Making Seo as the villain would work better if she killed someone who didn't deserve it. Attempted murder isn't much better, but in a story, it feels like a cheap "not too evil" characterization.
Still not happy with how abrupt or lacking justifications it was, either. But I suppose "she planned it from the start and was faking the whole time" is the best we can get (and yes, it was already hinted in ch. 51). Unless we later get something with Komachi and an explanation of how Seo went from bully to attempted mass murderer.

Seo aside, it's a good thing that Michiru was actually redeemable and got killed by Prez. Because otherwise I'd suspect that the author is trying to sell us that he was right, and that wouldn't sit well with me at all.

idk how the author intentionally draws panels like this and expects us not to call it a yuri

It's just gaslighting at this point.

Shiina is such a good character, I love so much that she joined Satsuki's team for literally no reason other than "she's the idiot who will do anything to keep me alive" Like everyone else is so caught up in their own plans and beliefs that they just fail to notice Shiina is playing them all like a fiddle.

I believe in Shiina supremacy

idk how the author intentionally draws panels like this and expects us not to call it a yuri

Did the same on another work, then proceeded to kill main couple (on much harder subtext) (after killing literally 80% of main cast) so I'm scared

idk how the author intentionally draws panels like this and expects us not to call it a yuri

Did the same on another work, then proceeded to kill main couple (on much harder subtext) (after killing literally 80% of main cast) so I'm scared

To be fair though, Walk To Death was overall a much bleaker story than Liar Satsuki has been thus far

"There wasn't anyone left to torment me"
Komachi standing there menacingly
That got a ferocious cackle from me lmfaooo

God if only this was actually going the yuri route that first page hurts so much knowing they author probably wont ever go further than subtext/bait

Still not satisfied until we get a Phoenix Wright - style breakdown for Vice Prez.

Also that Seo vs Shiina thing is the most direct Sociopath vs Psychopath example I have ever seen.

On that note, I don't really find psychopath villians all that compelling, because most of the time they have no meaningful ideology they believe in, just extreme self-interest. Which can be fun in the right context, like in Die Hard. And there are of course rare examples of interesting psychopaths, like the antagonist of the first season of Psycho-Pass. But especially in a mistery series like this one, where unraveling why the actors do what and how is one of the main draws, the answer "oh she is just a psycho" feels unrewarding.

Finally, the final act begins. And it looks like Komachi will play a major role in it. I'm looking forward to it.

The situation with Seo and the prez is strange. A murder has occurred and nothing?

The situation with Seo and the prez is strange. A murder has occurred and nothing?

There is a little panel during the Seo/Shiina confrontation that should let you know w=that probably the police was coming but there is indeed, not really a mention of Seo after so we kinda left hanging until next chapter.

Also that Seo vs Shiina thing is the most direct Sociopath vs Psychopath example I have ever seen.

I am not very familiar with those pathologies. Can you explain the difference in this particular example?

Also that Seo vs Shiina thing is the most direct Sociopath vs Psychopath example I have ever seen.

I am not very familiar with those pathologies. Can you explain the difference in this particular example?

So upfront, neither Psycho nor Sociopath are really used in modern mental illness definitions. The modern term is "Anti-Social Personality Disorder"

According to Bing the difference between them is:

Psychopaths have little or no conscience but are able to follow social conventions when it suits their needs. Sociopaths have a limited, albeit weak, ability to feel empathy and remorse.

Psychopathy is related to a physiological defect that results in the underdevelopment of the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and emotions. Sociopathy, on the other hand, is more likely the product of childhood trauma and physical, emotional abuse.

Sociopaths tend to act more impulsively and erratically compared to psychopaths. Sociopaths generally struggle to maintain a job or a family life, whereas psychopaths may be able to do so.

So based on this criteria, I'd say Shiina is a Psychopath and Seo is a Sociopath, we see in the manga that Shiina has no issue holding a friend group and she easily slots herself in to Satsuki's when she joins the team. She also doesn't go out of her way to hurt people outside of her bullying.

Seo meanwhile doesn't have a lot of close friends and the people she hung out with actively despised her. She is also much more likely to give in to her violent urges, as we see with her multiple attempts to murder people throughout the story. She wants to hurt people and she's willing to go out of her way to see it happen.

Though I re-iterate, neither of these terms is really used in modern medical science and what I've presented here is a much abbreviated version, the actual definitions likely vary a bit and my analysis may not hold up under more thorough scrutiny.

So based on this criteria, I'd say Shiina is a Psychopath and Seo is a Sociopath, we see in the manga that Shiina has no issue holding a friend group and she easily slots herself in to Satsuki's when she joins the team. She also doesn't go out of her way to hurt people outside of her bullying.

