About DC's current status quo, Heiji (and Sera), and if they

[Stopwatch]

Hattori and KID usually have appearances a set amount of times per year which is possibly down to editors or whatever, yeah... like how the DB have to appear so often. I guess Hattori and KID target different fans, though it still might be the case they'll both get involved plot-wise. Not sure myself .

Also, I think that Sera may still help drive the suspicion arc along. Conan has been due one for so long now and maybe it's time for it at last?

[Toast]

Sera basically CAME OUT OF BLEEPING NOWHERE and there's no previous alert that she both existed and mattered for the plot. Not to mention that Sera's only purpose as of now seems to be a second Ran. Everything she's done in the series, save for her sleuthing in her introductory case, could have been done by Ran. EVERYTHING. Why do we need ANOTHER CHARACTER to do what she does, if we already have a perfectly good one right there warming the bench?

Ran is basically just there to be a love interest. She's been that way from the very start. She's too busy just sitting around and making dinner all the time, while Sera on the other hand is busy snooping around and kneeing people in the jewels. The only similarity between Ran and Sera is that they're both martial artists. Plus, Sera must have her moment coming up. Gosho can't just leave her unexplained forever.

[El Huesudo II]

Also, I think that Sera may still help drive the suspicion arc along. Conan has been due one for so long now and maybe it's time for it at last?

But Ran was ALSO really good at doing that before Sera came around. It was yet another job that Sera stole from Ran. (And another thing in which Sera is simply a recycled Eisuke.)

Not to mention that Bourbon himself has now jumped into the "suspect the too-smart-to-be-true boy" bandwagon.

Do we really need 3 characters doing the same thing at the same time? Wait, not three, only TWO, because Ran is in the bench because everyone steals her roles.

Ran is basically just there to be a love interest. She's been that way from the very start. She's too busy just sitting around and making dinner all the time, while Sera on the other hand is busy snooping around and kneeing people in the jewels. The only similarity between Ran and Sera is that they're both martial artists. Plus, Sera must have her moment coming up. Gosho can't just leave her unexplained forever.

WHAT?

Just there to be a love interest?!

Did people already forget when Ran kicked ass and took names? Did people already forget how Ran DODGED RIFLE BULLETS (that weren't actually aiming to kill, but who cares about the details) to save Haibara? Did people already forget how Ran spent an entire episode trying to figure out Conan's cellphone password? (4869... Kind of the same thing as I AM S H E R LOCKED, if you ask me) Did people already forget that Ran SOLVED A GODDAMNED CASE ON HER OWN? Did people already forget how Ran kept Akai as a relevant and constantly foreshadowed character before the Clash of Red and Black? Did people already forget how Ran IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUBCONSCIOUSLY CONVINCED CONAN IS SHINICHI?

Ran wasn't just some useless love interest in the beginning. She's merely a character sitting in the bench because the series's focus is somewhere else, and because other characters suddenly started doing the very same thing she did before. Especially a TOTALLY NEW CHARACTER THAT CAME OUT OF BLOODY NOWHERE.

Sera really needs to become her own character instead of being a Ran and Eisuke clone, and Ran requires her creator to remember to be consistent with his characters.

[Kor]

Just a little note - if you're going to talk about a file that hasn't been released yet by DCTP, then the rule of spoiler tags also applies to other threads in the forum.

[El Huesudo II]

Just a little note - if you're going to talk about a file that hasn't been released yet by DCTP, then the rule of spoiler tags also applies to other threads in the forum.

Ouch. Sorry...

Hell, and I even took care in wording everything in a way that there would be no spoilers at all!

[Toast]

I just see Ran being a housewife figure more than I see her being anything else. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree she should have time off the bench, because she can commit some serious bad-a**ery.  But I think there's more to Sera's character than just a Ran/Eisuke rewrite. Her attitude is unlike anyone else's ever to be in DC, and it's really brilliant IMO. Plot-wise, I think she's going to end up making a difference somewhere, only because of who her sibling is. There has to be a reason Gosho throws new supporting characters into the story. Duplicating Ran likely isn't one of those reasons.

