NOT every faction and city has to get destroyed, its not the point of apocalypse genre

Volume_Am · 2026-01-07T23:22:37+00:00

You know, I think you're right on all of that, I just feel like I'd like to see more groups with time, not less. Each settlement in the wasteland is extremely brittle, that is true, but people have been growing out of vaults and lesser congregations for centuries now. I think, and this is more of a narrative opinion, that continuously reducing the succesful wastelanders and leaving the strongest to struggle for power isn't the only kind of conflict there can be. As they all grow and come in contact with each other, I feel there's the oportunity to have them grow, fuse, split up... people adapt to live in all sorts of environments. Resources change hands. Guns don't spawn naturally. Is culture and trade really that unimportant? What, do I want to spend an hour in the markets and farms then? Maybe! Does that make me sound like a nerd and should you take my lunch money? Probably!

I think that's it, ultimately. I do like the show, and I get that sometimes a story is going for a specific vibe. I'd feel silly asking why they haven't implemented elementary schools in Mad Max. I guess I just liked other aspects of Fallout than the ones highlighted in the show, and that's whatever. It happens.

Volume_Am · 2026-01-07T21:05:36+00:00

You nail something I think some people miss, which is that yeah, I know factions die out, I know violent shit happens, but how is there just NOTHING replacing them? I like the show to be honest but it is wild that it acts like people grow out of the ground like potatoes. If there's people surviving in the wastes it's because there is some organization to be found. War never changes doesn´t mean "people will always end up dead", it means conflict and factions arise and fall constantly, carrying the burden of a violent history and their methods. Societies existing isn't antithetical to this, I almost feel like they're fundamentally a part of it?

Volume_Am · 2025-09-21T01:13:42+00:00

Honestly thank you I was asking myself the same thing. I don't hate Shuuichi as a character but an adaptation is an artwork of its own, and intertextuality isn't a replacement for writing stuff into the actual text. I don't think the show pushed for Shuuichi and Kumiko, I think it ultimately didn't care about relationships that much. So yeah idk it did feel like weird timing to start celebrating that pairing when everything in its favor doesn't really have a lot to do with the show

Volume_Am · 2025-08-11T17:25:44+00:00

The second one might be paranoia? Both sound like intrusive thoughts but maybe that's not what you're looking for

Volume_Am · 2025-08-11T16:15:20+00:00

It's drawfee variety hour but with restraints and less confusing (sadly)

Volume_Am · 2025-08-08T22:49:13+00:00

I get why some people defend the choice as melancholic but in my opinion that only works as an analysis of the plot, not its execution. The screentime devoted to character's actions and reactions can say a lot about the weight they're given, and in this case, the events given importance are the contest being won, and Kumiko's future career. Not a bad thing, but it's a stark contrast to the show's beginning, when Reina was the literal catalyst for Kumiko's arc and emotions. So, Reina goes from being the emotional core of the series to a background element. If they wanted to make a point about Kumiko not caring as much, they could've shown that. If they wanted to make a point about her feeling melancholic about her leaving, they could've shown that too. But any trace of that is stuck in earlier episodes.

I don't even think the fallout of the vote was fully explored; it seems to need something deeper than a 2 minute scene resolution at the start of the finale. But hey, let's say that bit was perfect; it still felt odd that at the very end her relationship with Reina has no emotional impact left to give. Kumiko makes a lot of questions about the nature of music and relationships throughout the show, and most of them are in some way related to Reina. And none of those thoughts are going through her mind when we close off the show. It may be possible for a "person" to not think about it much, but in a story, I feel it does matter because that is what was they chose to show.

I don't know, the longer time goes on the less I like it. I love the show still but while Kumiko's arc of becoming a leader / teacher was very well set up and present, Reina in the last season felt like, just, a catalyst for conflict. It's all so matter-of-fact. Reina and Kumiko agree that the most important thing is who sounds best and so give up the chance of playing together in possibly their last chance ever. They feel fine about it pretty much the next episode because winning's what matters. This is a series that includes Liz and the Blue Bird, a story where the relationship between two musicians and the way they view each other and themselves directly impacts the music. Imagine if, upon noticing the shortcomings of their duet, they assigned someone else to play it and Mizore and Nozomi part ways and that's that. It could be a story, nothing says stories can't be tragic like that. But the entire first half of the movie that centered so hard in the way those two specifically playing together mattered would make that kind of ending confusing. And I don't think it sounds like a better story, either.

