Voltron Legendary Defender Speculations

I might make this a new section in the blog like Speculations or something like that. I am more straightforward and up to the point.

Anyways, if anyone has seen that edit I made in my previous Voltron post, you would know that I really like this season and found it satisfying. Sure that are moments that could be put in there; for example, Keith giving the Red Bayard to Lance or Lance talking to the Red Lion before taking flight.

Anyone know that VLD takes elements from GoLion and the original Voltron to make a whole new narrative. Characters were redefined and new narratives are made. It's clear that the creators did see the originals and made their version with love. It's different from Teen Titans Go! and the Powerpuff Girls reboot. I mean those shows I mentioned were legit awful. There is a difference between making a well-written show (Teen Titans, Batman: The Animated Series) that respects the source material while making it their own and making a show that disrespects the source material (PPG reboot and TTG).

VLD is the former of the two and how glad I am for that. Sure there are storytelling issues like characters not getting enough focus or relegated to comic relief (shows do need levity while making sure that the seriousness of the situation is not downplayed; My Hero Academia does this well and VLD does humor well) and characters' relationships less shown and more implied even with all the filler, not focusing on the more important parts such as character interactions but it's still better than the other reboots I mentioned.

Anyway, let's get started.

The show is going to make their own story. Zarkon and Haggar are totally different from their counterparts. Lotor and his generals are different, considering his ladies are competent fighters in their own right. How about the originals of originals of Paladins? The creators even stated that they wanted to explore more of the paladins of old.

Considering that we are going to get Clone Shiro similarly like what happened in Young Justice, then you know that it's a play with the myth. Hell, it might be possible that Clone Shiro would actually be killed off because you know the original show supposed to have Sven and his equally doomed twin. The shows love Mythology Gags; for example, the latest season shows the original team in their suits with mismatched lions. Yes, Keith originally piloted the Black Lion in red armor, Lance the Red in blue armor, and Allura the Blue in pink armor. Not to mention, the first episode paid tribute to the dens the lions were hiding in as well as the world named Arus (another name for Altea in Voltron) and well the scar that Shiro has on his face, marking the same place where his counterpart was killed in Golion.

About the survivability of these characters, people are theorizing that Lance will likely die in the future likely as a result of proving himself. It would be a dark path for Lance and I could see that path happening but not so much death. Near-death experiences or nearly fatally wounded because a death makes little sense to his character arc. Taking drastic actions would be something that Lance would do probably in the future. Please think of a character development and how it should go. VLD might not have a lot of death on par with the original series but at least it has to make actual sense in terms of character development as well as the plot. I mean Shiro suffered from PTSD and would make little sense for him to die. How about defying the mentor occupational hazard and let the mentor live? My Hero Academia's All Might was foreseen to die a violent death but the narrative stated over and over again that All Might would defy it and will live. Why not subvert tropes and play with them? An execution of tropes is not bad considering that the superhero frenzy still plays up the original tropes, even anime based on homages.

These VLD staff made it clear it's between the barometer of ATLA and LOK. Netflix was hands-off as opposed to Nick. It's still a lighthearted show but they are still willing to go into dark areas. They even expressed happiness about exploring controversial issues that Nick wouldn't allow. Considering that Team Avatar and the New Team Avatar survived the entire series with rough edges and underwent massive trouble to get their happy ending, I can see that these characters need to earn their right for a happy ending after going through a death-defying epic war.

As for romance, there could still be potential. We still don't know which couple would be the endgame. There's still Kallura, the one couple that has been a fixture of the series since the eighties. GoLion seemed to prefer the different route altogether, making it ambiguous whether or not Fala ended up with anyone and suggested that she could end with other guys on the team preferably. However, this series is its own beast; it could take inspiration from the original series and GoLion to make it their own. Shiro is now the leader, Pidge is now a girl, the freaking Holts, the Quintessence. I don't hate the ship personally; y'all could ship it all you want. If they wanted a Kallura romance, they could at least draw it out with Keith being part Galra as a starting point and as of now, a romance would be forced especially how the story structured. We could still get romantic notions then and there like hints of interactions that Sterek did (there were lots of lines that pretty much stated that Stiles and Derek interacted outside of Scott's view) but none suggested that not even the Keith is Galra line. You could make the case when Keith went to Allura after Lotor stole the comet yet there's nothing romantic about that. I mean most relationships in VLD are underdeveloped (but the show is progressing even in the split-seasons) but the couple just doesn't feel right. Then there's Klance. This ship has potential to go from a rivalry-to-lovers ship and better yet, interracial gay. This show is different and has the potential to befit the progressivism that the world sorely needed. They could make it progressive and not go into something heteronormative. If the writers seriously wanted LGBT representation or at least explore controversial topics like sexuality, they have to make it central or draw the eye to it.

Look, I like Klance and more cautious if the writers ever chose to go down this route. Netflix might be a totally different ground to play opposed to telly but would they go the Korrasami route? The slow-build romance route? With slightly overt hints? Okay, people would love a canon couple there already in the show like Steven Universe and Glee did with theirs. There are shows out there that wanted a slow build romance on par of Scully and Mulder; there's Sterek, another mm couple that has that slow build that Jeff Davis desperately wanted to tell. It's really hard to get one's hopes up because shows are almost always hetero-normative while those who shipped same-sex couples rarely have that chance. I don't want to immediately say that Klance is canon now because it's lending too many expectations when the likelihood of the story already written, just that the writers needed to write it all out. Six seasons are enough to develop relationships, character development, plot threads, and avoid the pitfalls they had were previously criticized for. They have six seasons in total before Netflix decided to split up seasons a la Teen Wolf; I am just calling it S3b, okay. For all we know, these interactions might as well pave the way to a lasting friendship. Don't place too many expectations on the creators. The last thing we need is a repeat of Sherlock S3 where the show undoubtedly made the possibility of a romantic Johnlock null and void, leaving a heavily disgruntled LGBT fanbase.

I'm not asking anyone to ship Klance at all; you can have them as friends or brothers for all I care. I don't particularly care about those who don't ship USUK when I do ship USUK; I certainly don't care about FRUK romantically. I am trying to be logical about this. There is a difference between a couple I ship versus a potentially romantic canonical pairing. Think of the narrative and outside factors. Hetalia is a work that while I do have pairings I like, there could be a gigantic world orgy and I would care less.

I mean I am not a person to go for a rivals-to-lovers shipper at all. I shipped Contestshipping, Appealshipping, and Hinata X Kageyama but never will like RinHaru, Palletshipping and Comashipping. I have no freaking clue why I like certain rivals-to-lovers ships and my mind process to pick and choose which rivals to ships are strange. There is a difference between knowing that there is no way the couple I shipped would ever be canon and a couple that has the potential to be canon. I know that Contestshipping is the closest thing that is to an official canon couple by the narrative but I know that Appealshipping would never come to fruition in canon. This is all based entirely on narrative as well as outside factors. For example, did you know that Moreid from Criminal Minds was originally supposed to be a slow build canon romance but stomped out by executives in favor for a romance that went nowhere? Moreid did have factors earlier in their narrative before Davis was forced to forgo it. It's clear he really wanted a slow build romance between two men; one sexually abused older man named Derek with a younger and smarter man with parental issues. He is really close to it with Sterek in Teen Wolf.

The creators are major supporters of the LGBT and equality. There are potential there and Dreamworks had been vocally supportive. Gobber has confirmed homosexual after all. There is very few bisexual representation in the world. Even asexuality is more represented than this. Admittedly, there wasn't an array of the entire spectrum of LGBT representation. Fanfiction like Dalton has such an array while Glee struggled so hard and failed miserably. The latter was horribly biphobic when the show was supposedly about LGBT and openly accepting. And the writers didn't even try to hide their biphobia.

I'm getting off topic but yes there might be Klance as an official couple in the show with the probability of getting together at the end of the series or something. For all VLD is relatively faithful to the original series, it is still its own work. Let me tell you that the creators might go the Golion direction with Kallura being strictly platonic friends where the Allura counterpart have a much better narrative choices with the other Paladins. Remember that Kallura has been the Official Couple in every other incarnation but Golion. The writers, if they choose to do, could ultimately pick Kallura as their endgame just as their predecessors choose to do...with the exception of GoLion because surprisingly the love life of Princess Fala was ambiguous and seemed to push to the Paladins instead, especially Lance/Isamu. She actually kissed him on the cheek.

You guys can still ship Kallura if the writers chose the canon route of having an LGBT relationship between two major characters of the same sex like Klance. It's no different from what slash fans have to go through because comparatively, people who shipped same-sex couples never have the same hope it will ever come true that het shippers have. Look at Korrasami, PJO's Nico X Will and Steven Universe in comparison to Naruto or Tales of Graces. It's not an obligation for you to ship the most popular couple or the canon couple. In the HTTYD fandom, there are people who preferred to ship Hiccup with Heather or Camicazi instead of Astrid. In the Doctor Who fandom, you don't need to ship Rose with the Ninth or Tenth Doctor. In the FMA fandom, you don't need to ship Ed with Winry; you could still ship Elricest or Al X Winry all you want. You don't need to jump onto ship AlMei or RoyAi. In the Tiger and Bunny fandom, you don't need to ship Kotetsu X Barnaby. In Steven Universe, you don't need to ship Ruby X Sapphire or Rose Quartz X Greg. In the Pokeani fandom, you don't need to ship Contestshipping or Pokeshipping at all; you guys could still ship Orangeshipping or Comashipping. In Glee, you don't have to ship Klaine or Brittana. In the Hetalia fandom, you don't need to ship GerIta or SpaMano. In Supernatural, you don't have to ship Destiel or Wincest. You don't even have the obligation to ship either. There are people out there who either are rational about canonical ships based on canon hints or simply don't ship at all. I am heading to the latter direction for awhile now, even in the Pokeani where there are so many couples I could choose from. You could see Ash and his travel companions as best friends for life just as much as you can poly ship FACE, the Nordics, the Allies, and the Axis from Hetalia. Had I made my point clear by now? Or you want more? I shipped Shallura regardless because seriously one does not need canon to enjoy shipping. Nobody is asking you to. It's your choice. 

