Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 01:14:45 +0900 (JST)
From: Kathleen Faulconer
(rocket88@ix.netcom.com)
Subject: Does Tenchi Deserve Ryoko?
This topic suggestion was irresistable to me...so now I have an essay on my
hands! I am not going to attempt to answer the question for each Tenchiverse, I
believe that Tenchi is the same person in every one of them, (including Shin,
actually) only his history is changed. And Ryoko loves him desperately, no matter
where you set them.....
Well, before it was brought up, I had only thought about it fleetingly. It is
almost a moot point for me because Tenchi is what *Ryoko* wants, so I want him
for her. Trying to put aside my reasons for wanting to see them together (which
is all about compassion for Ryoko) I find it quite a challenge to actually decide
if he does indeed deserve what he already has, what he has without trying and
seemingly without caring most of the time....the love of Ryoko.
My first answer, without thinking it out, would be "NO". She is much, much more
than him. He is not capable of caring as deeply as her, therefore always leaving
her wanting. But, I have been very hard on Tenchi at times, not always has he
really deserved it. So I am attempting to see Tenchi through Ryoko's eyes for a
moment. I think that may prove to be a little more interesting!
What does she see in him? Beyond the fact that she has her reasons to love him,
(that is another topic) what makes him even deserve to have any adult woman find
him attractive? Since it is so obvious that he MUST have something, I will try my
best to define it.
I suppose that the first thing that comes to my mind is that he is truly loyal
to his loved ones. He is actually amazingly devoted to his "adopted" family. "I
would die before I would forsake any one of them" is probably the most wonderful
thing that he has ever said, and something that elevates Tenchi way beyond the
unsure, nervous stuttering, inept boy that he can be percieved to be. Hearing him
say these words, and the fact that he has proved that the words were the truth,
would be intoxicating to someone like Ryoko who has not really known this kind of
loyalty before. Tenchi *is* brave. He doesn't really seem to believe it, but look
at what he has willingly confronted when put in a position to defend his
"family". He has put his life on the line for her, nobody in the universe has
ever done anything like that for her before. Someone who is willing to risk their
life for another....well, that kind of person does deserve to be deeply loved by
someone. Tenchi can be a hero, IS a hero, albiet a reluctant one.
The family itself is an anchor for Ryoko, as is Tenchi's low key personality. For
all his nervousness around the girls, Tenchi has a calming soul. Thinking about
how easy going he has been through all the changes in his life, we have to assume
that he is absolutely willing to live with someone that is far different from
him, that having these people around has enriched his life more than he can even
fathom. Being raised in a tradional, old fashioned life has created a person that
has a deep sense of family and values that Ryoko must only have been able to
dream of. A man like Tenchi could grow to be would be happy to stay at home with
the woman he loves, be willing to do what he had to do to protect her, and never
betray her. I think Ryoko sees that in him.
There have been many scenes and moments that make me love Tenchi, even though I
usually want to shake him. Many of those scenes are with Ryoko. When he is kind
to her, we see how much just a small word of act means to her. One that comes to
mind is in the TV show, when she begs him to go off with her and not go save
Ayeka. "It sounds fun. I would love to go on a trip with you" And we see how
easy it would be for him to treat her that way more often. He has the capacity
for being gentle and loving with her, we also see it at the end of the Time and
Space adventures, the scene mentioned above, the end of the TV series, the
confrontation with OAV Kagato, his treatment of Zero, and in many places in MnE.
There are many more smaller moments that show me that Tenchi can be what Ryoko
wants. When I add to this the fact that there is some sort of psycic bond between
them that has never been explored, that they have a connection beyond what anyone
else has with either of them, I feel myself turning toward seeing Tenchi as
someone that very well may become the man that deserves Ryoko. I do believe
Tenchi loves her, much more than he realizes. And I know he needs her, that much
he knows too.
Tenchi has been cruel to Ryoko, that is a fact. I hate it, but I forgive him
because Ryoko does. Why has he been so tactless with her? Most of it has been
lashing out from frustration with her, she can be so totalIy alien to what he
has always believed to be the right way to act, the right way to be. In her need
to elict a positive response from him, she just pushes him to a point of no
return, creating the opposite reaction. When Tenchi shows her that he cares, even
a few words of kindness, she softens immediatly. If only he would notice this, he
would not have to push her away. And I think that with a bit of maturity Tenchi
wouldn't need to be so reactive. So, we can probably chalk this up to a draw,
both of them are equally at fault for the lack of communication that causes this
problem.
It is interesting to note the difference in the Tenchi we know when he is in
battle, or even as he prepares for it. When Tenchi is forced into a situation to
fight, his personality changes completely. He is no nonsense, completely intent
on the task at hand. Contrasting this with his "everyday" personality, it is like
night and day. And it is also interesting that at those times, he seems closest
to Ryoko. He seems to see her as who she is, and what she means to him, when
there is a crisis. Those moments always give her hope, and it is usually in those
moments that I see how she can love him.
The question of Tenchi deserving Ryoko can't be addressed without bringing up his
lowest moment. Most of you have heard my views of "The Slap" and what it represented to me. It
was certainly the most shocking scene in all of Tenchi history, and arguably the
saddest one. I feel like I know why Tenchi did it, and I have outlined it above.
It does not discount the act, nor does it forgive.
The one thing that redeems Tenchi was his reaction to what he had done. He showed
a great deal of remorse, and I believe he will never hit her (or any woman)
again. Because Ryoko finally reacted in a way that showed how truly hurt she was,
instead of bouncing back smiling, (she actually spoke to him in anger on the
roof "Don't...come near me") I think we saw Tenchi have a revelation. He could
lose her, he could have lost her then. But instead of showing relief that maybe
she would finally be over him, he came pretty close to groveling for her
forgivness. He opened up and spoke his feelings. He appeared more open and
compassionate than he has ever been. From that moment on, he seemed older, more
articulate and more in tune with his own feelings. Seeing him like this gives me
a glimpse of what kind of man he will be.
IF Tenchi can find his way to adulthood, becomes the person that she believes him
to be, if he can finally see that Ryoko is his greatest gift and treat her
accordingly.....
*That* man deserves Ryoko.
Kathleen
Tenchi Muyo! * Main Page