Is Tenchi...?

[SpaceCub]

Okay, assuming that you are a heterosexual male and from the age of 16-29, what would you do in this scenario?

Over the course of a few weeks, your house becomes flooded with 5 (technically 6) beautiful women who are all clearly infatuated with you.

Once again, assuming that you you are a heterosexual male from the age of 16-29, you would at least make a pass at ONE of them, at least, right?

But however, quite the opposite end result occurs in the two series, Tenchi Muyo! and Tenchi Universe (after a lengthy thread between myself, Sheamon, and others, I've decided to keep my comments limited to shows that I have seen over 95% of the episodes. Therefore I am leaving out Tenchi in Tokyo, which I have not seen all of, but am told that he does eventually date a girl. I'm sorry, but I gave up after they decided to change the plot line for a third time. And cripes, those monsters!!). In these series, our boy Tenchi Masaki is surounded by 5 (or 6) sexy ladies who all want to get their gear off and get it on, and yet, he does nothing (*sigh* a sad story for all "man"kind). In fact, he actually seems like he's avoiding the girls as much as possible, and looks awfully uncomfortable around any one of them (but looks cool as a cucumber near that big, ugly looking guy at his school). So I have a question for all of you Tenchi fans; is he a homosexual (I'm assuming that because you all watch Adult Swim, you are at least 17 years of age and shouldn't be offended by this topic)?

"Not that there's anything wrong with that" as Jerry would say. Hey, to each his own, I always say. As long as the unlikely event that Tenchi somehow is imbodied in a real person and begins to make a pass at me never occurs, I'm perfectly comfortable with whatever his lifestyle may be. So let's not let this turn into some kind of ethical dispute, just a simple question.

I don't buy the excuse that "They weren't his type." Come on! Nearly every type of woman was on that show (then again, maybe Tenchi was into Goth chicks the whole time?), the ditz, the princess, the wild one, the smart one, and the shy down to business type. And then there's Sasami. Yes, I realize she's like half his age, but if we're not about to judge the guy according to his sexual preferance, how can we hold the idea that he would be a petifile against him?

I get the idea that his family knew what he was up to as well. His Grandfather sees what's up and decides he better set the boy straight (once again, we've already decided that Tenchi's decision is fine with us, regardless of what it is, but Grandpa just wants great-grandkids). So he willingly gives him the key to the prison of the beautiful Ryoko, hoping that things might work out for the two of them (sorry grandpa, strike 1, and 5 more are on the way). I think his father was perfectly fine with the idea. In fact, all the better, for him ("Hey, if Tenchi doesn't want em, SOMEBODY should give take the initiative"). Ever notice how sometimes he makes a pass at the girls?

But alas, our dear boy takes 3 whole series to catch on and fall in love with a woman, and of course by then I'm so sick of the show I can't watch it.

Anyway, feel free to post your opinions. And don't feel that no one will read your reply because so many others already have replied (if that unlikely event occurs). I'll be sure to read what everyone of you has to say, regardless of how pig-headed and ignorant you may be.

---
"Smithers: CON: Possible Homer Sexual"

[TylerL]

First of all, your demographic doesn't match with Tenchi's. He's 14-17 (I think 16?)

If you notice in the series, he really only has about two friends and lives with his father and grandpa (no mother anymore, remember).
He's not used to people, let alone the kind that make no sense to him (the female variety).

The advances the girls make scare the hell out of him because he doesn't know how to react. He doesn't know the proper way to show affection (if he even is attracted to any of them).
Speaking from experience, when I was his age, my "skills" with women were...less than spectacular. I had many more guy friends than female-type friends. I was oblivious to all dropped hints, and I was in shock for about three days after my first kiss.

Tenchi's a shy, inexperienced little boy.
You'll notice that he DOES grow up as the series moves along though.
Not everyone matures at the same speed. Labeling someone as a homosexual based on their relative maturity is quite unfair.

[Lonestarr]

won't someone lock this thread?!

[DJRed]

unfair label? I suppose. Blatantly obvious idea? yes indeed.

Is he gay? eh... maybe it's a japanese culture thing... damned if i know. Besides even if he is just uncomfortable around women... well hell, who said he need to make a move? I think Ryoko does enough of that for everyone. I mean she's only naked around him oh.... just a dozen or so times. He should sit back and let her have her way. It's just that easy.

I'm pretty sure i remember hearing a while ago that another tenchi series is in the works. A continuation of tenchi muyo (no universe or tokyo thank god) and in it he'll finally choose one of the girls.
Actually my bets are on Sasami, or rather Tsunami. Her grown up form.
She's the only sane one. She doesn't look half bad. and hey, she can cook!!
What more could a man want? Straight or Gay.

