i just finished reading this and it’s nottttt it
ALSO IM SPOILING EVERYTHING LOL BE CAREFUL
firstly it’s a triangle love and it’s between brothers!!! mayday what’s this
only redeemable thing is the alpha turning into an omega since it’s a bit rare but even this, it was executed so badly because it wasn’t even revelant to the plot at all LOL
i could’ve opened the door to more introspection and how he adapts to his new life, or even on him realizing how privileged he was as an alpha and how injustices towards omegas r rough or sum shit bru
anyways it was so rushed and the baby was so unnecessary, it’s just appeared to make it look like this manhwa has depths when it doesn’t at all
in a chronological order here are the main events (if i recall correctly) so you can see for yourself how rushed it is
mc turns into omega > fucks the white haired brother > black haired brother is jealous + forces himself on the mc > a bit of shitty drama the mc fucks them again > the black hair guy is in love + forces his feelings on mc > mc reciprocates because the alpha is desperate > no more white hair guy (he just disappear until the extras) and they fuck blblabla oh! they have a baby> baby is born clap, this is shitty fiction
it might seem a lot but i promise it isn’t at ALL even the timeline is shitty bro, when the omega turns pregnant, justttt before finding out he says in the narration « we’ve been living together for some months » then the doc says « you’re 5 weeks pregnant » and then the couple realizes it was during the alpha’s ruth but like… it was before they moved out together HELP
anyways baibai this was so underwhelming
hiii i watched the anime last year and as im currently reading the manga, i wanted to share this essay abt bf that i had in my drafts for a while !!
sorry for the language i needed to use a machine translator since the original text is in french(￣∇￣")
anyways, here it is!!
"Fighting memories is futile, it's a battle you can't win."
Banana Fish is a shōjo manga written by Aikimi Yoshida, originally published in 1985 in the Bessatsu Shōjo Comic magazine. Its anime adaptation was released in 2018.
At times beloved, controversial, and misunderstood, Banana Fish is nevertheless a manga that leaves no one indifferent. And me too.
When I first watched Banana Fish, it was with my father. The anime immediately intrigued us because the plot was raw and unvarnished; stigmatized subjects, taboo in our society, were mentioned and shown on screen. Yet, beyond the bitterness of gangs, the mafia, human trafficking, constant rape, and omnipresent death, something even sweeter lurked; the social bonds that the characters in this series forged with each other.
We can say what we want about Banana Fish, but aside from its plot, which mainly revolves around gangs, the mafia, and drugs, what is most memorable remains the relationships that people have with each other. We can particularly talk about Ash and Eiji's relationship; a place stronger even than friendship, but no more than love in the sense of a couple, perhaps a brotherly place? Even that wouldn't be appropriate and wouldn't suffice to convey the full extent of their relationship. As I write this review, I think back to all those people who describe Ash and Eiji's relationship as romantic; I wonder, is it supposed to? No matter how many times I change my perspective, I find that it doesn't fit either. It also doesn't work because their relationship is too complex to be summed up in a single term; none of them truly and honorably describe it. Like humans, "me" and "you," each of our relationships is complex and different from the previous ones. Unfortunately, we have the unfortunate habit of wanting to stick a term to each of our relationships; we try to identify it, because it gives us a feeling of comfort (who would prefer to remain in the dark about the status of their relationship with someone?). However, this "unfortunate" habit causes harm to this relationship between Eiji and Ash. Indeed, identifying it amounts to putting it in a box, folding it, cutting it, crumpling it so that it can fit in. But by doing this, by wanting above all to stick a term on it, we lose its nuances, its subtleties. This bond, so strong, so intense, is nothing other than a bond, soul mates, yes, but how to explain the rest without losing the essence of their relationship? So, this is why I like the representation of social connections in Banana Fish; they are real, so much so that they are as confusing as the ones we face in our world.
