The Golden Orchid
joined Jan 19, 2017
The extended discussion on visual storytelling subtlety was enjoyable, I'm glad this is one of the few places where such discussions can happen.
This story very often doesn’t work like that; readers have to triangulate, as it were... It’s not unique in that respect, and doing it isn’t especially complicated, but it does call for a slightly different kind of attention by readers than do many other apparently similar stories.
Despite how uncomplicated it is in theory, I think it is rare because portraying a character well is already difficult while using a consistent methodology, much less through splintered, contradictory messages. To portray that sort of emotional complexity requires mastery over your art and your characters and an ability to hit all the right notes of ambiguity inherent to real people.
Going to the latest chapter, it was so satisfying seeing the lines that have appeared before in their proper context, but still carrying the emotional weight from their first appearance. Like page 37, Touko's anguished monologue isn't given as much screen time as before, but the original visuals are hard to forget.
Yuu had all of the best moments here. Suggesting talking to A-chan's friends/family, the phone, asking for her favorite color of gerberas. I guess it comes from a certain impartiality of not having past definitions of A-chan.
I wonder what the last two pages mean. Touko is feeling positive enough to give herself a pep talk, but Yuu seems to be torn over how Touko's doing fine. God why is Yuu always looking at Touko's back? The day that changes will also be the day Yuu finally stops being afraid to catch up to her.