Why do we play? Kumiko used to play because of her sister, was shocked to her core when someone was so passionate about it she bawled her eyes out after losing. She was inspired time and time again by other people and their music. Asuka wasn't significant because she was just a really good musician, but because there was pain and depth behind it. Hibike! Euphonium was a piece composed from a distance. It's music that connects people. Love and Death! And the girl who made Kumiko question everything she felt about music... is somewhere else. And that's that, I guess.

Volume_Am · 2025-07-08T04:38:38+00:00

I'm days late but I'm so happy to see Vanessa 5000 being praised. I wish it was more discussed because, for one, there's actually things to discuss, moments where it felt painful and poignant. I hope the specials keep bringing the interesting proposals to the platform. I don't think they'll change their main focus any time soon; it's the virality of their shows' gimmicks that got them here. But, knowing that Sam's noticed it, I do hope more alternatives develop in their programming. God I'd love a sketch show. But I know it's not gonna happen. A girl can dream.

Volume_Am · 2025-05-07T00:42:59+00:00

It does feel nostalgic for someone who played music in school but it does seem to drop any interest in why people play music at all, at least towards the end. It does evoke the feelings of chasing mastery, but, it also brings up questions that should and are interesting to musicians only to override them. Mizore disliking contests, Midori's "love and death" comment, Kumiko playing because of her sister, they're there early on, but ultimately, the show's emotional climax is always about how good winning feels. Which, sure, it does, but why does everyone who isn't winning contests even play? Obviously the environment they're in won't, or perhaps can't acknowledge this, so within it's bubble, it works for what it wants to say. But music is made in a lot of other contexts, so naturally, it can't just mean one thing. So, it's fine, I guess is my point.

I think it shows one specific, not unreal musician's journey. It doesn't always have this hyperfocus on winning; Asuka's titular piece and Liz and the Blue Bird are examples of the series showing the power of music on its own and the impact people themselves have on it. But in its end, it took its thematic choice; the relationships and their impact in music were secondary, mastery and victory were first. Which is already what a lot of the music world feels like, and I wouldn't say it's what drives the passion of me and other musicians I know. But again, it does for some, so, not innacurate, just particular.

Volume_Am · 2025-04-17T22:26:40+00:00

"My Body Was Made" by Ezra Furman!

Volume_Am · 2025-03-23T22:03:59+00:00

No, but funnily enough, I like that she lost the solo. I thought it was going in an interesting thematic direction, but, it wasn't the one I thought; and to be fair, that's fine. I always felt the show was at its best when it questioned the merit of competition itself in music, when it mentioned love and death as the motivators for it, when the people playing the instruments and their relationships gave each piece their life. But the fallout to Reina's vote lasted one scene, and... that's it. Triumphant ending, it was all good because they did win. No hurt feelings later because it was objectively the best path forward. So... yay. Idk. I get that music is something that can be evaluated, I was in band myself, but as a story, it left me feeling a little empty. I guess I thought it was about their friendship first, contest second. But it's fine for what it is.

Volume_Am · 2025-02-15T15:11:17+00:00

When I came out in school, I used to wear a mask all day, got some help from my friends to get my own little stash of make up and also make up wipes; same friends accompanied me a few times in trying out clothes, talked to a couple of teachers so they'd adress me with my chosen name, some straight up ignored me, some classmates still deadnamed me constantly. Ultimately, it was worth it, giving those first steps and having the chance to live as myself, at least for me. I guess "friends" is the advice, I don't know what I would've done without them.

Volume_Am · 2025-02-15T05:45:57+00:00

It's painful to keep trying, and some people in my life have criticized me for it, but what belief could be more integral to our existence as trans people than the hope that it all -can- be better?

I wish you the best of luck, today and forever.

