#executioner pupil

Some commissions from the same client, they got a type

Hoodlum had stuck to Brawler from the moment he started talking to him on the bus in episode 2. Sure, Hoodlum is a cowardly snake who is only using Brawler for his own good so he won’t die as easily since he has this big stupid meat shield protecting him as long as he keeps feeding him little lies, right? WRONG!

Sure, Hoodlum might feel like such a character (and he probably was such a character) in the early episodes; but I think how he thought about Brawler changed somewhere around episode 4, where he saw even Brawler getting severely beat up by the executioner.  Cause despite saying he might change his allegiance to Cutthroat after seeing Brawler get beat up, he never did and he stuck to Brawler. He even, despite hiding away in the shelves as much as possibly before to stay out of the eye of the executioners, hit the executioner in the head with a chair just so he couldn’t make his finishing move on Brawler that time in episode 4. He could’ve easily stayed hidden away and done nothing but watch how Brawler got finished back then, but despite his cowardice he still moved and hit that executioner so Brawler wouldn’t die. 

Now the latest episode... oh boi what a ride it was for Brawler and Hoodlum fans (and just akudama drive fans in general I’m sure). 

After the executioner starts attacking and doctor gets cut in half, you can see Hoodlum hiding behind some rocks, definitely shaking in fear when it zooms in on him a split second after

But the next time we see him, after the executioner left to hunt the others, he is immediately running off to where Brawler got thrown to, looking around frantically and freaking out when he sees Brawler buried beneath some rocks. 

His coward mentality rises up as he tells Brawler to run off with him to recover because Brawler is pretty badly wounded and coughing up blood; but of course Brawler doesn’t want to and wants to fight.  Now I’m not saying you have to believe Hoodlum likes Brawler, but looking at the face he makes when he hears Brawler enthusiastically talking about how he wants to fight and laugh after really makes it hard to believe the ‘They’re such good friends’ dialogue... (look at his little adorable blush, Hoodlum you gay bastard!)

Later in the episode, there is a second moment where Hoodlum could’ve chosen to go to the other Akudama where it was safe, But instead he actively chose to go to where Brawler was fighting, knowing fully well that it was also where the executioner was

Now this is a whole evolution from his character if I may say so. Hoodlum went from only talking to Brawler and keeping up with him so he wouldn’t die immediately after accidentally getting involved in the plan of the cat, but now he’s going towards the danger just to support Brawler and you can see that he never wanted Brawler to die, not for the reason that he wouldn’t have someone to protect him anymore, but because that meant he would lose his Bro

The emotions these stills emit from the moment Hoodlum found Brawler laying on that bridge in a puddle of his own blood is so strong and I can feel so much of what Hoodlum must’ve been feeling at that moment through the distress that is quietly seen on his face

And after finding Brawler like that and seeing the pupil sitting next to the body of her mentor, he does something I would’ve never expected from Hoodlum as he was at the start of the show. Instead of running away or hiding from the executioners like he had always done before, he picks up the weapon laying on the ground near Brawler and actually attacks the pupil.

His character had evolved so much and it’s always because of Brawler that he has the courage to do stuff like this and actually face the danger instead of running away and hiding from it.  With Brawler (most likely) gone now, I’m curious to see how his character will further evolve because judging from the glimpses of him we saw in the preview, he is still feeling very upset about what happened (which is totally understandable I mean his love interest bro just died) and looks like he’s about to fuck shit up. 

Heyo!! <3 Here’s Pt. 2. I can’t believe this has two parts OMG. Remember that these are just my opinions so feel free to disagree with me! This was just a ramble I did for fun. I know it’s different from what I normally post, but hey! I wanted to try something new. :D 

Please enjoy and message me with anything. And definitely check out Pt. 1 if you haven’t done so already!

Cutthroat: I think I have a special place in my heart for white haired, crazy psychopaths, oop. (Juuzou Suzuya and Rui*) I adored Cutthroat from the very first moment I saw him. [Side note: I’m kind of disappointed that the show went with the pronoun “He” (I was super excited to have a nonbinary character, but alas.] Those little moments in the beginning with Swindler and Cutthroat were weird, but surprisingly wholesome at times and I really loved when he ate the tin of marshmallows, dropped the knife (you know when xD), and pressed all the buttons on board the airbus. I equally loved the serious side of him that showed that he was much more intelligent than he let on (that scene where he throws his knives to reach the button; Episode 3). I just thought that those two different personalities mixed in with the childlike-psychoticness was super refreshing (even if we’ve seen characters like him before). But as much as I love Cutthroat, I have mixed feelings about his death in episode 9. I know some people are angry at Swindler for killing him, but honestly I think it kind of had to be done what with the way that he was acting towards her (love vs. bloodlust. IT'S nOT lOvE). So while I’m definitely sad boi over him dying, I do admit that he was genuinely terrifying during his last moments. (Haha I prefer the Cutthroat that spends his day eating marshmallows, thank you!!)

