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Originally Posted by RahX
^So, you are saying that let's throw out of the window all of the Kagura and Kensuke relationship that has been developing since the start of the manga just because Kensuke had a moment of hesitation?...
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That isn't what I was trying to say. Sorry if what I wrote had some problems in it making it seem like that is what I was trying to say, it probably did.
What I was trying to say is that in a normal situation, as in real life not a manga, Kensuke would have left Kagura by now. The threads that are binding them together are incredibly weak right now, and the only thing that is keeping them together at all is Kensuke's deep devotion to Kagura. I was trying to say that his devotion is unrealistic in this instance, and that he has no alternative reasons to continue pursuing Kagura. Of course, he is going to, of course they will end up together, but it all feels very fabricated to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kazu-kun
Well, from a storytelling perspective, the "protagonist" is defined by the "object of desire", which is the "goal" the protagonist pursues. In a straightforward action piece this dynamic is pretty simple, as the protagonist is the "hero" and the object of desire is usually "defeating the bad guys".
Some times though, things can be a bit more complex than that, for example now in the current arc of Ga-rei. Now the object of desire is "to save Yomi", and the one pursuing that goal is Kagura. So currently, she's the protagonist. What role Kensuke plays in all this? Well, if he oppose Kagura, he'll become the "anti-hero"; if he sides with Kagura, then he'll go back to be the sort of protagonist-side kick he has always been. It all depends on what the mangaka has in store for him.
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If your definition of protagonist is right, then both Kagura and Kensuke are equal protagonists as they both follow different, but thematically important goals in the story. Actually, by your definition each character in the story had a point of being the protagonist when even a subplot was being focused on that revolved around them. That aside, how is Kensuke a sidekick by any means if he was the main focus(protagonist) of the story for at least the first half and the last arc was about him saving Kagura? I know that his power is likely less than Kagura's, but labeling him a sidekick or a side character is ignoring his ongoing and extremely strong, especially in the first half, influence on and focus of the plot. Also, why would Kensuke be an antihero if he chose to oppose Kagura? An antihero is a protagonist who has a bad character, or a bad goal(bad in the sense of evil). What Kagura is doing is left morally ambiguous and so if Kensuke decided to oppose her, his actions would not be considered necessarily good or bad. Though I can see a possibility that if Kensuke opposed Kagura then he may end up going against the goal of the new sole protagonist, and become an antagonist. An antagonist with goals that are likely morally ambiguous such as, "I have to save Kagura from Yomi by killing Yomi." He can also simply become a protagonist with different goals than the other protagonist. Of course, if he sticks with Kagura, he will either gain equal plot focus as Kagura, become Kagura's "sidekick" for real, or simply fade into the woodwork as a poorly played out plot device. Just about the last thing I can see Kensuke becoming is an antihero.
I wish I was happier that I see the amount of focus around Kensuke dwindling, but it has just been carried out so poorly at times. I vastly prefer the characters of both Yomi and Kagura to Kensuke, but ever since the whole "amnesia" incident the plot feels too awkward for me to fully enjoy Kagura's and Yomi's personalities.
Dam you poorly constructed continuation plot..... Dam you