#plot analysis

“What’s in it for me? I don’t work for free. You want help? Well, you know the fee!”

“I will not reward a snake like you!”

“You’ll watch them die unless you do!”

“Liar! You wouldn’t dare!”

“Quid Pro Quo, it’s only fair.”

“You really are a demon, pet.”

The whole scene, she was incredibly reluctant to give Alastor what he wanted in return for his assistance. Which is why I think she was acting on the assumption he was using HER idea of a fee.

He needed her help to raise the ranks of Hell, and he paid the highest price possible for it. And now she needs his help for whatever secret reason that may be. So it stands to reason the same would be required of her now the agreement was flipped on its head.

But then—

“You knew my game the day we met.”

JUST LIKE THAT, with a show of his broken cane and a reference to their old song, Rosie’s smiling. And not even reluctantly. She’s hook, line, and sinker.

He isn’t asking for her soul, he just wants his powers without the added strings of indentured servitude. In fact, he’s implicitly offering to keep doing the exact same thing as before, albeit with less leverage on her side.

Whatever her master plan is, he’s all in. The cards may be out her hands, but he doesn’t mind letter her peak at his.

And blaming the rest of the team for never asking how Hen was feeling after losing Bobby? She hid her symptoms. Did she expect the team to just randomly walk up to her and ask her if she is experiencing mysterious tremors, rashes and vertigo? She’d have shut them down so fast. And asking about how she is faring with losing Bobby? Pretty sure Hen made fun of Buck doing grief assessments of them all at the end of last season. He checked in and was ridiculed for it. Why would he continue to do so if they so clearly dismissed his efforts to keep the group close through those traumatic times?

And I don’t see Hen checking in with anyone other than Athena and maybe Chim, either. She’s not the only one who lost a friend. They all did. And her making out that Bobby’s death hit her worse than anyone else just undermines the grief of everyone else in this supposed family. She has it rough? What about Buck, who has a history of abandonment issues, who’s lost his father figure and is trying so hard to keep Bobby in his life that he’s grasping at straws, ranging from church to the supernatural. He was convinced Bobby haunted his house just so he could feel close to him, like he hadn’t been abandoned by yet someone else in his life. Cause you know, if he’s haunting his house, then he’s not really gone, right? Or Chim, who shows extreme survivor’s guilt, blaming himself for Bobby’s death, even though there was literally nothing he could’ve done to change the outcome of the lab explosion. Who doesn’t believe he deserves to be Captain, because he will never measure up to Bobby. Who now doesn’t only have to worry about his own wellbeing and his family, but also taking care to bring home all of his team at the end of each shift. So they can go back to their families. Which Bobby never did because of (in his head) him.

This is such a small scene, but I remember thinking about it ever since I first saw the episode.

S2E6, Wilhelm's parents arrive at Hillerska for the 120th anniversary jubilee. Jan-Olof, the Royal Court top advisor (I'm assuming) helps Kristina down and guides her to the school. They both leave Ludvig to follow them. Okay.

I’m sure fans picked up on the fact that Rumi always covered her arms/neck. Even Mira teased her for being “so modest.” I assume she never really had an excuse for covering up beyond modesty, but maybe some fans would believe it was a religious or personal conviction.

So, from the fans POV, Mira and Zoey were publicly exposing Rumi.

In the movie, Rumi is grabbing at her jacket as they start taking it off of her and trying to cover up her arms as best she can with nothing once the jacket is ripped in half (btw did we all notice they RIPPED IT IN HALF??).

As a fan, that had to have been distressing to see beyond a favorite group breaking up in front of you.

I thought of it almost as though you were watching someone’s hijab be ripped off by their closest friends… on a massive stage… with tons of cameras broadcasting the event…

Go to the bottom for the disclaimer! I hope you enjoy? If someone actually reads this? This turned out REALLY academic and REALLY long and is probably boring. I did not mean for it to get this academic, however i am but a teenager taking a global politics class in school, and i couldn't will myself to write it any other way, i am so sorry 😭 im considering making this a video essay and starting a channel on KHR Plot/Character Analysis..gotta think on it but that would be so cool. Added headings to make it more pleasing on the eyes!!!

