#this whole arc is why i have a metal asia circuit aichi charm on my keys

[carnelianwings]

Started rewatching 2011 CFV again Because Reasons and I just kept thinking of this as I watched that episode of Aichi dropping his Royals deck and grabbing Ren’s Shadow Paladin deck with both hands so I’m reblogging this again because it really is one of the main reasons I’ll always love the 2011 series the most out of the 4 we’ve had - 2018 Aichi just doesn’t have the same impact as a character, in my opinion.

Also adding that I love how Aichi acknowledges there’s a part of him thats an Arrogant Asshole and that it’s a part of him, and because of that both Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark are his avatars, and he can draw strength from both of them. I also love how he never blames PSYqualia for his behavior (it really would’ve been easy for the writers to do, to have Aichi say “Yeah I was an Asshole for the early rounds of Nationals, that was because I was Power Tripping”) and recognizes that it was a choice he made, a bad one at that, but it’s one he’ll own up to. Obviously he manages to get a hold of it during Asia Circuit, and certainly by Link Joker he’s got a good enough handle of the ability that he can use it to keep himself from getting Reversed (possibly out of sheer will power) to save Kai. And then by the end of G it’s activating and it doesn’t even change his personality one bit, only leaving the part where it allows him to connect better to his units to help fight Gyze’s (ooze?) minions.

I’d originally put 2011 CFV on as a “Work life sucks, I need something with my favorite seiyuu in it to relax (and maybe escape to) for a little while every night” back in 2020? 2021? (early pandemic time was a blur of dealing with assholes in retail hell daily) and that first season really got me. And maybe I needed to hear too, it that it’s okay if there’s a part of you that’s an Asshole, but being one and hurting others with your words and actions is entirely your own choice (so I choose not to be an Asshole at work, and even if the mistake is mine, recognize that I don’t have control over how someone else reacts to me or any message I relay to them, no matter how nicely worded, and if they Choose to be An Asshole, that is indeed A Choice they’re making, especially if it’s also due to circumstances outside of my control).

All of this to say - Sendou Aichi is hands down my favorite card game anime protagonist (and definitely in the running for favorite shounen anime protagonist), and I will play a Majesty Lord Blaster deck in every format I can, because every time I see that card I remember Being an Asshole is A Choice.

Things I wish I could see more often in fiction: Have The Hero reach out and accept The Corruption wholeheartedly with both hands and getting absolutely Drunk On The Dark Side until The (Friendly) Rival (or The Crush, sometimes they’re the same person even) swoops in for an I Know You Are In There Somewhere Fight (with a side of “This isn’t you”/”Remember what you originally wanted to do”) and a massive helping of (homoerotic) Ship Tease. Those arcs always hit just a little different when it’s the hero who gives in and accepts it with both hands instead of having it forced upon them by the enemy. There’s something about it being a Personal Choice that’s just so much more impactful.

It also provides a lot of good context for The Hero’s speeches later on if there’s another repeat Corruption Arc and it’s their allies (or Crush, take your pick) who ends up on the receiving end of The Corruption because then the empathy and compassion the hero shows through their speeches isn’t just lip service - they’ve been there before and knows how it feels and how awful they felt after. It also means The Hero forgiving said allies almost immediately makes sense - their allies did that for them once, this is The Hero doing the same for them. It adds so much depth to the All Loving Hero that I wish they’d do it a little more often.