To me, Watanabe was always the most "normal" of the men. Sure, he is kind of a whiner, and woefully insecure when it comes to dealing with his feelings for Hayatt, but all he ever wanted was a normal, boring life. What he got was madness and vague threats.
I never got the impression that his intentions toward Hayatt were ignoble. He is a man, so of course sex is on his mind, but it never seemed to me that was the basis of his affection. From the moment he saw her, he immediately fell in love, but has absolutely no idea what to do about it. I thought it unfair that he was labeled a necrophiliac pervert by the others...that is, until his "Chihaya" willingly left him. That was the final straw to rest upon this camel's broken back. He finally snapped. Marbles: lost. Things that were beyond his control broke the man, and I find that to be sad.
Even if he is a necrophiliac pervert...
E^D
I never cared for Watanabe that much since he was such a whiny bitch, but you're right, of all the men in ES he had the most normal goals in life. But the thing with Watanabe is that in the beginning Rikdo was poking fun at other manga and using cliches and stereotypes to use as the stick. Watanabe was the typical whiny, socially insecure loser who didn't know what to do with himself but knew "something" more was expected of him.
I feel once Rikdo realized that this series would go beyond four volumes and was picking up steam, he started to more thoroughly develop the characters and Watanabe was being fleshed out a bit more, and then he after many, many volumes of near-misses looked like he was going to throw the dog a bone. But we knew he really wouldn't let Watanabe have it and he snatched the bone away, leading to...
Super Creepy Watanabe Ver. 2.0!, yes, that S&M loving freak whose fragile little world was sundered apart and is now filling the role of another stereotype, the creepy hentai otaku.
And I must admit, I enjoy him a lot more now that his spirit is broken than when was just a whiny loser. I mean after Momochi gave him the order to scrape off obscene stickers and he replies "This is what I call a perk" with that creepy look on his face, and then he's ordered to bring them back and burn them, "must we burn allof them?" I laughed my butt off.
You go Watanabe! Stay the creepy freak you are now, maybe until near the end when Rikdo lets him have a little. Not all, just a little...
The story of Watanabe really is tragic and shows how people can be utterly devastated by love gone wrong. I hope things all workout for him in the end and he finds a nice quiet anemic girl who isn't a member of a secret society to settle down with.
(But I have to agree that for now, it is funny)
I'm with ElricJC - I like Watanabe a LOT more now.
Honestly, I always thought he was creepy anyway, like Charlie from Lost. My roommate thinks he's cute and sweet, but I'm just like, "You know he's a weird little crack hobbit who spends his time stalking this lady and her baby, right? :e_confused:" Watanabe is the same way. Yeah, he's sometimes really helpful to the girls by giving Hyatt stuff, but he's also practically stalking her. I'VE DATED BOYS LIKE THAT. IT IS CREEPY.
Yeah it's almost outright stalking, being they lived in the same building(s) for so long. Any time they saw each other away from the apartment, it was a "coincedence" (usually something planned by Kabapu and/or Il Palazzo).
I tried to understand his social ineptness, and apprehension when dealing with Hayatt. At first, I thought, 'Well, maybe he's just really, really shy?' But it kept getting worse...hiding when he saw her, endlessly pining from afar, zoning out into fantasies... yeah, that was creepy.
The series of events that broke the man are tragic, but I wouldn't want it any other way. He is more interesting, now. I almost hope for a further downward spiral.
E^D
Quote from: E^D Crow on October 18, 2007, 12:49:21 PM
Yeah it's almost outright stalking, being they lived in the same building(s) for so long. Any time they saw each other away from the apartment, it was a "coincedence" (usually something planned by Kabapu and/or Il Palazzo).
I tried to understand his social ineptness, and apprehension when dealing with Hayatt. At first, I thought, 'Well, maybe he's just really, really shy?' But it kept getting worse...hiding when he saw her, endlessly pining from afar, zoning out into fantasies... yeah, that was creepy.
The series of events that broke the man are tragic, but I wouldn't want it any other way. He is more interesting, now. I almost hope for a further downward spiral.
E^D
Oh yeah it's all fun and games... untill he really does become what his friends mistakenly accused him of and murders her! :hdead:
Quote from: Agent Kego on October 19, 2007, 02:45:02 PM
Oh yeah it's all fun and games... untill he really does become what his friends mistakenly accused him of and murders her! :hdead:
Tragedy is always fun... when it is not happening to you.
