#character is to have his own motivation (which right now is getting them out alive)
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i saw someone commented that isen had death flags and if he dies i’ll riot it just doesn’t feel like he should die, blyke or remi? i can see that more but isen just shouldn’t it doesn’t make sense to me
#🌙.txt#he doesn’t really have anything going on with his specific character he just sort of goes along so to me the only logical way to take his#character is to have his own motivation (which right now is getting them out alive)#or his own reason for fighting#killing him off just seems like a disservice to his character#if blyke or remi died i could understand that it’s bc of their recklessness#but if isen does it’s clearly only to make blyke and remi more cautious#which would fucking suck tbh
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Morally, gray characters are those with complex motivations or goals that aren't simply right or wrong. One of my favorite morally gray characters in fiction is Jason Todd from DC. The second Robin that Batman failed to save, who ended up dying at the hands of the Joker and resurrected by Ra's Al Ghul.
Given a second chance at life, he comes to a revelation that villains should NOT be left alive. Villains, especially the Joker, have caused the suffering of thousands of people, as said by Jason Todd in Under The Red Hood.
Leaving villains alive will risk more innocent lives and graveyards to be filled when it easily could have been prevented.
But there is an opposite argument that does have merit to it. In DC, there is a crook turned superhero named Plastic Man who, after multiple chances, turned his life around for the better.
At the end of the day, Jason is ending a human life. A life with the potential to convert and change for the better. They're capable of changing, but it's a risky game to play. This is what makes Jason Todd a morally gray character. You understand his motivations, and depending on who you are, you agree or disagree with his actions. There is no easy answer for a topic like this.
So, what about Alastor? Well, he's just not a good person at all. Does he do some good things? Yeah, but he mostly does them in exchange, which will benefit him. He doesn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart (if he even has one), nor does he do stuff, which he believes is right.
So, as always, this blog will be separated into two sections listing the reasons why I don't believe Alastor is morally gray, starting off with status.
Alastor is an Overlord who makes contracts with other demons to get them to submit their souls. Alastor has many souls in his possession, including Husk, and he holds all of them in for power. Immediately, this is not what a morally gray character is. I have yet to see a morally gray character who enslaves other people just to further their goals because that's just what an evil person would do.
And it's not like Alastor had no choice or did it for the greater good or did it to simply defend himself. He ambushed Overlords, took their souls, and broadcasted their fucking screams across Hell to show the denizens of Hell that he means business. He wants people to be afraid of him or respect him for his power.
youtube
Secondly, there's just him as a person. He genuinely sucks. Everything he does, he usually does it for himself or because he's told to by a higher power. He helps Charlie just so he could watch the Sinners fail for laughs. He helps Vaggie with the commercial so he wouldn't have to make one ever again. He makes a deal with Charlie in exchange for a favor he'll likely use to his advantage in the future. All of these "kind" actions are usually in exchange for something else, he doesn't do anything out of the kindness of his heart just to further his own agenda.
And if you really think about it, Alastor contributed very little to the hotel despite making a deal with Charlie that he would help her. They only got one new patron, which was Sir Pentious, and it stayed that way for 6 months. Apparently, Charlie, Vaggie, and Alastor suck at their job if they can't bring any new members lmao. And no, just because a villain did something nice for once doesn't make them morally gray.
Thanos helped an old lady cross the street just so he could ruin some woman's life, that definitely doesn't make him morally gray.
Morally, gray characters are complicated, and that's what makes them interesting. Alastor isn't complicated. He's just a power-hungry psycho who eats people and wants to have fun. He's the perfect example of simplicity.
Just because Alastor will potentially be a morally gray character or complicated character in the future doesn't mean he is one now. And I say potentially because the writers of Hazbin and Helluva like to set things up with underwhelming payoffs. But that's a future blog for a different day.
In conclusion, Alastor is not a good person. He's a bad guy, and just because he's the protagonist doesn't make him any less evil or any more good. Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you all have a good one. ❤️🔥
#vivziepop critical#vivziepop#vivziepop criticism#vivienne medrano#hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel criticism#hazbin hotel critical#hazbin hotel critique#Youtube#alastor#hazbin hotel alastor
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Gonna ramble a bit about
The Family Dynamics of My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Because I've never seen an animated property handle family conflict like this before.
Let's start with the titular character Terry Hendrix alias Sabo Brok
The first thing we learn about Terry is that he's a space bounty hunter.
