I Bestow The The Transgender Flag Onto My Two Favorite DRV3 Characters

Why Tenko Chabashira is a Great Character pt. 2: Chapter 3, Relationships and Conclusion

Chapter 3

In chapter three Tenko’s loud hyperactive layers are pulled back to reveal her caring serious intelligent nature which was there the whole time just focused more on, in chapter three.

In the chapter she died no less, I will never stop talking about how Tenko was so close to getting her character development reaching her full potential and becoming a beloved character in some people's eyes but no she just had to be killed off.

Since Tenko has a lot of moments in chapter three I will just go over the main ones and the ones I think are most important in showing her development and the other side of personality.

Student council

Angie creates the student council and has Himiko Tsumugi Kiibo Tenko and Gonta join. Tenko is not under Angie’s brainwashing as she calls it.

She joined only to try to get on the inside and protect Himiko believing that Angie’s way of trying to help Himiko was unhealthy.

Tenko decides she needs help so she recruits ⅔ of the training trio and survivors Maki and Shuichi to help her (one of my favorite scenes in v3) after not only becoming distrusting of Maki after Kokichi revealed her as an assassin and wanting to perform a sneak attack on her and not really liking Shuichi because he's a guy.

When Tenko asks them to help, Maki asks if Tenko wants her to kill Angie and Tenko says that murder strongly goes against her morals so as much as she thought about it she would never go through it Tenko along with Maki and Shuichi go to Himiko’s dorm.

Tenko tries to convince Himiko that’s she being brainwashed and they have an argument in which Tenko insults Himiko’s status as a mage proving that at this point Tenko cares more about helping Himiko than her crush on Himiko itself.

Angie finds out that Tenko isn’t a part of the council but doesn’t kick her out Tenko tells Shuichi and Maki thank you for their help but that she’s going back to her room and that she’ll apologize to Himiko in the morning because she believes she was too harsh and is sorry for yelling at her.

This shows Tenko's logical side, her caring nature, loyalty, and intense morals.

Research Lab

In Kaede’s second FTEs with Kaede, Tenko has Kaede look for a dojo which they are unsuccessful in finding, and in chapter three she finally gets her research lab.

Tenko flips Himiko and Shuichi is able to read them like an open book and invites them to try Neo aikido as a way to improve themselves.

The last important thing that Tenko says in her time at the dojo is:

“Aikido is not about competing for fun to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses. By working together and using techniques that make full use of your mind, body, and breath… you can measure your physical and mental growth. That is the true purpose of Aikido. You do not compete for superiority in Aikido. In fact, in Aikido you do not compete at all. Aikido is not a martial art for inflicting harm, but a way to improve yourself!”

This shows Tenko's profound thoughts on self-improvement, her intelligence, and her caring nature. It shows Tenko’s true love for Aikido, how she views it and her trying to improve her friends' mindsets and well-being.

Her Death/ Sacrifice

Tenko’s death itself shows how much of a sweetheart she is because she’s just that great. I think the only other person’s death that does that is Kokichi's (which is ironic because both their deaths include elements of self-sacrifice).

Now some people especially Tenmiko shippers like to think that Tenko knew she was going to die when she volunteered as cute as this would be I’d say from a logical standpoint she was oblivious now, I’d like you to remember that before this Tenko had a massive argument with Himiko.

Would you volunteer for something not knowing the consequences for someone you argued with?

Tenko is a protector by nature she was raised that way from a young age and it’s in her personality so I believe that Tenko just volunteered to take Himiko’s place without even thinking just like she jumped to protect Kaede before her execution it’s not about her knowing she would die or not it’s about putting herself in a vulnerable situation where she could very well be hurt or worse for someone who has expressed no interest in her all game.

Tenko’s last words are also important, especially since they are repeated about three times during the trial.

Tenko tells Himiko to:

“Keep your chin up and live life facing forward, survive with me and everyone else” as well as “Expressing your feelings is perfectly natural. You shouldn’t feel ashamed at all. So… if you feel like crying your eyes out when you’re talking to Angie go ahead and cry your eyes out you’ll feel better when you do. Well, I mean… laughing makes you feel better too... And venting your anger onto something can cheer you up! Train your heart by laughing, crying and venting your anger, Himiko.”

