#kingoh meta

[mofffun]

The elephant in the room: Rita's Gender

In manga ch12 and ep38, Rita is referred to with female pronouns. ch12 has a little girl call Rita お姉ちゃん (big sister) and ep38 has Minnogan call them 彼女 (she/her). This is canon text.

My argument proposed Rita does not bother correcting people who misgender them. Because their time is too valuable for that. Not that they don't mind, merely as King, they are above letting mere words hurt them.

In the manga, Rita certainly reacts more strongly to being told 'you look like a bad guy' than interested in picking a fight with a little girl. The girl first called to both of them and only Morfonia answered.

For ep38, there's no denial Idol Rita is dressed feminine so naturally Minnogan is led to think that way. Rita has no cause to oppose them or risk breaking their cover and lose his trust. To equate, another major villain, Kamejim, also identify Rita as male in considering them for Himeno's spouse.

My personal interpretation is, as opposed to a troubled age, Rita simply instinctively sacrificed everything personal in name of neutrality, for duty and country, including their gender. It's not like they identify as one thing or another, it's they don't identify with anything but King of Gokkan. Regardless of gender, it does not affect their competence to perform the duty of a sovereign. On a character level, it's more fitting for this person to identify as gender neutral, but I also don't think gender is a big part of their identity.

It's still a meaningful step we receive in Rita a messy but strong female character, it's just the difference how big the step is to have them also represent non-binary/trans people. It is the doylist symbolism they hold, and the authorial intention that I cannot put down.

I looked up "rita gender" on jp tweet and I get the impression they don't think today's episode is firm enough even for those who wished for it to confrim Rita is a girl. And their viewpoints is varied too, Rita's gender can also be "undisclosed" or "(just) Rita". So I feel better there. I overreacted.

All intents and purposes I might just be wishful thinking and they decided on making Rita a girl the moment Yuzuki was cast. Mah, it's been a good 37 weeks.

In the end, Rita's setting is "undisclosed gender". Truthfully I never expected Toei to keep a 37-episode streak, not only never referred to them with female pronouns, to making them more neutral in Chapter 2's styling, and even gave us episode 36.

Say, what about the occassional offscreen use of "she"? In their position, what would you ask Yuzuki/mass media to refer to Rita without official confirmation? The audition criteria are never made known to even Yuzuki herself now we're nearing the show's end. It's understandable she took to the character as the same gender as herself. The production crew doesn't share everything with the cast. Practically, gender issues is, not a safe topic to say the least, Yuzuki's own awareness, and whether higher-ups allow her to say anything about it, is another story. Again, businesses have no obligation to endanger their profit. Pretend Toei has the guts to come out and say Rita is non-binary from the beginning (which they kinda did sneakily), they will be accused of political correctness and using Rita as a gimmick, let alone the PTA complaints. If they stay silent, the same group is gonna say they are cowards. Why not just focus on making a good show and a popular/profitable character?

Under all that, lies the practical factors of Janpese grammar and where Janpanese society stands among conservative to progressive. It's a very complicated issue with histories to consider and I'm surely not the best person to ask as a non-native. But I guess the gist is, it's still not mainstream, so the media stick to the existent language when the official sources never said otherwise.

Another point is, I don't think too much people have the concept of "tiered canon" or "proximity to sources". I'm talking about throwing out EVERY website/interview, just looking at the show, there has been no concrete evidence what gender Rita is. While episodic costumes are feminine, the script consistently refers to them with neutral/masculine language. So you can make an argument for both sides really.

So I would like to end by parroting this excellent argument: may I remind you that cross-dressing is also a sentai tradition?

#kingoh meta #kingohger spoilers #Note that I'm entirely coming from a selfish perspective of whether I win or lose the argument. :p #the later part is my canto rant i reblogged wrongly here this morning #*phew* feels so much better i sort this out so i can enjoy the rest of the episode

[meandmyechoes]

Kingohger ep24

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERICA~!!!!

