Time for another Taibani thread imported from my twitter
So I’ve been thinking, if we ever do get some continuation, like a season or a movie, not just an epilogue, I can see 2 possibilities for Kotetsu, that are not mutually exclusive actually?
Disclaimer that these are just theories, do not take it as anything else.
First, this season was a lot about SUPPORT: Kotetsu stepped up as a support system for Barnaby, and wanted to be one for Kaede too.
He worked a lot on himself to get there, in a mature way that shows a lot of growth imo.
And when he talks with Kaede in episode 7, she brings this up: « there’s lots of different jobs that help people » and we’re first shown Saito working on Taibani’s suits
Fast forward to episode 21 and Kotetsu’s answer to what is a hero, and here it shows that being a hero isn’t necessarily being a licensed superhero
So my first theory is that Kotetsu could still work in the hero business, as support, one way or another (yes I like the HC that he could become a physical therapist, sue me)
And be a different kind of hero
I could see him working with Agnes or in her stead, and be the strategist for the heroes. The way all the heroes worked together kinda pointed to that, and to a change of the hero system towards « one team » instead of a competition
Now another big theme this season was the rift between NEXTs and non-NEXTs, and the reason why Kotetsu is retiring is that he lost his power.
I’m not taking a lot of risk if I say everyone thinks he can still be a hero without his NEXT right? The man can LITERALLY lift a whole car without using his power, or catch a full grown man falling from the sky without so much as wavering.
The only issue being the rules they have in Sternbild, but rules can be changed. Should be changed sometimes.
Also there’s this speech by Barnaby
And the Legend of Buddy Heroes title at the end of the season is probably honorific, so imo that’s still something they haven’t accomplished.
Wouldn’t it be groundbreaking if Kotetsu became the first non-NEXT hero? Opening a new future for more?
After all, being a hero isn’t a job for Kotetsu, it’s who he inherently IS, and if it’s still what he WANTS to do, I think he’d find his way back to it.
But just like Barnaby he needs to realize it’s something he’s doing for himself, not because he has a power, because Mr Legend told him to be a hero, because he promised Tomoe or Bunny. And not to prove himself either, because he believes he HAS to be useful. This season pointed out that NEXTs are only accepted by society when they’re useful, so this is a belief he has to learn to let go of.
Kotetsu still needs to realize that he, as a person, is enough. Power or no power.
That’s the only way I’d like to see him come back as a hero: powerless but full of self worth and love, like he taught Bunny
Otherwise I’d like to see him at peace with retirement and finding his way to happiness, but STILL working with Bunny one way or another.
What I DON’T want to see tho, is a sequel where’s he’s not a main character or him magically getting his powers back. Kotetsu’s character is all about pushing through adversity, overcoming what life throws at him, so just being magically cured would feel like cheap writing to me, and also make him way less relatable as a disabled person myself.
Anyway just my 2 cents on how after analyzing this season in more depth makes me think it’s not THAT final after all and they can still explore a lot more of these 2’s relationship
Also, if we don’t get a continuation there’s always the power of fanfic
2087
gummygunk
stormborns
snowghoul
blakekathryn
germansingergirl
