Quote:
Originally Posted by SJCrew
I admire your tenacity in defending your favorite character, but you did not manage to refute one part of my post. Alexander the Great didn't politely walk up to every kingdom and ask if they could start a new empire with him, he invaded countries and started war, with his sole purpose being, and I quote, 'to reach the furthest border of the East'. He wanted to make a name for himself and leave his very footprint in the history bucks as one of the greatest conquerors this world has ever seen.
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Lol, what? No, he didn't. In fact, he didn't care about it. It's in his very conversation with Waver. You're completely and utterly missing the point with his characterization so much I'm thinking you're making things up and haven't watched even the anime. Here the novel version:
Quote:
“You just let other write whatever they want? – It’s history concerning you.”
“Hmm? This isn’t much to be worried about… you find it weird?”
“Of course!”
Waver continued speaking.
“Any ruler in any era would wish to have his name remembered by those after him. They’d definitely all get angry if they know records of them, made by later men, have errors or missed something out.”
“Hmm, true. If you can leave your name behind in history, then it also counts as some kind of immortality. However, all these are meaningless to me. I’d rather have twenty more years of life like this compared to existing in such books with just my name for two thousand years.”
“…”
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Rider doesn't care about his historical records at all.
Also, my favorite character is Kotomine, who is really twisted, and I love him for it.
I think Rider is the most likable character and even the most admirable in a life a human being should strive for (Saber is admirable too, but she led a life no human should have), but he's not my favorite (he's just among them). Furthermore, I dislike when people completely misunderstand any Fate character, including freakin' Sola who is one of my
least favorites.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SJCrew
Despite his intentions, he ultimately took everything he wanted by force, hence the title 'Iksander, King of Conquerors'. Your naïve portrayal of him as a great man does nothing to change the facts. The ends did not justify the means. He is an ambitious, but inconsiderate and reckless man, and did not fight for the sake of his expanding empire, but rather himself. Those are his true flaws, not overbearing kindness. And in this respect, yes, he is indeed the polar opposite of Saber, as her goal to protect her country with no regard for herself is more noble than his ego trip will ever be.
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They can't be flaws, because they were
never portrayed like that in the story. Rider has never, in the story, sacrificed the life of anyone for his benefit. He has been nothing but helpful and diplomatic, trying to avoid conflict when it can be avoided.
I can even give examples but those are pretty spoilery; I suppose one would have been not letting Saber getting owned twice in the past (with Lancer and Lancer/Berserker), yet he didn't. Was he as you believe he was, he would have let that happen. Instead, he chose to save her and to give a hand to Lancer against his Lord. Even Saber, novel wise, realized that Rider could have killed them all with one swoop when he trampled Berserker but
didn't. When he talks about Darius III, his nemesis, to Waver; he speaks as if the guy was his BFF (sadly the anime cut this bit). Yeah, he does flashy entrances... that's it? Inconsiderate? He's tactful when it matters and thoughtful of people's feelings. See how he behaves with Waver, use that as example of how he treats his subjects, the guy is nothing but patient and helpful. Episode 9 is a great example.
He fought for himself, because the will of the king as a fact is the will of his followers. They are
one. That's the basis of his power: flawless cooperation. King and subject are one.
Of course he 'takes things by force' but you're missing the point of what conquest means to him: he masters without humiliation and destruction. That's his "force". His way is kind of similar to the shounen protagonists who defeat the enemy of choice, then they switch sides. That's why he's misplaced in his kindness, this isn't a shounen series. Even
Saber comes across as more ruthless than him, IMO.
What's your point? Leaders do awful things? The end justifies the means? Saber,
much like Kiritsugu (that's why they are more compatible than they think, outside of their conflicting thoughts about chivalry), sacrificed the minority to save the majority. All for the sake of her goal, including
killing her son, Mordred, when he rose against her. So she's not really bloodless on this, either. Yeah, she did it for the sake of her kingdom, but so what? Rider's ideal is no way inferior to hers, but different.
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