The second thing we learn about Terry is that he's separated from his wife Tess because his job gets in the way of being their for his family.
And while Sean is still young enough not to resent his father's absence in his life Lisa is a few years older and makes it clear that she doesn't see her father as dependable.
This is mollified somewhat when the kids find out about his real job but the underlying issues: Terry's lack of communication and willingness to understand his kids. Remains the emotional linchpin of the narrative throughout season one.
When Lisa discovers that her dad's bosses are the bad guys and the person Terry's been tracking isn't a criminal but a rebel Terry doesn't listen. Prompting Lisa to help Vax behind her father's back.
Culminating in an argument in which Terry says that his job is what pays for everything their family has. An understandable motivation for a father. Parents sacrifice so many things to provide for their families.
But the thing is: Lisa is right.
Her dad's job may provide material benefits but at the cost of harming innocent people. And Terry finally decides to start listening to his family.
Then there's Tess, or rather, Janeera's relationship with her own parents. And this is where the family dynamics were really elevated for me.
Because Janeera ran away from her home after the pressure and expectations of an entire planet became too much.
For over a decade Empress Gurira and Emperor Odoman, her parents, didn't know if she was alive or dead.
Janeera leaving hurt them. Hurt them so much even over a decade later their grief is an ever present reminder of her loss.
And they are allowed to be hurt. Allowed to express that to their daughter just as she is allowed to express how stifled she felt when she left. They have all of Doloraam to care for after all.
Here a lesser show would have the daughter lessen her own pain to center that of her parents. But the writers don't do that here.
Janeera's pain is recognized and validated even as she has to confront it in order to move forward.
Empress Gurira even says that she "did not see" Janeera when their actions forced her daughter to flee Doloraam. And she has no intention of repeating that mistake.
I... I don't think I can overstate how important an admission of fault like that is from a parent to a child.
So often in our media and society the children are expected to do all the emotional labor of reconciliation. To forgive and forget when their parents have not shown any understanding of what they did wrong. Promoting toxic positivity over genuine healing.
Even, perhaps especially, when said children are now adults in their own right.
My Dad the Bounty Hunter is about aliens and space adventures yes but more than that it's about broken families finding each other again.
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What About Now?
Cal Kestis x reader
warnings:
a/n: i was listening this at work to get ideas while i did the most boring job ever and i immediately got this idea and couldn’t stop thinking abt it omg. also hi erica!!!!
prompt: @sweetjedi: “Hello awesome human! 🙂Congratulations on your follower celebration!!! I hope it is kind to you. May I request, for the celebration: Song: What About Now - Daughtry Character: Cal Kestis Fandom: Star Wars Relationship: Romantic Thank you thank you! 💖 I hope you have a calm day.”
“I worry for you, Cal.” Jaro Tapal speaks as the young boy watches the pair, Master and Padawan, walk away from them, Cal’s expression turning more disappointed with each dwindling step. “I understand that it’s natural to feel strong emotions towards people close to you, but you must remember the rules of the Jedi Order.”
“‘No emotional attachment.’” The Padawan recited, sighing to himself and looking away from you and your master. “I understand the Jedi Code, but what if I can’t help it?”
“You will learn.” Master Tapal warned before turning the opposite way and leading his Padawan elsewhere.
Years had gone by, you had left that life behind. They left you no choice. You had a new name, a new look, a new purpose. Anything to separate you from the Order. Anything to keep yourself alive.
And everything was going fine. You found yourself living on a halfway-decent planet—one you believed to be your birth planet, actually. Your calling was no longer a protector of the galaxy, it was bartending. There was a certain charisma you had that attracted people to you, you made good money and lived your quiet little life. Until a familiar face walked through your doors. “We’re closed, come back in an hour.” You told them without looking back.
“Can you make an exception?” The man asked, which made you roll your eyes involuntarily as you turned around, only to freeze at the sight of a ghost of your past. “You look different.”
“You look the same.” You slapped your rag across your hand a few times, thinking of what to say next. “Taller.” There was an awkward silence as you and Cal stared at each other. You hadn’t seen anyone from your past in damn near eight years. “How’d you find me? We’re you looking?”
“Kind of.” Cal shrugged and stepped closer. “I didn’t know it was you when we got the lead, but…I’m glad it was.” You didn’t like the feeling you got when he said that.
