The true antagonist(s) of Sola
12 eps into Sola and I'm a great deal more convinced about that spanking Matsuri needs. Assuming the final act of ep 12 is brought to fruition, it would be the 2nd time that Matsuri grants Aono 'life' where it's not wanted. Saving lives is generally seen as a noble, benevolent act of the highest order but it could be the cruelest thing when the object of salvation desires it not. It is worse when the act of resurrection was undergirded with selfish motives which fueled Aono's transformation into a denizen of the night by Matsuri. For suicide victims, bodily resuscitation is an incomplete rescue attempt which may result in greater harm. One also needs to resurrect the mind (ie grant a reason for living) for the revival to be permanent. I think of Rin in SHUFFLE! who understood this and gave Kaede a purpose to live. (Although at the expense of endangering his own life by boosting Kaede's psycho stats)
Never mind Matsuri's irresponsible revival, Aono, in spite of her weakness, struggled to redisover purpose in life with her newfound yaka powers, making the best of her sad existence even if it was founded on a lie/illusion. But Matsuri had to interfere again, to take away the only reason for living by restoring Aono's humanity at the cost of her own life. Man, the irony, the cruelty and the need for a good spanking. Speaking of irony, I always palmface when anime attempts to tackle the issue of existentialism. It's not fun to see the protagonist grapple endlessly with the tired issue of "So do I exist or not?" masquerading as pretentious philosophical questions for 8 yr olds. That's one reason I couldn't get past Zegapain 08. Everyone in Sola seem to assume Yorito's non-existence since he's a shadow of the deceased, a fabrication of Aono's memory yada yada. In fact that appears to be one of Yorito's driving reasons for ending Aono's tragic dream. I don't know. The very fact that Yorito 'rebels' against Aono and goes his wayward paths seem to suggest that he behaves beyond Aono's 'programming'. Isn't that the best evidence of his unique individuality? So what if one is made of paper? I'm made of dust and I consider myself very much alive with the ability to love, lust and lament. For failing to see that and attempting to increase the woes of the lovely Aono, Yorito should be recycled as toilet-paper.
It's been a while since the leads of a series are the real 'baddies' of the show (the last being GUNXSWORD) even though it's unintentional for Sola. I don't know how it's going to end come ep 13 but I think Aono's going to get the short end of the stick, AGAIN. Still looking forward to Sola 13 though.
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June 25th, 2007 - 16:15
I got the feeling that sola shot itself to hell after finishing this episode, but I couldn’t pinpoint why. Thanks for pointing out the stupidity of sola’s message. On a lighter note, I’ll be Aono’s special oniichan any day.
June 25th, 2007 - 21:04
Heh, I still love Sola to bits with ep 13. Despite the poor reasonings by Matsuri and Yorito, there’s a lot more to the series that makes it a worthy watch; music, character design/development, well animated action, good drama etc.
And yes, I’d be Aono’s nii-san any day even if I be made from used newspapers. Just make sure she does the waterproofing properly so that we can go on our wet dates.
June 25th, 2007 - 21:13
Noto-timespace more than enough makes up for the logical fallacies of sola.
That being said, it does make Matsuri a more “human” character. She was just lonely after all this time being alone and cursed with immortality. Unless you have to perform a Sisyphean feat or something, living forever is bound to get boring sooner or later…
That being said, I wonder who was the original Yaka? Was it Matsuri or was she also converted to a Yaka? Still… I guess this questions will remain unanswered I guess.
Hope they don’t screw up the ending.
June 25th, 2007 - 22:33
If Sola series taught me anything, it is don’t assume you know the whole story until enough informations has been revealed to prove something beyond reasonable doubt. Matsuri herself admitted to her selfish aim on resurrecting Aono, the first time. We see the sword coming, but I DID NOT SEE IT HIT ANYTHING YET! Law of anime says Cliff hangers always goes the way opposite of what is normally expected, and there is no reason why Sola, which can be said to be full of overused cliches if someone wants to be critical of the series, should be an exception. We need to see, beyond reasonable doubt, where that sword was going, and whether or not it arrived at its intended goal. Are we sure there isn’t another power that sword has? What is the extent we know about Matsuri’s power? She may not have been honing her skills, but being the elder Yaka, she might have other powers we have not seen. Who was the one erasing people’s memory? Finally, where is Koyori?
June 25th, 2007 - 22:36
By the way, the poor reasoning was made by characters, and the choices wasn’t forced on them. Knowing they are fallible beings who have made mistakes in past makes their choice of action believable. The producers and the writers have done a good job to make the plot flow the way they want, very smoothly. I wonder if somebody might change their mind at the last moment again, though.
