Watase Yuu Works So confused!

I just finished watching the OVA series for Fushigi Yugi for the 2nd time and I'm confused.

Spoiler: Fushigi Yugi OVA series

So Taka and Tamahome are one being now? That Tamahome was absorbed into Taka? I thought that for a while, but then Miaka kept on saying to Tamahome that he could never be replaced. And that he would always be with her.

 

wasnt that because they shared the same memories?

 

Okay....spoilers ahead and all that jazz. I don't want to have my entire post in spoiler tags, so I'm not going to use them for most of it. Just...you've been warned, okay?

Anyway....

Spoiler: FY OAV

Taka is Tamahome reborn. That's what he's always been. So Tamahome is still with Miaka, just in a different body that happens to look exactly the same.

The difficulty lies in the changes between the anime and the manga. The first story arc in the manga ends exactly the same way as in the anime, with Miaka seeing Tamahome/Taka in the real world. However, in the manga he doesn't have his memories from from the book world. Had the animators decided to go with this take, the entire first OAV would be pointless; Taka has no memories to lose in the first place.

Quick side note for people who may not be entirely familiar with things...there are actually three FY OAVs, however the first two were packaged together in one set for the American release. The first OAV is the first three episodes of that set. You know, the ones where all the freaky psycho crap is happening that makes you go what?! These episodes are technically part of the anime canon, but they aren't part of the manga canon. The second OAV (episodes 4–9 on the DVD set) covers the second story arc in the manga. The third OAV is Fushigi Yugi Eikoden and it's based on some of the novels. You could say that the third OAV isn't technically canon either—the novels weren't written by Watase Yu—but it still has a more coherent story than the first OAV provides.

So I recommend watching the first OAV for two reasons only. One, the bus trips at the end of each episode. Those are absolutely hilarious. Two, watching it with people who haven't seen it yet just to see their faces.

Hope that helps, if there are any more questions, feel free to ask.

~Shadrach Anki