[DreadBringer]

Another redeemed villain.

Hanto has finally tracked down the Wolf Granute who took Sae away, but it turns out that Wolf Granute has seemingly turned over a new leaf; he now lives in the human world as Kenji and takes care of Hiroto and his shop. This situation will likely serve as another test for Hanto. Previously, Rakia had no body count, as all of his victims were saved. And Hanto also respects Comel's change. However, Kenji took the most important person in Hanto's life, but other part-timers also have done that even if it's not Hanto's beloved ones; but Hanto'd save any civilians as well. Although Kenji doesn’t remember his crimes, he allows Hanto the opportunity to settle his grudge.

Lango has seemingly been killed off for real, leaving Glotta in charge of the procurement. She is grieving Lango’s demise and holds Jeebh responsible for what happened. Jeebh no longer dominates his siblings; instead, he laments wanting to finish off Red Gavv, while also expressing sorrow over the Stomach family falling apart. Despite this, he continues to deflect the blame onto Red Gavv. Meanwhile, Lizel remains abusive toward the siblings, dismissing Nyelv's concerns about the production.

I wonder what's the meaning of Hanto asking Hiroto about his age. As Sachika mentioned, the people she helps shouldn’t be restricted to certain individuals; making everyone happy should include everyone. I’m not sure why Rakia feels it sucks about being asked to contact Koji and help a struggling restaurant, especially since he has agreed to assist humans now. Still, the most effective solutions might not always come from the most caring individuals like Shoma and Sachika, but rather from how employees complement each other.

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Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I'd like to see Lakia contribute to this subplot, since he kind of owes Hanto for helping him hunt down Ripper, a former suspect in Comel's murder. Makes me wonder how he'd react in this situation, if he found out that Comel's murderer sought redemption. He blames himself for providing Stomach the means to replicate his euphoric toxins and considering how Liselle has already delivered 1000 Dark Snacks, that means he's indirectly responsible for those deaths. Damn, so Lakia's hands have innocent blood on them after all, even though he saved his original victims. Maybe he would advise Hanto to hear out Lago, whose name I noticed is Lango without the n.

As people'd like to only blame the "true villain", though it's true that Rakia would have innocent bloods on his hands, they'd likely still only exclusively blame Stomachs, while it'd be true that they're depraved, anyone else may be justified as just their victims, describing others, like puppeting/manipulating Rakia to do their biddings or the part-timers being drugged as if they're brainwashed/mind controlled by them. Regardless of Rakia having innocent blood on his hands or not, he's not better or worse either way (he was still a mass kidnapper who'd send his victims off to be murdered), where people can think if they've murdered someone they're irredeemable, but think they're not that bad if they haven't killed anyone, but the latter can happen due to external factor, like the heroes foiling their plan, not because of their own moral code.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

I think it could be like my reply to DreadBringer's Lakia hypothesis last week, that Hanto could choose neither revenge nor forgiveness, but rather grant Lago the chance to live and atone for his crimes.

This'd be likely seen as forgiveness, it seems often that people'd see those that don't exclusively show burning hatred and a desire to take revenge/murder, or at least badmouth them at all times if they cut them off, as forgiving them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

Yep, I expected the granute to show up but not guilt-ridden like this because the writing staff could've gone with the wolf in sheep's clothing approach with Saito and I wouldn't have been too disappointed. But by making Saito a remorseful individual, things get interesting narratively, I think. And another yes for hoping Zeztz does as good as Gavv.

Saito can be potentially a karma houdini where he'd get away scot free after murdering Hanto's mom just because he said sorry.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Saito can be potentially a karma houdini where he'd get away scot free after murdering Hanto's mom just because he said sorry.

It is also possible that Saito will die during another battle between the Riders and Stomatch, thus receiving both punishment and redemption at the same time.

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

Yep, I expected the granute to show up but not guilt-ridden like this because the writing staff could've gone with the wolf in sheep's clothing approach with Saito and I wouldn't have been too disappointed.

I mean, he is still a wolf.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

I wonder what's the meaning of Hanto asking Hiroto about his age.

Journalist habit. You never know what kind of information you might need for an article, haha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Regardless of Rakia having innocent blood on his hands or not, he's not better or worse either way (he was still a mass kidnapper who'd send his victims off to be murdered), where people can think if they've murdered someone they're irredeemable, but think they're not that bad if they haven't killed anyone, but the latter can happen due to external factor, like the heroes foiling their plan, not because of their own moral code.

Yeah, the important part is that Lakia is doing his best as a Rider to mitigate the ongoing damage caused by Nyelve's experimentation on him and hopefully shutdown Stomach once and for all. Unfortunately, he can't help how he feels about his culpability just by trying to rationalize it, similar to how Shouma used to blame himself for raising people's spice value.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

Saito can be potentially a karma houdini where he'd get away scot free after murdering Hanto's mom just because he said sorry.

What else can he do? Not like he's having the time of his life or anything, as his crimes have clearly been weighing heavily on his conscience for the past 18 years and now he's working hard to support an honest family confectionery company. And to be precise, he's an accomplice to murder, which was finished by Lango with his dissolving vat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

It is also possible that Saito will die during another battle between the Riders and Stomatch, thus receiving both punishment and redemption at the same time.

Right, Kenji could meet the same fate as Comel and if Hanto does choose to spare him, then he could end up having to avenge him instead and protect Hiroto from the lonely path of revenge.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

Yeah, the important part is that Lakia is doing his best as a Rider to mitigate the ongoing damage caused by Nyelve's experimentation on him and hopefully shutdown Stomach once and for all. Unfortunately, he can't help how he feels about his culpability just by trying to rationalize it, similar to how Shouma used to blame himself for raising people's spice value.

I wonder that if Rakia's original victims aren't saved (where he'd still pull a heel-face turn and mitigate the ongoing damage), people'd think that he doesn't deserve redemption, got forgiven too easily, and get away scot free from his crimes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

What else can he do? Not like he's having the time of his life or anything, as his crimes have clearly been weighing heavily on his conscience for the past 18 years and now he's working hard to support an honest family confectionery company. And to be precise, he's an accomplice to murder, which was finished by Lango with his dissolving vat.

Not that I disapprove of him being a karma houdini, but to many people, being a karma houdini and getting away scot free from crimes is a really offensive thing. Perhaps at least, about how he should be treated similarly to humans who commit crimes (such as being arrested or imprisoned).