Defending my Bishounen - Mamoru (Manga)
There is a small number of BSSM fans that will always hate Mamoru no matter how great of a character he is. Frankly, I don't care if people hate him because he does not fit into their version of the world, but it pisses me off when people think their opinions true. They pull out facts and twist their original significance to give themselves a reason as to why they hate him. First off, before I begin, read the manga. Hate him after you have been educated. Hate him, but do not butcher his character and he is loyal, strong, devoted, intelligent, caring, loving, courageous amongst other things -- say, gorgeous XD?
They say:
He is weak-willed.
If memory serves me correctly, he died twice and was brainwashed twice in three occasions. In the first season, Mamoru died and got brainwashed. He got brainwashed by Black Lady in the second season and he died in the final season.
Alright the first time...hmm...he's dead. I highly doubt, as strong as he is, that Mamoru can restrain himself from being brainwashed; being dead and all doesn't give you much will power.
The second time he got brainwashed was by Black Lady. There's nothing I can say about that, seeing as how we didn't get to see what happened. However, keep in mind, that this was Chibi Usa we're talking about. The same brat whom he ran into space and time for? Yes, her. I would think that, considering how he is willing to throw away his life for either Usagi or Chibi Usa at any given time, he would be especially vulnerable to them. But that's only me so feel free to hold it against him.
There's also the small incident in Season 4, where they were all trapped in Zirconia's nightmare. Remember that time when Usagi's skin was melting off and Minako and Rei were going hysterical? Mamoru, being the weak-willed gentlemen that he is, after breaking free of his own nightmare unaided, slapped the remaining senshi awake, including Sailormoon. Funny, I would have thought Sailormoon was the most strong-willed of them all. She didn't get brainwash or anything throughout the series, but she did die and ironically, it was Mamoru who brought her back to life.
He is powerless, weak and useless.
Mamoru possesses a power call Physchometry and is blessed with whatever abilities that it entitles him to. When was the last time you connected to the spirit world? When was the last time you healed yourself with the touch of your hand, kept someone alive by connecting your heartbeat to theirs? Can you find out what a person is thinking or feeling by the touch of your hands? Send your own feelings and thoughts with a similar touch? Perhaps seek out anything on the planet? Never? Damn, you're useless and downright weak.
Even though he doesn't strut around in a mini-skirt, Chiba Mamoru is, in theory, the senshi of Earth. He is the carrier of the Kinzuishou which is the equivalent of the Usagi's Ginzuishou. Mamoru is also protected by the Sun, the star in which this whole galaxy rotates around. Now, isn't that interesting?
Foiling enemy plans, helping save the world, researching new enemies -- small peanuts compared to the future, but I guess establishing Crystal Tokyo and world domination (in the good sense) isn't worth much these days.
"What I see is a guy who thinks about himself before anyone else (even when he thinks of others it's always a sort of relation to himself sort of way)."
Hmmm...his dream being the wellbeing of the planet and its people; thinks himself a burden on Usagi; reassures a freshman at his school; extends knowledge, expertise and whatever help he can offer to Ami and to whoever is in need, actually (yes, he is indeed that kind-hearted); dishes out his cash to buy stuff for brats (^_~ I'm making a point here); refuses to share his pain with Usagi for fear of worrying her; jumps infront of attacks for those who cares about no matter how deadly it may be; runs through traffic to save a CAT (anime)! That self-centered, selfish bastard!
Yes, We're given the first impression that he can be cocky at times, I'm not going to deny that; but what can I say? I happen to like it; it's a turn-on. Tell me you wouldn't like a sexy, cocky badass.
He loves ChibiUsa more than he loves Usagi.
An typical apple is red. A typical orange is orange. Usagi is the wife. Chibi Usa is the daughter. An apple is a fruit. An orange is a fruit. Usagi is a female. Chiba Usa is a female. Well, what do you know? They're both women! Let's compare the two!
"Isn't he, like, 21? He's in college, right? Well, EWWWWW!!! Usagi is 14!...That's called statutory rape in this country."
In the anime, Mamoru is 18 in the first season; in the anime memorabilia, he is 17. In the manga, Mamoru is 17 in the first season. But what does his age have anything to do with his personality? Just because you are juvenile conservative, it does not make Mamoru a bad person. And really, if you're referring to Usagi and Mamoru being a couple, I know of people who are 10-12 years apart from each other and they even have one-sided kids between them, but they are both quite happy. Just because that you are not tolerant of the age difference, does not give you the right to bash people who wants to be together despite when they were born.
"He's shallow, and interaction with him from the other senshi is shallow."
He's shallow?! We are talking about Chiba Mamoru here right? The physcometric Mamoru who is intellegient, sensitive and knowledgable? Hell, he may very well the most empathic character in the series and you're telling me he's shallow?!
I can understand where you're coming from if you say he is insensitive. One would assume that people who wear their hearts on their sleeves, like Usagi, is easily hurt and vulnerable. But just because a person, say Mamoru, comes off as aloof and stoic does not mean that they are coldhearted. If anything, I see them to be more sensitive because they are often afraid to show their emotions and thus have this indifferent barrier as a means of defending themselves from getting hurt.
Mamoru's character has a lot to offer if you know where to look. He may not be as well-developed as our story heroine, but you're way out of line if you think he is shallow.
"Well if Mamo-baka is so in love with Usagi why not study in Japan?"
Mamoru is more than just the "other half" of Usagi. He is more than just the "loverboy." He's much more. Usagi brings out the best in him, and even though she may be the most important thing in his life, his being doesn't only revolve her and it shouldn't. It's his dream to become a doctor (aside from world peace and Usagi) and he damn well deserves a chance to pursue it.