[Evil Dr. Reef]

Originally posted by Lonestarr
won't someone lock this thread?!

I'm actually suprised it made it this far.

[DJRed]

hey silly, stupid, unimportant questions have a place in this world to.

oh and immature. don't forget that one.
kinda makes me glad that i posted with my ideas......

[DR. BELCH]

As noted many times, Asian culture is very different from ours. In Japan, the girls are reserved, and a man won't even publicly comment on a woman's appearance or how attractive she is. Tenchi's the prototypical gentleman, but Ryoko's about as far from the blushing, shy Japanese girl as one can get. I'm afraid of her, and I usually like when a woman makes the first move. Aika's a princess--an upper-class girl, and crossing those lines between social strata never works, trust me. Kiyone's a cojones-crushing workaholic, Mihoshi's a frigging ditz, and Tsasami's underage (though when she's older, maybe; I agree that she's the one with the least emotional bagage). Lil' Washoe may be of age, but she looks like a ten-year-old, and that is too weird (although I admit I might give her a tumble; she's intelligent and she only looks that young!)

[Sisto Kid]

Originally posted by DJRed
hey silly, stupid, unimportant questions have a place in this world to.

oh and immature. don't forget that one.
kinda makes me glad that i posted with my ideas......

Uh,...an honest question with no malice or homophobia behind it? What's the big deal?

I have to admit the points made by SpaceClub have made me scratch my head a time or two wondering. Nothing I obsess about, but jezzus-christ-on-a-crutch, considering Tenchi is surrounded by girls who are falling all over him and he feels he has to run from them like Satan was chasing him with a pitchfork, what's wrong with asking the question? Besides, how do you know the series creator didn't plant that as a small afterthought to make people tune in and go,...hmmmm?

If it was true, it wouldn't make me stop watching. God, I think it's because of our LACK of honest communication about what we're thinking is why we humans are so screwed up sometimes.

[DJRed]

I only said that in responce to the people who thought this thread should be closed. I think it's a good question to. But it's still kind of silly stupid etc. and so on.
I personally would like to slap the basterd around a bit.Get him to his senses or somehow steal his identity and have myself a jolly good time in that hot tub of theres... but uh.... eh hem.... I don't really know what my point is here
other than to say that you've really mis-read my post.
It's an honest question just a somewhat silly one.
This is only a show after all. That can be a weak argument, but still.

[Sisto Kid]

Originally posted by DJRed
I only said that in responce to the people who thought this thread should be closed. I think it's a good question to. But it's still kind of silly stupid etc. and so on.
I personally would like to slap the basterd around a bit.Get him to his senses or somehow steal his identity and have myself a jolly good time in that hot tub of theres... but uh.... eh hem.... I don't really know what my point is here
other than to say that you've really mis-read my post.
It's an honest question just a somewhat silly one.
This is only a show after all. That can be a weak argument, but still.

Point taken, DJ, my bad. I guess I had my "anti-politically-correct" radar on hyper-sensitive.

And you are right. It's just a show. But then again, isn't the point of truly trancsendent art/entertainment to spark debate, especially considering something that's such a socio/political hot-potato?

Sorry. Went on a tangent there.

Professor Sisto signing off for now.

[i miss katy]

I think Tenchi is just a) too shy and embarrassed by all the advances, b) too annoyed and exhausted by Ayeka and Ryoko, c) genuinely cares about Ayeka and Ryoko and doesn't want to hurt them by pursuing any one girl, and d) AFRAID of what Ayeka and Ryoko might do to him if he did.

The only relationship that has hints of homosexuality is in Tenchi Universe between Kiyone and Mihoshi. I don't know that they're supposed to be, but it definitely has that flavor at times. As was mentioned earlier, showing same-sex friendships that seem awkwardly close in US culture is commonplace in anime (and other cultures as well), and showing same-sex lovers is also not a big deal. Malachite and Zoicyte were lovers in Sailor Moon, and that's a much younger audience than Tenchi. (Zoicyte was changed to a woman in the US version of Sailor Moon, and I must admit he/she looks more like a flatchested woman than a man).

Probably my favorite episode in the Tenchi series is "No Need For Resident Officers!", which entirely focuses on Kiyone and Mihoshi, and shows how much they care about each other. I'd say it could go either way as far as those two.

[randomguy]

I've been told he has sex in the last movie, "Tenchi Forever" (I think that's the title. Sure is cheesy). So, hey, guess that answers that question. Me, I always thought Ayeka and Ryoko had a thing for each other.

