THAT JESTER HAT, HUH?
Mar. 1st, 2022 10:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
javainkLast night in our JJBA watch, we reached the Doppio vs Risotto Nero fight. Also the following episode where Abbacchio died, which was touching. A nice send off. Lots of screaming from Narancia, which I did not expect, but should've. He's a young kid, very open about his feelings, so a death would hit him this hard.
But so that Risotto Nero fight. Yeah. I don't know what to think about Doppio. I'm really, really, really hoping this isn't a dissociative identity disorder as part of the villain persona thing--DID has had so many poor representation and use in media, I don't want this to be another bad instance.
Right now I'm interpreting the Boss as Doppio's stand that's grown a super strong separate ego, but then I keep thinking about how his mom was pregnant with Doppio for two whole years (wtf????), so maybe something else is going on? Hoping, praying, etc. From a young age the Boss was able to take over Doppio, so I'm just at a loss.
I love the use of their 10-second future sight in the back of Doppio's fringe. That was some beautiful art.
I'm upset with how the Assassin Crew was used narratively, still. The end of Risotto's fight hammered this home. If we compare the Assassin fights with the fights against Polpo/normal mafia men, they're almost interchangeable. We as the audience recognize the reasons they're fighting, but functionally, they're the same. Our main cast chug ahead, defeating anyone who isn't part of their crew, and then they move to the next goal. Which is a little unfair on my end, I suppose. That's a normal type of plot progression. Giorno/Bruno hadn't revealed to the group that their plan was to take down the Boss; they had no reason to think the Assassin Crew would cooperate with them; the Assassin Crew didn't know our main cast had the potential to work with them; and the two groups don't have the same priorities, only that the Boss be taken down.
It's just a shame. Maybe if our main cast had been immersed more in the organization community (instead of constantly off doing their own thing), made some connections with other groups who they'd work with and gather intel from--built up the setting more--then the fights with the Assassin Crew wouldn't blend in with the other fights. I actually strongly believe that this arc should've involved less fights, which is hilarious considering the main cast is part of a violent organization. I just want the fights to mean something more.
It's ironic that Risotto's fight cemented this idea in my brain. Risotto's fight, of all of them, is the least "blending in with other fights" battle. Risotto isn't even battling the main cast, he's across from Doppio.
But that ending, where Narancia blindly fires on him and the Boss/Doppio, not even fully knowing who they are, not scouting ahead and only scouting, interrupting their fight where Doppio is fully capable of losing (though of course, he wouldn't), killing Risotto for Doppio had me screaming at the screen. M & G weren't bothered by my outburst and curses; thankfully, they just went "I'm so glad you felt the same things we did when we first watched," which made me feel better. It took me 5 minutes to calm down.
To get my head in order, I'm going to breakdown the fight so I can create a clearer picture for myself, dissect it to dissect my mind.
Breakdown of the fight:
(1) The Boss threw the scalpels at our main cast to get their attention.
(2) The Boss holds his breath.
(2) Narancia retaliates immediately, focusing in on the biggest breather/only? breather, Risotto
(3) The Boss monologues at Risotto, using O2 and CO2 to talk
(4) Narancia doesn't notice the second breather?
(5) Risotto takes control of Aerosmith, Boss outmaneuvers him, etc.
(6) yada yada
#3-4 is what gets me. #1 a little bit too. My disbelief is not suspended that the scalpels could've hurt our main cast (who were standing at such a far distance below the cliff!) or been such a threat that immediately they would shoot at a person. They should've just scouted ahead instead, which Narancia's ability is dogshit at doing. Bucciarati should've done it himself with Sticky Fingers.
Instead they just plow ahead.
I might be biased. I ended up loving Risotto's character. His stand was so cool, and he was motivated greatly by the death of his team members. It tugged at my heart. 3 episodes, about, was not enough screen time for him (or his team, really). I was more upset over his death than Abbacchio's. Probably because I was so caught off guard with Narancia's interruption, whereas Abbacchio's death wasn't as much a surprise. In these plots, or even in nearly every arc of JJBA itself, a close team member gets offed, sacrificed to the plot. Abbacchio's was isolated, his stand was occupied (and not offensive enough), and he was caught off guard. We the audience knew the deadly antagonist was in the wind nearby! His death, while unfortunate, wasn't uncalled for. I may also just not care about Abbacchio that much. His backstory with Bruno wasn't as emotionally charged enough. Or wasn't explained/showcased in a way that had me invested.
