InuYasha

[darkeyes_84]

for you InuYasha fans that are starting to watch this awesome show here is how it started

  Set in the feudal Period of Japan (a period of domestic turmoil about 500 years ago), INUYASHA is a time travel fantasy adventure based on the hit comic book series by the same name.

Kagome discovers that she can travel back and forth between the present and the Sengoku Period through a well at the shrine near her house. As she is drawn to another time, she is also drawn into a quest with Inuyasha for a powerful, sacred stone. However, many enemies hinder their way to success, and Inuyasha himself must often be controlled by Kagome. Not to mention that the stone is broken into pieces, making their job all the more difficult... Kagome discovers powers within herself that she never imagined existed. And she may owe these powers to her predecessor, the sorceress Kikyo. In the meantime, Inuyasha discovers that he has feelings for Kagome as they search for the stone together.

When Kagome arrives in the past, she's hailed by the local people as the reincarnation of their village's long-deceased priestess, Kikyo, who "killed" the demon Inu-Yasha by a mystical arrow before she died. This claim would seem to be the truth, as not only is Kagome the very image of the dead woman, but when she is wounded by an attacking centipede-demon, a glittering jewel emerges from the wound. This is the Shikon Jewel, or the "Jewel of Four Souls," which Kikyo died to protect. Kagome also proves to have special powers, including the ability to see magical objects. She may have even more powers, but Takahashi is content to reveal them gradually as the story unfolds.

Kagome quickly acquires a partner of sorts in her travels in the past-Inu-Yasha, the demon Kikyo mystically trapped (not killed) with her arrow. A half-breed, Inu-Yasha owes his demonic strength to his father, a legendary wolf-demon, but his mother was a mortal woman. Thus, Inu-Yasha has the outward appearance of a full demon, including doglike ears and claws, but his strength does not compare to a full demon's powers. For this reason, Inu-Yasha wants the Shikon Jewel, which has the power to transform him into a full-fledged monster. But he's not the only one who wants it-the jewel can increase anyone's powers with its magic, and over the course of the series, humans and demons alike are seduced by the the jewel's power.

The search for the Shikon Jewel becomes the center of Inu-Yasha's story when the jewel is shattered into multiple shards during an early battle. From that point, Inu-Yasha and Kagome have the unenviable task of tracking down all the shards, and piecing them back together again, and the story takes the form of a quest, with each episode introducing a new menace that has acquired a jewel shard. Interestingly, these travels aren't confined to the past. Kagome can use the well to travel back to her own time-which she frequently does to fetch supplies, such as her schoolbooks, snacks, and a bicycle-and the pair even discover jewel shards that have been passed down over the centuries.

However, Inu-Yasha isn't just a horror tale-there's even a bit of romance. As the saga continues, the relationship between Kagome and her dog-demon companion develops and becomes more complex. When Kagome first frees Inu-Yasha from Kikyo's spell, his first thought is to destroy the woman he quickly identifies as his "killer" by her smell, but an enchantment cast upon him by Kikyo's baby sister, Kaede (now an old woman and the village leader), enables Kagome to control Inu-Yasha with a word. That word, thought up by Kagome on the spur of the moment, is a typical bit of Takahashi humor-"sit," as one would say to a dog. (The spell is contained in the necklace of prayer beads around Inu-Yasha's neck which he is powerless to remove.) Inu-Yasha says he hates Kagome, but from the start, the reader suspects that there was more to his relationship with the priestess, Kikyo, than he's telling (a suspicion later confirmed). Over time, Inu-Yasha reveals more about himself and his half-human nature, and protects Kagome from danger, even when he has no particular reason to. Likewise, Kagome proves to be much stronger than he ever suspected she could be, standing up to their monstrous and supernatural opponents to protect others, even at great risk to herself.