Tenko’s final words to Himiko bring back up a point expressed in the dojo Himiko’s emotional suppression now I will get to Tenko’s and Himiko’s relationship and what it does for Himiko’s character development later but all you need to know is that it shows how much Tenko cares about Himiko both of these instances do they show that their relationship (in some aspects) isn’t superficial and has some genuine meaning behind it Tenko wants to help Himiko overcome her emotional suppression and improve her self.

Which shows how great Tenko is as a character not just some ‘I hate men’ gag but a character with real depth compassion intelligence and morals.

Relationships

Shuichi

Shuichi becomes one of the only men Tenko likes she invites him to practice Neo Aikido with her and treats him as one of the good men as she does with her master.

Proving that Tenko actually had character development.

Himiko

A lot of people compare Himiko and Tenko`s relationship to Souda and Sonia and Byakuya and Toko from the previous games which were also an unrequited relationship but I would like to give reasons for why this is not true.

Of course at the beginning of the game Tenko`s advances on Himiko are creepy especially since Himiko is shown to not feel the same but as the game progresses it`s shown that Tenko cares about Himiko and is trying to help her she continually puts herself in danger for Himiko and is shown to be the only one who is concerned about her or believes in her interests.

I don't really even ship Tenmiko anymore I lean way more to Tenmaki and Tenkaede nowadays but I can still see that from chapter two onwards Tenko’s goals and reasons to be around Himiko change from a pure obsession to a genuine intrest in helping her grow and develop.

Tenko made it a mission of hers to help Himiko with her emotional suppression because it was unhealthy for her Himiko was scared and stressed out about the killing game and Angie`s god wasn`t helping the problem just giving Himiko a temporary coping mechanism.

Suppressing our feelings can lead to exacerbated depression, anxiety, panic attacks and other mental health issues.

So Tenko and Himiko`s best interests were in mind but Himiko wanted the easy way out Tenko was too loud and hyperactive and using Angie's god was easier than expressing her emotions which created their conflict, but Tenko caring about Himiko`s well-being and trying to help her improve herself mentally makes their relationship so much better than just a stalker-stalkee relationship.

Himiko completely shuts down during the trial but after being reminded of Tenko’s final words she decides to keep going to avenge both Tenko and Angie’s deaths after the trial she finally breaks down releasing all the emotions she had locked up and after the third trial she decides she’s no longer going to suppress her emotions and live life to the fullest for both her friends.

Angie

Tenko and Angie are rivals in the game both representing the themes of logic and emotion with Tenko representing emotion and Angie representing logic they also fight over the correct way to help Himiko with her stress and fear about the killing game with Angie trying to get Himiko to believe in her god joining the student council etc and Tenko trying to get Himiko to express her emotions.

Tenko thinks Angie is weird because she is constantly happy, and is also jealous that Himiko has taken a liken to Angie and her ‘handsome god.’

In chapter three Tenko reveals to Maki and Shuichi that she is afraid that Himiko has been brainwashed by Angie and that she has thought about killing Angie but has strong morals against killing.

When Angie is found dead Tenko feels bad and guilty about it despite their rivalry even volunteers for the seance to become the medium for Angie’s spirit.

Tenko also had much more animosity which Angie than any of the guys sooo.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tenko Chabashira is a great character and one of the best characters in NDRV3 for her personality, character design, development, and crucial role in the game which is imperative to the narrative.

She is an influential part of Himiko’s development and subsequent survival, as well as a portrayal of one of the main themes in the game, (logic vs emotion.)

She supports and befriends men and women alike, provides profound thoughts at beneficial times, and genuinely cares for her friends' safety and development.

Tenko Chabashira deserves more appreciation and hopefully over time more people will recognize the depth of her character beyond surface level jokes and criticisms.

I love this supportive sweetheart who is just like a big kid and I hope that this essay helped you to understand why and maybe cause you to start loving her too.

Thank you so much for reading my ridiculous rant

Hope vs Despair and How Danganronpa Shows the Fine Line Between Them

In Danganronpa, Hope vs. Despair aren't just opposing forces—they’re intertwined like yin and yang.

