Maschenny is "Deep"

[Cinera]

Introduction
In his blog post for Season 3 Episode 103, SIU drew a Maschenny doodle:

Spoiler

He also dropped a short comment on her:

Season 3 Episode 103 Blog Post

Today it's Mascheny after a long time.

I originally drew it for pose practice [fast drawing sfx?]

People like Yuri and Mascheny tend to have charisma, but if Yuri is like a sea full of anger, Mascheny feels like a dangerous lake because she is so deep and dark.

Source


Immediate Takeaways
The main things I immediately note from the blog post are:

• Maschenny (and Yuri) are charismatic by nature.
• Yuri naturally comes to SIU's mind whenever he thinks or talks about Maschenny.
  • She's a character that's strongly associated with Maschenny for SIU.
  • He phrases them as opposites and draws a sharp contrast between them.
  • Perhaps, SIU did intend for Maschenny to serve the role of arch-rival/nemesis to Yuri.

SIU's Metaphors

but if Yuri is like a sea full of anger, Mascheny feels like a dangerous lake because she is so deep and dark.

I've looked at alternate translations of the above, and what seems to be consistent across all of them is that SIU describes Yuri as a wrathful sea ("sea full of anger") and Maschenny as being so "deep" (specifically that she is so deep that she feels like a dangerous lake).

I'm not exactly sure what SIU meant with the metaphor, so I'm not going to bother trying to properly disambiguate it, but I do have some ideas on potential interpretations and would like to share them:

• My reading of the metaphor
  • Yuri as a wrathful sea.
    • The image brought to mind is a turbulent sea with high waves.
  • Maschenny as a dangerous lake.
    • I visualise a lake that is still or calm on the surface (so superficially safe to cross) but is in actuality much more dangerous than it initially appears due to hidden depths.
• Potential symbolism
  • Their nature when they are angry:
    • Yuri gets very inflamed and visibly enraged.
    • Maschenny's wrath is a much more subdued and cold thing.
  • Their personalities in general
    • Yuri is a very passionate and straightforward person.
      • She wears her heart on her sleeves.
      • What you see is what you get with her.
    • Maschenny is a much calmer person on the surface, but beneath that facade, lurks something very sinister and treacherous.
      • She's much more dangerous than she initially appears to be.
      • With Maschenny, appearances can be very deceiving.

Conclusions
There are many layers to Maschenny Zahard, and she's much more than she initially appears to be. If I was to summarise the facet of Maschenny's character that SIU was trying to convey here in just two words, it would be "hidden depths".

The idea that she's specifically (far) more dangerous than initial appearances would suggest is a theme with Maschenny. The sentiment was expressed most powerfully by Jinsung:

Spoiler

Maschenny can perhaps be likened to an onion. Every now and then, I get an epiphany and discover yet another underappreciated aspect of her character.

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[Kromage911]

Yeah, the comparison to a lake is pretty cool. I think your interpretation here is exactly what SIU meant.

 

[Worst]

Indeed when you look at maschenny she doesn't seem so threatening untill she starts talking, while you can tell at glance that Yuri is very hot blooded

 

[notAfanboy]

She is an interesting character, the arc will her intentions and somehow Jinsung Ha understand her now. Maybe Baam will meet Jinsung when he is about to die and Ha tell Baam something about Maschenny, knowing Maschenny, she will try to escape and put Baam in another fight (she is clever and will use any situation to her advantage).

 

[TheAncientCenturion]

She got man face

 

[Cinera]

Indeed when you look at maschenny she doesn't seem so threatening untill she starts talking, while you can tell at glance that Yuri is very hot blooded

Oh damn, that's a contrast that I wish I'd picked.

• Yuri: "hot blooded"
• Maschenny: "cold blooded"

I'll probably edit it and add it later.

She is an interesting character, the arc will her intentions and somehow Jinsung Ha understand her now. Maybe Baam will meet Jinsung when he is about to die and Ha tell Baam something about Maschenny, knowing Maschenny, she will try to escape and put Baam in another fight (she is clever and will use any situation to her advantage).

I don't think she would run away. She said that she wants to see if Baam will satisfy her expectations.

So I think she'll stay to witness Baam's battle. If he proves himself otherwise satisfy her expectations, I imagine that she would assist him.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Yuri>>>

 

[Lhulu]

Great thread Cin, your thoughts seems pretty solid and fits SIU's post very well.

Btw, do you know where I can find more of SIU's blog comments? They're far better and interesting than Oda's SBS or VC...

 

[Flower]

Tbh I like Yuri more and she also has more connections to everyone involved. I think Mas is just going to get exposed and will join Baam. So far all the 13 months series Princesses who met him were shown to do so and she even already likes him. So I don‘t think she will be Yuri‘s arch nemesis.

