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KimikoMuffin Since: Jan, 2001
#176: Dec 8th 2010 at 1:08:08 PM

Yes. ;P

edited 18th Apr '12 8:04:31 PM by KimikoMuffin

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#177: Dec 8th 2010 at 3:40:54 PM

Okay, now comes the challenging part: Pick 3.
I see. So the real challenge was too much for you. tongue

Well, let's see... Out of the first batch, the ones that stood out at me were... rainy Hakurei shrine and will-o-wispy Reimu... indeed, you apparently liked this one best, so I guess it's one of those that we'll use in the profile. The rainy shrine is similar in mood, so I guess we don't need it. I also liked bright landscape with Marisa and Alice posing in the foreground, though more for the style than for how it depicts the place, and Cirno and Dai-chan looking over their kingdom. I probably also like this one mostly for how adorable it is, but as far as my murderous headache lets me judge anything, I think it also feels rather lighthearted and sweet in terms of landscape, and you do get a somewhat good idea of the vastness of the land, which would make it a particularly good counterpoint to the dark and whispy picture from before.

Now Hylarn's batch...

Reimu and Marisa on the stairs to the shrine is damn beautiful. I approve. Chen in the human village gives a nice view of the village in vibrant colors. Doesn't the village almost look too modern like that? Well, I like it this way. The Tengu village is very, very nice, and thanks to the character art style, also brings some more light-heartedness... Cirno and Daiyousei at a dark lake is also pretty, but I guess if we're choosing only a handful of pictures to link in the profile, it's not a keeper.

Now let me see what I still have to offer from my collection... Nitori for frig's sake. Definitely a keeper. A great composition with a feeling of freedom and life with a hint of strangeness. Recursion of Hina, nice image, but the landscape might not be in the focus enough to work. A possibly quite familiar Akyuu picture. This is not a landscape at all, but if the interior of a house counts as a depiction of Gensokyo... well, we might be opening the floodgates too much with that. Don't wanna weigh down the profile with too many links.

Sooo... Opinions! What pictures should be linked to represent Gensokyo in its profile?

Although given what happened with Yamame last time I'm not sure this is entirely necessary.
Hmm, it's true that sometimes, popular characters generate little discussion while unpopular ones bring a lot of it, and vice versa. As far as I remember, that was the exception rather than the rule, though. There were plenty of unpopular characters who got little more discussion than "this is a character, she does things." It remains to be seen how the new format will change the flow of discussion... After all, for the popular characters, everyone might have something to say because there's just so much exchange of different views going on, so you kinda end up choosing from some of hundreds of options, while less popular characters might invite alternate interpretations simply because there's a lot of freedom in filling in the blanks... On the other hand, freedom can be hard to deal with, and many people might just not care enough about, say, Letty, to come up with differing interpretations... I'm just rambling now, though. Point is, yeah, we're having the system in place. Even if not for the sake of discussion, then at least for the sake of the characters themselves.

XionGaTaosenai Some kind of a New Leaf Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Some kind of a New Leaf
#178: Dec 8th 2010 at 5:15:55 PM

That Cirno & Daiyousei at the dark lake picture reminds me of the scene in the third Harry Potter movie in the woods with the swarm of dementors and stuff.

Anyway, I vote the other Cirno / Dai picture, with the view and the lake.

I make video games! Or plan to, anyway.
Hylarn (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#179: Dec 8th 2010 at 5:45:58 PM

I think these three images are most representive of my view of Gensoukyou.

Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#180: Dec 8th 2010 at 6:04:33 PM

I've got to squeak in before we move on! (The first paragraph is my summary.)


Bringing the Strange Closer

Two points are important to my view of Gensokyo. One: youkai are weird. Two: it's an exciting time to be a Gensokyan.

The first point is easy to lay out, but hard to keep in mind when you're writing. (I sure don't always manage it.) You see the same sort of idea in Out of the Silent Planet, where the human protagonist discovers that the people of Malacandra seem grotesque and horrible if he tries to look at them in human terms, but perfectly attractive and ordinary when he views them on their own.

