Gregory Matteson said:
:Eugene Lee miyaa'd:
:>Gregory Matteson said:
:>> 
:>> If you look in OVA #1, near the end of the scene
:>> in Ryoko's cave, just as Tenchi bolted; in freeze-frame you will discover
:>> that the true way that Ryoko was held is that Funaho set up a hyperspace
:>> pocket to hold her,
:>
:>    Not sure about this.  Evidence?
:>
:Absolutely!  The water in those maze-like channels is flowing very slowly if
:at all, though Tenchi slips and moves like the entry shaft is at about a 45
:degree angle.  Space, gravity and perspective are grossly distorted inside
:the cave. 

    Gravity, somewhat.  Dunno about the other two though.  This doesn't
    convince me that Ryouko's "tome" was basically a sub-space created
    and maintained by Funaho.  I will agree (thanks to some prodding
    from James :) that Funaho was maintaining the seal integrity itself
    with its roots in place around the seal's entrance.

:>> and then grew her roots into Ryoko. 
:>
:This is a simple matter of looking at the still frames.

    "into Ryoko"?

:>    Not sure about this either, unless Funaho (the tree) has
:>    hyperdimensional roots (shades of Yggdrasil? :) and has
:>    lots of power to spare.  The cave itself was located
:>    beneath a ledge, and goes very far into the earth, so
:>    perhaps the roots outside of the seal were just from
:>    ordinary trees above?
:
:Roots that start moving around all over the place when Tenchi unplugs the sword?


    It could've been normal tree roots retreating in response to
    Ryouko's emerging presense after the seal was just broken.
    Typical fantasy fair.  :)

:        Anyway, in OVA #6, when Sasami, back on Earth, runs to Funaho and
:recites her chant to the tree ancestors, she is transported into Tsunami, in
:deep space.  The Royal trees are "Higher-diminsionally" connected to one
:another (mostly to Tsunami, I suspect) 

    Yes, to each other.  Not to other normal physical locations.  But
    that goes back to the question of whether Ryouko's "tome" was itself
    a sub-space or not.

:        The Jurains are very ignorant of the realities of Tsunami and the
:trees: whether she's getting the power from Ryoko's jewels, or wherever,
:Funaho is clearly not reduced to impotence by being planted.

    Actually, *everyone* is quite ignorant of the realities of Tsunami
    and the ouke no ki (Sasami doesn't count!).  And only a few people
    know anything about Ryouko's jewels.  We're just plain lucky that
    we know as much as we do, being the audience and all.  ;)

:>>         In OVA #9 it is revealed that Ryoko is half human,
:>
:>    We don't know about the "human" part, either.
:>
:If Washu's genetic makeup is not human, she couldn't have had a baby by the
:usual method by her Jurian husband.

    Was he from Jurai?

:We know the Jurians are genetically
:compatable with Earth humans because Funaho Ojosama had Yosho, fathered by
:Azusa, presumably by ordinary means.

    We don't know this either.

:So we don't even have to take the word
:of notes or non-cannonical materials.  Biologically, this should remove any
:question of their humanity.

    This is science fiction.  The last time I asked a question about
    Mr. Spock's heritage, the latest Trekkie reason is that Vulcans
    and humans cannot breed at will, but that Vulcans were very adept
    at genetic engineering.  I can accept possibility that technology
    can remove certain evolutionary contraints, but there's still an
    unresolved question of "homo sapiens"-ness.

:>    I guess even Washuu couldn't handle being the greatest scientist in
:>    the galaxy AND the role of "Mom" at the same time.  ^_^;
:>
:Ha!  I maintain that Washu is 100% responsible for Ryoko's falling into
:Kagato's hands.  First of all, she has a well established ethical flaw (the
:classic mad-scientist one of Dr. Frankenstein), which led her to fall to
:Kagato.  Secondly, the creation of Ryoko was a cruel and unethical act in
:persuit of the Frankenstein vision.  She took no care of the consequences of
:inflicting Chimera status on sentient beings (Ryoko and Ryo-ohki),

    I thought that Washuu was just a bad mother at this time, since a
    good mother would have (and should have) prepared her children for
    the outside world.  But, if Kagato had imprisoned Washuu soon after
    Ryouko's birth, then Washuu is not at completely fault, and may have
    been herself a victim of the situation as well.

:and thus
:is responsible for the persecution Ryoko suffers from kagato and Aeka,

    Since Kagato was Washuu's assistant, then he must share in this
    "Frankenstein" crime.

:and
:is also responsible for Ryoko's past history of not having a suitable mate
:available.

    No free will?  Poo, you're so boring!  Seriously, bringing a child
    into the world that's all gift-wrapped would do more harm than good.
    Again, this goes back to my previous conjecture that Washuu was not
    (or was unable to be) a good mother for Ryouko at this time.

:BTW: I would still like to hear something about Japanese rabbit lore.

    I'm sure someone would answer if she/he/it had any extensive
    knowledge of Japanese rabbit lore.  ^_^


___/^_^\___ Eugene Lee
            zangief@netcom.com