LOTS happened IRL and I'm near my fking limit. dpeending on kingoh to keep me going at this point

big big shame the kyoto event is cancelled because of the typhoon😭😭 but at least 14/8 Kyushuu is safe so we'll still find out if they let Rita have short hair

--- episode ----

Gira awakened the giant robot "with the people" 😭😭

kamejim still lives huh. a split in opinion in the villains... destroy the earth vs. rule the earth 🤔🤔

wait this is the same global warming plot as g-rosso 😂😐 /jk

is there deeper meaning zooming in on Gokkan…? (like where exactly IS the bugnarok base and how that lead to 27-30?)

Gerojim following up with each sentence after Jeramie cuuute

Jeramie my dear, if you keep up with the "protecting the young is the duty of the elders" I'm gonna be really afraid for you near the 40s

(edit: glad I misheard this: he said "disciplining the young" ok boomer)

busy man fighting and narrating for the show

ohhh he changed the narration "the story of Hell's King and another who'd become king" it's entirely about him now

he's even taken over his teammates' OP shots

the kings asking gira to validate their treaty and. rita. rita-sama. how does moffun marathon help with the melting of your glaciers

dead stare rita 💜

OI does Caucasus Kabuto-jou even HAVE a security if a nine-year-old can get in or is the orphanage some kind of ninja academy instead

ah… Boon... Gira can you just adopt him otherwise the first policy you make as king should've been improving the orphange's welfare huh 😢 but yes more personal vs. duty conflict

it hurts them both for Gira to say "the evil king is not your nii-chan" 🥺

Yanma looking sideways when in fact the other kings are in front of him in his phone

Yanma你嫁過去啦好無😂 賢內助

不満を発散しないと爆発しる

Rita: "If one cannot disperse thier dissatisfaction, they will explode." perfect. 100% what someone who screams random would say

AHHHH Geroujim-chan helping!! Good boy! Jeramie defending him!! Geroujim refuse to leave him alone!!

Takada Masahi being the busiest person running both A & B plot this ep 😂😂

stopping mid-fight to talk... what a jeramie thing to do

ah they really are a shooting stand told you Yanma looks like a scammer lol. Why are the prizes his personal merch...

New Fry Noodle dance just dropped

as a person i'm fulfilled. to be able to hear Rita singing* Moffun's Song on record

what privledge to have the Sovereign/Chief Justice make you shaved ice…

the ice machine making chibi moffun chirps

"chimidoro" + red syrup 😂

Takada-san has a close-up too!

lamp post… smol. helpless. the evil king.

Speaking of which these three aren't royal blood (rita quantum as always but)

The team care about Gira as a person before he is king 😭

this may not be the best storytelling or my fan filter is too heavy at this point but. i really love how the team has this unsaid understanding and respect of each other's position on the (equal!) ground that they are both leaders of their country and had to face the same struggle of duty vs. self

and that kizuna is often reflected in action (instead of words)!

taking Jeramie's speech about "what's written in the past cannot be changed, but the present and the future is still in my hand" with Gira's conversation with Rainoir… the theme of creating your own future ne.

Like, I feel like this episode is Jeramie's movie (where his character exploration was sacrificed for screentime in the actual one)

the cameras! can you be more obvious! the eventual Red-Sixth heart-to-heart is gonna kill me

Gira repeating his philosophy of "I protect the people, the people protect those around them" as echoes to his brother (ep18) and movie's "living in this world is hell (re:ep23)" huh

Jeramie kneeling down below his sight line when Boon is all offenseive 😭😭

Boon, you're both Ohsama Sentai 😭

Jeramie is "The Prophet" not because he actually has prophetic power but the current animosity/ignorance is created by his stories and choice of words 😭😭

Jeramie thinking his wordings is just a statment of fact while others interpret it as an opinion is peak autistic behaviour

his disillusionment *heart hurts* Masahi's acting and also the cameras closing in + replicating 11's angles. He put his bug hand over his face like the spider mask that he stayed behind all those years. the mask that was a gift from his parents. maybe as if to hide, maybe as now he truly understands the bugnarok. whyyy is jerami's character so tragic!! (talk about being named after greek myth characters)!

ah Gira immediately covering Boon!

exclusive full team transform!

ooh Boon held onto his cape!

the gattai took too long and the monster ran away 😂 (FALSE)

minatures my love!!

red gira i missed you

minatures my love!!

ahh high five!!

history repeats itself...

formation fights formation fights!!

