History Headscratchers / TheFamiliarOfZero

* Did this show start out as a DatingSim or something? Every time Saito accomplishes anything that affects his standing with a potential romantic interest, there's this funny sound that happens in the background. In addition, the fact that the entire cast seems to view him as either a date or a rival bears a rather uncanny resemblance to them, Saito's somewhat FeaturelessProtagonist-like archetype, the comedically inserted gags about artifacts from Earth and random FanService (including LITERAL BleachedUnderpants) also give me the impression this either began as a visual novel or is primarily a parody of them.

*** It's confirmed in the novels that Gandalfr runes gradually made him infatuated with his master, suppressed all memories of his home world that could cause him to really want to get back, tried to make him feel protective of people he met, and generally did a lot of what one could consider MindRape, so it's not really his fault. When [[spoiler:[[OurElvesAreDifferent Tiffania]] used her magic to erase the effect runes had on him]], he had spent a lot of time angsting and only recovered because Louise needed his help rather urgently.

*** According to the very extensive analysis at the Spacebattles Forums, The brainwashing is only something that happens with animal and magical beast familiars. The Void Familiar Runes only suppress the feeling of homesickness, they can't make the familiar love the master at all. [[spoiler: The original Void Familiar KILLED Brimir when he decided he needed to kill all the elves, something that wouldn't have been possible if the Void Familiar Runes did any sort of actual brainwashing.]]

* Stepping aside from romantic tangles for a moment, how, exactly, magical-ability-to-use-any-weapon notwithstanding, did Saito [[spoiler:''waltz into a Japanese military base and '''steal a fighter jet'''?!'']]

** My guess is that he's a loner orphan. His total lack of proper human interaction is pretty clear- he knows nothing about sympathy (''remember, Saito-- ''when someone's crying, it means something's wrong), empathy (his total inability to figure out how to not piss someone off), sincerity (telling he loves Louise while fantasizing about her sister). His idea of "love" is some cliched crap pulled from manga (i blame the writers for this), along with his ideas of loyalty and honour.

** The lack of concern over the life left behind at the 'real world' is a common staple in this kind of anime settings. Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld is a notable example.

* Did this show start out as a DatingSim or something? Every time Saito accomplishes anything that affects his standing with a potential romantic interest, there's this funny sound that happens in the background. In addition, the fact that the entire cast seems to view him as either a date or a rival bears a rather uncanny resemblance to them, Saito's somewhat {{AFGNCAAP}}-like archetype, the comedically inserted gags about artifacts from Earth and random FanService (including LITERAL BleachedUnderpants) also give me the impression this either began as a visual novel or is primarily a parody of them.

* I know that Louise's a {{Tsundere}} with a heavy emphasis on tsun and that Saito can act perverted and dumb at times but how far Louise takes the abuse. I mean the force with which she dishes out those [[GroinAttack Groin Attacks]], [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], and [[MegatonPunch Megaton Punches]]...I'm surprised Saito doesn't have any lasting injuries or internal damage. Even [[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Akane]] wasn't that violent with Ranma.

*** It's confirmed in the novels that Gandalfr runes gradually made him infatuated with his master, suppressed all memories of his home world that could cause him to really want to get back, tried to make him feel protective of people he met, and generally did a lot of what one could consider MindRape, so it's not really his fault. When [[spoiler:[[OurElvesAreBetter Tiffania]] used her magic to erase the effect runes had on him]], he had spent a lot of time angsting and only recovered because Louise needed his help rather urgently.

* I know that Louise's a {{Tsundere}} with a heavy emphasis on tsun and that Saito can act perverted and dumb at times but it JustBugsMe how far Louise takes the abuse. I mean the force with which she dishes out those [[GroinAttack Groin Attacks]], [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], and [[MegatonPunch Megaton Punches]]...I'm surprised Saito doesn't have any lasting injuries or internal damage. Even [[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Akane]] wasn't that violent with Ranma.

* This Troper honestly just can not see how people can like Louise. Perhaps its because this troper has only read the light novels, but Louise just seems really unlikable. I mean, for every tender moment she and Saito get, there's a shockingly cruel scene to counteract it. And seeing how Saito is clearly not enjoying any of this treatment, this troper can only assume the familiar contract is somehow manipulating his feelings towards her, because seriously any sane man would have settled down with Siesta after the part ''where Louise forced Saito to wear something that could electrocute him whenever she felt like it.''
** From what I've read, the light novels have confirmed this. As it happens, said mental restriction has apparently been removed (in the novels at least), which leaves Saito pining to go home.

