It is my duty as a (hopefully) responsible webmaster to inform you that spoilers for the entire FY series lay ahead. Take a breather if you don't want to be spoiled!
Trying to explain to the uninitiated, or to those who simply don't "get" Fushigi Yuugi, why I like it so much is a daunting task. We fans often can't put into words what it is that puts FY up there as one of the greater anime and manga series.
Why is that? What is so difficult to explain?
I say that it's not so much the "events" of the story as it is the "moments" -- the things we experience rather than simply watch or hear -- that make Fushigi Yuugi special.
Everyone is going to come away with something different, but if one isn't moved by the murder of Tamahome's family, by Suboshi's sacrifice for his brother, or by Miaka's forgiveness of Yui, what else is there to say?
So I've tried to compile a list of the "Little Things" - those teeny, tiny moments and details that, for me, make FY all that it signifies; a damn good anime.
This page is now closed to further submissions. I will be adding those whom I've neglected at a future date. Thanks to all for participating!
© 1998-2001 Meri
Who can describe precisely what was going through their heads when they watched episode 27 for the first time? How about episode 33? Or episode 52?
When Tamahome takes his first "payment" from Miaka, a simple kiss on the forehead.
The way Nuriko starts to cry when Miaka offers him a pretty stone, even after the way he'd been treating her.
When Keisuke, as he's speaking about the Shijintenchisho, suddenly changes into black robes and says, "WESTERN BLACK MAGIC!"
When Miaka returns to the Shijintenchisho and discovers that Tamahome has been desolate without her, eating plates and letting birds build nests on his head.
And, on a related note:
When Miaka returns to Konan and Nuriko rushes up to her, and they both hold hands and start jumping like excited schoolgirls ^_^
The glee with which Tamahome beats up 30 men for the folks he's protecting (it's all about the money, people!)
Nuriko and Miaka sniffing and bawling after finding out exactly why Tamahome is so obsessed with money
Chichiri, on witnessing Nakago's magical skills, calling him an a$$hole
When we see the effects of Chichiri by Hotohori saying "no da" ^_^
The look in Yui's eyes when she overhears Miaka and Tamahome confess their love for each other
When Tamahome summons his power and breaks throuh the barrier at the Seiryuu mosoleum to get to Miaka. [NEW]
Chichiri falling to his knees after taking Nakago's blast for Tamahome and Miaka, while his mask falls to the floor, giving us our first glimpse at his scarred face
The priceless look on Tamahome's father's face when Nuriko tells him that Tama-chan and Miaka have gone all the way to "C"
When Hotohori confronts Tamahome over Miaka, holding a sword to Tamahome's throat, yet Tamahome summons the courage to say "I love Miaka and I won't give her up to anyone."
Tasuki's shock when Miaka doesn't just let him kiss her, but rather slugs him instead ^_^
When Tamahome's image saves Miaka at the Leikoku bandit's stronghold, then vanishes -- leaving Miaka to hold the strip of paper on which she wrote his name, with tears streaming down her face.
The look on Hotohori's face when he raises his sword to kill the girl he has fallen in love with... and then the tears when he couldn't do it, begging Miaka's forgiveness. ;_;
When Tamahome is beaten by Nakago for mentioning Suzaku no Miko's name, and yet when he falls to the dungeon floor he manages to mutter ... "Miaka."
After Tamahome breaks Miaka's arm, right before Tamahome is about to hit Miaka in the head, Miaka has a flashback of their first kiss and Tamahome saying "Miaka...I love you...I LOVE YOU" [NEW]
"Look, there's Nakago doing a strip!" ^_^
When Tasuki rescues Miaka from Tamahome's attack and says he's all right...then blood drips down the side of his face
When Miaka says "Sayonara" to Tamahome in Kutou while he's under the influence of kodoku -- and he begins to cry without realizing it.
Miaka looking for Tamahome and discovering that he's on the floor counting the money he'd hidden under his bed
The peaceful look on Amiboshi's face when he lets go of his flute and falls into the river
Tamahome speaking of why Yuiren is so special to him
Yuiren telling Tamahome that "Yuiren's been a good girl," and begging "Nii-chan" not to leave her.