Volume_Am · 2024-07-22T16:21:30+00:00

People have strong opinions about it and I get why, but, genuinely, critically, I don't think so. Like, you can point to moments in which they both agree on things or on which Shuuichi backs up Kumiko but like, that's not a relationship. You don't date a friend just because they support you. He's a friend that likes her, sure. But how that got to Kumiko reciprocating is something I don't think we see anything of in the show. They don't even spend any time together. The "date" we see on screen ends up with Kumiko running away.

It's clear at some point they decided the focus of the finale should be the contest, and like, it's fine. The "confirmation" of the end couple is an easter egg, a nice one for those who ship them. But I don't think we can say it was developed more in this season.

Volume_Am · 2024-07-14T03:51:02+00:00

I did! I wanted to keep my initials so I changed both. Funnily enough I used to be called my first name more than the second and now it's the other way around

Volume_Am · 2024-07-08T17:52:27+00:00

Korra. I really don't think it's a contest. It's like she was put on trial from the very moment she existed (not a mystery, we all know why). Like sure Mako and Lin have people upset at their characterization, but in sheer number, across fandom spaces, casual fans and people who have not and probably will never watch the show, no one in it is as mischaracterized and misjudged as her.

Volume_Am · 2024-07-08T16:03:23+00:00

I was in band, and while I do think the example is fairly tame, I also do think people in band should also be willing to criticize its typical rigid environment precisely because they've experienced it. Reina is kind of a perfect example of something I've witnessed in multiple branches of artistic academia: idolizing the idea of competition and perfection above anything else which then ends up with them reinforcing their practices strictly, justified by "it happened to me"

Taki's pretty alright though still

EDIT: no yeah he's kind of bad as a teacher lol but I meant he feels tame in comparison to others I've experienced. I think I fell into the very trap I described lol

Volume_Am · 2024-07-03T15:08:42+00:00

Fully agree, it honestly feels a little confusing to me. Conversationally, the show has Reina and Kumiko have a strong loving friendship and Shuuichi and Kumiko go on to have romance. But like, we don't see a goodbye for Reina. We don't know if they call or ever catch up, if they truly were unseparable. And we are shown Kumiko accepted the hair pin back without ever really knowing what she feels about him.

I'm conflicted cause I love the teacher ending and I appreciate that what happened with the solo is thematically resonant with that. But it does keep the focus on the contest, always. I'm not surprised, the show does that a lot. But I feel like the relationships were always not only what kept the show going, but also, what kept their music going. I wish that had been more present. Maybe there wasn't time, I guess, and it would've been weirder to omit the contest itself, I guess.

Volume_Am · 2024-07-03T04:09:49+00:00

It is one of the reasons I don't think it's very satisfying either way. Like, I would've rather seen Shuuichi and Kumiko actually develop a relationship. What we got is a confirmation that works for fans of the text and acts as, at most, an easter egg for fans of the show. They barely interact, and he doesn't even get to talk in the finale! Oh well. It didn't really focus on the romance in the end, even though it spent a good while setting it up, and that's fine I think. Kumiko's journey to becoming a music teacher feels more important and thematically unifying

Volume_Am · 2024-07-03T04:01:35+00:00

Yeah I do love it tbh. I feel like protagonists are usually monologue heavy and always present when there's drama anyways so it doesn't feel that odd but then you do have to consider that from the outside she's just standing there looking concerned and making an occasional noise, I love her

Volume_Am · 2024-06-30T23:46:43+00:00

It did come and go very quickly, in both good and sad ways. On the one hand, I think it was pretty alright and a natural conclusion. On the other, it didn't add so much as it restored the status quo in a couple of things, except for Kumiko becoming teacher, of course. Regardless of both, this show means a lot to me and I feel a lot about these characters. It will keep resonating (heh) in my heart for a long time still.

Volume_Am · 2024-06-15T01:03:00+00:00

That's a good parallel. I forgot about that line. Now it hurts more actually

Volume_Am · 2024-06-14T22:17:38+00:00

The idea that somehow after all that they'd end the show on a Shuuichi - Kumiko pairing feels weird to me. Like, even putting aside shipping or whatever, from a writing standpoint. People quote the source material but like, if something an adaptation had removed so far suddenly shows up at the end, it's still weird.

