Fixing Things Without Really Fixing Them

Some recent shows I watched gave me the impression that they only pretend of trying to address my concerns, and possibly other fans concerns.

Eminence in Shadow

For example, recent Eminence in Shadow seemed to listen to my criticism of the original and tried to address these issues in sequel.

I criticized Alexia for being hard-ass, I praised scholar-girl from second ark, Diabolos-chan, Gamma, Delta and Eta.

Second season partly feels like they listen to me and even tried to do things I asked for.

So, in second season we have much less Alexia, who now wears glasses, perhaps to get some of that scholar girl charm.

In contrast we have a lot more Delta and Gamma. That seems like an improvement over the original, however if you look deeper then you can notice that it isn't.

In the original, every girl in Shadow Garden was her own distinct type, that would appeal to different people. Alpha was arrogant but busy hard-ass, Beta was shameless in trying to attract men, but girly girl, Gamma was demure, reserved, immaculate manners woman, who is also a clutz, Eta was basically Tomoko from Watamote, but also scientist.

Now they lost many they behavioral differences. Their gimmicks are retained, but more core personality traits are being swapped for something else instead.

The reason for that is the way they started to white these more popular characters. Back in original, Gamma was a demure, reserved and proper mannered woman. She had her distinct role in organization as well.

In sequel she instead works close with Alpha and to some extend take on some of her qualities to her new self. Second season Gamma is much less demure and proper compared to the original. She is much more confident and assertive then she was in the original. 

Delta was fleshed out into a savage, feral woman-beast. In the original she was more of a generic cat-girl who kills people easily, but afraid of Alpha.

Eta was anti-social nerd/scientist, that could not talk properly. Now she is just wicked scientist.

Diabolos-chan lost her vulnerable side as well, she had little chance to showcase her mannerism as well.

What made Alexia so unappealing was her assertive, outspoken, exploitative, hard-ass personality. If you take away Alexia, but spread her qualities across other characters, it only appears, like you trying to address the issue, but you are really not. The qualities and personality traits, that I and other people do not like are still there, just more diffused in the show itself. It does not address the issue, just makes it harder to isolate.

Konosuba

Recently Konosuba decided to address the same issue as well. They took the most likable character from the quartet, Megumin, and made a spin-off show about her.

Original Konosuba had unlikable, arrogant smug Aqua, masochistic, but pushy and assertive Lalatina as well as capable, but flawed wizard Megumin, who can only use one spell and then just falls on the ground helplessly.

Of these four Megumin was the most girly in a traditional sense. That is why fans liked her most, there were plenty of art of Megumin on places like gelbooru.

Now finally plea of fans was addressed, or was it?

As main character of the show, Megumin somehow acquired many of the Aqua's personality traits. Now she is more of Aqua in Megumin's clothes then actual Megumin. (Wolf in Sheep's clothes metaphor)

Show also has feminist family where women make rules.

One that had it right - Girls Bravo

I do wonder how all that begun though. Back in the days for example we had Girls Bravo, it had Miharu and Kojima. They contrasted with each other: Kojima was violent for no reason and hurt Yukinari too often, in contrast Miharu was demure feminine and proper at all times. Muharu was the only guy who did not gave Yukinari girl-allergy.

That girl-allergy was like metaphor to the idea that if girl would behave properly, like Miharu, then guys would not avoid them.

That also was dream and wish fulfilment: even if you are short and weak, there is some nice girl for you somewhere on the moon. Your little angel. One day she will fall down from the moon and make your life happy.

In Miharu character, Girls Bravo showcased what men want women to be. In Kojima, what men do not like in women, why they avoid them.

One that Eventually Ruined it - Sora no Otoshimono

This show took the whole angel idea literally. It straight gave away you an angeloid in the very first episode. Ikaros was not just the ideal woman (other than the fact that she is somewhat fat): quiet, demure, obedient, accommodating and subservient; she also had magical ability to solve all your life problems too.

Then it somehow went wrong way in writing department. Kojima equivalent, Sohara had her violence as gimmick rather than flaw. They also added a truly mean character, Mikako. These two were taking most of the screentime.

Sakurai, unlike Yukinari was more interested in collecting panties, than in finding happiness with Ikaros.

Unlike Miharu, Ikaros was treated more like helpless disabled creature, that needs supervision, rather than ideal girlfriend type. Eventually they added even more angeloids, who were nothing like Ikaros: tsundere Nimph, genki Astraea.

All that only took show further from the original idea. Now show no longer knew what it was or what it even supposed to be. It became chaos and not the ideal relationship show.

Conclusion

Then future shows just removed Ikaros type all together, leaving only violent assertive girls.

Now we have a lot of anime, where girls are anything, but attractive. Especially main girls.

Alas.