Laios: A Different Kind of Chosen One | Delicious In Dungeon Video Essay

[@hyobro8392]

To be fair Falin is canonically the kind of teacher who goes "idk just do it when it feels right yknow" without actually being able to explain how they do it, so I don't blame Laios for not being able to learn from her

[@gunplasm86]

I had this exact conversation with a friend while watching the bit where he talks about not being able to learn from Falin. She's a savant. She's so good at what she does that it makes her a terrible teacher because her raw ability is such that she doesn't have to think about what she's doing. It'd be like teaching someone to breath manually.

[@XXPiggyzXX652544]

On that note, marcille is a great teacher for laios because she is so detail oriented and perfectionist about her methods that she gives really good, straightforward step-by-step instructions, so much that Laios succeeds healing her in his first try!

[@hyobro8392]

@@XXPiggyzXX652544 yes ! And fan meta also generally states that Laios is able to understand her more comfortably because she's transparent and expressive. She's a great teacher for someone with Laios's social issues

[@microcelltechnicalassistence]

​@@XXPiggyzXX652544and because laios Also have talent, and have a lot of lose screws

[@IfritBoi]

If anything, it makes Dungeon Meshi feel more realistic and consistent that he can't learn from the naturally gifted Falin and can from an exceptional by the book magic user like Marcille

[@datafogao]

He got that dawg in him

[@chengkuoklee5734]

Who let the dawg out!? Woof!

[@notbeanbag8764]

What the dawg doin?

[@raycigar6356]

Oh is that a mild pointing towards the manga series final story arc? XD

[@nottsoserious]

Why is there 4 players... And a dawg on the court?

[@MattDoesNothing]

But the question is… Can I pet dat dawg?!

[@jemleye]

I love the characterization flips and deconstructions in Delicious in Dungeon. Laios being an actually good leader with intelligence and vast knowledge of monsters, Senshi being a ecosystem care-taking druidic dwarf, and talking of damage and fighting output, to me it seems that the actual cannon of the group is Marcille, hilariously pitting the explosion magic-ing scholarly wizard as the group's DPS and it works!

[@Ghildori]

ive always loved how Marcille's only offensive spells are C4 and flashbang (and sometimes the screw the cops spells but we dont talk about those)

[@hafirenggayuda]

And then there's Chil, the groups scout who expert in detecting and disabling traps, exploring, and pathfinding. Things that not explored much in main story is, he do great job being guild leader, managing job for members etc. Also, Izu basically cat ninja, no need to elaborate more

[@bigkirbyhj666]

​@@hafirenggayuda Honestly Chillichuck is the most rational one out of them all(almost to the point of cynicism) and is the most observant

[@marocat4749]

And thats not even what she really shines at. So there is more to her too.

[@LuvboneX]

>deconstructions Shut the fuck up. 🙄 Midwits seem absolutely in love with the word "deconstruction" when it comes that character writing 101. The absolute state of storytelling is in dire straits when good character writing is so fucking rare that people must label it with a made-up bullshit word that made our lit-prof throw books at people who used it.

[@yingyang8130]

"Do you. Do Laios." Don't mind if I do!

[@samdoezzzstuff]

you get it

[@flamango8047]

Kabru alt

[@sirthisisawendysandimclaux5562]

Realest comment

[@gasterg.continent3118]

Don't need to tell my twice

[@nerdalter]

Real of the realist

[@drewstrauser2617]

I want to clarify something about the griffin soup scene. A part of it was changed from the manga for runtime. Laios did not pick up on the cannibalism hint in Senshi’s story. Chilchuck had an aside with him to explain that and stop him from pushing to eat the griffin. That’s when Laios started to consider feathered monsters with blunt attacks. It worked out in the end but he still isn’t that savant.

[@embrefrosste6044]

That’s interesting. I would think it would make more sense for Laios to pick up on the possibility of cannibalism and to push for Senshi to eat the Griffin anyway. Many neurodivergent people, especially those with autism or ADHD, are information-first, feelings-second (as opposed to neurotypical people, who are feelings-first). People like Laios and myself would, under most circumstances, consider the burning uncertainty to be far more of a threat to Senshi than confirmation of unknowing cannibalism.

[@fizzard9741]

The anime still pulled it off in a way that made sense. He didn't pick up on the cannibalism but just kept thinking about how the helmet had blunt damage and in the end got there

[@la912]

Hmm, in the manga it seems more like Chilchuck told that to Laios to confirm if he really picked up the cannibalism part in Senshi's story, which he did, but Chilchuck wasn't sure about it

[@MagicalMaster]

The whole cannibalism thing actually confused me, I'm on the spectrum so this might play into it, but Senshi would absolutely be able to tell if he ate a person in that desperate time. Human meat is called Long Pig for a reason. We taste like pork. That's old information dating back hundreds of years, it's the kind of thing even a short amount of interaction and talking with people, which Senshi clearly does, would eventually bleed out. Senshi would know that humans, or in this case dwarves, would have a pork like taste, not a gamey taste. Pork. Perhaps a dwarf would be more fatty or greasy due to body construction, a half-foot would be nothing but lean meat, elves more bone than anything, but the point stands, it's shockingly common knowledge what people taste like. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind whether he ate it or not. There was no real drama in that scene for me, because the taste of man is both easily identifiable, and easily mistaken for something normal, mundane and common.

