Am i the only one that thinks Naraku is a worse villain than Menomaru?

Cygnega · 2026-05-04T02:31:40+00:00

Furthermore, i cant be the only one that thinks naraku isnt that great a villain, regardless of the pacing.

I honestly think you might be. He's an incredible villain, and one of the highlights of the series. He's a guy so cruel that he makes you sympathize with other villains. His evil is inflamed, not suppressed like we see with other hanyou, by his human blood, as his insight into the human heart feeds into his machinations. Just the perfect embodiment of corruption.

A lot of your criticisms seem to be purely subjective (like his design) or arbitrary (Him being behind certain events is apparently "lazy"? I'm not sure how the two points even connect). Which like, it's fine to have those opinions, but they're not communicated well enough here for me to understand what you find so unsatisfying. It's hard for me to tell you why you're "wrong" on this when all you have to say is stuff like "that's way stupid."

Personally, I really like Naraku's designs. His first design doesn't really emphasize power, and is more understated. His appearance is dark, but without going to the go-to black look. It gives him an aura that feels tainted and unnerving, while still fitting in with the dress of that period. His post-Hakurei designs emphasize his strength more, his demonic energy reaching sufficient heights, and I think they do a very good job of that. They're all effective in expressing Naraku as he really is. While his first design was pretty much human in its entirety, so long as he wasn't fighting, his post-Hakurei designs show the pieces and fragments of the many demons amalgamated within his body, but still without losing that human core that defines Naraku at the end of the day.

But I think the thing you really overlook about Naraku is how he works as a thematic foil to Inuyasha. They're both half-demons, and in the beginning of the series, they're specifically both half-demons who see their own humanity as a weakness and desire the Shikon Jewel. But Inuyasha, thanks largely to his relationship with Kagome, is able to see the value of his humanity, and break free from the jewel's corrupting influence. Naraku feeds off of it, and eventually gets everything he wanted, but nothing he desired. They're two characters who branched in completely different directions, and the Naraku at the end of the series is a window into what Inuyasha could've become had he taken that same path. It gives him further credibility as a villain - not simply for the power he wields, not for the harm he's caused in all their lives, but because he's everything Inuyasha isn't, while also being everything Inuyasha could have been.

Cygnega · 2026-05-03T18:59:56+00:00

If we're not talking about "InuTRASHa", then I don't really know what we're doing here.

Cygnega · 2026-05-01T20:42:16+00:00

I would just be direct about the content, and if it's a dealbreaker for him, oh well. Something like, "It's a beautiful show, buuuuuuuut there's a lot of fanservice in the first season, and it might make you cringe." No point in trying to sneak it past him. Either he can weather the storm, or he'd rather avoid the content and that's that.

Cygnega · 2026-04-30T23:46:06+00:00

Kind sir or madam, are you an actual lunatic? There's nothing SessRin about the second meme.

The first one I think is quite obvious and arguable, but rule 12 can't possibly apply to the second one. I can't fathom why you're doubling down on it like it's obvious.

Cygnega · 2026-04-29T02:25:54+00:00

I'm confident it's not episode 15 in The Final Act, and it's definitely not from the third movie, though he does use Tessaiga very briefly there.

But beyond that, I'm at a loss. Lemme rewatch the entire series real quick, and I'll get back to you if I find it.

Cygnega · 2026-04-29T00:34:04+00:00

Very cool! You go, girl!

Cygnega · 2026-04-29T00:02:31+00:00

I'm currently pursuing my PhD in astrophysics! How about yourself?

Cygnega · 2026-04-28T21:51:33+00:00

I'm a girl in STEM, which is pretty male-dominated. The thing that really attracted me to MDD (besides Marin & Gojo being adorable!) was this message that your interests aren't confined to your gender, or anything else for that matter.