Brother: Toilet Bound Hanako-Kun anyone? Lmaoo. I liked him a lot. I thought he was a cutie and I really admired the strength/resilience he showed in trying to protect his Sister (something that I’m sure was endearing to a lot of us). I was definitely aware that the two of them were Sus from the beginning when we saw them on board the Shinkansen, but I never could’ve imagined the ending! I originally predicted them being the bad guys of the story and that the Akudama would have to ally with the Executioners. But all in all I’m SO RELIEVED the two of them were able to escape to somewhere better. I loved the role that Swindler played within their lives (even for a short time) and how she helped Brother and Sister show more outward emotions to one another. Also that scene where he was surprised at all the swear words Sister learned was so funny. xD 

Sister: I was suspicious of both Brother and Sister from the very beginning and really didn’t have strong feelings for either of them. Sort of like. “Yay kids…?.” But I’m so glad that Sister really found herself with Swindler and was able to become more expressive and more child-like. It hurts to know that these two children can and never will have normal lives/childhoods, so in a really sad way Swindler was able to give Sister a glimpse into a normal life during her last few days. ;-; I really can’t say much more about Sister, besides the fact that I’m genuinely very happy that the two of them were able to continue living on hopefully in a better place. Her moments with Swindler and Courier were so cute!! And the way that she repeated everything they said was adorable. Also. HER OUTFIT slayed. I was so touched by the sisterly relationship that Sister and Swindler had. <3 

Executioner (Master): DayUM SiR save some of that badasseryness for the rest of us. He was super cool and I think his entire arc around his death was super well done!! A truly Breathtaking end to his life. While watching the show I definitely acknowledged how strong he was, but overall apart from that I can’t say I really had any particular feelings towards him. I have a confession: I didn’t really react too much to his death (I’m sorryyy I’m a terrible person). I appreciated more so about what he allowed for story-wise, I think he was a great example for the moral ambiguities between Akudama and Executioner/the moments between him and his pupil were great, but that’s about it. I think his final moments were very powerful and I could tell that he cared about his pupil a lot so that’s nice, especially in the context of her character growth later on in the show...which is amazing!! 

Executioner (Pupil): I really wished she would have joined the Akudama side. I obviously know that that would never happen, but it would’ve been amazing for her to question the actions of the executioners and change sides. We see that she isn’t driven in the same way that her boss or her teacher were and seemed genuinely affected when the little girl told her that her parents were killed in the riots. It would’ve been so cool to see her fight against Doctor alongside Hoodlum, Courier, Swindler in the train station (Side note: If the circumstances had been different, I don’t think she would’ve allowed Doctor to get her way like that, but who knows?). Another thing I loved was seeing the time lapse between her being a dedicated student to becoming almost a replica of her teacher (scar of some sort with a fierce determination to fight alone), but unlike her teacher, I felt more inclined to like her for whatever reason. I just felt that it would’ve been great to see her rise up against the Executioners and question her own morals further (even if that might have included sparing some Akudama’s lives). But overall, I liked her more as the season progressed. Go Girl! 

Executioner (Junior): This POOR boy had it rough. I mean signing on to be the junior apprentice of an Executioner during all of this?! And also the fact that Doctor literally pierced his heart with a needle AND he later got shot (possibly killed?) Like leave him alone! :00 Haha, but seriously, he seemed super nice and almost seemed like the Executioner equivalent to Swindler (not entirely sure what they’re doing/gets pulled into the mess of the Akudama, etc.). I thought he was super cute. :3

Boss: She was lowkey a bad bitch tho not gonna lie. I found her super cool with a great sense of authority...that is until she ordered all of the citizens to literally be slaughtered. I can understand why she issued the first order of having all the citizens be turned into Akudama, but then like just killing all of them that were rioting?? NOOO. I’m not quite too sure what else I should say about her? I thought she was interesting and would’ve liked to see her fight, or her own past (she seems older so backstory of the Executioners would’ve been fun!) 

Black Cat (A.I) : While parts of Brother and Sister’s backstories were a little lost on me, I liked the addition of Black Cat as sort of a mini-catalyst to the entire hijacking mission in the beginning. I think the cat had a great presence in the first episode (almost a symbol of bad luck from the moment Swindler finds them...OoooOO). Not much to say apart from the fact that like. Yup. That's a robot cat. [Side note: Sort of reminds me of Monokuma xD) 

Someone pointed it out and I relistened to it a few times but the ‘I wanted to kill you’ at the end of the preview for episode 9 is most likely Hoodlum (I recognise that Kimusuba voice everywhere believe me) so now I’m really curious to who it’s directed at:

- is it directed at the executioner pupil because he still regrets what happened that day with Brawler? For all we know Hoodlum might think she helped the master in killing Brawler since he didn’t get a close look at the fight between them.

- or is it directed at Doctor because she took advantage at him and possibly forced herself onto him while he was feeling bad? We don’t know what their relationship is or if Hoodlum even fully consented to everything. He didn’t look too enthusiastic about being made into a ‘real man’ back when she was crushing his balls to get him to come along with her. He might hate her for doing all that shit to him (I don’t blame him).