With the conversation surrounding 1:24:11, I think that's a major reason why Jin even feels comfortable exploring what it means to be the Ghost. All these side quests with samurai is showing that the samurai he's coveted, the code he's built his life around, it all falls to shit the second people like Shimura and Ishikawa and Masako have a personal reason to forego it. They have personal vendettas, and they break the code and endanger civilians that are supposed to be protected by that code in order to pursue the vendetta. So if they're "allowed" to break the code to follow through on their own problems, and endanger civilians and peasants along the way, why can't Jin break the code to SAVE civilians and peasants? Because we heard from Jin himself in one of the flashbacks ages ago, he personally defined honor as defending people who can't defend themselves. If the samurai code doesn't do that, and "allows" people like Ishikawa and Masako to NOT do that, then its no wonder Jin is finding it in himself to forego the samurai way to follow what he deep down truly believes to be the right thing to do and defend his people.
1:10:00 counterpoint: the civilians no longer see Jin as a samurai (who have a reputation to defend the people), but instead as the Ghost (a tool of vengeance). The wanton destruction of the mongols and the removal of their threat was not done by military might, but by trickery and deception ALONGSIDE a powerful swordsmanship. The legend of Jin is being conflated as a vengeful spirit, and the mongols and easily bend that to say “and he’ll kill you too, if you cross him.” I doubt the civilian population has any ill will towards the samurai any more than they did before the mongols. Jin is becoming a Batman-like vigilante who’s sowing fear…and that fear bleeds into the minds of people he may have no intentions of hurting.
Haha, I hope this doesn't come across as some kind of "you're so cute when you're angry" but I just love it when Dr Mick loses it over the frustrating behaviour of these video game characters. I had to laugh out loud several times during this episode :D
Quick Stamps for General Mental Health Topics 2:05 Drawbacks of labels and generalization, choices vs categories 6:41 Seeking to understand does not condone 9:57 Labels and context, curiosity over judgement 1:01:38 Engaging with curiosity rather than shutting the convo down 1:03:01 Propaganda and fear for safety 1:08:27 Reflection of reputation 1:11:49 Local leadership in times of crisis 1:13:11 Bell Curve of selfishness and privilege, cherry picking honor and code 1:25:57 Holding people accountable, respect your elders 1:29:14 Understanding is not condoning, turncoat considerations 1:34:23 Hindsight justification wormhole, take accountability 1:42:01 Progressive thinking hindered by rigid adherence 1:43:47 Compromise and survival (geopolitical)
Ha! Never thought I'd hear you quote from the cult classic of my youth, Dr Mick. I can very easily see Jin saying: "What are you gonna do, bleed on me?" 😁
48:15 I think if the Samurai weren't all whipped out in the first scene and had some remaining troops then they'd probably have the same relationship with Jin that the police do with Batman. They wouldn't encourage him publicly and if they saw him they'd probably try to make an arrest. But as long as he's only killing Mongols and traitorous straw hats then I doubt they would make a real effort to stop him
With the conversation surrounding 1:24:11, I think that's a major reason why Jin even feels comfortable exploring what it means to be the Ghost. All these side quests with samurai is showing that the samurai he's coveted, the code he's built his life around, it all falls to shit the second people like Shimura and Ishikawa and Masako have a personal reason to forego it. They have personal vendettas, and they break the code and endanger civilians that are supposed to be protected by that code in order to pursue the vendetta. So if they're "allowed" to break the code to follow through on their own problems, and endanger civilians and peasants along the way, why can't Jin break the code to SAVE civilians and peasants? Because we heard from Jin himself in one of the flashbacks ages ago, he personally defined honor as defending people who can't defend themselves. If the samurai code doesn't do that, and "allows" people like Ishikawa and Masako to NOT do that, then its no wonder Jin is finding it in himself to forego the samurai way to follow what he deep down truly believes to be the right thing to do and defend his people.
1:10:00 counterpoint: the civilians no longer see Jin as a samurai (who have a reputation to defend the people), but instead as the Ghost (a tool of vengeance). The wanton destruction of the mongols and the removal of their threat was not done by military might, but by trickery and deception ALONGSIDE a powerful swordsmanship. The legend of Jin is being conflated as a vengeful spirit, and the mongols and easily bend that to say “and he’ll kill you too, if you cross him.” I doubt the civilian population has any ill will towards the samurai any more than they did before the mongols. Jin is becoming a Batman-like vigilante who’s sowing fear…and that fear bleeds into the minds of people he may have no intentions of hurting.
I see Dr. Mick is as frustrated with Ishikawa as I was
Haha, I hope this doesn't come across as some kind of "you're so cute when you're angry" but I just love it when Dr Mick loses it over the frustrating behaviour of these video game characters. I had to laugh out loud several times during this episode :D
Quick Stamps for General Mental Health Topics
2:05 Drawbacks of labels and generalization, choices vs categories
6:41 Seeking to understand does not condone
9:57 Labels and context, curiosity over judgement
1:01:38 Engaging with curiosity rather than shutting the convo down
1:03:01 Propaganda and fear for safety
1:08:27 Reflection of reputation
1:11:49 Local leadership in times of crisis
1:13:11 Bell Curve of selfishness and privilege, cherry picking honor and code
1:25:57 Holding people accountable, respect your elders
1:29:14 Understanding is not condoning, turncoat considerations
1:34:23 Hindsight justification wormhole, take accountability
1:42:01 Progressive thinking hindered by rigid adherence
1:43:47 Compromise and survival (geopolitical)
Continuing to enjoy the series. Kept chuckling along to each monty python quote
Love watching and getting all the analysis and simple sentences that show sooo much information about a character like Ishikawa
Hey, Dr. Mick, just wanted to say I love hearing your perspectives and I'm happy you're sticking with this game! Hope you're loving it!
Ha! Never thought I'd hear you quote from the cult classic of my youth, Dr Mick. I can very easily see Jin saying: "What are you gonna do, bleed on me?" 😁
48:15 I think if the Samurai weren't all whipped out in the first scene and had some remaining troops then they'd probably have the same relationship with Jin that the police do with Batman. They wouldn't encourage him publicly and if they saw him they'd probably try to make an arrest. But as long as he's only killing Mongols and traitorous straw hats then I doubt they would make a real effort to stop him
first!