[@nottsoserious]

​@@MagicalMasterPerhaps Senshi just didn't know, or the trauma of the situation gave him tunnel vision and he didn't ever want to think about that experience again, so he didn't reconsider it.

[@irontide696]

I think a lot of characters, especially main characters, are less of a group of stereotypes, and more of the personification of a concept. I think the stereotypical part of a lot of characters comes from that concept, which 90% of the time can boil down to "work hard and don't give up." Luffy is the personification of freedom and liberation, Asta is never giving up, Gon is being a kid, Naruto in my eyes is forgiveness, and so on. I think the great thing about Laios is the uniqueness of that concept, as it isn't as explored nearly as well as others. I think that's what makes him feel like a breath of fresh air. I think it's much more valuable to judge a character by what they represent, rather than their goal.

[@cartooncrazy9883]

"Laios has a real one track mind in a way that, if youre looking up delicious in dungeon video essays right now, you can probably relate to" calling all the neurodivergents out lol "Hes actually low-key maybe one of the more intelligent characters in the series" YES! I am literally always saying this! (I genuinely cant tell why so many people call him dumb, i think they should watch how theyre talking about autistic coded characters tbh) Also. Ryoko Kui agrees btw. She gave him 4/5 intelligence in the adventurers bible. Second highest in the party. (Although that stat may be referring to a more dnd-like knowledge type thing but-) I think laios does care about saving the citizens of the golden kingdom (but not really the king stuff, which does still fit your point about him not being a typical shounen protag), its just a lower priority than saving falin. Jury's out on where it ranks against learning about monsters, since that desire is more passive and can be achieved alongside both goals. And then more speculating about season 2, has me grinning again :DDD i cannot wait to see your reaction to everything that is to come :DDDD

[@sarafontanini7051]

what always stirkes me is how the other cast SEVERELY underestimate his intelligence and low key look down on him despite how much his monster knowledge helps, even up the shapeshifter episode

[@cartooncrazy9883]

@sarafontanini7051 yea as much as I love chilchuck and I adore thinking about character dynamics (seriously don't get me started on laios and marcille I will cry), thinking about the way chilchuck thinks about laios makes me so mad. I'm just gonna ignore chilchucks shapeshifter of laios and pretend he just doesn't wanna admit he respects him cause that sucks.

[@bigkirbyhj666]

Honestly the disrespect comes from him having poor social intelligence. Like the bathing scene with the cat ninja (cant remember her name right now) and he was the only blind folded one.

[@paulinemissonnier6225]

I've been reading the manga, couldn't wait for season 2 for the rest of the story...and yeah he is a Genius, damn he got that knowledge and he KNOWS what to to with it!!!

[@nottsoserious]

Laios is intelligent, just hyperfixated. He's the ultimate dungeon adventurer because of his knowledge of monsters. In the fight against thistle he was particularly clutch

[@streetnecco1797]

Ryoko is truly the goat

[@ViviBuchlaw]

"Where is the Goat?"

[@warmth9140]

Ohhh no, what have you done!

[@streetnecco1797]

👀👀

[@ae1103]

Oh god...

[@la912]

@@warmth9140 I don't understand whats happening

[@tossingturnips]

As much as I thought I identified most with Chilchuck at the beginning of the show--which I mostly still do, especially as I get older--Laios is by far the one that I find is the most relatable. His personality and thoughts are laid bare to the viewers, so we are there to follow along with his processes and come to the same conclusions as him for a given situation. Or at the very least, understand his line of thinking.

[@NenMagem9106]

I agree, Chilchuck is my favourite character, but Laios is by far the most relatable

[@macamoo12]

(correct me if I misunderstood you) but I do think laios does care about the people of the golden kingdom thus far in what you've seen. In episode 21 at the very end, laios looks/sounds sad while he laments that yaad's hands were "cold". He then slowly lifts his sword and grabs onto the hilt. He then makes a conflicted but maybe slightly determined facial expression? While I think it's obvious that laios would much rather just find his sister and talk about monsters he's a good person. He feels bad for the immortal people of the golden country but doesn't seem to want the position of king so he has conflict in his heart over it. especially when there's a prophecy saying he's the one to save them. That also puts pressure on him on top of the conflict in his heart lolll

[@arabellasterwerf7980]