Seo meanwhile doesn't have a lot of close friends and the people she hung out with actively despised her. She is also much more likely to give in to her violent urges, as we see with her multiple attempts to murder people throughout the story. She wants to hurt people and she's willing to go out of her way to see it happen.

Though I re-iterate, neither of these terms is really used in modern medical science and what I've presented here is a much abbreviated version, the actual definitions likely vary a bit and my analysis may not hold up under more thorough scrutiny.

An insightful analysis, thank you. :-)

Also, ch.78 on MD. Last panel on page 12: I think our cute psychopath is also shipping them at this point. ;-D Also, it seems we are finally getting to the Komachi Reveal.

Komachi kill yourself

Itou still the best and the cutest.

i feel so bad for satsuki dude, she fr just wants to have friends

Also, ch.78 on MD. Last panel on page 12: I think our cute psychopath is also shipping them at this point. ;-D Also, it seems we are finally getting to the Komachi Reveal.

I was thinking it looked more like she was upset with Akira bumping in and taking Satsuki's spotlight off her. What tangled web of emotions lie within that upset could be anything, from minor annoyance to insane jealousy, I couldn't rightly claim.

Yay Komachi show your damn true colors already please.

Shiina mvp ngl. And yes comment above mine, it’s time Satsuki finds out koma koma true colors.

Although she might’ve had suspicions already like that time komaichi tryna kill her

last edited at Jan 26, 2024 11:18AM

I love that Shiina just says she blew up the gym and Satsuki's only reaction is "wow cool, you're amazing" like this girl cares about murder, she's here to make sure nobody dies.

But collateral damage who gives a shit amirite. Honestly really funny to me how little either Satsuki or Akira care about it especially considering how close to the blast they ended up being.

It's really cool to see as well that Shiina and Akira just tell Satsuki that she's a terrible liar because she IS, and it's a nice bookend for famous Liar Satsuki.

Also also "she just wants to tell you about bugs" AND??? what's so wrong with that?? hUH??? I believe in Itou supremacy!

I love that Shiina just says she blew up the gym and Satsuki's only reaction is "wow cool, you're amazing" like this girl cares about murder, she's here to make sure nobody dies.

But collateral damage who gives a shit amirite. Honestly really funny to me how little either Satsuki or Akira care about it especially considering how close to the blast they ended up being.

It's really cool to see as well that Shiina and Akira just tell Satsuki that she's a terrible liar because she IS, and it's a nice bookend for famous Liar Satsuki.

Also also "she just wants to tell you about bugs" AND??? what's so wrong with that?? hUH??? I believe in Itou supremacy!

To be fair, blowing up the gym is pretty cool, I mean sure you could focus on the inherent tragedy of the Prez's death but who wants to do that when you can focus on boom boom instead?

prediction for next chapter

An interesting twist might be that Komachi is the key to the chain-o-death spiral thingy.
Like the commenter suggests above, she might have to die to stop it?

I'm still expecting, or at least hoping, the whole fate angle to be the bullshit idea of a dead president. It would be so much less satisfying than the story being about people and their choices rather than some predestined outcomes assigned to them. But the storytelling has been a lot more shaky recently than it had in the past so maybe the author really will just retread Walk In Death.
Actually now that I think about it I liked Walk In Death but was disappointed by that ending too. The whole time I was reading it I was debating whether or not the story has a unique idea or if the author had just watched the Final Destination movies and got inspired, and the ending definitely pushed me to the latter conclusion (fun fact: the unique cursed birth they describe in that ending is something that happens all the time, it even happened to me when I was born, it's extremely silly how the author frames it).
Maybe Ryouko-sensei is just one of those authors who struggle with endings every time. If so I hope for their next manga they move the focus away from overarching mystery, since that's a genre that desperately needs satisfying endings. This manga's first half, where we didn't really have any overarching structure except a couple forgettable pages in the first chapter and Satsuki's personal life, was basically perfect. The introduction of the student council president dropped that quality and we've been slowly sliding downhill since. This is one of the rare cases where I'd prefer an endless serialization format rather than the shaky and distracting series plot. Let Satsuki and Akira be Sam and Dean type characters, give them a sequel where they get a cool car and drive across Japan telling people they're siblings while secretly being lovers and solving distinct mysteries in each town they visit. Supernatural, for as much of a joke as that series became (similarly due to its bad overarching plots (and killing Felicia Day)), would be a much better influence than Final Destination lol.

last edited at Jan 28, 2024 7:12AM