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Tsuna-duction

As all Katekyo Hitman Reborn fans know, Tsuna's growth from a jittery, unwilling, and lonely mess into the unwavering boy who meets conflict strategically is most clearly marked in the story through his ability to enter Hyper Dying Will Mode. This form, without further understanding, is usually interpreted by the audience/readers as Tsuna at his MOST powerful: where he is calm, unwavering, and almost unstoppable whenever in battle (read: him outmaneuvering and beating ass).

In Global Politics, however, power is not limited to only force or coercion, and Joseph Nye's distinction between hard power and soft power comes in handy as a framework to apply ideas from Global Politics to understand Tsuna's leadership at its core. With these ideas applied, Tsuna's greatest power is not found in HDWM, but rather in his use of soft power: his ability to lead through trust and earned loyalty rather than enforcing it on others.

Hard Power 101

Hyper Dying Will Mode sneakily teaches KHR fans about the logic of hard power. In this state, Tsuna achieves absolute efficiency in logic and movement in combat, backed by his emotions being suppressed due to the state of tranquility that is enforced when in HDWM to successfully reach his objective. When this state of efficiency is utilized by its users in moments of crisis to compel outcomes, it rings similar to military force in international relations. An example of this is the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine, as a use of hard power through military invasion to achieve an objective. HDWM is effective in moments of crisis, yes, but limited in its scope to inspire and influence others on a long-term basis, which aligns with Constructivist Theory, where true legitimacy is gained through voluntary support, trust, and shared values rather than force and coercion.

Is HDWM Meant to Inspire?

One could argue that Hyper Dying Will Mode DOES actually inspire others, as Tsuna's calm resolve and willingness to place himself in danger often motivate his allies and earn him his legitimacy. However, what Hyper Dying Will Mode cannot do is create true consent, and it brings up the key point to examine in an analysis of Tsuna's influence in and out of HDWM. When analyzing Hyper Dying Will Mode as its own entity, a user's intent (despite any byproducts due to the perception of the user in HDWM by others) in that state is NOT to inspire others, but to overwhelm opposition because it is what is needed to combat opposing instances of hard power right in the moment, for example, when Tsuna using HDWM in the final fight against Byakuran in the Future Arc. This is a direct parallel to how states use coercive and forceful power during emergencies. Military force can work to address urgent threats, but it does not create consent or long-term legitimacy (read: support) for the state as a political actor. As a result, HDWM should be understood as a tool rather than a source of Tsuna's lasting influence. While HDWM may win him battles, it is not an explanation as to WHY others, in their hearts, choose to follow and devote their lives to Tsuna and his goals.

Soft Power 4 The Win

So, wait... if Hyper Dying Will Mode is not the source of Tsuna's lasting influence, where does his real power come from? The answer becomes clearer when you take a step back and look at Tsuna outside of HDWM. When he is not relying on HDWM, Tsuna leads through relationships, rather than force, reflecting what Joseph Nye describes as soft power: the ability to influence others through trust and shared values. Tsuna's guardians, his FRIENDS, do not follow him because they are intimidated by him or feel weak compared to him, but because they CHOOSE to support him.

Tsuna's leadership is built upon consistently being present, vulnerability, and care. He listens to others, sees past all the hate and venom they spew, and truly sees them for their hurt, understanding that they are human and deserve another chance. To the people who follow his word and look up to him, he doesn't see them as guardians or subordinates who must be obedient to his every command - he sees and treats them all as EQUALS. This approach of soft power earns him loyalty that lasts far beyond the battlefield; it earns him loyalty that lasts not just decades, but the span of the multiverse. In Global Politics, this is the kind of influence that creates legitimacy because authority in this context is accepted, rather than imposed. Unlike hard power, which fades and proves to be unstable once a crisis ends, Tsuna's influence remains stable over time because it is a true measurement of his core values.

"Then...I WILL WIPE OUT THE VONGOLA"

This form of leadership also allows Tsuna to challenge existing norms within the mafia world. Instead of relying on fear or violence or coercion to maintain control over the course of the several arcs, he shows that leadership can be based on cooperation and responsibility. He shows that it is SERVANT LEADERSHIP, where the leader will always and forever put the team as their priority, which leads to the strongest power of them all. His actions change how those around him understand power and authority, much like how political actors can shape norms within the international system.

