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Mar. 15th, 2022 06:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dmxratedNow that I think of it, I probably should've been a little more specific about what I explained regarding the Magical Girl genre.
What that Tumblr user actually said about such recent shows being a disservice to Madoka itself, was that they are bound to turn some people away from Madoka before they have a chance to know what that show is actually about first. (I was actually going to mention that back then on TV Tropes: Unbuilt Trope, before reading in its description that that trope is not about how a work's imitators completely miss nuances that it had to offer, so much as the source of a given convention in a given genre.)
But more importantly, my actual point was about how much more complicated the MG genre is than both Madoka and its imitators would imply to be just "Girls transform, fight, and suffer needlessly." I felt that was worth mentioning because, along with Mom asking if Mai from Kanon is a Magical Girl just because she wields a sword, I also recall Brian asking, when we watched episode 3 of Popotan, set in 1980, if there was any connection between what was actually the generic term used in-universe in Madoka (as opposed to "Puella Magi" used mostly in titles and by fans), and the much more lighthearted kind that Mii sees on TV and decides to become. (Incidentally, this whole thing is mentioned offhand a few times in Asuka, now that I recall.)
-----
Given Emily's reactions before to both THIS IS IT! and ZeroZeroZero, I asked her in the car yesterday morning, on our way to Marie's place, if what she said about Game of Thrones was something she merely learned about that show, but she specified actually watching it personally. If I had known that, I would not have had any issues discussing Asuka with her; even though Marie has mentioned her aversion to sexuality before (she did ask me not to bring such stuff up with her), both she and even Mom have watched GoT before, which I have read before to also play rape for titillation, which in turn is why I said nothing to Marie and Drew about anything sexual in Asuka. (Marie did tell me, though, that on the one hand, she's more into comedy these days, but also that she liked GoT for its magic, which Asuka also has a form of (right there in the (full) title).)
We had a brief discussion from there, about how people can tolerate stuff in a given show if they like it for other reasons, and Emily even mentioned that Brian did let her know when to shut her eyes.
-----
We all got breakfast to go at this place called Java Hut. Most of us got some breakfast burritos, but I got an asiago bagel with cream cheese.
Went hiking around Lake Lagunitas, where we saw a lizard or two and looked for newts in each stream we passed.
At one point, Drew mentioned how he likes to be surprised to see what happens whenever he plays anything for the first time. I chimed in to mention how, given my style of gaming, I like to know as much as possible about what I'm getting into, in order to take advantage of whatever's available.
Brian soon mentioned how my attempt to have Getter Love!! translated is the exception, that being the reason I'd rather not translate that particular game's script myself despite already having an expensive transcript. I went on to explain what's currently going on with that game, also specifying it to have been my favorite one game of all time since 2008, and Brian suggested that the person working on it before I came along is likely just to peter out, but I told him that he actively specializes in N64 games in particular and had finished translating at least one game I've seen on ROMhacking.net, called Shiren the Wanderer 2. (Ozzy had also assured me that he has never aborted a project altogether, and I took his word for that.)
-----
For lunch, we went to this Mexican place called Mi Pueblo, where I ordered something called a milanesa, which was this deep-fried steak topped with fries and served with refried beans, rice, shredded lettuce, and avocado sauce (not something I'd like to have again, to be honest), along with a slice of cornbread with whipped cream for dessert.
-----
Given a visit Brian and I paid to what he considered a better place at least for breakfast than another place he and Emily tried out the other day, having had a chance then to order some boba tea would be one upside retroactively to having eaten there right before that food truck festival. He and I went there after meeting Emily at some art store and agreeing to let her wrap things up, but we noticed flies in the baked goods cases (each of those with a rubber flap in the back instead of a door, and the actual doors were wide open on a warm afternoon), and when I ordered some boba tea instead, we were told that there was no boba left, although the server did mention being able to whip the drink itself up without. I ordered a bar of chocolate instead, upon noticing that.
We had dinner at this pizzeria called Creekside. At first, we were going to order one cheese and one pepperoni pie, but instead of pepperoni, we ended up ordering peppers and onions for the latter. I had myself only one cheese slice after we found ourselves one of several picnic tables in a small park just bordering.
At one point, the others talked about going to McDonald's for ice cream, and I asked why we would go there for that when there was special ice cream to order right where we were. Marie answered it to be something of a safe zone, lest anyone order something they find themselves not to like.
Took then to go back and order a cup of what was coffee-flavored ice cream with bits of chocolate mixed in.
-----
Instead of a (full) episode of Lucky Star, I started last night's TV run with Kanon, and Drew said he'd much prefer to continue watching that than LS, given an actual story that it's set up so far as opposed to what's simply cultural commentary.
(Talk about a game-changer! Next time I come over, that will be what I put on for everyone; Madoka will remain for when Marie and Drew come to Long Island, and Lucky Star will be for when Marie comes alone until we reach episode 17, the last one I had shown Emily for almost two years now.)
(Drew also commented when I first showed him Madoka, how fast-paced a lot of anime openings are, involving things like people dancing and psychedelic backgrounds. While Madoka's is a front for what that show really is (unlike Asuka's), it is ironic to have now shown him something a lot more "chill".)
After that ended, Marie decided to put on Love Island, but only showed us a few highlights of its very first episode, which were mostly several of its contestants' introductions.
I did go on to show everyone the one LS scene referring to the one I put Kanon on for, but we also watched a couple of music videos and something from SkillShare demonstrating someone's restoration of an oil painting.
-----
Today is my last day here, and we need to be out of the apartment by 11 AM PST. My flight back home is at 11 PM, so along with packing up this morning, I will need to make sure to get in whatever naps I can so that I'm not so drowsy on the plane. (Brian is remaining here, but Emily will be coming with me before returning to Boston.)