This!!! He does care about the people in the Golden Country!!! He was sad for the people of the Golden Country and is thinking deeply about what he will do with the Golden Country if he does become King. If there is one consistent part of Laios's character, it is that he cares deeply about the people around him even if some people don't immediately notice it (cough because he is Autistic cough). But yeah, he is shown to be conflicted by what Yaad asks of him. Because he does WANT to help! He even says that to his group that it wasn't like he wasn't considering helping them. He does want to help other people because Laios, as a person, cares about the other people around him even if they don’t like him. But now he has a decision to make! What will Laios choose!😁

[@qwefg3]

They are all so simply... Flawed, but in a natural way. These are the people you would see in real life more than most of the fantasy or fantastical characters you normally see. They would not be the first patch of heroes you would pick... But they might be the first patch of people you would pick to travel with and get to know.

[@misakistalker]

I love Falin that she's the only one who roots for him

[@wintersupremacy]

Real, especially when he thinks “Falin would understand what I meant” when things got tense

[@sarafontanini7051]

what's also neat about laios as a ;chosen one' is that...he doesn't SEEM to be. Yes he seems the most likely to obtain the 'prize' and the one Yod (or however its spelled) seems to want to succeed because of a prophecy, but really that's about it. Laios doesn't seem to be a secret child of Delgal or something, nothing suggests god pointed at him and went "HIM", hell he doesn't even seem to have anything special about him beyond his ability to mimic a dog. It's mostly happenstance that he's essentially our hero. PLus there's nothing that REALLY makes him special. He's pretty strong but so's a lot of characters, he's not particularly skilled at much beyond weird shit like mimicing a dog, all that makes him stand out is his hyperfixation on monsters and his poor social skills.

[@microcelltechnicalassistence]

he is also good with Magic but not as much as his sister, but he is still pretty good like a Lot

[@russellfox5877]

To be fair, there are a couple of things that do make Laois fairly special, he just brushes them off as though they are normal (because they are for him). 1-Laios does not fear pain (and to a degree the possibility of his own death). We see this when his leg is reattached; while Chilchuck and Senshi are in agony from their wounds being healed, Laios barely feels the reattachment of his leg. Either Laois was born with an immense pain tolerance (though we see him burned by scaling oil) or he has been through so much physical damage as the party’s tank that it leaves him completely unfazed. Because Laios is so unfazed by pain it allows him to take enormous calculated risks that no one else has the fortitude to take. Its one thing to have the knowledge of how to deal with a monster, but who is willing to go out there and do it if it means you’re going to lose a limb? (Laios truly has that dog in him). 2-Laios is a hyperfixated perpetual learner. Unlike many people who fixate on the end target of their goals, Laios is fully invested in the process, the journey and living in the moment. This is why he has such incredible knowledge of the monsters he faces and how he builds such casual confidence. He lives the process, he doesnt just learn what he immediately needs to succeed, he builds a really complex understanding out of sheer curiosity and obsession. Laios may not be physically phenomenal or have immense destructive power, but he can think his way through any situation, consider details that no-one else sees and commit to the solution without hesitation.

[@genericname2747]

He really just found a cool sword and decided to keep it. If he knew that made him the chosen one he would've left it. (Also it's spelled Yaad)

[@microcelltechnicalassistence]

@@genericname2747 would he, If he knew that It would lead him to more Monster food

[@snowboundwhale6860]

It feels like the version of the chosen one prophecy trope where it wasn't necessarily a specific person preordained to "do the thing.tm", but rather a positing that there's a combination of traits/ circumstances that'd lead to the thing being done, and the prophecy is a collection of most likely/ necessary components for that thing to happen. Like a checklist of things that have to go right, and Laios happened to tick enough of them along the way by being the way he is. e.g. The person was foretold to have the winged lion sword, they'd need it to open the mechanical door, though as to why they'd actually have it is arbitrary; Laios' sword came from the living armour and he only picked it up because he needed a weapon and his monster fixation meant it was an object of interest to be kept rather than a safety hazard.

[@connorjohnson8590]

Great analysis, but there is something about Laios' goals that must be mentioned: Laios does have a goal besides eating all the monsters and exploring his hyperfixation, and it's saving his sister. It's the actual impetus of the adventure. Other than that, excelent analysis! Can't wait to see you get to the end of the manga! There's a little slow patch around the 3/4 mark, but then it kicks up to 100 and absolutely nails the ending!!

[@sugarkane1571]

This!! I think Laios’ 2 goals are a big theme in the adventure, especially how they both conflict and support each other. Laios’ goal of saving her sister lets him go on this cool adventure where he gets to eat monsters, but also even if he loves his sister with all his heart, his biggest desire is still monsters.

[@zennitd2474]

"He sees freedom in Laios when he only sees imprisonment in himself" ✍️🔥🔥🔥

[@SpookyVibesStudio]

laios is autsim written correctly imo

[@danny_decheeto8300]

He’s literally me

[@craytherlaygaming2852]

He's definitely on the spectrum

[@scotginger4690]

​@@craytherlaygaming2852 Bro is the spectrum, he owns it.

