StitchpunkGem

I have a confession to make. I love the Tomm Moore/Irish Mythology trilogy, but... I don't like "Song of the Sea", or at least not as much as most do. I want to like it, to love it, I really do. It makes me so euphoric just like the other films, it makes me feel connected to a culture that I belong to yet never knew or cared for until I watched "The Secret of Kells" and this film and heard about "Wolfwalkers", it gave me a newfound love for seals and watching seal videos online (seal pups in particular), I love singing the selkie song, and the selkie stuff is such temptation for me. I want to be a selkie more than any other mythical being in the film and in any mythology. However... it's just... the ending ruined and soured the experience and the film, at least for me personally. I'm glad that you all can enjoy this film and its selkie goodness when I can't.

Saoirse... Bronach... the selkie... the shell... the song... the fur coat... the ability to turn into a seal... the freedom of being able to swim with seals, to go to places only a being of the ocean could find... motherly love... connection between mother... human brother and selkie sister... I want it, to be a part of it so badly... but the ending... it just has this too good to be true feel to it for me. I'm too scared, too repulsed to try enjoying anything selkie related, because I'm scared any other selkie media will be too good to be true as well. When I get euphoria from any of the films, I get these sorts of... hangovers? When it's from "Song of the Sea", those "hangovers" are the most painful.

I've also had this odd intrigue in capes, coats, and cloaks, especially ones made of fur, since watching the film for the first time. As well as motherly love. And again, the ending of this film makes those intrigues painful to partake in. Would I have still had this peculiar interest in fur coats and cloaks had the film ended differently?

I just feel so torn about everything about this film, and that which is like it. I don't know whether to love it, to just like it, to dislike it, or to just hate it. I'm sorry if any of this sounds childish or unhealthy, I just want to talk about my feelings, because I can't take it keeping these emotions to myself anymore. I want to like "Song of the Sea", and to roam the selkie world freely and with gusto, but Saoirse's fur, her powers, her connection with her mother and the sea are gone forever, and... I just wish there was a solution. That Saoirse didn't or wouldn't have to give up her fur, her selkie side; that she still had her powers (that didn't need her fur on) left, like playing the shell and attracting supernatural things, her urges to go into the water and a fur coat, or still had her supernatural power over/bond with the seals; that she still had a supernatural connection with her mother. I don't think she even misses her coat, powers, or all the mystical people and places she was once able to find and see... Again, I'm sorry if I sound childish or selfish. I just need to get this off my chest.

Selkies, the selkie song, and "Song of the Sea" in general, are creatures, song, and film with themes of liminality. This film truly makes me feel liminal. Needless to say, Ta me idir gra.

So... does anyone else feel this way or have similar feelings? Does anyone else like or want to like "Song of the Sea" but doesn't like the ending?

Thanks for listening. I'll add more if I've forgotten to mention anything.

I just know I'm going to get even more hated for this. Maybe I am a toxic fan for doing this, but everyone hates me already. I have nothing left to lose... I think. I have nothing to gain either... except to be even more shunned, hated, and blocked by more people. At least I have one person left who still loves me and understands what I'm trying to say.

Before you click off of this and block me and/or chastise me, please read this the whole way through and here me out and please try to understand.

I understand now why I hate 9x7 so much. It's not because of shipping or romance. Maybe I wouldn't even mind 9x7 so much if people only shipped it as a joke or something, if that makes any sense. It's because people take 9x7 way too seriously, to the point where they think 9 and 7 have an actual close or deep bond, one they're more upset about what would happen if 7 died than being upset over those who 9 loved that actually died. I regret making that old journal entry, trust me, not just because I made a fool of myself, but also because I didn't convey my thoughts clearly and mislead everyone. At the time, I knew I hated 9x7, but I didn't fully understand why, or wasn't able to convey why properly into words. But... my thoughts towards 9x7 haven't really changed since then. I don't think it should be forgotten. I think it NEEDS to be forgotten.

Like, the first time I really came to hate 9x7 is because of this drawing I saw that 7 was telling 9 he was never alone, which infuriated me, because 5, the one who was always there for 9, who didn't want to leave him, is dead, gone, and will never be there for 9 again, meaning 9 will always be alone no matter what 7 does, and that she'll leave him too when she dies. I had no thoughts of romance or shipping in my mind at the time. I was just angry that 7 got to stay with 9 in general even though he and 5 were torn apart forever. When a 9 fan told me months later why they didn't think 9 and 7 had to relationship at all and that it was portrayed poorly, that only fueled my hatred for 9x7 and helped me understand why I hated it.

But really, why do people think 9 and 7's "relationship" is more important, crucial, and powerful than 9 and 5's bond, in spite of all 9 and 5 went through, 5 dying, and the nothing that 9 and 7 went through, and 7 getting to live?

