Goddess S*g** - > *Spoiler warning!*

[=totem=]

I only wonder how Urd's becoming a 1st class goddess will affect her relations to Skuld. This might get very interesting. After all, if Urd keeps the licence, Skuld should give at least same level of reverence she gives to Bell, eh?

As to following chapters, you're right about that badge - it reflects the feelings of the one wearing it. Peorth gives the badge to K1, and the task before Urd is to get a 'Smiley face' in 24 hours. In other words, 'make K1 happy!'.

Then we get to the point where Urd tells the truth about her first try, She lied about it! The goddess in the testing center where she went said, she feels it would be better if Urd did not become a 1st class goddess. So effectively she was disqualified even before she had a shot at it.

Then she asks K1 about what he considers 'happiness' and he comes up with alot of nonsense, to finally say he's happy everyday. Urd asks why the badge dosn't show it, and finally Bell helps him out by suggesting it might be broken. Urd then suggests it needs to be tested... and summons some wind to roll Bell's skirt up.

Now, do you really need me to tell you what the badge does?

Yeah, thought so ;>

Then we're treated to Bell, holding the edge of her skirt up, and asking "is this happiness?" <goes off to bow in front of his Garage Kit of Bell>

Urd breaks the silence, saying she will think of something else. And guess who barges nakid into the bathroom when K1 is trying to relax This time K1 is saved by Urd's lack of experience with 1st class powers - she simply falls asleep right there

--
=t=

[PerentieFan]

=totem= said:

Urd then suggests it needs to be tested... and summons some wind to roll Bell's skirt up.

Now, do you really need me to tell you what the badge does?

Yeah, thought so ;>

Figures that Peorth would be the mind behind that device... ;D

I guess she has some latitude regarding what kind of happiness to test for, as I doubt testing a goddess's skills at sexually exciting males is a standard test.

[Timotheus]

I think it's safe to say that Skuld would continue to show her sister the same high degree of respect and deference she always has even if Urd took over her mother's position in hell or was made chief goddess in heaven. It's Skuld, and while she truely loves her eldest sister, she also believes she knows her for what she is and isn't about to kow-tow to her.


The device isn't that specific, it only measures Keiichi's general state of being, not what causes the happiness. So Bell's legs, one of her special meals, testing a new motorcycle, or Skuld and Urd going on a weeks vacation (without conditions) would probably raise the meter's level equally well.


I believe what the goddess was trying to imply to Urd was that the authorities (represented by her) didn't think Urd becoming a first class goddess was a good idea and they were going to make it difficult for her. And did she really want to go through all of that just to be more heavily regulated and restricted in what she could do? (And thereby increase her chances of getting in trouble when she violated those rules, which based on her previous track record she was bound to do.)

However, it's also clearly implied that Urd had a right to take the test if she insisted, but passing it might not be a good thing for her. Urd, being smart enough to understand the implied threat, just walks away. Neither agreeing with nor fighting the situation. I'm sure she half expected it, but was hoping, just like with her angel.

But she didn't want to upset Belldandy though, who was obviously all excited about this and was sure her big sister (whom she did look up to) would make the grade, so instead Urd just blows it all off with a lame excuse anyone else might see through but Bell believes implicitly.


This also provides evidence that Belldandy may never have realized that Urd was faced with such prejudice while they were growing up and only knew that her big sister was always in "trouble" and needed her support.

(It also could be a possible explaination to Bell's statement in Terrible Master Urd that Urd might not have been aware of her dual heritage - Urd never mentioned it to Belldandy for fear of upsetting her, and Bell, who never thinks of trouble until it appears, didn't realize it until Kami-sama pointed it out.)

That Peorth was assigned to reassess the situation and offer the test to Urd implies that pressure has been applied up in heaven to redress things, and the only person who might be doing that is her father or someone acting as his agent. And if daddy is taking a hand in his oldest daughter's affairs finally, he may have some interests in his other two daughters as well.

(I wrote a fairly lengthy piece about how I thought Peorth might have been sent in the fourth goddess arc as a blind agent (unaware of her true purpose) to test Keiichi and Bell's relationship. If so, then Peorth might have a track record of doing semi-personal errands for Bell's parents.)

There's a lot of possiblities as to what might come of this.

[Timotheus]

Well, that certainly took an interesting turn or two. Mr. Fujishima sure led us to the brink and then surprise, surprise. (He's got a twisted sense of humor, what can I say.)

By the way, the bunnies on the umbrella sure look a lot like Usagi's (and Naoko's) signature rabbits from Sailor Moon, anybody else think there's a possible connection? They DO know each other fairly well.

[TheMisfitDragon]

Yes! They totally reminded me of her little rabbits.

