Last week I wasn’t exactly sold on Kengo (Blood Shephard) choosing to spare Emma after his victory. Mainly because I am so used to the more cruel and brutal side of the hunter he is made himself to be. However this week, somewhere along the lines of the duel, I realized that (unexpectedly), Kengo is now undergoing a similar pattern of developments that both Onizuka and Aoi had gone through. This week, we saw Kengo do what I think should be expected of anyone with a sound mind, be strongly suspicious of SOL Technology’s motives for collecting data on the Ignis. So he used his talent to uncover SOL Technology’s secrets. What surprised me though was seeing him trust Akira enough to share the information he had uncovered, and confront him about it.
Now I don’t know about you, but I found this interaction to be quite interesting. Akira was given information that not even he knew about, and that was the development that goes further than just creating an AI implant, but to continue Dr. Kogami’s project of creating a brand new Ignis.
Just a quick note: I am not entirely certain if this specific project is tied to the one which Onizuka is a subjected to. But I can’t help but have the feeling that it is, especially when we consider the kind of training Onizuka is going through. While he isn’t being tortured as the Lost Incident Victims were, they are constantly gathering data, and we are seeing him lose himself, and be consumed by this…. demon as some call it. And what better way to get more subjects for this project than to recruit them with the promise of granting them more power? There will surely be more people like Onizuka who would definitely be interested in being a subject for this. Or else, this may be an entirely separate secret project altogether. (Either way, this is just screaming to be exploited by Lightning.)
And as expected, Kengo wants no part of it.
But what stands out to me was how different Akira’s reaction was to Kengo. While Akira is horrified at the developments being done at SOL Technology, and is uneasy about the information that was just shared with him, Kengo actually pressed him about his decision, of which path he intends to take. Kengo was disappointed in his reasons for choosing to stay with the company. Instead of resigning, Akira chooses to stay with his job, because he feels he still has responsibilities, even as the company’s lapdog. Hopefully, the “responsibilities” he speaks of, is referring to serving as the much needed, pair of eyes within the company, so he can leak out details to Yuusaku’s team. Ryoken has someone within SOL Technology leaking out details to them, but we don’t know who that is yet, or if we will ever see their face at all.
(Side note, I thought the paper he had in the beginning was his resignation letter, instead it was a ‘heartfelt’ letter from Aoi tell him to “leave her alone” as she sets off on her own path, ahaha! Also: HUURAY FOR AOI’S CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! she is well aware that she might be on opposing sides with her brother, but she doesn’t care. She has chosen her own path!)
As for the confrontation between Kengo and Ryoken, I have to admit I was a bit anxious of how they were going to deal with Kengo’s loss. But I am relieved that we didn’t see Kengo roll over after being been defeated, because that would have been super out of character. Instead, rather than actually forcing him to join them, he provided a demonstration why Kengo should join his team, as they would rather have him as an ally than an enemy. Ryoken recognizes as they are now, the Hanoi Knights needs more talented programmers like Kengo, if they want to have any hope in the war against Lightning and his army.
This brings me to what I was referring to in the beginning, the start of Kengo’s “mini character arc”. Aside from last week, this is probably the most vulnerable we have ever seen him. He was strangely impatient, easily provoked and was far from his usual cool-headed character. But we see how everything seems to be hitting him at once, Emma revealing their father had died, he discovers he had been employed under false pretence, and now he is being told about the Ignis’ War against Humanity, the Ignis’ Link Spells, and how he won’t stand a chance against them should he become a target. It is certainly fair to say, the later wounds the guy’s pride, and he is so dead set on being a lone wolf, that he adamantly refuses to join him even after his loss. However based on the preview, while it appears Emma is attempting to persuade him to join Team Co-Existence, Kengo finds himself face to face with Lightning. Man, I don’t know what the heck is going to happen here, but if Kengo somehow manages to get out alive (most likely, under the conditions of being saved by the Hanoi Knights, or perhaps Yuusaku himself), I would be very surprise if this encounter doesn’t serve as the catalyst to finally join the Hanoi Knights.
eva my bet lightning will use the classic way of let your opponent think he about to win to lower his guard then strike back hard
After seeing the preview for next week’s episode, I suddenly had crazy thought: what if Kengo ends up joining the Ignis as Windy’s partner? Whether he joins of his own will or has his conciseness data stolen like Jin, I’m thinking that’s a high possibility if he’s really confronting Lighting on his own. Given the shape Windy’s in after what the Knights of Hanoi did to him, I doubt he’ll be looking for another duel anytime soon, but if Kengo becomes his partner, Windy could safely recover in his Duel Disk while still being able to duel if needed. This could also setup a rematch between him and Emma, seeing how she’s joining Yusaku’s team in searching for Lighting. Then again, he could end up brainwashed by SOL and forcefully implanted with an A.I. now that he knows what they’re up to. Either way, I’m looking forward on what’s to come with Kengo’s character.
You’re not the only one who though that letter Akira had was Kengo’s resignation, but I’m glad to see how far Aoi has come since we first met her. Here’s hoping we’ll see her in action soon enough, preferably against Go. I’ve always wanted to see them duel each other and it’s looking like we might get that soon now that they’ve picked what side of the war they’ll be on.