However, actors aren't that privy to the creative writing process. They were the script after all and interpret it with direction; if the creators chose to reveal spoilers to them that only they should keep so to adjust performance, then the actors are privy only in the minimal sense. They aren't in the writing room with the storyboards here, people. Alan Rickman, may he rest in peace, knew that Snape was in love with Lily. Actors can take the material in the script and make do with it. The MCU scripts have a lot of details that the actors worked with a lot. Zack Synder, I offer my condolences, didn't have much to offer in his movies to his actors. Even the worst actors would find little to work with in his scripts. Actors can try like Amy Adams and Henry Cavill so much... They can certainly try just like Keith is trying to be a leader and he is nicely developing into that. Actors can be privy when they can be such as making complaints about their characters. Benedict Cumberbatch did throw his friend, Steven Moffat, under the bus when he revealed that Moffat wanted a Gary Stu rather than a flawed character. The cast of PR Megaforce complained the writers only to be ignored. Sometimes some suggestions from actors would do a lot of good to a story, for the better or worse. They are privy to the story if they actually watched it and coupled with reading the script. Seriously why you think that Cumberbatch and the cast of Megaforce complained about their character in the first place?

I'm digressing again.

Just I am trying to think logically. For example, I don't think Lance would die literally; figuratively perhaps regarding his insecurities and the old goofball Lance into a mature soldier. Remember, die does not have to mean dead physically and make little sense for Lance to die narratively. Drastic actions yes and near-death experiences yes but surely not actual death. That will hurt the character development they would undergo. The show is raising stakes and likely going dark as it continued.

Why would Jeremy Shada spoil something major as death? I understand shipping because it is something that is prevalent to every fandom imaginable. He is allowed to love Klance just as much as everyone else is allowed to ship whatever two people they prefer. I don't trust creator's word much at all unless there is a consistent truth to what they are telling. J.K Rowling and George R.R. Martin trolled the audience just as much as Jeff Davis, Steven Moffat, Tetsuya Nomura, and Eiichirou Oda. As a result, I rarely ever see PR and prefer to watch the show and judge the creators' behavior if it is consistent with their show. I'm digressing but seriously for a professional actor, you would think that Shada would not reveal a major plot twist. And he had major roles before this. Is he excited for the info he was privy to and teasing the audience with it? He could've been more subtle than this. He's spelling out to everyone if anything he said is true to some extent.

I also have to say that the staff of VLD is tight-lipped of major spoilers and have an NDA contract. I mean did you see how almost all the leaks of S4 have been taken off the web although there are still remnants like Pidge and Matt kicking a** and seeing Matt and Shiro together in the same place. That contract is something so pivotal that there will be massive consequences for Shada if he revealed something as massively plot twist as Lance dying. Unless Lance dying is not as much as a plot twist at all and is something else altogether. Even his love and shipping of Klance is something that is no doubt actors can still partake in. Seriously, in a lot of fandoms, you could see actor shipping certain characters together like Martin Freeman with Johnlock and almost the entire cast of Teen Wolf with Sterek. Additionally, the creators wanted to explore something controversial things such as sexuality and LGBT and they were really vague about it. Please keep in mind of that actor and the staff of VLD is under the contract of an NDA. Hell, I don't think they ever deny or confirm Klance at all unlike how they denied Shaladin. They can confirm as vaguely as they want to be as long as they don't spoil something majorly plotty such as the Shiro we met in S3 is a clone; they can reveal that Lance has a spanning character arc and plot details that were thrown out like Shiro in the Space Mall episode was meant to park the castle spaceship with hilarious results. Even Jeremy Shada's infamous "space ranger partners" is vague enough to take either way. Admittedly, given his history about Klance, it's romantic in his terms.

Also, the Paladins would have to swing back to Earth sometime in the future either in the fifth or sixth season. Characters outright noted certain Garrison members so the Garrison must be important to the plot in some fashion.

I wonder if we are going to see the Paladins reunite with their families who have the misfortune, knowing their children are basically out in space, soldiers in an ongoing war, mature in a way they would not prefer. Honestly, their family would prefer to see them grow up, find someone, have a family, find a job that befitted their talents or interests, and just pay the bills? Growing up into adults without them seeing would be heartbreaking.

As for character development-wise, I'm pretty sure we are going to keep the current generation of Paladins as it is now permanently. I don't think it will be a simple transition though because of the multiple factors involved. It would be great for character development. I don't see Matt and Shiro becoming a Paladin again; rebels sure but not an actual Paladin. I don't think it would do much for character development if Shiro regained his status as the Black Lion pilot. It would be harmful to the much-needed character development for everyone else. Just look at how Clone Shiro returned to join and show that it is not good. It wouldn't do any good when the Real Shiro returned next season. I am always about the potential of a character/story so I am happy to see the growth and embracing themselves in their new roles. So yeah it had been a berserk button that they should return back to their original spots at the beginning of the show; look, I can see them return to their original spots for awhile but for how long is what I am asking here. I am always one that looks for character development so to know these guys' character development, it would not be a good option. Hell, we might even see Shiro temporarily take over the Blue Lion as a mythology gag that he was the original Blue Lion pilot before Allura took over. I think Shiro would be fine, stepping down, in the end, wanting his friends to be great.

Now consider these:

1. There will be six seasons in total, 78 episodes. We are currently in S3a and will be watching S3b in October. We're halfway through the series...not narratively but episode-wise. It might be S4 as it says but it's not really S4. 
1. So any discourse of Lance and Hunk not getting their character development is overblown. There is time. Jeremy Shada and Tyler Labine expressed satisfaction for their characters' arcs and role in the plot. Tyler Labine pointed out the obvious for goodness' sake. Any discourse about characters getting development when others didn't is stupid beyond capacity. Use your common sense, you stupid fandom! I am talking about the insane people in the fandom, rabid in their hatred towards the characters who get development, just because their fave didn't get the attention. Why don't you people just trust the showrunners and watch the whole thing? Understand there are six seasons in total? That the actors aren't complaining? 
1. I don't hear the complaints from actors because it's the actors who complain just as much as the fans, if not more. They are privy to the script thus the writing process. Considering S2 have been considered unsatisfactory, why aren't the actors complaining? The PR Megaforce Rangers' actors complained. You hear stories when actors did not like their characters or found them lacking because it wasn't written well or there are little character flaws. Instead, the VA's seemed pretty fine to the point that Jeremy Shada and Bex Taylor-Klaus seemed to tease spoiler-ific lines or details. They aren't complaining; in fact, they seemed pleased with their characters.
2. I watch the show/movie/whatever first before looking at the creators' words to know their intent. There is authorial intent versus the validity of multiple interpretation(s). I love Shakespeare for more than just the beautiful language. People have been judging what the creators say - which I remind you is vague teasing - and make that the final decision despite the show might contradict that view. Watch the damn show, you stupid fandom and don't make judgments so easily based on vague teasing. This stupid VLD fandom...
1. I would recommend people who want to enter fandoms to tread carefully. There are fandoms who are great (Pokeani, PJO) and those who aren't so great (VLD, SPN). I still feel like I am stepping on eggshells for having an unpopular and/or sane reaction to something the fandom blows out of proportion. 
1. Seriously, something as trivial as hair suddenly became a discourse sign in the VLD fandom. Let people have their headcanons and don't post yourself high up on a pedestal just because you have a different opinion. Headcanons are specifically don't contract canon so you are allowed tochoose and make up your own as long as it doesn't contradict canon. I headcanon Suyin as Tokka's daughter and you don't see me hate on people just not having the same headcanon as me. 
2. I want fandoms to calm down and use their common sense to not get caught up in their headcanons and fantasies. They can't seem to identify the difference between reality and fiction at all. The Pokeani fandom is quite laid-back, even with M20. Yes, there was debates and backlash but overall, the Pokeani fandom just lived with it. We are currently in happy mode with the return of Misty and Brock. 
2. Anything that came to mind like underdeveloped relationships or minimal detail on family/background will come in comic book form or in the show itself. Just wait. 
3. I want everyone (within reason of canon) to be happy. If it means the implications (Lotor will eventually take over the Galra empire and dismissed the claims on the worlds and with Allura, Team Voltron, the rebels, Voltron alliance, etc to maintain universal peace) and potential plot twists (Garrison is on with the Galra), then they have to earn their happy ending. EVERYONE. I see the writers and the showrunners would want these guys to earn their right for a happy ending.
1. Besides, this show is its own entity. If the show seriously aimed for diversity and representation, they should go for it. Even if older fans would be dissatisfied for shipping reasons (for example, the official couple could be Klance rather than Kallura) or something that didn't stay true to the original, the story can stand on its own. 
1. Yes, there is admitted flaws. The comedy can be childish/not well-integrated, certain characters don't get much spotlight when other shows like ATLA did theirs well, certain characters' value sometimes lowered for cheap humor, choppiness, probably deleted/missing scenes. The show is not ATLA but it's not Korra either. 
2. The writers and creators already made the story. They are the ones in charge, not us. 
1. We are in our fandom, sometimes cruel, sometimes dumb, sometimes civil. We can create whatever we want and that includes the most debauched. If you are unsatisfied with the story or characters, go to your computer and write up your fanfiction. 
2. I am not touching any discourse with a ten-foot pole, including the assumption that the cast could be interpreted as white. At least I am good to navigate my way through fandom's discourse, criticism, sub-fandoms and anti-fandom. 
3. Shipping is subjective. If you ship Shaladin, more power to you! If you hate Shaladin, more power to you! I found shipping wars and the way people try to police shipping awful. There is no obligation to ship canon and non-canon ships. One do not need canon to enjoy shipping. 

