Ranma's being a little condescending prick here, tho something important to notice is that the author agrees with him, having both his statement prove true and the fact Akane knew it all along
Takahashi when writing Ranma 1/2 poured some of her old fashioned views in, but they may not be what you're thinking rn
Her writing "Kuno was actually stronger than Akane all along, he was just going easy" was not made to disrespect Akane as a fighter
I mean yea it kinda does, but it wasn't the intention
The intention was to say that while bokken boy's an idiot, he's not seriously dangerous, which is a lot more important than you think to properly set the tone
I understand the itch to write Akane as actually stronger and all her victories on him as more "legit", as vindication, but be aware that it shifts the tone dramatically to say the only reason Kuno was stopped is that he couldn't do what he actually wanted to do
Takahashi respects the idea of men who are very strong but wouldn't actually use that strength on women, it's charming to her
not only respects it and finds it charming, in her stories it's the basic trait any man should have to be called such
It's the reason why Mikado, even with his kissing habits, tried to stop Ryoga when he attacked Ranma in the middle of the match
Also the reason why Happosai refused to train Ranma before finding out about the curse
not (just) because "women can't be real warriors on par with the guys", but also because his methods are rough and he legit doesn't want to use them on a girl
When the Herb arc starts and dragon boy himself tries to throw Akane against a wall, the page is telling you "this is serious, this is not like every arc so far, the limit has been passed"
And indeed, even with all the jokes the Herb arc has, it's the second most serious-shonen storyline after the final one, with Ryoga dying on screen, having a dramatic resurrection, he and Mousse getting that little redemption moment helping out Ranma in a final fight with an actual climax (instead of ending with a joke), "girl I love's tears give me the strength to raise once again" moment included
This is all of course pretty old fashioned reasoning, "men must be protectors" and stuff
It's why Nodoka accepts the curse, because Ranma acts protective towards her even when transformed, therefore he's "Manly no matter what"
It's also why back in UY, Takahashi considers Nagisa a manly gentleman despite wearing skirts, acting giddy and crying at every occasion, because Nagisa wouldn't lay a hand on Ryu (despite what people with 0 reading comprehension think, you know who you are) and "that's the single most important trait a man should have to be good"
Again, old fashioned reasoning
It's well intentioned, but "the girl fighters are never taken seriously" is a pretty common critique of the series by many
I would argue that giving all guys basic tact is for the better for a manga that uses harassment as a joke, otherwise it'd be much worse, even if yes it'd be cool if girls could also defend themselves
For the author's writing style, removing this little bit of tact creates a being who's truly rancid
even Happosai needs to have this trait if he wants to be in a story that, at the end of the day, must be light hearted
A guy who would actually no joke force himself on a girl is someone that has no place in Ranma 1/2 for Takahashi
That's a trait reserved for Onigumo
A guy who wanted to own a woman against her will and it was such a wicked desire that he attracted an army of demons who fused their souls with his and created the Literal Most Evil Guy in the Story
Also, the jewel from Inuyasha, the macguffin who turns demons into bigger, eviler demons and promises to grant a wish only to warp it negatively to create more conflict and war throughout history, was also created because a guy wanted a girl against her will in a twisted way (if you're unfamiliar with this backstory it's because the anime removed it for some reason)
Mermaid Saga also has terrible men who would use violence on women, described as monsters and demons without a soul
both Mermaid Saga and Inuyasha have scopes that Ranma doesn't have, different moods, different genres, they do stuff that Ranma doesn't need or want to do
Takahashi's not gonna give this trait, that she thinks only belongs to real scum, to the random goober who thinks he's a samurai
he's annoying and sucks, but it would alter the story dramatically to make him like that
even in the watermelon arc where they do a fake out where it looks like he has truly bad intentions (to the point Ranma has nightmares about it), the punchline is that he just wanted a date and is very bad at communicating it
I have sometimes read fics where Akane's had actual fears that the hentai horde was gonna gang up on her and do very bad things with kuno on top, and maybe you think you're being serious and cool with it but it just comes off as an edgy teen who thinks adding rape to every backstory is deep
can't believe i have to defend Kuno of all people lmao
Mousse is also a victim of this
i've had the displeasure of reading very stupid takes about the fact Shampoo must be stronger than him, because if she wasn't he'd force himself on her, which is not only completely misunderstanding him as a character but completely misunderstanding Takahashi as a writer, and makes me wonder what are you even doing here
I was also judged badly for disagreeing like I wasn't respecting Shampoo as a fighter, like I'm sorry but the manga's the one who doesn't do it, it was written in the 90s
Remember the lens of invincibility arc
Mousse finds magic glasses that make the person in front of you prostrate at your feet in tears saying "i'll do anything for you to forgive me", he uses them on Cologne and Ranma, notably not on Shampoo, and gives them up once Shampoo tells him she's disappointed in him, using them on himself to get back in her good graces (what good graces? Only he knows)
No? Doesn't ring a bell? Makes sense, Shampoo fans don't read with their eyes open after all
Bro is the only one aside from Akane and Ranma who gives a damn about what the person of his desires thinks about him, while Kuno thinks defeating Ranma will give him the automatic right to have Akane, Mousse thinks defeating Ranma will prove to Shampoo he's worthy and change her mind, a small difference but a big one too
Akane Ranma and Mousse are the only ones who pass the egg test I fear, sorry Ryoga and Ukyo but you tried using the rod and the umbrella
Also here's Mousse restraining a brainwashed Shampoo who's currently giving her all while in duck form
Ducky boy would never lay a finger on her despite his obsession, it's what Takahashi finds endearing about men
"i'll use violence on her" is a trait not even Happosai has in this manga, and you think the glassed man has it? Be for real
especially as a Shampoo fan you have no right to act like you're above Kodachi, Ryoga, Kuno and Mousse, there's 0 moral high ground there
Accept that you like the second worst Michelle Molesty offender in the manga after the old guy and stop acting like you're any better than the other characters, self awareness would do wonders to admirers of the purple haired menace
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