You can’t have one without the other. Each moment of hope carries the potential for despair, and each moment of despair can give birth to a new form of hope.

The series doesn’t just explore this dynamic; it forces the characters to confront it, shaping their growth and evolution throughout the story.

Take Makoto Naegi, for example. As the Ultimate Hope, he stands in direct contrast to Junko Enoshima, the Ultimate Despair. But Makoto’s hope isn't simple optimism—it’s been tested and shaped by the despair surrounding him. His journey shows how hope can survive even in the darkest circumstances. On the flip side, Junko manipulates despair, using it as a tool to corrupt and reshape hope into something sinister. She twists the idea of hope, showing that it too can be warped when exposed to extreme despair.

Despair is often depicted as the absence of hope, like the color black, while hope is like white—full of aspirations, dreams, and ambitions. But, just as there are varying shades of black and white, hope and despair are not as clear-cut as they might seem. There are nuances, shades of gray that blur the lines, making it harder to see where one ends and the other begins.

In SDR2, the pattern continues, but with more complexity. It’s still hope vs. despair, but with the added layer of past vs. future. The characters' pasts represent despair to them, but through confronting their dark pasts, they create new hope. Their stories show that hope isn’t just about looking forward—it’s about confronting the past and using that pain to forge something better.

Then there’s Nagito Komaeda, who’s obsessed with hope. His view of hope is twisted because he believes hope can only arise from despair. For him, creating despair is the means to achieve his ideal hope, showing just how tangled these forces can become. Nagito represents the extreme, where hope and despair bleed into each other in the most disturbing way.

In V3, the lines between hope and despair are even more blurred. Monokuma’s Death Road of Despair is a perfect example of this cycle. The characters are given hope—a potential escape that’s always within reach—but as they fail repeatedly, their hope turns into despair. They begin to believe that escape was never possible, that they were wasting their time from the start.

The constant cycle of hope and despair leaves them trapped in their own feelings, forcing them to reevaluate what hope even means.

Then, we have characters like Kaede, Kaito, and Tenko, who embody hope for those around them. When they die, the survivors are filled with despair, but instead of succumbing to grief, they use their deaths as a source of strength. Their deaths become a new form of hope for the survivors, pushing them to continue the fight. The cycle isn’t over; it’s reborn from loss and pain, showing that hope can arise even from the darkest moments.

Ultimately, Danganronpa isn’t about choosing hope over despair or vice versa—it’s about understanding the complex relationship between them. Both hope and despair are essential to the human experience.

One cannot exist without the other, and each gives rise to the other in ways we may not fully understand. The characters are constantly forced to confront this reality, evolving in response to the ever-present pull of these two forces.

By rejecting the notion that hope and despair are opposites, Danganronpa teaches us that life isn’t about simple binaries. It’s about the messy, complicated truth that both hope and despair are necessary for growth, and in the end, it’s the balance between them that gives life meaning.

More Than a Label: Rethinking V3's 'Dumb' Characters

It's weird how the characters that we and the game constantly call stupid are actually some of the smartest.

Well, a lot of characters fit this bill, but seeing as I am a DR rant blog, I'm talking specifically about Tenko Chabashira, Kaito Momota, and Gonta Gokuhara.

Now these characters are now referred to as dumb by the game and particularly the fandom for pretty similar reasons.

Gonta because of his speech pattern particularly is portrayed as Tarzan's speech, and his understanding of normal things we find simple like technology and most famously in chapter 4 where he was manipulated by Kokichi, but the localization, NIS America did change his character a lot they changed his backstory and how the whole killing game buster thing happened in chapter 4.

Which is funny because all three of the characters I'm talking about in this rant were changed pretty heavily by NIS America.

In the Japanese characterization, Gonta's backstory is more ambiguous, being raised by a forest family and developing an extensive knowledge of insect species, his speech pattern is more polite and formal, and the third-person way of speech is culturally associated with child-like innocence and a cute endearing or 'quirky' personality-not dumb.

And in chapter 4 he had more of an idea what was going on in Kokichi's plan from the beginning and acted upon his own decisions rather than just being a blindly lead victim till the end.