Take Remilia, for example. You would never, ever mistake her for a little girl, even if she hides her wings. She has predator's teeth and big red eyes. In motion, she's fast and fluid, at rest, she's utterly still. Her spindly little arms hide muscles that can crush mountains. And what does she see when she looks at you? A person, sure, but also a meal, and you can tell. Remi's a charming enough creature, but not if you try to think of her as you would a human kid. It just doesn't work.

Even humanish youkai like Alice are at least a little off. Maybe it's something about her eyes or teeth, or perhaps she's just a little too dollish and perfect to seem quite human. It could just be the fact that you know she'll outlive your grandchildren. And all of this is aside from the house of living dolls and (possibly) unsavory effigy experiments!

They will always be different, but they may not stay strange forever. Next point!

We may never know what, exactly, Yukari intended Gensokyo to become. How long could it have lasted as a simple nature preserve for youkai? What kind of a population could it sustain? Fortunately, all of that is academic, because after hundreds of years, they're finally working out a better model.  aside

We've talked about Gensokyo as a paradise that lets humans be humans and youkai be youkai. True enough! However, in this interpretation, what it means to be a human or a youkai seems to be changing. Nobody's forcing this on them; it's just a result of their new situation. Everyone's crammed together behind a barrier, with limited populations, no masquerade and a handy new spellcard system to keep casualties down. You could hardly be, say, a proper oni in these circumstances, so obviously the definition of a proper oni has to change!

Yukari may or may not have intended an experiment, but that's what she got. The relationships between humans and the various types of youkai are being renegotiated, and who can say what form it will take? By the time Reimu's an old woman, Gensokyo will have been transformed, if not physically then at least socially. I think that would be exciting to live through, anyway...

PS - I like the rain picture and "Nitori for frig's sake," too.

edited 9th Dec '10 7:41:15 PM by Durazno

SuperDimensionman "Justice!" from the future. Since: Nov, 2009
"Justice!"
#181: Dec 8th 2010 at 9:14:58 PM

Yes. ;P

What's a "user comments" section? I'm not familiar with the concept. (In my defense, that doesn't show up on the first page.)

Higanbana Since: Jun, 2010
#182: Dec 9th 2010 at 1:17:44 AM

What pictures should be linked to represent Gensokyo in its profile?

A little hard in the case of Gensokyo since it has quite a few popular locations. Some defining scenery for me are the cherry blossom trees, the bamboo forest and the different flower fields from Po FV.

Personal picks:

I did a little searching but I can't seem to find a nice illustration of a cherry blossom scene that doesn't focus mainly on a character.

Bamboo forest Focus is on the characters, but the background illustrates my mental image well.

Of course But if its a limit of three, better to omit this.

And this one that was posted is also one of my favourites. Seems like its a popular choice so far too.

edit: Some sad counting issues.

edited 9th Dec '10 1:19:45 AM by Higanbana

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#183: Dec 9th 2010 at 2:07:17 AM

Alright, I divided pictures into three categories and tried to find three picks for each, starting with those that got several votes. I realize that I might have let my personal preferences tempt me in my picks for leftovers, and I apologize for that.

Appearance:
Dark and mysterious:
Dark and light, rain and flora, night and love  *
Warm and sweet:
Path and warmth, river and land, man and nature
Vast and beautiful:
Earth and sky, water and adventure, height and depth

Duraz, your summary seems a little longwinded to me, so I decided to link it by the title for now. You can still change it, though.

On a related note, I should've realized earlier that the biggest weakness of my "three lines" limit is that I always use a tiny little netbook, so three lines is a lot less to me than it is to others.

Come to think of it, that's probably messing up my layout as well... I always push the profiles down a few lines so that the character's name is "indented" by my avatar and custom title, but does it appear different to others?

Welp, Reimu will require some preparation on my end, what with how she has an unusable existing profile and I have to admit I never looked further into her connection to the barrier. So there's research to be done~

edited 9th Dec '10 2:13:39 AM by Fawriel

SuperDimensionman "Justice!" from the future. Since: Nov, 2009
"Justice!"
#184: Dec 9th 2010 at 5:02:11 AM

Come to think of it, that's probably messing up my layout as well... I always push the profiles down a few lines so that the character's name is "indented" by my avatar and custom title, but does it appear different to others?

