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The classic anti-hero is a character that usually exhibits characteristics that would be considered anti-heroic. But I would interpret that more than just anti-heroic actions. I suppose an anti-hero for me would exhibit the personae of a flawed (ie humane) and as well as exhibiting the characteristics that heroes would shun. Dahlia does fit some (if not all) characteristics of the anti-hero in three areas. These are her past, her actions and as well as her mentality/character through her actions.

For starters, we don't know about her past too well except for the facts that a) she's a daughter of Morgan, hence born in the Kurain Village and as well as b) a branch of the main family. Okay, let's look at the both of these points in more detail. The fact that she's a daughter of Morgan is of particular interest. Remember what Maya said about the Kurain village in GS2? She said that only the women have the ability of spirit channelling. Now consider what she says about the men, "They usually work out the village." Assuming more than often, this means that the women would have more power here than men. Plus Bikini did mention in GS3 that throughout the history of the Kurain family, internal strife is common due to the strict succession of the Masters. So that will an some influence on her character which I'll discuss later.

Let's look at the point b) in more detail. From the same game, Morgan tells us that the branch family cannot be Master of the Kurain School. We know that Dahlia's father married Morgan in the chance that she will become the Master of the Kurain School. Of course, this is brought up by Bikini in GS3 when she said whoever is Master would yield a lot of power and influence due to the various links to other sources. Now, linking that to Dahlia's father, obviously he wanted to get a share of that power as did Morgan. Looking in this, we find that possibly Morgan and Dahlia's father didn't share that same family bond. Both of them only did it for the power. Obviously when Misty took the mantle of Master, that did shatter all conception of power. Dahlia's father is possibly angered with the loss of having a share in power and takes Dahlia and Iris with him. Let's look at this point. Dahlia grew up in a family that already has shaky foundations and possibly heard (given how badly both Morgan and Dahlia's father reacted) to the abuse that both put to the table. So that's one point in her decision to go against her father. Plus both were taken from their mother without any warning from what Bikini tells us. As a young child, the belief of a family (ie "If they love me, they wouldn't do this to me") would be shattered and the usual shock and hatred in believing a parent would begin.

Then Dahlia's father remarries (I assume rather quickly) so that puts further strain on Dahlia's relationship with her father. One, it means that what her father went through with Morgan means absolutely nothing to him and two, in relation to that, it means he doesn't care about his children as he see them as a failure to gain that power. I suppose Dahlia's step mother possibly tried to keep the image of a family together but that fails miserably I assume. Then another thing will set Dahlia on her anti-heroine path and that's when Iris was dropped off at Hazakura Temple. I don't know whether or not Dahlia had a say in it but for the greater picture, that puts off Dahlia from trusting adults again as Iris is seen as the sanity switch for her. Taking that away means that all links to her past life would be severed totally. I would also assume that Valerie would have trouble connecting to her due to her mistrust in any adults, particularly ones that have been married recently into the family because of this. From what I asked a child psychologist in this last night, the child would become moody, distrusting and possibly manipulative even. All which appear in Dahlia's real image in GS3's first case.

Let's move onto her actions since then and go to the incident on Dusky Bridge. It seems that this 'murder' was obviously planned well advanced in order to pull it off without any issue. At this point, I would like to point out that her attitude is still the same as up there. The entire stunt was pulled off successfully except for the point where Dahlia loses the diamond/sapphire that was suppose to be split up later. Okay, let's analyse this set of events. She is still suspicious and distrusting everyone around her. She manipulates Terry and Valerie into helping her with this plan. How could she manipulate her own sister? Easy, by promising to split the proceeds from the diamond. But Dahlia loses that diamond. Here, we can see another characteristic which is the usual common saying of 'I trust no-one but myself.' Since she doesn't trust her stepsister as seen above, I think she wanted to just gain the rewards at the expense of others such as when Terry is convicted of her murder and Valerie having nothing in the end. In the end, there is a weak loser and a strong loser but ladies and gentlemen, the winner is no-one. That's the sort of attitude most anti-heroes take. They only trust themselves and have a sort of tragic past about them. Which fits Dahlia all to well.

Let's fast forward to the trial of Terry for Valerie's death. As with all sibling rivalry, there always has to be a strong and a weak relationship here. Obviously, Dahlia sees Valerie as a threat to her as a) she knows about the scheme and b) is starting to distrust her sister. As with all problems, you need to isolate and destroy the weakest link before it compromise everything. So, we know that she sets up the murder with Terry again (I have no idea how gullible this guy is...) and it goes off without a hitch. I suppose she doesn't give a damn about authority from her past and from her actions, especially in that she doesn't even hesitate in participating in murder. Another point in being an anti-hero again. But she didn't count on Mia screwing her main plan in nearly convicting Terry as innocent and herself as the murderer. Add another point, anti-heroes never count on themselves being the shoes of the opposite of what they are. Dahlia was afraid of being caught so she takes into her own plans of not to get caught. The poisoning of Diego and nearly convicting Phoenix in GS3 because he was an accessory of her plan (she did give him that necklace which technically makes him an accessory to the crime) shows how far she is willing to go. But all that is wasted as she is convicted in the end and executed.

But that doesn't end there. Oh no, yeah? Well, anti-heroes also have another point which is that in defeat, they never forgive. As the saying goes, 'it is better to forget than to forgive'. GS3 Case 5 shows that and she actively co-operated with Morgan somehow. I dunno how this happens but I assume Morgan asked Pearl to channel Dahlia to confirm the plan. And we see the result from that in case 5. Just look at the last saying in which she would never forgive and that she will constantly make sure they will pay.

From all that, you can safely say that she's an anti-heroine rather than a downright evil bitch. Yes, some events do look like she did it without remorse but if you think about it, being an anti-hero is so much more fun

Yes but here's the whole thing. Why did she do that? She didn't have to.

Reason: She thought Tigre loved her. Not because of her connections with the mafia but just because he liked her as a person. Yet she knew all along, somewhere deep inside, that Tigre was being nice to her and 'loving her' because if he didn't her grandfather would kill him. Especially since he caused an accident worth a million dollars to Viola.

She's somewhat evil, yes. But she didn't even know Glen or had any previous connection with him. Tigre did though. She was involved and posed as Maggie because she thought it would make Tigre love her. Thus making her somewhat 'tragic'.

Remember, Matt is the evil one. He dated Celeste before Juan, continued to have some kind of sick competition against Juan and ended up calling in Shelly to kill Juan. Juan was happy overall. He and Celeste were supposed to be married, but then his pride got in the way and he ended up breaking up his fiancée because of it. He might not be 'heroic' but he wasn't incredibly bad as Matt.

Lost his legs, lost his brother, and even killed the wrong person in an attempt at revenge. That's what I call bad luck.

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