Iām not alone ;~; I have mixed feelings on Lysanderās arc itself as the conflict was poorly done and more on Rosa and Nina if anything, but I think the resolution was done well (Unfortunately for Armin and Kentin, we never really got one for either of them, but at least we got to see Kentin and Candy make up, canāt say the same for Armin).
I really should say donāt get me started on Arminās arc, but considering the amount of posts I already have about it and the fact that I still have something to say on it, I have already started.Ā
But Arminās arc was not only so much having nothing to do with him, was kicked off by finishing up a completely different arc (Irisā), and then jumpstarted yet ANOTHER arc, the entire thing was overshadowed by Alexy.Ā
Armin gives us the silent treatment for not choosing him over Alexy and while I do not think how he spoke to Candy is okay, nor was expecting her to even fully understand what was happening (especially when Armin told her to check in with Alexy), I do think it said a lot on where his arc could have and should have went.
Alexy flat out says he wants to call, but Armin does not, and at no point does Candy try to get more information⦠She just goes with Alexy to figure out his journey.Ā
And Iām sure that hurt for Armin. We get various more tidbits of how he likely felt in a couple of episodes that follow like how he was anxious as a kid and how he feels if Candy decides to lie to him/doesnāt trust him.Ā
Sure, Armin keeps pushing her back and she doesnāt get a chance to know. Part of her probably thought helping Alexy was still doing what Armin wanted. But thatās⦠clearly not the case. Especially when we see how it ends.Ā
Going to Arminās PoVā he loves technology, heās been working on his skills, he found something that both can test his skill level and likely not cause issues as itās their information anyway. Expects it to be empty because they were adopted as a baby. Parents are out of the picture, heās moved past it. And then he finds a number.Ā
All those anxieties come back no matter how much he buries them. Alexy is pissed because he feels like Armin looked into this without him (when honestly, it likely wasnāt the case and ESPECIALLY when on Arminās route, it makes even more sense for Armin to be getting a bit tired of constantly dealing with Alexy. Around Episode 32, if on Lysanderās route, you get even more on how Alexy and Armin are starting to pull apart. Weāre never given the details of why, but I think the spin-off and 36/37 still gives us hints to it all) and of course leaps at finding out.Ā
And then we get to the start of the next episode and not only do we have Armin feeling completely uncomfortable and out of place (because he never wanted to be in this situation in the first place and finds more unsettling questions than comfort), Candy leaves due to her conversation with Laeti who she couldāve just told to come later and if that wasnāt bad enough, we get a 3 week time-skip that just tells us everything got better.
Arminās feelings are never put into the limelight at ANY point. Itās all framed on what Alexy wants to do and how Alexy feels and no wonder Armin left when he pretty much was played second fiddle to his twin even in his own creation.Ā
And even the spin-off focuses on Armin and Alexy reconciling, but skips over Candyās own making up with Armin (and furthermore, still agreeing with Alexy when she has all means to be more understandableā¦).Ā
There was tons of opportunity to bring up Arminās insecurities with thatā feeling like the second choice exploring more what can come up with one of the negative answers in Episode 32, feeling replaced as a brother with Evan to an extent, the fact that he did feel like Candy chose Alexy over Armin even if she thought she was just doing what Armin wanted, the idea of if people want to hang out with him or just want to hang out with him because they want to hang out with Alexy (or wanted more with Alexy and heās gay, so hey look, hereās the twin that isnāt). The fact that Armin even says how their parents give in more to Alexy than him as Alexy is better at winning them over.Ā
There is SO MUCH we couldāve gotten there. So much that couldāve tied into those anxieties and exploded and had him both actually stop pushing things off as Mr. Laid Back.
And there were other things too! Like Armin saying how everyone finds him stupid and nobody really expects anything from him. And itās notĀ āOh, Arminās a really good hackerā, itāsĀ āArmin is an idiot who got arrestedā and stuff like this is pretty much the sole reason I can imagine him getting back into hacking because repeatedly weāre showed how nobody believes Armin can do his dream besides Candy and then that one support is gone.Ā
But no, we just got a one sentence of how everything is better now and moved on to the next thing. -_-Ā
Itās a scene we desperately needed for so many reasons and Iām still angry we never got it.Ā