u/Ok_Examination8810

Some of my choices

Ryūji Takasu x Taiga Aisaka - Toradora

Yusuke Urameshi x Keiko Yukimura - Yu Yu Hakusho

Shouko Komi x Hitohito Tadano - Komi San can't communicate

Kyo Sohma x Tohru Honda - Fruits Basket

If I was given the chance to make one, I'd have Meg study magic under Hecate(goddess of magic) herself; that way she could fight alongside Herc and aid him in various ways.

I'd also incorporate other villains besides Hades; like Mechanicles from Aladdin the animated series, Zosar: a mummy wizard from Egypt, and Pugnus Viridis an invading warlord from the planet Mars, just to name a few.

While I would largely take inspiration from the animated series, one thing the show left out that I'd like to include in my series is Persephone(wife of Hades). Her characterization would be of a perky valley girl with a high nasally voice who's actually very smart. The idea is that Hades abducted her for her beauty, but ended up regretting it because he found her annoying. But because Persephone genuinely loves him, she requested that it be set up so she'd have to spend six months of the year with her husband in the underworld; all the gods agreed because they find her annoying too, and think being forced to spend time with her is a fitting punishment to inflict on Hades for his attempted coup.

Finally, at some point I'd write an arc where Herc and Meg actually have to work with a de-powered Hades who's been usurped by the even worse Thanatos(Greek mythology's personification of death itself).

I kinda wish that it was established right from the beginning that Marcy was constantly resisting the core's influence internally. Leading to moments where she briefly gains control of her mind and/or body; thus making the people around her wonder who's in control at any given moment. Sort of a Jekyll/Hyde or Smeagol/Gollum situation.

I know it's a cliche, but any cliche can work if handled well. Not only can this lead to great drama but great comedy too.

For example:

Darcy - I will break you child!

Sasha - better have tried and failed freak!

Darcy - I wasn't talking to you

Sasha - 😐

This characterisation could also help further emphasize how despicable the core really is. Verbally abusing and gaslighting Andrais on the outside, while verbally abusing and gaslighting Marcy on the inside; telling her that even if she gets free, Anne and Sasha will still hate and disown her for tricking them into coming to Amphibia in the first place. A parallel to telling Andrais that Amphibia will only ever see him as a monster anyway, so he might as well lean into it. The core could even use Marcy's ocasional moments of defiance to its advantage. Pretending to be Marcy just to throw the heroes off guard. All leading up to Marcy's ultimate hero moment, where she rips off the helmet through her own strength of will, despite still believing that Anne & Sasha won't forgive her for what she's done.