I've recently started re-watching Initial D and am now up to the 4th Stage (aka Season 4). It's interesting to watch it again through a set of eyes that have a different perspective in life since I first watched it around twenty years ago.
I still stand by my opinion that Initial D would have been more epic had Takumi lost a few races. You can argue he "lost" some races when his car broke down against Emperor's Sudo and his Evo 3. Or when his father, Bunta, outraced him on the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. That really doesn't count for me either.
Takumi is too much of a Mary Sue (or a Marty Stu as a friend terms male overpowered characters). I think it would have made him more human and more relatable if he lost some races and used those losses to grow as both a street racer and as a character.
However his wins have been heavily influenced by "divine intervention" so to speak. Accidents to the opponents or surprise road obstacles always lead them to slow down or give Takumi the opportunity to pull off a really amazing overtaking maneuver.
I still enjoy it and I guess re-watching this will get me excited for the second season of MF Ghost.
Out.