But in general, Gonta has a deep knowledge of insects and astrology (for this analysis we are ignoring the ending) and good observational skills that are helpful in class trials like how he noticed that he must be far away from home because the constellations looked different in chapter two and his knowledge about the state of the floorboards and the way the seesaw trick was carried out in chapter three which span both the Japanese and English translations.

Kaito is portrayed as being dumb due to his struggles in trials and his refusal to acknowledge certain truths because they go against his ideals.

But Kaito's intelligence while being shown in some ways on paper by passing the astronaut entrance exams excels in more ways than academically he has emotional intelligence and leadership shown by how he interacts with everyone particularly him supporting Shuichi and pushing him to grow his confidence and seeing past Maki cold exterior and helping her open up emotionally and also in chapter 5 acting out Kokichi's plan which shows strategy and trust.

He also possesses a good amount of street smarts that people overlook.

Tenko is often seen as dumb because of her loud over emotional nature and mannerisms. Some people also don't take her seriously because of her 'man-hating' and her relationship with Himiko.

Tenko also has the same problem as Gonta with localization. In the original Japanese her speech patterns are more elegant and refined, and her male hating is turned back exponentially.

Tenko is however extremely emotionally intelligent her flipping ability which allows her to read people's emotions contributes to this as well as her encouraging Shuichi to build his confidence and Himiko to express her emotions more.

It spans beyond this however in chapter 3 Tenko infiltrates Angie's cult to protect Himiko and avoids brainwashing as well as making it her mission to help Himiko grow from her emotional suppression.

Finally, Tenko allows herself to be the medium for Angie (whom she had a rivarly with) in the seance for Himiko showing her deep empathy self-awareness and willingness to prioritize someone else's emotional healing over her own safety. Is a clear demonstration of her emotional intelligence and wisdom.

In conclusion, whether a character is intelligent or not really depends on how the piece of media portrays the character and how the viewers define intelligence.

I think school systems have definitely skewed our perceptions of intelligence making us think intelligence is just test scores and book smarts rather than street smarts and emotional intelligence.

Gonta Kaito and Tenko- while not in the same as Shuichi or Kokichi- are smart. And I don't think our skewed perception and bad localization should determine how we view them.

Some characters are written to be dumb, and that's fine but Gonta Kaito and Tenko? They aren't.

They're loud, naive, and emotional but they aren't complete idiots.

And I hope this rant helped you realize that.

The impact of Tenko’s ability on Maki and Kokichi's character arc: a continuation of me rewriting Tenko’s flipping ability.

This is a more indepth analysis of Tenko and Maki and Tenko and Kokichi's relationships. It might not make sense without the first part, but you don't have to read it to enjoy this.

Introduction

Tenko is the sun, bright, loud, beloved, and emotional, Maki and Kokichi are the moons, the liars, the ones who build up walls to hide their true selves, the loners.

Realistically, that analogy was supposed to be with Kaito, but we’re not talking about him, and I think Tenko could in some ways be a better mentor figure for Maki (Kokichi and Shuichi.)

Tenko is like Kaito but soft in the ways he is rough, less abrasive. Tenko relates to Maki and Kokichi in a different way than Kaito, of course. Kaito Maki and Kokichi are like three peas in a pod, but Tenko would be able to listen to help to heal in a different way than Kaito can.

Tenko’s flipping ability doesn’t take away from Kaito’s role; it adds to it and gives more time for Kokichi and Maki to flesh out before or during their development with Kaito.

Kokichi’s mask doesn’t have to break like it did in chapter five, but we can see him become more defensive and isolated.

Maki doesn’t have to shed her stone-cold assassin behavior and break down like in chapters five and six, but she can start to become more vulnerable.

Maki's growth with Tenko

Maki and Tenko could spar together and have chats about Maki’s past that even though Tenko didn’t agree with murder, she knows that Maki was forced into it and is still a good person deserving of love and affection and would be like a second Kaito there for her, especially since Kaito is deteriorating because of his illness.

I believe that Maki could also help Tenko, especially since their backstories are so similar, talking about her crime and opening up about her distrust for the men she saw on the streets and the ones her master told her about, and Maki would help keep Tenko grounded and help her open up more.

