With how interesting, poignant, and measured the last few chapters have been,
I'm a bit taken aback by the kvetching I'm reading?
I suppose whether this kind of thing bothers you depends on how greatly you're enjoying a story.
regarding the past couple of chapters, vis-a-vis Alibaba coming back
Why the hell wouldn't you want him to?? He's such an interesting character! Though placed in a position of complicated loyalties, he manages to remain earnest, charming, and likeable.
He doesn't have all the answers right away, and isn't always driving the plot, but he's certainly an important part of it. He has the qualities of a great, humble shounen protagonist.
What purpose does it serve for him to remain dead, besides shock value? That "I can't believe they did that in this manga!" contingent that wants the main cast to all die to satisfy
some sick urge to have ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES DAMMIT, FOREVER. DIE, GOOD GUYS, because I can't get my itch for the macabre scratched elsewhere!!! (you can).
Who cares if he ultimately comes back so long as the characters convince you: through words and through behavior, that it seems like he won't?
Are you reading this manga because you care about the world and characters in it, or are you here to check off a tropes checklist?
Try turning your brains off a little - just a little, guys! There are way worse chronic cliche offenders than Magi.
like, idgaf if Judar remains gone, who honestly cares about him, he's a big baby
But I think Alibaba has more value in this manga than out.
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also: Alma Toran is probably the kind of arc that lends itself to being read all at once, rather than on a week-by-week basis.
It kinda bored me at the time, yeah, but, there's stuff contained in it that probably warrants a reread of the arc, if not the whole manga.