You know what this list has been missing? A bad guy. Sure we've had anti-heroes and morally ambiguous characters but we haven't really had a good, old fashioned villain. So why not open up the list to my favorite villainous character ever (Sherlock's Jim Moriarty is in a close second). Why is my favorite villain ever? Well let's break down what makes a good villain. Awesome Start of Darkness backstory, a badass level that exceeds even the main character, and the ability to match wits with the protagonists and beat them. So, how does Shinobu Sensui meet all these requirements? Just read below.
Shinobu Sensui was the Spirit Detective who preceded Yusuke Urameshi. Sensui was picked at a very young age for the role and possessed a very black and white view on demons. He saw demons as the ultimate evil and that he had to protect humans from demons at all costs. He was also extremely powerful for his age. However, in his youth Sensui saw something that changed his life forever. He saw humans slaughtering demons and bathing in their blood. (probably the most gruesome thing you see in Yu Yu Hakusho) This event through a heavy shade of gray into Sensui's black and white morality and he was unable to deal with what he saw. He resolved to make humans pay for the things that they had done to demons and disappeared. He reappears and executes an amazingly well thought out plan to "judge" humanity for their sins. So there we go, awesome Start of Darkness backstory. Now we're on to the badass quotient (spoilers lie here so beware). Sensui is easily the most dangerous adversary that Yusuke and his pals have to fight. Not only does he predict their every move but he manipulates them in unwinnable situations many times scoring a mental victory when he suffers a physical one. You always feel like he's operating on a higher level than the protagonists. He never appears worried about the success of his plan even when the protagonists get a victory against him because he has planned so well. He knows with certainty that his plan will succeed and to give him credit...it does. He's the only adversary that actually defeats Yusuke and succeeds in his goal. He knew that Yusuke would bet everything on a one on one fight with him even though Sensui knows that Yusuke cannot match his power in any way. So there he's badass manipulator and strategist. Adding on to that, the dude is the most powerful human in the show. He's mastered the Resshūken, an elegant style of fighting that relies on using one's arms to block before using strong kicks to counterattack. This style requires one to have mastered every single other style of martial art...badass. Then theres his Sacred Energy technique which essentially makes him a living god. The dude is powerful, theres no doubt about that. Can you see why I love this guy as a villain?
I love a villain that is cold, calculating and an expert strategist. There is no doubt that Shinobu Sensui is all of these things. From his backstory, to his personality, to the way he fights, the man is literally made of cool. Most Yu Yu Hakusho fans will admit that Sensui is by far the show's best antagonist and it's hard not to see why. Seriously, go out and watch the Chapter Black arc of Yu Yu Hakusho. You will not be disappointed
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