About her character, I think she‘s cold blooded, too. Though she will become nicer.

 

[Akai2]

Not gonna lie Cin, I thought this title had another meaning given your previous Maschenny thread

 

[Cinera]

Yuri>>>

Please, you don't even read Tower of God.

Btw, do you know where I can find more of SIU's blog comments? They're far better and interesting than Oda's SBS or VC...

Here:
https://towerofgod-blogposts.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F612915475933970432
Most Season 3 Blog Posts aren't story informative though.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Please, you don't even read Tower of God.

Doesn't stop me from spitting faxxxx.

 

[Cinera]

Post automatically merged: Jan 12, 2022

Not gonna lie Cin, I thought this title had another meaning given your previous Maschenny thread

Which previous thread?

I mean most of my Maschenny threads are just boring character analysis threads:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TowerofGod/comments/l2oys9
The above is my compendium of essays on Reddit before I got banned from there.


Though it you read only one of my Maschenny threads, then it should be this one:

Maschenny Zahard is a Truly Breathtaking Character​

I think the only less serious thread was my thread on Maschenny's lips, but that wasn't inherently not serious.

SIU does convey different emotions/atmospheres from Maschenny with she smirks/smiles he gives her.

Each one means something that's peculiar to the situation at hand. There's a specific way that he wants Maschenny to come across in that scenario.


I chose to have fun with the thread, but it was in fact possible to write a thorough analysis on Maschenny's smiles, smirks and grins.


Or maybe I'm just reading too deeply into it and trying to find meaning where there isn't any.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

on Reddit before I got banned from there.

Even Reddit doesn't tolerate this incessant wanking of the side character Manschenny.

 

[NAMELESS]

The Khuns are known as schemers and backstabbers.So it's not surprise one of the most seasoned family members is like this.Maschenny must have suffered her fair share of nasty surprises in the hands of her family members,i think younger Maschenny was more like Aguero Agnis:cunning,but with real concern for her friends.

 

[Cinera]

I think Mas is just going to get exposed and will join Baam.

I agree that Maschenny will eventually get outed as a traitor (maybe even in the Nest proper), but I don't see her joining Baam being a sensible choice for the story at this point in time:

• It's redundant.
  • We already have Yuri to fulfill the role of a Ranker Princess protagonist.
  • Maschenny is setup more as a rival/foil to Yuri and an adversary of sorts to Baam and Jinsung.
• It wastes Yuri and Maschenny's rivalry.
  • Maschenny was introduced as an adversary or rival of sorts for Yuri.
  • Maschenny has been repeatedly contrasted with Yuri.
    • Maschenny is much older than Yuri.
    • Their meeting at Repellista's palace.
    • Season 3 Episode 103's blog post.
  • Maschenny and Yuri have a bet for their 13 Month Weapons.
• It under utilises Maschenny.
  • Maschenny is a very influential Princess in a manner incomparable to Yuri.
    • Maschenny is the only 13 Month Princess in the history of the Khun Family.
      • This makes her of paramount importance to the Khun Family.
    • Maschenny is a very high ranking officer in the Zahard Army.
      • She's the Commander of the Nest.
      • She could command usage of Zahard's El Robina.
      • She could afford to lay waste a fleet of several dozen Floating Ships.
  • Having her abandon her status, power and influence to cavort with Baam will waste that aspect of her character.

Maschenny may decide to support Baam after the Nest, but I don't think she'll abandon her position of power to do so.

Doesn't stop me from spitting faxxxx.

Please.

Maschenny has shown more depth and richness is a mere fraction of the panel time that Yuri has received.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Please.

Maschenny has shown more depth and richness is a mere fraction of the panel time that Yuri has received.

The people disagree.

 

[Cinera]

Even Reddit doesn't tolerate this incessant wanking of the side character Manschenny.

Nah, I got banned from the subreddit for other reasons.

My Maschenny essays had nothing to do with it.

The people disagree.

No, they just like Yuri more. Yuri is like the third most popular character.

(I also like Yuri myself).

That's not the same as Yuri being a rich and multi layered character.

 

[Light D Lamperouge]

Nah, I got banned from the subreddit for other reasons.

My Maschenny essays had nothing to do with it.

I am just messing with you.

No, they just like Yuri more. Yuri is like the third most popular character.

That's not the same as Yuri being a rich and multi layered character.

Sorry, the poll speaks for itself.

 

[Cinera]

Sorry, the poll speaks for itself

Again, Yuri is more popular. It doesn't make her a richer character.

And on the notion of popularity, Yuri has had way more panel time than Maschenny.

Maschenny would honestly be very lucky if she had even a tenth of Yuri's panel time.