The captivating time surf curse is a mystical phenomenon that has been a subject of fascination and intrigue for centuries. This curse, like a powerful wave, allows individuals to surf through time and visit different eras at will. However, this seemingly thrilling ability comes at a hefty price. The main idea here is that the captivating time surf curse is a mystical phenomenon. A person afflicted with this curse becomes trapped in a never-ending cycle of time travel, unable to settle in any particular time period. They are forever searching for a sense of belonging and yearning for a place to call home.
For the longest time, I couldn't understand why Jojo seems to have more "plotholes" than normal. Or perhaps not plotholes, but things that are quite difficult to explain coherently or things that do not flow well with the overall narrative. And it finally occurred to me that Jojo uses soft-magic, much to its detriment. (Read about soft magic here while the loose power and magic system does allow for some of the most famous twists and surprises ("same stand", Giorno creating a vaccine from a just born snake, etc) it also creates a lot of "it works because it just does" scenarios that stand out pretty blatantly. I say semi soft because Jojo magic isn't a completely undefined free for all however it does have a hard time explaining its own mechanics and sticking to them clearly and consistently.
We are told very early on can t remember when specifically that Stands are manifested projections of the soul reflecting the users personality and and deepest desire this can be poked at a bit but this is largely consistent so w. If what were told about Stands were true, how exactly does Johnathan, a soulless corpse reanimated by a vampire, possess a Stand despite having no soul for over a century.
They are forever searching for a sense of belonging and yearning for a place to call home. The allure of exploring different periods and experiencing history firsthand can quickly turn into a burden, as the curse strips away the possibility of forming meaningful connections and settling down. The curse makes it impossible for those affected to form lasting relationships due to their constant flitting between different time periods.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and the Problem of [Semi]Soft-Magic in Battle Manga
For the longest time, I couldn't understand why Jojo seems to have more "plotholes" than normal. Or perhaps not plotholes, but things that are quite difficult to explain coherently or things that do not flow well with the overall narrative. And it finally occurred to me that Jojo uses soft-magic, much to its detriment. (Read about soft magic here while the loose power and magic system does allow for some of the most famous twists and surprises ("same stand", Giorno creating a vaccine from a just born snake, etc) it also creates a lot of "it works because it just does" scenarios that stand out pretty blatantly. I say semi soft because Jojo magic isn't a completely undefined free for all however it does have a hard time explaining its own mechanics and sticking to them clearly and consistently.
For example one of the earliest examples we have are of Stands and how they work. We are told very early on (can't remember when specifically) that Stands are manifested projections of the soul reflecting the users personality and and deepest desire (this can be poked at a bit but this is largely consistent so w.e) but then we have Johnathan Joestar and his unnamed stand. If what were told about Stands were true, how exactly does Johnathan, a soulless corpse reanimated by a vampire, possess a Stand despite having no soul for over a century? And by that logic, how exactly does a corpse give a "distress signal" to future descendants while possessing no soul , Hamon or literally any means to do so? We were told that Hamon leaves completely after the body dies as breathing is essential for retaining and producing Hamon. A corpse cannot hold Hamon. So what exactly is fueling Johnathan's Stand, his resistance to Dio's head and this "distress signal"? There is literally no [sufficient] explanation given for any of this and it's simply accepted as "magic gonna magic".
Another example can be found in Giorno vs Ciocolatta. Giorno kicks a tree limb into the helicopter propeller, it reverts back into a bullet and fires directly through Ciocolatta's head. Now my issue doesn't lie here but with the contradiction of an entire mini plot arc seen previously. The entire point of the Notorious BIG arc was to demonstrate that Giorno cannot use his ability with his feet, yet he does exactly that when reverting the branch back into a bullet and then into a stag beetle. This contradicts an extremely pivotal plot point of a prior arc that laid the grounds for some pretty extreme drama. Notorious BIG nearly slaughtered everyone onboard the airplane due to Giorno's loss of arms, but apparently he never needed them all along? It doesn't jive.