S3 is unpredictable so don't think those theories people throw around will be easy. Just keep in mind that there are multiple things that potentially hurt what you personally theorized. That does not make me in the right. There are too many factors involved to consider as well as consequences:

• Shiro and Zarkon are foils. We can even go as far that Shiro represented Zarkon when he was a gentle ruler. Black was their connection and we still don't know what Shiro would want. The bond with Black was such a focal point that we don't know what either Shiro or Zarkon will want now.
• Zarkon and Haggar's plans for the future. Now that Zarkon is awake, what will he do now that his connection with Black is cut? What will he want now? Now that we know that the couple has been consumed by Quintessence and thusly have their memory restored. Although Zarkon still has his old memories. Are they going to pronounce that the old Zarkon and Honerva is dead? 
• Lotor's own plans with his own Psycho Ranger Voltron. We still don't have a clue what he wants. He certainly trusts and respects his generals that we will know they will pilot the Dark Voltron.
• There's the probability that this guy might join Voltron and the rebels. We still don't know much about him but we can glean from what we were given. 
• Matt Holt and the rebels. What do the rebels think of the Voltron Coalition? What will Matt say about all this? His impact on the events? There's also the possibility that some of the rebels might potentially be descendants of the Altean escapees from their planet's destruction. Given how we kept seeing the possibility that Allura and Coran weren't the last Alteans in-canon, this could be awesome. That meant that all this time, the Alteans were kept on the down-low and likely been hearing of Voltron and Princess Allura. 
• Matt Holt's character arc. We have a couple lines on him so we can gauge his character. What will he impact on Pidge, just how changed he is? Did his eyesight healed? Because I would love that. 
• Where the fuck is Sam Holt? What is his importance?
• The potential of Garrison's involvement. Lance, Pidge, and Hunk noted Garrison officers after all in the prologue.
• Keith and Lance's developing relationship (with a surprising potential for romance if the writers chose to go down that route). Whether or not their romance would be an incidental part of their intertwining character arcs like Korrasami's, we also have to say that Keith is depending on Lance a lot. 
• The point was co-leadership. The pair must balance things out, coupled with the team allowing more brainstorming for ideas. Shiro would be so proud for his team to reach the potential he saw. 
• Keith's character arc. Do not forget that he is chosen by Black and have shown the potential to be the leader in his own goddamn right. Keith might be reluctant about his role as the team leader that thrust upon him but he is growing and does not ignore that just because Shiro is the better leader. Shiro is not a perfect leader. 
• Additionally, he was supposed to find his family. There were theories thrown around that Keith is alien...almost completely (Altean is another part that people threw around so that would mean he would be part Galra and part Altean) with a small part of human. Then we got the idea that Axca, my lady, is his half/twin sister. We barely got anything on his background. Unlike Pidge who is actively and have clues, Keith have no clue where to look.
• Lance's character arc. The creators will be spanning it across the seasons so...
• Hunk's character arc. Hunk hasn't been central to the series since S1. Yes, he's markedly confident in Shiro's absence. Is he going to be a well-rounded character a la Toph or Asami? Or he's going to get major character development considering we are seeing Lance here? He still hasn't let go of his scaredy-cat ways; while he grew a spine, he still hasn't fully enveloped himself in his potential just yet. 
• Pidge's character arc. We know we are finding her family and so far, we are meeting Matt in S3b. We also see more of her character development in S2 so I hope to see more to offer.
• Lance or Shiro potentially dying the future. We can say that something will happen to Lance due to his insecurities. Shiro though.... yeah there could still be red flags of a death in the future among the team.
• The Quintessence role of the matter. We know that the Galra Empire been gathering them but we don't know for sure what will do now.
• Keith finding his family. There's also the theories that Acxa is his sister, half or twin. We might even see his parents into the plot.
• Allura's character arc coupled with her bond with Blue. We don't know her stance on Lance or Keith potentially stepping down. However, Lance believed he is second best to everyone. I don't think Allura got that much character development when Shiro was around as leader; she certainly kicks a** and have an active role to play and she did have character development, just not as much as one would think. She certainly has her agency and the team knows best not to challenge her. She's the wild card of Team Voltron. 
• Whose lion is which? It will bite the team in the a$$ in future seasons. That is an issue, especially raised by Lance, the one who felt unnecessary and left behind by the talented people on board, feeling average. 
• Again I do think we will see the original formation in the future but for long I have no clue. 
• The new formation was definitely intended, not just because it's an adaptation/reboot, because of the hints that were given minimally in the previous two seasons and the character development. The writers made an explanation for the switches as well as the different color coordination. The previous formation was far too comfortable and did not allow those comfortable to stretch their wings. I am only talking about Keith, Lance, Shiro, and Allura here. Hunk and Pidge are doing fine and stretched their legs well with Yellow and Green. You guys can criticize that the reinstatement of the new formation may be wobbly or weak or just has deeply personal reasons for preferring other characters as the Black Paladin. You don't have to require to like it but please for the love of Alfor, it's not your vision. Like the non-Korrasami shippers, you are allowed to have your own opinions. Again, this is not your work. Just like Steven Universe was created for everyone instead of the SJWs parading it as their work when it's not theirs to own. 
• I do think we will see Lance briefly take over the Black Lion. Allura, not so much because she seemed indifferent when she sat inside the cockpit. Look at the difference between her reaction to Black, Red, and Blue. People seemed to think Allura should be the Black Lion pilot when there is stuff she could do be a more effective leader in the future like treating others as equals rather than expect to be followed. I want strong female characters but I also want well-rounded characters with faults. Let people have flaws, fandom. Just imagine her meeting Romelle if the latter ever appeared as the rebel leader. I really want to see Romelle appear as a rebel leader. 
• We might even see Shiro take over Blue when Allura is needed elsewhere. I'm pretty sure he will be fine, stepping down. Shiro wants his friends and family to reach their potential and if it means that stepping down, then it's fine. 
• The lions themselves. We still don't know their mindset but certainly their realistic outlook. They choose their paladins, not us. Hell, we don't even see much of their bond with the Paladin with the exception of Shiro and Black but even then that is notable because Black doesn't get to choose and still connected to Zarkon so Shiro was forced to bond with Black. Alfor outright stated they too are evolving so don't think it will be that easy for the original formation to come back or it's a soulmate thing. Remember there is only one case of Paladins before this and this is new territory for the current generation of Paladins. The lions are sentient and possess their own consciousness but certainly not as human as people depict it as. Even the aliens regarded them with awe, not just the humans. 
• The clone of Shiro. What will he do now? Will he die or will Shiro die? Considering that both Takashi and Ryou died... 
• Slav. He's an utter genius so he must have a role to play. He outright complained about the castle's tech and modified the teladov that it definitely saved the lives of Team Voltron and the surviving members of BOM. Heck, we don't even know where he is as of S3. These creators who previously worked on ATLA and LOK would at least make these characters they introduced come back in some way, whether as a callback, running gag, cameo, or an important role to play.
• Other potential characters from the original series have yet to make an appearance. Princess Romelle and Merla, for example, has not yet to make an appearance. The show has the potential to be even more diverse than it already is. 
• If they have the chance to make a canon interracial LGBT relationship, then they should grab it, not just for the revolutionary factor but also for the fact they could tell an honest-to-god LBGT romance in a kids show, telling kids that 'look at these paladins who saved the universe and they are in love with someone of the same sex. It's okay to love someone of the same sex'. When they took the chance to make Pidge a girl, then they gave female representation furthered with Allura and Shay; we just need more female representation though. 

Remember what Lance said to Blue: We don't always get what we want. I think that will be a theme from here on in VLD. This is the creator's vision, not ours. We can have our headcanons and beliefs in theories all we want. Just keep in mind predictions does not always mean right. I prefer the Klance co-leadership over Shiro's leadership narratively. Again, don't think it's an easy transition.

A thing of note: S3 showed that Shiro was their security blanket so the team rather stagnate; almost everyone goes to Shiro for advice or protection because he's their idol/older brother/leader. Yeah, as much as I love Shiro, he's stifling the potential of the team as the Black Paladin. Everyone is dependent on him rather than using their own talents; if they were using their own talents, it's for stuff they are used to like fixing stuff around the castle or remaining the jokester; while we can make the comment that Shiro praised Lance at Beta Traz, it's really hard to say whether or not he knew about Lance's insecurities. I don't think I see Hunk more confident in his abilities than S3. All the characters stepped up in the advent of Shiro's disappearance and I saw that as a good one.

I have criticism for S3 and I still find it satisfying since S1. For example, there is just not much focus on Hunk. Hunk as a character has grown a spine but still scared overall; we could have given him screen time by allowing him to interact with the new leader, Keith. He's perfectly peaceful with himself but he needs to be braver I suppose. We see the focus on how smart he is with alien technology. He and Pidge loved the alien technology they see in their travels. Both Pidge and Hunk were relegated to the comic in this season. We will see Pidge undergo some character development next season, judging by the S4 leaks about Matt. Matt Holt who can fight against the aliens when a year and several months he would have died.

It's really hard to critique an ongoing work. There is a reason why I prefer to watch even the worst pieces of media to the very end so I can properly critique it. Creators may or may not listen to constructive criticism or is well-aware but choose to go either their own pace or just ignore the constructive criticism. Just look at Steven Moffat who does not listen to constructive criticism. The VLD creators listened to their critics and tried to fix it or explain the details.

I'm not expecting a masterpiece like ATLA or Kung Fu Panda. I know it's flawed. Look I am a diehard FMA and Hetalia fan, but I understand and admit their flaws. VLD have the potential and I want it to do well.

Also, Sven's entire existence and his comment about a space hospital is perfection. I was laughing so hard. If anyone is doubting that the creators don't watch Golion or the original Voltron, then Sven would be the most obvious clue.

Also, Voltron fandom, let Shaladin fans have their fun. Shipping is meant to be fun and should not cause this much serious business; that is a major issue in every fandom that shipping is taken way too seriously than it should. If it makes you uncomfortable, then avoid it. I certainly don't care about any Shaladin ship that you guys seemed to push as pedophilia when it's non-existent. Ya don't seem to know the term pedophile at all; now, it's just all rampart hate and just stupidity. Ironically, the fandom I have been in for a long ass time, the Pokemon fandom, actually doesn't care about who you ship because there are far too many ships not just in the anime but also in games and manga. No chance is happening in the show and you should already know that just as much as those who shipped Shaladin. What you are doing is toxic to a fandom, not allowing people to just ship. You can make them aware of the problems the ship presented but don't think you are righteous enough for a fandom that you somehow have power over. You can be anti-whatever you like but you must have an understanding and respect to those who like the ship/media in the first place. Look at me, I don't like Frozen and I don't hate seeing my friends adore the film, even when my brother blasted some of the songs one day. There is a difference between nonexistent ships in canon (because Shaladin would never come true in canon in no reality; Klance, Kallura or Shallura have better chances than Sheith or Shklance any day. However, there's also no romances at all) and a problematic canon ship (for example, Twilight series' Bella X Edward and Frozen's Anna X Kristoff).

