#fukuchi never would have stood a chance

[zukkaoru]

kind of obsessed with how fukuchi's line about "if you attack me one by one, i will kill you one by one" has held true through this entire arc. tachihara fought him alone, and he failed. jouno attacked him alone, and he failed. even when ranpo and fukuzawa went to confront him, they did it one by one (ranpo first with poe's book page, and fukuzawa second with his sword), and fukuchi eliminated them from the fight one by one. the only time anyone even escaped a confrontation was when atsushi and akutagawa finally worked together, fully and entirely trusting each other. it was when they finally attacked him as a combined force. if characters keep fighting against fukuchi one by one, they are going to continue to be defeated one by one.

#releasing this from the drafts too. be free #and the worst part is... it makes so much sense as to WHY each of these characters continuously goes at him solo #tachi jouno ranpo and fukuzawa ALL think they alone are the one who can defeat him #tachi is the only one who can manipulate metal and therefore gain control of fukuchi's sword #jouno can dematerialize and therefore avoid being struck with any blade #including one that can cross space and time #ranpo is literally the smartest person in the world #and fukuzawa is the one who knows fukuchi best #but separately they can't defeat him. had they all worked together #fukuchi never would have stood a chance #but they fought him one by one. and he took them out one by one. #the thing about bsd is it's clear the Big Bads can only be defeated when the characters work together #it's stated multiple times that the agency is at its best when they're all together #the characters are ALL stronger when they WORK TOGETHER #and yet.. when push comes to shove #many of them still believe that they alone are at the top. they alone are capable. and they either defeat the enemy themself #or they will die trying #and to some extent i think that comes from a place of 'let me fight alone so no one else dies' #but if you attack alone. you're all going to die alone #bsd spoilers

[sskk-manifesto]

yeahh atsushi's internal monologue and plea always felt like a eye of the storm moment to me, absolute silence, except for the plea for "somebody anybody... please fight with me". it could have stood well enough on its own, just atsushi calling out in the darkness, the music was not needed

EXACTLY exactly!! It's a moment of complete solitude, and that can only translate with low and slow music / complete silence tbh.

(Following a line of thought I ended up rambling a bit about some things I haven't had the chance to bring up so far, it's quite negative on occasions so leaving it under the cut / feel freee to ignore)

I don't knowwwww like why are they compressing the episodes so badly to the point in three (3) episodes they never had time to roll the ending credits. I don't get it. In my very humble opinion: chapters 84-87 should have taken one episode and half (again. The sskk / Fitzgerald fight has the same length and that's the anime screentime it got). And it actually works perfectly, because chapter 87 *needs* to be a cliffhanger at the end of the episode, so they could have easily arrenged the episodes like: all the previous episodes events (chapters 78-83) should have taken two episodes and half, then the remaining half together with the entirety of episode four would have adapted chapters 84-87. As in season 4, the amount of events adapted isn't really the issue (they're almost adapting on panel by panel basis) as much as it is the restless pace that leaves you trying to catch your breath. By making the events adapted so far take 4 episodes they could have easily spaced everything better, include some things that were overlooked (I feel like leaving out Fukuchi's motives was a big loss... Like as an anime only, why is he even doing what he's doing? I know some people have speculated it's for political reasons and I understand the argument, but then again even if they wanted to include it, how could they possibly make it fit)- not to mention, well, maybe have enough time to show the ending and not make it overlap with scenes that have a completely different atmosphere.

I don't know why they're cutting things so short. The pace was a problem with season 4 too, but now in addition to that there was also a massive and evident quality drop to the animation which... Eh. Episode 3 had whole scenes of just static frames which are extremely awkward to see, and a thousand times more so in a supposedly action centered episode. From the very beginning: if one was bitter enough to bring together all the time they spent on the same Akutagawa / Dazai on opposite sides frame in the first flashback sequence they'd get 36 seconds, which is just unacceptable.

