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Yuri Petrov Observation Diary Pt. 3
There Is Always a Next Time
The episode starts off with the publicity fallout from the previous episode: we look at various citizens talking about Lunatic and how his methods are probably more effective than the Heroes non-lethal ones. After the opening song we cut to a meeting of various CEOs around the city discussing the situation.
Poseidon Line CEO: I must say this is unexpected.
Helios Energy CEO: We never thought something like this would cause the public to mistrust our city's heroes.
Titan Industry CEO: If more and more people question their abilities it could be disastrous.
Helperidese Finance CEO: You're right, it could put Hero TV in jeopardy.
Odysseus Communication CEO: We've got to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. At this point we've got too much money invested in them.
There's a brief shot of Maverick's neutral expression, then Yuri speaks up.
Yuri: Let's focus. We can't afford to have someone operating above the law. Lunatic may think he's fixing the world but the Justice Bureau doesn't approve of the use of capital punishment. We should be putting together a plan to arrest him, and as soon as possible, before there are more victims.
Kronos Foods CEO: Wait a second, how do we do that? We have no idea when or where he'll strike again!
The group dissolves into bickering while we zoom in on Yuri's eyes. Yuri's expression, such as we can see it, starts out impassive- his eyes then widen when Maverick interrupts the bickering, and narrow as Maverick continues speaking.
Maverick: Everyone please, calm down! The immediate problem for us is that people are beginning to support Lunatic's actions. Our top priority should be to help people regain their trust in the heroes. We need to convince our citizens that the heroes are the true representatives of justice in this world!
The CEOs clap and make agreeing noises. We don't see how Yuri reacts, which means it's hard to clarify exactly what he's feeling about what Maverick is saying. Is he displeased with what Maverick is saying- that Maverick is more concerned with PR than with Lunatic's murders? Is he merely listening intently, deciding on what Lunatic's next move will be?
After this we switch focus to the heroes going around doing various PR related activities- picking up trash, bringing bouquets to nursing homes- and then to Kotetsu, Barnaby, and Ivan visiting the Hero Academy, a school that trains NEXT of all ages and backgrounds in all the skills they'll need if they want to become a hero. We find out about some of Ivan's insecurities and how he used to be friends with a hero-in-training named Edward, who accidentally shot and killed a woman while they were in school and went to prison as a result. (Which seems.... pretty harsh to me for a clearly accidental murder but I digress/am not a law expert.) As it turns out, Edward has only just escaped and is after Ivan for revenge. When his first attempt to kill Ivan is foiled by Kotetsu and Barnaby, Kotetsu gives Ivan a pep talk, resulting in Ivan running off to find Edward. He finally runs into his former friend in a parking lot.
Edward: You were looking for me, right? So what's with the scared face?
Ivan: I came here to ask you to stop. Edward, please...
Edward: Shut up!
Enter Lunatic and Lunatic's bolt of fire. Lunatic shoots at Edward from his position on a nearby rooftop, the bolt landing between Ivan and Edward.
Yuri: Sinful one, your time has come.
Ivan and Edward look up at Yuri and gawp at him as he dramatically burns off his cloak.
Ivan: It's Lunatic.
Edward: Why did he shoot at me?
Yuri: You escaped from prison without atoning for the murder you committed. You will pay for that with your life.
Edward flees and tries to hide behind a van, only for Yuri to shoot at the van and blow it up.
Yuri: Foolish man.
The explosion attracts the attention of Barnaby and Kotetsu. Meanwhile, Edward has managed to escape the explosion. Yuri jumps off the roof where he was perched and begins moving towards the burning wreckage of the van, while a terrified Edward watches him.
Ivan: Edward are you alright?
Edward screams and runs towards another car, which Yuri also blows up. As Edward keeps scrambling around the parking lot, Yuri calmly walks after him.
Yuri: Did you think you could escape from me?
Yuri aims his crossbow at Edward, but then Ivan, disguised as Edward, interrupts.
Ivan: Wait a second. I'm the real Edward.
Zoom-in on Lunatic's mask, as he looks back and forth between Ivan-Edward and Real-Edward.
Edward: What the-
Ivan: You said you were after me, right? So what are you waiting for?
Yuri: Senseless killing goes against my principles. Identify yourself, sinner.
Ivan: I told you, I'm the real Edward!
Yuri: You're prepared to atone for your sins?