[@bogscholar691]

He’s one of our strongest soldiers fighting the war on autism on the side of autism 🫡

[@nitebreak]

the part where he realized a charecter didn’t even like him the whole time was relatable. “Why wouldn’t you tell me” hit hard and hurt because i have felt the same before.

[@richiescarf7993]

Brook is not one note, he has many notes and he played them in his ribs like a marimba

[@KilgoreTraut]

Laois got that high INT, low CHA build

[@jillythefoo]

exactly!

[@UltraZombie115]

The autism build. (I should know this is me.)

[@Cykeys]

Nothing like High INT Fighter getting some love.

[@blooper_boy]

"Will Laious's desires' play some kind of pivotal role in the end game of the series?" *Cackles in manga reader*

[@goblin_1-t4s]

I love this manga, and i love the author's work and the way she just loves art. She's aggressively unsocial in the community and honestly, its great. She loves creating, she has a blog thats only dedicated to her pieces and doodles and thats all it is. Her love of her art is so clear when you read the manga and her blog posts, i hope this isnt the only anime she makes because i would love another one selfishly

[@mollystaaf8726]

I think Laios and this series as a whole become an instant comfort when I started it. It felt like watching a slight dysfunctional group of friends with all unique and different yet very human traits who didn’t look down on each other despite their differences. Even though I’m not on the spectrum and I doubt that has any relevance, seeing Laios be so unapologetically himself made me feel less self conscious and less ashamed of my own hobbies and interests others might deem unconventional.

[@aldrinmilespartosa1578]

Reminds me of myself having a rock slinging hobby. He would be best friends with Mao mao in Apothecary diaries, goobers having fixiated in on one niece hobby. Him(exotics culinary arts, poison/medicine) her.

[@maggie2556]

"This isn't about cooking monsters. These are your interests, your passions." Would you believe me if I told you I had a Laios-style fantasy of cooking and harvesting Pokémon _before_ I started watching this show? This man is me.

[@grookey77]

as a manga reader 12:26 made me screech

[@clankie]

i love laios so bad. i cannot WAIT for the laios video essays we are going to get from you after season 2 lol

[@beni5616]

Wonderful essay! As someone who read the manga since before the anime was even announced, you're in for a real treat! Laios' character goes down a super interesting path. Also that callout about the viewer having an hyperfixation on dungeon meshi itself was fucking savage

[@whiskyconmayo]

Another great essay! Laios my beloved...

[@catalystnarco2993]

Honestly, Laos is one of my favorite character right now. He is not an idiot, but rather competent in fighting and monsters, but also not a hypercompetent superhuman. We need more characters like this!

[@CofiBeenz]

I honestly appreciate how frustrating Laios is to people sometimes, because he feels so much like me. When he was comforting and helping Senshi during the griffin situation, at first it kinda feels like he’s a bit insensitive to some people, but it’s just how he helps people. Sometimes I feel like he doesn’t even realize he’s helping people. I’m someone who in all honesty, sometimes is insensitive to the people around me. My resting face is also very flat and I’ve actually had people walk up to me and ask if I’m ok. Or my family constantly asking me why I’m so mad when it’s just my resting face. When I’m helping someone I do it quietly so sometimes it seems like I’m ignoring it entirely, and I felt that kinda feeling in Laios. Not to mention as a writer/artist he’s arguably one of my favorite characters in recent years. Idk, it just feels like a little fresh air to me and I appreciate it.

[@funwari_tsukune]

6:18 I don’t think it’s anything major but just wanted to point out, I think that the game in “Perfect Communication” is not a fighting game but a Rhythm game (like Guitar Hero) where you have to push correct buttons on the right time

[@jacemoran1190]

Nice vid. I finally finished the anime from a friends suggestion. Something I mentioned to my friend once about most western animation and “adult” shows is that characters fell ironic or weird to their characters and they don’t feel genuine. That was something I really enjoyed seeing in Delicious in Dungeon. Laois is definitely the one where hyperfixation shows the most, but all 4 members of the main party and many other members of the cast feel really genuine. They don’t just do this cause the plot needs them to, but because the characters love the things they do and the people they do it with. Also I feel wildly called out about the fighting game/flirting manga panel. Read me like a book and landed a reversal super.

[@thatonedegenerate]

The reason why he's my fav MC because he's literally me. Like I'd act and react in the same as him if I were to be in his place.