Remember you don't even need canon to enjoy shipping. Let people have their fucking fun. It is not fun for disrespecting others just for possessing a preference for something else. Don't dictate what people cannot ship. Be respectful. I do not like Wincest at all and support Destiel while others would see it the other way around. I know Destiel would never be canon as well as Wincest. Do you see me throwing me a fit whenever I see Wincest is just as popular as Destiel? Do you see me hating Wincest shippers just for possessing a different opinion? You do not decide what others cannot ship.

Please note that the tarot card selection is only based on the VLD counterparts. This is subject to change due to character development. Those here that have minimal character development are subject to change.

Character - Tarot

Shiro - Fool -> Death

Keith - Chariot -> Fool

Lance - Magician -> Chariot

Pidge - Hermit

Hunk - Empress

Allura - Priestess

Coran - Hierophant

Zarkon - Death/Emperor/Tower

Lotor - Tower/Emperor

Haggar/Honerva - Wheel of Fortune

Alfor - Hanged Man

Matt - Justice

Mini-Review: Beauty and the Beast 2017

I do like the film a lot. There is a lot of enjoyment you can get this film such as the musical numbers and the performances of actors.

But then there is stuff that is left unexplained or ambiguous or really should be left like the original. Then there's the cinematography.

But let's get to the good part first before I express my confusion. I know there is a novelization but I am taking it from the film only.

The first thing I noticed was the fast pacing. It went along just as much as the original film's pacing.

The romance is much better handled. The Beast still gave Belle the library (and the love the adorable squealing Belle let out after he left) and they have a snowball fight. They have shown a connection through their likes but I wasn't sure if the Beast knew her inventive mind though. Now that I thought of her inventive mind, wouldn't Belle's scientific mind questioned the fact they are alive; well she certainly freaked out but grew to accepted their existence once she puts together they got cursed. Digressing again,

Belle here experienced little character development...which makes sense though. I mean at the beginning she hasn't shown any flaws that she needs to get over. As a character, she isn't a Mary Sue but does stay true for what she is; she didn't get the village's anti-intellectualism and Stay in the Kitchen tendencies. She is an inventor, perhaps a bit of a romantic given she likes Romeo and Juliet (given what the Beast expresses, either the writers fail to see that it's a tragedy or they just went with the misled view of the play which is pretty much universal; it's hard to tell to be honest....why couldn't her favorite Shakespeare play be Midsummer's Night Dream? I mean that's my favorite play of Shakespeare and always so magical to even watch it. Could even go into more analysis there, movie? I know this is a movie for all ages but seriously wouldn't mind a little intellectual talk about themes? Motifs? Metatalk?).

It's still the Beast's story though. I wish it was the Belle and the Beast's story, not just romantically but also character development-wise as well. Belle obviously wasn't perfect personality-wise; she's a strong female heroine and did that job well. I want to see more of her inventiveness than just her kindness and strong-will. I want to see her flaws.

I want to see more that Beast was a victim of circumstances and perhaps even grief that he allowed his father to consume him.

If the story's Aesop is "learning when you're wrong", then Belle also have to learn that lesson. Not just the Enchantress.

So much potential, character-wise in the main protagonists.

For what the film is now, it's okay in the character development department. I felt too much like a frame-by-frame adaptation...except much better executed. They got rid of the plot-holes but I feel overall that as an expanded adaptation, it did well. Not so much when there were potential there.

The musical numbers visually were great. Even though the cinematography didn't do as great justice as it did; for example, the Belle number has several close-up shots of Emma or sometimes group shots of people staring at Belle? I couldn't see because the shots were lining towards the walking Belle. There were times CGI of the castle doesn't do it justice like the Evermore number particularly towards the end where the camera backs away to have Emma leave the gates. It looks unnatural. They could've made it look like Cinderella 2015's set pieces at least, unreal but look real.

Any references from the fairytales or the Jean Cocteau version makes me starry-eyed. The rose request is something I always love to see just as I love the fact Cinderella asked for a tree branch in the 2015 film. The arm torches and the Beast's design are still amazing to see just as much as seeing the Cocteau and the later remake.

While I know in the original film in that stained glass prologue shows the prince as either a teenager or an adult, I thought it should have been left the prince a kid and show the passing of time much better around.

What I am going on about is the passing of time. Now we don't know how long it has been passed since Belle and Maurice moved into town. In my headcanon, they have lived there for about over two years. It was mentioned when Maurice was to leave for the market I think that he traveled before to buy for years. In a deleted scene, Belle revealed that she and Maurice moved into town 12 years ago. On that note, I really like the fact they are lifting the rose request from the fairytale that he had traveled the route before.

It makes it even more difficult to comprehend the time passing when we know of the ages. Had time been literally frozen in the castle's sphere? Or it had been passed just as much time in the outside world? The latter I go behind because it wouldn't make sense otherwise in the former. The Beast has mentioned he hasn't danced in years. In the prolog, we can clearly see him as an adult at what age?

I wonder if Belle and Maurice have been village-hopping until they settle into the village near the castle. I mean we don't know how long they have been there. Belle mentioned the village is small and she met all the boys already in town. We got that part of the lyrics of Belle that they 'came' to the village but how long they have been there is the question.

Given that the plague is going around in Paris, placing it around the Black Death era. Then there are the pompadours that they have in the beginning

Progress Review: Voltron Legendary Defender

No, this is not a review about a stopping point I usually do my Progress Reviews. I usually stop when there is development at some point but this is not it. This is about so far. The third season would come out next month so...

Is it bad that while I do consider this a good show, it's not a great one or doesn't allow much development?

I don't hate the show. I certainly enjoyed it but there are things that could have been told and shown better.

Let's start with the good stuff first.

The ladies are well-rounded and did not suffer from lack of development. They can be just as skilled and wonderfully depicted.

In fact, the cast is likable. While some of them can be seemed to be an almost carbon copy of their Avatar counterpart, they have their own mind and sensibilities.

The plot can be straightforward with running subplots. The humor is the best part of the show, to be honest. The delivery and the timing is just great.

Now into the disappointing section.

Lance and Hunk suffered from a lack of development. While they made it up with their comedy and the show did establish character flaw and characterization, there wasn't much focus on them beyond one scene where Lance saying to a one-time character and promptly forgotten. Why not talk to Pidge or Coran? That would allow much more character development for a lot of characters.

Speaking of group development, they can and do feel like a family at times. Sometimes, there weren't enough interactions between individuals to actually know what goes through their mind. They could show Pidge and Keith interacting or some people at least? It was shown that Coran's favorite was Lance yet there could be development right there. It was staring at them in the face.

I feel something is there but not fully grasped. Not just on a character development level, there is also a story development. One issue is that the pilots didn't seem to know their Lions quite well...mechanically. The more new powers as the plot demanded was starting to make these Paladins look a bit stupid for not at least exploring their mecha.

When the story gets going on something like Keith's story arc, then it's great. When a story neglected to show something like why the hell Shiro chose Keith to be the next Black Paladin when we haven't even shown Keith's character development in the first goddamn season, then it's suffering. That plot point felt more like Shiro is playing favorites instead of proper development. I mean there could be developed there but it's so rushed and didn't feel genuine. There were scenes there were missing like Keith's

While the cast can show emotions like Lance's genuine homesickness, sometimes not enough time was dealt with the issue or the aftermath. Or even just tiny small interaction could do, background or foreground. Just something at least. There is something there but not taken to its potential.

Sometimes there is an ambiguity whether or not Allura suffered from racism due to the fact Galra did kill her people. It's vague and I didn't feel there is enough.

The show can feel rushed at times. The show has the average seasonal time span as most anime lasting their first cour or season. Sunrise did well with Tiger and Bunny's first cour. Yet I never quite got the feeling they spaced it out well. The climactic battle with Zarkon felt less like he was a Disc One Final Boss when the show had built him up as the Big Bad. There could be hinting there was a far worse villain waiting in the shadows and far more ruthless than Zarkon, who had good intentions at least.

The villains feel mediocre. They could expand the world of the Galra more than just the rebels and do things for evil's sake. There weren't even many hints that Zarkon has good intentions which then warped; just evil for evil's sake. There could be something there when Zarkon was a former Black Paladin but there is nothing.

About six seasons for this particular seasons and only three more to go, considering we're getting S3 soon.

I want them to fix the problems and want it to do well. I'm irked by most storytelling issues on the show and I hope they do well fixing it.

Edit: I saw S3 and thank you, staff of VLD. You actually listened to criticism and made the best season thus far. Yes, S3 is the best season so far of the VLD six-season affair. The fact that there are people who actually listened to criticism makes me weep with joy. Unlike guys like Steven Moffat and Seth MacFarlane, you guys listened and make do with it! You made one of the best seasons of VLD so far and good on you!

Also, there would be more Persona coming soon with a P3 Rhythm game! I am excited to play them all and besides, I think P6 is going to get kickstarted soon. I wouldn't be announced anytime soon but the fact that I know that the current showrunner of Persona, Katsura, truly enjoyed his work and after did say he wanted to make a P3 Rhythm game. Hey, people who say that Atlus is just milking the franchise, please understand that Katsura is having fun and wanted to have these games in his repertoire. Please, P4DAN is one of the best Rhythm games and really just play that game.

Haikyuu Speculations

You did it, Karasuno~!

Anyone who is currently reading the manga right now would know that Karasuno is in the Nationals. Right now, the arc is called the Tokyo Nationals arc. Succinct but make sense.

There will be predictable results; the build-up will be satisfying though. Karasuno will fight tooth and nail to have their battle against Nekoma and Furokodani in an official match. Not only it will the "Battle of the Garbage Dump" but also how Karasuno managed so far.

One of the best things that so many people will come to understand about Karasuno is that Hinata is an unpredictable little monster. He is certainly giving a shock in the current match right now and I am gleeful. Even Hoshiumi is shocked (mainly due to the fact that he can see the entire court) but he has yet to truly see Hinata. Hinata may have speed, size, and jumping power but he does not back down from challenges. He is aiming to become a pro volleyball player to reach the apex of all athletes, the Olympics. Seriously, watch out. Oikawa and Ushiwaka verbally acknowledged his skill, even unrefined because he is a thorn in their side, acting incredibly against their attacks and skills. Watching previous videos or understanding other players will do nothing when Karasuno can pull risky moves out of the blue that defied logic. Look at Tsukishima's broad attack. I know you guys are just seeing him right now but you gotta admit that Hinata is a beast unto itself that Shiratorizawa, who had been defeated in the past by small aces, admitted that he was an entirely different animal.

