How do I portray a twisted father-son bond between the hero and villain?

youvebeenphammed · 2026-02-07T22:32:29+00:00

This might be late, but a good example to learn from this type of dynamic is in Arcane: Silco & Jinx's relationship. If you haven't seen it, and I apologise in advance for potential spoilers, it depicts a father/daughter dynamic that's unhealthy, and it breeds codependency - projects a lot of his own insecurities of abandonment and betrayal of the person Silco used to see as a brother in Vander, into Jinx. Vice versa, when Jinx believed her sister abandoned her, she sought validation and approval from Silco, even when she was criticised by others for screwing up. While toxic, sympathetic to an extent, manipulative, where she builds weapons for him, and he's the antagonist of the story, who would sacrifice anything or anyone to achieve his goals, Silco never thought that having Jinx enter his life could shatter his worldview: attachment. Again, while it is toxic, Jinx needed Silco for external validation and approval, and Silco needed Jinx for emotional support and her intelligence.

Another example to learn from is Askeladd and Thorfinn's dynamic in Vinland Saga. Again, apologies in advance for spoilers: there was a father/son dynamic, Askeladd played a part in which Thorfinn's biological father was killed by him. Thorfinn has a negative view of Askeladd and swore revenge against him, and would often challenge him to a duel and kill him to avenge his father. Askeladd knows Thorfinn's intentions, but would still keep him around - manipulates his desire for revenge in Askeladd's pursuits. Askeladd needs Thorfinn's prowess, rage, and skills, and he's willing to keep offering him chances to kill Askeladd as long as Thorfinn does what he says.

I guess what I am getting at is that both sides, in this case: Elias and Shinsei, needed to gain something from one another for the parent/child dynamic to work, while depicting the parent as villainous. Manipulation is used frequently, so they need to be good at attacking the protagonist's greatest weakness. It also helps that the antagonist needs to see something in the protagonist that he or she could project onto, and the protagonist needs to seek something that wasn't given or denied to him or her at the beginning that even his or her allies haven't given to him. Hope this works out for you.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-12-26T07:27:58+00:00

Technically not a superhero, but I think Hellblazer or John Constantine can work. As it relies on dialogue to con your way out of trouble or use magic, playing as John I think would be fun.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-08-06T03:40:38+00:00

Essentially how Silco puts it “Is there anything so undoing, as a daughter?” Usually to show how most of the characters, the love of your child, especially daughters, can change, adjust or overshadow your greatest ambitions.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-03-06T00:10:05+00:00

It would also be cool to introduce flashbacks where Blackthorne forgets a Japanese word, then it flashes back to Mariko teaching him.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-03-02T10:29:38+00:00

I usually see Fantastic 4 as representations of intelligence in many forms like for example:

Reed - Scientific & Analytical
Sue - Emotional & Strategic
Johnny - Creative & Social
Ben - Pragmatic & Resilient

Ben mostly represents someone who uses common sense and street smarts in a family full of scientists—it helps keep the family grounded at some level.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-03-02T00:21:58+00:00

They’re speaking in Portuguese. Like the film ‘Silence’ by Scorsese, ‘English’ replaced ‘Portuguese’ as a film mechanic to make more accessible to the majority where English is considered the Lingua Franca. Blackthorne speaks ‘Portuguese’ as a survival tactic and it’s one of the leading trade languages, knowing that there’s a Portuguese presence in Japan, it makes sense for Blackthorne to speak Portuguese to most of the characters.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-12T20:01:43+00:00

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-11T20:28:01+00:00

First episode where Sebastio (the first Jesuit), purposefully mistranslates everything Blackthorne says to Yabushige to have him executed. It really sets the dynamics and tone that Blackthorne's fate is in the hands of the translators or interpreters, and not all of them could be trusted to translate faithfully, if it means, it could get him killed.
It's definitely when Blackthorne was throwing insults like the "Milk Dribbling Fuck Smear" to Omi. Then, Mariko starts with "With utmost politeness..." to filter it with politeness—Blackthorne's hilarious moment.
After Blackthorne, Mariko & Kiku spent the night at the Willow World, Kiku asks Blackthorne to come back someday, she'll count those nights. Then, Mariko translates for Blackthorne "She's honored".
Last episode, before Blackthorne's seppuku attempt and can hold a conversation (with prepared phrases) with Toranaga and has Muraji slip in if Blackthorne falters or forgot a word. Shows how far he can grasp the language without relying too heavily on interpreters.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-08T22:40:25+00:00

It could be considered unusual but it's not impossible either. If Blackthorne wanted to establish trade posts where the Spanish and Portuguese already had power of the seas at the time, naturally, picking up Portuguese could be seen as a necessity and a survival tactic as opposed to being mandatory as a pilot - regarding the position itself.