**** People can really overreact. Louise isn't nearly as bad as people make her out to be. Yes, she does cruel things, but to be fair so does Saito. Neither of them are perfect, but their relationship works.
**** When both parties overreact and have cruel responses towards one another I don't see a relationship lasting very long.
**** Does Saito do some eye-raising things to Louise? Yes, yes he does. But the thing is, for every one that he does Louise does at least two. Perhaps Saito's worst moment was when he attempted to molest Louise while she was sleeping (though I admit I don't remember the scene that well, but I think Saito was doing this based off something he heard earlier). This is countered with Louise physically abusing Saito. With a whip. Possibly all night. Definitely next morning. Oh, mental abuse too, what with the whole dog thing. Aside from that, this is also admittingly based off my own hazy memories, but Saito's pervertedness (and character for that matter) drastically mellows out over the course of the series. Louise's priority of physical abuse? Not so much.
**** [[MoralEventHorizon Saito molesting Louise is more than enough reason for all the abuse he gets from that point onwards]]. Louise would have been well within her right to blow him into [[ChunkySalsaRule chunky salsa]] right then and there, but she couldn't because Saito's her familiar and like it or not she ''needs'' her familiar. [[FridgeHorror So from that point onwards she goes to sleep every night knowing that a boy depraved enough to molest a sleeping girl who looks like she's about 12 or so is sleeping in the same room as her]] and is both willing and able to molest/rape/violate her whenever the mood strikes him.
**** I can't believe I'm actually saying this about attempted rape, but you're really making a much bigger deal out of this that necessary. And that "right" loses validity right about after the third time Saito saves her life or does something stupidly selfless and incredibly dangerous just to help her (the fact that he never does anything like that again helps as well. Personally, I felt the entire thing was a huge out of character moment anyways, especially since Saito's Japanese. Super-politeness might be a stereotype, but it really doesn't change the fact that being polite is really important for them) Which would be... I'd think after he slices Wardes' arm off, but at least by the Henrietta incident. Also does not change the fact that she was abusing him before the incident and after he has proven his moral fiber.
***** It also doesn't change the fact that Gandalfr runes were trying to force him to rape her, just to give him some sort of attachment to this world. Sure, it's not exactly his fault, but that doesn't mean he should simply forget about it instead of keeping in mind that Louise might simply be afraid of him and she might therefore be trying to make him stop through abuse (she's a noble from a rather grandiose family, so such form of control seems to be something her family would teach her to do in such cases). More than that, it is widely known that she is prideful, so why is he teasing her in such a way? She is giving him twice the punishment for each of his attacks, but it's rather easy to see that most of his attacks hit her berserk buttons, and he simply is [[NoSocialSkills too dense]] to realize it.
*** The problem with the rape thing... A) It was only molesting (and was an incredible out of character moment, to the point this troper believe it was done to ''justify'' saito punishment) and B)Well, Saito doesn't t want to be there. This is the crux of the matter. Saito was ''kidnapped'', enslaved and has his self worth ripped appart. He was called a dog. ''A DOG'', used for menial labor, punished brutally and feed scraps. Some asks why Saito act like an idiot and a skirt chaser? Because he is simply a young boy. Ignorant, horny, without knowledge of "court etiquette" or the "superiority of nobles" and in fact he act like any normal person would do (if a little Animesque) in his situation. What? Should act like a Prince charming and all around hero. He had many flaws but this doesn't mean (regardless of why the creators keep insisting) he deserve this crappy turn of events. Imagine you where suddendly absorved from your house and forced to live like Saito.. would you care that the girl is a Woobie girl? Would you feel sympathetic? Or would you hate her, resent her for her treatment to you? For stolen your life, your love ones and your dignity? That empathy to Saito situation (instead of saito himself) it was pissed fans so much.
**** As a quick side note, the rape that Saito is accused of was done under the assumption that 1) Louise loves him (not entirely true at the time, but not exactly false either) and that 2) she is a Tsundere and that if he simply pushed she'd admit her true feelings. Furthermore, he hugged her and kissed her cheek, before going for her dress. He didn't get that far though, becasue this was when she woke up. And that is when he verbally confronted her. Then despite her protests, he goes to kiss her, thinking shes merely nervous of her first time. He didn't hold her down or do anything violent to her. What he did was very wrong, no doubt, but it wasn't a malious assult.
*** Indeed, he does not want to be there - that is correct. But while it is a justification for some of his actions, and Louise often deserves what she gets simply for being whiny and having her ass too high, much of their angst would simply cease to be (not that it would be good for her magic, but that's not the point here) if he simply apologised for some of his actions. You know, as in, said "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do that to you" or "I'm sorry I hurt you, I didn't mean to do that". And while I might be an exception here (I probably am due to various reasons), I would've done things quite differently if I were him - sure, hormones might've urged me to look at girls that way, but being reduced to a drooling pole is a bit too much, and many things (including knowledge which might be vital in the future) can be achieved by being charismatic in a diplomatic way (you know, creating an image for yourself that will make people more sympathetic towards you). Though again, due to the fact that there is exactly one person I would've missed if I happened to be in his position, I would have a reason to do that since on one hand, there is a person I want to get back to, so dying because of some stupid stunt is not something I want, and on the other hand, since nobody knows whether it's even possible to get back or not, trying to appear as a civilised person that is useful to have on your side, but who chooses allies himself based on reasoning, is something one should try. And even if Saito's life is a crappy one, he is kind of under-skilled and doesn't really take any advantage of what he has there until later; not that it is his fault since it's at least partially caused by the rune blocking aspects of his mentality. So to sum it up, he's a wimp with no social skills, and while it partially is excusable, he really should've tried a little better at least in the last area, since runes wouldn't stop him from getting into a stable relationship with Louise if he ever wanted, and it was entirely possible for him to do that (after her awakening, at least) if he stopped being a social retard.