You would get the surprise of your life, Hoshiumi, Sakusa, Miya, Kiryu, and so much more. I will happily cheer on Karasuno's side while you get the shock that Ushiwaka and Oikawa got repeatedly. There is a reason why most of the players in Miyagi Intensive First-Year Training Camp is cautious about him, including his own teammates. You will grow more cautious of him once you play against him. Even when you overpower him, Hinata will fight back. He might be showing his usual stuff right now from his quicks, speed, stamina, agility, ability to see the court but he has yet to show something you never have seen before. Some of you might saw videos of Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa but you really failed to take in the real reason why Shiratorizawa lost. The persistence of these 'demons' or 'monsters'. If even Tsukishima is unveiling the monstrosity, best be cautious. If even Coach Washijou acknowledged Hinata in a roundabout way, he seemed to place Hinata higher than those he saw at Nationals.

I always love it when Hinata shows unpredictability. The people's jaws dropping at the sight of Hinata stopping a national-level ace's spike point-blank, including his fellow teammates. Ukai loving his protege's continuous improvements beyond expectations. His incredible reaction time when it comes to anything in volleyball, be it blocking, receiving, tossing and attacking. I really cannot wait for the moment when Hinata silenced the crowd at Nationals. Do something that nobody of sane mind would do, even in a team of insane players, you or your opponent.

Hinata, you caught the attention of a well-known coach, who is now in charge of the Youth Japan of the under-19 team. Slowly but surely you would get the scouting you need in order to get to the pros. Honestly, becoming a pro would make sense of your story. Unlike Eiichirou or Rin who either have the decision made from the start or started from their growing love of the sport, you have lofty ambitions you intend to carry out to your fullest potential. Unlike Sawamura Eijun who was viciously thrashed despite his wonderful efforts to become the best athlete he can, Hinata was supported by his team.

Sakusa, prepare to meet the two people who utterly slowed down your fellow ace, Hinata Shouyou, and Tsukishima Kei. They will happily show you why they stopped Ushiwaka to the point that he admitted their strength.

Hoshiumi, prepare to have your title as the current "Little Giant" be usurped in the near future. You would need all the warning you can get in the preparation of facing the guy who loves doing the impossible. The impossible where your fellow undersized ace, Hinata, thrived in and will show you why Ushiwaka is simultaneously fascinated and dislike. You will get the surprise of your lifetime and I will gladly eat it up with chicken and beer. It might be possible that you defeated Ushiwaka in the past but when Shiratorizawa coaches said that this guy is an entirely different animal, you really must be wary. You didn't see him where he is the most unpredictable. You might see him in the Miyagi qualifier match but seeing it and actually faced with it is different. Despite Oikawa and Ushiwaka's best efforts, facing his unpredictability is dangerous. When you jumped higher than Hinata, then expect Hinata to surpass your expectations than just jumping higher and seeing the court in mid-air battles.

That's a bit ranty there but the point still stands.

Karasuno will defeat Inarizaki (the Miya twins), Kamomedai (Hoshiumi), Nekoma, Fukorodani and probably Kiryu's team. People who underestimated them will get beat. It is very likely they will place very high in Nationals, enough for other teams in Japan to sharpen their teeth in preparation for the next battle at Nationals, enough for media and people who watched high school sport to anticipate their hold on the crown or their snatching of the crown underneath the champ's hold.

I don't know about Sakusa though. It is possible that Karasuno might lose against him and his team. He is a second-year whereas his fellow aces are third-years. Hinata, Kageyama, and Karasuno will likely defeat him next year. I can see the long stressful battle because Karasuno can literally go onto the 30 point mark.

There is also the possibility that Itachiyama might lose against Karasuno. However, we don't know these guys' backstories just yet. We will learn, of course, coupled with Haikyuu's portrayal of teenage boys being silly. Does that team need to be taught a lesson like Shiratorizawa or even Karasuno in the first official match against Aoba Jousai? Will Karasuno need a lesson instead?

At this point, it's a little vague about whether Karasuno or Itachiyama would win. While Kageyama was the only one who interacted with Sakusa on some level, Sakusa has yet to react to any of the other Karasuno players. Even the Miya brothers are strongly reacting towards Hinata. Kindachi and Kumini reacted against Hinata, even being friends with him in the one-week course. Even those not participating in the Nationals like Nohebi, specifically the Captain Suguru, are reacting strongly. Kageyama's coach from the All-Japan Intensive Camp took an interest in Hinata.

Whatever direction must be the most character development. Whoever wins/loses would gain the most character; whoever gets the most of their loss/win must get some sort of character development. Some realism can play a part (force will win the day for example) but it has to make for character development. That is the fun of tournament arcs. My Hero Academia used the Sports Festival as a great way of character development. While Ochako might have lost, she took the full glory including pro-heroes nominating her. While Izuku lost his match against Todoroki, he actually won. Todoroki also won in a sense that he did not think of his father or his circumstances cloud him but he lost in actuality in comparison to Izuku. There is a reason why the Bakugou vs Todoroki battle is anticlimactic.

There is a reason why Asahi dealt the final blow against Dateko in the Interhigh. No reality cannot deal with that petty pride because the point is to win, not fill in what was wounded. Karasuno losing to Aoba Jousai in the Interhigh would pave way for character development. While Oikawa went on to lose to Ushiwaka reinforcing his dislike and his desire to win against Shiratorizawa, the then-current Karasuno would not last long against Shiratorizawa no matter how much tenacity they put in. The Karasuno participating in the Spring Tournament was a whole new flock whose tenacity can literally break even the coach's mindset. Hell, Shiratoizawa losing has been foreshadowed for a long time from Hinata's declaration, the concrete metaphor, the very fact that Kageyama vowed to surpass Oikawa (foreshadowing the loss of Aoba Jousai), and that's the top of my head. Ushiwaka and especially Coach Washijou needed a lesson to be taught, even if accidental; they needed character development just by judging by their behavior. Hell, later on, we learned that Shiratorizawa lost against undersized aces before but none like Hinata. Ushiwaka outright stated he cannot see the intelligent talented people who are shorter than him such as Hoshiumi for example. However, Hinata Shouyou is not like them at all, preferring to use the element of surprise and even his teammates called his movements 'godlike' or 'as if possessed by a god'. Shiratorizawa knew this and they don't like him for that; Satori Tendou even believed that Hinata was part of the Miyagi First-Year Intensive Camp. Other team coaches are beginning to see him as an incredible player in his own right despite unpolished. Teams from other prefectures have absolutely no clue why high school volleyballers are careful of him.

Exposing Hinata, even unrefined as he is still now, to the Japanese high school volleyball circuit, would mean uni scouts and professional coaches would take notice of him. Not just the teams at Nationals (those who have seen Karasuno evolve) but see the teams who have no clue they are going head-to-head with insanely determined monsters who can literally crack them.  I cannot wait to see for the moment for Hinata to receive the scouts he deserved for all his hard work.

Hell, Daiya no Ace makes sense by making Seidou lose to Inashiro in similar reasons with Aoba Jousai but with a Shiratorizawa-level school. Free! had Haru win the 100m free in S2 to emphasize both his talent as a swimmer and his possible future he could take like a pro swimmer as well as the additional pressure. The very fact that Haru and Rin are the fastest swimmers in that particular race was to emphasize that. Hell, the very fact that Yuuri was set to win the Grand Prix was a narrative point since the fucking beginning.

Think about what it means for the love of Pete. Yes, do you understand now, people? Think carefully of tournament arc's decisions to make someone lose or win. Did the aftermath show, while predictable results, the character development they needed. Did they win/lose metaphorically? Physically? What is the best course they could take for character development? Are there any extenuating circumstances that led to that win/loss?

While schools do have their mascots, real life does not really make a great metaphor. Rosemead High has Panthers, El Monte High has lions, and Arroyo High has Knights. While speeches spun metaphors around these mascots, they make little sense.

...unless you are talking about narratives. Animal motifs are a huge emphasis in Haikyuu while Daiya no Ace has no such metaphor.

Think of the freaking narrative, people. There is a difference between narrative and reality. You can add realism but not to the point of the uncanny valley; you can explore themes of real-life and the applications thereof. You just have to think of the narrative first and foremost where it had to make sense of what the story is telling us. I went with the flow with KnB's superhuman powers because what is the point when the story is good. Do not think of realism of sports of whether one should lose when the point is the actual story. You can stress the ridiculous talents when you can discuss the story structure where it is the most important. It's not particularly damaging towards the sport because the sport can do well without it. Basketball is doing well without Kuroko no Basuke in the mess. Hell, even when interest in volleyball and go shot up because of Haikyuu and Hikaru no Go respectively, the Sports itself was not damaged. Come on, we have the fucking Olympics and various other international sports tournaments as well as domestic and national. Do you really think those tournaments will somehow lose the interest of the rest of the world? They are called pros for a goddamn reason and seriously, Lebron James' doing well without KnB.

If Karasuno wins Nationals and reaches the first place, that story will be a surprising turn. It now meant that Karasuno will have to live up to that great place in Nationals, pressure from all over the place. Schools wanted to take them down, newer club members will face pressure from ex-members, the cast has to maintain their status and the media will paint them as a dark horse that took the crown from Itachiyama. Seriously, the Nationals arc is painting them as a dark horse and it's the second day.

There will likely be scouts coming all over for notable members should they wish to proceed to go to uni volleyball or

"Flightless crows" transformed into the crows they were meant to be, surpassing the Little Giant of the past and present generations.

Hmm, I can see Karasuno placing very high in Nationals, beating out so many high-level teams. The series did seem to hint at some extent.

...if there is any doubt that Karasuno will be defeated by Inarizaki, please consider the context. There had been the buildup to the Battle of the Garbage Dump for a while including Hinata and Kenma's exchange and the recent chapter that had the Ukai's discussing it. There is just too much build-up.