Souchou are you flying with tonbo wings !?!

the b&w shippers!

(but Kaguragi's movie scene about betrayal!)

His middle name is Idomonarak?? (namesake)

(edit: with Himeno having one as well, are the kings' middle name gonna be a story? or had a story but not included to save screentime?)

I'm really glad they kept Jeramie's weakness in family matters (not as much a "lack of strength" but something that can easily persuade him since he values it) because i'm also very weak in family matters… that's one of the reason i grew a liking to him

i objected to yanma at the same time as gira. thank you gira 😭

"I'll do it all by myself. Only then can I be the King who Rules Over All." STOP YOU'RE IN A SENTAI S.E.N.T.A.I we join forces and have NAKAMA didn't we went through with this whole arc with rita (at least in my head) 😭

but that's a very Sixth thing to do. um *nods*.

Eighth-chan!!! NOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOO there's no way back once you go giant!

I salute you. You are a good villain.

Jeramie reaching out with his bug hand

"Akarui" any connection to Deathnarok's comment looking into Gira's eyes in ep10?

bro I love this episode but I didn't expect it would be because of the main plot part and not the silly matsuri part?!?

they are furthering the angle that everyone involved in ep20's relief operation is a member of the Taskforce 😭

totally forgot to take note of earcuff-chan. too distracted by plot and expecting tomorrow

+ if they have the whole supporting cast here is this is probably what they shot on Yuhei-san's birthday (19 July)

ep25:

KABE... KABE... KABEDON??!?!!?!?!?!?!

#kingohger #kolb #kingohger spoilers #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

preliminary conclusions about Suzume in ep45:

It's entirely the wording.

I don't have a problem with having one domestic-driven woman in an ensemble cast like kingoh's. The problem is when it was Suzume, someone who was so far written as cunning, ambitious and endurant, the transition needs a strong base. Right now, it looks like Suzume is just going with what the men in her life wanted, as we could only interpret she made the choice to stay behind the camera.

I believe Suzume's confession should've been motivated by her sense of home and country. She should've expanded on what a "woman of Toufu" means. Instead of complying to "her brother"'s will, it should've been as a citizen of Toufu, her king trusted her, and she'll gladly take up the mantle even if it means sacrificing her personal happiness.

Her choice to stay by Racules could've come from "home before country". She has found her temple - wants to build her own temple - prove herself in a personal domain before becoming responsible for all families in Toufu. Then it could even tie into Gira's "everyone's a small king" philosophy.

Or she could've rejected the throne because of her ambition. She has wanted the throne for herself, but she knew there's a reason Iroki chose Kaguragi instead of her. She wanted power, but she also wanted her lover. She knew she had to choose between her country or a traitor for a husband, and after years of deception, she doesn't want to lie to the people that she did all this for in the first place. Or that it's her redemption for letting Dugded loose during the six months of the kings' absence, as Queen of a puppet Shugoddom.

This is the elephant in the room. I have more regarding the episode's pacing and contrasts, how the theme of inheritance was handled, as well as Suzume's trajectory in consideration of the whole series. I have nitpicks about both eng subs so an extra paragraph about translation. I want to respond to some other angles but don't know when for now.

#the wording that 110% gives off 'a man wrote this' #not to personally attack him just saying a simple change such as #'i want to build my own family' #is better than 'becoming someone's bride' #Takamina said he wrote Suzume to be a girly character and 'i want to be bride of someone i truly loved' is about as stereotypically girl #as you can get especially in japan #note: my proposal is extermely chinese-culture-based #ko45 #suzume dybowski #kingohger #kingoh meta #don't really want to tag it as meta because i jumped so many steps but um. might be 2 weeks until i come back to this

[mofffun]

I just really love this Kamihori brand of "rather than the speaker I'd like to film the reaction" here. You get the Dybwoskis's banter blending into the peaceful music, yet their excitement breaks through it.