Ivan-as-Edward nods.
Yuri: Very well.
And then Yuri turns towards the real Edward.
Ivan: Damn it!
Yuri: Because sinners have to pay the price.
Okay so- the past two lines are awkwardly translated enough that I tend to mentally substitute them with the lines from my sub, which are as follows:
Ivan: But why?!
Yuri: All true sinners are cowards.
Makes more sense and also actually explains how Yuri decides on which Edward is the real one. By Yuri's logic, a truly sinful person would be the most afraid to "atone" and therefore the Edward who isn't willing to put his life on the line must be the real, murderous one.
Yuri: Accept your punishment as justice.
As Yuri's finger slides into place on the trigger, Ivan grits his teeth, sheds his disguise, and runs in front of Edward.
Ivan: Go ahead, I'm gonna protect Edward! Go on, shoot!
Yuri: I have no choice. Those who defend sinners are also evil.
Yuri fires the bolt- but luckily for Edward and Ivan, at that moment a powered up Kotetsu arrives on the scene and whisks them away before Yuri's fire can touch them. As the bolt explodes in front of him Yuri whips his head up and spies Barnaby leaping towards him, and runs off before Barnaby can kick him in the head.
Barnaby: You're not getting away!
After Kotetsu congratulates Ivan, Kotetsu, Bunny, and Yuri all head up to a roof for a suitably dramatic face-off.
Barnaby: What is it you want with Edward? He doesn't have anything to do with Ouroborous!
Yuri: Heh.
Barnaby: You're not attempting to silence people for your organization?
Yuri: I've only come here to make evildoers atone for their sins.
Kotetsu: Are you trying to tell us that you're not with Ouroborous?
Yuri: You talk too much.
Barnaby: Don't play coy, because of you I lost my lead to Ouroborous!
Yuri: That's too bad.
Christ Kotetsu, Barnaby, do try to keep up. Anyway, Yuri's condescension pisses Barnaby off enough for him to rush at Yuri.
Kotetsu: Don't be stupid!
But sadly for Barnaby, Yuri moves fast. He leaps into the air, firing another bolt of fire at Barnaby.
Yuri: How reckless. Has hatred consumed you, hero? Hear the voice of Thanatos!
Fortunately for Barnaby, who seems paralyzed by his distress (?), Kotetsu rushes forward and takes the hit for Barnaby. Kotetsu falls, rolls across a roof, and when he gets to his feet he and Yuri leap at each other in a sequence I can only describe as Incredibly Anime.
Their fists collide with each others' faces and the two land on the ground below. And Yuri's mask cracks, a tiny fraction of it falling off. An injured Kotetsu falls to his knees, and Barnaby rushes to his side. In the background Yuri stands still, looking away from the heroes, not doing anything though the flames coming out of his hands extinguish.
Barnaby: Are you alright?
Kotetsu: Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.
Barnaby makes an angry noise and looks over at Yuri, but Kotetsu grabs Barnaby's hands, making Tiger/Bunny shippers everywhere squee.
Kotetsu: Calm down, don't get crazy.
Barnaby: But-
Still looking away from Kotetsu and Barnaby, Yuri finally speaks up.
Yuri: I have no wish to fight with you.
Barnaby: What?
Yuri: Let me make myself clear. I'm just giving murderers what they deserve.
Kotetsu: Killing people? That's what you call justice?
At this point, Yuri finally turns around to face the heroes.
Yuri: The oldest form on earth. An eye for an eye.
Kotetsu: Yeah, well, I have a very different approach.
Kotetsu gets to his feet and dramatically turns around.
Kotetsu: My idea of justice is arresting idiots like you!
Perhaps Yuri's about to say more- but at that point more of his mask crumples and falls off, exposing his cheek. He reaches up to cover the crack with his hand as Kotetsu and Barnaby gasp.
Yuri: Interesting. We shall see where that sense of justice leads you.
Yuri then uses his fire powers to flee, just as Barnaby's powers run out.
Barnaby: Wait a minute-! ...Bastard.
So. As with our last episode, I'm just going to go over the bits of dialogue that especially stand out to me:
We next see Yuri in an after the credits scene of him... hanging out in some sort of murder basement? He drinks something warm (tea, I'm guessing) out of a mug with his broken mask sitting on the table in front of him. On a nearby computer he opens up a file on Wild Tiger's secret identity as Kotetsu Kaburagi. There's no dialogue, so. Have some observations about the glimpses we have of Yuri's hideout.
