[Thess]

Originally Posted by Alhazred

Spoiler:

Meh, even if he did say that all it really means is that she has to get by on hard work and determination alone, though this also likely means that she will never be as good as a genius who works just as hard; Keith and Hayate's positions as the ace/presumptive future ace are safe.

Spoiler for mmm spoilers episode 11:

That would be great but when have we seen Mirage actually training and showing her 'hard work and determination'? Was this off screen (too)? Because in the battlefield, half of the time, she does almost nothing but getting shot and shouting "Delta Five! Delta Five!" Her best moments are occasionally support to Hayate.

We've seen Hayate and Freyja struggling and training despite their natural talent to meet the expectation of the aces because they took a vow to show off what they are made of. We see nothing of this kind of initiative from Mirage in 11 episodes. Freyja lost her abilities in last episode and we see her training hard in that Walkure camp, getting muddy. Where's this determination Freyja show in Mirage's actions? She takes criticism, bows her head and occasionally gets a scene or two, positive or negative. If that were her arc, wouldn't she joined in Hayate in her "I wanted to show Messer what I am made for" deal? But it didn't happen.

Hayate and Freyja have show not only talent, but also determination and heart about what they want to do. Christ, Freyja shipped herself out her planet and defied her people to follow what she considered right. And it wasn't easy at all.

Yeah, I'm not sure what her character is there for, honestly, besides the triangle. We're about to reach the half of the show and her only significant growth is that she's not hostile with Hayate, nothing about her character remotely changed just a relationship to justify she's there as a potential love interest. Meanwhile Freyja's and Hayate's relationship with each other deepened, sure, but they as characters also grew and matured, and forged bonds with other people, not just with each other. Mirage, so far, has only showed any kind of change in her relationship with Hayate and nothing else.

You're free to tell me I'm "bashing" her, but her characterization has been really awful so far. While they have been competent with mostly everyone else. I'm ready for Kawamori to wow me with Mirage, who I had all the expectation for her to be my favorite girl before I watched the show, and met nothing but complete and utter disappointment in how poorly written and underused she is. It almost feels like Ranka again, only there to make her rival look better, but at least they worried to give Ranka personal growth and focused on other relationships with her too. Eleven episodes in, how long until she actually becomes more than an accessory love interest and transforms into an actual main character to stand by Hayate's and Freyja's side?