For this example I will refer to the birth of Bites the Dust Kira Yoshikage. To cut to the chase, this has to do with the Stand arrows mechanics, it was revealed in part 5 that the arrows are simply made of meteorite chunks that possess a certain virus. So if this be the case, that means that there is no such thing as a "Requiem Arrow" as all the arrows are identical in what they are made from. So if this is the case, why was Yoshikage Kira not the first Requiem user? One might argue that this is because the Arrow was not used directly on the Stand itself; unfortunately this also makes no sense because Stands are not ever defeated or damaged by physical objects. Only a stand can defeat another stand, so how can an arrow actually pierce and damage a Stand in the fist place if say, a bullet or a sword couldn't? Stands also do not possess physiology and are just projections, so, how exactly does a projection with no internal biology to contract a virus contract one in the first place? Heck, why does Giorno not obtain a requiem when he was pierced twice by an arrow at the start of the show?? None of this is clearly defined or explained at all.
Lastly, I want to mention really quickly. why was a UV light never mentioned as a way to defeat Dio when it was already proven that they work on zombies and vampires perfectly? I could go on about how this would have made Kakyoin's final battle so much more exciting but I'll refrain. My point here is that previous plot points are simply. forgotten for no reason other than not being needed or relevant anymore.
I say all this not to hate on the series, it is one of my all time favorite anime honestly. But I say this because while it does allow for loose definitions of power and some fantastic twists (my favorite being Vanilla Ice's defeat) it also opens the door to some plotholes and/or narrative questions. And this comes back to my original point. It isn't in the best interest of a battle series to invest in a [semi]soft-magic system as the nature of its storytelling prevents it from working cohesively in the long term. Characters that will be interacting with this power system have to do so in a way that makes sense to the audience since we are seeing this system in play without pause, unlike the characters would in-universe. You need consistent outcomes for your story to maintain consistency and believability. I firmly believe that soft-magic works best in stories that do not last very long, perhaps an entry and its sequel. But if your story has a layer of complex internal logic and rules, you, as the writer, are obliged to obey them and break them only when you have a logical explanation, or else the audience is left with no sense of satisfaction and instead have questions. I think that Jojo could have still maintained its sense of mystery and twists while still expanding on and sticking to the rules of the power system. It may have taken more work and a bit of inventive thinking but it's definitely possible. For example, using a UV light to purge Dio would have been an interesting objective if implemented creatively. If the execution was better I think Jojo's could have been among the likes of Hunter x Hunter and Full Metal Alchemist.
That about ends my rant.
Lastly, I want to mention really quickly. why was a UV light never mentioned as a way to defeat Dio when it was already proven that they work on zombies and vampires perfectly? I could go on about how this would have made Kakyoin's final battle so much more exciting but I'll refrain. My point here is that previous plot points are simply. forgotten for no reason other than not being needed or relevant anymore.
As they journey through time, they meet individuals only to lose them as they move on. They are forever longing for companionship but are doomed to be eternal outsiders. The captivating time surf curse may seem enticing, but it ultimately takes away the ability to appreciate the present moment. Living in the past or constantly searching for the perfect moment in the future prevents individuals from truly living in the here and now. This constant yearning leads to a deep sense of dissatisfaction and an unquenchable thirst for something more. In conclusion, the captivating time surf curse is a mysterious and enchanting phenomenon that robs individuals of the ability to find true belonging and satisfaction in life. It may seem thrilling to surf through time and experience history firsthand, but the curse brings about a never-ending cycle of loneliness and dissatisfaction. It serves as a reminder that while the past and future may be captivating, it is essential to embrace and appreciate the present moment..
Reviews for "Investigating the Truth Behind the Captivating Time Surf Curse"
- Emily - 2 stars - I found "Captivating time surf curse" to be extremely confusing and hard to follow. The storyline was all over the place and the characters were not well-developed. The concept of time travel was intriguing, but the execution was lacking. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and struggled to finish it.
- Jonathan - 1 star - "Captivating time surf curse" was a complete waste of time. The plot was weak and predictable, and the writing style was uninspired. The characters lacked depth and their actions felt forced. I was hoping for an exciting time travel adventure, but instead, I got a boring and forgettable book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.
- Megan - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Captivating time surf curse," but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with slow moments dragging on and action-packed scenes feeling rushed. The dialogue was unrealistic and the characters made questionable decisions. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the story and was left feeling unsatisfied.
- Benjamin - 2 stars - "Captivating time surf curse" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver. The plot was convoluted and poorly structured, leaving me confused and disengaged. The writing style was mediocre, lacking any real depth or emotion. I struggled to finish this book and was disappointed by the outcome.