Usually, when a story ends, it does precisely that.
It ends.
But that isn't the case for the members of the Stardust Crusaders.
They don't get that type of freedom from the hold of all the bad that happens in JoJo.
But let's look to our heroes of Part 3.
We have one last train for all.
[Avdol] The biggest tragedy that we experience with
Avdol is the lack thereof.
I consider that he's essentially the second leader in command as he and Joseph were the
original two members, but it's honestly surprising.
He saw the threat in Dio and united with others in the takedown of the beast.
So, I wouldn't be against saying Avdol got out of here cleaner than most, you know, If
it wasn't for the glaring death of his character.
Aside from that, you could think he might have been able to live a reasonably pleasant
life alongside Joseph as a close family friend like Speedwagon.
[Iggy] Iggy didn't have the most to him, but he was
there when the team needed him to ride.
The case of Avdol and Iggy, while it ended short, pushed hard for the group as a collective.
Now the next four, this gets ridiculous.
[Kakyoin] Now, before Kakyoin had been in the Stardust
Crusaders, he was a minion of Dio for a bit.
Before that, he was a loner.
It wasn't because kids had disliked Kakyoin.
On the contrary, he didn't want to make any friends and kept himself distant.
You might think that this was some self-imposed rule, and you'd be right.
But I'd like to consider his perspective.
To him, he's living in this world where no one can see what he's seeing.
So having a "stand" doesn't lead to some instant understanding of it for the most part.
Even Jotaro, with his menacing demeanor, had put himself in jail because he didn't understand
what Star Platinum was.
He saw it as something that could danger his mother, and he didn't want anybody close to
him because of this.
Likewise, Kakyoin had closed himself off to other kids and didn't make friends, most likely
because he didn't wish to hurt anyone.
And you know how that played out?
After the removal Dio's flesh bud, Kakyoin is tapped into the group.
This is the first time Kakyoin has had a friend group, and guess what makes up this group?
Other stand users.
These people most likely share many similar experiences, especially Jotaro and Kakyoin.
It's wild.
You know how much this had meant to him because he was able to pull the last remaining energy
he had to help Joseph figure out Dio's stand.
He did great, and he finally had friends.
I just don't know if his parents got the memo.
[Joseph] So, I'm going to go on with Joseph as if you
watched Battle Tendency.
If you didn't, and you got here, I'm surprised.
Hello, nice to meet you.
We understand Joseph's character this time around, considering he had a whole part dedicated
to him.
It's just been a while since then, and we've seen what it's like when he's in pain.
When Caesar died, it destroyed him.
But he saw Lisa Lisa trying to keep composure because the idea was that there was still
a mission to complete.
I think that stuck because while Joseph is the most expressive character in Part 3, he
tries to hold it back when feeling grief.
Avdol and Iggy had died, and the three of Joseph, Jotaro, and Kakyoin had to keep it
together to maintain the composure required to confront Dio.
If there's a sign of weakness or wavering, this will destroy them.
And we saw this with Polnareff because he tried to confront Dio immediately after killing
Vanilla Ice, but he was cracking under the menacing energy of Dio.
But here's the thing, when Joseph had seen Kakyoin die, the vibe was completely off because
he was there for it this time.
If any other characters saw Avdol and Iggy die, and then Kakyoin, I can't imagine they'd
be in the right headspace to fight Dio.
If Joseph didn't talk to Jotaro as a ghost, where do you think Jotaro would be?
Joseph and the Crusaders feel a lot, but composure and mental fortitude go a long way in this
universe.
I think Joseph is probably constantly thinking of his friends, especially when you consider
that Jotaro keeps a photo of the Crusaders on him.
After this, it doesn't help that he had Josuke and Tomoko alone in Japan.
I think what's also really sad was the initial thoughts around Joseph returning.
Like you weren't able to help before, and you're here now.
Josuke tells him that he doesn't need him, and it's true.
He's gone this far out with him not being around, what help is Joseph as a parent?
But Joseph saw this, and he wasn't entirely out of his mind.
That's how we got the Actung Baby arc.
I can also imagine the framework made for this and how Josuke acts in response.
"You weren't there for me, but you can start doing that by being there for her now."
A lot has messed up around Joseph, and Joseph has messed up a lot, but I guess I'd say it's
more so about what you do after than before.
The past was then, and he can only try to be better now.
[Polnareff] Polnareff was on the Crusaders for a while,
but he wasn't all there.
The case is that he's going through his character arc from the first time we see him up to the
Judgement arc.