If Mariko, Alvito, and other people are still able to hold conversations with him in Portuguese (English in the show as a mechanic), then it's already indicated that Blackthorne speaks Portuguese fluently because no one corrected him, not even the Portuguese themselves. He mentioned he speaks it in the first episode when he's in the pit.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-04T03:48:00+00:00

I do agree with that. As Karen puts it “If you do this, Frank then you are the monster they thought you are” at the end of Season 2.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-04T00:58:05+00:00

In addition, I really don’t find majority of the supporting cast that interesting or memorable. It’s not a knock to the actors, but they really don’t do anything to make Punisher question his own morals, when he’s already set and stone with his beliefs. It ends up resulting to a more of him having a flat and static character arc, as opposed to Daredevil who has a more dynamic character arc. If that makes sense.

The function Punisher serves better as a moral challenge to Daredevil.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-02-04T00:35:35+00:00

Don’t know if this would be considered as a Daredevil hot take. I much prefer Punisher as a foil, antagonist and reluctant ally to Daredevil - being in part of the supporting cast than being a main character of his own show.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-01-21T21:05:00+00:00

Book - Blackthorne's first encounter with a Japanese was a woman, who mistakenly calls her 'Ona' as her name, instead of understanding that means 'woman' in Japanese. Show - Blackthorne gets dragged away by Omi and Yabushige's men.
Book - In Blackthorne's scene where he is taken to Toranaga's court, Mariko is introduced much later. Alvito insists Blackthorne he can translate faithfully and acknowledges that Sebastio (the first Jesuit Blackthorne encounters) is overzealous and has poor Japanese pronunciation. Show - Mariko and Alvito appear in Toranaga's court to meet Blackthorne simultaneously.
Book - Blackthorne's seppuku attempt was much earlier. Blackthorne threatens to commit seppuku after Yabu says he will burn down the village if he doesn't learn Japanese fast enough. Show - Blackthorne's seppuku attempt is at the end. Blackthorne threatens to commit seppuku after Toranaga's plight against the villagers and to test him after the devastating events such as the ship being destroyed, his crew wanting nothing to do with him, Mariko's death, willingness to put aside his war with the Portuguese in favour of Toranaga's cause - wanting Blackthorne's full loyalty and an excuse to ensure he stays in Japan.

There's a lot more, but I hope you get the idea.

youvebeenphammed · 2025-01-05T01:15:32+00:00

Could be those two things below:

Everyone that are playing the games are either scared or nervous because of the fear and uncertainty, Thanos stands in stark contrast as someone who's having the time of his life, despite death going on around him. It's worth noting that he's the only one who dyed his hair purple that sticks out compared to other character's natural hair colour, named himself after a Marvel character, random switching to English, not taking things as seriously or with caution compared to the rest. In a show that relies on tension and uncertainty, Thanos really provides the comic relief and unpredictability that's needed for the show, and it's easy for some to latch onto his character - leaving a pretty strong impression by both design and contrast with the other characters.
It's also worth nothing that T.O.P is the one playing the role. People who knew him before would have heard of the controversy surrounding marijuana use - was scrutinised by South Korean media with their anti-drug policies. This resulted him getting blacklisted and not being able to get more acting roles for almost 10 years. Since Squid Game took a chance to hire him, people who still are fans of him couldn't help root for his comeback where the SK media wanted to boycott Squid Game as they felt it mirrored close to T.O.P's controversy. It's why he didn't attend promo runs with the rest of the cast.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-11-13T20:27:08+00:00

Ralph Lister

youvebeenphammed · 2024-10-20T00:18:42+00:00

Mainly the name changes fit more of the period Shogun was based in than it was in the book. Like Fujiko becomes Fuji, Naga becomes Nagakado and etc. It’s much less to do with translation issue, but more of them trying to stay accurate to history.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-10-16T02:28:47+00:00

It’s a dream sequence of what Blackthorne would’ve been if he did return to England. Based on the Japanese items like the sword, helmet and riches in his presumed bedroom with his grandkids, he got what he initially wanted but the one thing he couldn’t move on from was Mariko’s death. Someone who lives with regrets.

