Forum - View topicBest Duo Tournament: RESULTS.
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Ggultra2764
 Posts: 4054 Location: New York state. |
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Group A Final Choice: Jinto Linn and Lafiel (Crest of the Stars)
Reason: After seeing later Stars series, I can see the strength of Lafiel and Jinto's bond, especially spoiler[as Lafiel worries more about Jinto's life in later episodes.] Belldandy and Keiichi seem like you run-of-the-mill hapless loser and clueless gal pairing. Group B Final Choice: Ayato Kamina and Haruka Shitow (Rahxephon) Reason: Ayato and Haruka's love for each other transcends time and a war between humanity and the Mu, both overcoming a great amount of suffering to come together. Kaname and Sousuke lack that much of a strong connection thanks to Kaname's tsundere beatings on clueless Sousuke. |
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guet
 Posts: 492 Location: Sparta |
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Group A Final
Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato from Ah! My Goddess vs. Jinto Lin & Lafiel from Crest of the Stars Voting for: Jinto Lin & Lafiel Reason: Honestly I am still not that familiar with either pair, but from the summeries, vid clips and others comments at this point I just get a better vibe from the pair from Crest of the Stars. I have recently ordered Crest/Banner and plan to watch them soon as well, so that may have something to do with my vote. Group B Final Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon vs. Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic Voting for: Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori Reason: Now this matchup I know well. I have been dreading this vote since I knew these two were going to face each other. Honestly, after much thought the second raid is what saved Kaname and Sousuke. If I were voting based on the first two series only, hands down Haruka and Ayato would have won my vote. The deciding factor for me was seeing how much it made both Kaname and Souske suffer to be seperated from each other, and how their personalities actually changed while they were apart, these two have become so intwined that they really are not the same people they were before they met. I do have to give credit to Ayato and Haruka though, this is the only pair this side of the tournament that could make me vote against them. |
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bonbonsrus
 Posts: 1537 Location: Michigan, USA |
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Group A Final
Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato from Ah! My Goddess [ Video Clip ] vs. Jinto Lin & Lafiel from Crest of the Stars [ Video Clip ] This is an easy choice for me, despite being strong competition and deserving to get this far, up against Jinto and Lafiel, it doesn't seem to me like Belldandy and Keiichi have what it takes to be the better duo. Jinto and Lafiel develop a strong bond based on many aspects, it isn't a shallow relationship and they are beautiful together. Group B Final Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon [ Video Clip ] vs. Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic [ Video Clip I find this very easy as well, Sousuke and Kaname are a great couple together. I love how they affect the other, and become so important to each other to the point where the thought of being apart causes great mental stress (to put it lightly.) I didn't find Ayato and Haruka very compelling really and was surprised they made it this far almost, and I can't see where they beat the FMP duo. |
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abunai
Old Regular
 Posts: 5463 Location: 露命 |
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Group A Final
Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato from Ah! My Goddess [ Video Clip ] vs. Jinto Lin & Lafiel from Crest of the Stars [ Video Clip ] Have mercy... how am I supposed to pick between these two duos? To my mind, there is absolutely no qualitative gap between them. It could go either way. In the past, I have let myself be guided by my trusty Penny Britannica in these cases, but only for choices where the outcome was not very personally important to me. This is not the case this time, so I have decided to let my series preference decide this otherwise-hung decision. I vote for Jinto and Lafiel, because Crest of the Stars is a better series than Aa! Megami-sama. Not by much, but enough. Group B Final Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon [ Video Clip ] vs. Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic [ Video Clip ] In this matchup, on the other hand, I have no difficulty in making a choice. I frankly don't feel that Kaname and Sagara are such a great duo, for reasons I have previously mentioned. Their opponents, Ayato and Haruka, on the other hand, are a wonderful duo, and they deserve my vote. - abunai Last edited by abunai on Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I'm a bit sad that the only one of the duos left that I've seen a significant amount of is Belldandy and Keiichi, whom I have been hoping to see knocked out for several rounds now. I especially did not expect that Nanas to get eliminated so easily. Oh well, you are still number 2 in my heart (first place still locked by Haruka and Michiru, results here be damned).