“You’re here for something. What is it?” You were still apprehensive, in these times you had to be. You trusted Cal, he had a heart that you felt couldn’t be corrupted. But your motives may no longer align. The Force, the Order, the greater good of the galaxy. Those were all behind you, but it didn’t seem to be for him.
“Help.” He said, and your shoulders immediately dropped. The request exhausted you. “No, I know. It’s stupid, but of all the Jedi in the galaxy…I was lead to you. That can’t be a coincidence.” You stared at him, pokerfaced while he nervously tried to give you this convincing speech, but all you saw was that Padawan just as nervous to say “hi” as you walked past each other in the halls of the Jedi Temple. He took a seat as you poured him some water. “You seem like you have a comfortable life here, quiet.”
“Yeah, it’s nice. I haven’t had to worry about the Order or Empire in years.” You set the glass in front of him and sat down in the chair across. “Whatever you’re doing, Cal, I know your heart is in the right place, but I left that part of my life behind. I had to.”
“We had to. I’m right with you, y/n. I was doing just fine, a scrapper out on Bracca. I didn’t have any hope left in me, and I stood by and watched as the Empire abused innocent people around me.” Cal took a gamble and reached for your hand. “I was tired of fighting, I didn’t want to lose again. But a former Jedi Master found me, she inspired me to find my own path. We’ve already done so much to help, it’s just that we’re not enough.” You closed your eyes and gripped his hand back, missing the comfort of the past.
On one hand, you built your life here. You felt comfortable. You had a job, a home, and…you were lonely. You had no one, no companionship as a precaution because no one could know your secret and no one could be put in danger because of it. Would you just up and leave on a whim? For a boy you knew when you were young?
That boy was Cal, though. In another life, things could have been. But that was a sacrifice of the Order. And yet, here he was, holding your hand and staring into your eyes, telling you he needed you. He knew you were meant for more than bartending on the far side of the galaxy, and he was itching to be able to catch up if you’d let him.
“When do you need to leave?” You mumbled the question as not to excite him too much. His smile grew quickly enough, anyways.
“Is that a ‘yes?’” Cal watched as you nodded, standing up with you. “Now would be good. I’ll help you gather what you need from your place if you’d like.”
“Always the gentleman.” You chuckled. “Let’s get out of here before the regulars arrive, though.”
“Or the Empire.” Cal joked, sort of. They were looking for him after all.
“I’m not gonna regret this, am I?” You led him out the door and locked up.
“You’ll regret not doing it years ago.” What he said would be true. Years ago, your life was turned upside down. You traded one rule book for another. What he had proposed to you was more than a chance to help—it was freedom. And here you were with that boy you were told not to love all those years ago. And there was no rule book to stop you.
taglist: @alwaysananglophile // @locke-writes // @sweetheartlizzie07 // @queen-destenie // @captainshazamerica // @ravenmoore14 // @gabile18 // @sweetjedi // @retvenkos // @swanimagines // @randomfandomimagine // @dontyousassmeok // @dindjarinsspouse // @zoeyserpentluck // @summersimmerus // @scarthefangirl // @sheridans-dynamos // @lady-violet // @simsrecs // @xoxobabydolls // @ruvaakke // @simp-legend // @evilcr0ne // @thedarkqueenofavalon // @your-local-simp0 // @elenavampire21 //
#cal kestis#cal kestis x reader#cal kestis imagine#jedi fallen order#star wars jfo#jedi fallen order imagine#jedi fallen order x reader#star wars#star wars imagine#star wars x reader
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Thinking on generation loss and what we know so far
Idk what the twist is, what Showfall's motive is, but....
(spoilers below)
There's something so distinct in that in episode one, sneeg said he had refused to do slimecicle's cooking show and got locked up. That implies he's done this at least once. But slimecicle said in episode two that he ate the mousetrap game piece to survive, implying he's also been through this before. But since he was the villain of the first episode then a victim in the second, we can theorize that the villains are just as trapped here as the rest of them.
And then jerma proves that theory very plausible, because when sneeg gets gooped from the hat in episode two and seems to understand what's really happening, he tries to escape but gets brainwashed again. While this happens, Showfall intervenes and literally pauses everyone, including jerma. When they put the re-brainwashed sneeg back, we can see jerma is not completely frozen, he can see what's happening.
He really is just like the rest of them, and his death coming immediately after he says he's been "doing this for 30 years" is very suspicious. But how did he get to this position? because I'm convinced he's trapped there, too, but forced to put on a show and torturing people and making up puzzles, because it keeps him in some level of power or it's what he has to do for Showfall.
