{STUFF TO AVOID PREVIEW. STUFF STUFF SUFFERING STUFF STUFF FLUFF AND GOO. STAYING UP LATE WILL DO THIS TO YOU, SO AVOID BEING BOO, GO TO BED AND WAKE UP NEW.} There, that should be enough.
Chapter 5's ending had me mindblown. But... That's not actually who I thought it was, so now I'm recovered, I think.Â
James has always been 'in control' quote-unquote. That's just part of his character. While I too dislike the C.O.D. being *practically* all-knowing, and I would like to have the organization's history roughly written out to see how that is possible, I must say I 'hate' the C.O.D. like how I 'hate' the 'Q' in Star Trek TNG.  Only, so far, I've never seen a 'Picard' figure outwit/unseat them. So my 'strong dislike' is not quenched. :P Well, unless you count the destruction of their entire Universe from Dianara. It proved they were not *omniscient*Â
As for the NF being mostly kids, I'm afraid I must disagree with you, Wiz. I like the idea of it being mostly younger generation. I chalk this up to them being minifigures though, since I don't often view the characters in these stories as humans. And in my mind, Minifigures are usually more mobile at a younger age then humans. Then they stay more limber for a longer time, and all of this is aided and advanced by the discovery of Imagination. So, kids under the healthy influence of the Nexus could very well be viable in a war against Chaos. (You will all believe in the power of imagination when DLU opens up and you see Uncle Mortimer in Inventor gear double jumping into the Ravine in Gnarled Forest! :PÂ GERONIMOOO!)Â
Lastly, for 'incompetent' Paradox... It can go both ways, you're right. Just like Stormtroopers. :PÂ