Problem Children Stick Together 😊

WTF JUST HAPPENED

On Death’s Door

Chapter 293 solidified for me that bkdk is always gonna stay winning, no one can ever convince me otherwise at this point. To be fair, you wouldn’t have been able to convince me otherwise before, either. 

But let’s get down and funky with our little gremlin boy and all of his complex emotions relating to Deku, yeah? Cause 293 gave us something phenomenal, and that was Bakugou essentially realizing he had a quirk evolution spurred by the fact that Deku was about to die, and he needed to save him. 

I’m gonna focus on these two first cause they’re the big boys. 

He states that his explosions were never like that before. When he was facing death, about to witness someone so important to him about to die, his power changed. It became faster, stronger, more of what he needed in that moment for him to save Deku. His need to save Deku made his quirk stronger, and it was because it was Deku. 

“Like being on Death’s Door” 

That’s the line to beat, folks. Bakugou wasn’t at death’s door in that moment, Deku was. So then why would Bakugou feel that way? 

“In total crisis”

A crisis indeed, but for who? Again, Bakugou wasn’t the one in imminent danger, but just witnessing Deku about to die made him feel like he was. It was enough to make him feel like he, himself, was on the brink of death.

Because one can’t exist without the other. Just as Deku can’t envision a world without Bakugou, we now know that Bakugou can’t envision a world without Deku. So much so, that he threw his body in the way to make sure Deku didn’t die. He would have rather ended up the one dead, than to have a world without Deku in it. 

And on top of all of this, now we have Bakugou CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSING TO REMEMBER THAT MOMENT in order to gain that strength from before. That desperation and urgency.

We went from a boy who couldn’t comprehend anything other than the desire to win, to having him act without thinking to save Deku, to now CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSING to put himself out into harms way in order to save someone else that he cares about. 

Because remember, Bakugou is close to fatally wounded. In fact, if he keeps it up, the situation could end up really dicey, as much as I don’t want to think about it. But he isn’t thinking about that right now, he’s thinking about saving Best Jeanist and the people important to him. 

HE’S THINKING ABOUT SAVING. 

In all of my time spent watching anime and reading manga, I have never encountered a character with such brilliant and beautifully written character growth and development. Horikoshi has done something truly outstanding with Bakugou’s character, and I will forever be grateful for that. 

But it can’t be ignored that the entire reason for this growth and development is DEKU. 

Every way Bakugou has changed and continues to change is because of Deku, and I absolutely refuse to acknowledge anyone that can’t see that. 

Like, we seriously just witnessed this boy have an entire quirk evolution because his feelings for saving Deku were so strong. Do you know how powerful that is? That’s not just ‘oh he’s my rival’ kind of feelings. That is fucking LOVE. 

Say it with me now;

L O V E

And this love for Deku he has is changing him, it’s allowed him to understand how it feels to want to save someone, and he uses the idea of losing Deku as a way to push him forward to do that. Which..in and of itself is so fucking monumental I don’t think I can even properly express how it makes me feel. 

All I know if that we went from this;

Bakugou subconsciously rushing forward in order to save Deku, to this;

CONSCIOUSLY RUSHING FORWARD TO SAVE BEST JEANIST WHILE THINKING OF DEKU IN DANGER IN ORDER TO GAIN THE STRENGTH TO MOVE FORWARD

Mind you, this is all happening within the span of 8 chapters. I don’t know how quickly a lump sum of you want Bakugou to change, but I would think this is pretty damn fast, if you ask me. 

But anywho, my entire point is that Bakugou’s incredibly strong emotional connection to Deku was able to not only cause a quirk evolution for him, but also enough to show him the vitality of needing to save someone. 

And that’s on being in love. (✿◠‿◠) 

An Analysis of Ed’s Gate: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

So, we’ve all noticed that the Gates (or the portals) of Truth appear differently depending on the person who’s been summoned before it, right?

Al’s gate is a relief from “The Marrow of Alchemy” , a 15th Century Italian Alchemy text. 

Roy’s gate is inscribed with the Flame Alchemy array, similar to what’s tattooed on Riza’s back. 

