InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Rock me, Amadeus!"

the escaped logician (cadence) wrote,
@ 2009-01-23 10:38:00

Rec me things!
...Hey guys! This is a rec me new things to read/watch/play post!

Anime, manga, video game, TV show, movie, book. Anything, really, although if it's a video game it might take me longer to get to it. ^^; Doesn't have to be new. Just give me some stuff I might like!

The only criteria I am imposing for this is that it must have:

1) Multiple interesting female characters.
Not a smattering of female side characters. Not one who is The Love Interest. Not one woman among the half-dozen protagonists/antagonists. Multiple interesting female characters. In equal proportion to the male characters would be ideal.

2) Interesting m/f relationships.
Not necessarily romantic. Maybe they're partners, working together. Or maybe they're friends. Or rivals. Or something twisted and broken. Or maybe it is romantic, but in a real and unique way rather than Hollywood!heteronormative. I am flexible. And again, multiple sets of relationships wouldn't hurt.

Note that I am not saying that things that don't meet these criteria can't be good; I know they can. But anything about which the question "Are there any women at all?" can be reasonably asked (which I think I have heard about, like. three canons I was considering, lately) is turning me off horribly right now. (Even if the answer is "Yes! ...A few.") So.

...I will start things off by once again reccing Soul Eater. ^_^;

(Post a new comment)

sheffiesharpe
2009-01-23 01:09 pm UTC (link)

...blast. My new fandom favorite (Vinland Saga, which I'm sure you've already heard about a lot)...hasn't got any female characters so far, who've been on-page for more than a few frames.

However. I've also just started the new Doctor Who (Doctors Nine and Ten) series, and I love it to bits and pieces, for many reasons, not the least of which is the complex and kick-ass relationship between Rose and the Doctor that is a) Teamwork b) UST c) BFF d) I-love-you-let-us-never-speak-of-this all at the same time. There's also Rose's mum (whom I like a great deal), a female Prime Minister of the UK, and lots of new and interesting characters (female/male/alien-so-I-can't-speak-to-gender). It is, though, a show primarily concerned with Rose and the Doctor, so there isn't a huge recurring cast--some of the characters I already mentioned pop in every few episodes.

And, of course, it is full of excellent Britishness.

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	puella_nerdii 2009-01-23 01:19 pm UTC (link)
	Seconding the Doctor Who rec -- though I'd recommend staying far far away from the fandom, because they are all crazy. If you ignore them, though, the show's delightful. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cadence 2009-01-23 02:38 pm UTC (link)
	"stay far away from the fandom because they are crazy" is pretty much my default state at this point, I think. ^^;; (Reply to this) (Parent)

cadence
2009-01-23 02:38 pm UTC (link)

Yeah, there are a lot of things that I'm actually pretty interested in that have the no-women-at-all problem, and I'm sure I'd still enjoy them... eventually, but it's making me very surly recently, so I figure I can probably find some things that don't. ^^;

I've kind of been meaning to watch Doctor Who for forever, but particularly recently. (In CFUD two of my characters now have semi-regular interactions with Jack Harkness, and Firo's player also plays Rose - shut up these are totally reasons to be interested in something). So it's awesome to hear your endorsement of the characters and relationships. I think that one will be on my list for sure. :D

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	threewalls 2009-01-23 02:50 pm UTC (link)
	On New Doctor Who, the season (4) with Catherine Tate as the Doctor's companion is pretty much WIN. She plays Donna Noble, who is the Doctor's BFF and very explicitly not a love interest-- something they both insist on. I adored her. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sugared 2009-01-24 12:51 am UTC (link)
	Donna. Is. PHENOMENAL. And this is coming from a long-time, picky-about-my-Companions-fan. I love her. Can't get enough of her. PRAISE her. I've watched her first episode on the show at least a dozen times, and it cracks me up so hard every time. (Reply to this) (Parent)

mitsuhachi
2009-01-23 01:34 pm UTC (link)

You might enjoy Wagaya no O-inari-sama. The main character is a kitsune, so she switches gender, but usually wears a female form, guarding a pair of brothers (high-school and elementary aged) because she loved their mother. There's also a sentinel-miko, who's one of those character types that is super-competent and awesome in battle, and then fumbles around awkwardly in normal life; It's one of my favorite archetypes, and you don't usually see it in a female, which is kind of cool, though I don't know how you feel about that. There's a recurring non-human adversary/side character I can't tell you a lot about because it's spoilery, but she's kind of adorable and awesome and sometimes evil and a really alien mindset that you might like. <3 There's also the prerequisite school-girl-with-a-crush, who isn't my favorite, but isn't that bad all things considered, either. Also, apropos of nothing, there is a baby fox. Who is kind of toxic levels of cute.

It's not very shippy (though the kitsune and the boy's dad have some interesting undertones, imo), and is usually pretty light and fluffy, but it's funny and cute and I think you'd like it.