What that Tumblr user actually said about such recent shows being a disservice to Madoka itself, was that they are bound to turn some people away from Madoka before they have a chance to know what that show is actually about first. (I was actually going to mention that back then on TV Tropes: Unbuilt Trope, before reading in its description that that trope is not about how a work's imitators completely miss nuances that it had to offer, so much as the source of a given convention in a given genre.)
But more importantly, my actual point was about how much more complicated the MG genre is than both Madoka and its imitators would imply to be just "Girls transform, fight, and suffer needlessly." I felt that was worth mentioning because, along with Mom asking if Mai from Kanon is a Magical Girl just because she wields a sword, I also recall Brian asking, when we watched episode 3 of Popotan, set in 1980, if there was any connection between what was actually the generic term used in-universe in Madoka (as opposed to "Puella Magi" used mostly in titles and by fans), and the much more lighthearted kind that Mii sees on TV and decides to become. (Incidentally, this whole thing is mentioned offhand a few times in Asuka, now that I recall.)
-----
Given Emily's reactions before to both THIS IS IT! and ZeroZeroZero, I asked her in the car yesterday morning, on our way to Marie's place, if what she said about Game of Thrones was something she merely learned about that show, but she specified actually watching it personally. If I had known that, I would not have had any issues discussing Asuka with her; even though Marie has mentioned her aversion to sexuality before (she did ask me not to bring such stuff up with her), both she and even Mom have watched GoT before, which I have read before to also play rape for titillation, which in turn is why I said nothing to Marie and Drew about anything sexual in Asuka. (Marie did tell me, though, that on the one hand, she's more into comedy these days, but also that she liked GoT for its magic, which Asuka also has a form of (right there in the (full) title).)
We had a brief discussion from there, about how people can tolerate stuff in a given show if they like it for other reasons, and Emily even mentioned that Brian did let her know when to shut her eyes.
-----
We all got breakfast to go at this place called Java Hut. Most of us got some breakfast burritos, but I got an asiago bagel with cream cheese.
Went hiking around Lake Lagunitas, where we saw a lizard or two and looked for newts in each stream we passed.
At one point, Drew mentioned how he likes to be surprised to see what happens whenever he plays anything for the first time. I chimed in to mention how, given my style of gaming, I like to know as much as possible about what I'm getting into, in order to take advantage of whatever's available.
Brian soon mentioned how my attempt to have Getter Love!! translated is the exception, that being the reason I'd rather not translate that particular game's script myself despite already having an expensive transcript. I went on to explain what's currently going on with that game, also specifying it to have been my favorite one game of all time since 2008, and Brian suggested that the person working on it before I came along is likely just to peter out, but I told him that he actively specializes in N64 games in particular and had finished translating at least one game I've seen on ROMhacking.net, called Shiren the Wanderer 2. (Ozzy had also assured me that he has never aborted a project altogether, and I took his word for that.)
-----
For lunch, we went to this Mexican place called Mi Pueblo, where I ordered something called a milanesa, which was this deep-fried steak topped with fries and served with refried beans, rice, shredded lettuce, and avocado sauce (not something I'd like to have again, to be honest), along with a slice of cornbread with whipped cream for dessert.
-----
Given a visit Brian and I paid to what he considered a better place at least for breakfast than another place he and Emily tried out the other day, having had a chance then to order some boba tea would be one upside retroactively to having eaten there right before that food truck festival. He and I went there after meeting Emily at some art store and agreeing to let her wrap things up, but we noticed flies in the baked goods cases (each of those with a rubber flap in the back instead of a door, and the actual doors were wide open on a warm afternoon), and when I ordered some boba tea instead, we were told that there was no boba left, although the server did mention being able to whip the drink itself up without. I ordered a bar of chocolate instead, upon noticing that.
We had dinner at this pizzeria called Creekside. At first, we were going to order one cheese and one pepperoni pie, but instead of pepperoni, we ended up ordering peppers and onions for the latter. I had myself only one cheese slice after we found ourselves one of several picnic tables in a small park just bordering.
At one point, the others talked about going to McDonald's for ice cream, and I asked why we would go there for that when there was special ice cream to order right where we were. Marie answered it to be something of a safe zone, lest anyone order something they find themselves not to like.
Took then to go back and order a cup of what was coffee-flavored ice cream with bits of chocolate mixed in.
-----
Instead of a (full) episode of Lucky Star, I started last night's TV run with Kanon, and Drew said he'd much prefer to continue watching that than LS, given an actual story that it's set up so far as opposed to what's simply cultural commentary.
(Talk about a game-changer! Next time I come over, that will be what I put on for everyone; Madoka will remain for when Marie and Drew come to Long Island, and Lucky Star will be for when Marie comes alone until we reach episode 17, the last one I had shown Emily for almost two years now.)
(Drew also commented when I first showed him Madoka, how fast-paced a lot of anime openings are, involving things like people dancing and psychedelic backgrounds. While Madoka's is a front for what that show really is (unlike Asuka's), it is ironic to have now shown him something a lot more "chill".)
After that ended, Marie decided to put on Love Island, but only showed us a few highlights of its very first episode, which were mostly several of its contestants' introductions.
I did go on to show everyone the one LS scene referring to the one I put Kanon on for, but we also watched a couple of music videos and something from SkillShare demonstrating someone's restoration of an oil painting.
-----
Today is my last day here, and we need to be out of the apartment by 11 AM PST. My flight back home is at 11 PM, so along with packing up this morning, I will need to make sure to get in whatever naps I can so that I'm not so drowsy on the plane. (Brian is remaining here, but Emily will be coming with me before returning to Boston.)