[@pyrite7139]

I promise the dream of having just the right weird bounty of information for the situation and making people see how much work you've put into said weird stuff is not just a guy thing, we're with you on that one

[@funwari_tsukune]

First of all, LOVE your deep dives! I've read the manga when it came out, been watching the anime, but your keen eyes and how you notice things and how you can coherenty speak what you think has been very fascinating, thank you. This is just my rant and I am no means saying you or anybody else is wrong but... I keep seeing how people think Shuro was an asshole or how people talk about how Shuro hated Laios but I don't think that is true. I don't know if it's my Japaneseness giving me a different perspective then most but... I totally relate with being scared someone I like doesn't really like me back and I didn't know. That is a fear I always have. But in this case, and in reality too, I feel like friendship doesn't need to be black and white, like it' has to be either hate or like. Yes, Shuro obviously had a hard time with Laios. This is especially because he was a young lord where many (if not everyone) always did what he want's them to do even if he doesn't say it, but also because Japanese culture heavily emphasizes people to notice and do things without being told, just do things by social cues given. This is a terrible match with Laios since he can't get social cues, so much so that I'm sure Shuro had times where he even wondered Laios was doing something on purpose, like trying to go out to eat with Shuro and Falin because he doesn't want them to be togther (which obviously isn't the case). Laios would have him very confused from the beginning, perhaps even wondering if all western tall man where like Laios (probably gradually realizing this is not the case after he meets the party),and I think after a while Shuro did notice he actually envies him (even before the fight). It's tiring to be around him, but he probably also enjoyed his company to an extent. He might have not like Laios back as much as Laios liked him, but I think he still liked Laios. I mean, doesn't every body know somebody who you are like, "They are nice people and fun to be around, but can't imagine being roommates" kind of person? It's obvious he did have pent up frustrations, and it came out that way like that at that time but that is probably due to the combination of being tired, worrying about Falin, etc. I appreciated your thoughts on how Shuro and Laios was a same coin and they have a further understanding now after the fight but I just wish more people can, maybe just consider that Shuro didn't hate Laios. I feel like many see him in a unfair light.

[@stephanieok5365]

I like the perspective of envy for this conflict. Shuro's status and environment put him in a position to be high-functioning masking all the time. It'd be hard not to see someone else and feel the need to fix or correct a Lios. I think parents who had no choice but to mask neurodivergences often do that to their kids. 🤔

[@quaktoons331]

Laios: I don't want to cure cancer. I want to turn people into dinosaurs.

[@gunplasm86]

This was such a gem of a character analysis. I'm subscribing. I hope to see more dives into characters and what makes them tick.

[@unoriginalandunfunny1563]

Ive seen alot of people call Laios an insufferable asshole and that they cant stand the show because of him. Yet I love Laios and couldn't really wrap my head around the hate. So I'm glad for a video like this that stirs all the ingredients together and helps me understand why I personally love him. To me Laios is a "Good Intentioned Weirdo" because yeah his weird obsessions with monsters can be a bit much, but in no way is he a bad person. He's a genuinely good guy who wants to help others whenever he can, he's just ya know, a total weirdo lol. I dont think of him as an insufferable asshole at all. Its the exact opposite, he's an endearing goof. Literally me fr fr

[@rain-v4g]

I find it so entertaining seeing what solutions this man comes up with every time a new monster/ obstacle is introduced, I swear it never gets old!

[@Ante-Anima]

Let's also not forget Senchi is responsible for 100% pantyshots of the show. If that's not S-Tier level deconstruction, I don't know what is.

[@ViviBuchlaw]

Y'all ain't ready for Season 2 😂

[@killsode4760]

You have summed up why i love delicious in dungeon so well. I'll be frank, the one-note ness of a lot of anime characters and specific kind of floating unreality puts me off of a lot of anime.

[@ElJorro]

Laios is one of the best anime protag's I have ever seen.

[@chukasssss]

The Persona 5 Café LeBlanc song in the background is so random lmaooooo

[@dedofspace]

I binged the whole manga before I was even halfway through the anime and when I got to the part where shuro and laios have their confrontation I literally cried because of how similar it was to parts of my own life. Also, to anyone only watching the anime; the story starts off great and it gets even better I swear, dungeon meshi is amazing.

[@felpshehe]

"flashes of brilliance sandwitched between two slices of WTF IS THIS GUY DOING" YESSSSS YESSS THISSSS

[@pineappleeyes8680]

Love Laios he started as a character I thought was really silly to someone I heavily related to because of his interactions with other characters, "Why can't you just be normal" that hit harder than any other media I've invested in.

[@dontpokethekenny]

Too be fair, Laios goal is basically Catch em All from pokemon, he just wants to eat what he catches.

