Is Ken Kaneki Too Impressionable?

Recently I had a healthy discussion with a friend about the beloved main character, Kaneki Ken. In both seasons one and two of Tokyo Ghoul, we've all had the pleasure of witnessing two amazing and drastic changes in the ghoul's character. My friend feels that because Tokyo Ghoul showcases that there is both good and bad when it comes to both the Ghoul investigators and the Ghouls, it makes it hard to pick a side to root for. He feels that the show lacks substance because of this, but I humbly beg to differ. I mean, after all, isn't that how real life is? There is good and bad in every part of the world, in every section and I think the main point of Tokyo Ghoul was to highlight that very fact.

Through the eyes of Kaneki, we are given access to both the human and Ghoul worlds. He is taught to fear a ghoul's very existence, to view them with nothing but prejudice and he does, that is until he becomes one. As he's suddenly tossed into the ghoul world, he has no choice but to adapt or be killed — whether it's by his own kind or an investigator, the result is the same. When the main character realizes that they are driven into a corner with few to no choices, what do we as an audience expect from them? Some of us want the main character to fight his/her way out, some of us want him/her to comply with the rules given to them...and then, there are those who are just as indecisive as the main character.

My friend and I both agreed that Kaneki Ken is like a sponge that easily absorbs bits and pieces of those around him. When he still had his black hair, his solace was mostly his best friend Hideyoshi. Then as he began his sudden transformation as a ghoul, it became the people of Anteiku and so on. My friend fails to realize that not every main character is meant to have a steady, titanium psyche. Kaneki's mental state was already in a mess when he lost his mother and it gradually became worse when he encountered Rize Kamishiro. It's not being "too impressionable" when the character Jason is torturing our main character endlessly.

When the first big shift in Kaneki's personality begins, we see him accepting his Ghoul side at long last. Making a decision is never easy and we see that through the entire first season. Rather than being too impressionable, Kaneki's been more so hesitant and unsure of what to do. Getting a nudge from everyone once in an awhile isn't so bad, is it? We gradually see Kaneki grow into his own as a result, even if not all of us agreed with the route he chose as the second season began. Do you guys think Kaneki is too impressionable? Let me know!