Twelve Kingdoms (Juuni Kokki) Discussion

This series was interesting, as I didn't really "like" it until about episode 20 but something about it made me keep watching it, as if I could tell it was going somewhere.

It wasn't character development as I thought most of the characters sucked for the first story arc.

Spoiler:

Throughout most of the episodes in the first arc that Sugimoto appeared and/or talked in, I literally could not stop yelling at the screen "Why are you such a stupid, psychotic bitch?" at least once every episode. She's just a jerk who doesn't listen to reason or think for herself at all and I didn't think there was any valid explanation given for it.

Also when Youko was being driven crazy by the sword, I didn't buy it. I seriously did not get the whole "killing is awesome" thing she launched herself into.

It did get very interesting, even if it failed to tie up a lot of things.

Spoiler:

I did like how even when she became queen, the series managed to stay away from becoming anything romantic and focus on the difficulties she had to face and her dealing with them. And when her advisor is accused of being a traitor, takes her hostage, and then gets shot to death? That was definately when I knew things were getting pretty serious

As for some favorite moments, I'd have to agree with SouthJag about

Spoiler:

Youko's rebellion as even though I didn't like the other two girls as characters initially, it came together very masterfully. Episode 39 was my favorite episode, mainly because of the major pwnage Youko lays on the general and then her councilmen, the fact that all the loose ends get tied up, and just the ending when she makes her first decree and we fade into her Asano's grave to the incredibly powerful intro music.

I would love to find the novels this is based on, even if my Japanese had to get a lot better.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Yeah, I got all of that when watching SouthJag, that reaction was just was too extreme for my tastes especially when reality kept smacking her in the face and didn't seem to have any effect on her.

Spoiler:

Agreed, you have to take into account the whole trauma of being trapped in a strange world, but even with jealousy, I'd see the character reacting more afraid of Youko and upset, maybe even angry. But not constantly filled with pointless bloodlust just because some king is telling her that going after an old friend will filfill her fantasy.

There's nowhere I can't reach.