David Johnston wrote:

Maybe.  But you are in your ninth chapter and Ranma is still being portrayed
as the helpless and pitiful victim 

Ninth chapter of something that's going to be at least triple
that in length.  Getting a little impatient, aren't you?  Let
the man tell his story in his own time.  There's no rule graven
in stone that says he has to have character development acceptable
to your tastes by the ninth chapter.

arranging for vengeance to rain upon everyone he was previously associated
with...except for Ukyo for some inexplicable reason.  I guess, because she's
the cute fiancee.   

No, because she's the only "real" claimant left with an honor debt
that needed to be redeemed.   Nodoka severed the Tendo-Saotome
deal; the Amazons are foreign nationals whose laws the Emperor does
not recognize; and even if you were to grant Kodachi's delusions any
shred of legitimacy, the Kunos are clearly about to be institutionalized.
Since it's obvious that the Emperor has plans for Ranma, and for those
plans Ranma needs to have no more claims on his honor or his hand, it
makes perfect sense for Ukyo to get bought off.

And what is that point?  Well we've suddenly got all these powerful
forces practically colliding in their eagerness to succor poor pitiful
passive little Ranma, and of course when
they aren't doing that, to eliminate all of Ranma's enemies and
take vengeance on some of them in the process.  

Eliminate?  Not yet, not by a long shot.  Ranma's gained at least
one powerful new enemy -- Pluto's not going to play nice-nice
just because Ranma flashed a smile and an offer of peace at her.
If she gets her way, the rest of the Senshi will go along with
her; at the very least, those wonderful examples of superior
cogitation and restraint, Uranus and Neptune, are almost certainly
going to buy her side of the story with no questions asked, making
them also new enemies.  The Amazons are probably not going to
disappear quickly and quietly.  The fact that they are out at Horai
excavating means they are likely to find something that'll point'em
straight at the Yamadas.  The Aussie superteam looks like it's
likely to consider Ranma a threat until proven otherwise.  Let's
not even include whatever as-yet-unknown but hinted-at creatures
are likely to attack the Gate of Eternity.  Ranma's life has not
gotten easier, not by a long shot.

But we are nine chapters in, and the story still doesn't
have an identifiable protagonist.  Get off your ass, Ranma.  
This hurt/comfort crap has gone on long enough.  What are
you, a puppet?

Show me where it says that nine chapters in you *must* have
a certain specified amount of character development.  Why can't
you let Mark tell the story at *his* pace, not yours?

-- Bob

===============================================================================
Robert M. Schroeck          rms@eclipse.net         http://www.eclipse.net/~rms
===============================================================================
Please to remember
Eleven September --
Hijack, destruction and plot.
Our outraged reaction
To terrorist action
Should never be forgot.
===============================================================================

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