Review of eden*

My wishlisting and purchasing eden* was suggested by some comments on previous wide-discussed "ending world love story" ATRI -My Dear Moments-. Just for the record, I am not a big fan of "one on one comparison", but eden* definitely overwhelms in both the depth of storytelling and the completeness of character figuration.

My vision getting blured for several times, I was quite confused to find that many long comments in English were "not recommend" with typical criticism like "dull with flat characters", exactly opposite to its highlights for me. It is not about personal attack, but a friend of mine also suggested that it might be a consequence of the difference in expression manner between eastern/western world. We do think some English native speakers might find it hard to reach the message spreading of story and the metaphor in its expression. In fact, those negative reviews hardly mentioned them.

My appraisal of character will still return to myself. I'm not that competent, so comparing myself to M. Haruna Ryou would not be a good idea. Sadly, I am not a big fan of lovely Mlle Sion either, for I feel sorry for her resignation as an "intelligent slave" though being the best Felix. However, Mlle Erica was so amazing and she even fulfill my previous model about personal need, suggesting "Protection" as a better substituent for previous "equality" (The Saddle Model 2.0). She was akin to my Dr Angela to some degree. Could be outstanding but never abused the incident power; Was the asylum of others and always prepared to wield "necessary evil" to fend off any unexpected: she is a model of altruistic life, glorious.

"The Saddle Model Ver2" created by Syl

The situation of Ryou is similar, but only similar. After all his aimless years of a machine, he also made up his mind to adhere to Sion till the end of her life. However, unlike Erica, his mission was completed rather than culminated with heroic sacrifice. An opening ending was left about the future of Ryou while honestly I cannot stay positive about it. Though trying to hold on, seeing Sion off could only leave him in endless agony of reminiscening about previous "memories of pure light" from my perspective (quite similar to our Nines, isn't it?).

I do not think Ryou could survive such a disillusionment of life purpose. And anyone who binds his/her life purpose on someone specific or something "finite" may suffer from such a plummet of "life expectancy" sooner or later. From this view, Erica must be fortunate though she wilted. An altruistic life could be a wonderful supplement, but a purely altruistic life is often a tradegy like Ryou. Previously, once asked about life decision, I always answer that there should be something "infinite" to match the transcendence of life. Thanks to eden*, it could be enhanced with the need of protecting others now, resulting a "dual line" structure for a more balanced personal need.

Anytime, anywhere, the practice of altruistic life would always be hard, but it worth endeavour. Let me conclude this with a quote from the top positive review in English on eden*:

The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
— Albert Camus

pic shot by Syl in eden*

p.s. Thanks lady Lana Del Rey for my looping her Wildflower Wildfire during my typing.

by Syl & Sylvia @ 2023-09-30 14:36:36 on CRH from Changsha to Wuhan
originally posted @ https://www.cnblogs.com @ 2023-09-30