LogFAQs > #888680961

18. Shuichi Saihara
Appears in: Danganronpa V3
Ultimate Identity: Detective
Endearing Character Trait: The Worst Ultimate Detective

Controversial call here, I know. Shuichi is an aggravating-loser-type protagonist, like Shinji from Evangelion or Young Simon from Gurren Lagann. Unlike Young Simon, he doesn't eventually triumph over his insecurities and turn into a hero. Unlike Shinji, he doesn't serve as total deconstruction of the genre or a metaphor. He's just a guy full of doubts who never really quite takes that next step.

While I like Kaede more than Shuichi, I don't think her early demise makes me prejudiced toward Shuichi. I gave him plenty of chances, but he insists on doing things that make me hate him. Part of this is intentional - I know - because of the theme of truth vs. lies. The truth hurts and that means you have to be a jerk. Still, he's not a particularly fun or interesting lead character.

Thanks to Chapter 6, we know he's not really an Ultimate Detective, so we really don't know anything about him. Sure, you could say that about all the characters in V3, but Shuichi feels particularly empty.

His character design is kind of interesting, but only if he's evil. As a good guy it doesn't really make sense. Finally, his voice acting is bad. All this means that Shuichi is the worst protagonist.

Next: *achoo*