Ep 14 is staying with me. That's the episode in which Noble Scarlett, Skuld's angel, shows up. It bothers me. The problem is that what happened really was in character -- but it isn't what I wanted.

It was too soon. Skuld wasn't ready. But despite what Urd had said, the problem wasn't really that Skuld's power level was too low. The real problem is that Skuld is a kid and just isn't mature enough to properly care for a pet.

I cringed when she slammed Noble Scarlet into the book. I was supposed to, of course. But I didn't like it.

The real problem is that Skuld's motivation was wrong. She had two reasons for wanting an angel: to compete with Urd, and to show off to that boy. Neither of those is the right reason, and that's why she was careless, even approaching cruel, to Noble Scarlet. Noble Scarlet was a tool, a trophy, a badge of achievement -- but not a person.

I guess what Skuld ultimate did to Noble Scarlet wasn't as bad as what Urd did to World of Elegance, but the situation is also not as difficult to retrieve. Noble Scarlet will be back, larger, more powerful, and less independent -- but not until Skuld is really ready.

Yet I hoped for more. I hoped Skuld would grow up. I hated seeing her be so careless.

Maybe part of why I'm disturbed by this is the movie. It's a glance into the future, and it isn't based on the manga. Which is to say they had the freedom to actually advance the story, to make the characters more developed. Skuld is much different in the movie.

For one thing, she really is a lot more mature. For another, she no longer is jealous of Keiichi and no longer tries to interfere. On the contrary, when at one point Beldandy seems ready to give up and go back to heaven, it's Skuld who talks her out of it, and convinces her that Keiichi really does love her.

Skuld also has gained considerable control over her own power in the movie. She still isn't anything like as strong as Urd or Beldandy, but she's no longer at the "levitate a bolt" stage. Noble Scarlet is back, and while she isn't as large as Holy Bell or World of Elegance, she's no longer barbie-doll sized either.

And in the movie, Skuld can fly. That's a big change; it means she's really gained a large measure of power by that point.

She loses her temper at one point. It was pretty impressive. (Based on what had just happened, it's entirely understandable.)

Urd was a lot different in the movie, too. She's the oldest, the most experienced, and with Beldandy having problems, and all kinds of other hell breaking loose, Urd has to be the responsible one -- and is. No sign whatever of her demonic side, her tendency to be a bit sadistic.

Keiichi isn't as much of a wimp in the movie. In fact, I'd say he isn't a wimp at all. Beldandy is still weepy, but not as bad as she has been known to be. All the characters in the movie were... how to put this?

They were more admirable. I think that's it. More sympathetic, too, but I was impressed by them, and wanted to know them. I can't help but feel contempt for the characters in the TV series, and the OVA was even worse, but I don't feel contempt for the characters in the movie. Well, I feel contempt for Otaki and Tamiya even in the movie, but that's not the same. I mean among the primary four characters.

In some ways the movie has spoiled the TV series for me. I've seen the future; I've seen what these characters will become. It isn't as much change as I would have hoped for, but it is a real change. What I would have hoped to see in the TV series is the characters changing, advancing towards that state I've seen in the movie -- and it isn't happening.

It's like the movie isn't really part of the same continuity. It's like it's an "alternate retelling". And that's a damned shame, because it was more interesting, ultimately.

And you know why? It's because Keiichi wasn't a wimp. It's because he made a difference. It's because he fought and won. He did some things that were really hard -- and he succeeded at them because his love for Beldandy had become the center of his life.

Rats. I want to love this -- and I can't.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste in Ah! My Goddess! at 10:10 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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