June 26th, 2007 - 01:18
Kurogane: If I read my lines right, Matsuri seemed to have been born yaka since she’s hasn’t once been under the blue blue sky. Anyhow I don’t quite think that’s essential to the plot
As for the ‘human’ aspect of Matsuri, it’s as if her character development just stopped short of realising the key issue – life-giving is not be taken light and with great responsibility. She realised resurrecting Aono was a mistake so she attempts to rectify it by granting her life a second time, once again royally screwing her life. I don’t know, either Matsuri’s not thinking this through enough or the writers want us to hate her XD
Heh, maybe ep 13 would prove me wrong.
maglor: Haha! I’m wondering about Koyori myself. Am hoping she wouldn’t be Aono’s consolation prize in a Yorito-less world come ep 13. As for Matsuri’s full intent, I guess it would be all clear in ep 13. But the plot having built up to this point, should another sword function emerge or Matsuri’s elder yaka power awakes, it could result in deus ex machina which would utterly ruin the end. For the sake of maintaining the story integrity, I hope the sword connects with Aono.
Btw I hope this post didn’t give the impression I think poorly of the series. Sola is an excellent production imho, especially the story flow that you mentioned. It’s a great deal more tightly knitted than many series out there. Every secondary character contributed to the plot in a significant manner for the entire story to gel. However, that doesn’t mean I much agree with their motivations especially Matsuri’s. I guess I just expected greater maturity from her. Let’s hope ep 13 change my mind.
June 26th, 2007 - 04:24
Wow, after watching the episode, I thought the exact same thing. By giving Aono her life back, Matsuri is essentially repeating her same mistake. Perhaps, by giving Aono back her life, she is allowing her to properly commit the suicide she so long desired. Granted, this would be an incredibly morbid ending, but it’s the only way I can see the story ending without deus ex machina.
June 26th, 2007 - 09:22
For once I am given exactly what I desire and yet I’m not happy at all. Strange isn’t it?
Whichever way the sword falls (ahaha pun) I win.
*If Matsuri goes through with reviving Aono I will be justified in my loathing of her character since early on in the series.
*Actually anything she does now will highlight her essentially self-serving nature.
*The morbid triple fatality ending will go well with my general sense of aesthetics.
*A sudden deus ex Machina will cement my belief that such genre completely lacks a sense of storytelling integrity.
*Koyori (or Mana???) as a concilation prize will only prove the emotional cowardice of the writer(s) and the percieveded audience.
I will win. But none of this makes me happy. What’ll I do? What do I want?
Oh and does anyone else think that Matsuri’s power is incredibly appropriate for her character in general? Where ever she is things (objects, relationships, peace of mind, etc.) fall apart and are ruined? There’s my weekly dose of Matsluturi-hating.
*sigh of relief*
June 26th, 2007 - 11:46
“Speaking of irony, I always palmface when anime attempts to tackle the issue of existentialism. It
June 26th, 2007 - 16:11
So the whole thing is some odder version of a Twilight Zone episode that could be titled “Who’s looking at Who?”
If Yorito is a quantum snapshot of some past Yorito…. as Mr. Spock might say, “a difference which makes no difference is no difference” Just because Yorito B has no causal link to Yorito A doesn’t make B any less important to the people around him.
Right.. whatever… it is existentialism for beginners — but its still been a rather interesting ride. Waiting for the last loop of the coaster now I guess.
June 26th, 2007 - 16:47
The Sola OST is out! Hip hip hurray!
June 26th, 2007 - 17:20
I have to disagree with the life giving is a great responsibility bit. To say that doctors are responsible for looking after the well being of patients after what they try to kill themselves is a bit silly. First off there are many pwople who require saving in this world there is hardly a time to pause and make sure people take their medications as told, not enough doctors and it is technically an invasion of privacy. Secondly its the job of every man to try and save his fellow human if possible, its called decency. Just because one suicidal prick lacks the courage to go on in life does not mean the onus is on the rescuer. You cannot give a person a reason to live, really they have to find it themselves. If they find no purpose then send them to a war zone and push ‘em in front of an IED. That way those who want to live have one less threat to worry about. Terrorist get to kill an infidel and the West doesn’t lose troops, everybody wins.
Personally I would have revived her just to slap Aono around a bit for such an idiot act, dying for a doormat for shame! I like the girl and all, but sorry when she does something stupid she deserves to be slapped. Suicide is in itself a selfish act there is no moral high ground here, sorry Aono’s epic maneuver failed to gain any pity or respect. Living for a doormat is not living. I also fail to understand why these Yaka don’t go play super hero at night. Hell they could certainly do it. Aono could have led the war against virgin sacrifices by a backward culture with her paper army.
So long as Mana gets a happy ending I’ll take what comes with a smile. Hell no rotten SOB is going to commit suicide on my watch if I can help it, Aono included. Besides how can you blame Matsuri for wanting to have to hawt yuri time with the lovely Aono? If anything they are both victims of their sentimental attachment to Yorito. It is because of the doormat and his memory that they can find no happiness.
