Reevaluating Kuroko on Railgun 5: Robin Hood Logic

This is where the episode’s true KAWAII-ness lies.

This week’s Railgun is made of filler episode, Kuroko, Uiharu, slowmo pachinko balls, Kuroko, more Kuroko,  armor-piercing pachinko balls, Kuroko, oh wait, did I say Kuroko? Oh yes, I did. Another episode made of Kuroko, indeed, and it seems that elaboration about her is in order.

Do you know of people, anime, game, or manga characters that have the motto “The End Justifies The Means”? I’m sure some of you have known some, like Urd of Ah! My Goddess!, Marisa Kirisame of Touhou, or Akiha Tohno of Tsukihime. Kuroko, based on her actions on this episode, was the perfect example for this season. She beats robbers regardless of any backup help, she takes most of the action to herself, and ultimately shoulders most of the responsibility of any failed action. And this is just so she can get the end result she wanted.

Equal Speed would be very scary as an ability if the Esper were to throw anything indestructible, like diamonds or hard alloys. Not to mention the speed on which the object can be thrown.

Robin Hood was my very first example for the straightforward person. Back then, I never questioned his actions of robbery for the sake of the poor. What he wanted to achieve was something morally right, but the way he achieved it was morally wrong. This “Robin Hood Logic” was something prominent, in a way that I realized the greatness, but ignored the consequences. Of course, the result of being able to help the poor is something to be proud of. But did they tell of the  moral degradation of the person? Did they tell of the pressure the endeavor is applying to him? Was he really happy with his vagabond life that he was able to continue? Is he really numb or selfish just so he can hog the accountability to any losses he might face in his way? Only someone with his or her eyes set on an action’s ends would have those qualities. Some of them aren’t afraid to lose everything. Not an eye. Not a finger. Not even their own lives.

In Kuroko’s case, she nearly lost almost everything, if not for the harbored trust of her colleagues. She nearly lost a friend, the credibility of keeping a promise, the self-respect that she has on herself, and the reputation as an agent of apprehension. She was selfish, wanting to achieve what she wanted to happen, regardless of her surroundings, how her actions will be received, and how she’ll see herself in the future. Just so she can have her way, she disregards everything else. No wonder she takes so much pride in her work.

Loli Kuroko may be cute, but her unchanging voice and personality was a big letdown. Root for loli Uiharu instead.

For a second, I saw a reason as to why she’s so insisting into recieving all the pain the show can give. She gets electrocuted just so she can flirt with Biribiri. She gets totally owned just so she can show off to her enemies and underclassmen. She even turns a blind eye to Biribiri’s love interest just so she can continue with her unrequited lesbian love. You can say she’s self-destructive because of the way she brings demise unto herself, and we can only savor the mixed feelings of pain, pity, persistence, idiocy, and uncanny charm.