I stayed spoiler virgin for Spirits of Justice, so I only knew what the DEMO showed me, LOL. But after watching Bonny's "change in heart" with the Ratings Rajah, I knew something was fishy. But then the revelation came.
Also, I SURE AS HELL HOPE they don't make Roger Retinz just a failed Gramarye. LOOK AT THIS BACK STORY! He disappeared from Troupe Gramarye after an accident! It's the same backstory for Apollo's father!
But I doubt this is the case, seeing as how Thalassa was 16 when she first had Apollo (her age: 40, minus Apollo's: 24 = 16). Roger is 35, meaning he'd be 11!!!!! xD
And I find it too coincidental that they'd reuse the Gramarye plot-line just for one Episode. They even used Trucy's succession from her grandfather as a motive. They even mention Lamiroir and Apollo wonders how she is.
But judging how the game's overarching plot will be centered on Apollo's relationship with Nahyuta and the Rebels of Khura'in, I doubt the Gramarye plot line will see a closure in this game (hopefully I'm wrong, since I'm halfway through Episode 3 and I think this game has two more Episodes to go).
I mean, when in hell will Phoenix tell Trucy and Apollo that they're siblings...?! This is something that needs to FINALLY be addressed, for Heaven's sake! Apollo is sharing the spotlight with the franchise's protagonist: Phoenix! For all we know, Apollo might end up being the series' new front face (which I doubt, but Ace Attorney needs to go on from Phoenix).
Besides the point, I pretty much agree with you about Prosecutor Padhmadi. I just want to punch the 3DS' screen whenever he speaks. xD I also get that feeling in general when in Khura'in. Maybe it's intended to be that way. To feel rage over the prosecution and Khura'in. Also, it's been a series staple for the court system to favor the prosecution. What with the guillable judge and all. But I concur, Nahyuta is just so damn hard to like. The only thing I like about him is his design, his theme, his reactions, breakdown and theme song. I don't like his objection voice clip because it sounds a tad similar to Simon Blackquill's. Another reason why I don't like him is because we've gotten yet another Eastern themed prosecutor. Though that's just me. Blackquill is the samurai, and Padhmadi is the monk. And if you take your time to observe, they're polar opposites. Simon is mostly black, while Nahyuta is mostly white. Blackquill's reaction's are mostly rough, while Padhmadi's are mostly tranquil, but aggressive when they need to.
Speaking of something I don't like, but this is pertaining to Dual Destinies: the failure of properly writing the theme of the Dark Age of the Law. I find it funny that the game before and the game after DD did the Dark Age theme better. Apollo Justice had you as the apprentice of a murderous attorney. Then you pass unto the mantle of a disbarred attorney under allegations of forgery. Then you discover that he was set into a trap by your former mentor, which is now a murderous and evidence forging egomaniac.
Then comes Spirit of Justice where it mentions that Trucy's case will be handled by an international prosecutor because the Chief Prosecutor is cleaning the office of corrupt prosecutors.
I mean, just look at that! Those two games handled the Dark Age theme better than the game centered on it! Hell, even the first Ace Attorney game did it good with Edgeworth's and von Karma's supposed back street dealings, briberies and talk of a perfect record! Don't even get me started on how Franziska craftily showed the court a photo of Maya channeling Mia, but didn't submit it because it was illegal evidence. And when she willingly withhold information from the court in Case 3 of the second game.
What I'm trying to say is: DD was centered on the Dark Age of the Law. But it just felt although it was a theme that was unexplored, and more of a word repeated throughout the game just for the sake of saying. I mean, what was dark about the game? A court room exploding and becoming a crime scene? Okay, I'll grant that and say it was an excellent intro for the game and theme. A convict prosecutor on charges of murder handling a case? Pfft! That's just the series being over the top as always. Now see, the murder on Themis Legal Academy was metaphorical for the overarching plot of the fifth game, but it was just so damn simple that it's message wasn't very powerful. Then we finally touch Blackquill's case. I think the darkest moment of the game was when Trucy was kidnapped, yet it wasn't as powerful as Maya's kidnap in the second game because Trucy wasn't as relevant as a character as in AJ, nor now in SOJ.
---
But overall, this is a MEGA improvement from Dual Destinies. Goes to show that, even though Shu Takumi has retired from making main-line Ace Attorney games, the series is in good hands.