According to the wiki, the Gate of Truth is source of all alchemical knowledge, and serves as the entrance into the domain of God, where men are not meant to tread. The engravings reflect each person’s innermost self, and their understanding of “The Truth” i.e., the Universe and all contained within it. (does this mean that Roy’s perception of reality is only viewed through the lens of Riza Hawkeye and/or Flame Alchemy? Maybe. Maybe not. Up to you to determine if that makes them soulmates. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.) 

What I found really interesting about this is that while every gate IS truth, a person’s perception of the universe will change how they view it. Understanding Ed’s gate through this light is fundamental to his character and how he perceives the world around him. And that’s the ride we’re going on today, because Ed’s gate is FASCINATING. 

Ed’s gate is the Tree of Life. Versions of the Tree of Life  can be found in practically every religious tradition from ancient Assyrian religion to modern-day Christianity. Most commonly, the Tree of Life is a symbol of knowledge, connecting heaven to the underworld and connecting ALL forms of knowledge together. 

Ed’s gate isn’t just a bastardization of any Tree of Life. It’s specifically the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, called Eitz Chaim, from the Jewish tradition of Kabbalah. 

Kabbalists believe that that Tree is a representation of how the universe came to be. Branching out from the Tree are words for God (Elohim, El, Eloah, Adonai, and so on). The Tree ALSO represents where human knowledge of the origins of the Universe END. The tree flows from pure nothingness and energy to actual physical universe, in the roots, and then this process is thought to reverse itself. “Thus, the Kabbalist seeks to know himself and the universe as an expression of God and to make the journey of return by means of the stages charted by the spheres, until he has come to the realization he sought.” (source) 

even MORE interesting, The Tree of Life can be interpreted as the very same tree that Eve ate the apple from, became “knowledgeable like God”, and was thus kicked from Eden. 

So, what does this it mean for Edward “I don’t believe in God” Elric that the very essence of his being is tied to knowledge as an expression of the very divinity he refuses to acknowledge? Especially when we think about Al’s gate which is simply about the nature of alchemy, just knowledge for knowledge’s sake, what does it mean that Ed’s perception of Truth is indelibly intertwined with Faith, with God? 

We know that Ed views himself as Icarus and that his attempt to bring his mother back was flying too close to the sun. That he’s bitter over having bitten the apple of Knowledge, and thus been kicked from Eden. The fact that his gate insists on there being a natural stopping point to what can be known by man, and it all flows back to God, seems almost antithetical to Ed’s character. 

However. 

I posit that it’s not. It’s not, at all. All gates are truth. The idea that energy is not limitless, that it starts from one place, intangible, flows to become physical, and then back again, losing none, only being transformed, is EXACTLY what Ed believes: In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be given up in exchange. 

Ed’s belief in equivalent exchange is so strong that it bypasses a simple alchemical truth that must be learned to perform transmutations and becomes his very perception of the universe- his truth, or perhaps you could call it his faith. Whether or not this faith is “true” in the way one could evaluate religion is irrelevant; we know equivalence is a law of the universe, and Ed’s belief in it is what matters. 

So, with this in mind, remember what Ed does to retrieve Al? 

He gives up his gate. He literally destroys how he perceives what Truth is. I don’t think this means that Ed no longer believes in equivalence, but that he understands that there are powers that supersede conservation of energy. 

After all, the Tree of Life is not only about energy changing forms, but about God creating the universe out of (in many interpretations) love. And when Ed destroys his Tree, destroys his ability to manipulate matter and participate in this great exchange, even destroys the natural stopping point that protects him from flying too close to the sun, does he not do that out of love, too? 

"The Kronisphere will make everything right," Nari had whispered gently, a soft smile on her lips.

Jim clutches the sphere tightly to his chest, neglecting the heat of the pavement scraping into his knees. Claire follows suit, dropping down to wrap an arm around him. He cries into her shoulder and she places her other hand on the ball with him. Slowly and quietly, the survivors huddle into a hug. They won, but they feel far from victorious.

"There has to be another way, there always have been," the Trollhunter chokes out. He stares at the magical object emanating a healthy green in his hands. It gleams with life, a stark contrast to the reality around him. But regardless, he's not going to give up. Not on Toby, not on the rest of his friends and family.

Suddenly a scene flashes, among the cracks that Aaarrrgghh had caused in his grief-stricken stupor. Claire brings a hand to her mouth.

