Shishio Makato

[Guts/Batman]

The more I get the volumes coming out, the more I like Shishio more than any other villain.

Eneshi definitely kicks ass. But I am finding Shishio to be very badass as well.

I also love his demise.

[Kevinroc]

While I understand the whole "the age chooses who wins" deal, I always thought from a distinct story telling stand-point, Shishio's end was a copout as it didn't force Kenshin to truly make a decision to break his no kill vow or not.

[Guts/Batman]

True.

Guess I didn't really think of it that way.

I have yet to read the manga vol. 17 (only one I haven't read) but do have the last dvd of the Kyoto arc so I know how it goes down.

I thought before Yumi hopped on top of Shishio's body after Kenshin had gotten to that point. Kenshin might have been willing to give the final blow. However, her words cut closer than Shishio's blade could.

So he could deliver the kill/knockout shot. Yumi probably knew that Shishio would go though her to win if need be.

[Holy Spirit]

The more I get the volumes coming out, the more I like Shishio more than any other villain.

Eneshi definitely kicks ass. But I am finding Shishio to be very badass as well.

I also love his demise.

Agreed, Shishio is one of my favorite villains in all of anime. He was the very definition of "bada$$".

While I understand the whole "the age chooses who wins" deal, I always thought from a distinct story telling stand-point, Shishio's end was a copout as it didn't force Kenshin to truly make a decision to break his no kill vow or not.

LOL I though I was the only one, how convenient for Kenshin that he basicly takes himself out!

True.

Guess I didn't really think of it that way.

I have yet to read the manga vol. 17 (only one I haven't read) but do have the last dvd of the Kyoto arc so I know how it goes down.

I thought before Yumi hopped on top of Shishio's body after Kenshin had gotten to that point. Kenshin might have been willing to give the final blow. However, her words cut closer than Shishio's blade could.

So he could deliver the kill/knockout shot. Yumi probably knew that Shishio would go though her to win if need be.

Please, Kenshin wasn't going to do anything close to killing Shishio, he's just lucky his burns let him off the hook because Shishio was kinda invincible to the reverse blade sword.
And since Yumi knew what was going to happen but she wanted to do it for him anyway, I didn't have much of a problem with it.

[Ghost]

LOL I though I was the only one, how convenient for Kenshin that he basicly takes himself out!

To quote Darkwing Duck: "All the better. Cases are so much easier when the bad guy offs himself like that."

Still, I have a feeling Kenshin wouldn't have gone for the kill even if Shishio hadn't combusted. It was less about letting Kenshin win without having risk his non-killing code and more about resolving what to actually do with Shishio after his defeat. If you think about it, it's not like Shishio had high chances surviving for long even if Kenshin had spared him. It's not like the goverment would have let him live. Heck, the first time they tried to erase him they set the mofo on fire. God knows what they would have tried the second time.

Over all, I think it was a neat resolution, especially since Shishio's inability to regulate his body temperature was forshadowed well in advance, and considering the alternatives it wasn't a bad way for him to go.

Anyway, you don't always have to force tough decitions on your protagonists. Sometimes you're better off just letting things resolve on its own.

[Guy1]

To quote Darkwing Duck: "All the better. Cases are so much easier when the bad guy offs himself like that."

Still, I have a feeling Kenshin wouldn't have gone for the kill even if Shishio hadn't combusted. It was less about letting Kenshin win without having risk his non-killing code and more about resolving what to actually do with Shishio after his defeat. If you think about it, it's not like Shishio had high chances surviving for long even if Kenshin had spared him. It's not like the goverment would have let him live. Heck, the first time they tried to erase him they set the mofo on fire. God knows what they would have tried the second time.
.

Or Saito would have done it.
Even injured, he would still be able to finish Shishio off after he's beaten.

[Siriel]

Heck, the first time they tried to erase him they set the mofo on fire.

And that was after stabbing/arrowing/shooting the everloving crap out of him, if I remember it right.