Tsuna's Most Powerful State is When He Loves

So, despite all the ass that he kicks and just how COOL he is in Hyper Dying Will Mode (😻), Tsuna's "Most Powerful" State isn't HDWM mode, because that doesn't earn him lasting trust, support, and consent once the conflict at hand is over. Rather, his most powerful state is simply when he is himself. Tsuna's resolve to lead with kindness and empathy--even for those who hurt him--shows not his support for a certain organization (like The Vongola), but his everlasting love for humanity.

Tsuna is the most powerful when he loves. And with the love he showers upon all those around him, and with the harmony that he brings to the world, who wouldn't willingly choose to stand with him? ------------

Right! Ok ssooo uhhhhhh... I really need to talk about this properly cuz I keep seeing people reduce Alastor’s deal with Rosie to the absolute simplest version possible, and I do not think that reading does the scene any favours at all.

Because to me, it's not “Alastor cheated” or wtv and that Rosie SIMPLY owns his soul forever or wtv, in some neat, tidy, cardboard-cut-out way... That is far too blunt for i that is clearly meant to feel tangled, uneasy, and full of strings attached. What makes it compelling is that it reads less like a classic soul sale and more like a contract built on leverage, obligation, and very deliberate wording. And in a story like this, wording is never just wording... It is the whole point.

A standard soul deal in this sort of setting usually feels brutally straightforward. You give up ownership from ur soul, you get power(?) or protection or status or rlly whatever in return, and then that is that. You are no longer fully yourself in the legal or spiritual sense. The arrangement is meant to feel final, because the horror of it comes from how complete the surrender is. It is not just a trade. It is a transfer. That is what makes these deals so ugly in the first place.

But the thing about Alastor’s deal is that it does not seem to sit comfortably in that box..

It does not read to me like “Rosie takes his soul, hands him power, and now he is permanently hers.” It reads more like a debt arrangement. Rosie gives something valuable, and Alastor owes something in return under conditions that are clearly important, but not fully explained to us. That distinction matters enormously, because debt and ownership are not the same beast at all. Ownership is absolute. Debt is conditional. Ownership says, “you are mine.” Debt says, “you have not settled your account yet.”

And honestly, that changes the entire emotional texture of the thing.

Because once you frame it as debt instead of total ownership, It is no longer about Alastor being passively controlled like some unfortunate prisoner in a cage with a label on it. It becomes about leverage, timing, pressure, and who actually understands the rules better. It becomes about a man who knows EXACTLY how to move inside a system without appearing to break it. That is much more Alastor, in my opinion. He never gives the impression of someone who would sign away his entire existence in a fit of panic for power and then just sit there waiting to be used. He is too careful for that. Too deliberate. Too irritatingly composed for someone who is supposed to be simple.

That is why I do not buy the “he cheated” interpretation. Cheating implies that he escaped the consequences entirely, that he found some magical loophole and walked off laughing with no price to pay. But that is not what this feels like. What it feels like is someone who understood from the beginning that the price would exist, and who tried to shape the price into something he could live with. That is not the same thing as escaping consequence. It is negotiating consequence. It is saying, “I will pay, but not in the way you first expect.”

And that is such a different kind of power.

Because really, what does this say about Alastor? It says he is not just strong in the brute-force sense. Everybody already knows he is dangerous. Everybody already knows he can be charming in the most unsettling way, and cruel in a way that never seems accidental. That part is obviously obvious. But what is more interesting is that he seems like someone who understands systems as systems. He knows contracts are not just promises. They are structures. They have wording, conditions, timing, assumptions, and hidden weak points. If he has made a deal like this, then it feels entirely believable that he would make it in such a way that it does not erase him completely. Not because he is free, but because he is unwilling to disappear inside the bargain.

And that is what people miss when they turn the whole thing into “fraud” discourse. Fraud suggests incompetence disguised as cleverness. This does not feel incompetent to me at all. It feels calculated. It feels like a man who knows EXACTLY what kind of game he is litteraly playing and chooses to play it with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. Like, this is Alastor come onnn.....