I always thought it was a missed opportunity only giving Maki and Tenko one interaction in the game.

I love the parallels between her and Maki's backstories and their characters as a whole.

From the get-go, both didn’t really have a say in their lives; their childhoods started out similar with both getting abandoned but then had two separate paths: a savior and a killer, one embracing their role and the other rejecting it.

I want Maki and Tenko to have long, profound talks about strength and being vulnerable. I want Tenko to flip Maki and give her a whole new outlook on her life.

I want them to talk about Tenko’s vigilantism, Maki's childhood friend, the burden that they both place on themselves to protect those they care about even if it means harming others.

I want Tenko to grab Maki's hands, which have been coated with blood countless times, even with her strong morals against murder, and tell Maki she trusts her and cares about her.

Kokichi’s arc with Tenko

With Kokichi after flipping him, making him vulnerable and out in the open, Kokichi runs away at first but soon realizes the strength of Tenko’s ability and has her help him with his plans, he being the one that suggests she flip Tsumugi.

They would hang out, even though the others give them weird looks, especially since Tenko knows Kokichi’s true intentions. But like everyone else, Kokichi pushes Tenko away, putting back up his facade as a villain, betraying Tenko before her death, leaving him to run right back to Himiko.

Who she still cared about helping but took her mind off the jealousy of Himiko gravitating to Angie more than her by hanging out with Kokichi.

Kokichi would also tell Tenko that she’s lying to herself and too concerned about the others to care about herself and that mentality is going to get her killed.

(While he holds his script to his chest, knowing what’s coming two chapters from now.)

After Tenko died, Kokichi felt regretful but chose to keep it away from the others, still knowing that Tenko was one of his only true friends in the game, the only person who truly understood him (until chapter five), but that having friends in a killing game was a mistake and would only make him more weak and vulnerable.

Kokichi and Tenko’s friendship

Outside the narrative I have created, I want more Tenko-Kokichi shenanigans.

I like the fact that both sacrificed themselves to help/save someone else, and both died in a dark, claustrophobic environment alone.

I also like how they're more like each other than they both realize.

I think Kokichi could point out Tenko's altruism as a flaw and also call her out as a hypocrite, and he would definitely bash her for her relationship with Himiko, and I think Tenko could start to crack the mask, the facade that is Kokichi Oma.

I love their dynamic so much I just don't know how to explain it:

Two people who actively hate each other but have good chemistry and are constantly hanging out with each other to the confusion and expense of the others.

They insult each other all the time, but if anyone else insults either one of them, they would beat that person up.

They're normally making jokes at each other's expense but sometimes get serious with each other and actually give good advice and comfort.

Probably my second, maybe third favorite Tenko-male friendship (my first is Tenko and Shuichi).

They would be so chaotic together; I wish they would have gotten more time to hang out.

Tenko's missed opportunities

Tenko should have hung out with more people who weren't Himiko (and Shuichi) in the game. Her flipping ability and emotional depth could have allowed pivotal shifts in the narrative as well as doing work for her and many others' character arcs and developments.

(And just be really cool; give my girl more screen time, damn it.)

Tenko character design is amazing- so why did Danganronpa S fail her

Tenko's original character design character design screams her, so why did Danganronpa S take that away from her?

Tenko’s original character design embodies her as a character especially her personality. Her extra frills (which she added by herself to make them more appealing to women) and her abs (which only women are allowed to touch) socks and sandals multiple hair accessories. Kodaka literally described it as "a fashion disaster that shows off the light-heartedness of a sportsy girl mixed with the harmonious Japanese essence."

(I personally headcanon that when Tenko was at the temple she was reading those teen girl magazines and it said something like "girls love accessories and frills" and she said bet and went a bit overboard.)

Just by looking at Tenko, you can tell that she is a very passionate girl who puts her heart into things and is bubbly and eccentric and that is part of what a character design is supposed to do.

It doesn't just stop at her original design even her Tenko's 10th anniversary outfit reflects her personality. I love the suit top skirt combo, the top hat, her hair etc . I think it's very Tenko, and very pretty.

