Ok I need to rant now (plot related)

[kkslider5552000]

Sera being Akai's sister as a major "surprise" (no amount of quotation marks in the world...) in the story would be just about the most worthless thing that could happen in this series, to the point that I'd likely prefer a Bleach worthy ass-pull twist over it. Even as a fan of wrestling (which ruins almost every exciting storyline ever btw), I've never been so frustrated at even the possibility of a storyline being dissappointing. I don't think I've fully explained why (and if someone else has, it was presumably after her 2nd appearance as I stopped paying attention to manga spoilers completely after that).

Love ya Chek, but I so hope you're completely and utterly wrong with your theory.

Ok, so initially my reasoning for not liking this was pretty simple. Everyone figured it out in record time as it's just more Char references and a gender reverse of the Eisuke arc. Now, while I don't think the Eisuke arc was bad, even at first, I don't think anyone, anywhere, genuinely considers it one of the best or even better parts of the series let's just say. So why try to do that same plot again. Yeah, I know the Scarkai Okiya plot isn't exactly the most creative thing Gosho has done. But if that was unoriginal, this is just flat out ripping yourself off. And at least the consequences of the former seems to be something that can move the plot forward in a number of ways.

But now, I realize that this could likely damage ALL THREE MYSTERY CHARACTERS.

I've stated before that a large part of Akai's appeal as a character is because he is a badass loner. A badass loner with family members around is just bizarre. Now, that's not too bad admittedly. But we don't need more Akai related stuff in this arc. If he wasn't disguised this would be the Akai, fake Akai who hates Akai, Akai's ex-girlfrend and now Akai's sister arc. So Akai has a sister. So...so what? Why do we even care about Akai's family anyway? Does it really matter? Doesn't help that in general I hate the overuse of adding family members as important characters because they are family members to a popular character.

Next is Bourbon. I've hinted before that Bourbon's real face never being shown means there's still a genuine mystery to his identity. Which is why Sera being Bourbon would be a far superior story. Gosho's never had a recurring character be revealed to be evil before (Araide doesn't count as that was a disguise and the real Araide was met before). And with Sera being revealed fairly late in the arc, it seems like a perfect chance to learn about Bourbon before she's officially revealed. I mean, it fits perfectly. I don't think Scar Akai has appeared since the Red Shirt case (I could be wrong, and I hope I'm not) and it seemed like Gin and friends had a plan and know who Scar Akai is now. But if that isn't true I fear Bourbon will be more of a plot device instead of an actual character, which would be a shame.

And Sera. The problem with her being Akai's sister are largely connected to my problems with the other two. Pointless and damaging to other characters. Well, Chek's already pointed this out. She would likely have to be saved by Okiya Akai from Bourbon Akai. *sigh* Look, I get it's a shonen series. And I know looking strong isn't necessarily important for a character in this series. But are we really gonna have a character look like she is equal in intelligence to Conan AND at least as physically strong as Ran only for her to have to be saved by her big brother when it really matters? I mean, really? I don't want to be THAT guy, but I'm still kinda pissed about Ran in the Monkey and Rake case where she decided not to and later to use karate to stop a criminal because a piece of paper said a boy would like it. ...yeah...
Do I even need to mention that Haibara could be in the exact same position and it work much better for like 5 different reasons?

...I don't like even the idea that my favorite series would do this. I really hate it.

[sonoci]

I pretty much feel the same way about Sera=Akai's sister. Like...it makes sense (TOO much sense) so it's not a surprise and right off the bat everybody said "Hey, that person looks like Akai." I personally like Sera, so if that happened I'd be more FFFFFF at Gosho. ...Especially since it'd be reusing the whole Eisuke bit (which, like you said, wasn't downright godawful, but why repeat it?)

This is why

...Which is why Sera being Bourbon would be a far superior story. Gosho's never had a recurring character be revealed to be evil before (Araide doesn't count as that was a disguise and the real Araide was met before). And with Sera being revealed fairly late in the arc, it seems like a perfect chance to learn about Bourbon before she's officially revealed...

I agree with THIS soooo much. If she were Bourbon it'd actually be a surprise D: Also a "OH CRAP" kind of moment

[Jd-]

Annoying as it may end up being, Sera is going to be Akai's sister unless Gosho is playing a dastardly trick on all of us and making it seem obvious just to throw us off the trail.

[mangaluva]

I so hope he is, Jd-. I hope so much.

Though honestly, I'm taking Westley's advice and preparing for a life of disappointment when it comes to this manga. I honestly only still follow it because I utterly love the DCTP community.

[kkslider5552000]

if Gosho does fall into full self-parody mode for this series I'll probably become so cynical that I will end up giving everyone I meet depression.

I don't even think I am even joking. Nothing is fun and everything will suck unless it's cancelled soon enough.

GOD DAMMIT SOMEONE TELL HIM THIS IS STUPID. ANYONE. SEND FAN MAIL, BREAK INTO HIS HOUSE I DON'T CARE. SOMEONE DO SOMETHING.

[Wakarimashita]

Sera being Akai's sister as a major "surprise" (no amount of quotation marks in the world...) in the story would be just about the most worthless thing that could happen in this series, to the point that I'd likely prefer a Bleach worthy ass-pull twist over it.

I'm a nice person so I kept reading after this.

More seriously, you do have some valid points. Thankfully the advantage of a minimalistic plot is that it can be predictable and even lame (which I think it is) without taking out the enjoyment the manga/anime offers.

[Sherry86]

If it's true that this arc is a gender reverse of the Eisuke arc, I will still see Ai play Karuta card with DB when everyone else busy with BO.
Ok I need to rant now.

[kkslider5552000]

If it's true that this arc is a gender reverse of the Eisuke arc, I will still see Ai play Karuta card with DB when everyone else busy with BO.
Ok I need to rant now.

every bit of good storytelling says that her subtle transformation into a somewhat more "normal" child will be "ruined" by knowing of Bourbon's existance, and thus getting her back into the plot for the rest of the series by the end of this arc.

[skyechan]

Personally I think she's Akai's sister AND Bourbon.  It'd be great to have her actually be on the other side.  I'd still like her as a character regardless, but man that would be cool to see.

[GinRei]

It'd be great to have her actually be on the other side.

If so, I want her to turn out to be somewhat maniacal.  We already have sadistic in the BO, but we don't really have maniacal.  In fact, the closest recurring character we have to being maniacal would be Sonoko, and that's saying something.  But that'd be such a drastic shift in her character that I don't really see it happening.

[kkslider5552000]

If so, I want her to turn out to be somewhat maniacal.

I'll be honest, that was a thought I had for Bourbon even before Sera was introduced.

Honestly, I suggested Satsuki Yukino for her voice actress and then minutes later looking at her work immediately realized she voiced Mion/Shion. And I was like "THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN".

[makoto]

well i think she's a rival and won't be saved by akai but fight him liek sister/brother confrontation


seriously i think you have point too and what will be next ???kudo will awake and all that is a dream no bo no akai,fbi or heiji not even AI comon

[Tawi]

i agree slider. i mean, sometimes i ask myself if gosho really made episodes 304 and 345. looking at the obvious plot twist ahead, its hard to imagine gosho would do something, so, so, bad...
seriously, this is common sense, never ever repeat a previous storyline. GOSHO, THINK! THINK! THIIINK!

[Wakarimashita]

It's an obvious argument in favor of Gosho, and in fact it's been mentioned quite a few times, but it's well worth the repeat : 6282 brains (on the internet) work better than one...

[MaitreDétective]

Can't she be both Bourbon and Akai's sister?