The camera pulling back from the people, to the king surrounded by the sakura of renewal, to Toufu's symbols: the rice bowl for food and behind it Toufu's emblem, to the wide shot of the environment - the land itself. So much livelihood and an "everyday happiness" for this moment, this place, in another time.

#kingohger #ko37 #video #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

Suzume Dybowski is a terrifying woman (i love her)

Suzume was the one that pushed him to take up the palace apprenticeship. Suzume was the one who painted the regicide in the righteous rebel. right there. on the spot. because she knew her brother is too honest to kill, but the people needed a hero, not another traitor.

She was ready to revolt that night, lest those who could't fight back die in hunger.

If Kaguragi used to be an open book, who but the hostage came up with an exchange treaty that benefited her nation and put herself in reach of "the strongest country's" leadership...?

#i had the creeps half of the episode. mind-blown. speechless. #i made a voice note but i need to digest the ep proper #i probably won't have time to liveblog tonight so I want to say this before I went to bed #and when I wake up idol rita cease to be real #ko37 #kingohger spoilers #kingohger #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

Translator's note on suzuracles post-wedding dialogue

It's hard to direct-translate Suzume's tone indicators to English so I could only do my best to imitate her playful tone at the end of each sentence (even though the content/first half is serious she kept the lovestruck persona ending it in "wah~!")

This passage is a bit difficult to me so I checked the dictionary twice. I spent a long time on Suzume's last line. I can't be sure if it is i-u-hou (the speaker) or i-u-kata (the tone+diction) but combining Suzume's tone I think it's the latter one. And, "tsumi". I'm aware of the better-known from W as "sins" but the word has duality and what is sinful may not be illegal, what is illegal may not be sinful (off-track). And we are talking about a morally grey character.

Analysis

The most intriguing suzuracles to me is, they might be the closest in position in terms of sacrificing their personal self for their country, to present a public persona yet they could never confide in anyone, not even to each other, especailly not, even though they knew the other is in the same position as themself. Yet, they have lived under the same roof with each other longer than they did with their own family. That real? not real? love into hatred? hatred into love? into mutual understanding? The quantum state of it is the most captivating to me for them as foils.

I think Suzume is conscious in keeping referring to Racules as "Racules-sama" instead of in second person to keep a distance between them. Let alone "anata" in the "[my] husband" sense. It's okay to love "Racules-sama", it's easy to play the innocent captive of "Racules-sama", but she has seen Racules. Late at night, in between schemes, behind polite threats. Can one fully hate a worthy opponent?

observations:

ラ 「間に合わせだ。売ったところで二束三文にしかならない」

ス 「私を何だと思ってらっしゃるの！？私とラクレス様の愛の結晶に、値段などつけられませんわ」

Racules is testing Suzume. He has no need to play games with her. He knew she was there for Toufu to profit from the start (alt-shugod aid to Toufu in wake of Wrath of Gods).

Translated: Hold on to the ring (game-changer item)

ラ 「…時に君の正気を疑うことがある」

ス 「無理もありません。ラクレス様への愛が、私を狂わせるんですもの！」

ラ 「愛ではなく、憎しみだろう。スズメ・ディボウスキ」

Racules is letting himself show, if a little, if vulnerability, to gain her trust? Suzume DYBOWSKI. DYBOWSKI. THIS MAN CALLED HIS NEWLY WEDDED WIFE HER FAMILY NAME. He knows Suzume will always put Toufu/Dybowski before him or Shugoddom, but she's the only one he can count on now. Because she said it herself, her devotion (to "Racules-sama") is mad unwavered.

ラ 「国のため、道具にされ続け、それでも正気でいられる道理は何だ」

Convince me Racules is not talking about himself. Do, try.

ス 「…トウフの女は、地に足ついてこそ。信ずる道を、踏み外したりはしませんわ」

This line is so hardcore?? More importantly, I can totally see Kamura-san's delievery. Quiet at first, the cold in her eyes, then the naive switch grin at the end!

ラクレスがふっと微笑む。 ラ 「やはり度し難いな」

Suzume managed to make Racules smile! It doesn't specify if he was amused or relieved Suzume caught his metaphor. This is what we are talking about the actor filling in for the script. Then Yano-san's performance can be interpreted a thousand ways based on each viewer! A more literal translation of 度し難い is "beyond help". I think it can also mean the person is beyond salvage as in nothing can change their determination (positive). Racules is talking about himself too! if wryly!