It looks like this to me. I have an absurdly high-resolution monitor and prefer to keep my browser full-screen, so it's probably narrower for most people.

Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#185: Dec 9th 2010 at 9:12:07 AM

Duraz, your summary seems a little longwinded to me, so I decided to link it by the title for now. You can still change it, though.

Chopped it down. Sorry 'bout that, I'm still stuck in paper mode.

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#186: Dec 9th 2010 at 3:51:06 PM





Wonderful Shrine Maiden of Paradise
Reimu Hakurei

Appearance:
Voice: Drunk at a comedy competition

Themes:
Eternal Shrine Maiden(HRtP)*

, Mystic Oriental Love Consultation(PoDD)* , Alice Maestra(LLS stage 4, shared with Marisa)* , Maiden's Capriccio(LLS)* , Silk Road Alice(Shuusou Gyoku)* , Dichromatic Lotus Butterfly ~ Ancients(Shuusou Gyoku)* , Maiden's Capriccio ~ Dream Battle(IN)* , Spring Lane ~ Colourful Path(PoFV)* , The Strange Everyday Life of the Flying Shrine Maiden

Stage: "Legendary Paradise"
"The forest of bamboo under the moonlight was as eerie as a dream. Each bamboo tree looked as if it would start glowing at any moment."
bgm: Retribution for the Eternal Night ~ Imperishable Night*

Spellcard Motif: Fantasy and Dreams / Seals and Barriers
Notable spellcards:
Border World "Hakurei Danmaku Bounded Field", Divine Arts "Omnidirectional Demon Binding Circle", Divine Spirit "Fantasy Seal"

Write-up:
Ladies and gentlemen, our designated protagonist, Reimu Hakurei, the Shrine Maiden of Paradise.

There is more than one reason to call her a "designated protagonist". Some rumors may claim that it's because you'd find a more heroic heroine in a women's prison cell. Reimu's ethical integrity notwithstanding, however, her very being deserves this definition.

First of all, Reimu is a descendent of the absurdly powerful Hakurei family, gifted with amazing powers that they have used for generations to battle youkai, and to protect the barrier. To maintain the barrier that defines Gensokyo is her task in life, and if her life were to be taken, the barrier might vanish with her. The balance of the entire land rests on her.

The second point is almost a logical conclusion of the former. Gensokyo seems to revolve around her, and if you take as a given the idea that Gensokyo was created as a setting to accomodate a series of shooter games, Reimu is literally The Heroine of the place � and she might just be aware of it. She has such inherent talent that she doesn't see a need to train. She is so lucky that she doesn't need to fear death no matter what. She lazes about most of the time and only becomes proactive during an incident. She solves these incidents by basically flying in a direction and letting her natural intuition guide her through a series of progressively more powerful people to beat up. In fact, Reimu is the reason the "game rules" exist, because if any youkai were to actually kill her, Gensokyo would be doomed. Those rules are also the only way a youkai could ever hope to beat her, because if she didn't follow them, nothing would stop her from using her "power to fly through the sky" to turn on her own personal God Mode cheat and become intangible by soaring above their plane of existence...

As you can see, there is a lot to be said about what Reimu is, which is surprisingly much for what is essentially a very simple person. Reimu is easygoing, lazy and overall uncomplicated. She doesn't treat anyone differently from anyone else, humans or youkai. Whether this is good or bad treatment depends entirely on where you stand...

Of course, her treatment of youkai isn't completely similar to her treatment of humans. After all, a shrine maiden has certain youkai-extermination duties. Now, youkai aren't being "exterminated" anymore per se, but danmaku battles are customary... So if you're a youkai and happen to see a miko with delicious armpits approaching, you might want to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction if you have any valuables with you. The shrine maiden stalks the night � and she is perpetually low on cash.