Seriously, if Furudate-sensei didn't show the Battle of the Garbage Dump for the next match when there is too much build-up to it, then I will seethe. It would be Terajima withdrawing that battle with Inashiro with the Misawa battery instead, putting them against Yakushi instead. Not only it was bad because it had been building up to the former match for a long time, even with the stupidity going around, but it will also be disingenuous for the character development.

Honestly, what's surprising to me was a notable love interest for Tanaka. It's a subplot and Kanoka from Niiyama was not defined entirely by her crush on Tanaka. She's cute and has a genuine interest in volleyball to the point she is very good. We didn't see her in action yet but it's pretty clear that she's a great player to be a regular on the Miyagi's 'Queens'. Honestly, this is very cute where both sides have no clue about their romance. It's awkward but sweet. Considering that Niiyama is still there and considered queens, Kanoka has great skill in volleyball. Volleyball interest that was gained by Tanaka. It's really cute to see flashbacks on the pair's relationship. It's nice to see that girl has a love for volleyball that did not hurt her crush on a guy and visa versa. She's a good girl and will do well. I can see it.

Haikyuu has no known love interest for any of the main characters. It is shounen but even series like One Piece and My Hero Academia, previous crushes seemed to fade in the background or when ladies put aside their interest in the men for the sake of pursuing their goals. The girls are not defined by the crush on admittedly great guys. Yachi Hitoka could be considered a love interest for Hinata Shouyou if it wasn't for the fact that she nor Hinata ever show interest in each other in that way. While Hinata clearly helped her, Yachi didn't seem to show that she liked him romantically unlike how Honoka showed Tanaka interest. I got more of the feeling that KageHinaYachi will be a great trio of friends.

Y'know, I was surprised that Haikyuu didn't have a dub. Free! got a dub after some time but not Haikyuu and Daiya no Ace, the former of which immensely popular in Japan and the west. Oofuri got a dub too. It might not be a good dub but it's a dub all the same.

Edit: ...I cannot believe that now Haikyuu got a dub. Out of popularity. I mean I expected it at some point, considering the popularity of Free! and YOI. While Free! dub was awful and hilarious to listen to, YOI's dub got slowly better.

My opinion on the dub: Solid, very solid. Hinata sounds mature but I doubt anyone could capture Murase's voice-acting. I mean the stage version of North Italy sounds exactly like Daisuke-san. I'm not even joking, literally mean it. After coming out of rewatching the Hikago dub where certain voice-acting sounds stiff, I am just glad to see emoting at all. Now with a dub, I can rewatch Haikyuu! I mean I am still reading the manga and I still love with all my heart. I actually consider it one of the better dub jobs in sports anime and I would list it above the known English dubs I would give it.

Mini-Review: Haikyuu! S3

One of my favorite tracks from Hayashi Yuki. His music tends to run into the problem of sounding same-y. He's not an awful composer, considering how he can make memorable tracks. One of his best tracks is "You Can Become A Hero" from Boku no Hero Academia anime OST. 

I won't go on with my love for Haikyuu! or digress into rants that had nothing to do with the series.

Let's go more into my interest in sports anime: Aside from being predictable results, they can tell good stories with the right writers. Sometimes, the writers will make an obvious mistake to lengthen the story (YOI S1 finale, anyone?) and the right decisions narratively if foreshadowed correctly (Karasuno beating Aoba Jousai and Shiratorizawa for the example given the hints we got when Hinata and Kageyama met Ushiwaka. Shiratorizawa winning will undermine Hinata, Tsukishima, Yamaguchi, the third years and so many people in Karasuno narratively. Their loss will not be a consolation prize they made that far. It also wouldn't make much sense considering the Tokyo teams will also make it to the nationals too. The Tokyo Training Camp arc will make little sense beyond training and character development if we show how much Karasuno had grown up and now can fight as equals with the not-retired third-years. There had to be a culmination of all the hard work and also the symbolism of the crows mobbing the eagle. Remember, the narrative sense trumps any kind of realism. It might not be perfect but it had to make sense. The worst recent sports anime/manga series that inverted that would be the YOI finale and Daiya no Ace although the latter is slowly picked itself up....slowly). I am not a sports fan but I am far more understanding of a game if they executed well instead of cheering on the opposing team just because they have the best players. Remember, sports anime does not translate to real life. Look at Kuroko no Basuke or Prince of Tennis, hell even Yuri on Ice which featured exaggerated figure skating. It can be realistic but considering there could be many breaks that sports anime can take. Haikyuu!! takes the underdog route but managed to tell it in a wonderful fashion, executing well overall with character development galore. YOI takes a different approach by the main trio played out seinen and shounen tropes in their character arcs.

Let's skip right to it.

To boil down: Great match with great storytelling as expected but the worst season yet. The best season of the anime series would be S2. It focused only on one match that felt like real-time with uninterrupted editing. Not boring and sometimes would dramatically take away

There were changes from the manga like expanded reactions (love, love the Shiratorizawa's cheer squad's reaction to Karasuno's unpredictability like Tsukki's blocks and Hinata's jaw-dropping receives and plays (I cackled at their reaction when Hinata stopped their ace's spike like it was nothing, silenced into shock is what you deserve for thinking Karasuno was like other teams Shiratorizawa defeated in the past including Aoba Jousai); unlike their team like Ushiwaka who clearly saw them as worthy opponents as the game continued, they underestimated the opposing team to the point that the news show that reported the winnings name-dropped their opponent and that's it; I find it delicious, okay, for those underestimating the underdog that they were shut up in the face of tenacity and undoubted power. I always loved it when people underestimate the other to the point they are in awe, even when the underdog lost) and change of setting and words of Ushiwaka's challenge to the Oddball Duo. I want to get that out of the way.

Aside from civilian reactions, I also loved how the cheer squadrons exemplified the teams. Shiratorizawa was imposing, confident and achieved. Karasuno was mismatched, unpredictable, and resolute who can literally blow the former out the water.

This is one of the best matches Furudate ever made ever. I love the match you must know, not just for nearly a lot of the main regulars to show off. Hinata showing off his athleticism and unpredictability and believe me, I love unpredictability. Not just in stories but also in pairings. Tsukki showing off his intelligence and what he learned from Kuroo and Bukuto. The Karasuno team showing their audacity in the face of people who believe they would lose immediately (Shiratorizawa cheer squad, the audience who believed Shiratorizawa's easy win) or try to break them (Tendou, Goshiki, Shirabu, Semi). I find satisfaction not in beating them when they're down but that they can fight till the very end and utter refusal to break. That is why I always love the matches in Haikyuu! They're fun whereas Daiya no Ace only has fun matches whenever Furuya was not playing; his pitching is dull and boring and doesn't pump me up to cheer the team on until Sawamura or Nori or Tanba stepped up to the plate.

This is where Tsukishima's character development shone through, helping his teammates and taking part in the game. I wouldn't say that it's full-circle. We still got more growth to go from all of them. Do you really think character development will end just like that? All of Karasuno still have much to learn about their volleyball and about themselves, their next part in life, college or elsewhere they choose.

Considering what happened after the match and you saw the cliffhanger that Kageyama was selected to go to the All-Japan Training Camp, you know that Karasuno still has much to learn, even prodigies like Kageyama.

Now, I do not know how long Haikyuu will run. We are at the Tokyo Nationals arc right now. There might be a longevity run because I can see Haikyuu being one of the mainstays for a really long time; consistently bestselling and ratings will tell you that unlike Daiya no Ace going down as of late but slowly rising but not quite at Haikyuu level. We could witness Karasuno regain their status as a renewed volleyball team in the three years Hinata went there and Hinata passing the torch while he went to college. We could witness "And the Adventure Continues" with the series ending in Hinata's first year. However, considering the characters introduced in Tokyo Nationals Arc, there may be a possibility that Haikyuu will continue long after the graduation of the third-years of all the schools and we will witness the schools going head-on with the new Karasuno. Daiya no Ace featured new first years in Act II so it's not a bad notion that it would continue for a long time.

Besides, we still need to have that rematch with Dateko and many other schools. It was likely we will go to second-year though. Despite knowing that Aoba Jousai will win that match, I still want to have that rematch since we got that spoken promise from Aone to Hinata. Ushiwaka will have to wait until either Hinata or Kageyama gets into an official university team or scouted so maybe we might see a rematch with Ushiwaka again. Might being the keyword here because we don't know if which direction Ushiwaka will take after high school. College? Scouted?

Besides, it would make sense for Karasuno to beat the top aces of the country. They beat the number 3 so two more to go. We might meet them in the Tokyo Nationals arc which no doubt will introduce them. If Karasuno beat Nekoma in the third round, I believe? We got names of the top-tier aces...or at least their last names. We have to meet them as well as tying up loose ends with meeting the Little Giant.

I really want to see Little Giant; I am sure Takeda was not the Little Giant because he's far too old, stated to be 3 years older than Keishin Ukai so not him. I don't recall any of the veterans reacting to Takeda in any surprised fashion because the vets and especially Tsukishima would at least react in some way to see the Little Giant again. I don't think Furudate-sensei wanted the Little Giant to be in the midst of Hinata the whole time unlike how in My Hero Academia where the traitor must be in class 1-A. It is not necessary when there was no firm hinting. Being the Little Giant, I think he is playing for a uni's volleyball team by now. Since we got hints that he should be roughly the same age as Saeko and Akiteru, then he must be the age of a college student. He is definitely not close to his thirties like Takeda is. So yeah that's my two cents in the Takeda=Little Giant theory. Unlike the Kaminari traitor theory which at least some kind of evidence, no matter how dubious, has some substance, the Takeda theory doesn't hold much water...or any water at all. I believe the Little Giant will come and we will learn his name. Hinata will meet him and tie up all the loose ends if it comes to that. Furudate-sensei is good when it comes to tying up loose ends. Just look at Oikawa and Kageyama, Kageyama and Kindaichi and Kumini for example.

...This is just quick trivia: I learn my sports from sports anime. I don't know how to feel about it; that I got into sports because of over-the-top superhuman athleticism or because I understand it more if people just sat me down and talk about it in a dramatic storytelling fashion. I feel awful since I couldn't get into my brother's sports teams whenever he's playing but I can get into sports anime whenever Karasuno, Sohoku, etc showed tenacity. There is a herd of road cyclists some miles I see sometimes so I was able to identify. Hell, there was even a race one time where my dad was forced to take another direction.

