Unosuke, Inspector Zenigata, Luke Skywalker
favorite thing about them:Ā I genuinely love how he looks--his aesthetic. If he were an anime character heād have arguably my favorite character design. It all works together so well--the scarf, the pistol, and even the way he presents himself in his kimono. I love how heās equal parts foppish and intelligent. Heās the youngest brother, heās the smartest brother, and heās going to make sure heās one good looking gangster damn it. I also love the brief comedic touches Nakadai adds to the character that really screamĀ āyeah this is the youngest sibling alrightā.Ā
least favorite thing about them:Ā Well...he is a gangster, and a bastard at that. A lovable bastard, but a bastard nevertheless. (Alternatively: Heās a character that deserved more focus. I feel like he has potential to be fleshed out more, but I know Kurosawaās whole point was not making a sympathetic gangster ala Matsunaga from Drunken Angel. Not saying Unosuke should be sympatheticābut rather explored more from a character front.)Ā
favorite line:Ā "Whoās banging that prayer drum? I donāt need any prayersā¦ā (Here I think the audience gets that Unosuke is self aware and knows that heās getting what he deserves. Itās bits like this in the movie coupled with Nakadaiās acting that I think flesh out the character a bit for me.)
brOTP:Ā Sanjuro and Unosuke, because Kurosawa robbed us of a great bromance that could have been. Mainly, though, because they recognize each other as equals and seem to see each other as necessary threats. Unosuke even calls Sanjuro ātwo-bitā like some sort of nickname at some points.
OTP: None. Tbh I think Unosuke would probably be a pretty shit boyfriend considering.
random headcanon: Unosuke is a spitting image of his father, except his father was actually a good man. Another is that he has a drive to prove himself and is more insecure than he comes across.Ā
unpopular opinion: I think in general I probably like this character moreso than Kurosawa intended for the audience toābut I donāt think Iām alone on this front. You cast a charismatic actor in a villain role--what do you expect, exactly?
song i associate with them: His theme (which sounds like something out of The Jungle Book so itās appropriate), and a certain Nancy Sinatra songĀ (for obvious reasons).Ā
favorite picture of them: Dat jawline tho.
favorite thing about them:Ā His devotion to justice. I love the fact that heās willing to work with Lupin when he recognizes that there are bigger criminals to take down and does have respect for him.Ā Ā
least favorite thing about them:Ā His ego tends to get the better of him.
favorite line:Ā Noneāhe has too many good lines to pick just one. Ā
brOTP:Ā Lupin and Zenigata. Itās a delightfully love-hate relationship for the both of them and Lupin referring to him as Pops cements it.Ā Ā
OTP: None in particular.Ā
song i associate with them: Zenigata March variation. I think it encompasses all the aspects of his character.Ā
favorite picture of them: Does this count?
Ā (courtesy of just-zenigata-things)
favorite thing about them:Ā I like how Luke has limits, interestingly enough. Heās willing to believe in the best in people up to a pointāin the OG trilogy he wants to believe in the good in his father but recognizes that it may be too late for him. Regardless, he keeps that hope. Itās a realistic bit of character building that people can emphasize with.
least favorite thing about them: Heās too stubborn at some points and that costs him quite a bit over the course of the story. Also he was originally whiny but then againāhe changes over the course of the story.
favorite line:Ā āYou failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi like my father before meā. Beautifully poetic line and gives me all sorts of feelings.Ā
nOtp: Luke and Leia for obvious reasons.Ā
random headcanon: Luke wonders quite often what could have been if his father had survived and carries the grief of his death for decades.Ā
song i associate with them: Binary SunsetĀ
favorite picture of them: Kevin Wada, baby.