Paradoxically enough, while Reimu is one of the most consistently characterized persons both in canon and fanon, how she is presented varies dramatically. She treats everyone equally � with open arms or from a distance. She makes friends with those she defeats � after beating them up and asking questions later. She's cruel to youkai � to keep the balance?

While she's simple-minded and straightforward, Reimu's behavior is strongly dependent on her view of how Gensokyo works. If you don't know what to believe, whether she's cruel and uncaring, dispassionate and carefree, or a great listener and friend, there's only one thing that is certain:
She is the hero. Somebody's gotta be.

Relations:

  • Marisa (long-time partner in crime and rival)
  • Yukari (barrier-related business...)
  • Suika (uninvited houseguest)
  • Shingyoku (?)
  • Komachi (partner in laziness)
  • Just about anyone else ever.

Alternate Character Interpretations:

Very brilliant, very lazy
-by Bocaj

Fantasy Seal -Concentrate-
-by Clarste

At the shrine of the silent goddess
-by Cynicmuffin

Hakurei Reimu - A Simple, But Not Ordinary Girl
-by Exuno

In a world where everything is crazy, one man is a girl who dares to set things straight. They call her... the Straight Man.
-by Fawriel

Reimu
-by Higanbana

The Barrier of the Fantastic
-by Pulse

Reimu Hakurei - Gensokyo's Wild Card
-by Raz Fox

Reimu Hakurei - Part of a Balanced Breakfast
-by Ruki Motomiya

Reimu ~ Red And White Make Jade
-by Stark Maximum

Reimu is JUST a troubled teenage girl with powers and responsibilities she doesn't really want
-by The Chubby Destroyer

Reimu Hakurei - Pillars of Duty
-by WORLD Tree

Reimu - The Protagonist
-by Xion Ga Taosenai

World's Laziest Hero
-by yarrunmace

Red and White, White and Black
-by yarrunmace

edited 8th Oct '11 4:11:03 PM by Fawriel

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#187: Dec 9th 2010 at 3:55:31 PM

Sorry. That write-up is kind of a huge mess. I should plan these things out better so as to be able to get more informationa across in fewer words. The old write-up is shorter and misses some information, but also reads a lot more nicely for the most part... at least, that's the feeling I have now.

I'll add notes on the songs later. And I think I need an adult to help me with those notable spellcards. I have to admit I don't really know much about what spellcards might be considered "signature" spellcards...

Leviathean Since: Dec, 2010
#188: Dec 9th 2010 at 5:25:16 PM

I believe that for "signature" spell cards, the default source you should start with is definitely The Grimoire of Marisa. While it's narrated in a rather colourful way by Marisa, it should be a good launching point on finding common themes in a character's method of attacks. It's also some insight into how ZUN thinks about how Marisa thinks about ZUN's coding skill, and what he might have tried to aim for when designing his characters and their attacks.

Reimu's Cards seem to lean towards boundaries and barrier manipulation, like Dream Sign "Duplex Barrier" and especially the description for Divine Spirit "Fantasy Seal -Blink-", where "Reimu herself only moves in a straight line, but somehow completely surrounds you — Reimu's technique isn't something cheap like [Tengu's speed, or Sakuya's teleport]". The "Binding" theme comes up often too, such as in Dream Sign "Evil Sealing Circle" and Divine Arts "Demon Binding Circle". There are the homing shot cards (all the Fantasy Seal cards) that seem to both make fun of her player-controlled shot type as well as tie into her carefree nature. Finally there are the massive theatrical showcases like Untitled "Flying Mysterious Shrine Maiden" and Fantasy Heaven that signify her overwhelming power as the maiden of paradise.

I guess you could look at the pure invincibility of Fantasy Heaven (floating away from reality) as fighting against the invincible frames of a standard shooting game bomb, from the enemy's viewpoint?

edited 9th Dec '10 5:33:32 PM by Leviathean

XionGaTaosenai Some kind of a New Leaf Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Some kind of a New Leaf
#189: Dec 9th 2010 at 5:38:03 PM

So, after I made that huge write-up on what Gensokyo is and does in my series, I might as well continue this for the rest of the characters.


