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whereyoursoulresides · 7 years

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BanMar/KunZoi Relationship Comparison Essay

Ok so I know I’ve blogged about Patalliro before, but in my recent re-watch of the series and perusing of the manga, I wanted to write a little about Bancoran and Maraich exclusively, now that I have more context for these two than before.

I know this may be completely old, but due to my recent wanderings down the BanMar rabbit hole, I am just busting with so much feeling I just had to blog about it. There are so many similarities between these two that if you sort of squint you can almost pretend these two are KunZoi in domestic AU life, if only for 3 minutes before the illusion breaks.

That being said, BanMar is certainly no replacement for KunZoi, nor would I venture to say that their equal teamsmanship, openly wife-husband dynamic and vocalized “I love you” status (something KunZoi haven’t entirely seemed to have reached yet) makes them any more of an ideal couple. Like KunZoi, BanMar have their own deeply complex issues, with unfortunately never get fully or realistically addressed within the balls-to-walls comedy parameters of Patalliro.

With those limitations in mind, this essay’s purpose is not to say one is better than the other, but rather to explore the dynamics of both relationships by method of comparison. Like most of my essays, I do this to also help with my own understanding of their character, less I also fall into the trap of getting one confused with another, as this can be easy to do when superficially the resemblances are incredibly similar.

(Screenshot above: for a sec there I had forgotten confused which anime I was watching)

We’re all pretty familiar with the similarities, I think. Zoisite shares Maraich’s orange, colorful hair; the two of them are considered very beautiful, androgynous boys, are the same age, and fairly capable soldiers and parkour about. They are both willowy in shape and have a soft effeminate touch about them; they both defer and adore their older, cooler partners (both of which are voiced by Sogabe ;)), have short tempers and have had moments of jealousy. With so much in common, you’d nearly think they were the same person.

Kunzite and Bancoran don’t share as many similarities as their partners, but still share many: they’re both considered “cool”, capable military/government men. You could potentially argue that both also identify as fairly traditionally masculine and thus carry some of the same approaches towards pride, honor, etc. As such, both are somewhat emotionally undemonstrative, but both also have a great soft spot for the underdog, and wish to support, nurture and help said underdog.

Together, that’s when they begin to differ slightly: Bancoran and Maraich seem to be a perfect couple in combat. Maraich is an independent and experienced assassin, and takes his own initiative with assisting Bancoran, without advice or deferment. Bancoran also is not afraid to show his affection for Maraich even in battle, never denying when Maraich returns to his side and boasts as his special place next to Bancoran, or rejecting his touch and affections. At home, Maraich contently acts as traditional, doting wife, and no one questions the romantic aspect of their relationship. This seems to be the ideal for KunZoi - for when we see them, they are the opposite in all these ways - the clearly still-learning Zoisite defers to Kunzite for much, while Kunzite remains business-like on duty and is not afraid to give Zoisite a brutally cold shoulder when his affections are deemed inappropriate, and their home life is...well, perhaps not wholly traditional. Rather than husband-and-wife, these two seem to collude somewhere between “mentor/student” and “cuddle lovers”.

(I love how even between these two villain cuddle scenes, you can just see how stiffly shy Kunzite is in comparison to Bancoran. He wants to cuddle his Zoi but that is literally as far as he can go <3)

However, while on the surface it seems like Bancoran and Maraich are at the perfect stage of their life, their relationship is not without conflict. Maraich is excruciatingly insecure of his relationship with Bancoran (understandably so, considering Bancoran’s incredible seductive powers and endless string of ex-lovers), which is only compounded upon by Bancoran’s cool sense of emotional eloquence and sensitivity. Although it seems like Bancoran should be able to understand Maraich’s insecurity (as he himself had been abused in much the same way as Maraich), unfortunately Bancoran seems to cope using wholly different methods, such as voluminous drinking and constant smoking. While these two could be perfect for each other, neither of them are able to truly support one another due to their own unaddressed deeply damaged psyches.

