This is something I hope will become an ongoing feature...a page dedicated to challenging cliches in anime fanfic and general fandom. More specifically, I'll be looking at things I think are misinterpretations of canon, or fannish inventions that are so commonly accepted that they limit creativity. Why this title? Why not "The Misconception Page" or "DadyTengu Explains it All" or "DT Complains Again"? Well, two things. One, I want to keep things light, so I thought a quote of one of Sam Goldwyn's famous inventive uses of English would be appropriate. Two, The point of this page isn't to discourage writers, but to encourage them to do interesting and different things from what's been done before. All this said...3. 2. 1. Let's jam.
The series that got me started on fanfic.
#1:Ryouko is overwhelmingly more powerful than Aeka, even with only one gem.[OAV]
This is a pretty common one, usually used in fics in the form of some tremendous show of power that points up the pirate's great forbearance in not having already killed the Juraian princess. However, the scene usually quoted to support this idea really doesn't. In OAV episode 6, Washuu says, roughly, that "If she [Ryouko] used her full power, Aeka would be burned up in the energy backwash." However, Aeka is exhausted and possibly unconscious at the time, and in no condition to use her force-field powers, while Ryouko is wearing one real and one replicated gem. With the real gem alone, they are quite probably equal--they are certainly equal in simple physical strength, as episode 7's shoving match demonstrates.
#2:Before Yousho, Ryouko was continuously under Kagato's control, and would have been quite a nice sort otherwise.[OAV]
This is common in Ryouko-biased fiction and commentary--the idea that the fierce space pirate was nothing more than a blameless puppet to Kagato, and has no experience before she came to earth other than as an unwilling weapon. This does quite a disservice to her. Despite her occasionally disturbing dependence on Tenchi, her attitude is, by and large, worldly, playful, wild, and quite sufficiently disrespectful of others and their property to have believably been a pirate; in short, it is hardly that of a martyrly pseudo-Ifurita. There is also direct evidence in the matter. In episode 2, we see a smiling mugshot of her with normal eyes, taken during her piratical career. Contrast this to the times she has been under Kagato's direct control: In Aeka's recollection, her eyes glow red; when he commands her to attack Tenchi-tachi in episode 5, she becomes a green-eyed berserker. In the mugshot, she is also wearing her green and pink costume; what reason would Kagato have to dress her in anything but her self-generated battlesuit? In short, it seems more probable that she was free, wreaking havoc of her own will, until needed, at which point she would be activated and given instructions much as she was in episode 5.
#3:Ryouko and Aeka unambiguously hate each other.
This one hardly needs me to attack it. Theirs is the most complex of any of the character relationships in the various Tenchi series. Repeatedly, the two of them join against a common threat, and even show a great deal of respect in the process. Ryouko saves Aeka's life in OAV episode 6. Oddly enough, though, the nature of their conflict provides an even better indication of how false this idea is than these moments of cooperation. They hardly avoid each other's company, and seem to greatly enjoy their arguments and exchanges of taunts. The whole business is usually quite playful, and very oddly directed--each wants to prove herself better, but as much or more to the other than to Tenchi. I do believe them to be attracted to each other, but I will leave this particular can of worms unopened until a later date.
#4:Tenchi is the immediate successor to the Juraian throne.
Well, in the OAV series, this one is actually arguable, but the evidence is that Aeka will succeed to the throne when Azusa dies. Yousho left Jurai in order that Aeka could become the heir, as he knew his Earth ancestry would cause some of the nobility to back her instead of him when Azusa died, leading to war. It only stands to reason that Tenchi, three-quarters Terran, would be even more divisive. Also, there is the issue of Azusa's actions in episode 13. His insistence that Aeka marry Seiryo, or rather anyone but Tenchi, would make little sense if Tenchi were destined to take power with or without her.
In the TV series, it is unequivocally true that Aeka is the next in line--she assumes rulership after the death of the usurper Kagato.
#5:Kiyone unambiguously hates Mihoshi.
#6:Kiyone needs someone/wants Tenchi.
