[Spoilers] Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor - Final chapter discussion

I didn't really mean that I wanted them to stand out particularly, I understand it's not really shonen with big loud characters (save for Ota, I guess), but I just would have liked more 'screentime' with Hiromi and Shinshi. It didn't have to be like even really character development but just some story with them would have been nice. They feel like fairly believable people but they are still likable and fun when they make a brief appearance. I feel like Ota was the exception because he actually does get a pretty small but nice character art with Kumagami's introduction. Now that I think about it, wouldn't it have been nice to have Ota help tie up Kumagami's arc? She sort of humbles him, maybe his sincerity could have helped bring her back and redeem herself?

Again with Bud, I didn't really mean a big change or emotional climax but a little farewell with Izumi to show he's learned to trust people other than Utsumi might have been good. That said, I really liked this page, it was very impactful.

I think most of the manga's problems are like you said, trying to walk the middle line between fun and light hearted and pretty serious. The last arc really does have a strange feeling when they start to more seriously introduce elements of child-trafficking and Bud getting abused - I do feel like they bail on it a little by having Utsumi (seemingly) actually care for Bud in his own weird way? You could obviously see that as deceitful or Bud being tricked, but I got the sense he did like Bud because, like Goto said, Utsumi is in a way childish and enjoys Bud's enthusiastic naivete. Likewise with Kumagami - I think he really did care for her or at least have a fixation on her.

Another area where it suffers is from trying to balance Izumi and Asuma and the plot, I think. The development of their relationship is really only explored with direct connection to narrative. I think that's fine, and when you're budgeted for time, it's probably necessary, but it comes away feeling a little unfinished again. To some extent I wonder if that was intentional though because she had a lot of like waifu appeal to people and maybe they don't wanna show her with a man (although the art books have some suggestive stuff so I don't know).

I don't mind discussing it at length because it's like 30 years old now and unless it gets some big new announcement, the manga being completed is probably as close as it'll get to having a lot of attention in the west for a long time, lol. Might as well take advantage of it before it fades into semi-obscurity again.

i really like this world and story, I wish there was more of it", lol.

You and me both brother.

I will say, since you plan to watch the TV show, you might feel a bit vindicated on some regards when it comes to characters having their moments. Don't forget to add The New Files afterwards since it directly affects the biggest arc of the TV show, among other things.

I do think the way they showed their conflict was crazy because (I hate using such a cliche) it felt so real, very messy and not clear cut and specific like fictional feuds are.

This. So much this.

but not having them sort of agree to work together again felt like it was a missed resolution to their relationship. There was the little hint at the end of romantic involvement which was cute.

It really seems like Patlabor loves leaving a lot of things up to the viewer so we can come up with our own conclusions, which is a strategy that can be a doubled edged sword.