[SpaceCub]

I'll try to list these responses in order that they were posted.

Tyler, my apoligies for the demo messup (although I did hit the tail end of the spectrum). But what I was trying to get at was that regardless of Tenchi's age, he should have acted a little more interested. Yes, I admit, I had the same trouble with missed cues at his age too, but the girls seem to come on a LITTLE more strongly than what I experienced.

DJRed, of course silly, stupid, and unimportant questions have a place on these boards. If someone can run a thread on why Funi shouldn't have cut out Gohan's butt so often, can't I start a thread which may redefine the entire way we look at a show? I realize you were actually trying to help me out, I just want everyone to realize that we shouldn't ignore such crucial elements of a series, regardless of how gray they may be. Thanks for the support, same goes for Sisto.

And Dr. Belch, sorry, but I can only agree partially with you here. Yes, I know that Asian culture is different than ours, but as I stated, he could have nearly any type of girl he desired, even one that would fit his culture. Washoe (or technically Sasami) would be, I think, the best match. However, I never really thought she looked ten (nor 20,000 for that matter). Yes, she could act like a child when it meant she could get out of work, but she always seemed very intelligent and mature to me (except when she wanted to be flattered, as most geniuses do).

I miss katy does bring up some excellent points, but they don't seem convincing enough, IMO. Now your second paragraph DOES really make me think. To be honest, the idea never crossed my mind. But now it seems to hit me like a ton of bricks (kind of like when a friend first pointed out Bert and Ernie's way of life). I mean geez, they live together, have the same job, and one is extremly dependent on (perhaps even obsessed with) the other. I can see how some people would argue that young children shouldn't be exposed to such circumstances, but hey, that's why we have Adult Swim, right? So maybe CN was justified in putting Tenchi on late hours (although I feel Big O or 8th MST deserves the spot more).

But the real question is, why does everyone call me SpaceClub?

---
"I mean queer, QUEER! That's what you like to be called, right?"
"Well, either that or 'John.'"

[Sora Takenouchi]

Originally posted by randomguy
Me, I always thought Ayeka and Ryoko had a thing for each other.

Time and Space Advetures anyone?

[Sisto Kid]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SpaceCub
But the real question is, why does everyone call me SpaceClub?

---
Oops! Sorry! I can't speak for anyone else, but for me, this is what happens when you are in such a hurry to post that you get a brain fart and don't pay attention to small details!

Sorry, Cub!

But may I say thanks for having the guts to post a legitimate question, something I have kinda wondered, but never said for fear that, (surprise surprise) people would take it wrong!

[AgentMaxX]

Altho Tenchi appears gay, and altho I wooda made a move the moment Ryoko showed interest, he is not gay. He proves this in Tenchi Universe in the last episode, where all he can think about is Ryoko, and when she finally appears and holds him, he doesn't pull away as he normally would. I guess he was just scared to have girls trying to pull moves on him and when he finally got used to it, he acted the "normal" way to act.

[Anyone00]

Not every strait guy is a horn-dog that will jump the bones of any-and-all remotely attractive females.
Some care about tradition, some care about making sure it's the right women first, and some are just plain shy and/or awkward.

[Andy Mancini]

I'm sorry, but the "Is Tenchi gay" arguement has about originality as the "Is Future Trunks harbouring a sectret crush for Goku" arguement from "Dragon Ball Z". Sorry to be so blunt, it's been done before. The Ryoko and Aeka "lesbian" angle brought up in this thread, however, is different. That one is news to me.

[William C. Maune]

[indent]Not every guy jumps in bed with the first girl who comes on to him. Plus, if he did choose to have, er, relations, with one of the girls he would probably alienate the others. He likes them all and does not see any reason to disrupt how things are. Sure, he will probably choose one of them some day, but there is no reason he has to rush in doing so.

[SirLemming]

In the "Tenchi in Tokyo" series, we can finally understand him a bit more. Once he's alone, things start to make more sense. He's definitely put off by their eagerness -- it's just too much for him. In fact, Ryoko and Ayeka definitely need mental therapy! Especially later on in the shows, you'll see how absolutely ridiculous they get, and Tenchi's just like... whatever. But I think a defining quote from Tenchi in Tokyo, when he's finally alone in his own place, is when he says, "Finally I'll be like a kid again without all these women!" (not a direct quote, but close) I guess he just doesn't feel ready for it -- they're complicating things way too much.

To defend him much more obviously, when he's in his new environment he meets a girl named Sakuya who makes advances on him, and although she also puts him off at first, he seems to be falling for her now.

So there! Tenchi in Tokyo answers your questions!