Yet Banana Fish is not only Ash and Eiji's relationship, it's also their story, individually. That too is Ash and Max's relationship, the latter becoming a surrogate father for Ash, but also Yut Lung's relationship with his family which is a paradox; he shares the same blood as his enemies. We can also note the touching relationship between Micheal and Ash, who sees himself again in Micheal's place. To go further, I like the way each of the relationships progresses in the anime; Max and Jessica who learn more about each other and end up getting back together, the way Yut Lung seeks to fill his loneliness, even if it means becoming emotionally dependent on Blanca despite the fact that he only has a contract as a bodyguard for him... But I also like how the characters evolve; I was deeply moved by the way Eiji gains self-confidence and emerges from his depression, as well as the fact that Ash is able to trust and open up to Eiji, even if it means showing his most vulnerable sides, despite his trauma.
This aspect of Banana Fish moved me enormously and gave me faith in the best that humanity can offer to others: love, compassion, understanding. However, Banana Fish isn't just a story about human relationships. It's also a work that revolves around the worst that humanity is capable of: murder, rape, human trafficking, etc.
While watching Banana Fish, I was shaken by the brutality of the series; each episode was an emotional rollercoaster. When I think back on it, my thoughts turn particularly to Ash. Ash, who, at 17 years old, has experienced more suffering than he should have. Ash, who, on the outside, appeared tough and unbreakable, but who hid immeasurably deep within. Ash, who, in Eiji, found a source of hope.
Although I know how to distinguish between fiction and reality, Ash's character deeply moved me. How is it imaginable that a child could experience so many atrocities? His character is so tragic, so realistic... I wish he had a more forgiving life, something far removed from the madness of the mafia, gangs, and New York.
Regarding the artistic direction of Banana Fish, I find it fascinating; the animation is simple, certainly, but it is full of vitality, raw emotions; it is on edge. What is even more astonishing is when the animation freezes; for example when Ash cries on Eiji's knees, the animation stops, there are even sorts of glitters but the focus is fully on them; the moment freezes for a few seconds and we let ourselves be overwhelmed by the emotion of the present moment because the scene is touching and calls for our compassion; we are human. In addition, the OST is breathtaking; it is varied and we lose our minds, at one moment the music bursts forth and at another it calms down. We find everything, whether in musical varieties or in terms of the instruments used. And then, on the other hand, the OST is memorable. When "Alsan" starts playing, my heart stumbles a little more than before.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Banana Fish is no exception. Personally, I found the ending extremely moving; if only Ash knew how much he was loved. The simple fact that he let himself die because he knew he could never protect Eiji is heartbreaking. Eiji, the only reason he lived; his source of joy, the light that bursts forth and chases away the darkness. If he couldn't protect Eiji, why would he choose to stay alive? He knew in that moment, sitting in the library reading the letter Eiji had written for him, that no matter where he was, no matter the distance, Eiji would always love him, despite his "real self," the person he is so ashamed of. So, overwhelmed with joy, and the comfort of being loved unconditionally and honestly, he let himself go. He knew full well that he wouldn't be able to live without Eiji, but his very existence was dragging Eiji into danger; even though he struggled to protect him, even though he fought body and soul for it, he chose to change his destiny there, that of desolation and death, to make way for that of life. So that Eiji could live, safe and sound, out of danger, out of himself. It was all his love, his final act of love that he performed for Eiji.
In conclusion, Banana Fish is a masterpiece; it left a deep impression on me on many occasions (including the moment Shorter dies, the times we learned more about Ash's past, as well as the ending where Eiji recites the letter he wrote to Ash as he lies dying). Yet, I'm certainly not the only one who was moved. Many others were certainly moved as well. I wish more people would come to appreciate Banana Fish, because it is a work that fully deserves it.
lollll anyways i think we all need therapy after this gut wrenching experience
since there’s a physical edition of this shit that just came out in my country i need to get this off my chest: i despise this story
i love historical manhwa, i don’t mind omegaverse and representation of different cultures (even if they are fictional) is a blessing, it gives hope for the future.
however this story is so superficial and boring
what i hated the most is that in the omegaverse stuff, you have two binary options : either the omega is extremely over feminine or, as a reactionary way to placate this issue, they make the omega so cold and mean to make him manlier (or something) just to reveal later on when both the omega and alpha are together that he’s just a little kawaii uwu femboy inside LOL
i’m not saying this only because i hate this story but these are clichés present in almost every omegaverse, and maybe you’ll realize that if you think a little bit about it. really it’s everywhere !!
