I’m watching a playthrough of Persona 4 (currently at 10/22) and it’s a deeply infuriating game writing-wise. They have interesting setups for these character arcs in the dungeons, but don’t commit to exploring these issues after that.
I was most disappointed by Yukiko and Rise’s resolutions because they go back to jobs they previously resented due to obligations to others. Yukiko admits she would lose her support system if she moved and Rise is guilt-tripped by her manager into rejoining the idol industry. How are we supposed to be satisfied with those conclusions? Nevermind that the social links don’t really touch upon the reasons they were dissatisfied in the first place, and the game has a habit of circling back to the status quo.
As for Naoto, while it is upsetting to see them use transphobic imagery and rhetoric for her, they also don’t commit to the sexism angle from what I’ve seen so far. By having the misogyny as something Naoto anticipates rather than something she’s personally experienced, the game doesn’t treat it as a legitimate issue. It goes from a systemic problem to a personal hangup.
Naoto: “If they [the police] had the slightest ‘concrete’ reason to look down on me, no one would need me anymore...”
Kanji: “You don't know that.”
(Lastly, even if they tried, I don’t think the writers were equipped to handle the subject given the frequent “comedic” misogyny, especially with Teddie and Yosuke. I know those are common anime tropes, but game generally ignore the implications in the topics it raises.)