There is also something especially delicious about the idea that both sides think they are winning in some way. That is where the real tension lives. Because if one person simply dominated and the other simply lost, the deal would be bleak but straightforward. Instead, it feels like a carefully balanced imbalance, where power is being exchanged but never cleanly. Rosie gives something, Alastor gives something, and both sides appear to believe the arrangement serves them. That is infinitely more unsettling than a simple master-and-servant setup, because it means the deal is alive. It is active. It has moving parts. It can be interpreted, challenged, and maybe even broken or redirected later.

That uncertainty is what makes it worth thinking about 2 me.

If this were just ownership, the conversation would end there. But because it feels like debt, the whole thing opens up into questions. What counts as repayment? Who decides when it has been repaid? What if the wording matters more than the intention? What if one side is relying on a clause the other side thinks they understand, but do not? That is the sort of thing that makes a contract in this kind of story feel actually fucking dangerous, not just dramatic. It means the threat is not only the deal itself, but the interpretation of the deal.

And that is why I think the “he cheated” reading is so shallow. It turns something nuanced into a joke about loopholes, when the actual tension comes from the opposite. It is not about getting out of the rules. It is about knowing the rules so well that you can move through them without being fully trapped by them. That is much more unsettling, and much more interesting, because it leaves room for consequences later. It leaves room for hidden clauses, unfinished business, and debts that have not yet come due.

To me, that is exactly what makes the dynamic work. It does not feel like a clean PURE victory. It feels like... a temporary balance, held together by cleverness, mutual interest, and the sort of fine print that only becomes terrifying once you actually stare at it long enough. Alastor did not “beat” the deal. He entered into something structured, dangerous, and probably very carefully arranged, and the real horror is that he likely knew what he was doing all along.

That is the bit people should be talking about.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is an apocalyptic allegory for The Odyssey

This is page 262 of HoH from XLVIII Percy's pov,basically a few seconds before Percy start to choke Akhlys to death because he couldn't take it anymore (we love him for that).

I'm not going to focus on the whole scene,because I already talked about that,but on a specific line:

He concentrated so hard that something inside of him cracked–as if a crystal ball had shattered in his stomach.

Now,on the surface it's just a phrase that make you understand how Percy is going against his limits to accomplish what he did next,straining himself in the maintime. And that's normal,after all he is going against a primordial,you can't win against someone older than the Earth itself if you don't put a great amount of efforts (even if realistically Akhlys would have their heads in not even a second).

But I think there is something more to it, especially in the "as if a crystal ball had shattered in his stomach" part. I think it's a symbolic way to make the readers understand that Percy is loosing it. The "crystal ball" in question is his moral code that got totally destroyed once they feel into Tartarus. So it rappresent,in a way,his sanity,and how he decided to ignore the logical part of himself and to go against those same morals he has,because he had enough. He was slowly going insane in this scene,and now that it got shattered? He is never going to recover from it,ever. Because Tartarus was too deep and left too much pain,he can't recover from it entirely but he has to learn to live and cope with it.

Another interpretation I also had about this,is the fact that the crystal ball could also rappresent his humanity. I already said that Percy is able to manipulate poison because there is still a bit of water in it,right? That's fine. But the Underworld's rivers? The jump he did from Nyx's maison that was too long to do even for a demigod? I think that is also a way to symbolize how Percy is slowly loosing the mortal part of himself,and is embracing more the godly side. And the boost of powers he has can be totally explained in this way in the narrative since he is slowly becoming more godly (we all know that Riordan favor him and make him do insane things but that's from a writing prospective,not from the plot).

Am I suggesting that with this he could probably ascend to godhood? Probably,but Percy refused that already. It's more of the fact that he is starting to disconnect more from the mortal world than before. Ever since HoO started he got totally cut off from his life,at least in PJO he had moments where he still went to school,stayed with his mom and Paul and actually lived his life like a normal teenager. In HoO we don't have those moments because they are fully immersed in the mythological part of their nature.

And only Percy had this type of reaction in Tartarus. Annabeth didn't felt something inside of her shattering,and I don't know for Nico (hopefully it happened to him too-) or even Will. It's only Percy that had this,and the chapter later we see him using his abilities (especially when they were going away from Nyx's territory) with a boost that wasn't never there before,since he was struggling at the start of HoH when they feel into the first river. I think it's connected to that. (Also,Nico had a boost of powers too,so,he probably had the same happening to him-).