Reimu - The Protagonist

Reimu is one of 3 characters who will appear in all 10 games (the others being Marisa, obviously, and Cirno, who you fight in the tutorials), and is playable in 7 of them, the most of any toon, bar Marisa, who she ties with. This much is pretty pedestrian; after all, she and Marisa are the main characters.

She's kind of an everygirl, and she doen't get fazed by much. For me, Reimu is kind of like Mario in Super Mario Bros. She just acts pretty average for a Touhou character, which makes her easier to identify with, but a bit more boring than the others. Of the 5 "stars" of the series, Reimu also serves as the only sane girl, as much as one can exist in Gensokyo. She is the penultamate boss to Yukari in Youmu & Yuyuko's route in the phantasmogoria game, which is kind of cool.


Not a lot to say here, but I'm hoping to have more to say on later characters. I literally spent about half an hour trying to think of something interesting to say about Reimu, but just drew a huge blank.

I make video games! Or plan to, anyway.
yarrunmace Ghosts' Poet from Seine Since: Jun, 2009
Ghosts' Poet
#190: Dec 9th 2010 at 6:41:42 PM

World's Laziest Hero

It sounds a bit weird to call her lazy, since one would usually associate laziness with the mischevious witch, but in the end it fits. She's the single most powerful human in all of Gensokyo. Her shrine is completely bereft of worshippers. Essentially, she has nothing to do and nothing to fear, so why do anything? I can just imagine her sleeping on her donation box in the middle of the day.

When she's bothered by Marisa or one of the youkai, she usually acts coolly or aloof. But, I think she enjoys other people's company. After all, it's something to do. Even putting up with Remilia's posturing for a few hours may be better than, well, let's say sweeping.

Her favorite times would probably be the strange events that have been happening since 2003 (e.g. the Bullet Hell games). Times like those allow her to go and wreak havoc on youkai and faeries with an excuse. Essentially, she's enjoying shooting charms at youkai as much as we're enjoying playing the game. Her tendency to invite her defeated opponents to tea afterwards might be seen as a way of saying "thanks for the fun!"

you'll then have a grave in the clouds where you won't lie too cramped
Hylarn (Don’t ask) Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#191: Dec 9th 2010 at 7:39:19 PM

I honestly don't care about Reimu enough to have a defined, or even preferred, view of her. >_>

edited 9th Dec '10 7:39:33 PM by Hylarn

Raz_Fox Good Egg from Riding the Lightning Since: Jul, 2009
Good Egg
#192: Dec 9th 2010 at 7:41:10 PM

"Gensokyo is getting weirder. Darker every single day. Hina is spinning around faster and faster, and threatening to go completely awry. Falcons and falconers. The center cannot hold. But in my little corner of Gensokyo, I'm trying to nail things down. I don't want to live in a world where the Youkai rule and the humans cower. I'd rather make a place where things are a little quieter. Where rabbits stay the hell inside their bamboo forests, and where fairies doesn't come swooping out to play pranks on children too young to fight back. Where Remillia respects the limits, and where Yukari minds her p's and q's. My name is Reimu Hakurei. Danmaku by it at your own risk. When things get strange, when she what goes bump in the night tries to eat you, when no one else can help you, come find me. I'm in my shrine."


Reimu Hakurei - Gensokyo's Wild Card

That's an odd title for everyone's favorite lazy, easy-going shrine maiden, right? Everyone knows Marisa's the wild one, the chaotic and unpredictable thief-witch. Reimu's lawful, right? She's the one who can be counted on to do the right thing, right?

There's the rub. She'll do the right thing, and she's powerful enough to get that thing done, whatever it is. If she says your plans will stop, they will stop. And not even Yukari can claim complete control over her, I think. If anyone's to praise (or to blame) for all these potential masterminds in Gensokyo getting along - Yukari, Kanako, Satori, Remillia, Kaguya - it's Reimu, because the only other person in Gensokyo with comparable ability to completely mess up your day is Suika.

Today she's blowing in Byakuren's face with amulets, but you know that she's lurking in the back of everyone's minds whenever they contemplate breaking the peace. She's the ultimate balance of power in Gensokyo, just because you can't count on her choosing anyone's side but her own.