I'm not sure Watanabe
can kill Hayatt. First of all, Il Palazzo would not let that happen, secondly, she would die, herself, before he had a chance (both may actually be the same thing).
E^D
i like the wantanabe who was overly swept up or smitten with his cute neighbour, but he was normal, that is, until he met dead hyatt in the sewer. he told his freinds and they thought he was a pervert, making him think he was one.
i was sorta hoping he'd get with hyatt, because, well, it was the only romance story in the book and it was sorta interesting. they were cute too.
i gotta say i dont care now though. perverted wantanbe is funny, but when he finally gets back with hyatt, he'll revert to his normal self(at least, i think). she'd never go with a sadistic pervert like him right now, cause she's just too sweet.
as thick as she is, she's gotta notice the creepy.
Quote from: E^D Crow on October 19, 2007, 05:53:03 PM
Quote from: Agent Kego on October 19, 2007, 02:45:02 PM
Oh yeah it's all fun and games... untill he really does become what his friends mistakenly accused him of and murders her! :hdead:
Tragedy is always fun... when it is not happening to you.
I'm not sure Watanabe can kill Hayatt. First of all, Il Palazzo would not let that happen, secondly, she would die, herself, before he had a chance (both may actually be the same thing).
E^D
Well 'twas just a joke suggestion, although.... Wouldn't it be kind of funny if Watanabe thought he killed Hyatt? I can't think of a way to set it up right now, but it could be intresting.
the only way to kill hyatt is directly. you know what i mean by that.
she may live forever at this rate. in some ways she is stronger than other people.
Quote from: randamonian on November 18, 2007, 09:35:23 PM
the only way to kill hyatt is directly. you know what i mean by that.
she may live forever at this rate. in some ways she is stronger than other people.
You know she just might.
it would just be petty after all that's happened if she died from something such as age it gotta be something else.
I'm with those who have always thought that Watanabe was a creepy git all along.
As for the others making fun of him and calling him a pervert etc. where as Iwata and Sumiyoshi were probably just poking fun at him I wouldn't be suprised at all if Misaki was being %100 serious and always saw right through Watanabe's "affection" for Hyatt.
This is mainly based on memory since I have not read the Manga in a while though I'll probably get started again soon to get ready for V.17's release so there may be some mistakes in my post.
Think about it Watanabe's fantasies usually revolved around Hyatt being weak and needing him and since she ditched him he has now become a creepy S&M game playing freak plus whenever he was in a position with Hyatt being helpless his motivations for wanting to help were hardly ever noble such as when they were stranded at sea for example.
It is all about control fot Watanabe and he has simply gone from one extreme to the other.
Well that or I am making to much of things lol.
Plus I also doubt that Kabapu has brainwashed Watanabe mainly because if so then why would he not brainwash the others as well?, perhaps Kabapu revealed some sort of secret to Watanabe.
But either way Watanabe has turned into the one of the most interesting characters in the entire series.
And he was always stalking Hyatt imo, it simply got worse as time progressed.
Never liked watanabe, deserves what he gets really, like losing the girl of his dreams, funny though, and I do not pity the weak or pathetic
at times he would show a shred of dignity, but that's been washed clean now, huh!?
to be honest, i wonder why he likes hyatt. we know we like hyatt because we've seen so much more of her, but he would go days, weeks, months of time not seeing or talking to her. to be honest, if things worked like that, we'd all have more people falling for us ourselves.
he's pretty shallow then. you wonder why he hasn't met anyone else in all these years.
The funny thing is though is that Watanabe is the only character I can think of who has had anything close to a love life.
Quote from: Dr. Iwata on February 10, 2008, 07:19:08 AM
The funny thing is though is that Watanabe is the only character I can think of who has had anything close to a love life.
I hadn't even thought of that, but you're right--there's a sharp irony there. He did live with Miss Ayasugi for a while, enjoying everything but the actual secks (like a lot of manga relationships actually...)
sad indeed...
except misaki and iwata had a slight thing, but considering he's a robot now, misaki, i think, definantly won't have him now.
Quote from: randamonian on February 11, 2008, 11:17:50 PM
sad indeed...
except misaki and iwata had a slight thing, but considering he's a robot now, misaki, i think, definantly won't have him now.
