Persona 4 The Animation Episode 7

This weeks theme REALLY delves into something I don't come across often in anime(or any other media for that matter). And that would be one's sexual orientation. Lets face it, in both reality and media, homo-sexuality has a certain social stigma attached to it. I myself don't have any problem with who someone likes as I barely have enough time to care about my own life let alone somebody else's and don't feel it is my right to criticize someone when I have my own share of faults. It's a topic that rarely comes up, and when it does always generates a bit of "talk". The only video games and shows that give this topic justice and an honorable portrayal(or even come to mind) is Indigo Prophecy, True Blood, Tokyo Godfathers, and Milk with Sean Penn. It doesn't comd up often enough, so when it does I really find it interesting. That THAT show or game is willing to touch which most everyone else won't. It adds another fold to an already dynamic narrative! So with that said I found this episode of Persona impressive for taking steps in the right direction but never really capitalizing on it...

While never DIRECTLY stated that Kanji is homo-sexual there are implications but ultimately it's up to the viewer. Personally I think that Kanji is really just confused by how he should feel with affection. His Persona grossly twists his emotions to extremes like indicating how Kanji feels towards the opposite sex. Kanji has just had bad experiences with women though hopefully he doesn't give up on them. It was nice to see the subject touched upon though if only the surface.

So BADA$S!

Amagi was pretty cool, getting to see her in action with the whole Persona summoning thing I loved it! That scene with Sato and Amagi in slime and the two boys just look'n at them with their minds full of dirtiness haha, they didn't even offer to help but instead wanted to film it for when the imagination isn't enough.

Now there were two cop outs I felt in the episode. One was when on the velvet room Morgan or something like that and The sharp nosed master offer they're help when Naru is ready and needs it. My thinking was this help would come WAAAAY later! Little did I know it would happen just 17 min's later THAT episode haha! Not that I'm complaining THAT much. I mean those snake hydra like beasts that took out Kanji Persona in it's uncontrolled form was cool but I wouldn't have minded more of a build up in music and animation and of how the beast is formed. Imagine if everyone had the "wild card" ability, they'd be pretty stacked on talent. My second complaint is the characters' interaction with Kanji. They mostly just provided us with the stereotypes of how people interact with the idea of homo-sexuality that are already out there. The awkwardness Naru and Hana showed towards seeing another guy that it is implied likes guys and them being immature about it, not wanting anything to do with seeing Kanji like that leaving it to the ladies, just proving how Kanji already felt about people being judgmental. The girls really were no different being happy he'd have no interest in them and Sato being annoyed by how Kanji's Persona acted and everyone bringing out their Personas instead to shut up alternate Kanji. Now I'll admit it was hilarious AND that Kanji was acting annoying as that was kind of over-done in regards to how over dramatic Kanji was acting. Still I wouldn't mind sacrificing the comedy and characters' reactions in favor of truly delving into the issues someone confused with their sexual orientation would experience. Still, a step in the right direction. And at the least we now have Kanji on board with the team to stop the perpetrator from throwing people in the television.

-Relic P.S. How would you like that big feller looming over your bed while you sleep?

Persona 4 the Animation Episode 4

It definitely started quick. We find Naru gets ANOTHER power! I didnʼt play the game so 

Iʼm not sure how many Personas he gets to have. Sato is immediately taking the lead 

and slicing stuff up with her new found Persona. I donʼt know when but sheʼs got the 

glasses now too(the have some rainbow stripes on the side)! Those glasses make 

everything better I tell you! The action is a little more action-y, the sexiness a bit more.... 

sexy. I love it, its like the initiation thing, you know your a bada$s when you got Teddie 

giving you some glasses. Now Iʼd like to quickly mention my thinking when they run into 

Amagi at the top of the stairs... What was Amagi doing(her Persona version that is)? 

Why didnʼt Amagi just send those tongue monsters before and then just wait in her 

Persona form for the group? Was she just sitting up there with her back turned JUST so 

she could get caught with her pants down(figuratively of course)? I think most people 

donʼt think twice but when you have that video game moment where they give a speech 

as your hanging off a ledge giving just enough time for the tables to turn...It never made 

sense! Just go over there step on there fingers! Albeit, I acknowledge this doesnʼt make 

for good entertainment BUT Iʼm just saying...... 