Translated: "you are part of my plan. don't ever change."

ラ 「その指輪は、太陽を浴びて輝く。目を焼かれぬよう、気をつけろ」

Racules-sama, can you be more obvious. Put the wedding ring under the sun to read my secret message, just like I did with what Vetaria left me in my spin-off. The fire imagery!! (re: inferno, re: takamina's "he who shines on the world must burn himself to do so" tweet!!)

#racules husty #suzume dybowski #kingohger #kingoh meta #mon mon #good night #i keep telling myself 'nah it's just turn off the month all the Racules hype is just part of regular monthly new info hype' #not Takamina joining in on the fun too! #but yeah racules suzume the one who closest yet furthest #i don't mind if they ever loved each other but theis relationship is SO intriguing to me #long post

[mofffun]

Racules, Kaguragi and Gira's trial under new info from Rita Manga ch19 and TV ep43

The ingredients and method to "Rainbow Jururira" is only known to Corsus and Racules. Gira named the dish. -> [inference] Racules himself put Rainbow Jururira on the record afterwards so Gira can use this as proof to reclaim his birthright and left a clue for anyone investigating Gira's true identity.

Rita learnt of Rainbow Jururira while following Gira in Ishabana (independent of Racules's influence).

Rita investigated the Shugoddom kitchen records suspecting Gira's connection to royalty.

Racules also wanted Rita to reach the connection and declare Gira innocent, otherwise Gira would be put to death on the "international invasion" charge. Since he could no longer contain Gira under the "treason" charge that he could insist as an internal Shugoddom matter after Kaguragi betrayed his wishes by handing Gira to Gokkan instead of bringing him back.

Rita saw Suzume's figure at the royal kitchen -> Assuming it's not coincidental, Suzume was free to roam the castle and spied on Rita on her own/for Toufu. Racules need not send her because he let the judge in himself and could just send a guard after Rita, and Duga did report to him their progress.

Kaguragi is aware of Rita's visit to the kitchen -> Suzume or Racules told him.

Had Kagu not involved Rita by reporting, Gira would need to be sent back to Shugoddom and Racules simply has to lock him up and continue with his original plan. But Kagu didn't know Racules's plan then and sending Gira back means Shugoddom would have King-Ohger all to itself. But by sending Gira to Gokkan, Kagu betted on the chance that Gira would be found innocent and released, so Toufu could have another chance of getting Gira and King-Ohger on their side.

#kingohger #kingohger spoilers #rita manga #ko43 #kingoh meta #had a 4d chess moment with myself there

[mofffun]

All jokes aside, it's refershing to see Kingohger playing the "dark fairy tales" trope straight. The Cinderella I grew up with had the stepsisters chopping up their feet so

It's also a commentary on how adults and children see differently, not unlike how Rita ask the children as character witness for Gira instead of the self-centered adults. The children need a colourful cartoon that tells them to stand up against evil. It's not that deep.

But for the other fairy tale, the Legend of Kingohgers, you have to dig deeper to see Jeremy's story erased in the lines. Gira said the kids would play house after listening to the legend. What would the representation of a mixed hero do had Jeremy's story been written in?

Would there be parallels between these two story-within-a-story? Why do we think Moffun is not suited for children because of "violence" but the five kings eradicating another race is?

In ep11, Himeno said although stories are lies, beautiful narratives can bring people happiness. Gira concluded stories are neccessary because it has the power to show people their dreams. There's something to be said here about the duality of fiction...

#it kind of echoes with what i think of the aidoru industry... it's a narrative that both sides ackowledge and benefitted from #so who are we to say it's 'unethical'/wasteful just because it's not 'true'? #kingohger #Moffun #kingoh meta #sw shikaku... a tweet likens the moffun clan to ewoks... i guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[mofffun]

The other kings all have something that connect them to their land thus rulership:

Gira: the children

Yanma: his life's work

Himeno: bloodline/family and the people's admiration

Kaguragi: agriculture - the land itself

What is it for Rita and Gokkan but, duty? And you come out today to tell me Rita might not even be Gokkan-native???