Take something like the Japanese culture, or the Asian culture in general. I'm sure you have heard about the great amount of stress that students undergo in that continent. Some students even go as far as suicide when they fail an exam. This gives you a bit of insight as to how important education is. There is this whole issue of honour, pride and "face" that is on a national, social as well as on a personal level. The pressure to achieve, to succeed is extreme. Mamoru is enrolled in an elite school. I can't express how very fucking incosiderate and ignorant it is to say that...
"Well if Mamo-baka is so in love with Usagi why not study in Japan?"
...I'm utterly speechless.
He treats Usagi like shit
That is just bullshit. Period.
- "Sailor Moon... Your pain... I will feel it too, to take it off you..."
- ChibaUsa says, "Say...Is this Sailor Moonn strong," in which he replys "Yeah, undefeatable."
- Usagi is upset about Chiba Usa. Mamoru puuts his arm around her and says, "Cheer up, Usako."
- "My power...? I have no power... That's hhow I feel sometimes. Why was I reborn here? Protecting her... That's what the four soldiers are for. But they need me to do it. I'm powerless. I can't protect her. I don't know what's happened to me."
- Usagi is insecure because of ChibiUsa. "II don't want to lose you either, Usako. I want to be with you, always...I want to protect you."
- "Usako... Lend me strength. Chibi-Usa, whhere are you!? Chibi-Usa...! Usako...!"
- "Many lives and souls have been saved by it. Don't abandon your path. You can do it if you believe. I was powerless, but you called out to me. I've given you all the power of my life. I live to make you strong, Usako. So you can fight. Do it."
- Usagi is seen with Hakura and Mamoru withh Michiru. They're both jealous. "I believe you, Usa...I was full of jealousy too. Jealous of that guy. But I'm sure there was a reason for it. He always looks at you in that way. I think those two have hard circumstances...We don't need to wake Chibi-Usa up. If you want to stay here, that's okay."
- Chibi Usa's soul is taken. Usagi is inseccure. Mamoru kisses her.
- Right after Chibi Usa is revived. "I feell just like I'd given my wife a daughter...Wondrous, full of power. It's more like I've been given strength from Chibi-Usa. And Hotaru-chan's power too. Usa! I'll be there soon!"
- "Usa... Usako...! Only you kept me alive.... And I couldn't protect you...!"
- Mamoru is ill because Elysion is cursed. He constantly reassures Usagi that he's fine. He apologizes for collapsing. "I'm okay...I'll rest a little...Usa, I'm just putting a burden on you. I don't feel a speck of your strength in me. Far from it, I keep dragging you down. Have you already decided our future? Sometimes, I feel like I'm just a weight on your shining dream of the future." Mamoru is coughing up blood and as Usagi enters, "I can't let her get suspicious...of this black blood. What's wrong with my body! The Dead Moon! From now on, they're reaching their evil hands through this city! When I say from now on, even if I do it again, am I being a burden on Usa...!" Even when it is blatantly obvious, he refuses to her know of his illness. And when she finds out? "You should stay away from me!...This curse... You might catch it! You shouldn't stay with me."
- "My dream, too, is to protect this planett, together with you."
- "If truly, the Kinzuishou is inside me, ggive its power to Eternal Sailormoon!"
- "Usa...I'll write. And I'll call you. Usaa, write me lots of letters." And he gives her a ring.
- "Fight without hestitation."
- "Someday we will be gone," he thinks. "Neew sailor soldiers, new stars will be born... But Sailor Moon, you will forever be immortal. For all eternity, you will be the most beautiful, brilliant light."
* Quoted from UsagiandMamoru.com.
There are so many instances where he praises her, comforts her, believes in her, feels he is unworthy of her, protects her (I think it's unnecessary to review all the times he has protected her, no?). All things considered? Yea, he treats her like shit.
CONCLUSION
The whole point of this being, you can hate Mamoru for any reason you please, but you cannot twist facts to support your warped judgement of his character.
I understand that opinions are subjective, but no matter how subjective an issue is, you can't tell me it's correct to say that "Mamoru treats Usagi like shit" when he is ready to lay down his life for her at a second's notice. And hell, he did lay down his life for her! Literally! TWICE!
Don't BS about how he's a bastard who is underserving of Usagi. Your failure to interpret the series properly -- that is, he is meant to be the 'perfect' man for most girls (Usagi included) -- and the weak conclusions that you have drawn from such an interpretation to back up your opinion does not make it worthwhile, constructive or of value. In that case, opinion is fancy term for thoughtless-nonsense.
But really, I have no distinct black-and-white point. Mamoru-haters have "reasons" that are so broad, that it's difficult for me to draw the line. Some remarks are so stupid, ignorant and unreasonable that I can't even begin to dispict my resentment. Before you conclude that you hate Chiba Mamoru, do us all a favour, have a thorough understanding of his character. His role in the series isn't as in-your-face or as straight forward as you'd like it be, even in the anime. Analyze his participation in the series and identify the underlying significance of it. Then, proceed to hate Chiba Mamoru.
Finally, I wouldn't be arguing if Mamoru haters would just say that they hate Mamoru because it's just the way they feel towards him and be done with it. Contrary to popular belief, the problem is, Mamoru-haters feel as if they just have to have a reason to hate him and so they conclude that "he's a heartless bastard who cares about no one but himself." That isn't true and there are explicit and balatant evidents that support this. I have no problem with people hating him, but its the fact that people degrade his character because they hate him that pisses me off.
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- Mamolove's Man in the Manga (Mamoru in a nutshell of 4 pages XD).
- Nishi's The Eternal Love Story and Seiya Kou: Why Seiya is NOT the one for Usagi.
- Carissa's By Starlight; anime-Mamoru is not half the jerk you'd like him to be.