Many fans have praised the DAN DA DAN manga as one of the greatest pieces of fiction in recent years. However, the latest arc has split the normally harmonious fanbase in half. After nearly 200 chapters of hard-hitting fight scenes and one of the best romances in modern shounen, the introduction of Momo’s amnesia seems to have regressed the story back to square one.
Disclaimer: This feature will have several spoilers from the DAN DA DAN manga.
Why Momo’s Amnesia Has The DAN DA DAN Fanbase in Disarray
One of the strongest points from DAN DA DAN was seeing the chemistry between Momo and Okarun blossom. Their natural chemistry and blossoming romance were among the major driving forces of the story. Just before the amnesia, the two had reached a mutual understanding with a tentative confession. Now, their relationship has basically regressed back to where it was in the first episode. Many fans have begun to express their frustration towards the decision, believing this to be a cheap trick to prolong the story since they were finally about to become a couple.
The worst thing this amnesia has done is reintroduce the Love Square, which many fans believed to be dead and buried. Momo’s amnesia has put both Jiji and Aira back in the position of rivals. Since Momo has forgotten her bond with Okarun, her first love and childhood friend, Jiji, has now returned to his position as a potential rival.
While many fans still love Jiji, seeing him used as a tool for jealousy leaves a bitter taste. However, the most damning case would be Aira, whose growth from an obsessive rival to a supportive friend seems to have regressed. Many fans find it disappointing to see her try to shoot her shot now that Momo is mentally incapacitated.
Another reason the amnesia is so frustrating is that the story as a whole will now progress at turtle speed. Since the beginning, DAN DA DAN has been praised for its fast-paced nature. However, the most recent chapters have been a lot slower than usual. From her getting trapped in the board game, to being shrunken, and now to amnesia, it’s been over 50 chapters (nearly a year) since Momo and Okarun were separated. This is especially disappointing, since Okarun’s confession was masterfully done just before.
In the aftermath of Momo’s amnesia, fans have had difficulty relating to the original Momo and the current one. Many argue that this current version of Momo seems more like a plot device than anything else. This statement carries more weight after seeing how Momo casually dismisses Okarun, even though she has amnesia. However, it isn’t all negative; many believe that the amnesia could see Okarun step up even more as a leading man to win her back.
Final Thoughts
While the Amnesia Arc is definitely the worst arc in the series, one thing fans can agree on is that Yukinobu Tatsu is a brilliant mangaka. Tatsu has previously turned some of the most annoying tropes in anime history into brilliant plot points. It is safe to say that Tatsu knows what he is doing, and as previous arcs have shown, he can write a well-paced story and turn things around. In fact, this might be why the DAN DA DAN manga is going on hiatus through May 4. The story is taking a break when it needed one the most.
