#i know this isn't fair to all mangahood fans

[fullmetal-scar-simping]

Mangahood fans have a lot of little flippant ways they address 03 fans and our preferences, but I think the silliest one (and there are many to choose from) is the argument that "fans of the first anime think it's deeper than it is just because it's dark". Of course anyone who says this never delves into what exactly they think separates a shallow "darkness" versus "real" narrative depth. Not because surface-level 'dark' tones don't exist in various media, they do. But rather so much of it rests on dodging the greater focus 03 has on questions of humanity vs dehumanized subclasses, genocide, race, and imperialism that isn't treated like set dressing, and actually having the teen protags struggle and feel the weight of their terrible circumstances and actions.

But y'know. It's shallow-dark.

(Don't get me started on the same specific fans who then laud mangahood for being 'dark'.)

And I'm gonna be honest, seeing broho fans say this when their show is so desperately afraid of lasting, irrevocable consequences for their characters, AND that these same fans wouldn't like the show if the ending wasn't tooth-achingly saccharine, is like getting called an immature edgelord by these fuckers