#kingohger #kingohger spoilers #ko38 #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

you know how Rita is usually shot with just the left eye or off center to make them look as shaped as possible? There's none of that in the movie. Rita's shots are eye-level or above and frontal that you can see their whole face→person clearly.

I think it built on the main series well with Rita wanting to go home asap and their sense of responsibility, and we get a little material on them using moffun not just as a companion, but as a substitute of the animosity towards them. Turns out they do care and it does bother them.

But you also see a new side of them because you literally witness them going through a sensory overload/panic attack (← terms that people view Rita as neurodivergent use). In general public terms it would be the competent judge being the one that needs help this time. It wasn't just about Rita having the courage to face it or the will to push through it, but they needed a new angle and to actually listen instead of taking it all on their own. It's not something they can solve on their own no matter how strong they are, and it's not a shame to seek help.

The ghosts actually wanted to tell Rita "thank you". Rita's description of them is more precisely (as one can without subs) is "People who died at Gokkan". Rita meeting past death row prisoners is a natural expectation, but I wasn't sure they'd outright confirm Rita has "killed" even by legal means. I thought they took it to mean the victims to bypass that. Or it could've been people who served their sentence then died naturally? They are thanking Rita for passing a fair judgement?

But which way you look the most direct meaning of it is death row prisoners and even Rita themself thinks so that's why they are scared. And if even death row prisoners are thanking them that means Rita did a good job passing out verdicts 🥹

Or it could just be all 3. There were a LOT of ghosts.

#kingohger spoilers #kingohger movie #kingohger #rita kaniska #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

"the levels of respect and distance Yanma holds for different people" Rita!!

Yanma who's secretly the one that knows the most of Rita's secrets!!

Rita who is actually quite willing to work with Yanma!!

The two person who no one thought are friends but somehow are because they share secrets!! trust because you're capable and not because we're think differently but take on our problems head first. Definitely not because we're friends or anything like that

(remember 7/24 when Aoto boasts about being the first person to witness the Rita Scream? Now they had this moment in the film I really wish the main series pick up the dynamic from here and give them a collab episode!)

#i don't think they realize in which ways they're similar #team wings #kingohger spoilers #fastforward to hime rita wedding and Yanma giving a speech half drunk (at beer soda) #'I told Himeno why'd you go for a crazy like that and all she can say is how cool Saibannchou is and pout at me' #'then i remember maybe their tendency for violence go together' #kingohger #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

after some sleep, i think i grew more tolerant of the episode. Taking my overreaction to one single word and the existent devil's deal of Rita's role as the expositior out, the plot for Rita themself, I don't hate - and say I actually felt relieved it's still the same Rita.

That plot alone (which somehow became the B-plot): Rita goes undercover (to their riducule) to gain information about the Galaticinsects, speaks of Rita's immovability in face of what's really important.

From the side, we can see their determination is to such a degree and how having made "friends" changed them since the story started - instead of backtracking to repeat who they already was (especially when they had flashbacks already the last two focus eps).

Despite their costumes, it's still the same, serious, foucsed, analytical, capable Rita. How they present themself, is not going to change who Rita Kaniska is. Even "losing" the job of Chief Justice, they are still King of Gokkan that fights to free that country, because that's what should be done.

It's a promise they made, to never fall with the sky, or shake with the ground. It's not about a reward of popularity, but their mission.

#so my conclusion is it's the director's fault???😂 I literally was never said one bad thing about him all the years I knew him KR EA #Mah self-indulgent with company budget. it's ok we all been there. thank you kmh #kingohger #kingohger spoilers #ko38 #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

There's definitely a conversation to be have about presenting such two polarizing image of "the heroine" in Himeno and Rita in the same work, by the same studio, in the same year. Yet, it's one thing to yearn for messy female characters and interpret Rita as a woman, and another to purposefully ignore the text and deny a theme of kingoh in front and behind the scenes being "diversity". Anyone who wishes to diminish the symbolic meaning of Rita being the first gender neutral/non-binary ranger in Sentai history, I won't have it.

