[GWolf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I was trying to avoid specific examples but whatever.

Takatora is a good example of the failings of the characterisation in this show, at least for me. When first introduced he was just entirely there for the purpose of 'shit got real' but as the series developed it turned out he was actually a misguided man with a lot of heart and honour - basically a hero.

This is all fine, albeit very clichéd, but with so many Riders in this damn show pretty much all of Takatora's most important character moments happened off screen so each time he actually did appear on screen he was basically another character entirely. Everything that has happened to Takatora has been more profound for him, than it ever has for the audience.

We were forced into filling in the blanks ourselves. Your own imagination has probably made you believe Takatora is a better character than he actually is, and if you go back and watch it from the start you'll see just how many leaps his character arc has, rather than smoothly playing out.

Micchy is as unclear as Kaito at this point, who is my favourite piece of irony as the man obsessed with strength is the character who gets his ass beat most often.

I just did that last night. Takatora's character development is in my opinion expertly handled. You are allowed make connections but what those connections are is actually chosen for you by Urobochi. I think its a wonderful idea to introduce this fundamentally good person, but show him at the end of a journey into a darker road, and then show how much he wants a way out but can't see one. The series is peppered with the truth of his personality from around episode 11.

So yeah, I think as a character Takatora is kinda amazingly well handled

Overall, the personalities and motivations in this series are more show don't tell. You are gradually introduced to the characters but because it's often forced, nothing is outright explained. It is up to you the viewer to interpret things. Which I find tremendously engaging. For instance, I feel Micchy's motivations are now blatantly obvious and that's based on the sum of the evidence not the individual parts.