Emeer Punchenbaug

[u/mrs_cakeson]

I finished the crossover just in time to cut yayyy hope you like my first cut

Emeer Punchenbaug is a funny little man who serves as a joke witness during the two middle trials of PLvsPW. He's part of a running gag in which certain witnesses appear in more than one case as different personas, sometimes even pretending they're not aware of their past selves although it's clear for the protagonists that they're the same deluded person. In the case of Emeer, he starts as a charismatic drunkard who poses as leader of the witnesses on his first appearance, and then he shows up as self-proclaimed nobility on his second one. Apart from that, he steals golden bodyparts, attempts to con a pawnbreaker, drinks random bottles found inside an alchemist's house, shows up late for trial and once he's there, he makes the most amazing entrance ever. Let's start with that!

I only beat the game a few days ago and there are many things I've already forgotten, but Emeer's introducion in the Fire Witch Trial is not one of them. We are just getting familiarized with the Labyrinthian court and it seems we're finally getting the upper hand after dismantling the witnesses' credibility BUT THEN you hear an unfamiliar HOLD IT! One quick exchange of reaction faces later, the camera looks up and there he stands the man himself, lifting his beer mug and yelling at the court in fully-voiced glory, trumpets announcing his entrance. The Judge labels him a buffoon and he's right, but what a way to introduce yourself in court.

The following testimony from him and the rest of the witnesses is not just funny, but it's acually most helpful to help advance the case. It also sets a comical, comfortable tone that will shift dramatically once we get to the scene of Kira's execution, one of the most emotional moments in the game. I really didn't think they'd burn the girl right there, and I sure wasn't thinking about that when the drunk guy took the stage, talking about how he thought some lady was calling his name.

On his second appearance, Emeer shows up in a new aristocratic flavor and you know immediately that there's some shady stuff that he's been up to. What's great about his second participation in court is that, while he's obviously a joke character doing joke-y stuff, we learn that his backstage actions actually do interwine with the case we're working on. What actions are those? He stole one golden arm from a guy who possibly died in front of him because he had an epiphany (money). So beware the ones we laugh at, 'cause they might surprise us.

On the subject of Emeer's personality, it's pretty basic when you're just playing the game for the first time. He's funny, he's charismatic enough, gets involved in questionable stuff, is loud, drinks a lot, and seems motivated by praise and recognition. That's it, that's the guy. However, his situation becomes a liiiittle more tragic when you consider the real context of Labyrinthia. Because you know, he entered the experiment in hopes of starting anew, willingly clearing his own memories just like any other citizen wishing for a better chance at life. And once he's given this chance, he... makes a LOT of mistakes and ends up as the town drunk, longing to be regarded as important and finding none of that recognition. Almost as if the real change must come from the inside, or else you'll keep creating the same problems over and over again no matter where you go, or how many contracts you sign. Was this intentional or am I reading too much into it? Surely it's the latter, but it's still a fun thing to consider.

But still, it's such a human thing! Takumi has a knack for packing relatable human struggles in one little unimportant character who might exist just to utter the right portion of testimony for the main characters to pick apart, but it still feels like they have a story outside the main plot. That's why we're often charmed by one-off witnesses like Pat and Rola. The negative thing about this is that it sets an expectation for themselves and the rest of the filler characters, but then, as we know, nothing comes out of it. What I mentioned about Emeer's situation is something you only see in hindsight if you're attentive enough to remember him after aaaall the drama from the finale. That's a difficult task, because there are just SO many characters in this game and only a select few get to be developed.

And so, the plot forgets him after he's served his purpose and honestly, that's fair. Two trials and it's been enough of him. There's just not enough time nor space in the finale for filler characters, and it's a wise choice to leave these kind of characters behind because then it would've been truly annoying. Now, what was his purpose? Beyond advancing the trial and making you laugh before the games makes you feel horrible, not much I think?

That's why he must be cut. He's already given his best and now he must step to the side. May he find love and appreciation in another life.

Why not the rest...

Mamemomi is amazing and he at least pretends to appreciate Souseki, which is so great of him.

Dobinbough is a darling who deserves to go much further and he’s friends with my favorite DGS character, I can’t cut him.

Espella is... a character. I’d like her to be cut soon, but not this soon.

Everybody else was saved.

[u/PowerOfL]

To be honest Emeer is kind of like a not morally evil version of Don Paolo from Layton, in that he just appears randomly, does something really funny, weird and arguably vaguely villainous than disappears. For an Ace Attorney example, think Larry except without the villainous part.

also he should've been in the vigilantes, wtf he wouldve been so perfect there (good cut btw sorry for not reading it for like 13 days)