The voice change

[Xmortal]

On a similar note does anyone know the episode/movie/ova where Shinichi (or Conan) is on a bus with Ran playing a license plate game where they use the numbers and letter to spell out words/phrases. Shinichi figures out that a car is carrying a bunch of robbers/murders because he realizes that the car has a fake license plate and it spells out "murderer" or something similar. I am pretty sure this isn't in the manga.

That episode you're talking about is Episode 400 Ran's Suspicions 「疑惑をæŒ

[tera]

I'll concede the first half, but:

That is not a very good example. In Shinichi's case, Ran has no idea where he is so when she feels he is in danger, she does what most would do and start crying. She cannot help him herself, she cannot ask anyone to help him, and at one point she could not even contact him. So it's understandable to feel like you are in a cage in that situation where in episode 167 none of that was present.

The New York/Golden Apple case is fairly comparable - Ran blames herself; there's a friend in danger of a serial killer: so we see the same paralysis/fear/tears as in the Spider Mansion case. I guess it is sort of a common thing to cast girls in a more emotional light, which is a little bit stereotypical, but Spider Mansion's events are all within Ran's personality. And I don't really consider Ran's reaction to be fragility - sensitivity, maybe too much even, but you notice that right afterward, she gets back up and searches with the rest of them.

[TheBlind]

I'll concede the first half, but:

That is not a very good example. In Shinichi's case, Ran has no idea where he is so when she feels he is in danger, she does what most would do and start crying. She cannot help him herself, she cannot ask anyone to help him, and at one point she could not even contact him. So it's understandable to feel like you are in a cage in that situation where in episode 167 none of that was present.

The New York/Golden Apple case is fairly comparable - Ran blames herself; there's a friend in danger of a serial killer: so we see the same paralysis/fear/tears as in the Spider Mansion case. I guess it is sort of a common thing to cast girls in a more emotional light, which is a little bit stereotypical, but Spider Mansion's events are all within Ran's personality. And I don't really consider Ran's reaction to be fragility - sensitivity, maybe too much even, but you notice that right afterward, she gets back up and searches with the rest of them.

Ran witness a man that she believed to be the killer, was abandoned by her taxi driver, and then warned that the killer is indeed in the area. Then she proceeded to look for Shinichi blaming herself and even after seeing drops of blood while her guilt grew even stronger forced herself to continue on looking for Shinichi at a younger age. So her actions in the Golden Apple actually contradict what she did in the Spider Mansion Case and might actually give the false impression that Ran is actually getting physically/mentally/spiritually weaker as she ages. Only possible way I see to explain both events is that she was portrayed out of character.

As for her immediately joining the search party, you are right, she did which makes it more strange. Humans aren't cars, we just don't shift (emotional) gears on command even when we wish too, so seeing Ran going from typical, panicked and concerned to breaking down and hiding and back to typical Ran is not really natural. And yes I know it's anime.

[Misztina]

Maybe I misjudge the situation, but I think Shinichi's presence might be the key to this Spider mansion situation.

We can always see how Shinichi almost overprotects Ran. That is because in his eyes Ran is not "strong", she is a girl who cries over things and needs to be protected. When Shinichi is around, she acts/behaves as someone who is indeed weak and helpless. She cries and such.
In the Spider mansion case she was aware of the fact that Conan is Shinichi so she went back  to the emotional stage "I need your help" and cries a river. But Ran's true (or more true) nature is much stronger. She can behave pretty confident, courageous etc. She shows this side of her in emergency cases, like when she broke the car's window to save Sonoko (note:she knew that Shinichi was there too) or when there was the Golden Apple case and she thought Shinichi might need help, because he was wounded.

So, my point is what Jodie told Ran in the Store case, that she relies too much on others. Aside from Jodie, Ran relies too much on Shinichi. It is as if Shinichi's coolness would disappear if Ran would act cool.

Weird thing. ^^'

[TheBlind]

Maybe I misjudge the situation, but I think Shinichi's presence might be the key to this Spider mansion situation.

We can always see how Shinichi almost overprotects Ran. That is because in his eyes Ran is not "strong", she is a girl who cries over things and needs to be protected. When Shinichi is around, she acts/behaves as someone who is indeed weak and helpless. She cries and such.
In the Spider mansion case she was aware of the fact that Conan is Shinichi so she went back  to the emotional stage "I need your help" and cries a river. But Ran's true (or more true) nature is much stronger. She can behave pretty confident, courageous etc. She shows this side of her in emergency cases, like when she broke the car's window to save Sonoko (note:she knew that Shinichi was there too) or when there was the Golden Apple case and she thought Shinichi might need help, because he was wounded.

Wow. This is a pretty good and unique view for Ran's actions sometimes and I agree with most of what you said on a general level. I always assumed that Ran's personality changes were just a result of her being "adapted" for a certain case by Gosho(not cool Gosho, not cool) since it was the only thing that could explain it but your way makes sense also. It also brings light to something that seems to be going a bit overboard, which is Ran's dependency on Shinichi. At first it was natural/romantic but sometimes it now feels like many of Ran's big decision start with "What would Shinichi do?!".

The only problem I see with what you said is that even if Ran knew Conan was Shinichi at the time, it still wouldn't be Ran, if she temporarily "abandoned" Kazuha like she did. Even subconsciously I would think her sense of goodness would override her Shinichi problem(yep problem) to get aid for Kazuha or at least keep looking for her. I still see it as an out of character move done by Gosho for who knows what reason.

So, my point is what Jodie told Ran in the Store case, that she relies too much on others. Aside from Jodie, Ran relies too much on Shinichi. It is as if Shinichi's coolness would disappear if Ran would act cool.

Weird thing. ^^'

I agree, we need another Case of the Blackmailing of a Pro Soccer Player(woh that was long(ep.10 for anime viewers)). Good balanced Ran with a few good laughs.