(Above: Maraich literally whaling on Bancoran after yelling “KuyashiiI~~!”

Below: Zoisite scowling secretly at Kunzite, also after uttering “Kuyashii!”)

(Look how oblivious Kunzite is! Maraich has to compete with other beautiful boys or women but Zoisite’s got to compete with pretty rocks.)

Thankfully in KunZoi we have less of this problem - on the whole, their individual infrastructure seem to be strong enough to nurture a relationship on. Kunzite appears to be emotionally indestructible (at least, before Zoisite’s death), and Zoisite’s tenacity for Kunzite’s love allow him to return time after time. As much as Zoisite gets in a tizzy when Kunzite so much as makes an off-comment remark, his reactions are not fuelled by a crippling fear of abandonment as Maraich is - thus the huffed shoulder, the glee of the rose, the immediate refocus on the task that follows. In this sense, Kunzite and Zoisite have a more level relationship than Bancoran and Maraich - the two have an innumerable amount of trust in one another.

(Look at Zoisite’s big clear eyes <3)

What KunZoi lack, however, is a sense of growth. With Bancoran and Maraich, their conflicts are recurring and constant, but there is an impression that both are truly doing their best to work towards an improved, shared future together. Maraich resolves to work on his jealousy at the end of most episodes, and Bancoran frequently does his best to try to understand and listen to Maraich’s grief and suggestions for his health. Although these two lapse their progress for the sake of comedy, overall there is growth in their relationship; just in the show’s series alone, they evolve from enemies and companions to their unofficial wife and husband dynamic. Although Bancoran is notorious for his frequent flings, it is heavily implied at the end of the series that he is fully aware that Maraich is ultimately the one for him. Also, at some point, Bancoran does even drops the huge “L bomb”.

KunZoi, meanwhile, have all the potential to grow - except, due to timelessness, they stagnate. Perhaps it because of their natural chemistry that they also choose not to grow, happy to remain as they are for the moment, despite Zoisite’s deep ache to express the true extent of his love. Kunzite is also less romantically prolific than Bancoran (read: shy), and whether it’s a matter of confidence or interest, does not seem as bothered about affairs of the heart.

It is also worth noting that Zoisite’s desire to confess his love also does not stem from distrust (as Maraich does) - but rather from a crippling sense of low-self esteem. Since Maraich fully understands himself to be Bancoran’s ideal and perfect partner, it frustrates him to see Bancoran’s eye wander. Zoisite, however, has the opposite problem - he does not necessarily question Kunzite’s devotion (would anyone ever?), but rather, his own self-worth as Kunzite’s partner. Thus his constant desire to demonstrate his love, with no expectation of reciprocity - for his own self to a certain degree, Zoisite feels he must prove himself. Unfortunately, there is little Kunzite can also do to help with his self-image, as much of it can be chalked up as collateral damage due to their mentor/student dynamic. Their relationship leaves little room to allow for a healthy argument, or to air out their individual insecurities and grievances. What KunZoi have in trust, they lack in communication - something BanMar have down pat, even if it’s under flying knives and several bullets.

While I don’t think the writers of Sailor Moon ever thought of KunZoi’s relationship with this much depth, it is interesting to see how differently the dynamics change based on just a few slight differences. Superficially both pairings seem to try to follow the traditional seme/uke trope, whereas in reality, they are vastly different. No amount of dying Zoisite’s hair Maraich’s color or Kunzite pulling a romantic favor out of the air (re: rose) would make these two wholly fit the mold that Maraich and Bancoran had made, and nor should it. If ever I see these two couples together, I’d love to imagine how they would infer each other’s strengths and weaknesses - and possibly even help the other - achieve the happier, fuller and more balanced relationship they seem to strive for.

#banmar #kunzoi #banmar / kunzoi comparison #analysis #kunzoi-ish pairings #bancoran #maraich #bancoranxmaraich #kunzitexzoisite #kunzite #zoisite #kazuyuki sogabe #meta

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