Blood on the Tracks - Vol. 11 Ch. 89 - Everything
- Thread starter MangaDex
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I think the perfect ending would be to never explicitly tell readers what the truth is, and to only present how either narrative could be true.
Ultimately the only reality of a work of fiction, regardless of its in-universe truth, are the feelings and reactions it elicits in its readers-- everything that transpired up until now is not for nothing.
When I started reading this manga, I didn't believe Seiichi would be able to pull himself out of that hell, ever. Following an abused child as he internalizes his mother's ultimate betrayal and gross behavior, parses and processes his extremely complicated feelings toward her and himself, realizes that a parent does not inherently deserve to be in their child's life, develops a sense of self worth, gradually comes to claim control of his life... Even if it ends up being a lie, that transformation was truly handled masterfully, especially reading it as it released over months; growth is slow and rarely steady.
When I started reading this chapter, I didn't believe Seiko could be redeemed, ever. While I would've loved a hopeful ending for Seiichi, I looooooove to have my expectations subverted-- what if this is a tragedy for Seiko too??
The idea that her unsettling smile was forced out of fear, not a sociopath attempting to mimic the rest of us; if this whole time she's been trying to protect other children, the girlfriend, Seiichi from himself... Of course it's not okay for an adult to abuse a child, even if that child is killing animals and displaying psychopathic tendencies, but what if she never pushed him, he just fell? Dad blamed her and she blamed herself, so she accepted the narrative? And maybe she only recognized Seiichi's nature so early because he got it from her?
I'm here for whatever, thank you Oshimi.
Ultimately the only reality of a work of fiction, regardless of its in-universe truth, are the feelings and reactions it elicits in its readers-- everything that transpired up until now is not for nothing.
When I started reading this manga, I didn't believe Seiichi would be able to pull himself out of that hell, ever. Following an abused child as he internalizes his mother's ultimate betrayal and gross behavior, parses and processes his extremely complicated feelings toward her and himself, realizes that a parent does not inherently deserve to be in their child's life, develops a sense of self worth, gradually comes to claim control of his life... Even if it ends up being a lie, that transformation was truly handled masterfully, especially reading it as it released over months; growth is slow and rarely steady.
When I started reading this chapter, I didn't believe Seiko could be redeemed, ever. While I would've loved a hopeful ending for Seiichi, I looooooove to have my expectations subverted-- what if this is a tragedy for Seiko too??
The idea that her unsettling smile was forced out of fear, not a sociopath attempting to mimic the rest of us; if this whole time she's been trying to protect other children, the girlfriend, Seiichi from himself... Of course it's not okay for an adult to abuse a child, even if that child is killing animals and displaying psychopathic tendencies, but what if she never pushed him, he just fell? Dad blamed her and she blamed herself, so she accepted the narrative? And maybe she only recognized Seiichi's nature so early because he got it from her?
I'm here for whatever, thank you Oshimi.
Fed-Kun's army
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so uh what the fuck is going on now?
did mom somehow seanced her soul out of the jail directly to him?
is he in a dream and this is all self guilt shit?
is he dying in the snow right now, hallucinating this before his death?
WHAT THE FUCK
also the notion that the real monster isn't his mother but it was him pushing all his guilt onto his mother is pretty fucking amazing ngl
did mom somehow seanced her soul out of the jail directly to him?
is he in a dream and this is all self guilt shit?
is he dying in the snow right now, hallucinating this before his death?
WHAT THE FUCK
also the notion that the real monster isn't his mother but it was him pushing all his guilt onto his mother is pretty fucking amazing ngl
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what
Dex-chan lover
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this is not a good story
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Ara ara. You have to learn everything.
We must not forget that we follow above all the story of the young carefree kid. Gradually, he acquired experience and gained maturity. And so he comes to awareness.
The author ran the plot on the mother for 89 chapters.
He will not be able to conclude a correct ending just with the mother ending up in prison and Seishi living the good life for granted.
Shige is also part of his misfortune.
We must not forget that we follow above all the story of the young carefree kid. Gradually, he acquired experience and gained maturity. And so he comes to awareness.
The author ran the plot on the mother for 89 chapters.
He will not be able to conclude a correct ending just with the mother ending up in prison and Seishi living the good life for granted.
Shige is also part of his misfortune.
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I always read seichi’s line in armin’s voice
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Hmm. 🤨 Seiko is not so young and beautiful then. Were the crazy conversations she had while her husband and Seiichi present also fictional? Shigeru pointed out that she was the one who pushed him off the cliff, right? I understand the unreliable narrator concept and use, but just how much of what happened in this story is fact or delusion on Seiichi's part? Did he really share some tender moments with Fukiishi, or is that made-up too? I'm really not a fan of this storytelling tool, since all too often, it is abused to the point where you're forced to question too much of what has happened. I hope that is not the case here, and that they really do look like monsters.
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So, Seiichi was an unreliable narrator then? Was everything we saw in the story thus far a giant lie, or were only some parts of it lies?
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Wooooohooooo I’m having a blast
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Aaaaa whats happening
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Man I feel like the author is manipulating me at this point I really did not want it to be Sei who pushed him off the cliff I still hope that is not the case
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This is trippy. At first I was thinking this was just his doubt manifesting. Because victims tend to blame themselves for the abuse that happened to them, especially if they have to phase their abusers. But how the he'll are we seeing her perspective threw his mind⁉️ This is crazy but I'm intruiged.
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Even tho I'm not too crazy about the whole Sei was the crazy one after all twist. It does recontextualize a lot of Seiko's behavior what we saw before as controlling behavior was maybe her trying to keep his life pleasant so that these tendencies don't come out. Like her being there everyday of kindergarten. Maybe that was so so that if another kid upset him, he could run to her instead of getting violent with them. But that being said I still don't see her as innocent. She still chocked and groomed him. And also this isn't normal child behavior so as a parent she is either a direct cause, or just negligent and didn't get him professional help.
