Fruits Basket Vol 21

[meganbmoore]

*sigh*

What has happened to my simultaneously angsty and funny Fruits Basket? Why must it all be an angstfest now?

I have to say, though, that this volume has some of the most moving artwork yet, and some excellent use of silent and near-silent storytelling.

Reading this volume, did anyone else just spend most of the time wanting to tell Kyo to stop being a stupidhead? Yuki, Uo and Hana tearing into him over his being an idiot were probably the best parts of the volume for me. (My low tolerance for wallowing in melodrama and angst, let me show it to you.)  Though they were much more eloquent in calling him a stupidhead than I am. 

This is, I think, actually the first time I’ve ever really been able to sympathize with Yuki on the Kyo front. Then again, it wasn’t until the more recent volumes that I’ve really started to like him. Early in the series, he annoyed me with what seemed to be a superior attitude (even after I realized it was more shyness and discomfort) and how everyone seemed to think he was oh-so-great. I still find it hard to sympathize with him, but I’m glad he’s finally come into his own. And I like the Black Kyo that’s emerging.

Even though I doubt I’ll ever like Akito, her scenes with Tohru here, and where she was running to get help (especially her panic contrasted with Shigure’s calmness), are possibly the most moving scenes yet in the series.

The near-silence surrounding many of Akito’s scenes and Tohru’s fall and aftermath, though, are, I think, far more effective than most of the dialogue in the volume. I especially like how Takaya was able to convey a near-soundless world for the characters even when there was dialogue.
 

Comments

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

Well I always considered Fruits Basket a dramedy. It starts out with comedy to get you used to the characters but then moves to the drama. But I still think there were funny parts in this volume mainly with Kakeru since he is always good for a laugh.

And actually I would argue that this volume moves towards the end of the angst. Akito is beginning to accept the end of the zodiac, Yuki and Kyo have come to a real understanding, Yuki has found someone in Machi, and despite what happened to Tohru she is fine. So the only thing left unresolved is the whole Tohru/Kyo thing.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

This is true, and there was enough of Haru and Kakeru to keep it from completely drowning in angst (though I've never really been able to warm up to Kakeru) but still more wallowing than I care for unless we have swords and/or guns and/or epic and forbiddenness and/or magic. Ignores the magic that's half the plot of FB.

I do hope most of the angst is over, though the fact that there are 2 volumes left and relatively little left to resolve makes me nervous.

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

I read the Scanlations a long time ago and while I can't say I was satisfied with everything in the end it still remains one of my favorite series. :)

I will say I can't wait for Vol 22 because it has my favorite scene in the manga but I won't say more then that.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Although Kyo has always been my favorite I have always loved Yuki & his personality - most likely because I was very similar back in my high school/college days. So awkward & shy that I came across a snot (or so hubby tells me). Self-confidence does wonders for a person's personality & Yuki is beginning to come into his own now.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I came acrtoss as a snot for the same reasons. With Yuki, though, I think all the praise and adoration was part of it, but also that his feelings for Tohru always seemed self centered to me.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

He didn't seem to have much reason for self-confidence issues considering the way the entire school fawned all over him (past traumas with Akito aside).

I never really took his feelings for Tohru seriously. He always seemed to treat her more like a cute pet than anything else.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The way everyone but Kyo and Shigure fawned on him, really. It's hard to seriously view a chracter as having received the short end of the stick when you fairly constantly see him being adored and fawned over.