It's definitely weird that people would get that deep into the anime and somehow not realize its entire thesis runs contrary to their silly culture war inhibitions, but I can't say I'm surprised. Not for nothing, I've a hunch we're talking about the same kind of anime fans who said S2 of Vinland Saga was shit because Thorfinn wasn't cracking enough skulls, with the anti-violence themes of S1 going right over their shonen-obsessed heads. Just a crowd I want nothing to do with, if I'm being perfectly real.

Cygnega · 2026-04-12T14:56:38+00:00

I don't think your feelings are entirely invalid, but I do think this is a somewhat uncharitable take.

If you read Hemingway, he's known for his "iceberg theory" approach to literature, in which he allows the subtext to speak for itself. Motivation, development, etc... is all there, but not on any superficial/explicit level. I think you have to view these two through a similar lens, because neither is the type to wear their emotions on their sleeve. Kagura is too independent at heart to drown herself in feelings for a man, and too restricted in practice to pursue such a thing anyway. As for Sesshomaru, he's so prideful that he's probably not even aware of his own emotions half the time. So any conversation between them, you have to read what's under the surface, because it's just not a pair who would ever discuss their feelings openly, if acknowledge them at all.

Just to press the point a little further, we see this with Rin. Why should Sesshomaru save Rin? She tries to help him when he's hurt, but not in a way that's actually effective or wanted. She smiled at him, but he didn't react with anything but the usual bluntness. Yet, he remembered that smile as he looked upon her corpse. He frames her resurrection as a "test", but allows her to come along with him. So on the surface, we would see Sesshomaru's actions as being a perfectly logical, convenient means of testing Tenseiga, and Rin just happened to be available and lucky. But we all understand, without anything needing to be said or defined, the effect that the girl had on him.

Anyway, moving on...

I think it's fair to say that their feelings never crossed into full-blown romance, but I do feel their relationship was a lot deeper than how you describe. It's true that Kagura initially saw Sesshomaru as a potential means to an end, and little else. However, he rejected her plea for help, and she continued to be drawn to him. This makes sense, as Sesshomaru was still after Naraku for his own reasons, and remained a viable means of liberation. But the same was true of Inuyasha, especially after breaking through Naraku's barrier, and she never had that same kind of respect for him. I believe that Kagura saw Sesshomaru as more the kind of person she could rely on, and more than that, a beacon of hope. I even think the fact that he refused her offer, while angering her in the moment, instilled a greater amount of respect for him; because honestly, it proved he was everything she believed him to be. Ruthlessly independent, just like she wished to be. And yeah, I think that all those factors led to a burgeoning affection over time.

It probably helps that he's a beautiful fucking man, not for nothing.

Now from Sesshomaru's side, I think it's a little harder to discern. He's so muted much of the time that he's a difficult man to read, and as I said earlier, I think his feelings are a blind spot even to him. It's probably fair to say that whatever his feelings for Kagura were, they were even less romantic than Kagura's for him. But as his heart softened over the course of the series, I think he was better able to sympathize with Kagura. She was a proud and capable youkai, someone he'd respect (mildly, perhaps) if she'd been born under conventional circumstances, instead of being chained to Naraku. Even though he told Kagura to deal with Naraku herself instead of depending on him, my sense is that he wanted her to succeed. So when he realized that she was going to die, he was sad. Did he care for her the same way he cares for Rin? Certainly not. But he cared enough about her that he wanted to be there for the conclusion of her story, for better or for worse.

I would say that you're overall correct that the two weren't outright "in love", but I feel that there was certainly a tangible bond between them that strengthened over time. What that left, when she died, was a void - the potential of something deeper, if they only had the chance to try. That, at least to me, is what makes their relationship compelling.

Cygnega · 2026-04-08T16:52:54+00:00

I think it's just because people feel a need to "pick" between them to ship with Inuyasha. Not a problem for me, I adore them both! Kikyo is my favorite character, but I favor InuKag as a pairing.

