![[Spoiler Discussion] What's going on with the checkpoints?](https://preview.redd.it/zaa3gv81ubkh1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=e6ce9e8ad8366f77cb08d1b1ab1a296f6481ea5b)
It's been a thing for a while now that the checkpoints are way shorter, and now Subaru himself is pointing this out.
This being directly acknowledged in-universe means it isn't just a meta decision, so what's going on here?
I'm firmly on the "yes" side here. I think the most interesting aspects of Aqua and Ruby's characters stem from how Goro and Sarina's lives shaped them.
The idea Twilight's mission was a setup to get him a family undermines the stakes and characters while making little sense in general.
I also dislike "Donovan is an impostor." Whatever his deal is, it'd be underwhelming if it's not actually Donovan.
Anya is driven by a fear of abandonment and a desire to be loved. She's scared of the idea she'd be shunned if her powers were found out. Losing her powers would mean that fear is never fully challenged.
For her arc to work, she has to become confident in the idea she is loved and accepted wholeheartedly for every aspect of herself, unnatural or not. And I think losing her telepathy would undermine it.
It's likely not happening but I personally want him back really badly.
I want a dimension hopper so I can see if a world where Better Call Saul came first exists and the response to Breaking Bad in that scenario.
They introduce this bumbling new guy and he blows everything up. This cringelord who ends up killing Gus and Mike.
Basically all the time I see this the second one also prompts massive paragraphs but is completely dumbed down and oversimplified to fit this stupid template's narrative, it gets on my nerves each time.
I love her personality, how she talks, how she walks, how she dress, how she treats people. I love everything about her.
Okay unironically I find her very captivating. She's this slimy, wicked person and also a massive girlfailure. Well-acted, funny, ruthless, pathetic, really good character all around.
Watched Frieren because it was made out to be the second coming of Christ, and confirmed that's pretty much what it was.
More on her going through new experiences Sarina could only dream of, more fleshed out friendships, etc.
As for her dynamic with Aqua, I think still keeping those interactions sparse could compliment a dual narrative overall. Having them on individual plotlines that parallel as they go on.
There's already some of that in canon, like how they both get mentors to help their revenge(Gotanda/Ichigo) and how they both use acting to vent their inner traumas(Tokyo Blade/The Audition with Akane and Frill).
His statement that Heinkel would have been the protagonist if not for Subaru sounds ridiculous at first but the more we see Heinkel the more I can get on with the idea.
He's a bum, but every chapter he's in is automatically great. His struggles and thought processes are so engaging to read.
The parallels with Subaru keep building up more and more. They still haven't had further interactions, so I look forward to some.
Making this comparison because their backstories compared to other characters like Jimmy, Guts, etc. are a lot more sparsely brought up and less tragic but still very interesting whenever they do get focused on.