Kaminari Traitor Theory

I really do like Boku no Hero Academia/My Hero Academia. The writing is good with great characterization and plot; it's by no means original but the very good storytelling made up for it with its twists and turns of expectations. Horikoshi-sensei is a good writer and I am happy about that. The dub was a lot better than the Free! and YOI dub; while the YOI dub wasn't bad, it's at least gotten better with the voice acting later on. Free! dub is all-out bad, almost Hetalia dub bad. The English cast fared better here than the previous anime I mentioned; maybe it's basically superheroes? Everyone and their dog would know the superhero craze and besides superheroes caught the imagination of everyone.

The story is a play on superhero cliches. It's clear that it's made with love in spite of its deconstructions. I always do like how the Japanese joyfully take inspiration from western superheroes to have Tiger and Bunny, One Punch Man, and My Hero Academia. Clearly, the heroes stand up for something different (humility, hard work) from American heroes (justice, truth), it doesn't negate the fact that they are truly saving other people from certain death. I still like how these stories, even that these three deconstruct western superhero conventions with jest, firmly remain on the side of idealism that gave it charm. Yes, even One-Punch Man because there is just something parodic I just love about it. OPM and BNHA are on different spectrums, the latter idealism personified while the former cynicism. T&B is in the middle but leans towards idealism considering the character development that most of the heroes underwent. Honestly, I rather prefer idealistic superheroes that explore consequences for their actions rather than having gritty 'realism'; we live in a bitter cynical world and it's hard-pressed to find something hopeful. That's why I love Cinderella 2015 so much. There are badly done dark cynical superhero adaptations (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad) and there are better written cynical dark superheroes adaptations (Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, MCU's Netflix series). There are cynical superheroes (OPM) and then there's the idealistic (BNHA).

I don't know at what point that second season will end at which arc, logically, it would be the End of Terms Arc. It makes no other sense when we see the witness to Yaoyorozu's depreciation that will culminate in her self-confidence at the End of Terms arc; the School Trip and the Hideout Raid arcs are conjoined with each other without leaving a kind of cliffhanger...especially the aftermath of the latter arc. The anime is elaborating on the manga single-chapter like giving the rest of the characters time to shine as well as building up the tension to the important fights like Uraraka vs Bakugou, Todoroki vs Midoriya, and Todoroki vs Bakugou.

I am pretty sure that talks of a traitor in-story have to build up to something. I'm sure that Horikoshi is not a lazy writer to discard an idea that was planted in-canon. However, the fact that Horikoshi even mentions a traitor at all twice means there has to be a payoff. With no payoff, then it's bad writing.

Remember this is all speculation and the traitor could be anyone even the teachers and older students at this point. The manga is fast-paced so if Horikoshi deemed that it's time to reveal the traitor, we shall see who is right or not. Hell, there might not even be a traitor at all if we go by paranoia.

So yeah, people can have their fun with Kirishima, Present Mic, Jirou, Aoyama, etc as the traitor. Let's just wait and see Horikoshi work his magic when the reveal comes.

Indeed, the hints that many think Kaminari was the traitor could be red herrings to hide the true traitor.

I'm pretty sure that everyone coming here knows that Kaminari Denki is the traitor theory. It's even in the title.

Here, here, here and here are the careful presentation. Joking from Reddit aside, some evidence is admittedly flimsy (shirt colors, really? It's not Teen Wolf where there is a consistent costuming and coloring but come on) so unless the series confirm something, it's dubious. Some evidence was alarming like the fact that Kaminari, to date, is the only student to have confirmed admiration for Stain and an easily faked drawback. Stain, the Hero Killer, brutally wounded a friend's brother to the point he cannot do hero work anymore and killed many other heroes. Nobody would bat an eye because Quirks are bodily functions after all and there is stranger than having a short-circuited brain.

Look at it from a narrative perspective.

I want to point out some things: the traitor would have to be a character from class 1-A.

It makes no sense for the traitor to be someone from class B or one of the teachers (when some of the teachers barely have a presence beyond being worshiped by the students and public; it would make an impact in-universe but not so much out-of-universe considering we haven't spent time with this traitorous character; that is the key), particularly since we got no hints of a trusted group of highly professional heroes. It has to be a prominent student who has appeared in almost every single arc. Not only it has to impact the characters, but also the readers. The prominence allows readers' investment; which is why Shima's betrayal in Blue Exorcist hurts a lot of fans. The key is spending time with this traitor.

To have a traitor that hasn't been there in the story for some time would lower the significance of such an event.

It will hurt, in and out of the universe. Yet the fact still remains that if there is a traitor in the UA's midst, then it has to be a memorable side character who had gained investment, in and out of universe.

Basically, have a friend you trust with your life betray you with no remorse for their actions. They may or may not have good reasons but that doesn't mean they hurt you. There is well-intentioned hiding like Merlin's hiding of his magic from Arthur where Arthur and Merlin are both justified with their reactions.

Kaminari is a popular character in the fandom yet we barely got anything on him; his reasons for being a hero, his backstory. If he is already popular (in the western and Japanese fandoms), then why Horikoshi show anything regarding his reasons? We could say the same for so many characters, but at least there were focus on them at times and I do mean at times including snippets of their lessons, even Mineta got some good character development at his End of Terms test sequentially passing.

...To be honest, I will not like it that Kaminari became a villain, not out of choice. Not only it wouldn't give depth to the character, but it will also ruin anything calling a redemption. A redemption, defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is "the action of saving or being saved from error, sin, or evil". Not having Kaminari expressing regret for his own actions that he did out of his volition will ruin the point of a redemption arc.

Yeah, those people just don't want to have their fave do bad things out of their own choice rather having it fall the blame on a third party is bad. It's one thing if it's cultural where the children's misbehavior is laid on their parents but it's another when the characters did them; I don't hold against Captain America for his kills nor do I hate Sasuke for his revenge-driven mad schemes. I want people to make their own choice, even out of traumatic events that broke them. Allow characters to have agency rather than to have the Sins of Their Fathers laid on their shoulders. Edmund Pevensie betrayed his siblings out of his volition (manipulated yes but he has a choice; even though people argued the Turkish Delights are brainwashing tool, it wasn't exactly confirmed; I'm pretty sure at that point, the temptation would lure Edmund and brainwashing would reduce the point of Edmund's character development).

It can't be Uraraka because we actually heard her parents as well as the rest days afterward. It can't be Kirishima because we actually see more of his reasons for being a hero and his hard work as well as his impact on the plot (Hideout Raid Arc) and Bakugou's character development as one of a few friends in UA. It can't be Ojirou and Satou because it literally made no sense. Kouda actually has a highlight alongside Sero, Mineta, and Aoyama, all of which give reasons for their future heroism. It can't be any of the girls because we don't even see an inkling of traitorous hints.

Horikoshi may have trouble balancing his cast but he has shown that he can show their character if focused enough or even make an important part of the plot.

He's a minor character yet he, a glue of the class, did not yet to do anything meaningful in the actual plot. He just seems there, memorable but still a minor character.

So what if the glue of the class, the class clown, the dumb blond, the sweet boy turned out to be the opposite: cruel, manipulative, intelligent, and hateful.

Just imagine the possibilities with Kaminari as the villain, revealing himself to be that kind of character, the one who despite spending time with his classmates who exemplified heroism of the new era, cannot see eye-to-eye. Like he uses Aizawa's teachings to his advantage and mocked his former teachers for lending him the capability to extend his Quirk. Imagine him ridiculing the values of All Might and Deku and happily cause terror among his former friends, his traitorous reveal affecting them so much they are afraid they would hurt him despite spending god knows how long with him. To class 1-A, their experiences together might not be as genuine as they might have thought if Kaminari, the class clown, has been continuously stabbing them on their back ever since they came here. They will be grieving but their situation would not allow them to grieve for too long.

Yes, it opens doors to a redemption arc. His true self might not like that little niggling fact and would do anything to stamp out his and his former friends' friendships with easy-to-do torture and chaos. It will take a while for it to come through but Kaminari would come to join them again despite his true personality.

So if this guy who spent time with them all went behind their backs and been teaming up with the VA since forever would hurt everyone. I don't think even Neito Monoma would mock class 1-A out of jealousy for that because not only the remaining class and Aizawa would feel the betrayal, everyone else like All Might and Principal Nedzu would feel the impact. Someone they believe to be so nice and have fun with them betrays them and their cause without a glimmer of regret.

...Hmm, there were issues like how do Kaminari knows the teacher's schedule and the USJ's surroundings unless a teacher is a traitor? Ooh, how about Kaminari being an awesome hacker on top of his powerful electrification? He could hack into UA and especially the government's database whenever he can and send the information to the VA, leaving no traces behind.

There are other theories like Dabi being Shouto Todoroki's brother - the reason why he chose to go by his alias rather than give his name and the fire Quirk - and Overhaul/Chisaki being Momo Yaoyorozu's relative - the fat cells and the rich factor. There is much to back up on the former theory but not so much the latter. The former theory would make sense from a narrative point of view, considering this is Endeavor we are talking about here; I would put more stock on this theory than even the traitor theory itself. However, it's too early in the game for these two villains to have a "Luke, I am your father" moment just as much as it's still early for the traitor to be revealed so again, wait for Horikoshi to work his magic.

The theory opens doors to angst yet it will still be telling the story of superheroes. I am sure Horikoshi-sensei will tell a good story because as I stated before, a great storyteller. While not quite Oda Eiichirou or Arakawa Hiromu or Yoshihiro Yogashi, he's still hell better than Kubo Tite and probably Kishimoto Masashi. While Bleach failed after Soul Society Arc, Naruto maintained Part I really well while Part 2 was a mess where there was clearly a war between Kishimoto and SJ's editors. There is something there he wanted to tell including making Madara the true Big Bad, not Kagura and the very fact he had to fight to have the Reverse Harem Jutsu (which I have to remind you never animated in the anime until the battle with Kagura). <- Edit.