I don't get it. Wouldn't it make more sense to make as many episodes / seasons as possible as to have more dvds to sell AND to keep the fans engaged with the franchise for as long as possible? It's not like the manga updates super quickly so they were in a rush to catch up or something. But that can only lead me to one consideration: what was the reason of having two seasons come out in the same year? From my very limited perspective, applying a little common sense, here's a very simplified way to describe how I'd guess things should work: anime company releases a season. The anime season gets the fans invested, so anime company can sell them merch for a while- and that's why you can attest an abundance of merch release simultaneus and following the anime airing. After some time passes, the audience will start losing interest: that's when anime company releases a new season, and the cycle starts over. If anime company releases the seasons with such a small time frame between them, aren't them losing profit? This way anime company basically ends up losing all the potential profit of the first wave of interest that comes after the season that released first. And it's reasonable to guess that, given the unusual amount of it, bsd profits /a lot/ from selling merch, so I don't get it. (And that is neglecting, in a way that is reprehensible on its own, mentioning the negative ethical consequences that releasing one season right after the other has, especially in relation of overworking animators. I was hoping the execution of season 5 was assigned to a new animators team who worked on it in parallel to season 4 but, given the evident drop in quality and overall how unpolished the new season is, I'm afraid one can't afford the luxury to believe that anymore).

Tl;dr: Capitalism ruined the Atsushi “I’m all alone someone come rescue me” scene, which should have had either silence or a gloomy background music, but instead got the ending song because they just don't have space to fit things. I really can't seem to understand why they'd rush the anime release because it doesn't make sense to me from any point you see it. Also justice for chapters 84-87

#I guess. You know when you have a lot of feelings bottled up........................ #bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd negativity #bsd s5 #bsd season 5 #people asks me stuff

[rashoumon-homo]

BSD Theory - The DOA's Objective

I’m super excited to be able to theorize about this since I joined the fandom late and haven’t read the manga. Lots of spoilers, so this is continued under the cut.

My theory

I think the DOA (mainly Fukuchi) wants to use the book to re-write history so that abilities don’t exist at all, and never did. 

Fukuchi’s motivation

In the recent episode, there were a lot of flashbacks hinting that the formation of the DOA and its true objective can be traced back to Fukuchi’s time serving in the Great War. Fukuzawa guessed that his goal was revenge, but he said that wasn’t true. I think that when Fukuchi witnessed all that horror, he realized that the existence of abilities would only fuel the endless cycle of war. Revenge is such a future-focused concept; it implies that the past cannot be changed, only dwelled on. Fukuchi’s goal is more solution-based. If he were somehow able to get the book and rewrite the world so that abilities never existed, he would both end future suffering and reverse the suffering that has already been inflicted. 

Big risks aren’t actually that risky

This theory would also explain why the DOA is so nonchalant about killing people— if their plan succeeds, those deaths will be overwritten anyway. They’ve been almost reckless with their moves, like they aren’t thinking long-term. They’re able to make such bold moves because they’re betting on their success. A little loss is worth it in the long run as long as one of them is there to write on the page and set everything right again. 

On being “Overpowered”

I think the space-time sword serves as an excellent piece of foreshadowing. It introduces the idea that nothing that happens is set in stone. Even the past can be rewritten. If I’m right, that concept plays on a much larger scale in the DOA’s plans. Battles lost can still be won. People who have died aren’t gone yet. 

I think it’s funny that people get so mad at Fukuchi’s character for being too overpowered. It’s ironic, really, since he is to the other characters what ability users are to everyone else. Like, yeah, of course a time traveling sword feels like cheating. But then doesn’t bringing people back from their deathbed? Doesn’t transforming into a tiger and regenerating limbs? Gravity manipulation; a coat that can cut through any material and become stronger than armor? Regular people never stood a chance. If ability users want war, people will die. 

The name “Decay of the Angel” makes more sense with this theory in mind too. Angels are powerful, untouchable, holier than everyone else. The only way to achieve true equality is to knock them down a peg. In a world without angels, there are just… people. No more overpowered shortcuts. No more cheating. 

Atsushi’s reaction to learning the true motives of the DOA

All the pain and suffering Atsushi has experienced in his life has been directly caused by ability users. Even his own ability caused him a lot of grief for a very long time. The abuse he endured at the orphanage was in great part because of his ability, even though he didn’t know it at the time. And (as revealed in Dead Apple) he was tortured nearly to death because of Shibusawa’s greed for his ability. 

I think that after imagining the past rewritten without abilities, he realized that the DOA’s plan was actually a pretty good move morally. Nobody dies and the millions of people who have already died in ability-fueled wars would get their lives back. 

After finding out the truth about the DOA’s plans, he ran to tell Fukuzawa because Fukuzawa’s current course of action was to try to stop Fukuchi (and that would cause a greater net death in the long run). At the very least, sharing the new information with him would give them both a chance to think things through. 

