A few comments on The Story Thus Far:
Though realizing that this takes place in, mostly, its own continuity, there are certain aspects of the original work that I
feel have been deliberately jettisoned in favor of some orthodox manichean conflict. Specifically, I am referring to the end
of chapter two wherein we are re-introduced to the demon Mara.
Mara has always been, if not a particularly nuanced character, at least one that is not particularly evil per se. This is
true for many of the "demon" characters, in that the most negative consequences of their actions are mostly unintended, or at
least beside the point. Mara's main goal is to send the goddesses permanently back to heaven, which she does by trying to
break up Keiichi and Belldandy. Welsper's goal was to have Belldandy remember him. Hild's . . . well, who can say what
Hild's goal is.
Their actions are antagonistic but usually not malicious. Indeed, the only mention of a "soul" in conjunction with a demon
was during the Queen Sayoko arc, wherein Mara offers power to Sayoko. Sayoko bemusedly asks if it would cost her soul and
Mara replies in the negative, actually surprised that the subject was brought up.
That Mara was trying to "tempt" a man's "soul" from him seems to contradict the spirit (as, of course, canon does not apply)
of the original work.
Indeed, it could be said that a few other things contradict the spirit of the original work. Certainly the characterization
of Belldandy is also another point. In the original work, Belldandy is characterized as someone who will stand up for her
love, firm in her convictions--both points that were present in DW/OMB. Yet it is also clear that *this* Belldandy is also a
disciplinarian, unlike her original counterpart who suppresses her jealousy until it comes out as destructive lightning
bolts; a Belldandy that will demand nothing, only smiling assert her position; an innocent naif untainted by shame (here one
could go on about Original Sin and its nature and so on but one shan't), neither daunted nor indeed noticing of others' hatred or jealousy towards her.
As an aside, it has always struck me that one of the more unique aspects of this 'magical girl' story is the fact that,
unlike many other magical girl stories, this one is not predicated on the magical girls having to keep secret their true
natures on pain of exile and erasure from their friend's memories. It is always Keiichi who insists on their keeping their
natures secret, which the others comply with . . . with varying degrees of success and compliance.
However, as for the second chapter, it is heartening to see this chapter, as it counterpoints nicely to the frankly cliched first chapter. Though enjoyable in itself, there is simply no going around the fact that the first chapter had the cliched 'two heroes, unaware of the other's heroic nature, meet and fight'--a story as old and probably as dated as Gilgamesh and Enkidu (though Enkidu was made by the gods to fight Gilgamesh, my point still stands). Though the tensions are still there, this chapter was filled with enjoyable moments as Doug immerses himself in his new world, a part of the story that I always enjoy. His interactions with the other cast members, his own feelings and emotions about this new world, is a treat.
Yet the real developments in character come from the other protagonist, Chris Angel. It is in this chapter that the apotheosized god is learning that divinity is more than just being able to stop time and travel through clocks. This development, frankly, was long overdue and one wonders how he will confront the fact that he himself is part of something much larger than himself.
One final note--though it is said in the concordance that the idea that the temple the cast lives in is not a Shinto temple was introduced late in the series, that is simply not true. The fact that it was a Buddhist temple was clear from its introduction in chapter three of the manga, where the monk who oversaw the temple was humbled by Belldandy's spiritual purity and left on a pilgrimage to better himself, leaving the temple in Belldandy and Keiichi's care.
-Murmur
Though realizing that this takes place in, mostly, its own continuity, there are certain aspects of the original work that I
feel have been deliberately jettisoned in favor of some orthodox manichean conflict. Specifically, I am referring to the end
of chapter two wherein we are re-introduced to the demon Mara.
Mara has always been, if not a particularly nuanced character, at least one that is not particularly evil per se. This is
true for many of the "demon" characters, in that the most negative consequences of their actions are mostly unintended, or at
least beside the point. Mara's main goal is to send the goddesses permanently back to heaven, which she does by trying to
break up Keiichi and Belldandy. Welsper's goal was to have Belldandy remember him. Hild's . . . well, who can say what
Hild's goal is.
Their actions are antagonistic but usually not malicious. Indeed, the only mention of a "soul" in conjunction with a demon
was during the Queen Sayoko arc, wherein Mara offers power to Sayoko. Sayoko bemusedly asks if it would cost her soul and
Mara replies in the negative, actually surprised that the subject was brought up.
That Mara was trying to "tempt" a man's "soul" from him seems to contradict the spirit (as, of course, canon does not apply)
of the original work.
Indeed, it could be said that a few other things contradict the spirit of the original work. Certainly the characterization
of Belldandy is also another point. In the original work, Belldandy is characterized as someone who will stand up for her
love, firm in her convictions--both points that were present in DW/OMB. Yet it is also clear that *this* Belldandy is also a
disciplinarian, unlike her original counterpart who suppresses her jealousy until it comes out as destructive lightning
bolts; a Belldandy that will demand nothing, only smiling assert her position; an innocent naif untainted by shame (here one
could go on about Original Sin and its nature and so on but one shan't), neither daunted nor indeed noticing of others' hatred or jealousy towards her.
As an aside, it has always struck me that one of the more unique aspects of this 'magical girl' story is the fact that,
unlike many other magical girl stories, this one is not predicated on the magical girls having to keep secret their true
natures on pain of exile and erasure from their friend's memories. It is always Keiichi who insists on their keeping their
natures secret, which the others comply with . . . with varying degrees of success and compliance.
However, as for the second chapter, it is heartening to see this chapter, as it counterpoints nicely to the frankly cliched first chapter. Though enjoyable in itself, there is simply no going around the fact that the first chapter had the cliched 'two heroes, unaware of the other's heroic nature, meet and fight'--a story as old and probably as dated as Gilgamesh and Enkidu (though Enkidu was made by the gods to fight Gilgamesh, my point still stands). Though the tensions are still there, this chapter was filled with enjoyable moments as Doug immerses himself in his new world, a part of the story that I always enjoy. His interactions with the other cast members, his own feelings and emotions about this new world, is a treat.
Yet the real developments in character come from the other protagonist, Chris Angel. It is in this chapter that the apotheosized god is learning that divinity is more than just being able to stop time and travel through clocks. This development, frankly, was long overdue and one wonders how he will confront the fact that he himself is part of something much larger than himself.
One final note--though it is said in the concordance that the idea that the temple the cast lives in is not a Shinto temple was introduced late in the series, that is simply not true. The fact that it was a Buddhist temple was clear from its introduction in chapter three of the manga, where the monk who oversaw the temple was humbled by Belldandy's spiritual purity and left on a pilgrimage to better himself, leaving the temple in Belldandy and Keiichi's care.
-Murmur