[Locke]

Lol it's like in Kuuga where all the ULs are massive hipsters and probably instagram their murder to put it on Tumblr later.

I think a big reason I love Haruto is circumstance. Haruto is in many senses very similar to Kyoryuger's King, I dunno whether that is on purpose. But whereas King is literally invincible in every aspect to the points of such boredom I once fell into a coma watching that show, Haruto is still flawed. Not flawed enough to fail at being a hero but flawed enough to be convinced of him as a human and to make his triumphs worthwhile.

He's quiet and serious and that is what makes his rare comedy moments so fun and his emotional moments all the more powerful. Rather than say Beast who is basically the opposite of Haruto in every way and it hurts.

I really think people confused Haruto's 'bland' for just the fact that he is a Toku character who for once doesn't spend the entire episode shouting into the camera.

[Matrixbeast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I really think people confused Haruto's 'bland' for just the fact that he is a Toku character who for once doesn't spend the entire episode shouting into the camera.

Except it's not.
Look at Double's Shotaro, who isn't necessarily "Quiet", but he's not a fireball of energy, constantly screaming and chewing the scenery. He's one of the most beloved main Riders.

My disdain from Haruto is that he's yet to have a substantial character arc. He's always reactionary. His brief attempt to find Wiseman notwithstanding. He's never failed. He's never changed. He's never grown. It feels that far too many episodes feature Haruto just sitting around waiting for someone to cry wolf while Rinko and Shunpei run around the city.

[Dr Kain]

How is his "I want to help people" any different from any other rider? Kotaro, Hongo, the second dude (sorry, don't remember his name currently), etc, all just wanted to help everyone and everything. I fail to see why it is a flaw of Haruto and not anyone else. Haruto is probably much closer to the Showa riders than any of the Heisei riders.

I absolutely love Black. It is one of my favorite shows and Black is my favorite rider. However, Kotaro never changed after the first two episodes of the series. Yes, he was badass, as he could kick ass, but sometimes, he was a bright as coal. He would do some of the dumbest crap imaginable. Fall for the most obvious of traps. He pretty much had only had two emotions, smiling and pouting.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrixbeast

Except it's not.
Look at Double's Shotaro, who isn't necessarily "Quiet", but he's not a fireball of energy, constantly screaming and chewing the scenery. He's one of the most beloved main Riders.

My disdain from Haruto is that he's yet to have a substantial character arc. He's always reactionary. His brief attempt to find Wiseman notwithstanding. He's never failed. He's never changed. He's never grown. It feels that far too many episodes feature Haruto just sitting around waiting for someone to cry wolf while Rinko and Shunpei run around the city.

Talking about W to me is kinda pointless because I've not seen it in its entirety.

But in terms of Haruto - I do agree to some extent, Wizard is a slow show and both Kyoryuger and Wizard feel extremely censored for Japanese Originals so he is fairly boxed in by those shackles. But with so little space to move around in, I think he does a lot more with that than all the haters want to admit. And from my experience with the franchise, pretty much all complaints you are having with him can go to any number of Riders.

For example Kabuto may as well have been a cardboard cut out since he was perfect and invincible in every aspect and didn't know what growing was.

Kuuga is forced to wait to be told where the villains are so thousands of people have died under his watch and so on and so forth.

[Matrixbeast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Talking about W to me is kinda pointless because I've not seen it in its entirety.

But in terms of Haruto - I do agree to some extent, Wizard is a slow show and both Kyoryuger and Wizard feel extremely censored for Japanese Originals so he is fairly boxed in by those shackles. But with so little space to move around in, I think he does a lot more with that than all the haters want to admit. And from my experience with the franchise, pretty much all complaints you are having with him can go to any number of Riders.

For example Kabuto may as well have been a cardboard cut out since he was perfect and invincible in every aspect and didn't know what growing was.

Kuuga is forced to wait to be told where the villains are so thousands of people have died under his watch and so on and so forth.

I'm just saying that you lumping everyone who dislikes Haruto together because "Haruto isn't screaming and yelling" isn't an entirely accurate statement.

As for other Riders, outside of Tendou (Kabuto), Gentaro (Fourze) and Tsukasa (Decade), I feel that most every other Rider I've seen has gone through an important character arc by this point (Ep. 38) and has changed since their episode one appearance in some significant manner or grown from how they initially acted. Haruto has come close, but he just seems to revert back before episode's end.
(Note: I've yet to watch or complete Kuuga, Agito, Faiz, and Hibiki)

I am starting to appreciate the subtleties of Haruto's character, but sitting on a couch with a thousand yard stare isn't subtle. It's just not doing anything.

[SPLIT LIP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I really think people confused Haruto's 'bland' for just the fact that he is a Toku character who for once doesn't spend the entire episode shouting into the camera.

You could not be more wrong.

Haruto's blandness comes form the fact that he's bland. Sometimes a rug is just a rug and not concealing a dead body.

Granted I'll take bland over grating or awful anyday. Just saying, we've had better main riders, which to me means that he should be less not-there.

Also Matrix, Agito had undergone a character change by this point as well. Problem is he was still a terrible character.

[Locke]

Like I say, I don't deny the pacing issues of Wizard. Basically every character gets a significant arc and then reverts back to how they were before. Haruto, Beast, Shunpei etc etc and that is a problem with the show itself not so much the characters.

But I appreciate all that Haruto does, in all its subtle ways, when it seems so much is up against him, stopping him from being a great character. And is the best main Rider I've experience out of the shows I've watched: Kabuto, Kiva and Kuuga.

[Switchblade]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I think a big reason I love Haruto is circumstance. Haruto is in many senses very similar to Kyoryuger's King, I dunno whether that is on purpose. But whereas King is literally invincible in every aspect to the points of such boredom I once fell into a coma watching that show, Haruto is still flawed. Not flawed enough to fail at being a hero but flawed enough to be convinced of him as a human and to make his triumphs worthwhile.

He's quiet and serious and that is what makes his rare comedy moments so fun and his emotional moments all the more powerful. Rather than say Beast who is basically the opposite of Haruto in every way and it hurts.

I really think people confused Haruto's 'bland' for just the fact that he is a Toku character who for once doesn't spend the entire episode shouting into the camera.

I agree with every word of this, especially the last paragraph.

[Matrixbeast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Switchblade

I agree with every word of this, especially the last paragraph.

I still think that's an unfair assessment.
Haruto might just be a character in the wrong show.
But declaring everyone who doesn't like him confused because "He's not screaming" is grounds to call Tendou and Wataru the best Toku heroes we've ever gotten.

[Locke]

That isn't actually what I said at all though, Matrix. And if you didn't understand the wry humour in that comment...then I feel sorry for you.

Haruto is a subtle, layered character rather than flat and loud. He is a rarity in this genre and I can see why people would find him alienating and even hard to like because he is so different while still staying within a familiar mould.