Now we come to one of the classics of one-dimentional characterisation. Mihoshi may irritate Kiyone, Kiyone may indeed be distressed at first to find out she is alive, but once they are reunited, she has definite moments of fondness for the airheaded officer. In addition, in either the first TV series or Shin Tenchi, Kiyone does have her chance to advance, free of the blonde, and finds herself missing her partner rather badly.
More specific information will be forthcoming when I get the Tenchi Universe DVDs.
Well, people who use this one think they're being nice by giving the series's most conspicuous victim character a chance at happiness with someone, but they're still doing her a rather great disservice. She may catch more than her share of bad luck, may be frequently rather frazzled, but she holds up admirably without someone in particular to lean on. It seems that some fanfic authors have a problem with the idea of an independent female character. As for the second half of this, there is quite simply no evidence that Kiyone in the original TV series or Manatsu no Eve has any interest whatever in Tenchi, and to invent some simply takes away from her uniqueness.
Funny fantasy with surprisingly good characters, all (but Gourry) with a penchant for self-dramatisation.
#1:The Slayers world is a flat disk.
This is an easy mistake to make. The Slayers uinverse (or rather quadraverse) is more than once presented as four disks impaled on the Staff of the Gods. However, this is just a model. We distinctly see a globed planet in the Slayers TRY opening animation, and the world is presented at all times as having a normal horizon. Moreover, Lost Universe takes place in yet another of the worlds in this system, and we clearly see that the "disk" is in fact an entire perfectly normal universe, full of perfectly normal planets.
#2:Zelgadis is part Mazoku.
Again an easily confused point. Rezo states that Zel is "one-third human, one-third golem, and one-third 'burou demon'". Assuming that he is telling the truth, the first two are pretty much straightforward. The chimaera's human component gives him his soul and overall form, and his golem component manifests as great strength and a stone shell. The third component, variously transliterated as "blow demon", "brau demon", and "blue demon", is commonly supposed to be a Mazoku of some sort. This is highly unlikely. Mazoku are never referred to with the English word "demon"--they are always simply Mazoku, Maou ("demon/evil lord/king"), or "Dark Lord"s (English). Far more likely, considering Zel's ability to have sudden bursts of superhuman speed as well as the "Blow Demon" transliteration, is that this component is some sort of air elemental.
#3:As a Mazoku, Xellos cannot love/feel positive emotions.
This one is not so often found in fan fiction, but rather in profiles of Xellos. Mazoku feed off negative emotion, the reasoning goes, therefore it is their essence and they are incapable of feeling the positive emotions that in others diminish their power. However, this is simply inconsistent with the actions of the Mazoku we meet. Xellos frequently seems to be enjoying himself, particularly when causing trouble for others. While the cause may be perverse, it is nevertheless pleasure, which most would agree is a positive emotion. There is the possibility that it is an act, but there is little reason for him to falsely put on the appearance of happiness, particularly when he is alone. Also, nothing in Slayers, from dragons to fishmen, is shown to think in a really "alien" way due to its non-human nature. Why should the Demon Folk be any different? As for the issue of love, I believe that Slayers NEXT deliberately shows Xellos to have a fondness for Lina, and it would be hard for me not to suspect that Kanzel and Mazenda were intended to be a couple.
#4:Lina wants to settle down and have a normal life.
SMB: Well, this isn't quite false, but it is very much NOT true. In the fanfiction I (SMB, not DadyTengu) have seen, the authors seem to be wanting Lina to be a more 'typical' type by sticking this on her. However, not only does it openly contradict every bone in Lina's character, but she also states at least twice in Slayers and once in NEXT that she doesn't wish to live the boring life of a villager. She may want to eventually settle down with Gourry, but that's only if a) she gets a lot of money and gets to live like (or as) royalty or b) if she gets the Hikari no ken. Both of these seem like no-gos for a bit now, so I doubt this one will come true any time soon. Back to you, DT.
DT: In the first case, I think she'd come to consider him a bit too low-class to do anything but serve her, and in the second, I think nothing would really change. Therefore, a conventional life with Gourry is not really a possibilty.
Coming Soon.
Want more rants? Click here.
...Or do you want to start over at the beginning?