[El Huesudo II]

I just see Ran being a housewife figure more than I see her being anything else. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree she should have time off the bench, because she can commit some serious bad-a**ery.  But I think there's more to Sera's character than just a Ran/Eisuke rewrite. Her attitude is unlike anyone else's ever to be in DC, and it's really brilliant IMO. Plot-wise, I think she's going to end up making a difference somewhere, only because of who her sibling is. There has to be a reason Gosho throws new supporting characters into the story. Duplicating Ran likely isn't one of those reasons.

I know Sera has a reason to be, and I know she'll reach her potential sooner or later, but I can't stop feeling she's there to do other people's jobs right now. It'd be nice if she got her own shtick and got further development very soon.

And I wholeheartedly disagree with the housewife Ran idea. She's had so many really badass moments in the show, and her current "useless" streak is painful to watch.

[Toast]

I think most DC characters are due for more development. We can only hope. Hopefully Ran will figure out Amuro isn't as...er....wonderful as everyone proclaims on her own.

[El Huesudo II]

I think most DC characters are due for more development. We can only hope.

Yes. We can only hope. Hell, the characters who need development the most right now are the bloody mains.

Conan, on one hand, is in deep shit even if he doesn't know it - and I do expect him to realize just how deep in trouble he really is in and that it affects him. It already showed a little bit on the Tennis Meetup case, he knows Bourbon is bad news, he knows he's there to stay, and once he realizes he's familiarized with the whole Sleeping Kogoro routine, I do expect him to show concern. Not to mention Sera threatening to break Akai's cover, which he's taking a huge part in keeping. That's a lot of stress for a teenager; I wonder if it'll show? Conan is pretty hotblooded and hard-boiled, sure; but with danger right under his nose, will he keep his cool? Or finally break down?

And then there's Ran. IMO it's high time for her to realize something's not right about Conan and Shinichi. She has more than enough clues about it, and Sera pretty much gave her a quick Sleuthing 101 - I expect her to put that knowledge to good use. Hell, anything to get Ran active again.

Hopefully Ran will figure out Amuro isn't as...er....wonderful as everyone proclaims on her own.

Right now she has no reason to suspect, neither she has any clues of him being anything other that some dude who wants to become a pro sleuth. But yes, it'd be awesome if she gets suspicious of Amuro - because then she'd be getting back at least a little bit of her former main heroine status back.

Why is it that she had an important role in the Vermouth arc, but not in this one? Come on, Gosho, give her something to dooooooooooooooo

(Though I won't complain if Kogoro's the one who gets the active role in this arc from now on. I'd love it if both got a bigger part of the arc, but if it's only one I'll be more than happy. But please. Come on.)

[Toast]

And then there's Ran. IMO it's high time for her to realize something's not right about Conan and Shinichi. She has more than enough clues about it, and Sera pretty much gave her a quick Sleuthing 101 - I expect her to put that knowledge to good use. Hell, anything to get Ran active again.

Come to think of it...she hasn't really had a suspicion arc on Conan for quite some time now. Like it's been a really long time. Has it been over a year?

[El Huesudo II]

And then there's Ran. IMO it's high time for her to realize something's not right about Conan and Shinichi. She has more than enough clues about it, and Sera pretty much gave her a quick Sleuthing 101 - I expect her to put that knowledge to good use. Hell, anything to get Ran active again.

Come to think of it...she hasn't really had a suspicion arc on Conan for quite some time now. Like it's been a really long time. Has it been over a year?

I think so, yeah.

It's been hinted that things are going that way, or at least I see it as such. Though, after a series of times when Conan established that Shinichi "isn't him", I guess any suspicion arc we get must have a trigger. Maybe Ran will get a glimpse of the voice changer in use? Maybe Conan will say something too brilliant for television?

Or maybe Amuro will start asking Ran questions about Conan and Sleeping Kogoro...? OH SHIT!

