Unlimited Cruising: Feels

Showing posts with label Feels. Show all posts

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Usopp FEELS

Some of you may have noticed, I have quite a lot of feels for One Piece's Usopp. As such, I have decided to elaborate somewhat on exactly what that means...

Character Synopsis:
Usopp is typically seen as the weak, gonk-y goof of the Strawhat Crew by the general One Piece fanbase. However, it is commonly overlooked that Usopp only appears to be weak due to the contrast between him and members such as the Monster Trio (Usopp can take out multiple Marines at once with his improbable aiming skills--Marines who have been dutifully trained and are considered to be somewhat above the human average). While it is true that Usopp is a much appreciated source of comedic relief (especially now that each new arc has increasingly more dark/mature undertones as opposed to the light-hearted early arcs), his position is not limited to spontaneous acts of slapstick or witty remarks (think Sokka, not Bolin). In his early characterization in the series, Usopp certainly lies and runs away for the majority of the time, but his lies are often used to buy time during altercations by distracting or tricking opponents into falling for various traps and the fact Usopp actually has to run away and even fights better from a distance, being that his fighting style is through long-ranged weaponry, must be noted. Consistently throughout the series, we also see exactly how intelligent and quick-witted Usopp really is through the various strategies and contraptions that he generates (especially during dire situations where undue stress would break the concentration of any normal person). Those who believe that Usopp is weak, whether in body or convictions, really ought to take another look at, well, all of his battles. Most laud the Monster Trio for their bravery, but they're actually not being brave because they never had any fear to overcome in the first place. True bravery is standing and fighting even if you're shaken to your boots. Even if he has ever mused the idea of running away from a fight, Usopp has always returned to finish what he started, even if it means adding to the pain that he knows he will receive (how many of you wouldn't run from the enemies of One Piece? Really.) While I am on the subject of Usopp's fights, have no naysayers ever noticed the extreme amount of battle damage that Usopp can sustain, often appearing moderately unharmed after taking attacks that would probably kill or at least horribly maim ordinary people? This man is the epitome of "Bad*** Normal" (and appears to have bypassed umpteenth levels of awesomeness after the time skip)! As for his looks....well, I can't really convince people that he looks positively smashing (being a lithe, raven-haired harbinger of swoon before the time skip and a hunk of burnin' love later), but perhaps some may be swayed through the series' art evolution.

Point of No Return:
Up until Water 7/Enies Lobby, I hadn't really given much thought to Usopp. He was just...there, for better or worse. However, my thoughts drastically changed after watching his fight with Luffy. After being beaten to the brink of death twice by the Franky Family (the second time he actually sought out the perpetrators) and made to feel overall unfit to belong to the crew of the future Pirate King as well as knowing for some time that the precious keepsake from his home island (Syrup Island) was on its last leg, the imminent disposal of the Going Merry was the final straw that broke the camel's back. Usopp's decision to resolve the fate of Merry through a fight with Luffy was heartbreaking as I saw the tolls on both sides being taken. When the battle was finally underway, (through my tears, haha) I was tremendously impressed by Usopp's valor and use of, you guessed it, battle strategies and evolved techniques to basically run Luffy into a corner. Something fascinating I observed during the fight was that Usopp's concentration on the battle seemed unshakable, while Luffy was fighting both him and an internal battle (a further testament to Usopp's mental fortitude). Do I believe that Usopp could have beaten Luffy had he not suffered such grievous injuries beforehand? Yes. Yes, I do. From that battle onwards, Usopp just kept taking up levels in flipping awesomeness and my fanism exploded. *Note: the best animation of the entire series so far occurred during the Water 7/Enies Lobby arc*

Shipping:
Usopp and shipping go together as well as hawaiian bread and hot chocolate, mostly because 50% of the male half of the crew is oblivious to romance while the other 50% consists of perverts. Several scenes have shown that Usopp indeed has an interest in the opposite sex, but he remains sensitive ~~and doesn't chase panties, unlike some people COUGH COUGH.~~

UsoNam:

Usopp and Nami have always been shown bonding more than other members of the crew, often through their shared feelings of ineptitude. With their bond of being the only "normal" members of the crew, Usopp and Nami also frequently share the task of preventing their adventures from dissolving into pure chaos due to a lack of overall common sense from the crew's more boisterous members (and though they both prefer "flight" to "fight," their courage in battle is top notch). A running gag in the OP-Shipverse is that Nami likes to go shopping with Usopp, often saddling him with the cumbersome task of carrying her many packages. I personally find that Nami and Usopp make a great pair (romantically or otherwise) because they help each other grow and compliment each other: Nami keeps Usopp's (often egotistical) lies from corrupting his personality while subtly acknowledging his strengths (like his inventing skills). Usopp, in turn, tries to keep a cap on Nami's money-driven obsession and tends to bring out a softer side in her. ~~Also, Usopp has seen Nami naked at least twice MUAHAHAHAHA!~~

Have a perfect video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jeh3sKv3so (and be sure to listen to the lyrics carefully to fully understand it)

SanUso:

Yes, yes, I know: Usopp isn't gay. OR IS HE??! It's either my shipping goggles, or my shipping goggles, but maybe Usopp is bisexual. Little instances of Usopp's original factory being in the kitchen (implicationssss), or Sanji saving Usopp from Enel (implicationsssssss), or Sanji fighting over Usopp's sniper goggles in Alabasta (implicationsssssssssss), or Usopp being depressed that Nami wasn't Sanji in the latest arc (implicationssssssssssssss), or just the speech Sanji gave to Usopp in Enies Lobby (IM.PLI.CA.TIONS.)....eh (there are a lot more perceived "moments," but I'm not going to list them all). To summarize: Sanji and Usopp seem to have a certain degree of understanding between one another and are two of the top rankers of the emotional breadth within the crew.

Have another perfect video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUlg4Ib99J8

UsoKa:
I am an anti-Usoka shipper. Yes, he was friends with her for a year (he hasn't seen her for two years now), but I don't believe in that "guys and girls can't just be friends" nonsense. With Kaya being ill for so long, I believe that Usopp was her only friend and that she clung to him out of need for a friend who was her age. Do I want Kaya to die a lonely spinster? NO, of course not! I hope she finds happiness of her own. Actually, the two-year "out of sight, out of mind" factor aside, if Kaya and Usopp met up again she may not be able to accept Usopp's growth. When Usopp acted differently than she was used to during the Kuro Arc, she outright rejected him--and after two years of trials and tribulations Usopp would be unrecognizable to her. Even if Kaya did happen to accept Usopp in his entirety, honestly, who can say that UsoKa wouldn't be boring? Usopp would return to Syrup Island a brave warrior of the sea, eyes full of adventure, and....live forevermore with Kaya constantly stroking his ego. I just.....no. Additionally, as my good friend KK-sis so eloquently pointed out, "I think when Usopp first left with Luffy and Zoro and Nami he really planned on coming back to Kaya, but I think the longer he travels with the Straw Hats the more he realizes that they're really in two different worlds. Usopp feels the call of the sea and I don't think he's going to come back for Kaya only to do to her what Yasopp did to Banchina..."

**I'll probably update this whenever I remember something I forgot to mention**

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Why I like Skyrim

I enjoy playing Skyrim not for the quests (no, certainly not the quests), but rather for its "less hardcore" qualities. A spacious and beautifully designed world? Check! The ability to kill people and steal them blind? Check! Lots and lots of fun items (yay, clothing changes!)? Check!

Yep, Skyrim is awesome (and technically shares the same qualities of Guild Wars and Maplestory [though I quit Maplestory for various reasons that I may decide to discuss later]).

Avatar FEELS

An avid fan of ATLA (owning all 3 DVD box-sets), and its recent addition of LOK, I have a lot to say about the series. As I recently rewatched my box-sets (+ all Special Features provided) for the umpteenth time (I can recite episodes-including actions- from memory), I had a sudden impulse to share some thoughts on the series on my blog (though not quite to the extent that would cause any readers to stab themselves with their mouse).