and anyways, the dynamic of the omega and alpha is the prime example of this reactionary mindset
if it was only that i wouldn’t hate it so much, but these lack of plot and its tangibility, or even that lack of characters’ depths outside of clichés is so urgh, mainly because this trope of the « little boy that adored the ML then went on a quest to conquer his heart » is so overly used and so cliché cringe
i hate this omfg
really i LOVE it when characters are into introspection and self discovery but really it disgusts me how much masturbation stuff and references to sex are present in this
everyone has been a teenager once, and as a matter of fact everyone has also been through those teenagers hormones BUT here it’s just WAY too much and it’s so fucking disgusting
maybe i’m overreacting but i felt like i was reading cp at some point, like yes teens being horny is a reality but please don’t throw it in my face with the excuse that it’s self discovery. really it only disgusted me to read kids masturbating, but what’s annoying me the most is that it’s normalized behind the pretext that this story is meant to be « realistic » and about self discovery, like i said earlier
i’ve read only the first 2 volumes but i frankly hated it. (and mind u i actually made the effort to buy the physical copy to support the author LOL)
anyways, to conclude and my give my finals thoughts on it i would like to clarify that’s it’s not the plot that’s bothering me and what themes are being discussed here, it’s the way those difficult topics are being represented. on another hand, i much preferred reading « happy of the end » (which shares a lot of topics in common with this one) because i felt like it was portrayed WAY better, and mostly because what was portrayed (even if disturbing) wasn’t excused or glorified by some pretexts but was being shown as a way to denunciate them.
while i know characters are flawed, i really didn’t like the way the top was forcing himself on the bottom. there really isn’t any morals to learn from reading this, instead of being about self discovery it felt like watching a toxic relationship growing between vulnerable individuals who are using their vulnerabilities to hurt each other lot like??
Shunta and Tamaki are childhood friends with a year of difference, but Shunta feels something differ...
- Author: Enjo
- Genres: Yaoi
Shunta and Tamaki are childhood friends with a year of difference, but Shunta feels something differ...
- Author: Enjo
- Genres: Yaoi
i kept wondering if i should continue this shitty manhwa but since the author is a bitch and has a weird fetish/obsession with poor people yet complains about them and makes death threats to said poor people (that she writes about mind you!!!) reading her bs on illegal sites (bc can’t afford), nvm ⁄(⁄ ⁄·⁄ω⁄·⁄ ⁄)⁄
this author is an insensitive bitch and i don’t even know why me and others people thought she would have a bit of empathy for us poor people when she writes abt rich ppl raping them #so hot #so dystopian #cringe lol she’s so cringe i don’t even have words for her cringe behavior sometimes we just gotta accept that some people r bitch and that’s all.
thanks god she’s just a manhwa author and not a country leader bc we would be living in hell for sure
anyways fuck her and her mindset
btw say all u want and come at me for having an ad hominem argumentative but i don’t careeeee fuck her and her shitty manwha
reading peak bc tomorrow i have le bac yaoi is my only escape from this cruel world (i can’t study anymore)
the way the mc’s lashes grew longer chapter by chapter the twinkification is real
this manhua feels like a toxic relationship with your ex
so good but so annoying and the slow burn is starting to abuse me
bruh the story was honestly really good but the baby trapping and all this bs is pmo so bad could’ve been the industrial revolution of yaoi
Ladies, homos and saints (because apparently that’s what you are) after years of reflection (5 minutes actually) i have finally concluded that I, Kaolin sama, still thinks this « Alpha Trauma » is ass.
Trauma? Yes, the community of this shitty manga gave me some. (thanks for the death threats)
Alpha? Yes, that’s what some of y’all think you are: a cringy male alpha.
The pacing is slow, the characters are empty as fuck, the only places we’ve ever seen so far probably are : the school, the home and maybe the bar i don’t know.
This is my opinion thanks for respecting it as it is and if you feel angry at the sight of my opinion please find a hobby to unleash your rage now bai bai
-Kaolin
i love ennead (been here since 2020) and lemme tell you the story rn is so ass it’s way too long and slow paced bruh
thanks god there r progress concerning horus and seth but otherwise its soooooo ass bruh