Well we get some of Amagiʼs back story which was QUITE nice, I must say. I was 

REALLY loving that bird cage permutation and how it was a parallel of how Amagi felt 

deep down. Hasnʼt everyone at some point felt like they were suffocating from their own 

life. Feeling destined to be something you donʼt want. Amagi dinʼt ask to be the 

successor of an inn yet here she is, born to here fate. Nobody wants to feel the 

constraint of something like that, to feel the pressure and forced burdens of other 

people. At the least Amagi could commiserate with the bird she found right?! Well no. 

That bird refused to be caged in and went to soar into its OWN sky and horizon, while Amagi was left behind. She was probably angry that she wasnʼt needed like she finally 

felt she was(which she is to Sato but a lack of confidence and being misunderstood, you 

can see the trouble this can cause). At some point co-dependence can be the death of 

someone. Amagi wanted to be saved by someone but that person couldnʼt even save 

them selves. Sato and Amagti need each other to stand which is fine as long as it isnʼt 

dysfunctional like it was(Satoʼs jealousy and Amagiʼs lack of self worth, bad combo 

though their friendship looked good on paper Iʼll admit). 

I like the point Naru made. Even though Sato couldnʼt do everything and be Amagiʼs 

prince(Idolm@ster episode 17 anyone?), Sato genuinely loved Amagi truly cherishing 

her friendship regardless of the jealousy she occasionally walks hand in hand with. Sato 

tried too hard to save Amagi instead of letting Amagi save her self! The fisherman, teach 

a man to fish he can feed himself for life, proverb comes to mind. It was really a very 

touching and morally intricate episode if you were willing to dig deep and glean the 

philosophic lessons it subtly provided. I love it! 

also liked the implications of needing to accept even the negative, and not leave 

anyone behind or forget about them. I think the tortured Persona souls when I think 

about this. Sure they seem terrible but think about it. Theyʼre all alone and hated. 

Wouldnʼt that warp your sense of morality too? The personas are also very childlike, 

they just want to be loved and needed too. And really these Personas are just the 

characteristics in yourself that you find undesirable and shove away deep in the 

subconscious. How can you love others when you donʼt completely love yourself? And 

by loving your Personas and accepting them you can then begin to love and accept 

others. It was very cathartic episode and when Amagi hugged her Persona who was like 

a child full of superficial problems that just needed a spanking(or round house kick of 

fire) and a good talking to, to reform, my heart squirmed(in a good way).

On a lighter note, Narukami got his facial expression all the way to clumsy, hell he even 

smiled in this episode! I like the interactive eye catches the show has. As for Amagi, 

sheʼs actually quite hilarious, she just had to be comfortable with herself and everyone 

else, in fact sheʼs down right dorky(in a good way) and i liked this other side of Amagi 

that no one sees too much beside I suppose Sato. With everyone in their quadrio clan 

with their own Personas and newfound iron will Iʼm excited for next week!  I wonder why 

Naru never had to fight his Persona though..... Hmmm? he IS a bada$s I guess!

-Relic

DISASTER!!!!

O.k. This, yes even this little heads up is taking awhile, not too mention uncomfortable. O.k. I recently was absolutely furious. I am incredibly friendly but even I have my limit. Every four to five years, like clockwork, last time it was a fist fight, I was mess'n about with friends, angry a little. I was breaking stuff with my fists and then punched a brick pillar cemented in to the ground after even making my lip bleed. Well long story short I put a crack in my knuckle all the way along finger. Also chipped a bone and cracked a bone in half with an inch of room. I had a feeling it was broken because I got sick too but I regard myself as a very strong bada$s so I didn't complain much but here I am. 4-6 maybe 8 weeks of recovery. Basically I'm f*cked. No blogging much for me. BUT I maybe got some help till I'm better. And I'll update time to time lol. I'll throw some picks up of my cast later, wish I could show x-ray! Long story short, master yourself and be with friends who might stop your blood rage! Ha my next post in honor of my injury will be about characters in media like movies and anime that calm the bada$s down like in Hulk and berserk and Kamisama dolls exactly what my buds didn't lol! Ok peace y'all!!!!

-Relic P.S. This took awhile to post.... Good luck to me