What does 9x7 have that 9x5 doesn't already have? What has 7 done for 9 that 5 already hasn't?

5 is a timid, gullible, and naive person, yes, but he's not useless nor is he a third wheel. Quite the contrast in fact. Not only did 5 bravely go out into the emptiness to rescue 9 after being attacked by the Cat Beast (where was 7 in all that) and sewed 9 back to health, but 5 also turned against 1 to help 9 save 2, even though he was scared to. Not only did 5 always stand by 9 during the rough times, and always protected and comforted 9, but 5 also constantly clung to 9 for protection and comfort as well.

Where does 7 do anything like that at any point in the movie, that's actually genuine no less? Unlike 5, she not only has little to no interaction with 9, and never comforts or protects him in the same intimate way that 5 does with him, but in the few interactions she does have with 9, they're arguing or upset with one another. When 9 wants to go back to the cathedral to look for answers, she refuses to go with him because she's too angry at 1 and runs off. Then they have little to no interaction, again, until later that night in the library, when 7 nearly kills 1 for sending 2 out to die, and 9 tells 7 to back off, she angrily runs off... again. She doesn't run into 9's arms or anything. The only other interaction with 9 and 7 is during the fight with the Winged Beast, and this is where 7's character become even more butchered. Remember the part where 7 killed the Cat Beast in a baddass manner? Well suddenly she can't kill bestial machines in a baddass manner anymore, as when she tries to attack the flying beast, it always either just tosses her aside, or manages to shoot its harpoon into her leg, dragging her away, and then 9 has to come and save her and also haul her to the library as the cathedral is burning. Again, with the forced romance, even though they've had no real interaction or actual chemistry up to this point other than arguing with each other. And she always splits when the going gets rough, not just with 9, but with everyone else in general. She's never there for 9 or the group, not in the years before 9 woke up, not when 9 went back to the cathedral for 6's drawings, not when he told 7 to not kill 1, not when 9 told the others the ones who died were trapped inside the machine. But 5 is the opposite of that.

5 was supportive of the group the whole way through, especially to 9. He and 9 made that signature lightbulb staff together, you know, and 5 even holds it himself sometimes. Both of them are creators of the light, and gods of the sun. They really are brothers (or lovers, or best friends, whichever you prefer) under the sun. He was the one who went back to the cathedral and helped 9 find answers. When 1 scolds them for going outside, 5 still stands by 9. He always stands by 9's side, no matter how timid, gullible, naive, or scared he may be, when 9 and 5 first meet in the cathedral, when 9 goes to rescue 2, even after 2 dies, when they're at the library later that night and after 7 runs off, when they're fighting the Seamstress, all this time, 5 is standing with 9 and never runs off like 7 did. It's strange that the most simple and trusting stitchpunk is always there by 9's side, while the most rebellious and untrusting stitchpunk is always leaving 9's side.

5 is always the one most concerned as well when 9 is in danger, like when the Winged Beast breaks into the cathedral, and when they're separated soon after during the battle. And then, when 7 and 8 are kidnapped by the Seamstress, and the stitchpunks go back to the factory to save them, 5 actually wants to go with 9 this time. He's no longer the scared, simple and trusting the Scientist first described him to be. All fear, obedience, and respect he's had for 1 has been thrown out the window. All of this happened because of 9's questioning of 1's actions, learning how 1 sent his mentor/father figure out to die, seeing how untrustworthy 1 truly is, and 9 ultimately guiding 5 to stand up for what's right, for himself and for others, and that not everyone is always worth trusting. Not even 2 was able to help 5 become that way. Not to mention 7 wasn't even the one who taught 5 how to fight, be brave, or stand up. She simply left him waited until he finally decided to join the fight. 5 even becomes a something of a leader to the other ragdolls when 9 goes to rescue 8 and 7. 9 is the bravery and 5 is the action; they complete each other.

Unlike 7. When she fights the Seamstress, she gets dragged off, again. And 9 goes to save her, again. Notice a pattern here? And then, when they blow up the factory, after all the lack of interactions they have, being upset at one another as their only interactions, and 9 constantly having to save 7's skin, they suddenly fall in love. Saving someone again and again does not equal romance. She only now does she start supporting 9 after he saves her life, ONLY NOW, after all this time she wanted nothing to do with him. And then right after the record player scene, they go back to arguing again, as when he tells the others that the dead ones are trapped inside the machine, 7 refuses to believe him for whatever reason, and even sides with 1 that the machine needs to be destroyed. 9 runs off this time, and 7 doesn't go after him.

