Street Fighter II V 26-27: A True Friend Is Hard To Let Go

It's almost time for the finale. Honestly, I felt that it's too bad Street Fighter II V actually got cut short. My own thoughts? There could've been much done with how D*MN F*CKING GOOD the series could've been. It's way better than the American cartoon that came out that same year. However, it also became compromised along the way. 

Friends forever, Ryu and Ken

Ryu and Ken have been watching each other's back. The two are practically inseparable. I thought about how Ken must deal with a brainwashed Ryu! Ryu is under Bison's control and Ken must find a way to free his closest friend. Ken's after all an only child. Ryu was his closest friend. Ken fights with Ryu hoping to free the latter.

What totally makes me sick is how Bison could casually toss people aside. I bet Bison tossed Ashura as an inconvenience when they failed him. Bison probably just whistled when the treasure hunters at India were arrested. I bet Vega was fired from work after Bison found Ken more amusing. Bison only cares about himself. This scene was emotionally wrenching. This is a contrast of tragedy. Ken was able to save Ryu but then Guile weasn't able to save Charlie.

Ken's method was to communicate using the Hadou energy. I find it crazy how Bison was actually wanting to see both Hadou emerge. Is it me, or is Bison someone who loves seeing explosions and carnage? I thought the scene where Ken tries to break Ryu's mind control via Hadou was badass. Bison's not worried about it. Instead, Bison's actually WANTING to see it happen, which is Bond Villain Stupidity. Bison wanted to see two close friends kill each other. 

Charlie's death is just too painful... HONESTLY!

The contrasting tragedy is to see Charlie DIE at Bison's hands. In the Street Fighter II game, Guile's ending had him confront Bison about Charlie and Cambodia. However, the Anime doesn't talk about Cambodia one bit. Instead, Shadaloo HQ seems to be located at some distant island, perhaps Bangkok like in the games. 

Guile had his final battle with Zangief. Charlie has a gun ready. Charlie was ready to fight a madman but came UNPREPARED to fight a man with superpowers. Charlie SHOT Bison with a gun, but that bullet was useless. Bison kills Charlie and it's not a TV-Y7-FV sight. 

Guile barges in only to find his good friend Charlie had DIED. It's a really heartbreaking scene. Guile's tears were emotionally THAT draining. Guile tries to fight Bison, but Bison manages to toss Guile aside. Bison's sadism is emotionally draining. Honestly, I rooted for Guile to at least hit Bison the MOTHERF*CKER up. However, Ryu and Ken are the real protagonists. Guile's meant to be that person who saves civilians but never beats up the Big Bad.

The false friend exposed

Balrog hired Cammy to kill Dorai with a false tip. The very information Balrog gave was FALSE. Cammy could tell through her confrontation with Fei Long that Dorai was innocent. So yeah, I'm still wondering why Dorai was spared here, unlike the games. It's a Spared by the Adaptation! I thought about Cammy's status as an MI-6 agent actually makes more sense than the Street Fighter Alpha 3 revelation years later that she was a BISON CLONE?! 

Cammy sets Balrog up and nearly kills him. Balrog was revealed by an Interpol chief to be a mole all along. Cammy had ZERO IDEA she was set up by Shadaloo instead of being an unwitting Shadaloo agent. I felt that Balrog's entire existence was wasted here. Balrog decides to use a gun to try and kill Cammy then he's beaten like that? Sadly, Balrog never got to show off his brute ability given he's still given the huge dangerous frame that could snap Fei Long or Cammy in half. Instead, Balrog was naturally cornered when Chief Barrac (an OG character) revealed that Balrog was a CRIMINAL.

Was Balrog necessarily a wimp? Balrog can theoretically snap away both Cammy and Fei Long. However, Balrog was probably slower, and Cammy targeted the NECK. Balrog was a Shadaloo agent but he probably got too comfortable as a spy. Balrog panics as the real secrets are revealed. It's a panic because his real advantage, like a balrog (and hence the name Bison didn't make sense to him, as the Japanese had it), was that he was underground. IMHO, Balrog was capable of killing, but his brain was paralyzed the moment his scams were revealed over time. 

Cammy suffocated Balrog before handing him over. I bet it was for the best; Balrog was choked unconscious. Balrog would've probably recovered after his own psychopathy kicked in again. Knocking Balrog down unconscious was really proper, IMHO. The guy didn't show his boxing skills, but he was still armed and dangerous.