Ran is not interesting to investigate, she's so obvious with her crying. As soon as he gets back she's going to burst. She's just hiding it because Shinchi does like mysterious. She's more so pretending than restraining herself. Shinchi is really not that interested in feelings.
Ai being cool has nothing to do with haibara and Shinchi looking awesome together. She's cool in every situation which can calm Shinchi down a little when he's in a hectic case. Ran will drive him nuts crying and whining about how much time they don't spend together. He needs someone who will support his ambitions without complaining in his ear every time he has to work. For a while Ran would be quiet, but eventually she'll burst. Ai is cool lad-back, and Ai/conan give to each other in a balanced way. She could definitely support him, even work with him. She wouldn't have to complain, and even still, she wouldn't. She's level headed, and thats what Shinchi needs. He sees crying and anger all the time but when he's around coolness he'll de-stress. Ran is what he wants, but Ai is what he needs.
Even though, he was trying at first to get back to normal, his desires can change. A detective story is supposed to be complicated. And Ai is not giving Shinchi to Ran. She let's him make his own choices. And I have to say the an anime can change in version, so far I have read fifteen that have changed from anime versions like shougo. So version doesn't even count.
Misztina wrote: Don't hate me for this, but I always feel some kind of jealousy, when people say negative things about Ran.
First of all, DC is not a shoujo manga, where romance is above all, therefor complicating the main characters love life too muich would cause trouble. ShinihixRan is a very simple relationship on the first sight. they have Their own ups-and-downs, but is is not as flashy as in usual shojos.
Clearly, Ai has a very interesting role in the story, because she loves Shinichi too, but she is kind-hearted enough (or so it seems) to let him to Ran. She lets him be with Ran, because she knows he would be the happiest with her.
Since DC is mostly focused on mysteries and romance gets the second place, major twist (under which I mean real cheating or loving someone else) in the main character's love story is impossible. If the main love pair is not static, I mean if they don't really love eachother and no one else the whole point of DC would fall apart. Because the main point is, that Shinichi wants to get back his real body asap is because of Ran on the first place. He could have gone with his parents to LA, but the mystery and more importantly Ran made him stay. So Shinichi has two major drives mystery and Ran. I won't and will never fit here technically. That's why ShinichixShiho is doomed from the begining. Even if Ran were to die I'm still not so sure whether Shiho and Shinichi would get together.
"Ran has no/little personality, but Ai has more."
People think that Ai has got more personality, because she is a bit more mature than Ran, is "mysterious" and has a dark side. People can relate themselves to Ai, because she has problems and she is is always calm and cool. Where as Ran seems to be plain, and perfect, she is too nice, too kind, only loves Shinichi, is a bit naive and childish. Ran is still not a complete personality and Shinichi finds her enough interesting to "investigate" more on her. And Ran develops by the time and has hardships too. Like this weird relationship with Shinichi. She loves him so much that she would wait for him, 'cause he promised to come back, whatever it takes (wonderful scene in Desperate Revival), her faith in Shinichi won't allow her to investigate on Shinichi, plus the fact that Shinichi investigates on a serious matter and Ran thinks she might get in the way if she just would show up. She understands that she would endanger he, and Shinichi's life if she would just go after him. Her withdrawn from Shinichi is the toughest thing to do. She would just go to him and jump into his arms and everything, but she restrains herself and that is something which not many characters would or even could do. That's a very mature and responsible behaviour from her side.
But, I think in the end, if she senses how dangerous is Shinichi's situation (see the suspicious Okiya) she might really get into trouble in the end.
Ai's background is interesting, but Shinichi doesn't really bother with her personality. Ai's personality is interesting for the readers, but not really for Shinichi. Ai's role is to be the side-lover of the main-character. Not the best role, because we all know what will happen in the end, but still...that's it.
Ran's role is to be a drive/an aim for Shinichi, she is a bit like an idol. If she acts or moves, that makes major happenings, and has a very-very important consequences in the main line. She is not the key (not yet?) to solve the BO case, but without her the story would have less meaning.
