You definitely have a point, but I feel like the three year gap when he was in 2STO made him more mature. At that…
There's a logical problem there: growth can't be the reason of said change because culmination of growth was the reason the line was said in first place.
This line was a response to a conflict, that brought about change and growth to NDS character and not the conflict itself. The conflict is presented way earlier than this pride line is said:
The conflict is: "i lived all my life trying to meet others expectations"
The realization happens, and the show flashes out why this is a problem (a conflict). Not only that but we see this from NDS point of view.
Then we have NDS addressing it and by doing so we also see the growth said resolution brings about: "let's not be each other's pride and joy" and then we have the closure of a plot point coming full circle.
This might be controversial so please if you're going to comment something on my post, please don't make it hate;…
Let me adress some points since i liked how you're open to discuss it:
The problem with NDS is that his character growth, as you have said, is dependent on another character role model. This is a problem because of how it's executed rather than being bad in itself:
1- mirroring: NDS is supposed to be a antithesis of HJP and not a mirror. An antithesis that should shine in contrast and not in similarity. Similar to Marcus Brutus and Mark Antony on Shakespeare Julius Caesar, this antithesis should be handled with care as it's a source of conflict and can make it or brake it a aundience view of the outcome.
2- NDS "coming of age" isn't well executed, by binding his struggles on his self image to HJP the author missed the mark and lost momentum on flashing out his contrast to HJP as an antithesis. It was made in a way that brought light to what makes HJP great and what makes NDS flawled, it's not a good set up unless you have a growth arc just as strong to levelling the field. Or else what you have is a misplaced character that doesn't servers it's purpose on the grand scheme of things.
3- NDS can only scratch the surface of what makes HJP a great role model (HJP goes way deeper than his apparent confidence and financial success). Therefore all the mentorship is reduced to competitiveness that prompts growth, and the wise old man of a hero's journey is reduced to a archrival. A archrival is usually someone who grows with the main character, in a leveled playing field the archrival presence must presents uncertainty of outcome.
4- So NDS has a mentor he can't properly recognize (this is illustrated by him admiring HJP success but disregarding the philosophy that took him to were he is), a archrival he can't play fair against and to wich the outcome of conflict is always predictable... Let alone all the plot holes and focusing solely on the character analysis, i think NDS felt short of what he could be.
"You're not my pride. And I don't want to be your pride. It's very tiring to live as someone's pride and joy. You're afraid of disappointing the person, so you pretend you're strong and competent. Let's not be each other's pride and joy."
Yet in ep 15 he says the exact opposite to DM. Does the author even remembers what she wrote for god sake? Does she have amnesia like DM?
Agree! So many valuable life lessons that SOME people are ignoring because theyre too focused on only one character
You shouldn't take literally, that's why i put "minority" right after. I was generalizing but if you prefer you can replace the entirety to "majority" there
Our good ending is HJP leaving all this mess behind, let's be realistic that is as good as it could get given all things. I just hope nobody has the audacity of stopping him from leaving, especially DM (ISTG). The only one who could have this right is halmeoni but i really hope she doesn't stop him either...
This line was a response to a conflict, that brought about change and growth to NDS character and not the conflict itself. The conflict is presented way earlier than this pride line is said:
The conflict is: "i lived all my life trying to meet others expectations"
The realization happens, and the show flashes out why this is a problem (a conflict). Not only that but we see this from NDS point of view.
Then we have NDS addressing it and by doing so we also see the growth said resolution brings about: "let's not be each other's pride and joy" and then we have the closure of a plot point coming full circle.
The problem with NDS is that his character growth, as you have said, is dependent on another character role model. This is a problem because of how it's executed rather than being bad in itself:
1- mirroring: NDS is supposed to be a antithesis of HJP and not a mirror. An antithesis that should shine in contrast and not in similarity. Similar to Marcus Brutus and Mark Antony on Shakespeare Julius Caesar, this antithesis should be handled with care as it's a source of conflict and can make it or brake it a aundience view of the outcome.
2- NDS "coming of age" isn't well executed, by binding his struggles on his self image to HJP the author missed the mark and lost momentum on flashing out his contrast to HJP as an antithesis. It was made in a way that brought light to what makes HJP great and what makes NDS flawled, it's not a good set up unless you have a growth arc just as strong to levelling the field. Or else what you have is a misplaced character that doesn't servers it's purpose on the grand scheme of things.
3- NDS can only scratch the surface of what makes HJP a great role model (HJP goes way deeper than his apparent confidence and financial success). Therefore all the mentorship is reduced to competitiveness that prompts growth, and the wise old man of a hero's journey is reduced to a archrival. A archrival is usually someone who grows with the main character, in a leveled playing field the archrival presence must presents uncertainty of outcome.
4- So NDS has a mentor he can't properly recognize (this is illustrated by him admiring HJP success but disregarding the philosophy that took him to were he is), a archrival he can't play fair against and to wich the outcome of conflict is always predictable... Let alone all the plot holes and focusing solely on the character analysis, i think NDS felt short of what he could be.
"You're not my pride. And I don't want to be your pride. It's very tiring to live as someone's pride and joy. You're afraid of disappointing the person, so you pretend you're strong and competent. Let's not be each other's pride and joy."
Yet in ep 15 he says the exact opposite to DM. Does the author even remembers what she wrote for god sake? Does she have amnesia like DM?
Also DM: "Let me throw him under the bus just to test something here real quick"