Sigma’s story becomes even more tragic

The unfortunate side of things is that if I’m right, Sigma would be an even more tragically fated character. He was already brought into the world for the sole purpose of serving the other members of the DOA; people who seem to have no regard for his wants and needs. The only home he ever knew was blown up in one of their scuffles, and he was left for dead. But if the DOA’s plan truly was to erase abilities from existence, he was created with the full knowledge of his creators that he would not survive. 

Since he was born from an ability, from the page itself, he is intrinsically linked to ability use. If the DOA rewrites history to be free of abilities, he would also disappear. I suppose it’s slightly less cruel than killing him; it’d be more like in time travel movies when someone accidentally erases their best friend by stopping their parents from meeting or something. If he never existed, he isn’t technically dead. But the DOA still would have created him knowing he had no chance at a normal life. A disposable human, if you will. 

Conclusion

I have no clue if any of this is right or even if it’s been disproved somewhere in the manga or something. I’ve only seen the anime and Dead Apple, so I’m already working with a lot less information than I could be. But as I mentioned earlier, I absolutely love theorizing about these things, so I’m so glad the manga chapters and the anime episodes are starting to catch up to each other. 

Someone take my computer away from me, I am up at nearly 1 am writing a full goddamn essay about my favorite anime…

#bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd theories #bsd predictions #bsd essay #bsd spoilers #bsd season 5 #bsd doa #bsd fukuchi #bsd fukuzawa #rashoumon writes

[uneducated-author]

... Okay time for my honest, unbiased view on the bsd s5 ending.

It wasn't amazing.

A lot of it was! The final circumstance, with Fukuzawa utilising the one order and being burdened with the responsibility, that's incredibly well done. So is the way Fydor died (I made a whole post on how it worked thematically and how it perfectly utilised the strengths and disparate worldviews between Dazai and Fyodor) and the ending with Aya and Bram, and how Bram is utilised by Ranpo makes sense in an interesting way. So, the ending, and the new situation we find ourselves in is amazing, but it just... feels a little shallow.

First of all, Fukuchi. 'The great and powerful unbeatable villain is secretly on the good side/let's himself be defeated' isn't inherently a bad trope, but it needs a bit more time and buildup than we got. I feel like, after some of the best fights in the series with Amenogozen, and how clever and tactical his techniques were, the final fight seemed a little like he'd been written into a corner. It's a good fight ideologically, but we've seen Fukuchi win without his sword before (Tachihara) and it just, falls a little flat that he just gives up that fast.

Same with Dostoyevsky! We never even figure out his ability, and he dies by being stabbed by a vampire and blown up? Thematically sound, but just so anticlimactic. And I can't help but wonder, why didn't Chuuya just manipulate a bullet into the back of his head? It would have been much easier.

In fact, the whole prison break arc is now a little less impressive on a rewatch. When you rewatch the Moby Dick arc, you're constantly struck with 'wow, if that hadn't happened, the whole plot would have fallen apart, the strategy was so intricate and layered'. Now, when you watch the prison arc, you're just like 'oh yeah, Chuuya's on Dazai's side. Dostoyevsky never stood a chance'. Chapter 101 or 109 don't have any long term narrative weight because it isn't a genuine emotional moment of vulnerability, it's a performance.

I still love the proof of the bond between Soukoku, and the fundamental truth, that they'll always rely on each other. But it just cheapens Dazai's moments of vulnerability in this arc.

Also! Sigma! Is completely irrelevant to the plot. Unless this kicks into gear in the new arc (which I think it will), Sigma tells Atsushi the page is with Kamui and that the detective agency is to be assassinated. This has no merit, because Fukuchi reveals he has the page of his own accord, and Ranpo negates the assassination plots. Then he's a valuable character during the prison break, proving Dazai's character growth, and his bond with the detective agency, but he doesn't have any plot weight. He's just there for Dazai to explain things to, an audience self insert. Then he gets stabbed by Fyodor, and trades information for a plot that's been wrapped up already, and he's literally forgotten about. (Unless the information he got was actually relevant to an arc that comes into play after Fyodor's death, in which case I shall eat my words happily.)

I think I was just kind of disappointed. A lot of the ending just had no gravity. Everyone is alive, the strategy implemented at the beginning worked, and the villains are defeated by theatre tricks, or because they wanted to die.