And the beautiful thing about her? She's not some super-youkai, she's not an elemental force of justice, she's not an angel - she's a teenage girl. She's human, just like everyone else, and she procrastinates on sweeping the shrine stairs and doesn't want to get out from under the covers in the morning, she has emotions and wants and fears just like everyone else. But when something needs to be done, she goes out and fixes it. She's risked immolation in the fires of hell, being trapped forever in another hell, she's defied the gods themselves and dared to venture into the underworld without any real hope of coming back out. She's fought the creator of Gensokyo, she's fought the ghost-princess who can kill with but a thought, she's dared the odds again and again, to the brink of her meager skill and immodest talents.

Do you think she was scared? Probably. Do you think that she's been hurt doing all this, slashed by Sakuya's knives, burned by Utsuho's punishing fire, kicked in the face by Wriggle? I do. I don't think of Gensokyo as dark and gritty, but every fairy tale has danger, and every danger is real. And yet every time another wanna-be incident creator rises up to disturb the fragile peace of Gensokyo, Reimu gets up. She readies her talismans, and her prayer slips, and she picks up her trusted gohei, and she flies off to battle again.

And the only thing you can trust about her is that she won't stop until she's fixed things. You can't trust her to be on your side. She's beaten up her best friend before to fix an incident. If she suspects you of breaking the peace, friend or no, mentor or no, you're going down. Because she's the shrine maiden, godsdamnit. You can't sway her with anything, not when she's got a wrong to right.

It takes a very special kind of person to live that kind of life. That's why Reimu's the hero of Touhou.

edited 9th Dec '10 7:42:14 PM by Raz_Fox

Time keeps dragging on.
SuperDimensionman "Justice!" from the future. Since: Nov, 2009
"Justice!"
#193: Dec 9th 2010 at 9:28:48 PM

Relations:

● Shingyoku (?)

I approve. Now, to push my luck: if Shingyoku warrants a specific mention, shouldn't Reimu's faithful steed Genjii too? He has a speaking role and everything!

Higanbana Since: Jun, 2010
#194: Dec 10th 2010 at 3:17:15 AM

Themes: I don't see Eternal Shrine Maiden or The Strange Everyday Life of the Flying Shrine Maiden, unless there's a reason? Only noticed because they are my two favourites.

Reimu

Sorry, too lazy for titles.

Reimu is the one character that has done a complete flip in my character rankings. I really disliked her and was baffled at how she stayed on top of the polls. To me Reimu has always been undeserving both as the character in the story, and as the main (popular) character for the games.

She has all of Gensokyo in her hands but has done nothing to earn that power or respect. I can imagine that must be gratingly irritating for the 'effort earns success' folk, but since most of the population are youkai they have a respect for her.

As a popular character I originally struggled to see anything going for her. Blame the meme but all I heard about was her 'sexy miko armpits', as a female, obviously I fail the see the appeal there or how that’s a defining point. I still consider her to be quite a plain character but blessed with godly powers. How would she do if she wasn't the main character or Hakurei? I'm guessing significantly poorer.

I probably sound harsh but while it was one reason why I originally disliked her, strangely it’s become one of the reasons why I do like her now.

I often think of her personality as very apathetic. She doesn't seem to care about anyone on a personal level, and that’s why they are treated equally. Certainly moody too, but with all the nonsense she has to deal with regularly and the stern attitude she needs to uphold with Youkai, I can understand this. Most of all I think she’s just worn out, all this girl wants is some peace and quiet but although lazy, she’s still dutiful.

Illustrations:

The eternal shrine maiden

Don’t mess with the red-white

Contrasting protagonists

edited 10th Dec '10 3:17:37 AM by Higanbana

SuperDimensionman "Justice!" from the future. Since: Nov, 2009
"Justice!"
#195: Dec 10th 2010 at 4:21:30 AM

Themes: I don't see Eternal Shrine Maiden or The Strange Everyday Life of the Flying Shrine Maiden, unless there's a reason? Only noticed because they are my two favourites.

