Dante Yayayay

I do think it's really impressive how Dante is able to feel like a consistent and well thought out character with a good progression despite how vastly different he can be. From full depression and emo to whacky woohoo pizza man, and none of it really feels that out of place once you've played all the games and experienced some supplemental material. Especially in 4 where you can see him recover his whimsy in real time once he realizes he has a nephew.

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MAD TRIGGER CREW 『 Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- 』Rhyme Anima PLUS : Ending

unserious

You know what I often find a bit confusing when it comes to the general fan perception of dmc?

How casual they portray the boys harming each other.

Don't take me wrong, yes, the favorite past time of our overpowered twins is fighting, therefore stabbing, punching and otherwise hurting each other. And yes, with their healing it's kinda a moot point how much they damage each other, it'll heal in a jiffy, and yes, it's probably a big part of their demonic instincts burgeoning on their natural sibling rivalry.

But whenever they harm each other in canon it is always when they both expect it. Like, there's always a clear wind up to them going at each other's throats, a figurative nod of their head before they engage. They don't just, stab each other in a casual setting, without any reason, or break each other's bones willy nilly. There are unspoken rules to these interactions, ones they follow both.

They could hurt each other at any moment, they absolutely could. But that's not how you get a single moment of calm, cause you always have to be on guard from harm of the other and that's not... That's not how they interact at the end of dmc5. That's not how they act in-between all of the other canon stuff we have either.

There's always a wind up. Always a clear reason before one kicks the other, when they're in their right minds. Always a sure bet the other can pick up on, oh, this will get bloody if I continue. And mostly it's, I will continue, cause that's fun and what I want...

Like, I mean, do we really think Vergil, who even when brainwashed to hell and back, who did not attack his brother from behind, even when it would have been easier, would have cleared his objective faster and more efficiently - Vergil who clearly has some codes of honor, would just stab his brother over something miniscule in a casual setting? No warning no nothing?

The same guy who wants to be 'protected and loved' would not afford his twin brother the same gift? The same chance of a calm and protected environment when in each other's company?

Because them always expecting to be hurt by the other with no warnings beforehand is definitely not that.

Sure he'll threaten and bluster and all of that. But only when a line is really crossed will he draw blood. A line Dante is absolutely aware of by then.

And of them both Dante is most commonly the one who instigates a fight, and do we really believe he would live to indulge in casual domestic violence? Dante? Sure he'll annoy the shit out of his brother, but he won't just casually shoot him in the head over the last pizza slice. That's more than just uncool. He'll absolutely go for a scuffle on the ground or other smaller shenanigans, but not intended, grievous bodily harm.

I'm not really going anywhere with this anymore. I kinda just wanted to point this out.

For memes and stuff I can fully understand letting them get a bit stabby and shooty, but for other more grounded stuff... If we take canon at face value, we get a different picture than the one those memes represent.

Hope that separation is kinda clear!

(Only sorta exception I could think of off the top of my head is them both knocking Nero back. Though poor Nero is probs not as in-tune with these innate rules yet, and a punch is definitely kinder than a stab imo. And it was purposely done to stop Nero from following. So again, not willy-nilly... They were also in extenuating circumstances and not a domestic environment... Think you get my point.)

HUH???

Fucking pardon T.T

Maybe the reason the dmc reboot and Adi Shankar's show cannot seem to get Sparda right or show him the respect he deserves is because they are ultimately too mean-spirited and cynical to ever understand Sparda. Think about it, Sparda woke up to justice and stopped an invasive empire because he found love and compassion. His journey is that of redemption and nobility. He is an unambiguously good person whose heroism sets the foundation of Devil May Cry.

Adi Shankar and Ninja Theory made works that are far too void of love and compassion to understand that. That's why they couldn't get Sparda or even DMC as a whole right.

…in the field, the ground warms as blood seeps into the dirt. (Nathaniel Orion G. K, "הבל | hevel")