How? In what way was Eli in anyway like the Shitenou?
I agree with this question. I am confused as to how Ail is anything like any male antagonist, filler or otherwise, to that point. I am open to an explanation, though, because he is by far my favorite Makaiju alien and would like to see an argument for this just to challenge my POV.
I don't hate An at all. I like An. She is pretty, petty, and hilarious with her antics, but I love Ail more.
How do I love Ail? Let me count the ways.
- He's the first male villain to show genuine romantic interest in the main hero, and unlike any of Usagi's love rivals -- heroic or villainous -- he doesn't engage in bad behavior when it comes to his actual pursuit of her. He doesn't tease her. He doesn't try to hypnotize her and control her. He doesn't kiss her without her consent. He tries to win with respectful persistence. In fact, the only times he did harm her until the reveal were inadvertent (not only was that initial Cardian attack indirect, pretty sure he did not know that Vampire had drained her energy) or in ignorance of her dual identity. You might argue that his initial reactions after the reveal were proof that he never really loved her, but still, it's kind of telling that he's probably the least harmful of her loves -- including her destined love interest. And there are hints this relationship could have been requited if she weren't so hung up on getting Mamoru's memories back.
- Even without his crush on Usagi, Ail can play the flute. That's kind of alluring.
- And his eyes in both forms are pretty, I'll admit. (So are An's)
- He shows signs of being conflicted about what he and An are doing; while he's not angsty about it and quickly resolves that he and An have to survive, that he does start to get confused and have doubts makes his redemption a lot more believable than last-minute apologies from defeated villains. Unfortunately, because it's a kids' show and they have to hammer home how "evil" the aliens are, he's not allowed to develop those concerns more than as a brief mentions before going full villain mode (until the last episode). But he clearly isn't being evil for evil's sake.
- At the same time, he's practical when it comes to suppertime. When it comes time for him to commit to act, he does. He's going to make sure he and An survive. In spite of his feelings he tries to take care of his fellow alien.
- Ail's passive distance serves as a contrast Mamoru's active distancing and antagonism before and after this arc. He doesn't go out of the way to hurt feelings, play psychological games. He wants to be let alone and gets fans in spite of his desire. Reading between the lines, if it weren't for the whole "secret alien" thing, he clearly would like to be connected to the cast, which makes the ultimate resolution to rid him from it disappointing.
- He's a humanoid plant energy vampire. That in of itself is cool. Yes it applies to An, too, I know.
As far as the Makaiju version goes...this is one that really depends on the old dub or the Japanese version. The Doom Tree I like, because its people were corrupted and it was weakened to the point where it was about to give into the darkness completely and couldn't fight it off much longer.
The Makaiju I dislike because it
deliberately starved Ail and An by shutting down and dying in order to teach them how to love. That's just wrong.
And Fiore? He's just Ail + Demande + Beryl to me. I'm sorry, I find aliens who have to drain life force to live a lot more compelling than aliens who get tricked by plants into kidnapping their obsessions. I don't hate him, but he doesn't compare to Ail and An.