As their travels continue, new companions join in the journey-Myoga, Inu-Yasha's flea-demon servant; Shippo, a fox-demon; and Miroku, a Buddhist monk. Each additional character subtly alters the situation, bringing out new aspects to Inu-Yasha and Kagome's relationship.

info from Inuyashaworld.com

[kawaii4lyfe]

Im not a first timer but wow thats helpful and convincing for those who are

[darkeyes_84]

thank you thats one of my goals with this thread so people that don't know whats it about

hopefully they get hooked on the show as much as we all did

[Slash24881]

i was never hooked....i was bored

j/k...inuyasha was great i guess but....yeah

Bleh...is [as] showing all 167 episodes all over again?

[darkeyes_84]

yes so its going to take a while so that we can see the episode where it led off but

this gives a chance to all the fans that are getting into it to see it from the beggining

[doxiedachsie]

That's really, really good;  but you need a small edit or 2: 

the sorceress Kikyo

Kikyo was a Shinto priestess & possessed sacred spiritual powers.  She wasn't a sorceress.

Kagome quickly acquires a partner of sorts in her travels in the past-Inu-Yasha, the demon Kikyo mystically trapped (not killed) with her arrow. A half-breed, Inu-Yasha owes his demonic strength to his father, a legendary wolf-demon, but his mother was a mortal woman. Thus, Inu-Yasha has the outward appearance of a full demon, including doglike ears and claws, but his strength does not compare to a full demon's powers. For this reason, Inu-Yasha wants the Shikon Jewel, which has the power to transform him into a full-fledged monster. But he's not the only one who wants it-the jewel can increase anyone's powers with its magic, and over the course of the series, humans and demons alike are seduced by the the jewel's power.

Inuyasha's father was a dog demon, not a wolf. This becomes important later on when the Koga character appears.

All in all, though, it's a great introduction to anyone who is new to the Inuyasha saga.

[Thekingofbs]

You know, if hell freezes over, this might just be good enough to get bumped.

[darkeyes_84]

ah yes ive barley noticed this but its too late to edit

[crushrose]

i hope it does

[doxiedachsie]

How should we work this?  Post synopses of each episode, one at a time?  Start an episode discussion?  Ideas?

[crushrose]

hhmm that would be a good idea but don't you think we would be spoiling it or what

do you mean

[doxiedachsie]

I'm just fishing around for an approach to maintaining this thread.

[crushrose]

yes your right this has to stay up

[doxiedachsie]

OK.  Here's one for discussion.  In the first episode prologue, after Kikyo shoots Inuyasha, there is a long shot that shows the Shikon Jewel Shrine behind them.  It is a few feet back and up higher on the hillside.  Earlier, when Inuyasha was running away with the jewel, you see a bird's-eye shot of him leaping from a higher ledge to a narrow terrace with balcony & stairs. 

Yet, 50 years later, when Kagome finds him pinned to the Sacred Tree, the landscape is completely flat.  I can see the villagers destroying a shrine that was too close to the "evil demon", but to raze the entire hillside?  Even more, in modern-day Tokyo, there is a hill behind the shrine with apartment houses on it and the shrine is on the same level as the Sacred Tree & the Well. 

In the narration, Kagome says that the shrine is 1000 years old & the tree 500 years old. 

The obvious explanation for the tree is that IT is 1000 years old.  Kikyo mentioned several times that the tree had been there a long time, even when she was alive; and the tree was quite large when she pinned Inuyasha to it.  So Kagome must have been wrong about the dates.  No prob there.  She admitted that her memory with regard to shrine history was practically non-existent.  But that doesn't explain how the geography of the hillside changed so radically.  I sense either a continuity error, or outright blooper, here. 

Discussion, anyone? 

[crushrose]

yes i have to agree with you there it will probably be a mistake that they made

maybe they were just too involved about making the story than the background

hhmm let me look up some info on this

[doxiedachsie]

On to further Yasha musings.  In the first few minutes of the prologue, Inuyasha has the Shikon no Tama in his hand and makes the statement "Finally, the way for me to become all demon at last".  While he did not directly address the jewel and make a formal wish, could it be that his desire was granted by the jewel later on? 

As usual, the jewel granted the wish, but in a way that was not really intended by the wisher.  Not to give away any spoilers, but events later on in the series did show Inuyasha getting his wish literally granted.  However, the prophecy that was mentioned many times, that the jewel never grants your REAL wish, seemed to hold here.  First time viewers show watch carefully as the episodes unfold to see how Inuyasha's desires in the first 2 episodes are played out as he, and the story, develops.