Besides the broken mask on the desk we can see four spare masks hanging on the wall behind Yuri. Which is almost weird to me considering he probably goes through capes faster- since he likes to burn them off for dramatic effect- and there's only one of those on the wall but whatever, it's probably his mask wall and we just can't see his cape wall.
He also has a bunch of sharp knife looking things and balls attached to chains hanging off the wall despite the fact he's never shown using either of these things ever so??? Yuri, what?? Why do you have those???![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thethrillof once suggested they might be torture implements so I guess Yuri's just like. Prepared himself for when he might need to kidnap and torture some people??
The opposite side of the room has a lot of books- legal stuff and reference books I guess?- as well as some candelabras, despite the fact this room clearly has electricity since Yuri's using a computer.
Not really important, but that thing in the bottom left corner of Yuri's computer is animated and appears to be a clock of some kind? It's oddly cute to me.
Less cute: Yuri's hands are so terrifyingly pale, especially in this lighting, that I didn't realize until a rewatch a little while back that he wasn't just wearing white gloves.
I don't have much to say about this one except a) I am not entirely sure how to read this expression beyond "serious" and b) wow, Yuri looks even more like an escapee from a 70s shoujo than even Barnaby does.
The episode starts off with the publicity fallout from the previous episode: we look at various citizens talking about Lunatic and how his methods are probably more effective than the Heroes non-lethal ones. After the opening song we cut to a meeting of various CEOs around the city discussing the situation.
Poseidon Line CEO: I must say this is unexpected.
Helios Energy CEO: We never thought something like this would cause the public to mistrust our city's heroes.
Titan Industry CEO: If more and more people question their abilities it could be disastrous.
Helperidese Finance CEO: You're right, it could put Hero TV in jeopardy.
Odysseus Communication CEO: We've got to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. At this point we've got too much money invested in them.
There's a brief shot of Maverick's neutral expression, then Yuri speaks up.
Yuri: Let's focus. We can't afford to have someone operating above the law. Lunatic may think he's fixing the world but the Justice Bureau doesn't approve of the use of capital punishment. We should be putting together a plan to arrest him, and as soon as possible, before there are more victims.
Kronos Foods CEO: Wait a second, how do we do that? We have no idea when or where he'll strike again!
The group dissolves into bickering while we zoom in on Yuri's eyes. Yuri's expression, such as we can see it, starts out impassive- his eyes then widen when Maverick interrupts the bickering, and narrow as Maverick continues speaking.
Maverick: Everyone please, calm down! The immediate problem for us is that people are beginning to support Lunatic's actions. Our top priority should be to help people regain their trust in the heroes. We need to convince our citizens that the heroes are the true representatives of justice in this world!
The CEOs clap and make agreeing noises. We don't see how Yuri reacts, which means it's hard to clarify exactly what he's feeling about what Maverick is saying. Is he displeased with what Maverick is saying- that Maverick is more concerned with PR than with Lunatic's murders? Is he merely listening intently, deciding on what Lunatic's next move will be?
After this we switch focus to the heroes going around doing various PR related activities- picking up trash, bringing bouquets to nursing homes- and then to Kotetsu, Barnaby, and Ivan visiting the Hero Academy, a school that trains NEXT of all ages and backgrounds in all the skills they'll need if they want to become a hero. We find out about some of Ivan's insecurities and how he used to be friends with a hero-in-training named Edward, who accidentally shot and killed a woman while they were in school and went to prison as a result. (Which seems.... pretty harsh to me for a clearly accidental murder but I digress/am not a law expert.) As it turns out, Edward has only just escaped and is after Ivan for revenge. When his first attempt to kill Ivan is foiled by Kotetsu and Barnaby, Kotetsu gives Ivan a pep talk, resulting in Ivan running off to find Edward. He finally runs into his former friend in a parking lot.
Edward: You were looking for me, right? So what's with the scared face?
Ivan: I came here to ask you to stop. Edward, please...
Edward: Shut up!
Enter Lunatic and Lunatic's bolt of fire. Lunatic shoots at Edward from his position on a nearby rooftop, the bolt landing between Ivan and Edward.
Yuri: Sinful one, your time has come.
Ivan and Edward look up at Yuri and gawp at him as he dramatically burns off his cloak.
Ivan: It's Lunatic.
