mDuo13

Though it's distracting me from memorizing a speech from Faust, I found episode 8 of Tytania very interesting. There are a few unusual things going on in this series. First, it keeps setting up conflicts that seem designed to make the viewers take the side of the "evil" empire, while still showing the faults of that empire. It's a strangely bi-lateral take on a well-known plot. Second, Lydia (whom the series has been slowly setting up as an important character from the beginning) seems to be finally ready to enter the plot proper, and in doing so I noticed something fascinating.

Namely, Lydia's facial expression makes her seem less innocent, or more mature, than Lira (despite the way Lira was determined to use her body to manipulate Fan back in episode 4). In fact, Lydia's recent determination to use herself as a hostage to Tytania seems likely to be more successful in the long run. I take this to suggest a couple things: Lydia is actually more discerning than Lira and therefore more effective; and Tytania is more susceptible to such transparent manipulation than Fan Hyulick. Fan, by the way, also demonstrated his uncanny perceptiveness again this episode.

In other news, friggin' Togashi is back on hiatus after 10 epic chapters of Hunter × Hunter, leaving us at a cliffhanger that's pretty much comparable to his last two many-month breaks. And still there is no explanation. Is the guy clinically ill? Horribly lazy? So much of a perfectionist that he takes extra time between periods of serialization to plot ahead exactly what happens? I don't get it at all.