Richer than romance – The Taiga-Ryuji relationship
Having caught a random ep of Toradora (turns out it was ep 15) on TV last night, I was rather surprised how enjoyable it was despite not having seen the preceding 8 eps. 15 min into the ep, I realised it was the Taiga-Ryuji relationship which intrigued me.
Platonic relationships fascinate me because all my previous 'platonic friendships' had encroached on romantic territories. Hence, I'm rather envious of 'couple' friends who can have such intimate friendships without ever crossing that fine line. Taiga-Ryuji appears to be one such example. It doesn't help that I hail from the school of thought that believes love needs to be built upon friendship/relationship. So my natural instincts were to root for Taiga-Ryuji as a romantic couple given their solid friendship. However, the ep showed me that what they shared was richer and rarer than some plain vanilla romance. Personally I don't believe in platonic relationships between attractive persons. Taiga-Ryuji, despite their tsun-tsun and scary eyes respectively, have their own unique charms that I would deem attractive. I suppose their relationship works because they are fixated on another whom, by their reckoning, is much worthier.
I'm not sure about the direction the anime intends for Taiga-Ryuji but I hope their buddy status would remain. For now, it's a beautiful relationship which needs not blossom into love. Now to download ep 7.
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January 23rd, 2009 - 15:01
I believe this is the reason for the ED song.
January 23rd, 2009 - 18:17
When I started watching Toradora! I had this dreadful feeling of watching ZnT all over again. Same VA, same compact sized female lead, even same way of calling main male lead. I nearly gave up on Toradora! because of that. Thankfully I decided to give the show a chance and I’m glad I did. Taiga unlike Louise shows some decent character development and keeps scoring more and more points on my personal score board.
January 23rd, 2009 - 22:43
maglor: Heh, I hope the writers scribe to this too
Kain: I refuse to watch ZnT 2 and 3 so my assessment of Louise is confined to Season 1. However I find Louise very endearing in S1. Her behaviour is well backed up by her circumstances and the physical violent was just the anime overplaying the humour aspect. Taiga on the other hand I haven’t grown to love since I’ve effectively seen only 1-6 and 15
Still her reln with Ryuji is great and I’m sure she’d grow on me as I return to ep 7 and onwards 
January 23rd, 2009 - 23:04
“…it
January 26th, 2009 - 22:34
Ah great point on the theme of soulmates. It’s rarely explored in the genre and it’s good to see Toradora delve into it with such maturity. I thought the Ami-Kitamura friendship to be an another example of such a wonderful relationship.
January 28th, 2009 - 01:50
I loathed the anime versions of loli-tsundere in ZnT or others. OTOH, I adore this show, Taiga, Ryuuji, and the other dysfunctional characters. Why is that?
Well, one — they aren’t the same. Taiga starts evolving the moment we meet her (as do the other characters as they get comfortable with each other).
I find I’m going to be fine no matter how the series ends I like the characters so much. However, I figure that if they end the series with the release of the final novel — they’ll probably sync up. And whether that means Taiga&Ryuuji are soul comrades or have that epiphany that leads to romance/completion – fine with either (even if Ryuuji somehow ends up with Minorin or Ami or no one).
I have to say Sumire is a highlight of the season for me – she’s such an offbeat character (upper class success proper student who talks like a yakuza and acts like a tomboy field commander).
Anything else I write would just be a replay of what relentlessflame posted.
January 28th, 2009 - 14:53
@ Vexx:
I second that wholeheartedly XD
Toradora is less “tsundere-based” compare to ZnT, Shana and others.
Toradora has a strong idea of friendship, which makes it feel like a high school version of “honey and clover”
January 30th, 2009 - 07:00
Vexx: I haven’t seen much of Sumire yet though Kitamura’s behaviour in ep 15 is surely tied to her. Myself I’m more fascinated with Ami. The short blurb Minorin had along the river bank with Ryuji intrigued me too.
Vin-nii: I have to say I was fooled into thinking it was just mindless tsundere-fest for the first 3 eps where Taiga was excessively violent for poor justifications. I’m glad the series came out of that quickly.