Forum - View topicArch Nemesis [Spoilers]
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Dilandau
 Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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I often find that one of the most enjoyable aspects of any action/drama story is a really fantastic bad guy. A REALLY good arch nemesis, per se. It adds this extra element of depth to the characters (both good and bad) as they progress through the series via combat, and plotting tactics to gain an upper-hand in the great rivalry.
Sadly, this pivotal character is often absent from the story. Anime often has the unfortunate habit of creating a dark, mysterious, brilliant (and boring) head bad guy, and not giving him his 'lieutenent(?)'/right-arm. And we end up with this droning series that encompasses the good-guys annihilating a continious goon-parade of cannon-fodder. *sigh* I greatly enjoy a cunning/psychopathic rival to hinder and beat down the good-guys morale (I hate cocky good-guys  ). A bad guy that is ever present through-out the series, perhaps not always in combat, but just the presents of his threat in the back of the good-guys mind. Dilandau from Escaflowne is one of my favourite. Boogiepop, doesn't really have a rival, but fulfills this same basic role.
I also realize, that anime often goes to great lengths to point out that 'good' and 'bad' are objective, but for the sake of this post I couldn't think of a better way of stating this relationship. Is it just me that occassionaly likes to watch a show, JUST for the bad-guy? I often wonder. What are other great rivalries? Where are the outstanding bad-guys!? [EDIT - Spoiler tag added -C] |
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kamiboy
 Posts: 570 Location: CA |
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spoiler[Griffith VS Gatts in Berserk], there you have your great rivals. But that is alot more evident in the manga than in the anime.
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Ken Hayashi
 Posts: 752 Location: Singapore |
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Baddie Kain, in TM1: Tenchi in Love? He's pretty bad, everyone's No. 1 enemy.
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Osaka
 Posts: 127 Location: A-stray-ya |
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I would have to say Legato in Trigun as he spoiler[ hinders Vash quite alot with the Gung ho Guns and leaves him harboring a lot of guilt after Vash kills him. Most people LIKE to see the bad guy killed but with Vash killing HIM it scarred him more than seeing Legato sending evil people come to kill him.] Hope that made sense.
Vandread- the Harvest, although it is not one person it certainly was the key element (and very evil to boot) |
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Ken Hayashi
Posts: 752 Location: Singapore |
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Now I don't remember much ofthe series (no, it was very nice, just that my memory is poor) but who is Legato? The one who's spoiler[ always tempting Vash to shoot him down in the later episodes?] |
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Louie-kun
 Posts: 420 Location: I'm back. |
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If you're looking for a classic rivalry, look no further than Char Aznable and Amuro Ray from Gundam 0079. The two first meet in combat, with Amuro giving Char a run for his money. spoiler[The two fall in love with Quon Quess, a newtype, and she dies when Char and Amuro fight near the end of the series.] In Zeta Gundam spoiler[Amuro and Char are allies for a short time. However, it doesn't last.] Their fued is wrapped up in the movie Char's Counterattack, spoiler[where Amuro and Char die to save Earth from a giant asteroid, not before having one last duel.]
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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Here are some that come to mind for me:
Dilandau from Escaflowne Gaara from Naruto *Naruto's rival, and these two are just awesome together* Heimdal from MaLoki *SO much better in the manga* *Loki's rival, which is true in the original Norse mythology as well* Akio from Utena *verus Utena* And God whenever he's the "bad guy" in an anime I tend to really like a villian when they're completely nuts. |
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Onmyoji
 Posts: 203 Location: MD |
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Definately gotta go with Spike and Vicious from Cowboy Bebop.
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Goshin
 Posts: 288 Location: Illinois |
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Agreed. Don’t mention the word Vicious in Spike’s presence. He was mistakenly identified as Vicious once before, and the goon squad, that made that mistake, paid dearly. These guys simply hate each other, with a passion. |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 11492 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Hmm. Rivals, eh? Then I'd definately say:
Himura Kenshin vs. Saitou Hajime - for obvious reasons, but I won't go into detail so as to not spoil it for some Arucard vs. Father Anderson - a short-lived rivalry in just a span of 3 or 4 episodes, could've been much better had Gonzo not screwed itself over with Incognito Son Gokuu vs. Vegeta - even more obvious, although it stinks that Gokuu always won Amuro Ray vs. Char Aznable - it went on for almost 20 years, for crying out loud Heero Yuy vs. Zechs Merquise - I guess..., though it's nowhere near Amuro and Char That's all I can think of for now... |
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king_micah
 Posts: 994 Location: OSU |
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Well, the classic, all time best, the one that has fueled more content then anything is Lupin and Zenigata. The constant chase is what makes the show work. Zenigata can even win, sometime, although it is usually short lived. And like all good Nemeses, they can be forced to join together. spoiler[The Castle of Cagliostro anyone?]
Naruto is also getting a real interesting one, but much later than Garra. spoiler[Sasuke and Naruto have become enemies due to Sasuke's lust for power driving him to Orochimaru. Sasuke, not really knowing how Naruto gets his bfg(Big freaking gun, aka Rasengan), nor really his bft (big freaking toad, aka Gama-Bunta). Sasuke doesn't understand about nin etails, nor does he care. He wants Naruto's power and is jealous as well of Naruto being sought out by Itachi. Overall, they are shown as a vicious cycle repeating the mistakes of Orochimaru and Jiraiya. Their duel gets interrupted only a split second before one of them will kill the other, delaying everything to a later date. As of this point in the manga, it looks like that they must fight again, and must fight together again when the find out Orochimaru's true reasons to want Sasuke. Personally I can't wait for Garra to join them. ] |
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Ken Hayashi
Posts: 752 Location: Singapore |
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Isn't it strange that nobody mentioned Folken Farnel. Everybody's slamming Dilandau without knowing that Folken is the mastermind behind all the trouble. Sure he doesn't pilot a mecha and trash it out with Van or Allen, but he's the brains behind the brawn. And to me, the ultimate bad guy in that series. Dilandau is just a puppet.
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Tony K.
Subscriber Moderator Posts: 11492 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Yeah, but it's not like he goes out of his way to physically stop his opponents. Sure, it's great that he's an intelligent bad guy and all, but the only other person in that show that would even remotely have a grudge with him is is own flesh and blood brother. And they hardly even do anything when they do meet. |
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Sesshoumaru sama
 Posts: 170 Location: Texas, USA |
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I knew someone would post DBZ, anyways here my list.
DB/Goku and Piccolo - I like this pairing better than Goku and Vegeta, even though it lasts in DB and a little in Z. Gundam 0083/Kou Uraki and Anavell Gato Gundam SEED/Kira Yamato and Yzak Full Metal Panic/Sagara Sousuke and Garon (don't know how to spell his name either) Neon Genesis Evangelion/Asuka and Shinji, kinda Asuka was always trying to be better than Shinji. Last edited by Sesshoumaru sama on Mon Apr 19, 2004 1:56 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Tony K.
Subscriber Moderator Posts: 11492 Location: Frisco, TX |
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 It's Anavell Gato, not Gato Aznable .
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