First, Polnareff was determined to avenge his sister, but when he was close to it, he
was utterly blind with rage.
Then, we see where it gets him, with Avdol almost dying.
This moment is enormous for his character.
Consider that overcommitting is one thing, and the idea is that it's just going to hurt
you.
It destroyed him because he roped another person into his mental warfare, which got
them killed.
At least that's what he thought up until he met Avdol again.
Polnareff wouldn't let anyone in because he didn't see anyone's motivation as strong as
his.
But he misconstrued keeping a level head as weakness.
Kakyoin manages this by harnessing Polnareff's determination and using it to his advantage
so that defeating J. Geil is possible.
But after defeating him, that doesn't solve his other problems.
He had still been in deep mourning for his sister and felt guilty about what had happened
to Avdol.
Even when getting torn apart by the clay versions of them, he's like, "This isn't that bad.
I deserve this anyways."
So Polnareff went through this adventure filled with guilt for his lack of action, then because
of his overcommitment.
Polnareff wasn't there, and Sherry died, and Polnareff being alone to fight got Avdol killed.
He felt damned if he did, and damned if he didn't.
So he didn't even want to bother fighting back.
But here's what solved it, others.
Kakyoin being there for Polnareff, helped Polnareff get to where he wanted to be.
The same went with Avdol.
Polnareff had to be the one to do the final blow because this was his thing to wrap up.
He just needed guidance in doing so.
So, what does that say about Polnareff in Part 5?
It wasn't that he was left alone.
Polnareff tried to get further in his help with the world of "stand users," but then
he came into contact with power never seen before.
But he had the will to keep going.
When considering Polnareff's advice and what happens to Chariot, I see this as the previous
generation passing on the torch for the following Crusaders on a mission.
Even in the form of a turtle, Polnareff, to me, was in the same spot as Joseph Joestar.
He's vetted, wise, and able to see the potential in those beside him.
However, I will say that the idea of Polnareff being forced to be alone all these years due
to Diavolo having such a heavy hand on Italy is extremely sad.
I've always thought of a small comic where Polnareff is trying to find the will to keep
going but then thinks about his time with the Crusaders and just continues to push on.
I really do love this character.
[Jotaro] And then finally, Jotaro Kujo.
What can I say about Jotaro that I haven't said before?
No, really, watch my Jotaro video.
But as for what I consider the tragedy of Jotaro Kujo.
I'd say that he was thrown to the wolves so early in his life.
It starts with his father being a Rolling Stone.
Then, even with his mother's love, he grew to be someone who'd mentor and teach himself.
If you look at his character sheet from Dark Blue Moon Part 3, you understand how different
his thinking is because of it all.
He assumes that anyone can tell what he's feeling just by looking at him?
And sometimes it causes misunderstandings between people?
People often think he is cold and rebellious and doesn't care about anything!
But the case is that he's a typical 17-year-old kid that just doesn't understand social cues?!
Come on, man!
He doesn't let himself express emotions like that, but he still gets scared, happy, mad,
and sad!
All of it!
And that's so surprising because it's not surprising at all.
Like you assume that he just doesn't like to express himself, but that really is just
the case, and he does this forever.
But let's pull off of that.
Jotaro is regarded multiple times over as the strongest stand user, and you know what?
That comes with it's costs.
Since he's so strong and on the side of good, he has to be the one to use his power for
good and continuously use this strength to make the world a better place.
This superman complex to where he has to do all he can to protect everything is self-destructive.
If Jotaro needs help, someone else has to be there to want to help him.
Otherwise, he's fighting until the end.
Against Dio, Kira, and Pucci, were moments where Jotaro felt that it was all up to him,
and he was willing to see it to the end just so that everyone else was ok.
But in those moments came Polnareff, Koichi, and Jolyne, and if they weren't there, I don't
think he wouldn't come out of it the way he did.
I think we top it all off with the idea that because of his position in the world of stand
users, it tore up his remote family.
Jotaro does all he can to ensure that everyone else is good, but stuff wasn't good at home.
Of course, it doesn't help that he doesn't know how to express himself that well.
How I see it, Jotaro Kujo isn't this sort of vigilante or something bent on seeking
justice for all.
He's an active force trying to prevent the evil that had plagued his life before from
harming others.
But because of his pursuit a better world, it had hurt those close to him.
And he understands that, but when given the opportunity between the greater good and what
he holds dear to him, he will go with his heart.
This man isn't a god.
He just wants to make a difference.
Thank you all for watching.
Hopefully, I'll see you all in the next one.
Until then, peace out and God speed.