I distinctly remember relating to Kinzo (like he is just like me) in early episodes when I played Umineko first time. Can't quite remember why though? Possibly because I missed my TrueHellDei just as much as he missed Beato. Or because he was an unconventional loner with few friends, just as much as I am. Looking at it now, it does not seem like we are much alike.
In the first few episodes he was no information about how he used to deal with siblings when they were kids so I could not compare that to my situation. Later as I looked at him closer, he instead started to remind me of my own dad and of my broader family.
I do not think it gets better in later episodes. In episode 8 of VN siblings simply indulge Kinzo's arrogance and unwarranted self-importance and that possibly placates him. I stopped watching there. I intend to come back eventually. However even Battler in ep 8 admits it is not what actually happened.
Kinzo was a horrible parent. Some of his children in turn turned out to become bad parents.
Other Ushiromiyas do remind me of of my parents as well. In early episodes it is siblings' generation, that deals with their own children and occasionally with their stubborn dad. My age was then much closer to the cousin's generation, and I was a lot more sympathetic to Battler, George and Jessika and problems they had with their parents. Thus, I tended to overlook the issues related to Kinzo parenting.
Imagine what it is to grow up, when your dad is like Kinzo and your mom is like Eva. It left me traumatized for life.
On Siblings
I actually think Rudolf and Kyrie are possibly the most normal of them. Kyrie is humble and respectful of husband, but also witty and smart to be able to maneuver her way out of problems. I do not think Rudolf is submissive to her, despite the speculations. She married him to escape her obligations to her Sumadera family, that is much like Ushiromiyas in that regard. In fact, they connect because they are both children of powerful families who want to escape the power and oppression such a family often wields over their children.
Eva would abuse George in attempt to beat Krauss and become the successor. Hideyoshi would not try to stop her. Morganatic marriage between woman of powerful family and a commoner. That is why guys do not want to date or marry strong independent woman. Such a relationship will push them in the role of Hideyoshi, and they do not want to end up like him.
Krauss and Natsuhi are alright by themselves. They are product of ill conceive arranged marriage made for money and connections with other powerful families. Natsuhi hates him and he could not care less about her. Typical in the world of royalty and nobility. Girls who hope to marry a price should watch Umineko to better understand how it works.
Finally, Rosa and her daughter Maria is what happens when girl just gets herself pregnant from some random guy she likes. The guy leaves her, and she ends up a single mother who has to raise a kid on her own. Sometimes Rosa tries her best but often louses it and goes berserk. Hence her infamous moniker of 'mother of the year'.
Out of siblings as they are individually, I like Krauss most as he is possibly most like myself. Balanced and well-rounded person, he tried his best to survive in that mess.
I do wonder what Hideyoshi thought when he married Eva, you must be insane to marry such a horrible and toxic person.
Rudolf somewhat too rough and unambitious compared to Krauss. It works for Krauss though as he does not have to fend off him from inheritance like he does with Eva.
Out of wives however Kyrie is the best. She is humble and respectful of husband. She is also witty and smart and able to maneuver her way out of complex potholes that families such as Ushiromiya tend to have. I do not think Rudolf is submissive to her, despite the speculations. In fact, she gives submissive vibes.
Outside of how Rosa treats Maria when she snaps, I can be sympathetic of Rosa somewhat. She can be a nice person at times. It is not like she is bad out of her own nature, but rather she is having more problems that she can handle on her own.
Natsuhi is too dense, stupid even. She just blindly follows the rules Kinzo set for her. She respects Kinzo but despises Krauss. A receipt for an unhappy marriage. Because she tries to please Kinzo and not Krauss, Krauss does not care for her. Why would that be otherwise? She has only herself to blame.
Finally, Eva, she is stupid, but ambitious. She gets out of her way to beat Krauss and become the official successor. She fails but causes her family a lot of trouble trying to get there. She forces George to study hard in hopes of making him a preferred successor and winning Kinzo's approval. This is retarded and misguided.
Eventually she kills everyone to claim the gold and the successor title out of their dead hands. She loses her husband and son in process but adopts Ange to fight the rumors that she was the one who killed everyone. She dies a miserable death in hospital.
Overall Umineko is a very important story that shows well the inner workings and dark side of various rich and powerful families and dirty politics that can come with that.
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