Avatar: The Last Airbender

*"The Southern Raiders"* "But we were too late: when we got there, the man was gone--and so was she." = Katara did NOT see the charred body of her mother, so shut up ~~you ignorant drones~~, Tropers. [Also in "The Southern Raiders," I rewatched the few seconds after Zuko leaves Sokka's tent and did not see Suki sneak inside.]
Speaking of "The Southern Raiders," did anyone else find Katara to be kind of overreacting during the whole episode? Aang lost his entire nation, and she's pissed because she lost one person to the Fire Nation? I get that losing your mother is horrible, but at least Katara still had some semblance of a family left.
Some ~~Tropers~~ people have expressed their dislike of the Season 3 episodes, describing them as "filler" and "not relevant to the plot." However, not every little thing has to advance the plot (doing so would create a very unsatisfying pace among other things) and I personally found that they expanded more of my view on the characters and their situation (such as in "The Headband" where we discovered that not all Fire Nation citizens are as single-minded as they are portrayed and that they have been shaped by their environment and propaganda for the past 100 years).
Some people have also beleaguered "The Drill" for similar reasons as the Season 3 episodes. I found "The Drill" to: skillfully show how Sokka's position as "the plan guy" has been enhanced, highlight how Aang's creativity in a fight has once again taken on a level, and set up the later foil in the Dai Li's cover-up. (And for those of you who hated "The Ember Island Players," c'mon, it was totally hilarious!)
Shipping. Kataang did seem a little forced, but the signs were there if you looked closely enough (in "The Headband" Katara's jealousy when Aang was dancing with On Ji is a good example). As for Zutara: 1) Foe Yay 2) Pair the Hotties (though face it, if even the producers are in "the Kataang faction," there really isn't any hope for your ship also, Tenzin and his siblings). Maiko was actually the only pairing that I felt was the most natural: 1) When they were kids, Mai's blushing around Zuko showed that she had a crush on him 2) After being recruited by Azula, Mai expressed happiness in seeing Zuko again in the future 3) When Zuko regained his title, they spent happy times together (the picnic, the fruit tart bit, short on-screen encounters) 4) After "The Beach," their relationship seemed stronger than ever (and Zuko tends to bring out her more dormant emotions) 5) Mai defied Azula to save Zuko in "The Boiling Rock: Part 2" 6) The only reason people hate Maiko is because it either interferes with Zutara or has to do with this excellent analysis by deviantART's Booter-Freak.
Sokka is awesome! He maintains the comedic relief ("Sokkasm" [Bryke]) and intelligence within the group while kicking some butt, Sokka style.
Did anybody else notice in "The Day of Black Sun: Part 1 - The Invasion" that there are female Foggy Swamp benders? (or am I the only one who thought that the Foggy Swamp people were an all-men group)
People keep saying that the swimsuits in "The Beach" were scandalous, but if you go to basically any beach nowdays, the swimsuits you see people wearing are much more revealing (meaning as long as any kid's been to the beach, they'd see no big deal between normal swimsuits and those featured in the aforementioned episode). Oh, and "The Beach" was excellent for showing the various hidden aspects of our favorite B-Plot characters (and providing yet another Chekhov's Gun for Azula's villainous breakdown later; "my own mother...thought I was a monster")
Actually, in "The Boiling Rock: Part 2," were those Mooks seriously going to cut the line with the princess of the Fire Nation onboard?
Also, people keep referring to Toph as being "the youngest of the group," but in "The Blind Bandit" she tells her dad that "I'm twelve years old and I've never had a real friend" where Aang in "The Boy in the Iceberg" asked Katara "Do I look like a 112 year old man to you?" 12 = 12 /Aang and Toph are the same age.
Did anyone else feel like there were a few too many of Toph's "I don't see like you do" spiels? (at least 4)
When Aang took Ozai's bending away in the finale, were those beams of light real? I mean, Ozai looked scared when Aang started emanating light from his eyes and mouth, but was that "Oh my god, this kid is shooting light from his face!" or "What is he going to do to me?" I mean, after Aang took away his bending, a giant beam akin to the one from the beginning shoots up and pierces the clouds, so does that make the light real or was only the beam thing real?
Just....the ending. Seriously. ATLA has the best animated cartoon series ending in the history of the cartoon industry. The music, the action, the emotional depth, everything is just perfect.
Allow me to just take a moment to applaud the efforts of those who worked on the superior backgrounds and musical scores that really made this series even more epic.

Free Epic ATLA music videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYZrt1bfkR4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFSdA0jC0bE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otX-mKvPZJQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNuLRxAeT78

Legend of Korra (Season 1)