More seasoned viewers may want to discuss this.  Remember to keep spoilers to a minimum, please. 

[crushrose]

very well said, to my point of view i think that deep down he didn't realy want to become

full demon but hey thats a good question let me think for a while ok?

[doxiedachsie]

I think what they expressed in the 3rd movie was the truth.  Inuyasha wanted to be like his father & brother.  He saw how powerful Sesshomaru was and knew that their father was even stronger.  How could he not want to be like them, given the hard life he had led?

[crushrose]

thats true he did have a rough life growing up and yeah i think that until Kikyo he

gave humans another chance but even though he sometimes becomes demon

(well you know what i mean) he regrets it later on, I like the way he matures during

the show

[doxiedachsie]

Until he met Kikyo, he probably never interacted with another soul, except maybe Myoga & his brother.  Myoga was his vassal, not his teacher & his brother probably just walked away.  He never had any socialization & never learned to "read" others' expressions & reactions.  Everthing he did was defensive.  He probably wanted to feel safe almost as much as he wanted to emulate his father.  To him, being not just full demon, but daiyokai (great demon) like his father was his greatest desire.  He didn't know any of the other possibilities he could have wished for.

Kikyo showed him the possibilities of leading a human life.  Kagome went beyond that and showed him how great he could be as a half demon.  After all the times he met & bested his brother, he became more comfortable with his strentgh as a half-demon.  After he realized that there were individuals who would accept him as a half-demon if they felt "safe" with him, he understood his own worth as a person.  Kagome was the  glue that held it all together for him.  He couldn't help but love her because he somehow understood that they matched.  He helped her realize her own power & strength and she helped him do the same. 

He just had to learn how to interact with people after being alone for so long.  And you're right.  That is one of the ways he grew during the series. 

[doxiedachsie]

Episodes 15 & 16 aired today.  We finally get to meet Kikyo and Miroku in a one-two punch.  Several of Inuyasha's remarks & musings give an indication of his development so far.  First, his concern for Kagome's welfare, apparently at Kikyo's expense; and Kikyo noticed it.  She flat out accused him of wanting her to die inorder to save Kagome. 

In the next episode, he muses over his desire to become a full demon and seems disturbed that he may not be able to move on from Kikyo.  Since he believes her to be dead (again) at this point.  He is admitting that his memories of that old love are interfering with his new found attachments for his friends and developing feelings for Kagome.  We have already seen him admit deeper feelings than apparent at the end of the Thunder Brothers battle and during the Spider-head incident.  Now he wonders what his ambitions for himself will mean to all these developing relationships.  This supports my earlier opinion that he desire to become full demon, at least partly, stemmed from his loneliness and hard childhood.  Now he suddenly has something to lose if he fulfills that desire.

We also have both Shippo and Miroku noting that his actions show deeper feelings for Kagome than he will admit.   It is actually funny to watch him blush & stammer excuses to avoid the subject.  He is also confronted with his first feelings of jealousy over Kagome whenever Miroku is around.  The pace of the series is starting to pick up  and we are learning more about the characters' backgrounds and the tragedy that happened to Inuyasha & Kikyo 50 years before. 

[crushrose]

yeah i think these eps are important to the show

[doxiedachsie]

I think it's time to note a few actions made by Kagome as well.  In the episode before 15, "Kikyo's Stolen Ashes", Inuyasha actually tried to kiss Kagome for the one & only time in the series.  What did she do?  Got confused & upset & rebuffed him, violently.  At the time, she was convinced he mistook her for Kikyo.  But I don't think she was right about that.  She didn't know about his dream the night before and that he was actually becoming much more aware of their differences than their similarities.  He was actually dropping his guard at that point and trying to expand his relationship with Kagome, as separate from Kikyo.  Inuyasha was a proud guy.  Once rejected he wouldn't make that mistake again.  The boundary was drawn & he would never cross it.  To do so would be a sign of weakness on his part.  That one moment probably set the tone for their entire relationship in the future.

