I legitimately don’t understand how ppl think we’re getting Cinder redemption after EVERYTHING she’s caused & destroyed. Is she likely going to end up being a tragic villain we pity? Yes, that’s where her character is heading; but that’s different from how they’re depicting Emerald, Neo, & even Mercury. All of which are depicted as more empathetic than Cinder, more unsure than Cinder, & more likely to defect than Cinder.

It’s funny because I saw a post before I read this ask that was like “why are people so against redemption do you not want people to heal” and like. do people not understand that not every villain needs or wants or DESERVES redemption?? I love a good redemption story but some characters are just too far gone and that’s fine they can’t still be sympathetic without getting redeemed.

If a redemption arc had been something that’s been set up I’d understand everyone’s desire for it (I wouldn’t want it because fuck that bitch she killed my babies but I’d understand it) but the set up is just not there. There’s been setup for a tragic backstory which I’m excited for but that is not a redemption arc. Nothing in Cinder’s present story says she feels any remorse for the things she’s done and continues to do.

Emerald has shown remorse and doubt. Neo has shown doubt (side note I’m unsure of Neo redemption. I think she’ll turn on Cinder and maybe help the heroes out in the moment but I don’t think she’ll ever be a hero). Mercury I don’t really recall showing either but I think he and Em are package deal and if she goes he’ll reluctantly follow. Hell, even Hazel has shown that he possesses a moral compas and could potentially gtfo if he’s told to do something that seriously goes against his moral compass like say killing the murder children after they’ve betrayed Cinder 👀.

With Cinder it’s just not there, and if it is in the future the only real redemption I see for her is in death, sacrificing herself to save someone else. Which even that I don’t think will happen. That’s the ending I see for James, a villain who we saw first as a well intentioned man with a fatal flaw, not the power hungry murdering psychopath who’s never given a shit about another human being since we’ve known her.