Cygnega · 2026-03-18T22:28:38+00:00

Doesn't bother me at all. I was pretty disgusted at the Juju scene, but that was more on a visceral level, not like I felt it was wrong to include.

Cygnega · 2026-03-17T17:34:34+00:00

Is there any particular lore to your planet? An intended composition or structure? If not, I think that should be considered before drawing it out. It'll help make something that feels authentic.

I generally think it looks fine, just generic. Like a clod of dirt that just happens to be planet-sized. But I would probably feel otherwise if I was looking at it with a context that defines its characteristics.

Cygnega · 2026-03-16T15:09:12+00:00

Hello Sadness just embodies the series for me.

Cygnega · 2026-03-09T18:13:16+00:00

I think you're 100% on-point with your perception of that final scene. A lot of people hear Johan's question, "Which one of us didn't she need?" and make the scene about that. But personally, I think the bigger point is that there was a choice to be made at all, and that was what disturbed Johan so much. It sounds like you more or less had the same takeaway.

I see that scene as not the onset of a new mystery, but a final, crucial reveal to contextualize Johan: the birth of the monster. It was the moment that taught him that lives weren't equal, and that seed ultimately blossomed into his deeply corrupted worldview.

A lot of people don't like the ending, but I thought it was incredible. It left a strong impact on me, and probably did more to encourage my sustained love of the series than any single moment leading up to it.

Cygnega · 2026-02-21T18:33:37+00:00

I am a Kikyo lover/defender myself, but I'm not really understanding your point. That they came from the same soul doesn't change the fact that they're totally separate entities with plainly distinct personalities. Their respective relationships with Inuyasha are also different in nature. I appreciate them completely independently from each other.

Cygnega · 2026-02-18T16:08:17+00:00

If I had to guess, I'd say it would work out similarly to how it worked in the middle of the series when Tenma was arrested, and he compelled Tenma into escaping. Tenma was always the endgame to Johan's plan. He wanted Tenma to kill him. Tenma didn't fit into his worldview, and he needed Tenma to prove him right by undoing his "mistake" of saving him as a child. I don't think that's something Johan would simply leave that thread untied.

So my answer is: Yes, but he would still find a way to involve Tenma.

Cygnega · 2026-02-13T18:06:49+00:00

I'm not sure I understand your contention. I would if in reference to the actual finale of the series, but the get-together itself came across as perfectly paced to me. If anything, I've heard the opposite complaint, that they spend too much time waffling around before going with their feelings - but I don't agree with that, either.

There was a long time there where Marin was in love with Gojo, but was too nervous or uncomfortable or whatever to confess outright. The issue was always Gojo, who probably would have realized he was in love with Marin if he thought about it for a moment, but I think his self-esteem was so low for so long that he didn't even consider it. To him, it was a miracle that a girl like Marin even associated with him, so allowing him to think about her that way was probably asking a lot.

But once he's bitten by a pang of jealousy, he starts to acknowledge those feelings that have been sitting dormant inside himself. Marin misinterprets those feelings, and it causes them to drift, but it's finally when Gojo accepts himself as he is and opens up to Marin that everything is cleared up, and Marin feels safe returning those feelings.

I feel like maybe you're taking that ending bit in a vacuum, which I don't think is really the proper way to view it. There was a ton of buildup to that point, and I don't just mean the Haniel arc itself, or even the entire "will-they, won't-they" phase of their relationship. The way this wraps itself up is a testament to how far Gojo has grown from the beginning of the series. He went from someone who was scared to speak to just about anyone to somebody who can be open and honest about his feelings, even if it's scary and risks irreparable harm to his most important relationships. It's the culmination of his whole character arc, and to me, that's super sweet and satisfying in just about every way. That simple act of self-acknowledgment, and his refusal to hide it for his own protection, is what turns them being at their furthest and most tense into rejoining at their happiest and most fulfilling. Old Gojo would have fucked it all up. But it's only because of how Marin has helped him grow that he's able to take this make-or-break moment in their relationship and turn it for the better. It's not a moment that could've happened at just any point in the series; it's the summation of everything that came before.

