We don't need Shotaro's life story. Most people also would like one defining moment, but what is life if not made of many different moments? Then we go back to what I first said. We do not need his life story. All we need to know is that he cares for his home.
Dude, he entered one of Museum's labs to help save Raito and his boss was killed. The first arc's major villain was a childhood friend who was corrupted. His reason for fighting and the way that he fought was reflected by each case.
The Museum was the main driving force within the events of the series. Foundation X's increase in power was due to the aftereffect of the Museum's reign. The influence of Foundation X seen is represented by Utopia. Utopia was one of the memories that was made possible by the Museum.
Shotaro does learn things, but they mostly are updates to what he already knows. The series does not focus on Shotaro's change as much because it focuses on Raito's change, which happens to be due to Shotaro.
Anyway, for Double, I think that I would remove Skull. He really serves no purpose.
It takes more than defining moments, especially when it is focusing on Fuuto instead of Shotaro. Instead, it focusing more on Shotaro than covering Fuuto through multiple lenses. A home isn't enough reason, they way double has it been done. Had it been closer to Takeru or some other character, then yes there would a reason for it. A home can hell, it can heaven, or it be something in between. The issue is that he does it for his home, however, you don't really know why he has the affection. He just has it. In which case, it means nothing for it does give enough when it comes to is impulsive actions. That serves a greater purpose for it far more for it can be related. I am talking about not just through his friends, but his enemies, and people he doesn't know.
On that Raito in Foundation X, that is a fatal flaw. How could you get away by an organization like Foundation X? It's pretty much interpol of other wide spread organization. It is pretty much impossible to get away with it.
It demonstrate a goal Shotaro has. It didn't really define the actual reason. I could even has Kusaka has more reason with his grudges and jealousy on the same situation that way Shotaro deals with it. For he is simply fighting, I doesn't give it ulterior motive or any hidden motives that drive him. Think of it this way, using 2 by 4 for the structure support of the house. It's weak and cause major problems.
The thing with the museum is that they are only the supplier to the consumer.
Foundation X is literally the core when it come to production and details. It's different with Museum for they can do what the want, even if its displeases them. They don't have true loyalty to them despite having the gaia memories.
Did you forget something, the gaia memories for double are the same way. Don't treat double as it its the exception.
Skull is important more for the back-story than the tech development. In which case, that is more of use than junk of development for Shotaro. I rather have it focus more on Phillip, Narumi, Akiko, Terui instead of Shotaro. Shotaro practically develops like a stock crash. Goes up and goes down and stays flat.
Are you sure that it really focuses that much on Raito? Shotaro has far more development. Terui stills has a bit more to give to the story. As for Phillip, I wouldn't say his development matter that much with the constant annoying arbitration by Shotaro. Had they given more development to Phillip, I would say it is that way, however it is more on Shotaro and his love of Fuuto. I wouldn't really call handling it fairly. Don't mistake Shotaro's love for others as actual love. For I consider quite narcissistic, even through it doesn't seem that way. It come off quite passive aggressive in a sense. It was always Shotaro for the start and ends of the cases. Where do you Phillip doing other means that does help the case other than the Gaia Library. In a sense, Shotaro is using Phillip as a computer, while not trying to that is exactly what he is doing.
In a sense, the biggest problem is that Shotaro doesn't practice what he preaches. Tsukasa as bad as he is, does learn, even if goes overboard in the consequences. He ends up learning. If you use Zeronos or Kagami, than it would be better to say those things in terms of development. Shotaro is no Zeronos or Kagami. Don't treat him as if he is as kind as those genuinely. For even selfish intention has good intentions to them. Shotaro just has intentions, that aren't defined, whether it is bad or truly good. Shotaro does not make that much flaws, which is a problem. All it becomes is empty euphemism of his love for Fuuto. It never goes beyond Fuuto. It does go personal beyond Fuuto. He never actually treats them as with skepticism. It does not become the underlying reasons that justify all of his actions though. For had it really love Fuuto, he would have truly been a no-kill policy even if they are evil. For he would love them, despite the problems that will occur. That is why Shotaro could hardly be consider nice, for he is being too nice. That doesn't do anything for other people other than use him or to be weary. For they would know that it is a facade that can be seen through.
It does not help him that now I can associate him with Mitt Romney in that sense.lol