[@4nnih6]

lol he is so fun and it's cool how he is also relatable for anyone similarly weird to him. I think why he is so different from other male manga protagonists many of us, is that Ryoko Kui was mainly influenced by fantasy games for this, but she hadn't played them as much before researching and making DM (from what I've read). She had watched her dad play old JRPGs and seems like she became obsessed with them. While One Piece and other manga are pretty great, a lot of them are mainly inspired from other manga, so maybe that's just one reason why Laios and DM feel so different from every other manga. Watching this made me remember that it's really interesting what sort of stuff they put into the intros/outros, with the staff probably(?) already having read the manga, or having the advantage of knowing the story ahead of time, and that being reflected in both the intros/outros as well as the anime a bit. "Children's television shows" lol dono't be too hard on yourself, there's way more fans of anime/manga these days, maybe people wouldn't call DM for kids. I'd say most anime is pretty casual among anyone younger than 30 nowadays :) Thanks for this video! Fun to see people like this manga, the anime and this character!

[@hegpie]

resisting the urge to comment "banger banger banger banger" until i finish the video

[@kokisautomaatti]

refreshing to see someone see the shuro laios fight without completely bashing the other character

[@Arvyn992]

The thing I like about Delicious in Dungeon is that the Main Character's are just normal people compared to other Character's of different animes but still considered to be weird in their world

[@King_of_aces089]

"do you, do Laios" IDK BUT THAT HITS HARD.

[@SEBASTIAN-2019-]

I love the persona music in the background

[@JaliceTheShort]

I LITERALLY LOVE THIS MAN. I WANT- NO. I NEED LAIOS SO BAD BRO. HE'S AUTISM WAS WRITTEN COMPLETELY RIGHT HE'S LITERALLY UNIQUE AS A MAIN CHARACTER. HE'S SO ADORABLE RJGKDKAGFJGM AND SILLY. He's so goddamned fascinating, he says the wrong stuff and isn't able to read the room it causes some dumb misunderstanding ITS SO SILLY BRO. AND WHEN HE SAID HE WAS GLAD FALIN GOT EATEN OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EAT MONSTERS AAAAAAAAAA HIS HAIR IS SO CUTE SHSHJDHAHEJFN BAKR ABKR ABKR ABK Ahem. His hyperfixation on monsters as a kid, he doesn't want to kill them. He wants to EAT THEM. *DO YOU PEOPLE SEE THE VISION.* HE'S A LITTLE UNHINGED. ITS ADORABLE. HE'S THE MAN BRO. HE'S A LITTLE SILLY BUT HE'S GOOD DEEP DOWN. He does care for the people of the golden castle, he does care for people. It's the fact that he was willing to just defeat Thistle, but not KILL Thistle. He even draws or imagines Falin as an adorable person, kind even as a Chimera. BRO I LOVE THIS MANA GODK GODDAMN IT I LOVE HIM. I'LL BREAK DOWN THE WORLD AND REBUILD IT IF HE TELLS ME TO. HE'S THE ONLY KING I'LL KNEEL TO. AND IT'S THE FACT HE'S SO SMART??? HELLO?? LIKE HIS KNOWLEDGE ON MONSTERS LITERALLY SAVES THEIR LIVES (except when he ate the tentacle raw..) ANYWAYS- He's so funny. AND HE LEARNED FAST IN MAGIC?? LIKE FALIN. HE DEFINITELY HAS MAGIC TALENT LIKE FALIN. IF HE WAS A MAGE HE'D BE AS STRONG AS FALIN. I LOVE HIM BRORBABSJMA AAAAAAAAAA UHUHUH I WANT HIM BRO SERIOUSLY WHO WOULDN'T WANT A MAN WHOS HUNGRY AND IS SILLY AND IS SO HONEST AND IS WILLING TO HELP EVERYONEBEKSJAHSJJS I WANT HIM Anyways. Marcille is a walking spoiler, to those who read this please don't search anything about her you'll just get spoiled somehow. 😭🤚

[@sadyeehawww1440]

He's not autistic. Stop diagnosing him.

[@JaliceTheShort]

@@sadyeehawww1440 it was a headcanon, not forcing it or anything bruh. The author literally said we can interpret the manga in any way we please. Again. If you see something you don't like SCROLL 😬

[@VirtuesOfSin]

Something I found really interesting about Laios being the "Chosen One" isn't discussed until later. Spoiler so don't read if you don't want to be spoiled: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laios isn't actually a "Chosen One" in the conventional sense, and is just someone being used by the Winged Lion to achieve his goal. All the 'signs' that Laios gets about becoming lord of the dungeon and ruling over the kingdom are just manipulations of the Winged Lion to make it seem like he has been the chosen one. The Mad King was also manipulated in a similar manner. The Winged Lion is quiet manipulative.

[@jeffhappens1]

I love that. Yeah, almost done with the manga. The "Chosen One" myth is actually just the "Winged Lion"'s manipulation to take advantage of Laios.

[@jeffhappens1]

With all these stories about "Being the Chosen One", I love how this version is in reality a scam from the main antagonist. Love it. And being a "Chosen One" is something he figures to get for himself

[@evanluck1229]

A bunch of good songs back to back. All the ones I heard: My Hero Academia - Hero A Persona 5 - Beneath the Mask Fire Emblem Fates - Road Taken (this was my favorite ost for a long time) Fire Emblem Awakening - And what if I can't Fire Emblem Awakening - Conquest ???

