gaiusbaltar24 said:povsuduvolosy said:Misiakk said: I got a question, is this manga Spotted Flower is set in alternate universe, where Saki is pregnant with Madarame?
Not alternative universe but future!
It's clearly an alternate universe. To think that's it's part of the future is setting yourself up for some major disappointment when this manga ends and she's still happily in love with Kousaka.
It's strange, I thought this weird ship would pretty much die once Saki last rejected him, but I guess hopes won't completely be dashed until the manga ends. There's practically no realistic way for Saki and Madarame to end up together, and such a development would diminish a significant portion of Madarame's growth as a character.
It's most likely an alternate universe, but it's too vague to say yet I think. If it was a true alternate, why not just reveal the names instead of teasing the audience? Although I agree that Genshiken may not end with that pairing, I don't think it is as impossible as some think it is. First, the most realistic ending is that Saki just throws in the towel and gives up on *all* otakus. Her actually staying with Kousaka forever is the least "realistic" in my opinion, though the manga may very well end that way one way or another.
If her only two choices were Kousaka or Madarame, the latter is her most sensible choice. In a weird way, Saki is the one person in the manga/anime who is most living in a dream world. Here is why:
1. If Madarame is from planet Otaku, Kousaka *IS* planet Otaku. Someone proclaiming to dislike otaku culture and marrying Kousaka would be like someone saying they hate religion and marrying a priest! At least Madarame is just a layman in comparison to Kousaka. Can she really stay happy being with someone for life when she despises the very culture he embodies? Madarame has shown he is willing to go half-way, changing his otaku-ness at least a little bit while Kousaku shows no intention to budge (so far). Which will be a healthier relationship? How can you build a loving relationship when you claim to hate or merely tolerate the very essence of a person's identity?
2.After 4 years of a being in a relationship, Kousaka shows little or no signs of building a shared future with Saki, in fact he does what he wants with impunity--choosing a controversial job without discussing their future together, yet she folds and takes it. This is not a sign of a healthy relationship. It's not wrong for Kousaka to pursue his dreams but let's say his dream was to be a live action porno producer, would it be OK to just do it without working it out with your SO?
3. Kousaka seems to be have superhuman energy so he may be able to be an otaku and husband/father without compromising either. This is not realistic for most people. Once one enters marriage, there is at least an implied agreement that you are willing to sacrifice for your family. Sacrifice may mean at some point you are willing to give up something during a moment of crisis, your very own self for your family. Has Kousaka shown any willingness to give up on otaku things for a family? I am a married anime fanboy myself, so I try to enjoy anime as much as I can, but I know I can't maintain the level of otaku culture I'd want with a partner who is simply not interested in it. My wife is mostly neutral, but any extra spending on such things can cause strife, even if she doesn't say so verbally. We moved and I sold some of my computer gear in order to get our kids into a better school district. Will Kousaka be willing to make sacrifices like that? With his skills, he may be able to get away with it, but it seems like at some point there may be a crisis moment where Saki will have to ask him upfront what his priorities are. People who aren't willing to make that commitment are better off not getting married, or they regret it later.
4.Madarama and Saki actually have chemistry together. This came as a shock to me too, especially how slowly it built up. To me, Madarame was just a comic foil and Saki an annoying pest, but over time, their interactions had a real human, natural quality to it. I know I am biased, but in comparison, her interactions with Kousaka always felt forced, like she was just trying real hard to be with him while he kind of didn't really give a damn either way. The moment where I thought Saki would finally get the lightbulb and dump Kousaka was during the summer Comic-Fest where he is waving bye bye--like an unreachable alien returning to his homeworld of Planet Otaku. I took it as a big hint that Saki will forever be chasing after him while he happily waves bye bye on the way to his next comic book score. In contrast, despite her bickering, there was a real warmth between Madarame and Saki--a true friendship that could bloom into something more if she was willing to give up on her farce of a relationship with pretty boy.
Conclusion, Kousaka is Saki's boy-toy for when she wants to have fun and not worry about the future, but when or if she gets the urge to make a nest--Madarame is the better choice. |