masahi

So, I finally bit the bullet and sat down and watched all of The Rose of Versailles over the last fortnight. And much to my surprise I liked it. To the point that I was waiting impatiently for megavideo to let me watch more. I forgot the simple pleasure of anime, wherein you can watch 3 episodes per hour.

My main reason was because the Takarazuka Revue has put on about a gazillion versions, and the original manga was inspired by my favourite cross-dressing performers. I'd avoided the anime for ages, because the stage version is so sickeningly sugar-coated that I couldn't stand it. Pink glittery pegasus in the afterlife, anyone?

And yet, the show is nothing like I expected.

( Babble. )

Looking at the show now, I really wish I could give the director a shake and make him get off his Patriarchal High Horse about the way women should act.

My main issues with the stage version are as follows:
- as soon as Oscar/Andre get anywhere near together, Oscar is promptly shoved into traditional girl poses, most frequently kneeling at Andre's feet like a good, submissive little Miss.
- Andre considering poisoning Oscar to stop anyone else having her. W. T. F. No. He would want her to be happy, regardless. NEVER EVER POISON.
- trying to girlify Oscar. Misses the entire point of the anime/manga. Oscar is strong and independent and doesn't need male approval. (And when she gets it, she doesn't go to pieces. She has pride)

Now I've seen the anime, I can understand them milking that cash cow for all it's worth, but softening the edges of what is a dark, sharp, and very bleak story, adding pink and glitter, has taken away the heart and soul of what I think is a very good and powerful story.