Yup that crossed my mind as well. Forcing him to be Windy’s partner would be soooooo messed up!!!! I kind of dig the idea a lot actually, it sounds exciting. But I’d like really like to see him join the Hanoi Knights since I think that’s right up his alley!
Even if BS join Lightning’s team, I’m not sure that BS will become Windy’s partner because Windy has made himself clear that he doesn’t need and doesn’t want any human partner. If BS join them, it’ll be more because of Lightning’s control. But rather than that, I’m more interested in finding out Lightning’s Deck in the next Duel! Not only that, I heard next week all the Ignis (sans Earth) will appear in that one episode! Are we going to have another argument between the Ignis?!
I gotta admit that I’ve grown to like BS for a bit, though I’m still holding a grudge for his attempt exploiting SB’s trauma last time in their Duel. Now, I wonder what kind of siblings quarrel BS and GG are going to have in the next episode. They’re total opposites of Akira-Aoi and Kusanagi-Jin siblings.
I feel like if BS were to be Windy’s partner, it would be strictly under Lightning’s orders, so it would be a situation where Windy would have to suck it up.
It’d make sense for Kengo to act as Windy’s partner if Lighting manages to get him on their side, even if Windy’s against the idea. He was practically half-dead when we last saw him, so having him act through Kengo would give him more time to heal and protect him from another attack.
Daddy Issues vs Daddy Complex. Winner? Daddy Complex.
Okay, I’m just kidding about that part. I’m actually surprised that the amount of turns that Blood Shepherd used to defeat Ghost Girl is the same amount that Revolver used to defeat BS.
I’m growing to like Blood Shepherd a bit since the last episode, so I think this little mini-arc does serve a catalyst for him to join the Hanoi Knights. I do like how Go, Aoi and BS all have their little arcs. Go’s is to lose himself to an AI and become stronger. Aoi wants to side with the Ignis (it’s a bit sad how she’s so shaken by Earth’s death). I think BS’s arc is to realize that he needs to stop pushing people away. The last episode showed that he does have a humane side by sparing GG, so he might learn that he needs that humanity within him to grow stronger.
Also, SOL Tech’s goal with the AI just screams Divine Ignis. I think them having the same goal as Lightning just pegs the question: Who’s crueler when it comes to achieving their goal?
I’m seriously anticipating Blood Shepherd vs Lightning. It’s going to be animated by Noh Gil-Bo, so the animation will be beautiful.
Agree, BS has definitely grown on me as well. He went from a character I didn’t really care about to becoming more invested on what his role will be in this world. Seeing his humane side definitely played a huge part of that.
//Also, SOL Tech’s goal with the AI just screams Divine Ignis. I think them having the same goal as Lightning just pegs the question: Who’s crueler when it comes to achieving their goal?//
RIGHT? LOL. Both parties are bloody crazy in their own way! But seriously, I would be shocked if Lightning didn’t exploit them. It would serve as a way for SOL’s greed for profit and power come back to bite them.
Wait does SOL even know there’s a war about to happen? Did Akira tell them that yet? I forget LOL.
I don’t think they know about the war since Akira is being secretive about this. In SOL Tech, only Akira knows about the war.
LMFAO, omg if they really don’t, they in for heck of an unpleasant surprise!!!! 😂
For those of you who don’t play the game, I’m going to bring up something I found interesting in this episode. Revolver says BS doesn’t currently have the means to combat Judgement Arrows and uses Imperial Order as an example of how to counter it.
Now keep in mind: half the reason JA is so powerful in the first place is that it’s a spell card with Link arrows on it. Nowhere on the card’s text does it say anything about the use of said arrows but Revolver seems to think that Nullifying the spell itself nullifies the arrows, too. Which I’m not sure that’s how that works.
Thanks for the interesting tidbit! 😀 I was wondering about that since Revolver used JA as an example.
Then again, people are having silly arguments about Borreload Savage’s Link-equipping effect enabling Link Markers on the main monster zones or not (if the markers themselves did point upwards). Still, just side deck Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell and Anti-Spell Fragrance and you’ll be fine… as long as they don’t have a Red Reboot.
LOLOLOL More classic Traps in Revolver’s arsenal, this time with a pretty strong one (Imperial Order) even in the current modern meta. What’s next? Spellbinding Circle, Negate Attack, Trap Hole, Royal Decree, Wall of Disruption, Torrential Tribute… the list goes on. BUT in the end they still kept the Bloody “Jobber” Shepherd around who had NO reason to hog so much spotlight throughout November 2018.
Whatever, this asshole who never stop boasting about being some hot shit is going to get eradicated for reaching to Lightning ahead of everyone else (please let that happen), otherwise it’ll tarnish the reputation of the “main” antagonist in this human-Ignis war.
Just realised, at the start of this episode/end of last episode Playmaker says they’re going to save Kusanagi’s brother. In front of Blue maiden. Who doesn’t know his identity. If that doesn’t get brought up, I’d be disappointed