I just feel like the story lost scale a little bit. I made another post actually praising BSD's use of scale, how it keeps threats small, contained and personal, but the latest arc stretched too large, without any significant loss.

I really don't want to come across like I thought that the series was bad or anything. The character moments were great, and there were some masterfully wrapped up themes and morals, and I loved the ideological fight between Fukuzawa and Fukuchi and also Dostoyevsky and Dazai. I just... feel like the ending almost corrupts the greater story.

(Of course if anyone thinks otherwise, I'd love to hear from you! Healthy discourse is always a joy!)

#bungou stray dogs #bsd dazai #bsd chuuya #bsd fukuchi #bsd sigma #bsd spoilers

[selfnss]

this wasn't supposed to happen. ( fukuchi for tetcho! )

suehiro tetcho has never been known for his emotions being particularly obvious to those around him. usually, they're even alien to the hunting dog himself - taking form in obscure ways and feelings that settle uncomfortably just beneath his sternum, just out of reach from everyone but the soldier sat bloodied and fading in a pool of his own blood. just out of reach for everyone but tetcho's partner... tetcho's partner who's on the brink of death thanks to the man stood but a few metres away from tetcho.

"what was not meant to happen, exactly, captain?" usually level voice trembles with the same thing that makes the blade in tetcho's hand quiver and clench as the hound's ability reacts to the rage starting to boil over with naught but the thought of severing fukuchi's head from his shoulders in mind. teeth grit, jaw works as amber gaze burns into his captain's own - his gaze is unflinching as tetcho lifts his chin, squaring his shoulders and stance alike. "did you not intend to almost kill jono-san? did you not intend to trap countless innocent people in a battlefield of your own making?"

jono's voice prickles at the back of tetcho's ears, settling in an itch against the skin. he would tell tetcho that he's not thinking - that he's putting his own body and life on the line - that this is fukuchi and none of them stand a chance against him - that none of them will survive a one to one fight.

well, tetcho doesn't intend for this to be a fight. he doesn't intend to trade blows with his captain - with the man who gave his life meaning all those years ago. no. he just needs to land one swing. one blow. he has to do it for jono. he has to do it for everyone innocent trapped in these halls. he has to do it for himself. "i will save you the monologue, captain. i do not care for them. all i will say is this: you should not have laid a hand on my partner."

sabre lifts and tetcho's stance drops. the air shifts around them as energy courses through the blade. for just five minutes i will put jouno over justice.

#skilledsenses / fukuchi. #ic. #muse: tetcho suehiro #tetcho suehiro / quietus verse. #HI HI HI HI #i got a little carried away forgib me #but i am obsessed with tetcho finding out what/who happened to jono in that airport and just. goin crazy goin stupid #hehehehe

[dazaithefirst]

AtsuLucy & AtsuKyou

Disclaimer:

I do not hate any of the characters, except Fukuchi Ochi, and I respect every ship BSD has. If I could marry every single one of 'em, I would. This is a post of my opinions about AtsuLucy and AtsuKyou. Also, there are manga spoilers here so I hope you wouldn't mind. I hope I won't get canceled here like how I got in Facebook because I ship AtsuLucy and not AtsuKyou/Shin Soukoku. As I've said earlier, I respect all the goddamn ships and I just want somebody to here my opinions or I just want to simply say it here. If I've said a wrong thing, please notify me. Thank you and take your time reading it!

I am a big AtsuLucy shipper. To be honest, I like how they look out for each other. Here are some of my insights and why do I ship them:

They experienced the same type of abuse (not that I wanted to be abused lol) so there might be times that only the two of them can know what's this and that (okay, is head canons alrighty? I hope so);

Atsushi is a good guy. In fact, he is a cute adorable fluffy little angel but we all know that he doesn't like his enemies like the Port Mafia and The Guild. But when they defeated Lucy's Anne of Abyssal Red, he felt sorry and said that he understands what she feels;

The way Atsushi sympathizes with her despite knowing just a part of her past, I love it. I need more of it. It makes my heart flutter;

Also, the way he approached Lucy after losing to him, is so cute, awkward and soft all in one. Imagine your enemy asking if they can do anything for you, damn Lucy is one lucky girl;

Manga Spoiler, when the ADA was accused of being the nation's terrorist, Lucy made a rallied outside the government just to say that "Atsushi is not evil" and "The Detective Agency is innocent", oh how I wished she worked in the ADA even as a part time (it was Ango who spilled that Lucy did it and maybe the latter didn't expect that);