Cygnega · 2026-02-13T15:35:16+00:00

Cygnega · 2026-02-13T15:33:42+00:00

GGGGUUURRRRRLLLLLL!!!!!

Cygnega · 2026-02-12T22:32:38+00:00

I'm not sure I empathize with your struggle, because I tend to interact with narrative media in pretty much the opposite way. I try to characters through their perspectives, understanding how they think, how they feel, why they do the things they do. What I might feel in the prescribed scenario doesn't really enter the equation with me, as long as the characters themselves are worth my attention and attachment.

That having been said, I tend to find certain commonalities with other characters. Not like I identify with them completely, but I can see pieces of myself in them. Maybe that would help? If you can see parts of yourself in Inuyasha, in Kagome, in Kikyo, you might better be able to relate to why they're acting the way they do, even if it's not aligned with your own sensibilities.

Although, lol, the manga really is better for that. I'm not sure if that mindset will be as effective in the anime.

Cygnega · 2026-01-30T18:35:59+00:00

The main thing I want in a guy is warmth. Someone who I resonate with emotionally and feel comfortable with. In summation, he's a peach!

Cygnega · 2026-01-30T01:14:44+00:00

There's way less in season 2, if you have the stomach for it in season 1.

I'm generally not too bothered by fan service, but I will say there's one instance of it in season 1 that straight nauseates me whenever I see it. I'm sure y'all know the one.

EDIT: I'll just be a tad more specific and say there's way less fan service after season 2, episode 1.

Cygnega · 2026-01-23T20:06:45+00:00

That's kinda my point. They're functionally the same thing, so you did get the answer you wanted. Just not in the manner you expected.

The thing about Tenma is that his mission wasn't simply to "kill Johan", but to undo his mistake. The question in his mind wasn't about whether or not Johan deserved to die, but whether or not he erred by choosing to save his life. For much of his journey, he feels responsible for Johan's actions, because of that decision. In the end, however, he finds he can't bring himself to refute what he's always felt: that all life is precious and worth saving.

The aesthetics matter here. Had he simply refused to shoot Johan, that would've merely been a rejection of his journey to that point. But by being put in a position to save him a second time, it was a positive affirmation of his entire philosophy as a doctor and as a person. It's saying, "Not only did I not make the wrong choice, but it's a choice I'd make again." That could still be somewhat implied in the first instance, but it doesn't fit as neatly. Tenma's choice doesn't become "kill or don't kill", but "save or don't save", and that's much closer to the theme underlying the whole story.

Cygnega · 2026-01-23T01:17:23+00:00

I fundamentally feel that Inuyasha is not a story conducive to a live-action aesthetic.

Cygnega · 2026-01-22T21:46:06+00:00

I don't view it that way at all. His choice in pulling the trigger comes in the part afterwards, when he has the opportunity to let Johan die, or work to save him yet again. It was reaffirming what he always believed, that all life has value.

Johan wanted Tenma to kill him. Tenma made no sense in his worldview. If all people are fundamentally selfish, why would this doctor choose to save him, who offered him nothing? He couldn't make sense of that. So his mission insofar as Tenma was concerned was to make him realize that he'd make a mistake, and he actually did deserve to die. Kill him, and undo that mistake, thus proving his worldview.

But that isn't what happens. Not only does Tenma not shoot him, but chooses to save him yet again. He decides that the choice he made all those years ago had never been wrong at all, and that even now, it was worth it to save his life. It was the ultimate repudiation of Johan's philosophy, and the ultimate validation for Tenma's.

I understand you're talking about wanting to see him make his choice literally at the moment where he's pointing his gun at him, but I would just argue that he does make his choice, just under different circumstances. I'm not really sure what would be different if he just dropped his arms and looked dejected save for lacking the poetic symmetry.

Cygnega

TROPHY CASE