[@dmgurei]

Great taste! Last one's Catherine OST ~ Also Sprach Brooks

[@akirachisaka9997]

Unrelated topic, but I do think the early chapters in the manga have a lot less foreshadowing and setup compared to the anime. As in, iirc, the anime was created after the manga has already concluded. So there is a lot of benefit in the hindsight to make the character development a lot smoother in early chapters of the anime. Meanwhile the early chapters of the manga feel a lot more “haha we cook”.

[@danny_decheeto8300]

I haven’t had this strong of a “he’s literally me” reaction since I watched H:TP and saw Door

[@scathachbeagbain6431]

Eyyyy Alfabusa fan! Door is peak tbh

[@danny_decheeto8300]

@@scathachbeagbain6431 eyyyy nice

[@ourpetsarecute3110]

This was not what I expected, but I can’t wait to see a redux/follow up once season two is up.

[@Meatpieman]

HES MY FAVORITE PERSON EVER

[@mr_sir4162]

5:26 Hey, don’t sell yourself short. Shonen is targeted towards adolescents, so you do deep dives on teen television shows. And Dungeon Meshi and Witch Hat Atelier are Seinen, so really, you do deep dives on adult television shows.

[@victorvazdamotaferraz1591]

The Fire Emblem music playing in the back was perfect

[@claireofhell]

now i’ve only ever seen think-pieces of laios & kabru being the character foils but never considered shuro! now that’s interesting bcs they are similar to Laios in ways too. kabru also has a hyperfixation which is people & Shuro also missed some social cues (the immediate marriage proposal)

[@kami_OwO]

Truly beautiful video. I definitely got a lot of inspiration for my Dungeon Meshi essays

[@valentino-og]

I love Laios so much 😭

[@jeantoes2737]

I have been living for your delicious and dungeon commentary and analysis Please never stop 😭🙏 also I would love to know what songs you used for the background!

[@vanillaicecream2385]

"Knowing the difference between the game of thrones books and tv show" well the books are actually called "a song of ice and fire".......well shit

[@scruffles3838]

It's kinda funny how whenever we the the character's perception of each other laois's perceptions seem to be "usually" way more spot on a very accurate of other people, however other people's perception of him always tend to be the absolute most extreme exaggerations and full of misconceptions even with people that can usually get a good read on others. It's kinda disheartening how commonly this is brought up

[@Fennoxiumquestionmark]

13:11 yes, I do do laios

[@Hero_DZN]

The thumbnail sold me, he is indeed literally me

[@ChocymilkPLZ]

The best thing about this video is the no spoiler beyond the animes first season and the manga

[@Monkey_Eat_Banan]

Laios would be the type of kid to play with rollie pollies during recess.

[@tangerine-chan2522]

That'd be Falin

[@clairemercer3099]

Honestly, a cookbook and a manual on dungeon wildlife would save thousands of adventurers lives.

[@qc6057]

“Do Laios” Don’t threaten me with a good time.

[@123adamhewitt]

Laios: Humanoid Labrador Retriever

[@spazmcat3853]

people who watch the dungeon meshi anime: :D People who read the manga/LN: *Thousand yard stare*

[@riton349]

Laios solves the dungeon w. his autism.

[@FandomLover-l3h]

And I really enjoyed the commentary you had on shuro and laios, if a psychologist did a video essay

[@PillageMontage]

Alright I finally gotta watch this show now. I’ve been putting it off for no reason, I know it will be good!

[@Dracula-rc6my]

6:21 he's literally me fr 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@tcdoesstuff]

I'm being called out mid hyperfixation.

[@areyrii]

Laios appreciation AND persona music 🗣‼️‼️ /posi

[@pugjuice8462]

I ♥️ Laios Touden.

[@tonkinthehanoian1843]

The network dwindled so I take a moment to type the comment so here we go. Laios relationship with the whole story kinda reminds me of... Shinosuke Nohara from Crayon Shin-chan. Shinosuke in movies for a lot of time takes on the role of the chosen one for probably his weirdness. Even in main storyline what is so enjoyable in solving dramas and problem is how weird Shin-chan handles it and it works out in the end. Two of these cases are not only "you're not like other heroes" but even "you're not even like other people why do we even get here" I suppose weird chosen one is indeed a trope. Oh to take interest in something questionable and actually answer world's important questions...

[@DieFarbeLila88]

I really enjoyed this essay. Thank you 🥰

[@crime5907]

Great vide essay!

[@Kikilang60]

He is just king material.