Atsushi was certain that he saw Lucy after the Three Way War and said that he hopes Lucy isn't teaming up with the criminal organizations (Port Mafia's one of the organizations I guess) to take revenge on them. And please, notice how Atsushi was straight looking at the paper he was holding and then BAM! he saw Lucy, I mean if it's the tiger's ability then otay, I'm not gonna be delulu anymore *sniffs*;

Lucy gave Atsushi the parachute she was saving for her own escape. She let him escape Moby Dick through her ability and Atsushi was worried about her safety for she's gonna be trapped there. He even promised to save her there and he was going to went he infiltrated Moby Dick but sadly, Shin Soukoku suddenly sailed so even I have forgotten that Atsushi promised that he was going to save Lucy. It was funny for me when they got a chance to have a little casual talk when they've retrieved Kyouka's parents' documents;

Manga Spoiler, lastly, Lucy was a great asset when AtsuKyou are heading next to the Sky Casino, where Sigma is. After some events happened in the Sky Casino, Sigma fell on the sky and Atsushi jumps out of the Sky Casino and catches him but he eventually let go of Atsushi. Nathaniel's ability hits Atsushi's tail, which is his support, and he was knocked out. Then my girl Lucy saw it and jumps off the Sky Casino too (like it wouldn't cost her life), she reached out for Atsushi's hand and then voila! Welcome to Anne's room;

Another one is Lucy calls Atsushi by the name "Toraneko" which means tabby cat like how Akutagaw calls Atsushi "jinko." And then I just realized that Kyouka never called Atsushi's name or maybe it's just me?

Anyways, I am itching for Bungou Stray Dogs Season 4 ackk!!

Yes. I did shipped AtsuKyou at the beginning of the series. Okay, lemme just share some of my insights about this ship:

I shipped them when I literally thought she was 16 but it turned out that she's 14. It's the first red flag for me. I know that Atsushi is a baby but Kyouka is literally a minor.

At first I thought it's was fine 'cause they only have 4 years of gap;

But had anyone never thought that Kyouka's behavior towards Atsushi is like Akutagawa's behavior towards Dazai;

Remember that one scene in season 2 where Atsushi was finally caught by The Guild and Kyouka just stood there crying and just said, "Why? Why did you show me the light? Why did you give me hope? Goodbye. Please don't give me anymore light."

Okay, I admit. That was very pathetic. But as I think about it, she had trauma and was literally abused for three years or so, so I really can't blame her. Kyouka was told that she is more suited in the dark and all she knew that time is that she killed her parents with her ability. What a sad life, bub;

When I've read the manga, I've read it after season 2 'cause I was growing impatient for season 3, there were so many changes to the anime like the second picture of AtsuKyou up there. Atsushi was supposed to land on Kyouka's shoulders and not in her lap;

The scene where Atsushi asked Kyouka how's the bathwater was so cute. They looked like a couple to me and it just reminded me that I'm gonna be single forever;

And when Kyouka passed the entrance exam, I was so happy (of course who wouldn't). I dunno why but I saw a platonic relationship in my laptop's screen. (Their "Welcome home", "I'm home" of them looks like they're a married couple tho). But when Kunikida scolded the both of them, I saw siblings. ISTG THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY EYES!

To be straight to the point, I think she's either unhealthy attached to Atsushi because he showed her light or she's just overprotective of him (seriously, a 14 y.o girl protecting a 18 y.o baby? otay).

Kyouka is one the characters with a great character development. Some say her character is boring and I can't blame y'all 'cause she have a lil bit of Sasuke's aura, like that one quiet kid sitting beside the window with the face saying that her clan was murded (Kurapika is now drowning in an indescribable emptiness) but Kyouka has a visible soft side so she cute, otay? Tho I wonder where did she learn to drove that car on Dead Apple at the age of 14 'cause my 14 y.o ass can't even step on the gas and brake without shaking in fear. Long story short, despite everything happening on BSD, I'm still a AtsuLucy shipper. I'm still rooting for Shin Soukoku, but AtsuLucy is my heaven.

#bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd #bungosd #bungousd #bsd atsushi #bsd lucy #bsd kyouka #atsushi nakajima #lucy maud montgomery #kyouka izumi #atsulucy #atsukyou #shin soukoku