Sub-plot: The "Instant-Super-Strength Sex-Change Potion

Rhea-sama

So the question everyone asks... Why does Watari want to make one?

Is he a pervert? Did he just watch too much Ranma 1/2? Is he just a freak? Is he a transsexual? XD

I don't know if I see Watari as being.. genuinely interested in permanently changing his gender. I like to think of him a little bit of a Romantic, wanting to experience everything at least once.. and as he does say the vasty difference between men and women is a huge abyss. And we all know scientists hate having to leave anything unknown x3

(I see Watari a little bit like a Modern-day Dr. Faustus, seems strangely accurate somehow.)

Though one that I've been toying with lately in my head.. has less to do with gender and all to do with.. perhaps a darker side of Watari.

He is a little.. immoral when it comes to his experiments, and I think he hates, even resents being wrong, to the point of not being able to see when he is. (*files that away for a wonderful hamartia/tragic flaw later on*)

So my theory as of late is this: Watari is idealistic, in that he believes science(/alchemy) can do anything, and he won't take no for an answer. His desire to create a potion to change one's gender stems from some kind of arrogance and total need to prove his mastery over the universe and mother nature. Furthermore, he's always craved that sort of absolute power over reality itself. (Or alternatively to prove himself an equal to people like Tatsumi and Tsuzuki--though he's not weak in my view..)

.....Or am I just reading too much into this and is it some sort of silly, gag thrown in by Matsushita to break up the angst now and then? XDDD

Or did he just get the recipie.. "Six years" ago. ("If I give up now six years of research will be..." vol. 6) and now just.. won't give up until it's finished? As a matter of principle?

("Actually I found it and it just looked interesting" also vol 6 I think XD)
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Jani_chan · Joined: 23 Aug 2006 Posts: 2685 Location: Enma's bed

XD I <3 you, Rhea. Unfortunatly I can't really say much to this, as I'm not all that good at reading into Watari. He's a mystery. But you've brought up many good points that I'd like to discuss...once my head isn't in shambles anymore^^;;

lol Go Rhea^^

pyro_o · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject:

Waifu. Love you to bits and pieces until Watari sews you back up again. 8D

I think he found it somewhere in a very, very, very old book and tried to recreate it- in the obviously failed experiments you see in the books. But that could be just me. =X

HOWEVER

The Sex Change Potion is a great tactic into breaking up angst, yes.

8DD
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Rhea-sama · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject: My leg is asleep

XDD

Thanku waifu.
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pyro_o · Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:47 pm Post subject:

*nod*

anytime, dearest. XD
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many thanks to Rhea, because she is the Goddess of Photoshop. 8D

Veleda · Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 126 Location: State of Denial

I don't think Watari is transsexual, though I've often toyed with writing him that way. He seems very light hearted about his sex-change formula, which he proably wouldn't be if he needed it to make him feel whole.

I think Watari wants to do discover everything, and do the strangest things he can think of. Plus, he wants to keep himself entertained.
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admin · Site Admin Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 1008

I think the fact he chose a sex changing potion would mean that there's some interest in gender specifically somewhere since he seems so interested in the female sex. The fact that women seem so puzzling to men probably makes him wanna crack us even more or something, they always say it in anime and manga, men and women, so different, puzzling, yada yada yada.

He's determination is defintely coming from a scientific point, that is, he probably does wanna beat nature, that there's an arrogant desire to prove something, it's a very scientist thing isn't it.

Third point, so that's, gender interest, unethical-ness, aaaand oh yeah personality.

We know it, it doesn't matter the depth of issues, people or emotions involved, Watari loves a challlenge, sometimes I think he see's life as one big challenge to beat, overcome and crack. In the devils trill, he seemed more interested in cracking that code than Hijiri's suffering, more interested in how amazing Sagatanus turned out to be then the fact he was blowing them away, it's just he's personality, it's not that I think he doesn't care, it's just where he's interests lie and he's lightheartedness.

So the challenge itself must be so appealing. Because, that's just so Watari.

Thats my three done.

Again I'm just throwing idea's around, catch whatever you want.

I'm curious to other peoples opiniuons though.
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Rhea-sama · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject:

Oh~! I bet I know what another part of it is, I'd sort of forgotten this half-lurking thought, but Coco's post made me remember.

It's probably also has to do with the fact that there's only so much uncharted territory left, and this is one of those things left in the black and gray. (Though there are plenty of other things to discover too, but one thing at a time ^^)
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pyro_o · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject:

I guess that it's safe to say the sex-changing potion has become a running joke in the entire series. Even in volume four, when they ask where Watari isn't there for New Year's, they say "It's that experiment" or sth like that. *does not have the book with her right now*

However. I suppose that it's one of the mysterious qualities that set the men from ladies apart. I think sth happened to him. XD

Romantically. XDD
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many thanks to Rhea, because she is the Goddess of Photoshop. 8D

Rhea-sama · Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject:

Yes they do. And maybe it was because Watari couldn't understand some lady, he decided he would do what it took so he could--Watari is not known for doing things by halves after all XD

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