Then they shove in another love scene between them despite their previous argument and 7 doing everything without 9. And then when the Machine is actually defeated, 7 gives him a hug, but 9 doesn't hug her back. He doesn't even smile at her. The uneven brokenness of 9 and 7's so-called "relationship" and the terrible decline of 7's character is evident.

And then we get to when 5 dies. 5 was the only one who wanted to stay with 9, even in death, because of all they've been through together and how much they truly love each other, to comfort 9 and be there for him, even in death. 5 wasn't wanting to not leave 9 because he was lost; he was doing it out of love. And that's something the people of heaven don't recognize. But he leaves, without even so much as a hug goodbye. 7 didn't want to stay with 9, even in life. She had little to no interaction with him, and when she did, she was angry or upset with him, and would part ways with him after. She wanted nothing to do with him. And yet she's the one who gets to live and stay with 9. No one minds 5 dying and being gone forever and leaving 9, thinking that 9 has to let 5 go and move on, or that he'll be fine without him. But when "precious" little 7 dies or leaves 9, it's suddenly such a big deal.

Why does 9 have to let go of 5, but not 7? Why does 5 have to leave 9 forever, but 7 has to stay forever? Why is it okay that 5 can or will leave 9 forever but it's not okay if 7 does the same?

Why does everyone treat 9 and 7 like they're Romeo and Juliett even or that they were torn apart or are a tragic pairing when it's actually 9 and 5 who are the star-crossed best ones who were torn apart and are the tragic pair? Why do people ignore the deep bond and tragic love that 9 and 5 already had?

Why does everyone treat 5 as less important than 7 and 9 together, like a third wheel? 5's not the third wheel, 7 is!

Does everyone think romantic relationships are inherently superior to all other kinds of love? Why does everyone reject the kindness, loyalty, tragedy, and soul-deep beauty of 9 and 5's friendship for the shallowness and skin-deep beauty of 9 and 7... "relationship"? Do people realize 9 and 5 are torn apart, and that 5 is not only dead and gone, but forgotten because of them?

5 is 9's angel, not 7. He is TWICE the angel 7 will ever and never be. He's the most important one to 9, not her. Everything people think 7 did for 9, she either didn't do, 5 already did (better) or both. Other than falling in love with 9, 5 did everything for 9; he nursed him, went with him everywhere and stood by him in everything, did everything he could to help him solve the problem with the machine, was fiercely loyal toward him, loved him, supported him through the whole ordeal, and even offered to stay with him and comfort him in death! Sorry he couldn't give any more than that!

I've seen other 9 fans who are always complaining that 9 and 5 don't get enough attention and are always being swept under the rug. NEWSFLASH, ASSHOLES! YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SWEEPING 9 AND 5, AND ESPECIALLY 5, UNDER THE RUG THE ENTIRE GODDAMN TIME!!! They're always complaining but you never actually give 5 and 9 any attention themselves! They never make any drawings or stories honoring them. And what little attention they do give them, they usually give 9 and 7 three times the attention! Sometimes even to OCs who are act as a lover or 5 or 9, or are even a brother figure to one of them. If they want to see 9 and 5 so badly, then they must make a drawing or story of themselves! Don't just expect others to do it for they while they're carrying on ignoring them! Everyone's unnecessary love and adulation for 9x7 is only bringing 9 and 5 apart more, letting them be more forgotten, and is ultimately destroying hope for them.

9x7, especially taken to such a serious extent, is not cute, sweet, or hopeful. It just reeks of skin-deep beauty, apathy, and ignorance. And it just goes to show that true love, hope, and soul-deep beauty never win in the end when it comes to romance, apathy and ignorance, skin-deep beauty. It ruins the magic of the love 9 and 5 already shared, and it makes me long to set all the negative 9x5 art and all the positive 9x7 art on fire.

So, I hate 9x7 with a passion of a thousand suns because everyone treats 9 and 7 like they have the deep, meaningful, tragic bond for doing absolutely nothing other than flirting with each other and forget about 9 and 5, even though they did absolutely everything other than flirting with each other, and I don't get it at all. Because that is just so wrong and unfair, I don't even know where to begin. Every time I see a drawing of 9 and 7 together, a little bit more of my brain rots, and a little bit more of my soul as well as my hope for 9 and 5 being reunited is stripped away.

I'm willing to bet that most people still won't understand what I'm trying to say and chastise me and/or block me, because they came up with a reason why I still shouldn't be mad and ranting about those who shun 9 and 5 in favor of 9x7.

All I wanted to have people focus on what's actually important and bring 9 and 5 back together again. If you still don't understand why I have this intense hatred towards the thing, then I'm sorry I failed to help you get it. If you do understand what I'm trying to say, and also hate 9x7 for these same reasons, or even if it's just because you think it's a bad ship, you're not the only one who thinks 9 and 5 are being treated so unfairly.