We might watch more tonight, just so we can end this season faster. M & G have some traveling to do in the upcoming weeks, so they want to wrap this up before all that. Me too, honestly. I'm itching to see how this all ends.
But so that Risotto Nero fight. Yeah. I don't know what to think about Doppio. I'm really, really, really hoping this isn't a dissociative identity disorder as part of the villain persona thing--DID has had so many poor representation and use in media, I don't want this to be another bad instance.
Right now I'm interpreting the Boss as Doppio's stand that's grown a super strong separate ego, but then I keep thinking about how his mom was pregnant with Doppio for two whole years (wtf????), so maybe something else is going on? Hoping, praying, etc. From a young age the Boss was able to take over Doppio, so I'm just at a loss.
I love the use of their 10-second future sight in the back of Doppio's fringe. That was some beautiful art.
I'm upset with how the Assassin Crew was used narratively, still. The end of Risotto's fight hammered this home. If we compare the Assassin fights with the fights against Polpo/normal mafia men, they're almost interchangeable. We as the audience recognize the reasons they're fighting, but functionally, they're the same. Our main cast chug ahead, defeating anyone who isn't part of their crew, and then they move to the next goal. Which is a little unfair on my end, I suppose. That's a normal type of plot progression. Giorno/Bruno hadn't revealed to the group that their plan was to take down the Boss; they had no reason to think the Assassin Crew would cooperate with them; the Assassin Crew didn't know our main cast had the potential to work with them; and the two groups don't have the same priorities, only that the Boss be taken down.
It's just a shame. Maybe if our main cast had been immersed more in the organization community (instead of constantly off doing their own thing), made some connections with other groups who they'd work with and gather intel from--built up the setting more--then the fights with the Assassin Crew wouldn't blend in with the other fights. I actually strongly believe that this arc should've involved less fights, which is hilarious considering the main cast is part of a violent organization. I just want the fights to mean something more.
It's ironic that Risotto's fight cemented this idea in my brain. Risotto's fight, of all of them, is the least "blending in with other fights" battle. Risotto isn't even battling the main cast, he's across from Doppio.
But that ending, where Narancia blindly fires on him and the Boss/Doppio, not even fully knowing who they are, not scouting ahead and only scouting, interrupting their fight where Doppio is fully capable of losing (though of course, he wouldn't), killing Risotto for Doppio had me screaming at the screen. M & G weren't bothered by my outburst and curses; thankfully, they just went "I'm so glad you felt the same things we did when we first watched," which made me feel better. It took me 5 minutes to calm down.
To get my head in order, I'm going to breakdown the fight so I can create a clearer picture for myself, dissect it to dissect my mind.
Breakdown of the fight:
(1) The Boss threw the scalpels at our main cast to get their attention.
(2) The Boss holds his breath.
(2) Narancia retaliates immediately, focusing in on the biggest breather/only? breather, Risotto
(3) The Boss monologues at Risotto, using O2 and CO2 to talk
(4) Narancia doesn't notice the second breather?
(5) Risotto takes control of Aerosmith, Boss outmaneuvers him, etc.
(6) yada yada
#3-4 is what gets me. #1 a little bit too. My disbelief is not suspended that the scalpels could've hurt our main cast (who were standing at such a far distance below the cliff!) or been such a threat that immediately they would shoot at a person. They should've just scouted ahead instead, which Narancia's ability is dogshit at doing. Bucciarati should've done it himself with Sticky Fingers.
Instead they just plow ahead.
I might be biased. I ended up loving Risotto's character. His stand was so cool, and he was motivated greatly by the death of his team members. It tugged at my heart. 3 episodes, about, was not enough screen time for him (or his team, really). I was more upset over his death than Abbacchio's. Probably because I was so caught off guard with Narancia's interruption, whereas Abbacchio's death wasn't as much a surprise. In these plots, or even in nearly every arc of JJBA itself, a close team member gets offed, sacrificed to the plot. Abbacchio's was isolated, his stand was occupied (and not offensive enough), and he was caught off guard. We the audience knew the deadly antagonist was in the wind nearby! His death, while unfortunate, wasn't uncalled for. I may also just not care about Abbacchio that much. His backstory with Bruno wasn't as emotionally charged enough. Or wasn't explained/showcased in a way that had me invested.
We might watch more tonight, just so we can end this season faster. M & G have some traveling to do in the upcoming weeks, so they want to wrap this up before all that. Me too, honestly. I'm itching to see how this all ends.
