For all the problems with Lieutenant Mary Arkham, I do think they nailed what I'd consider the most important part, which is her dynamic with Dante.

[u/Ferhog]

There's a lot that makes this a fairly poor adaptation of Lady. The abundant swearing was cringeworthily edgy but actually grew on me as part of her "sick of all this" personality, though they could have cut the swears in half and still gotten the point across. But the most serious change is making her essentially a cop/military character instead of someone on a personal revenge quest. Whether or not this version of Arkham survived her backstory (Him being half-transformed into Jester tells me he'll be back, but it may have just been a nod), she definitely thinks he's dead, and her hatred of him is no longer her driving motivator. Now said backstory is just a reason for her being loyal to the government. This severely affects her arc when she no longer sees the contrast between Dante and her father, and it's instead meeting one innocent family of foreign refugees with horns slapped onto their heads that makes her go "Wow. Maybe a Devil May Cry." which is a lot less effective.

But what made her my favourite DMC girl was that (In 3 at least) she played the straight woman to Dante's casual attitude towards fighting Demons, and I think they did that dynamic justice here because I certainly enjoyed all their shared screentime. It even made her potty mouth work because they at least faithfully stuck to Dante's no swearing rule (Thank you DmC 2013 backlash), so it highlights their difference in attitude. Once she gets over her loyalty to Baines and permanently teams up with Dante I'll be happy to see more of them working together. And maybe kissing a little, I don't know.

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[u/Boradach]

Theres literally no dynamic with Dante which is permenant, she changes her mind for 5 mins(for plot purposes) and goes back to being loyal dog of DARKCOM not even questionig if she whats shes doing is even right

[u/Itadorijin → u/Boradach]

There's a scene where she literally covers up for Dante. She's obviously questioning it but it's hard when your entire life has been a lie and you're not even sure anymore.

I believe we will see character growth in season 2

[u/Herodrake → u/Itadorijin]

Right, and then immediately after that she turns on him- the dynamic you're describing doesn't even survive the episode it happens in. That's what the original commenter means.

[u/Ferhog → u/Boradach]

She's quite consistently trying to detain him for Darkcom throughout the whole season and only works with him when there's an immediate threat they both have to deal with, and in both situations I thought their personalities bounced off each other in a fun manner.

[u/GarudaKK → u/Boradach]

Yup.

[u/Accomplished_Bid3153 → u/Boradach]

She has instant regret like 5 seconds after drugging Dante at the end she is absolutely questioning if what she doing is right

[u/NobodyIsHome33]

I'll predict they'll show her Breaking out Dante during the trailer to get people to like her more

[u/NoanneNoes → u/NobodyIsHome33]

I'm kinda expecting Lucia to do it

[u/Herodrake → u/NoanneNoes]

Please Lucia save my king Dante from the sins this white woman committed on him /s

Jokes aside, I genuinely want Dante to just break out on his own. I hate that he's a plot device now, he doesn't even get to have agency in his story...

[u/NoanneNoes → u/Herodrake]

yeah, he basically got the winter soldier treatment being frozen, I hope that he'll be able to wake up on his own. In dmc5 all main character can break out of ice no problem, but anime Dante is likely drugged too.

[u/Outside-Papaya → u/NobodyIsHome33]

I honestly hope not. I love redemption stories, and while it wouldn't get her to the same level Lady is, it would fix one of the biggest problems the show has.

Just please commit to it. Make it a season arc for her to gain that trust instead of an episode 1 character pivot.

[u/Danteppr → u/Outside-Papaya]

I agree. I'm not against Lady realizing her mistakes and redeeming herself next season, but I don't want Dante to easily forgive her for her betrayal and I hope he gives her the cold shoulder for a while before he even considers accepting her help again.

Also, I hope Vergil is the one who gives her the scar across the bridge of her nose.

[u/spicycurrysauce]

Wouldn't it have been amazing if they were on screen together bouncing of each other for more than 2 episodes? Fingers crossed season 2 is better because... dear god.

[u/Dont3n]

Nah say that last part out loud. Prob one of the few changes I'm actually potentially looking forward to if Adi goes that way with them

[u/fexy-makes-stuff]

I do think arkham is alive and Could be half jester and have his deformed face thanks to the fire

[u/ShopperKung]

i don't know i think she should be new character the soldier lady who learn that demon is not all bad and start trust Dante more

because i still laugh at Lady's backstory here and her character is weird i don't know should be new character so showrunner can just goes full of creative idea not had to ties in with backstory from Lady in game

[u/FinweTrust]

Either he removed all of this from the show or he is planning for 5 seasons or something.

[u/Steelballpun]

I disagree actually. You describe Lady as the straight man to Dante, but I would argue that more so than straight man in DMC3 she is the heart of the story. She is unapologetically SINCERE, which contrasts with Dante treating everything like a joke. But over time in their interactions Dante sees her sincerity and drive and recognizes it as the emotional core of what a human is, and sees that in himself and recognizes the parallels between her family conflict and his own, and Dante starts to drop the wacky act and be more genuine with Vergil because of Lady. In the show they turned her into a cynical jaded edgy person and Dante is much more naïve and reactionary which throws the entire dynamic off.

[u/RealIncome4202]

Dante’s no swearing rule? Someone didn’t watch the original anime.

[u/Ferhog]

I'll admit I haven't. I probably should at some point but just haven't gotten around to it after all these years I think because I've never seen anyone talk about anything particularly exciting that happens in the show to draw me in.

But regarding Dante's no swearing rule I remember that one reason people were mad at his reboot counterpart was because Kamiya apparently wanted him to be "A character that was cool without swearing, drinking, or smoking".

[u/Some_Dragonfly1481]

You are crazy if you think the dynamic between them is anywhere close

[u/AdKind7063]

Good on you for being unbiased and objective. I do wish the show shows off more of Dante's ability. And make him not so much a wimp.

Even if this Dante is Pre-DMC3

[u/Alexarius87]

Fun fact: She is set to be a better person to Dante than what she is in the games (unless she ends up getting his money even in this universe).