And that ending was so very obnoxious. Ticks me off. I need closure!^^; I'm going away and can't get BitTorrent to work on this notebook computer. So I won't be able to get anything new until October. And that "what problems are next?" or whatever the comment was... bah...-_-;;

But yes, it was cute. The rainbow was a nice touch... kind of made up for her screwing things up earlier.9_9

But yeah, I've gotta agree with the twisted sense of humor comment. Makes me think of the microwave machine and Urd's comment about cats.9_9; *sigh*

Ah well, I've gotta go... getting yelled at and I'm not done packing and I leave tomorrow.^^;;;

[linkinstreet]

i doubt that fujishima sensei will make urd a 1st class goddess. wheres the fun in that?

[Earth Spirit 3rd]

The umbrella was cute. So was the rainbow.

I still hope that there will be more details on the identity of the goddess who discouraged Urd, and her motivations. Maybe that is what the little cliffhanger at the end was referring to.

That aside, I join in predictions that Urd will not remain a 1st class goddess for long.

[Timotheus]

I think maybe she will keep it, though it may be a close thing.

I'm sure there are going to be complications, but if the movie is still in the future like I think, than Urd having her first class license would help explain how she's able to summon that humongous lightening spell to attack the scyth monster so quickly.

(I think Mr. Fujishima may have known that Urd would be a first class goddess by the time the movie occurs, so he wrote the story that way. Now he's finally getting around to telling how it happens.)

[Timotheus]

Well, true to form, I think I've pieced together a little homage to a fellow artist Mr. Fujishima has snuck into this arc. It took a few readings, but the toast comment kept me trying to figure out what was going on and here's what I think it is.

The points that make up this homage are as follows...

(The nightmare Urd's having is important to the over-all story, showing as it does her deepest fears, but isn't part of the homage.)

Urd wakes up late on a day she has an important test, then races around the house trying to get prepared.

Peorth and Skuld are arguing over sharing a Cream Bun.

Urd runs out of the house, in such a rush to find Keiichi and get started on her test that she forgets her clothes.

Reminded of this, she dresses herself in what appears to be a school uniform. (Because she's taking a final exam?)

She then demands a slice of toast from Peorth, who askes why she needs that as it won't make her run any faster. Urd insists, then zooms off on her broom while Skuld and Peorth comment on her chances.

Now what old manga schoolgirl character was noted for always waking up too late to make it to class, forgetting things as she frantically tried to get ready to leave, and then racing off to school with a slice of toast in her mouth. And also loved cream buns.

I could be wrong, but combined with the bunny umbrella later on I think Mr. Fujishima is giving Sailormoon the ol' tip of the hat.

I wouldn't be surprised if "The Messenger Of Happiness" could be interpreted as another phrase in keeping with the gag.

Also, in case you've forgotten it, it was neat to see Keiichi's old "Dating For Dummies" book make a reappearance.

[Timotheus]

Just as an additional comment on chapter 191, I tried looking up exactly what was being implied by Bell's statement about how she'd always wanted to share an umbrella in the rain with Keiichi. As expected, this has a specific symbolic meaning, which fits in with what was going on in the story.

From a website translation of a J=Pop songs lyrics...

(*) Being under the same umbrella with one's lover (in Japanese, ai-ai-gasa, love love umbrella) is a traditional metaphor in Japanese poetry. Walking together under the rain is the epitome of a romantic mood to the average Japanese.

A sketched umbrella with the couple's names written on both sides of the handle is the Japanese equivalent of a heart with initials in it.

So a boy and girl sharing an umbrella in the rain strongly symbolizes that there is a romantic connection between them in both manga and anime.

[PerentieFan]

Timotheus said:

Just as an additional comment on chapter 191, I tried looking up exactly what was being implied by Bell's statement about how she'd always wanted to share an umbrella in the rain with Keiichi. As expected, this has a specific symbolic meaning, which fits in with what was going on in the story.

From a website translation of a J=Pop songs lyrics...

(*) Being under the same umbrella with one's lover (in Japanese, ai-ai-gasa, love love umbrella) is a traditional metaphor in Japanese poetry. Walking together under the rain is the epitome of a romantic mood to the average Japanese.

A sketched umbrella with the couple's names written on both sides of the handle is the Japanese equivalent of a heart with initials in it.

So a boy and girl sharing an umbrella in the rain strongly symbolizes that there is a romantic connection between them in both manga and anime.

Aww that Bell. That certainly shows she has a deeper understanding of things romantic than many would give her credit for. By remarking she had always wondered what it would be like to be under the umbrella with him she was essentially saying, "I've always wondered what it would be like to experience the ultimate in romantic symbolism with you." ^_^