Edward: Why did he shoot at me?
Yuri: You escaped from prison without atoning for the murder you committed. You will pay for that with your life.
Edward flees and tries to hide behind a van, only for Yuri to shoot at the van and blow it up.
Yuri: Foolish man.
The explosion attracts the attention of Barnaby and Kotetsu. Meanwhile, Edward has managed to escape the explosion. Yuri jumps off the roof where he was perched and begins moving towards the burning wreckage of the van, while a terrified Edward watches him.
Ivan: Edward are you alright?
Edward screams and runs towards another car, which Yuri also blows up. As Edward keeps scrambling around the parking lot, Yuri calmly walks after him.
Yuri: Did you think you could escape from me?
Yuri aims his crossbow at Edward, but then Ivan, disguised as Edward, interrupts.
Ivan: Wait a second. I'm the real Edward.
Zoom-in on Lunatic's mask, as he looks back and forth between Ivan-Edward and Real-Edward.
Edward: What the-
Ivan: You said you were after me, right? So what are you waiting for?
Yuri: Senseless killing goes against my principles. Identify yourself, sinner.
Ivan: I told you, I'm the real Edward!
Yuri: You're prepared to atone for your sins?
Ivan-as-Edward nods.
Yuri: Very well.
And then Yuri turns towards the real Edward.
Ivan: Damn it!
Yuri: Because sinners have to pay the price.
Okay so- the past two lines are awkwardly translated enough that I tend to mentally substitute them with the lines from my sub, which are as follows:
Ivan: But why?!
Yuri: All true sinners are cowards.
Makes more sense and also actually explains how Yuri decides on which Edward is the real one. By Yuri's logic, a truly sinful person would be the most afraid to "atone" and therefore the Edward who isn't willing to put his life on the line must be the real, murderous one.
Yuri: Accept your punishment as justice.
As Yuri's finger slides into place on the trigger, Ivan grits his teeth, sheds his disguise, and runs in front of Edward.
Ivan: Go ahead, I'm gonna protect Edward! Go on, shoot!
Yuri: I have no choice. Those who defend sinners are also evil.
Yuri fires the bolt- but luckily for Edward and Ivan, at that moment a powered up Kotetsu arrives on the scene and whisks them away before Yuri's fire can touch them. As the bolt explodes in front of him Yuri whips his head up and spies Barnaby leaping towards him, and runs off before Barnaby can kick him in the head.
Barnaby: You're not getting away!
After Kotetsu congratulates Ivan, Kotetsu, Bunny, and Yuri all head up to a roof for a suitably dramatic face-off.
Barnaby: What is it you want with Edward? He doesn't have anything to do with Ouroborous!
Yuri: Heh.
Barnaby: You're not attempting to silence people for your organization?
Yuri: I've only come here to make evildoers atone for their sins.
Kotetsu: Are you trying to tell us that you're not with Ouroborous?
Yuri: You talk too much.
Barnaby: Don't play coy, because of you I lost my lead to Ouroborous!
Yuri: That's too bad.
Christ Kotetsu, Barnaby, do try to keep up. Anyway, Yuri's condescension pisses Barnaby off enough for him to rush at Yuri.
Kotetsu: Don't be stupid!
But sadly for Barnaby, Yuri moves fast. He leaps into the air, firing another bolt of fire at Barnaby.
Yuri: How reckless. Has hatred consumed you, hero? Hear the voice of Thanatos!
Fortunately for Barnaby, who seems paralyzed by his distress (?), Kotetsu rushes forward and takes the hit for Barnaby. Kotetsu falls, rolls across a roof, and when he gets to his feet he and Yuri leap at each other in a sequence I can only describe as Incredibly Anime.
Their fists collide with each others' faces and the two land on the ground below. And Yuri's mask cracks, a tiny fraction of it falling off. An injured Kotetsu falls to his knees, and Barnaby rushes to his side. In the background Yuri stands still, looking away from the heroes, not doing anything though the flames coming out of his hands extinguish.
Barnaby: Are you alright?
Kotetsu: Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.
Barnaby makes an angry noise and looks over at Yuri, but Kotetsu grabs Barnaby's hands, making Tiger/Bunny shippers everywhere squee.
Kotetsu: Calm down, don't get crazy.
Barnaby: But-
Still looking away from Kotetsu and Barnaby, Yuri finally speaks up.
Yuri: I have no wish to fight with you.
