Wooow, a rant in a separate post! I want to rant too! X3
Uh. Gokudera, self-centred? Man, I honestly wonder how they even came up with that. Even before he was "Jesus"ed, as you put it, the kid was looking for the best person to "go out with a bang" for. I agree with your defense of him, and would like to add this:
There is a difference between "shitty friend" and "socially inept". Gokudera was born and raised in the MAFIA, then spent his early teenage years on the street, being rejected constantly. Needless to say, he didn't have much experience with friendship. Nowadays, it's pretty clear that his world (mostly) revolves around Tsuna, but he sees him as "the boss" first and "a friend" second.
The thing is, to Gokudera, it's inconceivable that "the boss" could ever be defeated, let alone feel down. In this specific case, it's even harder, because from Gokudera's point of view, Iemitsu is probably a good father figure: loves his wife, wants his son to be a boss and will fight him like a man so said son can get better. Considering his background, Gokudera would have loved a father like that; which explains why, while Yamamoto went "You fought with your DAD?!" Gokudera went: "You LOST?!" Because the latter is more shocking to him. His mafia background is also the reason why he is mostly handling the situation with strategy discussions: to Gokudera, this battle royal is nothing more than yet another rite of passage for the Vongola. As far as he is concerned, the only thing not normal about it is that the guardians are fighting each other.
In short: 1, he overestimates Tsuna, and 2, he has no idea how to tell when people need comfort, let alone how to give it. But heck if he doesn't want to learn. That's one of the many reasons Gokudera is jealous of Yamamoto, who is the best friend you could ask for, and whom Tsuna can rely on. Gokudera desperately wants to be this for Tsuna too, hence his insistence on tagging along for the sleepover. "I can't leave you alone with Yamamoto!" indeed...
I also second everything you said about Tsuna. <3 Gosh, I love this kid. Now, what you said about his relationship with Reborn also seems very accurate, except... to a lot of people it looks like a heartwarming mentor/student relationship, but to me... It's a mafia hitman whose job consists of shaping a child into a criminal mastermind. FREAKISH. D8
But well done: Reborn does get Tsuna and knows how to push him because as a hitman he is used to manipulate people, be it by force, charisma or by pushing the right buttons. And Tsuna, who never had any friends or good mentor/father figure to speak of until Reborn came along, is torn between being freaked out (abuse! mafia! ShotInTheHeadMultipleTimes!) and being grateful. It doesn't help that Reborn looks like a baby, which combined to the rest is extremely confusing for any thirteen year old. With all this in mind, this relationship always looked frighteningly like Stockholm Syndrome to me: you know you're being used, yet sometimes feel like the person using you cares about you.
It would be different if Reborn had shown weaknesses, or some remorse or worry about his actions. I mean, I can believe Shamal cares about Gokudera, for instance. But Reborn? When he is happy, it's about a job well done, not a dear student improving. He ENJOYS beating Tsuna to a pulp. I have no idea what Reborn's background could be, but I think he is long beyond caring at this point.
Which drives me to my next point: Tsuna isn't just being stubborn, he has MORALS. These people are trying to turn him ino a criminal, and he will have none of it. Now, he is supposed to return the Vongola to what it used to be, but from Reborn and the Ninth, letting an everyday kid handle their problems is irresponsible at best and downright cruel at worst. It's still a shounen series, so when it comes down to it I think Tsuna CAN do it... But honestly, I would much prefer it if Amano stuck to his "anti-shounen" persona and had him find a way to escape from the mafia.
If Reborn becomes the final villain, I will be VERY happy. >) Well, except Tsuna would be devastated...
A Rant for a Rant!
Uh. Gokudera, self-centred? Man, I honestly wonder how they even came up with that. Even before he was "Jesus"ed, as you put it, the kid was looking for the best person to "go out with a bang" for. I agree with your defense of him, and would like to add this:
There is a difference between "shitty friend" and "socially inept". Gokudera was born and raised in the MAFIA, then spent his early teenage years on the street, being rejected constantly. Needless to say, he didn't have much experience with friendship. Nowadays, it's pretty clear that his world (mostly) revolves around Tsuna, but he sees him as "the boss" first and "a friend" second.
The thing is, to Gokudera, it's inconceivable that "the boss" could ever be defeated, let alone feel down. In this specific case, it's even harder, because from Gokudera's point of view, Iemitsu is probably a good father figure: loves his wife, wants his son to be a boss and will fight him like a man so said son can get better. Considering his background, Gokudera would have loved a father like that; which explains why, while Yamamoto went "You fought with your DAD?!" Gokudera went: "You LOST?!" Because the latter is more shocking to him. His mafia background is also the reason why he is mostly handling the situation with strategy discussions: to Gokudera, this battle royal is nothing more than yet another rite of passage for the Vongola. As far as he is concerned, the only thing not normal about it is that the guardians are fighting each other.
In short: 1, he overestimates Tsuna, and 2, he has no idea how to tell when people need comfort, let alone how to give it. But heck if he doesn't want to learn. That's one of the many reasons Gokudera is jealous of Yamamoto, who is the best friend you could ask for, and whom Tsuna can rely on. Gokudera desperately wants to be this for Tsuna too, hence his insistence on tagging along for the sleepover. "I can't leave you alone with Yamamoto!" indeed...
I also second everything you said about Tsuna. <3 Gosh, I love this kid. Now, what you said about his relationship with Reborn also seems very accurate, except... to a lot of people it looks like a heartwarming mentor/student relationship, but to me... It's a mafia hitman whose job consists of shaping a child into a criminal mastermind. FREAKISH. D8
But well done: Reborn does get Tsuna and knows how to push him because as a hitman he is used to manipulate people, be it by force, charisma or by pushing the right buttons. And Tsuna, who never had any friends or good mentor/father figure to speak of until Reborn came along, is torn between being freaked out (abuse! mafia! ShotInTheHeadMultipleTimes!) and being grateful. It doesn't help that Reborn looks like a baby, which combined to the rest is extremely confusing for any thirteen year old. With all this in mind, this relationship always looked frighteningly like Stockholm Syndrome to me: you know you're being used, yet sometimes feel like the person using you cares about you.
It would be different if Reborn had shown weaknesses, or some remorse or worry about his actions. I mean, I can believe Shamal cares about Gokudera, for instance. But Reborn? When he is happy, it's about a job well done, not a dear student improving. He ENJOYS beating Tsuna to a pulp. I have no idea what Reborn's background could be, but I think he is long beyond caring at this point.
Which drives me to my next point: Tsuna isn't just being stubborn, he has MORALS. These people are trying to turn him ino a criminal, and he will have none of it. Now, he is supposed to return the Vongola to what it used to be, but from Reborn and the Ninth, letting an everyday kid handle their problems is irresponsible at best and downright cruel at worst. It's still a shounen series, so when it comes down to it I think Tsuna CAN do it... But honestly, I would much prefer it if Amano stuck to his "anti-shounen" persona and had him find a way to escape from the mafia.
If Reborn becomes the final villain, I will be VERY happy. >) Well, except Tsuna would be devastated...