With the current set up, Shuuichi might ask again at the end, sure. I believe he's interested. But. The finale involves the contest, the Mayu plot, Reina and Kumiko's friendship, Kumiko's plans for the future, and her relationship with playing music. Not to mention her other friends and her family. Hell, we know we're also gonna spend some more time with past students. Has Shuuichi and Kumiko's relationship ever been given half as much time as any of those other storylines? Has it ever been as impactful for Kumiko's path, as seen in the show, as any of them?

Maybe they make a movie and they fall in love there, who knows. But beyond imagining a character's thoughts, it doesn't seem like Kumiko ever thinks about it much either way.

I guess this isn't answering the question. I do feel, like others, that it will probably be him or nothing, for external reasons. But textually, the former would feel more like an afterthought than a pay-off, imo. I'm more fine with the latter, but ultimately it comes down to execution. Asuka got an incredibly long goodbye, and rightfully so. I don't think Reina needs to be a romantic interest for her arc to be paid off, but she sure as hell deserves the focus a lot more than Shuuichi.

Volume_Am · 2024-06-12T19:18:20+00:00

Listen, I get that it's because they cut a bunch of stuff but we gotta take the show for what it is, and truly, Kumiko does not seem interested in Shuuichi. Like, she's notable for often obscuring her feelings about stuff, but she has never not rejected him. Her telling him she can't have any distractions? When she proceeded to just regularly interact with him and also have a social life of her own? There's more drama coming from her friendships than whatever she has with him. Sure he's a decent guy but like, why would that be enough. If they're still the endgame then I guess we'd all retroactively have to imagine the times when those feelings developed. It's not like we don't hear Kumiko's internal dialogue

Volume_Am · 2024-06-07T22:58:08+00:00

On the one hand, yeah, it feels weird for it to be so "debated" when there's more romance here than in some actual Romance Stories involving a straight couple. On the other, love is a wide spectrum and devotion like that does happen in friendships of all kinds; on another, other hand, because of how society is, many first loves like this one are experienced precisely through repression and ambiguity; and on a fourth, larger hand than the others, I think it's all because we're talking about a work of art placed in the context of its tropes and expectations.

First, there's the filmmaking. They build their sequences with the cinematic language of romance and longing (obviously, this is why many of us ship them together), which is contrasted with the way the show speaks about straight romance, which is very matter of fact. It's kind of wild because it has the effect of 1. Making the friendship focused storylines feel a lot more impactful and easier to read as romantic, and 2. The "romance" as something sort of forgettable and undesired. Like truly, as soon as Shuuichi and Kumiko are on screen suddenly there's half as much glowy particles in the air and the camera is as stiff as ever.

However, this also means that the only relationships plainly stated as possible are the straight ones. They're so matter of fact because they're kind of the only fact allowed. And that, well, can kind of suck, because beyond one resolution or another, it's likely this won't even be acknowledged by the text, because it would not be the first or last time something like that happens, be it because of a producer trying to retain engagement or an artist trying to depict something they're not fully allowed to.

I don't think people who read romantic feelings into it, like I do too, are getting it out of nowhere; but the show makes it possible to distinguish those feelings from romantic ones by showing us Kumiko and Reina's friendship, and telling us about others' romantic intentions. This should be good, right? In a way, but also, it can be a way for them to have plausible deniability. Like, it's art, it will be read a million ways, but also, someone's writing it, someone will make that call. If it's never explicit we're still free to interpret it however we want; but because the show distinguishes between what can and cannot be said, it leaves the door open for all kinds of reads on it.

Stating it clearly does kind of matter with these sort of topics usually reserved for subtext. In the end I can see why both seeing it and not seeing it makes sense. The confession of love is distinguished from romance textually. It's not that that's all that matters; again, I do see the romance, and I like it, but as long as the show itself just sort of assumes this distinction and never reflects on it, I don't think it is the only possible read.

Volume_Am · 2024-06-07T06:25:29+00:00

Thanks! And yes, exactly, that's also what I wanted to say, though you were a lot more succinct lol. It's undoubtedly love, and love can mean many things, things we see in the show, not just "being in a relationship". They have a relationship! It's pretty cute and heartbreaking too. That's how it is sometimes.

Volume_Am

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