Korra is awesome and all, and I know that she's supposed to be a foil for Aang, but I personally think that Aang was a better Avatar. I think that being ~~locked up~~ isolated by the White Lotus wasn't a smart move if the end goal is supposed to be an Avatar that's "for the people." Also, she needs to go into the Avatar State before they end the show or that'll be seriously lame. *edit* Eh, lots of things could have been better. Aang had to help her go into the Avatar State, which seemed kind of weird...
Amon's totally faking everything he says, man. My guess is that he's actually a bender and never had an altercation with a rouge firebender. *edit* Called it.
Also, I don't think what Amon does is energybending. In the ATLA finale, Ozai looked and acted as if he was exhausted--not even being able to stand up. The absence of an extremely fatigued look (Lightning Bolt Zolt immediately tried to attack Amon whereas Ozai was unable to even stand upright) as well as the Energy Beam that were both present when Aang energybent points towards the idea that what Amon does is merely an advanced type of Chi-Blocking. *edit* Boo-yeah, Bloodbending!
I believe that Bolin is the reincarnation of Sokka. (some of his facial expressions and actions are like seeing Sokka all over again)
Bumi seems to take more after his Uncle, hahaha!
Why did this new animator decide to seriously drop every man over the age of thirty's jowls to his chin?
In conjunction with that previous question: SO. MANY. BEARDS.
Oh, and what happened to Aang in the past 28 years (during Korra's spirit-induced flashback) to make him so grumpy/not fun-loving anymore?
Does anybody know why Aang was tangible looking and not all "blue-ish glow + translucent" like the Avatars in ATLA were?
Makorra has a 90% chance of being canon, and I'm totally cool with that (woo, passion!). Borra could become canon, and I would be totally cool with that (yay, happy Bolin = Win!). Masami could continue to be canon, and I would be totally cool with that (they make a literally beautiful couple ["Pair the Hotties"]). Linzin might become canon again, and I would be totally cool with that (one word: UST). *edit* Makorra wins! (Though I think he and Asami should have officially broken up, I suppose that "I care about you" bit seemed kind of final....)
Ah, yes, Linzin. 1) Really, Pema, how would he be "spending his life with the wrong woman" if he chose that woman in the first place? You just wanted that woman to be you, didn't you? Also, Toph was awesome and her daughter is hereditarily(?) awesome ~~and I'm totally not biased~~. 2) Tenzin, you bastard, if you really didn't feel strongly enough about Lin in the first place/felt more for Pema, then why didn't you cut it off yourself and ask Pema instead of making the whole ordeal so AUGH? 3) I agree with the theory that Tenzin and Lin's drifting apart was caused because of their conflicting "goals" in that Lin didn't want to have kids and Tenzin needed to make sure that there are Airbenders after he dies. 4) Once again, UST. (Enough of it so that Pema was ~~rightfully~~ worried about Tenzin and Lin having an "old times" moment during the Airbender Island invasion ~~because it probably brought back memories of her play for Tenzin~~)
Does anybody else think that Asami looks like June? (and experienced increasingly shabby treatment as the series went on?)
I wish we could have seen Zuko's daughter at least once.
Considering how all of Katara's other predictions from Aunt Wu came true, shouldn't she have died after Rohan (her fourth grandchild) was born?
Why did Korra lose her other elements except for Airbending when Amon took her bending away? Think of it this way: you have 3 apples, but someone squishes them all. You then find an orange. Korra unlocked Airbending after her other elements were removed, therefore it wasn't affected at the time/removed with the rest of them.
I think that Tarlok's reveal about Amon was kind of a butt-pull answer, but it did connect and wrap up the seemingly misplaced Yakone plot.
Oh, man, Tarlok's suicide decision was emotionally distressing. The whole Noatak and Tarlok's past was already depressing, but just....emotional pitfalls, man.
Did anybody else think "Flame on!" when General Iroh II ejected from the plane?
The extreme technological advances made over the span of LOK seems to be a bit too farfetched; it reminded me of the recent(ish) Captain America movie...which isn't a good thing.
How did Tenzin and his family get captured if they escaped on Oogi? By the new and previously unknown aircraft!
ATLA's ending was better. I felt that LOK's ending was kind of unsatisfactory: Korra received a thorough stomping from Amon (even getting her bending taken away) and the final scene looked no different from any other (no different view pans, no emphasis on anything, just BLAH). The only noteworthy part about the finale was the heart-wrenching suicide part and that Lin got her bending back...
And we never did find out what happened to Zuko's mother (or who Lin's father was).

Free Epic LOK music videos: *Warning: watch up to episode 10 or be prepared for spoilers*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr93snVuwms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgVKKtIrIpg&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKlAU76sadY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXIKupNUmJE&feature=player_embedded

*I actually have a lot more to say on the two series (muahaha, who's stabbed themselves with their mouse already?), but I have temporarily forgotten what I had planned to write. Later updates upon remembering.