Despite the name, Eternal Shrine Maiden isn't actually Reimu's theme in any absolute sense; more than anything else, it's Shingyoku and Konngara's stage theme.

Higanbana Since: Jun, 2010
#196: Dec 10th 2010 at 4:43:46 AM

I guess it gets tricky when it comes to stage themes (I can't see Alice Maestra & Rft EN as either Reimu or Marsia's themes for example). Although most people do associate it with Reimu, the latter theme is harder to argue.

Not a problem though.

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#197: Dec 10th 2010 at 4:31:52 PM

Speaking of dutiful!

I guess I might as well add those songs while I'm at it and all. Along with all those other things... haaah.

I often think of her personality as very apathetic. She doesn't seem to care about anyone on a personal level, and that’s why they are treated equally. Certainly moody too, but with all the nonsense she has to deal with regularly and the stern attitude she needs to uphold with Youkai, I can understand this. Most of all I think she’s just worn out, all this girl wants is some peace and quiet but although lazy, she’s still dutiful.
It's interesting how the same reasoning can lead to such different results, isn't it? A big reason I mentioned all those things about her being a designated protagonist is to put a new light on what is, at first glance, just a pretty apathetic girl. Why is she apathetic, though? Worn out from having to save the day all the time? Or does she enjoy those times, actually? Is she so apathetic because she knows she can't lose? Does that make her life less interesting?

Hell, apatheticness can really be a good thing. It sure isn't keeping her from making friends, and it intrigues powerful youkai... In general, there's a certain wisdom in not caring too much about certain things.

Reimu Hakurei - Gensokyo's Wild Card
Bravo.

Okay, that doesn't sound too enthusiastic, but I do wish that more people would show that kind of enthusiasm about characters. Well, admittedly I'm not the biggest Reimu fan myself, but I try to see the best in every available character... But that's beside the point!

I never really looked at the whole "she's just a teenage girl" aspect... Strangely enough, I see that point quite clearly in my avatar, despite how exotic it looks. Huh. But yeah, that's interesting. I've been looking at her from a kind of technical point of view, but her straightforwardness does basically mean that she's... a girl her age. While she may be battle-hardened and possibly jaded, as ZUN writes, "when she smiles, she smiles, and when she cries, she cries."

I read in her article that she actually cries in SWR when her temple is destroyed again. I'm curious to see that. ... Which sounds kinda perverse, but I'd just like to see how this apathetic heroine shows some genuine teenager emotions.

When she's bothered by Marisa or one of the youkai, she usually acts coolly or aloof. But, I think she enjoys other people's company. After all, it's something to do.
Yeah, probably. When I need to remind myself that Reimu is, in the end, a good guy, I just think of Cirno's ending in Hisoutensoku, in which (OH MAN SPOILARS) Cirno tells Reimu about how she chased after the big shadow and was convinced that it was actually Alice's Goliath Doll rather than [actual spoiler]... and Reimu actually listens to her, rather than being all skeptical or even telling the nineball to shut up and stop bothering her or something like that. Who knows if she's genuinely interested, or just bored enough to listen... What matters is, she doesn't care: You can talk to her about anything. And that is a very valuable quality in a friend.

Okaaay, now to add those songs and then song notes...

Aaand the write.ups.

Doooone!

TheChubbyDestroyer OOPS from Stage 1 Underground Since: Oct, 2010
OOPS
#198: Dec 10th 2010 at 6:37:48 PM

This is the first time I'm doing this and on a character I don't like but oh well:

Reimu is JUST a troubled teenage girl with powers and responsibilities she doesn't really want

