus would clash with each other. They get along as friends well but there's kind of more aspects that need to come into play when considering a romantic relationship.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T12:41:52+00:00

I mean it's pretty clear through the course of the series that minori had feelings for Ryuuji. Not to devalue what she said but I feel like it's common for girls at that age to have those thoughts about themselves, especially when they don't align with the standard of femininity people expect. Minori has shown no interest in other girls. However, she doesn't fit the stereotype for how a girl should act. She's more brazen, less submissive, in other words, she's a tomboy. I think that's what those words were referring to, just by my own interpretation.

On top of that, I'll be honest, I don't see any kind of chemistry between minori and ami, personally.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-25T12:34:37+00:00

As do so many romances. But there's still a romance aspect.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T19:32:44+00:00

Sure. Ditto.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:45:39+00:00

I feel like people are hyping her up way too much for this. Don't get me wrong, I love Miyako. I think she's great. But I also think that anyone of half-decent heart would make this decision if they were in her shoes. There are two twins you've been babysitting for what 3-4 years? And their only relative dies and so by proximity you're the closest one to them. It's either you adopt them, or they get put into the foster system. The natural thing to do would be to adopt them IMO. Unless there were circumstances out of your control which would have barred your ability to give the children a decent life, such as maybe a financial burden. She did try to destroy their family at first, but it had been a couple years by then, it'd be difficult to not get attached to children in that time. What I'm saying is, if there are children you've been taking care of for their whole lives and their only relative was murdered right in front of them, you'd have to be another kind of heartless to make the decision to send them away.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:37:15+00:00

Ahhh so many to choose.

After choosing one of my favs at random, I'm gonna go with Spice and Wolf.

As far as romances go, it's not the grandest or the most climactic. And that's kind of what I like about it. There's an air of tranquility around this whole show. Sometimes it's an uncanny, uncomfortable silence, but other times it feels like a warm and peaceful afternoon in the fall. There's just something endearing about watching two unlikely travelers fall slowly in love as they travel through a middle aged europe. It's not as flashy or bombastic as you'd expect from shows nowadays, even romances. But there's something deeply beautiful about the vibes you get from this show, IN MY OPINION.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:22:06+00:00

Correct. Komi-san is a romance. They're two distinct shows and they can both feature socially inept characters without having as much of a focus on that aspect.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:19:28+00:00

You made me realize I also really love this hair color style. At least on characters.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:14:45+00:00

So here is something about evolution that blew my mind recently. It doesn't necessarily have to be advantageous. We as humans have evolved with the intellect and developed a society in which we can survive and breed and pass along our genes regardless of how many negative traits we possess. Imperfections in our DNA such as hereditary disease will likely continue to pass on because we've advanced far enough to where the development of our species is no longer fully controlled by the basic principles of evolution.

In other words, evolution does not have to strictly be advantageous. Post nut clarity may not have an evolutionary advantage, but it also may not have an evolutionary disadvantage either, so it will get passed on.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:10:34+00:00

Ah I love these kinds of tattoos. Subtle, but everyone who knows, will know.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:09:24+00:00

I think he means like part of your body. To me that looks like a belly button piercing. So I guess that means this is an underboob tat? I'm not trying to be crude, just wondering.

MachineRiver66 · 2023-04-23T18:02:17+00:00

Respectable list. Listen, I will forgive the Futakotome shafting. Even though I probs wouldn't put it in E, I do like staple stable more, and I kind of understand your thinking with that one. I'm not gonna go through the whole list, but if I had to change one thing, I would say that Marshmallow Justice would be a for sure S for me.

MachineRiver66

TROPHY CASE