[LoGH] An Analysis of Siegfried Kircheis [Some Spoilers for Valley of White Silver]
Lee Thompson (shadow@nwlink.com)
Mon, 04 Sep 2000 14:52:59 -0700
While going over the scripts to Valley of White Silver and watching it over
and over again doing script edits and timing for fansubs I made a few
observations that might become an interesting discussion.
** SPOILER WARNING **
I talk, in detail, about several scenes of the Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Gaiden
"Valley of White Silver" arc. If you have not seen it and you'd rather not be
spoiled - skip this message now.
One comment that I'll make right off the bat is that I wish Tokuma hadn't been
working so hard trying to make this accessible to new viewers. There are so
many Sieg-Reinhard-Annerose "when we were younger" flashbacks that it gets old
pretty fast.
Also, as with most prequels, any threats to the characters we are already
familiar with do not carry the same dramatic impact as an 'in the present'
story would. Also the fact that this is a fairly cliched story with way too
much exposition on the part of the ne'er-do-wells that what we have here is
little more than a character study. (I think after I am finished with the
fansub of the 4 episode arc I will reedit it as a movie with some of the more
obvious stuff cut. Fear not, no footage from other anime series will appear
;))
What is somewhat interesting is Siegfried Kircheis' internal dialogue during
this -- in and out of flashback sequences puts a bit of a different spin on
his character and his relationships with Reinhard and Annerose.
1) It's implied - rather bluntly and repeatedly - that Siegfried perhaps
became good chums with Reinhard solely to pursue Annerose as a love interest.
2) It's also implied during an internal monologue that Siegfried will fight
with Reinhard... "for now". As if to say, I'll be your ally until Annerose
returns my love for her.
So is Siegfried just an opportunist? Or perhaps some of his friendship with
Reinhard is genuine but much of his sacrificial nature is to prove himself to
Annerose. Or perhaps the heavy handidness of the Siegfried-Reinhard-Annerose
relationship is an effort by Tokuma to dispel the Yaoi fanfic/fan artwork?
--
Lee Thompson
shadow@nwlink.com
ICQ: 19508091