Barnaby: What?
Yuri: Let me make myself clear. I'm just giving murderers what they deserve.
Kotetsu: Killing people? That's what you call justice?
At this point, Yuri finally turns around to face the heroes.
Yuri: The oldest form on earth. An eye for an eye.
Kotetsu: Yeah, well, I have a very different approach.
Kotetsu gets to his feet and dramatically turns around.
Kotetsu: My idea of justice is arresting idiots like you!
Perhaps Yuri's about to say more- but at that point more of his mask crumples and falls off, exposing his cheek. He reaches up to cover the crack with his hand as Kotetsu and Barnaby gasp.
Yuri: Interesting. We shall see where that sense of justice leads you.
Yuri then uses his fire powers to flee, just as Barnaby's powers run out.
Barnaby: Wait a minute-! ...Bastard.
So. As with our last episode, I'm just going to go over the bits of dialogue that especially stand out to me:
- "You escaped from prison without atoning for the murder you committed." This line is interesting to me because it implies that if Edward had stayed in prison and filled out his sentence, then Yuri would never have gone after him- which is odd when you contrast it with how he killed four different prisoners in a previous episode. There are a couple of possible explanations for this: Yuri could be a hypocrite, lying, or there's some flexibility with the murdering = get murdered yourself rule that he's not going into, such as "Edward's murder was accidental so I'll be lenient if he stays in prison" or "Murderers who don't cooperate with prison get murdered and those four had a history of escapes or escape attempts."
- "Senseless killing goes against my principles." / "I've only come here to make evildoers atone for their sins." / "Let me make myself clear. I'm just giving murderers what they deserve." While Yuri is not exactly cooperative with the heroes when they try and get information out of them- see his "You talk too much" line- he does still want them to know he's not just some random crook and, despite his general contempt for them, he doesn't necessarily intend to harm the heroes themselves. Although...
- "I have no choice. Those who defend sinners are also evil." ...Yuri does have this (rather harsh) amendment to his "no killing innocents" rule. A rule that I think is very interesting in light of his relationship with his mother, though I'll save my thoughts on that for later. I also find the bit about "I have no choice" to be interesting- it implies to me that one some level he knows killing Ivan merely for getting in the way would be a horrible thing to do, but if he justifies it as "Well, he's defending a sinner and that makes him just as bad as someone who actually has sinned" then it's not something he has to feel guilty for, and he doesn't have to feel responsible for killing an innocent young man.
- "Has hatred consumed you, hero?" Meanwhile, Yuri continues to pick on poor Barnaby for his anger over anything connected to his parents murder. Considering his backstory with his parents who were abusive/ruled by emotions and how he generally acts calm and above it all regardless of whether he's in his guise as Lunatic or not, I suspect Yuri thinks that strong emotion = bad and weak.
We next see Yuri in an after the credits scene of him... hanging out in some sort of murder basement? He drinks something warm (tea, I'm guessing) out of a mug with his broken mask sitting on the table in front of him. On a nearby computer he opens up a file on Wild Tiger's secret identity as Kotetsu Kaburagi. There's no dialogue, so. Have some observations about the glimpses we have of Yuri's hideout.
Besides the broken mask on the desk we can see four spare masks hanging on the wall behind Yuri. Which is almost weird to me considering he probably goes through capes faster- since he likes to burn them off for dramatic effect- and there's only one of those on the wall but whatever, it's probably his mask wall and we just can't see his cape wall.
He also has a bunch of sharp knife looking things and balls attached to chains hanging off the wall despite the fact he's never shown using either of these things ever so??? Yuri, what?? Why do you have those???
thethrillof once suggested they might be torture implements so I guess Yuri's just like. Prepared himself for when he might need to kidnap and torture some people??The opposite side of the room has a lot of books- legal stuff and reference books I guess?- as well as some candelabras, despite the fact this room clearly has electricity since Yuri's using a computer.
Not really important, but that thing in the bottom left corner of Yuri's computer is animated and appears to be a clock of some kind? It's oddly cute to me.
Less cute: Yuri's hands are so terrifyingly pale, especially in this lighting, that I didn't realize until a rewatch a little while back that he wasn't just wearing white gloves.
I don't have much to say about this one except a) I am not entirely sure how to read this expression beyond "serious" and b) wow, Yuri looks even more like an escapee from a 70s shoujo than even Barnaby does.