Nuriko struggling to restrain an enraged Tamahome after Tamahome's family was killed... the words he said to calm Tamahome down... and his tears afterwards. ;_;
Tamahome offering Miaka the necklace of acorns that Yuiren had made for her
Keisuke is walking through the library when Tetsuya sees him and starts chasing him. Tetsuya pulls the oldest trick in the book and says, "Look at that gorgeous girl over there!" That brings Keisuke running back, looking goofy as he asks eagerly, "Where? Where? Where?"
When Tasuki is washed overboard and Miaka jumps in to rescue him, forgetting that she can't swim and will therefore sink like a rock
Tasuki, with tears in his eyes, hanging onto a rope against the storm, when he thinks that Miaka, Tamahome and Nuriko have drowned
Miaka burning her only link to her world and her family even though Keisuke warns her that she might die if she continues to be miko
Tasuki, fulfilling Miaka's request to burn a lock of hair, going into full lekka-shien mode and shouting, "LEKKA SHI--" and dropping his voice to a whisper while gently flicking his tessen
Tasuki fanning Nuriko to keep him warm, after he insisted that he wouldn't ^_^
Nuriko, barely standing after Ashitare's attack, looking up to heaven with tears in his eyes and saying, "Oh, Kourin...How long have you been there?" [sniffle]
Miaka stroking Nuriko's cheeks after he died, begging him to open his eyes
Tasuki sitting silently against a rock after Nuriko died, tears streaming down his face
Mitsukake helping Miaka through her grief over Nuriko's death
Tasuki showing what he can do with his tessen during the fight with the Genbu shichiseishi
Tamahome, super-deformed, with a hand-print on his face after accidentally groping Miaka
When Tetsuya reads about Miaka's "rape" and hides it from Keisuke
Tama-neko and his attempts to tell Tamahome where Miaka is
When Tamahome pulls off Miaka's clothes by the river, telling her that she looks pure - just like at the purifying ceremony.
Tasuki being beat up by his horse ^_^
The antics of a drunk Tasuki
Suboshi holding his brother after rescuing him from Tomo
Tasuki sleeping between Chiriko and Chichiri, sprawled out on top of the covers with his mouth wide open and his arms stretched out
Miaka, depressed over Tamahome dumping her, flings out her arms and accidentally punches Chichiri
Tasuki nuzzling a basket of peaches he's brought as an apology to Miaka
Suboshi watching "Kaika" being taken away by his family after forcing him to drink the 'forget' drug
Tasuki covering Chiriko's eyes so he won't see Tamahome and Miaka kiss
The peaceful look on Chiriko's face when he dies
Tatara and Suzunu's reunion
The look on Soi's face when Nakago tells her he doesn't love her
When Soi dies to save the love of her life, Nakago
Chichiri begging Mitsukake not to sacrifice himself, and his reaction afterward...the only time Chichiri ever "loses his cool"And, on a related note:
When Mitsukake dies, and Chichiri looks up with tears streaming from the side of his mask.
Suboshi's death, clutching Yui's uniform bow in his hand
Kaika's tears when he feels Suboshi die
When Nakago carries Soi's dead body and is wounded by Hotohori because he won't put her down
The promise that Hotohori made to stay alive in order to see his son
Yui sacrificing herself for Miaka
Nuriko reappearing! ["I was worried about you guys, so I came back." *wink*]
Tamahome's "heaven"
Nakago's terrible past, and his horror to think that Tamahome might feel pity for him
When we finally see Tetsuya without his sunglasses
Tetsuya saying, "I won't let this book make a regular out of me again!"
When (at the end of the series) Keisuke is describing how Nakago will live on, and adds, "And he will live on in the mind of this handsome man too."
"Finally, finally I've found you." 'Nuff said.
Last updated 03/20/01.
Thanks so much to Samantha Warriner, The Venkarel, Shirin, Kouri, Chikara-chan, Krista-chan, Kai Ling, Jadzia, Leslie, Mara Abbott, and nuryoken for their contributions!