She did bribe Shiouji into erasing Iwata's memory of the snowed-in incident, but that, itself, was something else entirely.
The relationship dynamics in Excel Saga are just so damn complicated!
I love it! :e_pleased:
E^D
i don't know whether he's just trying to be realistic when it comes to relationships. he's not going for a whole happy couples thing where EVERYONE has a girlfriend by the end of the show.
Quote from: Dr. Iwata on February 10, 2008, 07:19:08 AM
The funny thing is though is that Watanabe is the only character I can think of who has had anything close to a love life.
What about Nabeshin?
anime doesn't count i don't think.
besides, it wasn't a main plot, neither did we see anything really happen.
Life imitates art?
Boot-Thieving Pervert Arrested
A man arrested for stealing dozens of pairs of women's boots has told investigators that he smelled them to imagine what the women who wore them looked like, police said.
Kazuhiro Watanabe, 33, from Okagaki, Fukuoka Prefecture, admitted to the allegations of theft during questioning. "I got excited when I smelled them and fantasized over what the women who wore them looked like," Watanabe was quoted as telling investigators.
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3937 (http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3937)
E^D
Words fail me....
ROFLMAO! :watanabe: :icon_lol:
That's just hilarious!
Damn, that's just great! Pure awesome and win. :ehail:
I could so see that happening with Watanabe too!
Watanabe is just a loser now.. dang it
what will happen?!?!?!?!?
Ohh and misake tells iwata something really cool in Vol 17
cyborg or not iwata is going to get with misake before its over.
Watanabe is starting to recover abit in the latest volume
get with misaki? recover, how we he do that?
oh, i've just GOT to get it soon.
I did find it funny with the fact that he had to carry that fat bastard sumiyoshi in volume 16 after the eating contest
suprised he could carry him.
sumiyoshi just seems to be asking to be fat if he has all these eating contests with a robot with a huuuge stomach.
I thought he said he was planning something. I wonder what he is planning. Crossing fingers that he plans to single-handedly storm ILL Electronics, fight off the employees, grab Hyatt, dodge Robo-Excel, and escape.
do you hope they'll be together, or do you just wanna see such a scene? i can imagine something like that though. reminds me of the last episodes of the anime.
I just want to see a scene like that. I am not sure if I want them to be together anymore. It feels like it has gotten too weird for both of them.
Quote from: Mullon on June 14, 2008, 10:32:33 AM
I just want to see a scene like that. I am not sure if I want them to be together anymore. It feels like it has gotten too weird for both of them.
I think it's been kind of weird from the start. He always had good intentions, with incredibly poor execution. And normally, Hyatt all but barely remembers his name.
E^D
it's doomed. no chance. this isn't a romantic story anyway - it's action!
actually, i think this is how rikdo intended wantanabe to be. in daitenzin, he seemed a bit dark in character.
Watanabe's not too bad, did like the fact that he found his so called girl friend had a bar oof gold worth the money he borrowed from kabapu
i like bits in the story to have a conclusion or continuation, such as that gold bar.
Quote from: randamonian on June 27, 2008, 02:43:40 AM
i like bits in the story to have a conclusion or continuation, such as that gold bar.
I don't get how Watanabe knew that belonged to him.
because it was worth about 10 million yen, which hyatt owed him, and it was found in her apartment, so he assumed...correctly, actually)
yeah but the funny thing is he doesn't get it in the end as its used to get access to kabapu's bank accounts XD
Oh the irony
The guy just can't catch a break, and that's made him a bit off-kilter. Most of the time, he has valid points, and really thinks things through, unless Hyatt is involved, then his brain just kind of shuts down.
I want to see a truly tragic resolution for Watanabe; where his heart is finally and completely broken, and he absolutely realizes there is never going to be the relationship he so desperately wants.
I hate Kabapu even more for whatever he told Watanabe... He just wouldn't let the man get over it, for whatever reason. Kabapu kept this futile hope alive, the jerk.
E^d
yeah, after a while you just think 'you barely saw her, she doesn't seem that interested in you, get over it. It happens to everyone anyway'.
Another point of interest when it comes to Watanabe is that he is also prone to violent outbursts especially towards Iwata.