Also, it's super-old and you may (probably?) have already read it, but on the off-chance you haven't? Tolkien's works might interest you. Galadriel runs her own kingdom, and in the silmarillion you get to see her tell the gods and the heroes of her homeland to fuck off, pretty much, and runs off to start it up herself with her lover. Arwen and her grandmother (great-grandmother?) Luthien both defy their people and their families to go off and have adventures and rule kingdoms with their mortal lovers. But particularly, I think you'd enjoy Eowen in the Two Towers and Return of the King, and her relationship with Aragorn, the way she wants him in a romantic sense, somewhat, but mostly she wants him to be her general, to go and fight and win glory and follow him into battle and yeah. She's kind of fabulous.

I'd rec digital devil saga, but I'm pretty sure you've played it?

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	sheffiesharpe 2009-01-23 01:58 pm UTC (link)
	A thousand seconds to the Tolkien rec, just because it's all awesome. And a few more books: Sacred Country and The Colour by Rose Tremain Ahab's Wife and Sherlock in Love by Sena Jeter Naslund (Reply to this) (Parent)

regicidaldwarf
2009-01-23 02:25 pm UTC (link)

So, after reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy I tried to read the Silmarillion. And I was running into the problem where it was so incredibly dense I could only get maybe a third of the way through it, because I would come back and realize I couldn't remember anything from the past entire chapter.
To be fair I was in 7th grade at the time and it might go easier if I tried again now, but I feel like I should say that I couldn't get through it.

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	mitsuhachi 2009-01-23 02:27 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah. I've heard a lot of people say that. And the diction isn't for everyone. But I love it. shrug YMMV (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

regicidaldwarf
2009-01-23 02:31 pm UTC (link)

It wasn't even so much the diction! It was more the massive amounts of detail that were absolutely overwhelming - especially the huge genealogy lists that I couldn't possibly remember because everyone's name was exactly the same. ^^;

I'm not trying to tell anyone not to read it though, just saying why I personally had trouble with it. And yes, a lot of it all comes down to personal taste.

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cadence
2009-01-23 02:48 pm UTC (link)

It sounds like Wagaya no O-inari-sama has some character types that I can go either way on, depending on the treatment, but I am sure it can be interesting.

As for Tolkien, I've actually only read Fellowship of the Ring, and that took me approximately forever to get through for other reasons (admittedly I was reading it in high school), but it was my understanding that he has his some of his own issues with the treatment of women? Much of which can be attributed to the time period, but still. Basically what I am trying to avoid with the "multiple" requirement here is the... exceptionalist one badass female among a bunch of men trope? I'd really like less "look look women can do things too occasionally ha" and more just... natural interactions, like people have, even when they're women.

Also aha, I have... started a playthrough of DDS, but at this point I am so spoiled for and overexposed to it that I'm having trouble making progress. >_>;

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	jlsigman 2009-01-23 02:01 pm UTC (link)
	Have you played Suikoden V? Lots of strong women in that game. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	cadence 2009-01-23 02:53 pm UTC (link)
	...I started a game of Suikoden V, a while ago! I mostly stalled out because I was playing it by myself and the battle system wasn't challenging me (and also didn't... even come up much in the first few hours I played). But I keep meaning to play it more, or at least watch more of it, because I was enjoying the story a lot. (Reply to this) (Parent)

callitropsis
2009-01-23 02:01 pm UTC (link)

The Khaavren Romances subset of the Dragaera books, and especially the Viscount of Adrilankha (itself three volumes). The male characters still outnumber the female ones, but the women are every bit as complex, talented, and interesting as the men, especially once you get into the later books -- the young rising empress in particular is the kind of courageous, determined woman that I would rec to anyone who appreciated Ashe, and she gives me chills. The major representatives of the House known for heroism are female, and there are also women renowned for their sorcery or critically important as strategists. There is solid male-female camaraderie throughout the series, and one or two good instances of enmity that grows into esteem, and where I am right now (still need to pick up the last book) there is romance developing in a direction I didn't expect.

Also there is a lot of swashbuckling and high adventure. :3

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	cadence 2009-01-23 02:55 pm UTC (link)
	More good reasons to read those? How will I ever survive. ^____^ (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	callitropsis 2009-01-23 03:00 pm UTC (link)
	It's a terrible hardship, I know! But somehow, I expect you will soldier bravely on. (Reply to this) (Parent)

regicidaldwarf
2009-01-23 02:05 pm UTC (link)

I don't know if you've read any Robin McKinley, but you might like her. In particular, I'd rec Spindle's End (a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story) which has multiple wonderful females, as well as Deerskin, which doesn't have many female characters because it doesn't have many characters period. But the main character is female and she's wonderful. Deerskin is much darker than Spindle's End though, so be warned. ^^;