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* I know that Louise's a {{Tsundere}} with a heavy emphasis on tsun and that Saito can act perverted and dumb at times but it JustBugsMe how far Louise takes the abuse. I mean the force with which she dishes out those [[GroinAttack Groin Attacks]], [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]], and [[MegatonPunch Megaton Punches]]...I'm surprised Saito doesn't have any lasting injuries or internal damage. Even [[RanmaOneHalf Akane]] wasn't that violent with Ranma.

* That Lady Orleans was willing to snatch the goblet of poison from young Charlotte/Tabitha's hands and drink it herself was certainly very dramatic and heartbreaking, but I can't help wondering just how necessary. I mean, couldn't she have just as easily, you know, spilled the poison on the floor? Hand it back to the waiter/assassin? Do anything but drink it herself? The first theory that came up to me was that maybe she wanted to keep the act up for whoever might be targeting them so they wouldn't suspect anything, but it falls in front of the fact that she wasn't at all subtle about it. She didn't just gently pick the poisoned glass from Charlotte and calmly drink it herself, she literally snatched it out and downed it in one gulp. Secrecy or keeping up an act when flying out the window either way.

* Why are Sheffield and Joseph so baffled when Saito brandishes a semiautomatic pistol from Earth? It's been shown multiple times that Hilkaginia has firearms (comparable to maybe the 17th or even early 18th centuries), including pistols. Surely it's not that much of a mental leap to assume that something that looks like one, sounds like one, and works like one might indeed be one, even if it's not made of wood?

** The lack of concern over the life left behind at the 'real world' is a common staple in this kind of anime settings. ElHazard is a notable example.

** In other words, she's a CompleteMonster JerkSue.

* Why doesn't Saito seem to care that his life and everything he knew is lost, presumably for good? Yes, the terms of the familiar spell hold back a lot of his homesick-related emotions, but even from a logical or mental standpoint he just seems to accept every aspect of his situation in about five seconds (about the time he's able to understand Louise and the others' language) and his basic reaction to the whole thing isn't "holy shit, this is unbelievable", or "oh god, my family and friends and everything familiar (no pun intended) is now lost to me, how will I survive", or so on. His basic reaction is "Oh well, this is kinda cool, although this bratty chick is annoying. What should I do first?"

*** How is Mind Raping the guy like that NOT considered a Moral Event Horizon from Louise?
*** The only reason it isn't considered a MEH(even though by all rights it should be) is because noone apparently knew about that side effect until they erased the mental restrictions. By then, the author probably thought the readers would all think they would still love each other and want them to be together, and boy was he wrong.

** In other words, she's a Complete Monster Jerk Sue.