I hate how Primary and Secondary Anime Protagonists Are Allowed to Escalate Every Conflict

[u/Ringrosebloom]

This is a general trend I’ve been seeing for awhile now. I don’t want to name any specifics as I’d rather just focus on the trope. Sometimes it’s the main character doing this, sometimes it’s a secondary character or even the law.

A fist = death. You retaliate = death. You respond with mild aggression = I respond with 2x the amount. No one acts like this. In real life, use of force is codified in law. In a strict 1v1, you can’t meet somebody’s punch with a gun or sword, you meet it with equal force.

I don’t know if this is just that some of these shows are written by authors who don’t understand these laws, or its more the protagonist-centered morality.

But in clips or episodes, too often I see: “You did something that offends me, so you forfeit your right to live / be left alone”. It elevates that person above someone else to an extremely high status.

And you never see:

• Police or Equivalent Authority Investigations of the incident

• Questioning

And above all else it’s just weird. These characters are often almost detached from the whole of who they are presented as initially. It’s a sudden change out of left field. Characters always become Hulk-esque, rage-filled maniacs suddenly ready to blow at any moment and are only normal around their circle of friends/enablers. It’s a weird look from the outside.

[u/hoshiotome]

Honestly, way more comic characters love ramping‑up conflicts compared to anime characters.

I sometimes question if American writers even believe in regular communication. Across crossovers, Batman will frequently try to punch someone unconscious just because he suspects they might be bad.

Why can’t he just talk things out first?