I don't, however, like Tenko's Danganronpa S swimsuit. In the game, Tenko wears a pink and plaid, two-piece that completely takes away everything I complimented about her character design. Tenko is supposed to be this eccentric character with a bad fashion sense (I guess plaid is a weird pattern for a swimsuit, but still.)

Where are the frills, the cutesy additions to make it appealing to women? It's just plain.

I guess there isn't much you can do with a swimsuit, but on the other hand, I've seen people design way better swimsuits for Tenko that really portray her well and encapsulate what I wish her original design had done. So I guess the devs wanted it to be boring.

Examples that I believe fit Tenko really well:

@chibigaia-art redesign is really Tenko and captures her essence and personality with her extra frills and abs. You can view her amazing redesign here.

https://www.tumblr.com/chibigaia-art/661063246304985088/gave-tenko-the-abs-and-frills-she-deserves?source=share

@cl4ret-10ko redesign looks like something Tenko would wear and differs from the basic two pieces all the other girls wear especially with the added additions of the inflatable armbands bands and the abs. You can view their amazing redesign here.

https://www.tumblr.com/cl4ret-10ko/657459375318941696/redesigned-tenkos-swimsuit-closeup?source=share

And then there's the other side of Tenko's design problem in Danganronpa S, the abs Where are the abs! Kodaka explicitly said she had them so where are they? None of the athletic girls except Sakura have abs, and knowing the fandom i'm pretty sure the majority would love seeing more muscular girls with scars, so I don't know why the devs were being cowards about it.

Tenko's character design was eccentric, passionate, and bold. But Danganronpa S stripped that all away, leaving her with a swimsuit design that could have literally belonged to anyone else. No frills. No chaotic choices. No abs. Just the shell of a girl that was never meant to blend in. If fan artists' swimsuit designs can capture Tenko's essence, what excuses do the devs have? They played it safe and, in doing so, gave us an okay swimsuit and erased everything that made Tenko her.

Tenko deserved so much better.

(And if either artist is uncomfortable with me doing that I will remove it. 👍)

i think the fact that we can see the vote count at the end should've been discussed more

The Sun That Never Truly Sets: Kaito Kaede and Tenko's Legacy in the Survivors

Kaede Kaito and Tenko are the as I like to call them counterparts to the v3 survivors their confidants their supports their extroverts that pratically adopted them building them up until they eventually have to die for plot relevance and character devolpment.

And they are as I believe I have compared them to before the sun- bright, radiant, lighting up every room they walk into (hot?)

Untill the sun goes out and it's not immediate but the after effects are felt strongly cold dark unforgiving. It's not as drastic as what would happen if the sun went out in real life but to the survivors it is like the end of the world like there is no life left living.

And yet, even in death, Kaede, Kaito, and Tenko leave something behind. Just like the sun transfers its warmth through radiation, they passed their energy onto the survivors, carrying them forward to the end of the game. Their presence lingers—not physically, but in the lessons they left behind, in the strength they instilled in those they cared about.

Or, if you prefer another analogy: Maki, Himiko, and Shuichi are plants, and Kaede, Kaito, and Tenko were the sunlight that helped them grow. They transferred their energy, their warmth, their unwavering belief, and that’s what gave the survivors the strength to keep going.

In conclusion: Maki, Shuichi, and Himiko are plants, and no one actually died.

The ending of Danganronpa V3: Not the cliché twist people think it is.

Probably the most controversial part about V3 is the ending. I love it. I love it so much I have a shirt of it. I can see why others don’t somewhat but at the same time I’m like why?

Many people say the fact the game is fiction makes it meaningless, but I strongly disagree. I understand that an 'it was all fake' or 'and then they woke up' ending is annoying and overused and, depending on what happens in the piece of media, just bad writing, but DRV3 isn't one of those endings.

And if you do believe the game was meaningless, then congrats you fell for Tsumugi's lies, hook line and sinker.

In the sixth trial, Shuichi talks about how even though the game was fiction, it still hurt him to see the people he cared about die.

Even though they are being told that everything they went through is meaningless, it is real to them; if they feel sadness and anger and love, it’s just as real; it’s just as meaningful as in the real world.

Another thing is the theme of the whole game is truth vs. lies, so wouldn’t it make sense for the final twist to be that what they thought was the truth is a lie?

