Reading Report: 11 August 2024

機動戦士ガンダムSEED DESTINY

Continued to read 違国日記 while watching a combination of Gundam SEED Destiny and 勇者エクスカイザー (Exkaiser).

違国日記

Not too much to say as the story is sort of lacking in high energy moments. There were some interesting ideas expressed that necessarily agree with. When 朝 is talking to a friend her friend apologises for saying something without considering 朝's feelings. She says "because I've said it, I can't take it back". 朝 responds "Even if you didn't say it, you thought it," and they sort of agree that the difference there is just that one case includes the transmission of a (potentially harmful/hurtful) message. 朝 uses this and reflects on her father, who she is worried never loved her because he never said it clearly, and wonders if maybe he still thought it. I guess the point where I disagree is about taking it to the other side, whether thinking something hurtful really means that you feel that way (and I don't think that's the case).
朝's worry about whether she is special or meaningful felt very relatable. It's always easiest to see what's unique about others and not yourself. I'm also glad it was (sort of) resolved with a "so what?" position. You shouldn't have to be unique in ways that can be turned into adjectives.
槙生's backstory was really sad and I like that they continue to give texture and backstory to 実里 at the same time. 朝's latest concern about growing up and worrying about whether 槙生 will want anything to do with her once she's an adult is pretty tough. Just one more volume. I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends.

機動戦士ガンダムSEED DESTINY

The new MC, Shin, has gotten more interesting steadily as he's created basic bonds with Aslan and the other ZAFT members. At first I thought Aslan was the one going down a precarious path (and this is still possibly the case) but after a recent episode I think Shin is teetering as well, and it will be nice when (if?) they finally reunite and join forces with Kira and the others.
The Lacus concert stuff was very silly, and I'm having trouble caring about any of the factions going on at the moment. Cagali's Orb detour was also not that interesting considering she basically had the same story arc last season. I hope one day they will let her pilot a gundam again (they hardly let her pilot her custom one last season aha...)

勇者エクスカイザー

I watched this partially because I have an interest in exploring the Brave series, especially 勇者王ガオガイガー. So far what I've seen is pretty good. It's definitely Saturday Morning Cartoon-y, and I'm not a huge fan of sentient robots, but the human cast is very amusing and the episodic formula is kind of refreshing after 3月のライオン and a bunch of Gundam.
The two train robots are twin brothers and for some reason their fusion made me aware of how weird it would feel to fuse with someone and have a shared (or dominant and latent?) consciousness. For some reason until those two it never really came to mind.