Perhaps Sakuya would work better as someone else's girlfriend. She seems the type for Yosho.

Don't wanna sound like a black sheep, but I liked her character. And it seems I'm in the minority for liking the Tokyo series in general.

It was obvious that Ryoko and Ayeka weren't able to win Tenchi and Sakuya did it easily compared to their efforts. To understand how to make her better, let's see what was well planned in the beginning.

1) She needed Tenchi. The others were self sufficient and would have been dragging him along.

2) She gave him the attention he needed. The others were too busy flirting and fighting, all she had to do was talk to him without ulterior motives. Dunno about the fellas here but when I talk to a girl thinking about getting her number, she can effin smell it! Time I just talk, we end up talking more, OVER DINNER MWAHAHA...

3) She didn't have plain features. Sure she was like the others with crazy hair, tan, clothes... She's a teenage human.

4) Her personality was very clingy. This form of female seduces men much more than most others. I've only gone out with girls that went for me, sad to say.. well, long story.

Basically, she's a typical person, and has her own personality. Things to be changed it would seem, maybe her complacency around Tenchi, makes her mildly retarded. Tenchi definitely needed to love her before she disappeared, but this was realistic! How many have loved a too little too late? I'm a total sucker for the kind of girl that she portrayed, so unfortunately, I was completely enamored by her. Now I'm stuck thinking those aliens will attack Tenchi until Yugi pops out of her coma as a blonde haired Sakuya.

...I like that plot line...

......Yesss mister Smitherssss......

Well, the thing is, was that I originally planned on re-writing STM as a sequel to Tenchi Universe. Never got around to it, but I appreciate your input

Erm, well Sakuya wasn't a real person to begin with, so I'd start out by first changing that. Give Sakuya a unique identity rather than have her be just a manifestation of Yuugi's desires for love and companionship. It's not hard to understand why Sakuya existed so I never hated her like a lot of Tenchi fans do. Like Crumpets said, she (or more properly Yuugi) desperately needed Tenchi or any other person for that matter. What the Juraians did to Yuugi was incredibly cruel, even if it was in self defense.

Well... first off, I never really figured out WHAT to do with Sakuya. Prime and I brainstormed about her friends being more important, her not falling for Tenchi so easily (Yugi would slowly ease that thought in, rather than make it so sudden), possibly befriending Ayeka (if you can't beat 'em join 'em!), her actually being a new transfer student as well (only she has... AMNESIA!), et cetera.

Basically, make her less of a Mary Sue.

lol, I like that comparison. Good direction. Although she may get along better with Sasami since Ayeka and Ryoko are willing to wage war for Tenchi's attention. And her 'trying' to make Tenchi fall for her instead is more realistic.Making her join the harem, on the other hand, would be detrimental to her character's purpose.

Well, no. I </3 the Tenchi harem. Kills the series for me.

But the thing is - Yugi already has herself to be friends with Sasami, which is why Sakuya would befriend Ayeka. A parallel syntax of sorts (wrong LD there, I'm sure).

Good call, totally forgot. Hmmm... I'll put some thought into it!

You know, you could always NOT have her tied to the harem per say, thats something i've NEVER seen in a Tenchi show, where a main female character WASNT into Tenchi, even something that simple is a driving force and new, she could be like to Ayeka as Amagasaki is to Tenchi, a friend but of no real interest (i say this because Sakuya feels too much like Noike to me, not EVERY woman in the Universe can hijack the plot its just not cool)

hmm... despite her creation simply to distract him, maybe she should not show as much interest in him at first?

Not as much, I kinda got that creepy "prominent love stab" feeling from her when he sat next to her and she said he was cute. But it should be obvious to the third person perspective.

as I've mentioned before. me no like this girl.
no particular reason, probabaly same reason i
dont liek tenchi.

He's a eunuch?