The guy has serious problems and if Iwata wasn't around for Watanabe to take His frustrations out on lord only knows what he would end up doing :il_hahaha:
Quote from: Dr. Iwata on July 30, 2008, 01:51:00 PMThe guy has serious problems and if Iwata wasn't around for Watanabe to take His frustrations out on lord only knows what he would end up doing :il_hahaha:
:iwata: I´m THE solution of all your problems!
:iwata: I'm... a Warrior of Justice!
Quote from: El Sargento on July 30, 2008, 05:17:23 PM
Quote from: Dr. Iwata on July 30, 2008, 01:51:00 PMThe guy has serious problems and if Iwata wasn't around for Watanabe to take His frustrations out on lord only knows what he would end up doing :il_hahaha:
:iwata: I´m THE solution of all your problems!
:iwata: I'm... a Warrior of Justice!
Yeah, it's often been apparent that Iwata is like Watanabe's punching bag. A
cybernetic punching bag.
Without having him as his stress reliever, Watanabe, being as high-strung as he is at times, might be impossible for everyone to deal with.
Quoteyeah but the funny thing is he doesn't get it in the end as its used to get access to kabapu's bank accounts XD
I actually think his debt has been repayed. Momochi would be the one keeping track of it, and it's not like the debt was owed to an outside group or bank. That and you don't hear him babbling about not having money again. He enters the room in the last frame of the chapter saying "Hey!! The King of Debt!!" to Iwata.
True, so very true. I was actually happy for the bloke, finally settling down, and sure, I was surprised at how quick he was to go for "it", but man that sucked for him when Hyatt gets up and leaves the poor fellow. I mean, how would you feel if your fionce (I think that's how you spell it) left you barely after saying yes, with another man by the way.
To think, once his worries consisted only of noisy next-door neighbors and recessions.
Poor Watanabe. So many mangas are about meek men such as our dear W who eventually succeed in winning the girl/ respect/ control of shiny magic power/ other hokey quest. And of course their noble character traits are enhanced along the way. Watanabe is more realistic. Sometimes, you're thrust into a situation that you just can't cope with, and the straw on the proverbial camel's back is bound to break eventually. And when that happens, your good character traits are rarely showcased. I think Rikdo wants to emphasize that not everything is goodness and light,that being bitter is a lot easier. And, in fact, that the if I only try harder, everything will be OK, or the follow your dreams at any cost mentality so many shonen mangas spout can get a little... weird... if taken to extremes.
In short, he's kind of a miser, a misanthrope, a slave to materialism, and he's pinned all his hopes on a girl to "fix him", but he's more real than most manga bishie-boys, so we still heart him.
How much further down can he go before going all completely crazed rampaging civil servant?
he's already tried assassination
True, he is kind of already there... I just pray he never becomes a cyborg.
Good God a watanabe-borg would be a nightmare :il_hahaha:
what kind of cyborg
(http://azunime.net/anime/grafika/0033/kadr11.jpg) or (http://www.badassvillains.com/badassvillains.com/userfiles/image/scifi/t800/t800_1.jpg)
^ I vote for the Terminator. :il_hahaha:
At this point, Watanabe probably feels as though he has nothing left to lose since losing his Miss Ayasugi, aka: Hyatt. This could make him a very dangerous man - and he's already proved it.
im worried about what will happen when he meets up with ayasugi. I'm hoping he'll soften up, but based on their last encounter, i think she'll snub him.
If he ran into sickly!Hyatt again, I think he might just turn Those Games into reality at this point. Remember Excel's apprehension about him in the sewer way back when? Yeah. That. Heh... or maybe he'd turn normal? ... ... HAHAHA, NO. Boy is doomed.
>Quivers in hilarious fear at the thought of Watanabinator.<
I have to admit that creepy Watanabe is finally growing on me, though. The exchange between him and Iwata in volume nineteen was priceless ("Watanabe, what is love?" "It's like sex for the weak.") :eheart: Remember when he would have rambled something about selflessness and respect? Ahh, those were the days.
I reckon if Watanabe ran into Sickly Hyatt then we're are going to have a re-run of volume 12 where his mind fights it's self, either that or we are going to get a replay of when they met in the anime near the end (Hyatt with a gun at him)
Seeing Hyatt again may throw yet another wrench in the system of his mind... He may attempt to kidnap her. I wouldn't put it past him, at this point.
I also like that he has no respect for Kabapu (and it shows), but supports Kabapu just to get Hyatt back.