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	mitsuhachi 2009-01-23 02:22 pm UTC (link)
	I would second Deerskin, a lot, but warn specifically for (pretty explicit) sexual violence. I had a hard time with that, but the rest of the book is great, and there are some awesome mythic elements you might like. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	white_aster 2009-01-23 02:14 pm UTC (link)
	argh, it's not MULTIPLE, but the main character Balsa in Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Spirit) kind of makes up for that with her sheer awesomeness. She's a real, honestly great female character, and she is the main character of the story, no question about it. All the guys (including her love interest) are definitely side characters. :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

cadence
2009-01-23 03:05 pm UTC (link)

Like I said above, mostly what I am trying to avoid with the "multiple" requirement here is the trope where just one woman is awesome, because it becomes a sort of exceptionalist thing sometimes - i.e., "this woman is really cool (but women in general are still something seperate and different and not normal or default characters)".

I'm sure it's not like that all the time! But. Yeah. ^^;;

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white_aster
2009-01-23 03:17 pm UTC (link)

ah, yeah, I can see that, and I get why it can be a :(-inducing feel. To be honest, SnM didn't give me that vibe at all. Balsa is the only female mercenary you see, but iirc they don't hit TOO hard on her gender in that "you're just a woman, women should be like all these other women in the world" way. If...that made sense. I guess what I mean is that she was drawn as an exceptional character rather than an exceptional woman, and her gender was kind of secondary. But then, there aren't all that many women in the story to draw from in determining how the series would treat OTHER female characters. The only other major female character that I can think of is also awesome, but is a powerful old shaman, which is sort of its own class.

But, I admit, it doesn't quite fit the criteria. I still rec it, just because it is a very good series that most folks haven't heard of. :D

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	mahokiwi 2009-01-23 02:27 pm UTC (link)
	vaaaalkyriiiiiie profiiiiiile we should play it together it'd be awesooooome~ Three valkyries! A princess who is a woobity that learns to be fiece! bounty hunter! Freya! Lots of cool female einhenyar~ (Reply to this) (Thread)

	mahokiwi 2009-01-23 02:28 pm UTC (link)
	OHRIGHT I even still have VP icons~ (Reply to this) (Parent)

	regicidaldwarf 2009-01-23 02:35 pm UTC (link)
	Is Valkyrie Profile as PS2 game or a 360? Just curious. ^^ (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mahokiwi 2009-01-23 02:48 pm UTC (link)
	Well, okay, the original Valkyrie profile is either an impossible to find PS1 game or a PSP remake (which we...have...but have not yet played) The game I was talking about is Valkyrie Profile 2, which is a PS2 game \o\ (it's so gooood and so much fuuuun and so cooool) Although the final boss is a bitch and a half to beat. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	cadence 2009-01-23 03:07 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, finally seeing all of VP2 would be pretty awesome. (I am pretty sure I even own my own copy. Just. In case we need a spare.) The first eight hours plus eight hours in the middle or whatever it was that I've seen already was pretty awesome! XD (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

mahokiwi
2009-01-23 03:16 pm UTC (link)

X3 y-yes

and after IU, the feeling of "should play VP again" is so much stronger. IT'S SO WEIRD. HOW DID THEY FAIL SO BADLY? THEY DID SO WELL BEFORE. It's actually...really nice. I can't...think of any women who just do the stand-around thing in VP. Even the side women in towns, more or less. >->;

I keep thinking "I should pimp for castmates!" for IU but. But. I wouldn't...really know who. Because...because there aren't really any. Yeah .____.

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	cadence 2009-01-23 03:27 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah. I start to wonder if I'm spoiled, lately. But then I go "... 'spoiled' by actually having female characters who do things? sob" Right, much like I went "oh hey I should app IU too!" but. There isn't anyone I remotely want to app. And actually, I haven't even thought that much since right around when you guys apped. ^^; (Reply to this) (Parent)

	lassarina 2009-01-23 02:32 pm UTC (link)
	Jumping in over here in addition to on LJ because I just had another thought--it's crazy old and stuff, but Babylon 5 has an epically kick-ass main female character (well, several, actually) and they're awesome. Delenn and Ivanova A++. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	cadence 2009-01-23 03:31 pm UTC (link)
	I have heard good things about Babylon 5! It was on a list of mine to get to sometime forever ago, I think. (Reply to this) (Parent)

sugared
2009-01-24 12:57 am UTC (link)

I will tentatively rec Laon (it's a manwha, available so far on onemanga.com).

I say tentative for a few reasons:
1) There aren't many chapters out, it's still in translation
2) The main character isn't...exactly female. She's usually female. But it depends.
3) There are some definite culture-specific gender stereotypes going on--they're a little aggravating at times, though they make sense in context.

Still, I'm enjoying it thus far, and I think it deserves more attention than it's getting. Supernatural series, go!

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	sugared 2009-01-24 12:59 am UTC (link)
	Oh, there is also One Piece which, while unabashedly shounen, has some kickass women! (Reply to this) (Parent)