Any teenager given with powers will go about using them but Reimu is not like that. She prefers to just laze about. Maybe, as Faw said, something made her from what a normal teenager would do into her apathetic state. I believe that she still holds onto her teenage side but she just keeps it to herself. Something tragic may have happened. It is mentioned in the Hakurei Yin-Yang Orb wiki profile that there are no other known Hakurei clan members in Gensokyo. My interpretation is that Reimu did have family. Since this Hakurei family have a relationship with both youkai and humans in an effort to keep balance between the two, some humans could have misinterpreted the relationship with youkai. This is kinda similar to Byakuren's backstory in that the humans killed Reimu's family. Her family being the nice people that they are since you have to be to keep a relationship with both humans and youkai. The humans probably didn't even think about the consequences of doing so (Gensokyo's destrcution)since humans are quite prone to irrational acts. Anyway, Reimu survived due to Genji maybe also due to Shingyoku but I don't know much about it. After a while, when the conflict calmed down, Reimu returned. Due to having responsibilities of being a shrine maiden and having been raised that way, she probably hid her emotions on the tragic events of her past leading to her apathy. Troubled teens have been known to hide their feelings becoming quiet and shy. Reimu just became apathetic but there are time this leaks out. Faw mentioned the time she cried due to the destruction of her shrine in canon. It could be interpreted that she cried because the shrine also serves as a reminder of her family. Its destruction having an effect on her emotions having been kept inside and just bursting out. This could also be the reason why she is never really bothered by all the youkai visiting her since she really would like the company just as she had with her family. So, she might be apathetic to hide her past but not all the time since these things do leak out and her having friends could be her subconscious trying to release these emotions. I'm not sure since psychology is not my cup of tea. Anyway, another solution her subconscious is using and is canon is her drinking

I think I did something last night...
Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#199: Dec 12th 2010 at 8:09:50 AM

Man, this is rather depressing! Poor Raymoo.

You guys are aware that you can discuss people's views, not just write about your own and then leave them sitting there, right? I guess maybe Reimu is just a character about whom too much is known... alas.

Guess I'll compile the tier list for voting, then post my own Reimu thingy.

EX Tier
Alice Margatroid, Cirno, Chen, Flandre Scarlet, Marisa Kirisame, Patchouli Knowledge, Yukari Yakumo

Endgame Tier
Aya Shameimaru, Byakuren Hijiri, Eirin Yagokoro, Fujiwara no Mokou, Hong Meiling, Kanako Yasaka, Kogasa Tatara, Komachi Onozuka, Momiji Inubashiri, Nazrin, Nitori Kawashiro, Ran Yakumo, Reisen Udongein Inaba, Remilia Scarlet, Sakuya Izayoi, Sanae Kochiya, Satori Komeiji, Shikieiki Yamaxanadu, Suika Ibuki, Suwako Moriya, Utsuho Reiuji, Youmu Konpaku, Yuuka Kazami, Yuyuko Saigyouji

Youkai Tier
Daiyousei, Hina Kagiyama, Iku Nagae, Kaguya Houraisan, Keine Kamishirasawa, Koakuma, Koishi Komeiji, Maribel Han, Mima, Cpt. Minamitsu Murasa, Mystia Loreley, Nue Houjuu, Parsee Mizuhashi, Prismriver Sisters, Rin Kaenbyou, Rumia, Shou Toramaru, Tenshi Hinanai, Tewi Inaba, Wriggle Nightbug, Yamame Kurodani, Yuugi Hoshiguma, Hieda no Akyuu, Renko Usami, Rinnosuke, Mima

Fuzzy Tier
3 mischievous fairies, Aki sisters, Hatate Himekaido, Ichirin Kumoi, Kisume, Letty Whiterock, Lily White/Black, Medicine Melancholy, Shinki, Tokiko, Watatsuki Sisters, Yumemi Okazaki, all remaining PC-98 characters

... That's a big bottom tier all of a sudden. Any complaints?

Should there also be a tier for places? We had a good run discussing Gensokyo, but I don't know if enough people would know what to say about specific locales like the Underworld or the human village...

SuperDimensionman "Justice!" from the future. Since: Nov, 2009
"Justice!"
#200: Dec 12th 2010 at 8:13:41 AM

Should there also be a tier for places? We had a good run discussing Gensokyo, but I don't know if enough people would know what to say about specific locales like the Underworld or the human village...

Since there would be absolutely nothing to back up my claims about Highly Responsive to Prayers' versions of Makai and Jigoku, I'm all for that.

edited 12th Dec '10 8:14:35 AM by SuperDimensionman


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