Anyway, voting time. Group A Final Voting for: Jinto Lin & Lafiel from Crest of the Stars Reasons: This is another couple that has made me become interested in a show that probably would not have interested me otherwise. While I'm not rushing out to see Crest of the Stars, it definitely is something I would like to check out at some point. Group B Final Voting for: Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon Reasons: They just overall seem more compelling, even if I don't know the reasons for it because Rahxephon is another series that I plan to check out (probably sooner than I watch Crest). |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 19161 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Doesn't matter if I take that comment out of consideration or not. Although I admit that they are a respectable duo, I have never regarded Ayato and Haruka as one of the elites and have only voted for them in previous rounds because the top half of the Group B bracket was probably the weakest half-bracket in the whole tournament; there's at least five losers from other half-brackets in Round 4 alone that I would have picked over them had the match-ups lined up differently. Sousuke and Kaname, OTOH, I do regard as an elite duo. People voting for Ayato and Haruka are, I think, seriously underrating the fun factor involved here and putting too much emphasis on the serious side of relationships. In light-hearted moments (like that clip) they play off of each other as well as a classic comedy duo; they are amongst anime's best in that sense. I'd pick them to advance here on that basis alone. I also get a stronger sense of chemistry between them than I do between Ayato and Haruka (that's where I think RahXephon comes up most deficient compared to the source material for other top contenders), and the feeling and need for each other that Sousuke and Kaname show for each other in The Second Raid only seals the deal. If you want me to point to a particular scene, I'll point to the much-discussed haircut scene. Sousuke normally goes militant when there's even an unreasonable hint of danger nearby, but he is so at ease with Kaname, despite a very sharp-looking pair of scissors near his neck, that he actually falls asleep during the haircut, behavior that would be utterly out of character for him under any other circumstance. It may be a strange way to show absolute trust, but it's one of the most effective I've ever seen. They may never truly express their feelings, but certainly show them with their actions and behaviors; despite the irritation factor, Kaname always seems depressed when Sousuke isn't around, and Sousuke uncharacteristically loses his cool when his separation from Kaname is forced. By the end of TSR he has clearly changed because of her, even showing a new willingness to buck authority to be with her (something which would have been completely out of character earlier in the franchise). I've seen all of both franchises, and based on the evidence I have before me, nothing is going to sway me on this vote. Which one is superior here is abundantly clear to me even without figuring in personal like or dislike for the respective series. I will be highly disappointed if Ayato and Haruka win, as I find them to be on a level with Arima and Yukino as the weakest of the remaining duos. On an unrelated note, I'm changing my Group A vote to Belldandy and Keiichi for now. This may not be the last time I change it this round, however! |
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Olliff
 Posts: 552 |
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Group A Final
Belldandy & Keiichi Reason: This is one of the hardest match ups for me so far. It is very hard to go against the overwhelming support for Jinto and Lafiel. However, I have to go with what I am most familiar with. In terms of total devotion for each other, Bel and Kei are unmatched. I also believe it is unfair to label this duo as a typical hapless dude mets beautiful girl stereotype. Their is so much more depth to this couple and both characters to a certain degree break this mold. I also love how this duo is a testament to traditional values; something that is rarely witnessed in other animes. I also think much of this preference for this duo relies on whether you not you are fan of Belldadny's character, fans seem to be split down the middle on this decision. That being said, the unrelenting support has peaked my interest in The Crest of the Stars series. I have already placed in order in to rent the series, and I am looking forward to seeing how strong their duo really is. Group B Final Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon Reason: Easy decision. While this pair, may be a bit dry and serious for some, this pair is much more well-defined and complex compared to the FMP pair. |
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velocet
Posts: 240 |
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Group A Final
This is rather tough, as I don't have the benefit of having seen Crest of the Stars before voting, and the arguments and clips have been very, very strong. However...because Belldandy and Keiichi have been an enjoyable part of my hobby for the best part of a decade, it's difficult to put that kind of affection on the shelf in favour of a pair I know very little about. Nevertheless, seeing Jinto and Lafiel's most vocal and most persuasive supporter Key wavering in his votes, it seems clear that this is a very even match, and whoever advances is entirely deserving, so I guess voting purely on personal preference isn't so bad. What I love most about Belldandy and Keiichi's relationship is its gentleness, and subtlety. No, they don't really have one big awesome climax scene after another, leading to a decisive ending with sunset and sweeping music, but that's not what their series is about, and it's not what they're about as a duo. Sometimes it's really nice to see two people who just get along great. Sometimes it doesn't take life-or-death scenarios to communicate deep, sincere affection, great teamwork, trust, and respect that is absolutely equal in both parties. What's also great about Belldandy and K1 is that they are faced with some pretty rough situations, but after it's all done and dusted, they're still them. The core of their relationship is unshakable. Group B Final Like many others, this is also comparatively easy for me. I wasn't convinced last time, and I'm not convinced this time. My vote goes to Kaname and Sousuke, for being really close to what embodies the spirit of a 'duo' to me; because they work on many more levels, and because they are a charismatic and exciting pair to watch. With Kaname and Sousuke, they're part of a series I barely finished, and don't even remember much about in terms of plot, but I remember them, and how they were together, very clearly. With Ayato and Haruka, it's come across to me that a lot of their relationship hinges on their circumstances, rather than them being a particularly compelling pair to watch interact together - having read back through all the previous responses about them through the early rounds, the sense of real apathy in people's opinions about them was pretty clear. Also, perhaps it's the lacklustre voice acting for Ayato's part, but their relationship in all the clips comes across as quite one sided. If that was the kind of dynamic I enjoyed as a duo, I'd have been championing Ayu and Mayama... 