[@1Xaria]

It always amused me but confused me how inept and competent the party seemed at the same time and how it all seemed so right. But then I realized that this works so well because it's so true to life. It's not that they are stupid or geniuses, it's just that these are people who are really good at what they do. I work in tech support and rather than thinking the people I work with are dumb, I have come up with a saying. "People know what they know, and don't what the don't." That's true of everyone and it's just as obvious as it is easy to forget. I work with a lot of doctors who take 5 minutes to navigate to their downloads folder on their computer even with a step by step verbal walk through. That doesn't mean they're stupid(though I do tend to think how well someone is able to take instructions speaks more to intelligence than the things they know.), they just aren't familiar with it. Spectrum aside, Laios is a monster/spelunking specialist. This was made most clear to me when you look at Kabru. Kabru could probably dismantle Laios in a fight with one arm and leg tied behind his back, but he is the far inferior dungeoner. And that may be just as applicable when considering both entire parties.

[@whohangedmyname]

I think the character that helps emphasize your point about Laios is Kabru, cuz he is intoduced to us as an typical anime protagonist with him and his group determined to crown him the new lord of the dungeon, except they fail a lot because Kabru doesn't have the knowledge thag Laios has.

[@estevaoM524]

while i really liked your video, there is one thing that didn't sit right with me before i actually watched the anime i heard in many other essays like this one that "Laios objective is to cook every monster in the dungeon" but after watching it just feels so reductive to his character, cooking the monsters is indeed something he wants to do and is passionate about, but is not his main goal, Laios main quest is to save his sister and it is reinforced multiple times trough the show, whenever he meets someone new he never says "i wanna go to the 6th floor to eat a dragon" but "i want to find the dragon before he digests my sister", and even after defeating said dragon his first instinct isn't to cook the dragon but to look in ever organ of the dragon to see if he can find Falin it kinds bothers me that people talk about Laios as if his passion about monsters was his whole thing when is just one part of his character, and like you said at the end, "Laios is YOU" i also find really uncomfortable to talk about everyone as if their hobby was his whole personality, even towards the kinds of people that indeed makes their hobby their whole personality but idk, is just how i saw the whole thing, hope you have a nice day 😊

[@Nickel_The_Wise]

I've completed the story, so I can't speak to interpretation and secrets to know, but as far as Laios is concerned, I've seen his personality largely influenced by his upbringing. His father was the town honcho, and his mother was a little detached at times, but the two prizes he had to fall back on were is Dungeon Exploration Guide, and his sister Falin. I took the lack of friends to mostly be from the villagers fearing the Toudens property since that's their village leader, and the guy was a houndmaster and hunter; not a house easily walked up to sometimes, eh? So Laios and Falin might've only ever had each other, but when she displayed magic talents and the villagers did as villagers do, Mr. Touden was having none of it and shipped her out to a Gnome Academy, mostly to quell the problem. Laios took it personally, as any of us would, and decided to ditch the place and find his own life. Initially, military service proved to be busto since his kind and simple youth wasn't conducive to being a good soldier, but he trained enough to get skilled as a fighter, and put that and his solid build to work as an armed escort for a long while. During this time, and before as well, he was in correspondence with Falin, and when he was in the area at last, he went to visit her, only to find out she'd meant to leave with him. After that, they began to get work with dungeon peelers, and the rest is history. I imagine other folks training in the military and furtive, worried merchants don't make for great conversation, so Laios is really eager to make up for lost time, but socializing's been a dump stat for so long, it took some doing, like with the duplicitous people that preyed on his good nature when they first arrived. As far as Toshiro is concerned, he's kinda in the same boat. His dad's a hot mess (who was secretly nailing Maizuru on the side, which is *great..)* who decided to pit him and his two younger brothers against one another in a weird and shapeless 'bring back something of worth' quest they were all shipped out on. I'm no expert on Japan, but since it can have its own set of social conventions and reservations about 'how to talk about things' it could be from these as well. Again, like Laios said, it _can_ be as easy as just speaking ones' mind, but some of us are just raised to think otherwise, whether we like it or not.

[@hoover_barreltholdt1]

Omg have you seen the daydream hour dm art books? Theres a ton of lore there

[@dmgurei]

@@hoover_barreltholdt1 Everyone says there’s too many spoilers 😔 I’d love to check them out eventually though!

[@saparapatepete]

His passion for cooking and eating monsters will force him to become a powerhouse strong and smart enough to save the world.

[@kaelang12]

me knowing what happens later on: 🙃

[@eli507]

...Who accepts a promotion at work without a payraise? I don't want that additional responsibility without cash in hand?

[@CoffeeCriminal]

sorry I had to take a break at 0:39 and watch One Piece again

[@Thelastmanalive565]

Welp bud I’ve watched a couple of your vids and I have to so that I like ya so you got yourself a new subscriber.

[@timoth4529]

World trigger is great in that regard, not into the same details as DM but considering its massive cast its suprising how much every single charackter is fleshed out.

[@gabrielpecson8549]

The only time I wholeheartedly could say "he's like me fr fr" 😂