Episode 1-3 – Senior is a man

Gender, like most things that make up humans, is an infinitely complex topic. Many people will insist that it’s easy because they never really have to think about it too much. Anyone reading this who is trans or gender non-conforming already understands this better than I do, but I think it’s worth upfront in these comments because so much of this show’s story revolves around gender presentation and the concept of social norms. I approach this topic from the perspective of a cisgender male, so I won’t pretend to be an expert, but I’ve done enough reading and discussed enough with my trans friends and loved ones that I at least Realize that I am like this. All I can promise is that I will treat this show with as much thought and sensitivity as possible, and ask people in the comments to do the same.

For now, I will use he/him to refer to Makoto. Like the non-localized terms in the title, using pronouns to refer to characters in Japanese media can be a bit tricky, and since Makoto is an anime, I couldn’t just ask him for clarification. The official subtitles use he/him in all of these episodes, and Makoto seems happy with the “guy” tag for the latest episode, so that’s what I’m going for. Things may change as the story develops. One’s identity isn’t always set in stone, it’s entirely possible that Makoto identifies as a trans girl, or gender fluid, or any other identity, and I’d be more than happy to change the narrative I’m using if that were to become a reality.

All of this preamble might feel like a bit much, given the very personal approach the show has taken to the subject of gender so far. That makes sense—these are high school students, and you wouldn’t expect them to go around discussing Judith Butler’s conclusions. Instead, the key exploration of Cheng’s gender presentation is through the lens of conformity. Makoto faces a constant, silent (and sometimes not so silent) pressure to present himself in a conventional, explicitly masculine way. He was expected to wear a boy’s uniform, shun anything even remotely feminine, and act within unwritten restrictions that had been imposed on him in some way from birth with a certain body type. on the shoulders.

I think this is an experience that anyone can relate to, no matter who they are. I certainly remember the suffocating pressure of high school social life, when wearing any shade brighter than forest green meant everyone would call you pant Being gay, or having to secretly read Tamora Pierce’s books because they were “written for girls,” for reasons I still can’t fathom. Makoto has no interest in subverting the gender norms of the world around him. He wants to live his true self by embracing the cute things he likes, but he’s constantly told that doing so is wrong for reasons no one can explain. It was especially heartbreaking to see this scene with his mother, who was so disturbed by the idea of ​​her child liking dresses that she shed tears when she found a pink handkerchief in his room. She has internalized society’s heteronormative notions so deeply that she can only see Cheng’s cross-dressing as a disastrous shame that will ruin his life – without ever realizing that outside prejudices are It was the reason why he needed her support the most.

What’s really exciting is how people react once Makoto starts exhibiting masculine charm – they start to be attracted to him and acknowledge the aspects of his character that have always been there. We, as well as Saki and Ryuji, know that Makoto has always been friendly, and wearing a wig doesn’t change his athleticism. No matter what uniform he wears, he is the same person. However, other students only dare to approach him if he dresses as they think he “should” dress. It’s an extremely cruel message that adds even more pain to Makoto’s journey. So it’s very lucky that his people love him for who he is, not who he is expected to be.

Saki and Ryuuji play more of a supporting role in Makoto’s story, but we’ve got a lot to do with both of them. Ryuji is the most conventional in terms of his relationships with the world around him – aside from that nagging feeling in the back of his head that his best friend is actually cute, funny, and looks super pretty in heels. Saki immediately reads the boy, but Ryuji isn’t ready to accept his attraction to Makoto. Having a crush on your friend is complicated enough, and the addition of internalized homophobia and all the social barriers Makoto faces certainly doesn’t help matters. That’s why when Makoto stopped cross-dressing, he tried to accept it in the first place – he wanted to support his friend’s choice, but also really wanted all these mixed emotions to go away. It’s a relatively simple thing, but it already makes him a more well-rounded person than is typical for this character type.

Saki is a bit complicated, or at least difficult to read at first. Her initial connection with Makoto feels a little shallow, but every subsequent scene and episode shows how genuine her feelings are. Not only does she accept Makoto for who he is, she embraces him. Sometimes in embarrassing ways (nosebleeds), sometimes in delightful moments like taking him clothes shopping. We still feel like we’re missing a piece of the puzzle for Saki’s full character, but the sheer joy she displays in affirming Makoto’s performance is incredibly charming. The climax, their drag dance on the beach, made me cry with joy. Whether or not their relationship becomes romantic, this is a clear act of love; assuring Makoto that Saki loves him because who is he.

It’s this tenderness that makes it all happen. It’s unclear how much more the show has to say on its heavier topics, but Senior is male Genuinely like its characters and hope you like them too. In this regard, it succeeds brilliantly.

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Senior is a man Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.