"Wait a minute," Douxie starts, head tilting. A whispered "By Deya's Grace" escapes Blinky's lips. It's safe to say that the Akiridions, Stuart, Steve, and Eli are shocked as well.

It's them, with their hands on the ball, on top of each other's hands. Their eyes closed in momentary prayer.

And then, a miracle.

Several flurries of nature take place -- some circling around in columns, the others rushing to the debris around them. Edifices are rebuilt, while the trees uprooted find their footing back into the Earth. The roads are melded back to normal and Arcadia High stands tall in its glory. Jim's breath hitches when he sees a column of flowers spin around the silhouette of a familiar winged man with horns. He doesn't let the rest play out. He knows what they need to do.

"Everybody get up! If we're going to do this, we gotta do it together," he orders, disbelief and hope laced in his voice. He knows what he saw, and he's sure the others saw the same. He raises the Kronisphere in front of him and sees to it that everyone puts their best hand forward. A grin tugs at the corner of his lips as he watches the fire grow in the eyes of his friends.

The Kronisphere will make everything right.

And everything right it makes. They recreate the future in the Kronisphere with all the success one could ever hope for. The city of Arcadia is quickly restored to its homely self, as if a magma dripping titan hadn't just rampaged through. As if time had turned back before to reflect the location before disaster.

And maybe it's just a gut feeling, but Jim can tell that rest of the world has just experienced the same healing in its respective areas as Arcadia did.

It's a shame that the magical artifact shattered after usage, however. Must have been worthiness overload with all his friends involved, something along those lines. Or maybe the high demand they bargained. But honestly? He can't bring himself to care.

Instead he kicks the green, gold, and silver shards around across the road and looks back to check the earlier overturned vehicle which is now upright and... empty. Wait but-

"Hehe, that tickles!"

Jim turns around and as the white circulating flowers part, meets the eyes of his best friend, vibrant with life. With grimy hands, he rubs his own. He's alive. If this was a dream, he wouldn't mind sleeping for a bit longer. Maybe even forever.

Shaking, he glances at Claire. She gives him back a watery smile.

"Well? What are you waiting for?"

And that's enough to have him tackling the warhammer wielder to the ground.

"Jimbo! Hey, hey, it's alright I'm here. I'm alive," Toby laughs, patting the trollhunter's back. He shoots a thumbs up and a wink to a delighted Aaarrrgghh and Krel.

"And so are we," another voice rings out. Jim squeezes Toby once more before raising his head, the smile on his face ever increasing in size.

There stood Strickler, Nomura, Nari, even Archie and Charlemagne.

"I can't believe it actually worked," Aja remarks, taking a weak Steve from Eli's arms. Varvatos beams, and lets out a haughty laugh.

"Varvatos is most pleased with this outcome! However it came matters not to him."

"Well, it seems that the Kronisphere has the ability to not only show our futures, but reverse certain aspects of time, according to the beholder's desires. That is, if presented like it was to us. And in our case, we desired in union to reverse the deaths and destruction of the world, not necessarily an entire timeline," Douxie explains anyways. He beckons Archie and Nari into a much needed hug. He couldn't imagine a life without his familiar even if he tried. And Nari, oh Nari, she deserved to witness the joys of life she had heroically saved with all of them.

"Oooh, similar in manner to how Jim used the Kairosect to pause time!" Blinky adds, raising a finger. Claire snorts.

"Didn't you waste a turn back then, Blinky?" she teases. Blinky scratches the back of his head with a bashful smile.

"I was merely testing it out!"

"I dunno 'bout all of you, but I've had enough time travel change whatever for a lifetime," Steve groans.

"You can say that again," Stuart answers in agreement.

It's then Strickler kneels down and pats Jim's head. The trollhunter reaches out and pulls him into a crushing hug. The changeling hugs back with just as much strength.

"Young Atlas, how does it feel to not carry the burden alone anymore?" he muses. Jim chuckles.

"Feels good."

five things you know and the one thing you don’t. (insp)

easily in the Top Ten Moments The Anime Stole From us!!!

Oh, hey there old high school obsession. How long has it been?

who told malfoy he could get this pretty?

Good Omens S1E1 | S2E6