Say, Is my blorbo a good role model for young children? Probably not. But their character arc was always about breaking down (same can be say for kingoh characters as a whole where no one is what they seems.) It was about showing that one doesn't need to take on everything alone, and asking for help is not a weakness. In that Rita is a bad example at handling their own stress. An example telling kids what NOT to do. In that Rita is not a role model for kids, but a projecting character for them.

And with Himeno, there's the age-old glass ceiling. The first step of creating a heroine is to make them strong, cool, but Himeno is also required to be cute. She is asked to be both the hero and the heroine at the same time. While any "cuteness" of the male members is a bonus. I feel like I'm beating a dead horse because this phenomena is not unique to Himeno. And starring opposite Rita, she is asked to be even more "perfect". In that her response is, I want it all. I can do it all. And I'm doing it all because I want to. While IRL production asked that of Erica, in-universe Himeno holds "cool" as important as "cute", conversely, she will disregard her appearance to protect, and this is reiterated in ep36, where she defines beauty in one's way of being.

#kingohger #kingoh meta #rita kaniska #himeno ran #i wrote this yesterday there should be more i need to check my voice notes

[mofffun]

[Rambling] Rita + Yanma ep28

tbh i'm still on the fence if Rita-in-Yanma feels a wee bit ooc* but i've been telling myself it's their stress reponse. Bet they still have paperwork from last week's prison break.

*i don't like using this term casually because it feels like i'm closing myself off from learning a new side of this person.

The production blog said the director was aiming for an exaggerated impersonation from from the cast, so it's understandable Rita's most memeable traits are shown. In that regard I think Yuzuki played a more convincing Yanma than Aoto a convincing regular version of Rita. Or maybe my Yuzuki rose-glasses are too tinted 😅

Arresting people left and right can be very easily rationalized as trying to regain control by sticking to what they know best in a wildly free nation like N'kosopa. NGL I might've been projecting but I really wanted Rita to feel accepted and loved in N'kosopa instead of the two making a mess of each other's nation (ahem Watanabe Aoto you set me up). That said, their rivalry is somehow believable because it's the two of them?

Where I felt most out of place was when Rita pulled down their mask to smirk at Jeramie after the team's first defeat in act 1. I could still get behind "let's train, and beat that guy" but Judge, are you being a little too delighted to be able to take on N'kosopa's crime boss?? Guess I'm falling into the flawless-ification of my blorbo. They can be a bit indulgent in arresting people, as a treat. It's Yanma's face now anyway, who cares if anyone sees that.

(another point I saw pointed out last week already was, Aoto rolled his eyes during Rita Scream, but Rita always screamed with their eyes shut.)

I think another angle is Rita allows themself to be a bit indulgent, a bit less impartial, BECAUSE they are using Yanma's body now. Maybe they are trying their best to hold up to Yanma's persona as well, and the mass arrest was AFTER that failed. They were trying to find a gym but the subjects just wouldn't leave them alone lol. It definitely would drive them crazy how unsensible devoted the N'kosopans are for their Prez after he sent them to jail lol.

+ i need to figure out the timezones and propose WHEN during the day they switched. Because that's definitely not like Himeno waking up since they don't want to build new bedroom assets. My bet is Rita WAS snoozing curled up on the court bench 😏 (their eyes were just too heavy on the way back... just for a while I'll just sit for a while...) Yanma's probably up catching up on the tech development the past two years. It's not exactly like his "palace" has a window that tells what time it is outside right.

But one thing I really appreciate is Yanma zipping the mask back on after act 1. Off screen, it's every fan asking for more unmasked Rita time and I'm sure Yuzuki wants that too; On screen, since Rita said the Moffun is something they asked for, the two must've contacted over phone before they all met up at Gira's. So if concealing their face is so important and I'm sure Yanma would've been happy to comply, if not under a little help from a contempt charge, that means Rita allowed him to stay unmasked and Yanma zipped it back up out of respect after the initial teasing (if not also out of praticality of Gokkan's cold 😆) - no wait. wouldn't it be more likely Rita zipped it back up after they said his body is useless 😆 wait there're too many if's!!

