Soul Eater 20-24

[timepiececlock]

Maka and Soul really impressed me with these few eps. I was worried about Soul being given demon power and dwarfing Maka as a heroic character, which is what would have happened in any other shounen anime, but the show handled it with grace and ingenuity. Soul refused to take the power until Maka convinced him, and they both were strengthened by it while they both suffered for it. Maka took the lead in the physical fight while Soul acted as a guide/barrier in the spiritual battle. I *love* that his belief in her and her belief in him gave Maka the time to do what she needed to do and gave them both the strength to fend of the madness, if only for now. The mutual trust these two share is a welcome relief from m/f pairs where everything is needlessly clouded by anxiety and doubt. If you asked Soul who the most awesome person in the world is, he'd tell you it's Maka. And if you asked Maka, she'd say it's Soul.

This is different than if you asked Black Star, who'd say it was himself, and Tsubaki who would say it's Black Star. But that's probably just a symptom of Black Star being a narcissist. The show did a good job of convincing me these partnerships are equal (not hero/sidekick relationships) by giving Tsubaki's dramatic backstory precedence over Black Star's a few episodes ago.

In this big battle I cheered for Black Star for the first time, because at long last he didn't waste time posturing. He just moved, and went after the witch and her syringe like a demon. I felt genuinely bad for the guy when he realized he didn't make it, because the boy is talented and worked so hard.

Seeing the Kid go badass blazing guns was animated in a really cool way, but he still annoys me as a character. I hate the pimp/showgirls dynamic of how he and the two women/weapons are presented. I did grin at his thing with the pillars matching, though. I think that symmetry thing is amusing as long as the show adopts a less is more policy for it.

Stein going batshit was interesting; I'd just been wondering why he had such a bad rap at the school since he seemed to be a smart strategist, a decent teacher, and to show concern over the children's welfare. But then he shrugs off the blanket of decency and lets his inner crazy person out to play. Is the 'house-broken' Stein just an act, and that's why Deathscythe/Spirit eventually left him? Will he have trouble surppressing that part of himself again now that he's gotten a taste of blood? WILL HE AND MEDUSA HAVE CRAZY SEX AND TRY TO KILL EACH OTHER IN THE MORNING??? (I'd ship it.)

It's taking me a while to get through the eps, but I'm making my way.