Yet there was no denying how far Kagome's feelings for him had already developed.  With her soul in Kikyo's body, she was trapped by Kikyo's rage; but she still was able to gather the strength to free it & return it to herself once Inuyasha was in mortal danger from a sacred arrow.  Her desire to save & protect him had grown so strong it could give her the extra strength she needed to overcome Kikyo's considerable powers and take back her soul, destroying the arrow in the process.  She is also shown here to be extremely powerful to be able to overcome both Urasue's spell & Kikyo's skill. 

Inuyasha's response is also interesting.  He pursues Kikyo, at first, to return her to Kagome and restore all of the stolen soul.  His instinctive choice was for Kagome.  It is only when Kikyo directly challenges him with desiring her death that he pauses, confused.  His feelings are obvious here.  He prefers Kagome, but can't or won't forget his love for Kikyo.  The anger he directed at Kagome over his "betrayal" by Kikyo has now been replaced by confusion.  How will it develop further?  (No spoiler, here.) 

Actually, his musings to himself at the beginning of episode 15 indicate that he wants to move on after Kikyo and rationally understands that she is dead & thus unavailable.  For years, he lived alone and detached from any emotion beyond survival.  Kikyo awakened love in him and now he has no mechanism for coping with all these new experiences.  How he sorts out his emotions and grows to maturity will play out in the future through the entire series.  But the bonds between Kagome and him have now been firmly established.  Each will protect the other, and when they are together they enhance each other's powers.

[doxiedachsie]

A bit more Yasha-madness here.  In the first 10 episodes, we get a lot of background on Inuyasha's history. 

Well, to sum it all up - he's a prince.  No, really.

His mother was a princess, the daughter of a warlord.  His father was a warrior-king, the Dog-demon General who conquered & ruled the Western Lands, sort of like Alexander the Great, who actually did that in real life.  That makes Inuyasha a prince on both sides of his family. 

He should have been destined to inherit the warlord's clan & castle. 

But because he was neither human nor demon, he wound up with nothing, alone, & forced to barely survive on his wits.   To make things even worse, he had been raised in a situation where his every need was met by vassals & servants as long as his mother was alive.  He didn't have to learn how to fend for himself until he was cast out of the castle, the village, & all human habitations after his mother died.  Unlike the poor urchin children who lurk in the villages, he never learned how to sneak himself food or scavenge in the fields & rivers.  Because he was a half-breed, he was forced to make do in the forests where he would be hunted by demons almost constantly.  The experience arrested his personality and ended any formal education he had received up to that point.  (Fairy tail analog: Cinderella, who was well-born but relegated to servant status when her father died.)  It effectively cut him off from his heritage.  Finding his way back is part of the hero's journey that he must take.  The concept of destiny also comes into play here.  Fate will constantly push him forward to the great deeds he is destined to accomplish.

This is relevant to the introduction of characters that reflect on events of his life.  Shippo was the first one introduced, but there will be more.  His own orphan background explains his tolerance of what clearly is a bratty kid.  His early aristocratic upbringing is reflected in the little moments of kindness he shows to weaker persons.  His well-disguised concern for Kaede is an example.  When he thought she had died, he stopped to bury her.  When he smelled her blood on Urasue's scythe, he ran all the way back to the village to check up on her.  Had he been as heartless as he pretended, he would never have thought of doing those things.  When the story started, he was raw, rude, & crude; but the potential for his development had been set in his early upbringing.

This also ties in with mythological and folklore themes of the hero disconnected from his heritage by the loss of his parents, being raised by surrogates, or forced to survive in a lowly state before confronting his destiny & journey of self-discovery.  (Modern-day example: Luke Skywalker, who was created by George Lucas using these universal themes.)  

That's enough for now.  His relationship with Myoga will probably be the topic of the next post. 

[crushrose]

also when kanna came to the series when inuyasha was struck by his own wind scar

he was unable to move,  Kagome with little soul left in her body needed to be with InuYasha

her words were "i need to be with inuyasha" that right there showed you that they

were starting to become one...also do continue with myoga