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Masks are a very big thing in Tokyo Ghoul. I think they represent the character of the one wearing it. I want to discuss the symbolism behind it all, starting with Yomo’s mask: the raven.

(chapter 27)

As stated by Uta, the maskmaker himself, it is supposed to resemble a raven. The most common association with the raven is death. This comes from the fact that the birds aren’t picky eaters, so they’ll eat any meat. On battlefields, they often circled around the dead bodies, waiting to dig in. Yomo is quite literally associated with death, as part of his job at Anteiku was to collect suicide victims for meat. And, being a ghoul, he also ate them.

Because ravens interact with the dead souls, not long after they passed away, many cultures believe that the knowledge of the dead is passed on to the ravens. Therefore, another association is intellegence. I’d like to say this fits Yomo, but I haven’t found anything in particular pointing to that. I don’t doubt that he’s a smart guy, but I think there are other associations that fit him better. Continuing with ravens being close to the dead and gaining their intellegence, the raven also becomes the keeper of secrets. He’s supposed to keep and protect the knowledge he’s gained. Yomo is very good at keeping secrets, mainly because he barely speaks at all. Even Kaneki gets angry when he won’t tell him why he took Rize and why he can’t see her. (chapter 115)

On to the next association I’d like to talk about. The messenger. In some cultures, the raven is the messenger, and therefore the right hand, of gods. This is true for Yomo as well. He’s basically the right hand of Yoshimura. Although the latter is hardly equal to a god, the idea is there. He does a lot for him, and is always by his side. 

There is one other thing I’d like to mention. Out of all the symbolic meanings of the raven I’ve read about, there’s one thing that stands out. Ravens were white at first but turned black after either being punished or experiencing great grief. Yomo did lose his sister at a young age, by the hands of the doves. This relates to grief, but also a bit to punishment. It’s nothing against Yomo or his sister personally, however, the doves are punishing ghouls overall. Just because they are, well, alive. 

In the stables of Rohan, there is an unruly horse named Brego. This horse is so wild that even the horse-masters of Rohan can’t tame him. He’s just a lost cause, they say. “There’s nothing you can do– leave him,” they say.

BUT THEN ARAGORN COMES IN. And like the heroine of a Horse Movie™ he’s all: “You just don’t UNDERSTAND the horse! The horse is wild and rebellious and free– like me!” 

Aragorn begins gently talking to the horse, first in Rohirric, then in Elvish. He calms him down and asks him what’s wrong.

You could easily draw a parallel between Aragorn and Brego’s “rebelliousness.”  To Theoden, Aragorn was acting overly unruly and difficult.  “When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan.” Then Brego acts unruly and difficult – and Aragorn’s like “the people of Rohan just don’t understand you!!!!!!”

And then Eowyn explains that Brego used to belong to Theodred.

Suddenly Brego’s unruliness IS completely understandable— his master was killed in battle.  He’s a horse with a Tragic Backstory.

“Your name is kingly,” Aragorn tells the horse. Aragorn is also a king. Aragorn is projecting. 

Now that she’s explained the horse’s tragic backstory, Eowyn tries to get Aragorn to open up about his own Tragic Backstory™. (”I have heard of the magic of elves, but I did not look for it in a Ranger from the north….?”) She fails. Aragorn is briefly like “yup I was raised by elves,” does not elaborate, and then peaces out.

But as he leaves Aragorn dramatically says: “turn this fellow free; he has seen enough of war.”  

And Eowyn is forced to wonder whether Aragorn is talking about the horse….or about himself….

Then Aragorn has a Near-Death-Experience, but Arwen’s elven-magic (just roll with it) saves him. And the horse who comes to carry him to safety is none other than Brego.

It’s Brego, repaying the kindness and understanding Aragorn showed him earlier in the film! 

 Aragorn set Brego free, and in return Brego saves Aragorn’s life!

 Because they UNDERSTAND each other, as fellow free spirits who “have seen too much of war.”  Both of them are KINGLY but also WILD, they’ve lived through too much and lost people they cared about, and their strong wills cannot be tamed by anyone in Rohan!

 It’s beautiful. Aragorn canonically has Disney-Princess-level animal friendship powers. 

When they arrive at Helm’s Deep, Aragorn smiles and earnestly says in Elvish:  “thank you Brego, my friend.” And we know that Brego understands….

brooklyn nine nine best moment throwback (voted by my followers) #5 i want it that way cold open (36.4%)

these specific friday events (that do not happen every friday, it varies)?