In the first two games, the final trial ends with a battle of hope vs despair where hope always triumphs and despair is crushed, but in V3 it’s different.

Tsumugi wants them to continue the game. The fans want them to continue the game.

Choosing hope—sacrificing someone to go on to the next killing game—will just cause the cycle to repeat, but choosing despair is also bad; it causes people to give up and lose everything.

Shuichi doesn’t want Maki (and Kiibo) to have to go into another killing game, but they also don’t want to fall into despair. So he refuses to vote, and as much as Tsumugi begs and pleads, he stands his ground.

The viewers also refuse to vote, proving that fiction does have the power to change reality, a powerful message that is one of the main reasons this ending is so great.

Even though Shuichi Maki, and Himiko were fictional characters, they changed the outside world and stopped a whole franchise, a whole movement, and in real life, fiction can spread ideologies, beliefs, and concepts, and these things can spread to people like wildfire and bring people together in ways that normal methods, (like by mouth,) cannot.

That's why artists try to put messages in their art, musicians in their music, and directors in their movies and TV shows. They know that's the type of media that will have the most reach and spread the fastest.

Or even social media spreading information; it might not be the best source, but it still spreads rapidly.

Media has influenced our way of life for years, influencing our speech, thoughts, and cultures because of what it says; this is what V3 is trying to show.

Shuichi also talks about using his friends deaths and the lie of the killing game to change the world.

This is why it matters; this is the power of fiction.

Shuichi using his friends' deaths, which may have been seemingly useless anyway, to take down the show that has trapped them in a cycle of deceit and forced them to play their game.

It’s also great when you remember that Shuichi was afraid of finding the truth, and Kaede and Kaito helped him gain more confidence.

He vowed to Kaede he would end the killing game, and this man not only found the biggest truth ever, he not only ended the game, but ended the whole franchise.

If that's not character development, I don’t know what it is.

Another reason people hate the ending is the portrayal of the fans, the fans are portrayed as Danganronpa obsessed, and they are shunned by watching the senseless killing of people for entertainment.

It’s a world where everyone has become so desensitized to kids getting killed on TV that they gather around screens all over the world eager to watch the next installment; that’s why there are 53 seasons.

The fans in the ending are an exaggerated view of what Kodaka feared would happen.

It's not trying to bash the fans of today but the fans of the future if this continues and we don’t care about the deaths anymore, and we just want more because you can have too much of a good thing.

It also has good messaging about fans (and corporations) tearing a TV show or game series apart in compensation for more, deriving it from the original message.

For example, Squid Game a show about the flaws of capitalism and exploitation for entertainment, was remade into a reality show by Netflix, Mr. Beast, and Amazon Prime to capitalize on the success of Squid Game when it first came out, actively hurting real people in the process, just for the sake of making money.

The ending of V3 reminds us that the connections we make and the experiences we have give our lives meaning. And even if we only affect one person with our actions, it will be all worth it, and that's the greatest truth of them all.

It’s about freedom, the problems of beating a piece of media to death just to have more, using deceased loved ones' wishes to help move forward, and finding meaning in the things that seem meaningless.

The V3 ending is a roller coaster of emotions and a masterful experience. It serves as a great ending to a great series that keeps you on the edge of your seat, makes you feel sympathy for some fictional characters, and still holds up even eight years later.

I don't think this rant/analysis will fix the wedge in the fandom this ending has caused (we've argued about much more ignorant things in the past.) But I hope it at least resonated with you and re-kindled elements you remember loving about the ending for people who did enjoy it; and for those who didn't I hope this gives you some insight into why I and many others appreciate the ending.

So before your start to conclude that V3's ending was meaningless think to yourself-is that the truth or just the lie you were meant to believe.

The Ethics of Murder in Danganronpa: A Breakdown of the Killing Game's Morality

Ethicality is the adherence to moral principles in decision-making and actions, evaluating whether something is right or wrong.

However, ethics in the form of Danganronpa is where the lines start to blur. It's not as simple as right and wrong. When your life is on the line, you can justify killing someone as self-defense, right? But it's not that simple once you add in the psychological and emotional factors—the stakes change.