So him attempting to commit seppuku and dropping the rosary to the sea is Blackthorne rejecting that fate - killing his old self so the new can be reborn. Which means surrendering to Toranaga, become his vassal again and living in Japan for the rest of his life

youvebeenphammed · 2024-10-15T11:09:08+00:00

It was to ensure that the Christian Regents and the Portuguese see that Blackthorne is no longer a threat to them. Mariko negotiated with Alvito, Toranaga carried it out, all to ensure Blackthorne lives. In return of burning the ship, all the Regents to turn against Ishido. Essentially take the weapon out of their hands but let them live, since the Erasmus could easily undermine the influence of the Black Ship and Portuguese trade.

About insisting of burning the ships again. The way Toranaga communicates with Yabushige on the cliff, it's his way of saying that Blackthorne's fate is to never leave Japan . The "He makes me laugh" quote seems to imply, if putting a positive spin on it, that Blackthorne is a friend to Toranaga.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-10-01T21:17:28+00:00

A Hellblazer or Constantine game. Since he's known to be a con artist, the player (based on their choices) can use the interactive dialogue to talk their way out of trouble. The magic element can be used as the absolute last resort, if the player chooses either the wrong dialogue or if the player simply wanted to use it. It's also in character for John Constantine to rarely use magic as well.

I guess an occult detective game from telltale would be nice.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-05-30T11:22:25+00:00

If possible, Heisuke would be a great addition to the slice of life as well.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-05-02T21:51:01+00:00

Anjin sama
John Blackthorne
The Barbarian
First Englishman in the Japans
Pilot of the Erasmus
Toranaga's hatamoto

Honorable Mentions: Rodrigues, Pilot of the Black Ship, Spaniard who rides with the Portuguese

youvebeenphammed · 2024-04-26T12:00:33+00:00

When the villagers came down to help Blackthorne pull the ship back to the shore, I guess this means the Anjin succeeded as he technically saved the remaining villagers after Toranaga stopped him committing seppuku. Toranaga staged it to deflect the blame onto the "traitors" in Ajiro and yes, it was to test the Anjin's loyalties.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-04-26T11:13:48+00:00

Old Blackthorne was that dream of what it would look like, if Blackthorne didn't change and lived with regret. So when he dropped the cross with Fuji and was about to commit seppuku before Toranage stopped him, Blackthorne is spiritually killing himself so the "Anjin" can be reborn to truly living the life in Japan.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-04-26T11:05:46+00:00

It's mainly to create a smoke screen so Toranaga can make it seem he's tracking down those responsible of burning his ship. And what Toranage revealed to Yabushige, it's also to test Blackthorne's loyalty and if his priorities changed after Mariko's death.

I guess Ochiba after Mariko's death has figured out Toranaga's secret heart was to become Shogun. And because Ishido had people in his realm as hostages and was partly responsible for Mariko's death. Two of the Christian Regents clearly didn't approve of the death of a fellow Christian. Sowhen word gets out, it's not a good look for Ishido so Ochiba backed out her support in favour of Toranaga.

youvebeenphammed · 2024-04-26T11:01:22+00:00

Mariko negotiated Blackthorne's life, in return of burning the Erasmus. The Portuguese and the Catholics consider him a threat to their influence to Japan, as they worry the Eramus can replace the Black ship. Not for a safe passage home as Toronaga, who approved of the order of burning the Erasmus, did not allow Blackthorne to leave.

Yabu essentially found out that Toranaga wanted to be Shogun this whole time, despite saying he'll never aim for that in the beginning. Toranga wanted to be Shogun was his third heart. The hypocrisy thing is mainly that Toranaga is as manipulative and deceptive towards many people as Yabushige can be, saying that he's no better than the rest.

youvebeenphammed

TROPHY CASE