As for turning Yorito into toilet paper bad idea. It has a use and is not a fitting punishment. Rebound as an emo kid’s dairy now that is justice!
Existentialism? Bah! sophistry. Can you manipulate objects? If I throw you under a tank do you get crushed? If you answer yes to any of the two, you exist. If you answered yes to the latter you most certainly exist, make that did exist…
June 26th, 2007 - 18:34
Finally there’s someone with similar opinion. I feel a bit sorry for Aono for getting bashed almost in every forum I see, while I think that her actions is within the border of rationality, not that I agree to.
Aono killing herself is wrong, but Matsuri reviving her on her own whim is dead wrong. Many doctors nowadays only care aboout how much they can milk out from their patients, regardless of the patiens feelings. In a worst probable case, should parents who just give birth to a child let their child grow unattended? Now after Aono has a reason to live, Matsuri comes by and thought that she can’t agree to her reason, not that she give her one, so she decides to take the reason away? That’s plain selfish. Aono hasn’t even hurt anyone until Matsuri provoking her to, because she still deosn’t go away.
June 27th, 2007 - 09:18
Jimbo: Reviving one so that she can properly kill herself.. wow that’s one cruel/morbid motivation indeed
I really hope Matsuri has a better reason for restoring Aono to human than merely acting on ‘good intentions’ of ending Aono’s sad illusion which isn’t much of a solution at all. 
Zzz… : I hate to admit it but your conclusions on the various finale scenarios are spot-on. Still I’ll persist in my moderate stance on Matsuri/Sola, hoping the writers could cook up something credible yet memorable. And interesting correlation with Matsuri’s powers. Extending it to Aono’s, maybe her life/dream of being with Yorito is also as transient and temporary as the origami she creates?
Epyon/vexx: I was elated when Yorito and Matsuri arrived at that conclusion so fast in ep 10. Unfortunately the proceedings of ep 11 and 12 suggest that Yorito did not understand nor accept the truth behind Matsuri’s wise words then and persisted in his “I’m not Yorito. Just let me die” tirade eliciting pain from Aono and yawns from the audience. It irked me that the insightful viewers like you and and vexx get it already but Yorito continues to flog the dead horse
Beowulf Lee: Woot! Thx for the heads-up!
Crusader: I was going to put up a stubborn defense of the doctor, life and irresponsible Matsuri bits until I read,
>Besides how can you blame Matsuri for wanting to have to hawt yuri time with the lovely Aono?
And I knew any defense would be utterly crushed by the weight of sheer truth in that statement. XD
But seriously I thought this was a great line
>If anything they are both victims of their sentimental attachment to Yorito. It is because of the doormat and his memory that they can find no happiness.
How true. Now I have a new hope that Takeshi sword connects with Yorito and erases his memory from Aono/Matsuri allowing them to elope to Yuriyakalolichopland. A most glorious finale for Sola!
of course we’re not forgetting koyori.
Kresnik: thanks for summarising my thoughts in such a succinct manner. it’s sad but increasingly i’m getting the feeling hospitals (and some doctors) are extending life to milk more cash out of patients on the pretext of saving lives. One of the worst fears of many I know is a long-drawn dehabilitating illness that saps not only financially but also literally the lifeforce of love ones with extended healthcare. These same folks have expressed preference for a swift and ‘natural’ death by disease than to artificially prolong life with limited finances and spread the aura of death to the caregivers. Oops sorry to digress but I suppose great is the series Sola for it to invoke such reflections about life.
June 30th, 2007 - 13:06
Stripey.
Thank you for responding to my column. It seems you have missed my debut post since I did mention Hikaru Nanase. I recommend you checking it out.
July 1st, 2007 - 00:19
My bad abt missing Hikaru on your debut post
At least I now know she’s Itou Masumi. Enjoyed your bgm posts very much! Looking fwd to part 3 
July 6th, 2007 - 01:11
Hey bro, thought I should make a comment since I’ve watched this show from beginning to end as well.
I think there are no bad guys in a show such as this: not Aono, not Matsuri, and not Takeshi and Mayuko either (though they were painted as such for a long time). In my mind this isn’t a good vs bad show, and people / yaka aren’t fighting for some specific cause.
What they’re perhaps fighting to hold onto is companionship, stave off loneliness, and love (ok, my theory anyhow): Matsuri ressurects Aono for companionship; Aono does a Yorito papier mache because she cannot do without Yorito’s presence.
I’ll probably ignore the existential angst Yorito encounters in the series: he is doomed the moment he realised he’s pulp because he will a) ask why he’s created; b) want to be uncreated; or c) find his bride ala Frankenstein.
Ok I digress, but don’t you think that he did d) All of the above?
Anyhow, the series was totally enjoyable for a good cast of characters with believable (IMHO) motivations, great scripting and pacing, and good voice acting. I hated the animation quality though. And until we chat about it again, all the best for your wedding dinner!