Annotated 45-10
FB: Ardaic, this is why you’re not in charge! You’re always looking backward. This list of one confirmed crime, two untried accusations of attempted murder and four more cases of suspected murder may still be important to SOME people, but what’s really important is to give Taro the chance to lead.
Today’s page is mostly about weaponizing continuity, but it’s also about showing Ardaic at his best. Though the narrative has by now turned on the nation of Gastonia, and though Ardaic embodies some of its faults, he also represents the Gastonian dream, one perhaps best understood as “justice through strength.” Unfortunately, wartime often means the fear of losing one’s strength, and that can be used to justify many injustices.
I doubt too many readers thought there was a serious chance Ardaic would haul Taro into irons by the end of this chapter, but hopefully you were at least interested to see how Taro’d get out of this.
It is not like Taro is trying to deny the accusations. He is just coming up with excuses or reminding Ardaic that the majority of the accusations are only circumstantially supported.
Honestly it’s been long enough that I’m interested to see how Taro will get out of it now.
Upside of not having a reliable memory
Is the memory of the boat scene an actual copy this time or another of that amazing Waltrip artistic Mimicry?
Looks like actual copies this time to me.
I can’t say I was ever interested in how TARO would deal with this. He didn’t interest me, all he really did was set up the ending to be the way it was and remove a more seasoned, interesting, and dangerous villain. There’s something to be said of the danger of someone that DOESN’T act in a way that would be considered rational… but I mostly find it to be just a case of selfishness and impatience on his part.
Ardiac, on the other hand, I was more interested in seeing. It’s good to see him being so competent, even if it doesn’t lead anywhere at the moment. It helps set him up.