So, zombie stage is out. And I have an idea that I wanted to share for my fellow fans to discuss. I think round 1 of zombie stage is Mizi from Sua's POV. More specifically, we are watching a secondary tragedy of Sua becoming a consumer of Mizi,
The scenes where we see Mizi's rise to stardom are solely done through shots of advertisements and internet reactions. While I think that these shots are just meant to illustrate how Mizi is being consumed by the media. The reason I'm saying that this is from Sua's pov is because we never see behind the scenes. We don't see Mizi's photoshoots the cameras we don't see what Mizi is seeing as she is working. I'm not film expert but Mizi's thoughts and feelings are purposefully obscured by how the shots only show the appearance of Mizi's state.
So I know what you're thinking. These shots are too general to say its from Sua's pov, anyone could be seeing these adverts or be on the internet. Which is true, but there's also the fan meeting shots
This is Mizi in full view, face on and taking up the center point of the frame. Sua on the other hand is off to the side and the camera is behind Mizi. The perspective by which we are seeing Mizi in this shot is meant to be how Sua is seeing her in this moment and how she is reacting to it. Sua here is seeing distance, she sees a Mizi who's lost the passion she had, the loving eyes that she knew.
This goes into a bit of theory crafting. But it is my belief that this youtube shot is a screenshot of Sua's computer. Mizi is becoming increasingly out of reach for Sua. Sua is being increasingly pushed out of Mizi's world, her only means of contact to her lover are through the warped lenses of the camera. Look at those videos on the side bar, the red lines indicate that they've already been watched to some extent. The fact that they are still being recommended suggests an almost obsessive look at them. I think we are being told through these shots how Sua's perspective of Mizi is being further eroded by the media.
Sua is being forced to watch Mizi crumble, separated by a screen. And when she does reach out, when Sua tries desperately to remind Mizi that she's there.
So many words are left unsaid, horrible things that can't be taken back. Mizi is consumed and lost.
I've seen this shot deeply debated online. And I think it is gross, its dehumanizing but not only for Mizi but for Sua as well. We are seeing Sua at her worst here and its the culmination of her breakdown. The infection has seperated Mizi and Sua and this time its permanent. There's no coming back from this, all the things that were said in their last meeting can never be taken back. So how does Sua react? She frames Mizi through a camera. The lense that was the thing that both separated and connected them. Sua can only fathom seeing her lost lover from the lense of a camera in this ultimate separation.
But her hands dont stay up for this whole shot. They come down once Sua pans up to Mizi's face.
Watching this shot of Sua's face breaks my heart. I think I can see how people call this a yandere Sua. That this is Sua feeling happy that she can have Mizi all to herself. But the micro expressions in this tell me a different story. I don't think Sua was prepared for what state she'd find Mizi in. The way her pupils shake as she registers what happened to Mizi, that's horror. That's realizing that she'll never see Mizi's lovely eyes ever again. And the way she smiles as the tears flow out. I think she's just had a horrible idea.
Sua could've never lived without Mizi. So she'll join her this time. This time they'll be consumed together. She won't leave Mizi alone this time.
I think that this is Sua's tragedy in Zombie Stage. The idea that not only the idol becomes dehumanized but those who love her become nothing more than a means of consumption. The commodification of human connection hurts both sides.