What's the value of a life, especially one that's a stranger? What happens when that stranger becomes someone you actually care about? The price of their life may change, and suddenly, it's a whole new ballgame. So the questions become: how much would it take for you to kill someone, and is murder ever justified?

That’s what Danganronpa forces us to confront death isn’t just a consequence it’s the game and with every death comes new motives emotions and decisions behind it.

Some characters may seem like their killing to survive others do it for greed and their own personal gain and then you have the people who act out of pure fear and panic.

The physiological pressure the manipulation the backstabbing these aren’t just trivial things and there’s a thing in here somewhere about how being in a killing game environment isolated from the rest of the world with a bunch a strangers who can kill you at anytime would change you as a person effect your morals and such (but this sadly isn’t about that and maybe I’ll touch on that later, ) this is about how the killing game makes us and the characters question whether murder is even okay? Where do we draw the line? and why do we forgive some and ostracize others?

Of course, your first thought would be absolutely not murder is not okay, never under any circumstance. But then the other thoughts start to roll in, you think about your family you think about your life outside the game you think about the value of your own life then you start making friends with with the strangers that you’re trapped with, and you start to think about the value of their life then it becomes a twisted mess and the answer isn’t just a simple no anymore it becomes a no except… a maybe a yes only… your perception becomes skewed as other factors are weighed in.

Should we feel sorry for the murders or should we see them as monsters and what’s the cuff off point where do draw the line for sympathetic killer and heartless murderers

So, with all that in mind, how do we even begin to break down the ethics of murder in Danganronpa? It’s not a simple black-and-white answer. But here’s a framework to think about it:

Murder in Danganronpa: Breaking It Down with MBBCO Motive Brutality Bias Context and Obligation

*For specifically Dr based on the blackened trials and reactions of other students probably not good for use in real world situations*

M. Motive

Why did they do it? The motive is essential because it gives us a reason behind the action. Is it for the sake of others, like Kaede killing to end the killing game, or for personal gain, like Celestia? Some motives may seem more honorable, but it all comes down to perspective. Did they kill out of desperation, or was it a calculated act for personal gain? Understanding the motive helps weigh the ethicality of the act.

B. Brutality

How did it go down? Was the murder violent and grotesque, or was it quick, swift, and painless? Brutality plays a significant role in how we perceive the act. Junko's actions were very gruesome and treated like a spectacle, while Kiyo killing Angie was painless, not very gruesome, and simple. Even though both had reasons, how the murder went down makes a huge difference. Was it cold or heartless, or were there moments of hesitation? Brutality not only shapes the act but also the way we see the killer.

B. Bias

Who is the victim, and who is the killer? Bias can cloud judgment, and while it shouldn't determine ethics, sometimes it still can. Take Kaito vs Kokichi, for example. The majority of the cast is quick to defend and stand by Kaito but ostracize Kokichi. This extends to everything, including murder. These biases sometimes get in the way, skewing the perception of ethicality.

C. Context

Context: What was the situation? This is vital because the surrounding circumstances heavily influence the actions. If a character kills in self-defense, it changes things compared to a murder driven by power. Take Mondo as an example: Mondo killed Chihiro not just because of personal animosity but because of Mondo's fragile sense of pride and guilt. In his case, the context wasn't just survival or revenge; it was deeply tied to his own internal battle of self-worth. Context can either justify or complicate the ethical decision to kill.

O. Obligation

Obligation: Was it a choice? In a killing game, the definition of choice can be murky. Was the character forced into a situation where they had to kill for survival, or was it something they actively chose for personal reasons? In some cases, like Hifumi's, it's clear he was manipulated, while many other characters acted on their own volition. The sense of obligation varies depending on the killer's mindset and circumstances.

Murder is always murder, regardless. But this doesn't mean we should ignore the complexities that determine the ethics and morals of each murder in the killing games. It's not always clear-cut, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Some characters make decisions we might understand, even if we don’t agree with them. Others make choices that are downright horrifying, and no amount of explanation can justify that. But that’s the beauty (and horror) of Danganronpa: it forces us to question the morality of our actions, and whether any of us would really be able to survive in such a twisted situation without crossing a line.