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ccdx
 Posts: 312 |
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Group A Final
Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato from Ah! My Goddess [ Video Clip ] vs. Jinto Lin & Lafiel from Crest of the Stars [ Video Clip ] This is easily THE biggest matchup so far in the whole tournament, so please, bear with me as well. I find it hard to compare these two equally as I have only seen one of the series all the way through. In the last few days I have made an effort to watch as much AMG as I could looking for a good reason to vote for Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato. I can confidently say that so far, from what I've seen, I can't find one. Jinto and Lafiel for the win. I struggle how best to put forth my grand argument in favor of this pair, so I'll review three of my stronger points.
This statement is certainly true as that is more or less what AMG was mostly about. But this is also one of the things that bothered me the most. AMG is just "trying to hard" to prove to the viewer that Belldandy & Keiichi are meant for each other. I believe that how well a duo works together should be almost self evident and not have to be proven again and again. There are with out a doubt a few scenes were Jinto and Lafiel strongly prove their duoness, but most of the time it's just hinted at, not outwardly shown, but you as a viewer can see that a very deep relationship is most definitly there. Then your suspicions are confirmed with a big emotional scene that really shows how close they have become to each other and how amazing they really are. velocet hinted that there really is no big build up to some emotional memorable scene that shows how great Belldandy & Keiichi are as a duo. Does a great duo need a scene like that? Well in my opinion, after all the suggestive hinting, yes they do. Like I said before AMG appears to be comprised of many smaller moments were Belldandy & Keiichi overcome challenging obstacles to their relationship again and again. That's all well and good for most anime series, but the presentation of a truly great duo needs to have more depth than that. In my opinion BotS is a considerably more intellectual series than AMG. Even in its more comedic moments it's still has a level of seriousness that is just right. You can see this reflected in many of Jinto and Lafiel's conversations. Little side jokes here and there that call back to their past personal experiences they had together that only they could understand. Jinto always seemed to be joking around with the ever serious Lafiel. She was uncomfortable with it at first, but gradually learned to accept it and even (as seen in BotS III) was able to turn his "sly" attitude against him, trapping him in some quite hilarious predicaments. To me Jinto and Lafiel have so much more going for them as a duo than Belldandy & Keiichi ever could hope to have. I know I say this nearly every round but if you vote Jinto and Lafiel through to the next round I can assure you, the future clips will not disappoint. Belldandy & Keiichi Morisato are certainly a good duo that definitely deserve to have made it this far, but I can't bring myself to vote against Jinto Lin & Lafiel faced with all the evidence. Chance to change vote ..... -459.67 °F Group B Final Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow from Rahxephon [ Video Clip ] vs. Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori from Full Metal Panic [ Video Clip ] After the matchup above this one just seems like a major downer as it is extremely easy to pick the winner here. Sousuke Sagara & Kaname Chidori are such a better duo it's not even funny. I struggled to find this rounds clip of Ayato Kamina & Haruka Shitow as there was a huge episode gap between this clip and the last. A good duo has to be presented throughout the series, not just now and then, here and there. Sousuke and Kaname's relationship is a constant barrage of hilarity and substance that I find very entertaining and enjoyable. |
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braves
 Posts: 2309 Location: Puerto Rico (but living in Texas) |
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No problem.  If I see any other group that has characters that I recognize, then I'll make sure to vote.
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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I found myself agreeing with that line. As much as I love RahXephon (and it is something akin to love), I have to be realistic. Ayato and Haruka are an amazing duo, but because they arrived in RahXephon with pre-existing baggage, the development was lacking. By itself, that's not a problem. You see, Ayato and Haruka struggle to spend half the series together (and even then, not very closely at that, most of the time). While the ending confirms their place as my number one favourite romance couple of all Anime, here we are voting on "duos". Yes, romance is a duo, but there is extra criteria which Ayato and Haruka simply don't meet. I'd love to vote for them, I truly would. In fact, I hope they win. But, I cannot in good conscience vote for them. Though I would vote for them over Sousuke and Kaname in a romance competition, they are the lesser duo here. I'm so sad for betraying those two, I think I'll go over into a corner and cry. |
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ccdx
Posts: 312 |
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Well... geez I was just trying to make a good argument for a duo. I never meant to make anyone cry 
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ccdx
Posts: 312 |
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Mini-game scores are posted. Also, I have added a red colored E next to those entrants names who are officially eliminated from placing in the top three. Sorry
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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Oh well, it was still fun. And I figured I was pretty much not going to do well when Michiru and Haruka were eliminated so early on, when I had picked them to be overall runner-up.
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Dorcas_Aurelia
 Posts: 5344 Location: Philly |
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Top three? Making it slightly less depressing for a couple of people? (By my figuring, five people are still in competition for the top spot, although one just barely, and two more can afford at most maybe one mistake if ManOfRust doesn't get any more points) |
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