[Toast]

And then there's Ran. IMO it's high time for her to realize something's not right about Conan and Shinichi. She has more than enough clues about it, and Sera pretty much gave her a quick Sleuthing 101 - I expect her to put that knowledge to good use. Hell, anything to get Ran active again.

Come to think of it...she hasn't really had a suspicion arc on Conan for quite some time now. Like it's been a really long time. Has it been over a year?

I think so, yeah.

It's been hinted that things are going that way, or at least I see it as such. Though, after a series of times when Conan established that Shinichi "isn't him", I guess any suspicion arc we get must have a trigger. Maybe Ran will get a glimpse of the voice changer in use? Maybe Conan will say something too brilliant for television?

Or maybe Amuro will start asking Ran questions about Conan and Sleeping Kogoro...? OH SHIT!

Spoiler:

Wait, didn't Ran catch a glimpse of his watch in 830? Also, he used his bloody voice changer RIGHT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. I just don't see how nobody saw it. D:

[Misztina]

Ran's character is basicly stopped and that's what you get, if somone(aka Gosho) already knows how the end will turn out and wants to drag out the series more.

I'm still hoping for that Ran actually knows that Conan is Shinichi and she is just keeping quiet, because "reality"/Conan disproved her theory about 3 or 4 times now. We have some faint hints too, "You are Conan-kun, aren't you?" and the "DNA can prove who you are despite looking veeery different" comments made by Ran are not there to have no purpose. On the contrary, it is a sort of preparation of something bigger. Gosho tries to delay it as far as he can, maybe because if Ran comes out saying/or doing something obvious which would give away that she knows that Conan is Shinichi then the series would be basically over.

Sera is a filler character, delaying this, but surprisingly after she appeared, the plot is developing like crazy. Considering the fact that for almost two year before that was quite quiet, I find it puzzling that the series speed up. Not that I'm complaining. It's almost as if we were back in those times when Jodie, Akai and Vermouth arrived, and I'm very thrilled and pleased by this.

I'd too see more activity from Ran, but I'd be satisfied with more small hints about that she might know Cnan's true identity.That would make her character a bit deeper, like after Volume 14's suspicion case and before volume 26.

I don't think that Sera is stealing Ran's role at all. I don't mind that Ran became more calm and doesn't kick down every wall like she used to early in the series.She is portayed as Conan views her, a housewifey-sometimes kicking girl, but if the time comes, I know I can be proud of her, when she shows the deepness of her character again.
So Sera is just the tomboy little sister, we didn't had such character, and it is good to see one, After that horrifying Eisuke experience, she is really something interesing and great.

I'd love to see a Ran-Amuro confrontation or Ran suspecting Amuro. Ah, that sounds sooo sweet!

[Toast]

^ Yeah, I agree with everything above.

By the way, didn't Gosho say Ran's birthday was going to be important? In an interview IIRC.

[Stopwatch]

^ Yeah, I agree with everything above.

By the way, didn't Gosho say Ran's birthday was going to be important? In an interview IIRC.

Something like that, or at least hinting she was still sixteen *for a reason*.

For Ran, I've expected a suspicion arc for a while too. I think the current build-up is going to include Kazuha's omamori(sp?) and fingerprint evidence. The 'DNA evi' quote that was mentioned above, plus the fact it was brought up by Ran about how Shinichi's fingerprints were on the chain in the omamori despite only Conan touching it hint pretty heavily towards it.
The thing is, I'm not sure why exactly Aoyama's still delaying it. As far as I can see all the elements are ready, but I guess either they're not or there's something else to come. Maybe Amuro looking into Conan is what'll set it off, though Ran's moment where she asks "Conan-kun, right?" makes me even more certain she's suspected for a while and probably knows subconsciously. There's more stuff to back that up around the manga too.
Well, considering how long the build-up for the next suspicion arc has been and plot developments recently (including Sera and Okiya finding out), when it does come there's a very real possibility he won't be able to trick Ran or maybe just try the phone trick again somehow?
Yeah... guess that's my prediction...