Doppio was always an interesting case to me when I had first read the manga, and I’m
happy to finally see him here adapted into the anime.
Though the approach taken for his character is a bit different this time around because
it wasn’t 1:1 adaptation, but instead better in my opinion.
This introduction filled with extreme tension is one of my favorite character introductions
when it comes to JoJo, and here I’d like to show you why.
Now I’m sure for those that read the manga, it was a bit surprising to see Doppio’s
backstory this early.
For those that watch the anime only, it’s just basically not supposed to show up for
a while, not going to specify where since this video doesn’t really call for spoilers.
When first watching I was genuinely surprised as to why I was seeing it this early, but
after the episode I had time to recollect some thoughts.
I was thinking about how much tension and suspense there was in the episode, and then
I looked to the execution.
By bringing the introduction now, this execution has a Hitchcock technique going for it.
What to call it, I’ll say it’s the “bomb under the table technique”.
Film heads probably know what I’m getting at now.
The premise of the technique is that “giving the audience information is a large element
of suspense”.
Using his scenario to show a point.
Say that you have a group of people, they’re all casually talking about who knows what,
maybe food, and then a bomb goes off.
Us as the viewers will have about 15 seconds of suspense because of the shock from it.
Now, give us the same scenario, except this time, they tell us that there’s a bomb under
the table and it’s set to blow 15 minutes from now.
Now everything the group of people are talking about is completely insignificant because
hey, there’s a bomb under the table, and they don’t know!
So, from the time we were informed to when the bomb goes off, we’re filled with suspense.
That’s what we have with Doppio.
Since we’re given this mysterious back-story that slaps us with elements of suspense and
tension before we get to see Doppio in action, it establishes this ground to the audience
that whoever this person is, we should be weary.
Side note: I would like to actually go about Doppio’s backstory here a lot more because
the mystery of it is something that contributes massively towards the entirety of his introduction,
but for the points made and to be made in the video, going about the past and expanding
on it isn’t as necessary in this specific video.
Now, with the history of this character in mind, we go about first seeing him in action.
The audience now has a sense similar to uneasiness for this character, and now we see what this
character has become, but it’s odd.
The first thing we see him do is save a child, or well…
Sort of because the kid didn’t need any saving, so Doppio was in a worse position.
It looked like the world was against Doppio.
So, with what we’re seeing the world do to him, that uneasiness begins to grow because
we’ve already seen that there’s a dark side to him, and with this being in mind,
we wait for a snap.
The anticipation of the snap is such a huge thing for suspense.
We anticipate it because of the backstory we were just given, but now there’s so much
going for it.
The presence of it, this instability we have to watch, when will it happen, how will it
happen, will someone avoid it after getting so close, and the weight of it all increases
as we go on.
Every attribute of this can be referred to an article titled, “Toward a general psychological
model of tension and suspense”.
It says there’s about 6 key components, and in Doppio’s introduction, we cover about
5.
Though it’s all made a lot more powerful when we get to the catalyst of Doppio’s
snap, and that’s just a man who’s trying to do his job.
The fortune teller here what ties this all together.
The music has taken a shift, and now there’s a stand-off between the two.
One man with the ability to take apart the other, and then there’s Doppio, the rubber
band being stretched until it snaps.
Each little line of information being given by the Fortune Teller is a stab at Doppio
and what he is, and this gives us as the audience some tension because of the lack of control
in this situation.
Doppio keeps generalizing every piece of information being given to us which causes the Fortune
teller to go even further and press Doppio.
This build-up keeps raising and raising after he keeps prodding Doppio with questions, you
can see it in the animation that this is a pressing situation, and someone here is not
safe, and we know who.
We’re tied so close to the Fortune teller because on one hand we want more information
on this character because a lot of things here are lining up with him and the boss,
but on the other hand we want him to quit all of the questions because something isn’t
normal here and it doesn’t look like he’s anywhere near safe.
He’s poking at the lion in its den, and all we can do is sit back in suspense for
when or if the snap happens.
It also doesn’t help that Doppio’s responses to him have this positive energy to it because
we know that this character isn’t normal, so the cheeriness is nearing uncomfortable.
Then, we get to the best part, the disconnect.
The fortune teller’s fortune on Doppio looking for his daughter confuses everyone involved
here, the fortune teller, Doppio, and us.
Him and Doppio even look at each other, both being in confusion because Doppio doesn’t
even look like he’d have kids, especially not one that’s 15, but this disconnect is
what causes the snap, or well, both snaps.
The Fortune Teller is so certain of his fortune and requires reassurance by checking out Doppio’s
palm so now he oversteps his boundaries.
Now instead of asking for money, he’s offering to pay Doppio to ease his mind and understand
this enigma of a case that is Doppio.
He’s getting aggressive, he’s pressing, he’s pressing, and then finally!
The snap.
We were right!
This character is not normal!
But, that’s terrible too because since our suspicions were confirmed, this means this
Fortune Teller is as good as dead.
His passion of his work and personal interests is what got him killed, but he does get what
he wants.
Then the icing on the cake, he fully confirms what Doppio is once he gets his palm, and
we have our suspicion confirmed when he has his own.
Now that what we’re hinted at is true, we still hold tension because of this character.
Originally the potential of it was a major contributor, but since we know that this exists
now, we must be vigilant anytime we see this character.
Now, after all that’s happened and seeing the child, Doppio speaks to the bug that was
sought after by the kid.
Everything being said sounding like what he’d say to the kid instead.
I believe that this is either Doppio indirectly speaking to the kid, or it’s the fact that
it doesn’t matter to him.
Bug or someone that’s not a threat, all the same thing to the case that is Doppio.
Thank you all for watching!
I had this video out after the next episode came out, but I’m not giving up a chance
to upload on this date.
I thought both episodes were amazing, and right now I’m honestly happy there’s a
recap episode I think next week because man, I need time to get my stuff together.
I’m almost at 100k, and if you all have any videos that you want to see to highlight
that, I’ll see what I can do.
I recently made a third channel for my Twitch stuff, and I recently finished up two scripts
for my second.
I’m slowly reclaiming time.
I’ll link the new one for now.
Hopefully, I’ll see you all in
the next one.