The burden of being brave: A closer look at Momo Ayase’s journey in Dandadan

In the world of Dandadan, no situation is absurd anymore, as aliens and ghosts are constantly stirring up chaos. To fight them off, characters are constantly pushed to their limits and endure a great deal of hardship.

From Okarun losing his family jewels to Momo Ayase constantly being on her toes, as he is the strongest support for them all. Among all these characters, it seems like Momo cannot seem to catch a break at all.

It is undeniable that she is the bravest of them all, but sometimes even the brave need a break. Since the start of the series, when she was kidnapped by aliens, which led to the awakening of her powers, she has been the central figure in many battles.

Fans of Dandadan agree that she is the bravest in comparison to the rest of the cast, but even the brave ones sometimes need a chance to take a break and unwind. Since the show started, she has been unapologetically bold; for instance, when she barged into Okaurn’s classroom when she noticed others making fun of him.

At that time, she did not know who she was; she saw someone in need of help, and she stepped right in. That single decision to help him changed her life, as later that night, Momo was kidnapped by aliens.

This encounter with aliens leads to her developing powerful spiritual abilities. What was once a normal high school experience is now a battlefield. Unlike Okarun, who borrowed his powers, Momo’s are innate. She will have to live with this for the rest of her life.

Moreover, her inability to catch a break goes beyond just her role in battles. It is about her always ending up taking responsibility. As she is the most competent, everyone tends to rely on her powers during fights if things go wrong.

While these battles are hard on her, the show also introduces her emotional state. Her feelings for Okarun are one of the main reasons for her emotional conflict. It seems like she likes him, but being an awkward teenager, Momo tends to suppress her feelings and goes into denial.

Her character does not have time to learn how to be vulnerable in front of others. Additionally, she has been physically and emotionally strong for so long that she is visibly not comfortable lowering her guard.

There are a few moments in Dandadan where there are subtle glimpses of Momo gaining enough courage to show her softer side, but the story is not yet ready for that development, and the moment is quickly defused. Moments like these become a reminder that she barely has time to live a life like a normal teenage girl.

Momo Ayase’s journey in Dandadan is not just about her powers

Dandadan has mainly given importance to the fights against supernatural beings with absurd powers. The cast often find themselves in a situation that has them end up fighting for their life. Yet, some instances push these characters to try and look within themselves.

Momo’s journey in this story is never about being the strongest; since she awakened her powers, it has been established that she is one of the strongest members in the story. Her character needs to learn how to be more honest about her feelings and rely on others.

Moreover, her character shows the audience that her meaning of heroism might be what is right with the world. Her type of heroism does not ask for recognition or fame, and maybe that is what the world needs right now.

Final thoughts

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Momo Ayase in Dandadan has been constantly facing some type of threat in the story. She has proven to everyone that with grit and willpower, we can push through any obstacle. Because she carries the weight of the world without ever losing her humanity. And in a world filled with aliens and ghosts, that kind of courage is truly rare.

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