Characters will be updated. It doesn't help the lack of focus on several characters to give way for backstory, character development. It's not that they're just there for the sake of having more students in the class, they do have their part in the plot. I gave Magician to a lot of people so if there is a focus on them at some point, I will change it. I don't know enough of three girls to give the designated card; it's Ashido, Jiro, and Hagakure who aren't approved yet. For the boys, it's a lot of trouble since I know nada; so far from class I-A, Iida, Mineta, Todoroki, Midoriya, Bakugou, Kirishima, Aoyama, and Shouji are confirmed here. The villains, some of the students, and some of the pro heroes aren't official yet.

For right now, it's just the first year and I hope that Horikoshi, like Rowling, goes through the school years until the ultimate final battle with the successors at the helm. Yes, I will await the final battle with Tomura and Midoriya, both of whom will have full access and versatility, to their predecessors' powers. I will be so happy to witness it unleashed.

It certainly will give time to give all the characters, even Monoma, character development.

Character - Arcana

Izuku Midoriya - Fool

Bakugou Katsuki  - Chariot

Ochako Uraraka - Priestess

Tenya Iida - Justice

Shouto Todoroki - Tower (pre-character development) -> Judgment (that is funny because Zuko is also the Judgment but his pre-character development card was the Hanged Man, not the Tower)

Momo Yaoyorozu - Empress

Tsuyu Asui - Lovers

Kyoka Jiro - Strength

Tooru Hagakure - Lovers

Fumikage Tokoyami - Emperor

Eijirou Kirishima - Magician

Mina Ashido - Star

Minoru Mineta - Hanged Man

Mashirao Ojiro - Sun

Hanta Sero - Magician

Yuuga Aoyama - Moon

Mezou Shouji - Hermit

Kouji Kouda - Temperance

Rikido Satou - Strength

Denki Kaminari - Magician

Neito Monoma - Moon

Itsuka Kendou - Empress

Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu - Magician

Mirio Togata - Chariot

Yoarashi Inasa - Magician

You Shindou - Star

Hitoshi Shinsou - Death

Mei Hatsume - Sun

Inko Midoriya - Empress

Shouta Aizawa - Hierophant

Yagi Toshinori/All Might - Fool -> Death

Present Mic - Magician

Recovery Girl - Priestess

Endeavor - Tower

Midnight - Lovers

Mount Lady - Devil

Thirteen - Justice

Nedzu - Hierophant

Gran Torino - Hierophant

Sir Nighteye - Hermit

Tensei Iida/Ingenium - Lovers

Naomasa Tsukauchi - Hierophant

Kouta Izumi - Hanged Man

Tomura Shigaraki - Magician -> Death

Sensei - Devil

Himiko Toga - Devil

Stain - Wheel of Fortune

Chisaki - Wheel of Fortune

Eri - Hanged Man

Tarot Assignment

Like Nenilein says, the tarot card selection I have for characters are their current situation in life and their relationship to others. Because the Tarot card is flexible in its representation and quite literally every Tarot card fits every character or archetype, it really would be difficult to find a conclusive one. On that note, a Tarot Card would change if the character's situation changes as well. It is possible to have a male Empress/Priestess/Lovers and female Emperor; I do wish to see them in canon soon anyways because if the Persona series is innovative enough to discuss feminist issues head-on, then it's really bad if there literally is no male Empress/Priestess/Lovers and female Emperor. It's one of the things I wish to happen in a game series just as much as I want the other types as legendaries or finally made a gym in the Pokemon series. Please, Hoshino, you got a female Hermit Persona-user and a cat as a Magician Arcana on your team in P5; you can do it with a Male Empress/Priestess/Lovers and female Emperor. You got a freaking fox as a Hermit Arcana Social Link. And yes, this also translate to Social Link/Confidant.

Highlighted in the same sentence/paragraph are the character and their arcana.

The reason why I chose the Chariot for Yuuri Katsuki is because his anxiety disorder and depression makes him such an unreliable narrator, thinking that his friends and family's support and love for him was not genuine. He does have the strength (seen through his bursts of confidence throughout) but he doesn't fully grasp the full extent of that strength and love until his final Free skate at the Grand Prix Final. I didn't choose Moon because while he does have self-doubt and allowed it to overtake him (and indeed he does fit a lot with the Moon Arcana, reversed and upright), Yuuri is all about struggling and triumphing that self-doubt and his ambition to win. Even pre-character development, he had that hidden strength, judging by episode 1 alone. The fact that he was still thinking was something I completely understand. His relationship with others show that he have a lack of unity within himself, not finding much confidence in others and himself. His personal flaws overtook him, leading to imbalance. I took the well-hidden confidence that he didn't bother go into and considering his flaws, I gave the Chariot in the end. The Moon focuses too much on his anxiety and depression when there is much more to Yuuri's character. His ambitions and struggles with his self-doubt. Seriously though, Yuuri followed the 22 Major Arcana so well I have a hard time picking it.

I gave the Justice to Yuri Plisetsky (which is funny because, for the Tiger and Bunny cast, Yuri Petrov has Justice too) because his goals were to make his countrymen proud as a 'soldier'. It also plays out in his relationships with others like Katsuki and Viktor, not liking what they have done despite his admiration for them in terms of competitive skating.

As for Viktor Nikiforov, I was probably having more trouble, not even knowing his personal background. From what I can tell, he usually hides behind masks and gets quite easily into roles like the serious no-nonsense mentor, charismatic prince, and any role like a brother, father which is why I can see why the beach conversation affect him so. Underneath that lies an intelligent lonely man who when seeing something new, couldn't help but try it, just being himself. He doesn't seem to doubt his decision being with Yuuri or at Hasetsu at all but he seemed to allow other's expectations of him, usually Yuuri since Yakov or Yurio didn't bother him at all (hurt but he can get back up), overwhelm his decisions and force him to go back to something that he lost passion for. I think he doubts himself as who Viktor really is, being at the top when he knows what he truly wants. I do think Wheel of Fortune would be a better match than the Moon, not just for his love of surprises but considering how much of events like Sochi Banquet and Hasetsu and even meeting the few people in his lives would do in his life. Now, this is just observation; if YOI S2 tackles Viktor's long-awaited background, I will see if the card will change.

I don't give out The Fool Arcana to main protagonists all the time. I gave the main protagonist of YOI the Chariot for the love of Godoka. Speaking of Godoka, I gave the Fool to Madoka because her kindness extend well to others. I gave it to Eijun Sawamura primarily because how he affects everyone around him, forming bonds even though everyone (as in Terajima) treats him like dirt when he and Nori do the dirty work. Similarly, I gave the Fool to Izuku 'Deku' Midoriya precisely how he inspires everyone around him. The Fool was also given to Marinette Dupain-Cheng because she is getting out of her shell, extending hands to everyone but Adrien (out of shyness) and Chloe. I gave the Fool to Tsunayoshi Sawada as well as his ancestor Giotto because of their bonds with others with their endless kindness.

I sure as hell don't give the Fool to Light Yagami; that's the Tower. That's because his inability to reconcile with the flaws of the world coupled with his boredom of his perfection tipped the scale towards self-destruction. Seriously, Yotsuba!Light can be the Star and would have remained the star had he not tread down the path of destruction. I gave Lelouch Lamperouge the Emperor pre-character development and eventually the Death during character development. Yes, both of these guys used to have the same arcana at some point but in the end, Lelouch is the only one who changed in the end which is why his Arcana changes (by the mile). Hell, I rather have Lelouch as a Social Link than Light. Light desperately needs a Social Link but it would take hard work to even crack him. For Lelouch, I had difficulty between Emperor (exercise control) and Hanged Man (devoted to his sister, driven by the love of his loved ones, didn't like the thought of killing Euphie or Suzaku) so yeah Lelouch could potentially change to the Hanged Man pre-character development.

...You know for Furuya Satoru, I didn't know what to pick at first. I was thinking about how he's lonely at first and doesn't know how to reach other people. I would have picked the Temperance for him if he chose to make proper friends and rivals at the same time. However, he remained at his lonesome despite Eijun and everyone else bonding with him; even his mentality on the field is firmly on his preoccupation with himself. Then I thought of his wrong direction, all his flaws coming to the surface. I don't know why Terajima is exposing his favorite's flaws so easily considering he so favors Furuya as the ace despite evidence to the contrary. Out of frustration for Terajima, I gave Furuya the Devil because it's clear that his goal is to not only be the ace of Seidou but also Japan, his utter preoccupation with himself; he clearly thinks him front and center of a team sport, thinking the team should be relying on him instead of a symbiotic relationship and you know team sport. Canonically, he's the Devil Arcana. If he had taken the right direction by letting others be with him not just as a support on and off the field as well, I would have easily given him any other Arcana but the Devil or the Tower. I didn't give Furuya the Tower Arcana because although he is set up for self-destruction, he doesn't think of said self-destruction only when confronted with someone stronger than him...and even then, he will strive to beat that rather than look at himself.

Yeah, I still loathe the Furuya no Ace in a series that supposed to detail Sawamura Eijun's climbing of ranks til he is fully recognized as an exceptionally talented player on multiple ends.

But I digress.

I chose the Empress for Kuramochi Youichi because of his familial-like relationship with his teammates. He's observant (noticing Miyuki's injury and problems as captain) and deeply cares for his friends; it helps that his character development from an unruly player who ruins another's chances on the team became a responsible co-captain.

On the other hand, I chose the Hermit for Miyuki Kazuya because of how isolated he is. He is slowly reaching out to others when he gained the role as Captain and unfortunately filling in other roles. It wasn't until the Fool, Eijun Sawamura, got him out of his shell. The Tarot card befits Miyuki so well even during character development.

There is also pre-character development cards as well as character development cards. Above are both pre- and during character development like what I did with Lelouch. Shouto Todoroki was the Tower pre-character development because he is not relying on others, not just for teamwork but also for himself. He is essentially setting himself up for self-destruction and he knows that. His character development card is the Judgment because if his usage of fire, his behavior as a future hero, and his relationships with Inasa, Midoriya, and his family are anything to go by, he is self-reflecting.

I really have to do serious contemplation to even think of giving a Tarot Card representation to them. Like I prefer to have Themed Tarot Card decks actually aligning with the character in mind beyond superficiality....yeah I just want these cards to make sense in context with the characters.

...Admittedly this is basically a return to Persona.