My favorite line from 19: "Wow! Did we say dictator? We meant
insane dictator!"
Now that he's fully lost it, his lines are too funny. He has a lot of good ones in 19.
Quote from: Pamplemousse on June 13, 2009, 10:43:50 AMThe exchange between him and Iwata in volume nineteen was priceless ("Watanabe, what is love?" "It's like sex for the weak.") :eheart: Remember when he would have rambled something about selflessness and respect? Ahh, those were the days.
I laughed so much when I read that line! X^D After his change, his english anime voice matches him even less, in my head.
Another gem: "Uh, Doc, whereas my horrible crimes are committed only in video games, yours are real."
E^D
Aye, Watanabe is definitely the most improved character. Originally, while I liked him in a "I don't really like the character but 'e was certainly needed for the Ha-chan and Iwata stuff" kinda way, his evilness has made 'im one of me favourite characters.
Before that, unless he was bumbling aroond chasing Ha-chan or arguing with Iwata for being a doilum, I'd typically find 'im to be irritating more than owt else. Now when I see 'im, I get excited 'cause I just wanna see what the bloody 'ell's gonna roll off 'is tounge next.
I have always liked the trio in both manga and anime versions and I have to agree that Watanabe is a great twist on a over done akward guy cliche. As the most 'normal' guy it is a surprise his mind coped till now and I am eager to see what is next for him. It must be very hard for him to sorta lose Iwata as a flesh punch bag as an outlet as well as his 'love' but I think too many brain breaking things have occured for his 'normal' mind. I might be odd but liked the 'old' Watanabe, though ch19 has gold in.
Heh... I agree. At one point in the early volumes, I was betting he was the one most likely to be offed. You know, being the normal one and all... Of course, then it turned out to be Iwata. But, I wonder what he'd do if he found out he bombed Hyatt... would we recapture some of the sane!Watanabe? I hope not...
Watanabe is subconsciously - or perhaps purely by chance - training himself to be the type of person who will be psychologically able to deal with a future spouse (Hyatt) with the disturbing tendency to spew blood and die (temporarily) when excited or aroused...
I don't know about you all, but I don't read the spoilers.
I can't (yet, I must) wait to see what he does in Vol. 23.
He had kind of a crazy look in his eyes... The suspense of that one scene alone is going to bug me all year long! And that's OK.
E^d
Quote from: E^D Crow on June 20, 2011, 08:01:41 PM
I don't know about you all, but I don't read the spoilers.
I can't (yet, I must) wait to see what he does in Vol. 23.
He had kind of a crazy look in his eyes... The suspense of that one scene alone is going to bug me all year long! And that's OK.
E^d
Couldn't agree with you more. I stopped looking at the spoilers after I realized it was far more painful for me to check them out than for me to wait. Only 10 more months 'til April... :il_hahaha:
Quote from: Foggle on June 20, 2011, 10:35:28 PMOnly 10 more months 'til April... :il_hahaha:
Is that all??
Sweeeet! :e_tongue:
... blarg....... X_x
Generally, I think Watanabe's character has always freaked me out a little bit - The fact of him being sometimes unpredictable and unstable in creepy, dark ways. But this when combined with his cynical nature makes his character a lot of fun.
And this observation of him isn't just limited to the manga either. Despite the anime being as short as it was, I thought his character was developed and conveyed pretty well.
As for recent events with him in volume 23, shit! [spoiler=For Watanabe's mentality]Have to wonder if he straightened himself out only to become a headcase once again..
.. Headcase......... riiiiight. Like that'll ever change. :il_hahaha:[/spoiler]
I like Watanabe quite a bit. I think he's a good guy overall who just happens to have the worst luck in the world. He was bound to be pushed past his breaking point eventually.
Quote from: Lord Il on June 21, 2011, 02:53:07 PM
And this observation of him isn't just limited to the manga either. Despite the anime being as short as it was, I thought his character was developed and conveyed pretty well.
Yeah, of all the characters who weren't either part of ACROSS or created by Nabeshin, he was the only one with any development in the anime.
It seems appropriate to bring this topic back, as Watanabe is regaining some of his old self again, rejoice..!
I did like the shady creep he became for a while, but the old Watanabe is the one I liked best in the end, despite the dialogue from his changed character being absolutely hilarious :D