Besides the stress of not being in your own body, the fast pace and high technology of N'kosopan life might've messed them up a bit too. In the most straightforward interpretation of Rita's confusion when asked to pass a cable in the movie and the general lack of digitalization in Gokkan, it shows that Rita is probably unfamiliar if not bad with all those flashing neon lights. At the very least, the background noise of snowfall versus yankii brawls is already very different 😣

all aside, team wings, as much fun as the actors were having, IS the C-plot this week. I have faith next week's gonna pick it up (precedent being 13→19 and 18→20) or at least have balanced screentime each nation (like ep10, 25). Shiokara and Morfonia are the more eye-catching reatiners and if Wings already had beef over who to arrest and release, the attempted regicide charge is only gonna further worsen the relationship between the two countries?! I said these two forget it the next day like playground fights but it's not that easy this time now. Who could guess Shiokara's "internatioal incident!" murmur came true 😰

#team wings #kingohger #kingoh meta #yanma gast #rita kaniska #ko28 #mon mon

[mofffun]

the way that 30 tastes different is not just that it's "predictable" or I overhyped myself, it doesn't feel as smooth a progress to the emotional climax than say, 16. It feels a little bit "not enough" while devoting the whole episode to a single plot for the first time in kingoh.

I swear I don't dislike the episode as much as it sounds. There're just some camera language that I feel a little foreign because I'm too preconceived on the director change (and I have Rita tunnel vision on always).

for example, I'd put Rita and Himeno's conversation in the autopsy room. so Rita can show their process of grief + priorities while explaining the eye. show a little more of them beginning to shake or lose confidence because not even Karras can stop the culprit, or all they had preapred to tell Karras is now gone. (himeno can be examining and Gira calls them back out again). I want it to be more significant that Rita allowed/chose to share a vulnerable, personal moment in front of Himeno.

it almost feels like it's a Rita episode, but Himeno is the driving force the entire time. That's not true, I know, Rita is just passive in social situations and it's about Himeno's influence on them. Wrath of Gods is Himeno's to avenge too (and Rita being the one to absolve her of the hatred, following 14). In the first place, these two have very different definition of friendship anyway. It's not a very fair comment because this episode is also about how much they let her in and where they draw the line.

p.s. I feel Rita and Grodie's standoff is shot a little underwhelming. It's just the composition really. I'd want to see it from Himeno's low angle. Or a wider shot between them. Perhaps.

((´・ω・`))

saw another take that complained Rittan is nothing but scream and moffun which - i (kind of can't) disagree but also yeah Rita is kind of a "simple" person like that... They were raised with a heavy responsibility since young and work was all there was for them. Their duty is their self-worth and they never had external affirmation either. In a way they are very much "a child" in the modern derogatry colloquism of that word. A child thrown in to the real world and had to grow up too fast and still growing.

I think a lot of Rita actually lies in the unsaid because they refuse to open up. it's in the body language and intonation and maybe if you don't grew a liking to them you won't see something so so hidden detail. so yeah... i do agree they have all the coolest anime tropes but on top of that, they were given a new meaning to us socially withdrawn kids - and adults out there, that you don't have to do it alone.

#good night #ko30 #kingoh meta

[mofffun]

taking Jeramie's speech about "what's written in the past cannot be changed, but the present and the future are still in my hand" with Gira's conversation with Rainoir… the theme of creating your own future ne. I feel like this episode is Jeramie's movie (where his character exploration was sacrificed for screentime in the actual one)

Jeramie is "The Prophet" not because he actually has prophetic power but the current animosity/ignorance is created by his stories and choice of words 😭😭 Jeramie thinking his wordings is just a statment of fact while others interpret it as an opinion is peak autistic behaviour

Jeramie's disillusionment! *clutches heart* Masahi's acting and the cameras closing in! He put his bug hand over his face like the spider mask that he stayed behind all those years. the mask that was a gift from his parents. maybe as if to hide, maybe as now he truly understands the bugnarok. whyyy is Jeramie's character so tragic!! (talk about being named after greek myth characters)!

#jeramie brasieri #kingohger #ko24 #kingohger spoilers #kingoh meta