I felt very strongly for Miyako after viewing this episode. Sometimes, there is a point of time in life where you really get sick of the same old story that is brought up in anime, only for something to bring back the passion and love you have for the art form. Episode 7, particularly the part on Miyako, is one that really made me understand why I always like SHAFT’s work. This entry is not a tribute to the excellent story telling of SHAFT, but more on a personal account why I actually cried and my thoughts after watching Episode 7.
It is painful…and I can somewhat understand why since it is an experience that I felt a very time ago in my youth.
For those who have watched Episode 7, Miyako actually scheduled a date with Hiro in order to stop Hiro from going to the basketball game that Kei is playing. However, as the plot plays out in Episode 6, Hiro actually rushed over to Kei when he got the call that she is injured and left Miyako alone at the meeting place. This episode exhibits the psyche of Miyako while she waits for the person that will never arrive to her. In the episode, it is explained of her fear to be abandoned by others.
Well, abandoned is perhaps not the best term for this, but it’s more of the fact that she fears that she is washed out from people’s memories. In her part of the story, it is clear that her parents were in extremely bad terms and eventually did not even talk to each other at all. In the end, even Miyako is forgotten in the family, as her presence in life seems to be wiped out completely. That is why Kei’s words to her in which Miyako will wiped away from the memories of her in Hiro’s heart disturbed Miyako so much. She fears that she will disappear again. The episode hence shows the reason that her background has affected her psyche and her view of the world.
It is extremely painful for someone who has lost the ability to feel and understand that she is human to be told that she does not have the chance to stay alive in someone’s heart. As much as many might consider Miyako to be annoying, tyrannic and overbearing in the first few episodes, it is clear now that her actions are a manifestation of the loneliness and that she is clinging on dear life for the only hope. It’s an extremely flawed personality, but realistically portrayed with the experiences she had.
In a way, SHAFT’s presentation of the black and white world is now apparent. Miyako cannot see any color because she no longer can see life, due to the fact that life no longer remembers her. It is only because of Hiro that her world returns with color, in which her presence is finally confirmed by another human being. That is why she tries so hard to be energetic in order to attract Hiro, since it seems to be the only way in her opinion to attract the attention of the person that can bring her life to life. She possibly does not know how to keep a person happy, so she tries to put on a persona that is probably pleasing to most.
The issue with this is that it will not help her. Hiro is not her love interest, but a hope that she clings on. It might be seen as love by some, but I see it as a grab to anything that can save her. However, it is ironic that Kei is just about the same as her. Both girls have no moral grounds and advantages over the other, because they are both hindered by their memories in their relationships. It’s hard for me to say which one I will support.
I am always in support of the underdog, the childhood friend that never seems to get any carrot from producers and anime series alike. However, I am hard for choice, in a way that I wish that Hiro does not end up with any of them. Both view Hiro somewhat as a prize in my opinion, and it does not feel like love to me. Kei likes Hiro in the way that she cannot live without him at all, while Miyako is clearly disturbed in the mind that she has a mental breakdown (and illustrated greatly by the unconventional portrayal by SHAFT).
I know that this can be a rather incoherent rant, but it is merely something I want to write since the episode really strongly gave the feeling of how Miyako turned from normal to a mental wreck. I can see them doing it conventionally, and it will not be as strong as this. On a side note, can anyone explain a bit on why Renji is so fearful of Chihiro’s suggestion?
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We, Chihiro’s partisans, will never submit! Chihiro banzai!
That said, Miya revealed her depth for me when she laid a smackdown on Kei in ep.5. Before, I did not pay much attention to her screwing with Hiro.
Well i’ve to go with miyako, since kei is a hypocrite she doesn’t care if somebody dies as long as she gets what she wants, that’s the reason chihiro is in that condition because of kei selfishness.
While miyako might see like egoist, she just want somebody in the end, even if it’s just to remember her, not just because of jealousy
@Author: O_O;;; well, i always wonder if she is simply a carefree girl that sees the world as black and white. Now, it is apparent that it is for a completely different and darker reason for that. I really wonder why Renji suddenly have such a huge emotion when he had the chat interaction with Chihiro. What is that implication?
@Chupa: Arr, i think it’s simply that she is equally selfish like Miyako to keep Hiro by her side. I guess an old cliche will be “all is fair in love”, even though I do not agree with Kei’s choice to delete all the messages. That is just wrong and evil.
I think it’s not because who she will be with, but simply that she exists. It’s more about her, than Hiro. Hiro could have been anyone in her context.
hmm… miyako… I’m kinda sad for her… ohh….Life…
Nice. Actually, I am among the few that considered Miyako to be somewhat annoying at the beginning, although now I do feel for both girls, haha. But yes, I agree that her feelings toward Hiro are not the romantic variety. I think she’d be way too dependent on him, and maybe vice versa actually since both of them refer to the other as being the one to bring color to their world. So I guess it’s a mutual dependency, which might work story wise, even if it may or may not work in real life. Either way, I believe both Miyako and Kei would need to be free of all this trauma to get a better handle on their emotions. These girls are just possessive!
Okay, that probably came out incoherently, but I tried. XD 2 am thoughts ftw.
@Rollchan: Well, I do sympathize with her quite a bit at this.
@Anvil: Actually, I always consider her to be way too pushy, but this episode clearly explains her behavior in this. I feel that she’s more of a liability in which she depends emotionally on Hiro, and it might possibly lead to romance. However, it is not now, until she is able to face to her own fears of vanishing.
Ya, I don’t mind two hot girls possessive over me though. Hah!
Well IMPZ, i’ll help you with: “On a side note, can anyone explain a bit on why Renji is so fearful of Chihiro’s suggestion?”
He’s in a delima, he REALY wants chihiru yet(visual representation):
1) 2 quotes this episode “She was the only girl in the world and that made her kami” & “Because god is playing with you” – Chihiru is in advertantly playing with Renji-kuns feelings, she wants to kiss hom though she has no felling of love toward him.
2) You could just say his fearful expression is just describing his delema i guess~
3)When his shadow is in the red back ground it represent himself pushing himelf away from chihiru (also represented in 9.45 with his expressin is dark and his eye’s are not showing)
3) Red flashes and heart beat represent (to me) anger of chihiru not realy loving him (just wants to be with hiom because she “trusts him”)and his desire for her.
4) She reads from her book while asking to be kissed – she THINKS she SHOULD be kissed and the such, she doesn’t want it personaly her self. Like a character in a scene qote: “i think this is the scene where we should kiss”
so um… his face is just representing the kind of shock that hard to describe in that kind of situation….. not done too well but i doubtn anything can properly do that.
on a side note she’s trying to describe though her character her vision of herself (see 3.11 onwards and 11.20 onwards)
this is from kate located in the good o’l Australia~
The pattern both Kei and Miyako have is not, sadly, all that uncommon. A lot of people enter into romantic relationships or marriage expecting their partner to be essentially someone that will fill their emotional voids–a surrogate father/mother or brother/sister, or to make up for whatever immaturity and issues they might have. Kei and Miyako do it in very obvious ways, but a lot of people do it more subtly, sometimes unconsciously. Or so says my family therapy prof.