Quote Originally Posted by Cidel View Post
I'm not a fan of how they handle and write most of their villains. It's true, Yotsuyu and Fordola have a few clichés that I can't help but feel like were shoved in our faces to try and morally conflict us to make them seem "deeper." But still, I do think these two characters are more well-written than a lot of their other "enemies of the week." Remember their portrayal of the Warriors of Darkness? "Oh look, it's the Warrior of Light." *sinister face* "Oh there was a twin, no wonder my poison arrow seemed like it had no effect" *smug sneering* "Oooh, you beat us! Pity our situation." *sadfaces* - Yeah, that was how "deep" those villains who had been built-up for some time came across.

Personally, I think Fordola's situation seems more worth seeing-through. There are similarities between Yotsuyu and Fordola (probably intended), but Yotsuyu was pretty much sociopathic and the only thing really keeping her from being a total hatesink was her convenient amnesia, which as somebody already pointed out, her and Gosetsu's role in the story was more impactful if they had ended in Doma Castle's collapse. But unfortunately, as the writers prove time and time again, they have an incredibly tough time leaving any significant story characters truly dead, and we frequently find out mere patches later that "but wait- not really!" The writers seem to love using the Not Quite Dead trope to the point that it's not even a plot twist anymore and any time somebody "dies" (and hasn't already come back before) I'll expect them to make an appearance back into the story eventually and will be pleasantly surprised if they actually don't.
Oh yeah, Yotsuyu is similar in that we see the Warriors of Darkness smugly act evil as they attempt to commit mass genocide, then at the end the story wants us to feel sorry for them and the Warriors of Darkness start making sad faces. It's was so hamfisted. I get the very strong impression these character aren't fully written out so the attempt to add dimensions to these villains in a later patches come off as retcons. What did the Warriors of Darkness stand to gain by acting smug and condescending? The fact that they never seem conflicted or regretful in their attempt at mass genocide made them completely unsympathetic in my eyes.

Yotsuyu never choose redemption, she was inflicted with brain damage caused by her own malicious actions. So what's the surprise when Yotsuyu choose to be herself? What was at stake? Yotsuyu was never sympathetic in my eyes. She attempted to purge a fishing village, one whom hadn't done anything to her. She never regretted these actions, especially when she had amnesia. Yotsuyu never goes through a character arc, she goes from being herself, to being brain damaged, then back to being herself. There's a reason amnesia is considered hack writing.