I think that's what happened to slimecicle, too, but probably more recently. My worry now is for sneeg. Because slimecicle purposefully tried to 'corrupt' sneeg in episode one to fight ranboo, and then with sneeg getting brainwashed again after trying to escape in episode two, only for him to act in ways where he went along with whatever ranboo did and then purposefully stopped Austin and himself from surviving in order to let ranboo win in the end...
But if slimecicle and sneeg died in episode one but then were brought back in episode two, maybe jerma and all the other hostages who died in episode two might possibly still be alive?
My theory right now is that Showfall is trying to create entertainment and is basically pulling a hunger games (in that they're making survivors into gamemasters) and they are trying to inaugurate ranboo next... To do that, he's being mind controlled so he won't make his own decisions, which seems to have significantly increased in episode two as he's no longer receiving input from the audience and begins to just wander aimlessly and act more like an NPC. If he's susceptible, they could possibly change him from this 'hero' title to anything else, another victim, another villain, anything!
Someone (this Hetch person) is trying to prevent that from happening by hacking in and making ranboo see things for what they are. But I don't trust this guy, either, because we don't know his motives, not any more than Showfall's. Maybe giving the illusion of choice is the endgame, maybe this has been going on so long, Showfall controls too many aspects and one measly person hacking in to try to save one person isn't going to change anything because the company is too powerful already.
Or maybe that's the point? Maybe ranboo has to be The Hero and that means the audience sees him getting outside help, that means he has to have hope that he can win and somehow be free... But, again, much like the hunger games, all of that is about keeping them trapped inside.
Not to fucking remember slimecicle's old tales of the smp quote here but, well, like he told those characters... You were so busy running through the maze, you never stopped to look for the cracks.
I think ranboo did something on the outside that got him taken and put into this show. Maybe he tried to help and now he's mockingly being titled as 'the hero'.
Maybe it was his intention all along to get caught, but he didn't know what kind of technology Showfall was using on the contestants and now he has to rely on the one person hacking in to try to get him out.
Or maybe this is just what happens every time. And, like generation loss, this show started out so simple, but it's degraded and distorted so much over time, it's unrecognizable and everyone involved has to be brainwashed to continue participating because if they knew the truth, they'd be terrified....
Idk what the big twist to all this will be, but there are a lot of possibilities in store for us. Sunday should be fun.
#generation loss#just theorizing some things#long post#genloss#genloss spoilers#generation loss spoilers#orbs thought bubbles#but yeah big truman show vibes hunger games vibes
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OMG I DIDNT REALIZE THAT U DID LIKE. SELF HARM COMFORT FICS I JUST READ YOUR ARTHUR ONE ITS SO GOOD!!!! IIF YOU DONT MINDD could you do likee MC asking one of the guys to kill them..?! I'm curious abt what certain reactions would be!! uhmm you can choose which character to do but preferably leo, arthur, or theo? :3 TYSMM
I'll do lil headcanons of the the three.
THAT BEING SAID!!!! YOU READ THE ASK!!! YOU KNOW WHAT IS COMING. IF YOU DON'T LIKE ANGST OR DON'T WANT TO BE TRIGGERED THEN DO NOT READ THIS POST. I ALWAYS ASK FOR YOU GUYS TO INTERACT IWHT MY POSTS BUT I UNDERSTAND IF YOU CAN'T WITH THESE ONES. BUT EVERY COMMENT IS APPRECIATED
Leonardo
He looks at you after he heard those words. Did he hear you right? Did he just hear you ask for him to kill you? So many thoughts were going through his head and he wasn't sure which one to focus on. This man has a fear of harming you. Yes he won't bite you but that doesn't mean he wants you to die.
You are sitting on the bed crying. You have been in a depression pit for a little over a month now. You can't find motivation to do anything. It might sound selfish, but he would be able to do it so easily.
"Cara mia..." he finally snaps out of his thoughts and pulls you into his lap. There's no chance of getting out of his grasp. You cry louder into his chest. He starts to rub your back, feeling tears form at the corner of his eyes. His voice is shaky but he forces it out. "I...I could never. I love you."
You clutch onto his shirt, just crying harder. Being alive hurts so much. Feeling nothing would be better at this point than constantly thinking of killing yourself. If you could just stop thinking it would help so much.
"I'll help you get through this. Don't worry," he talks softly, trying not to cry too much himself.
~~
Arthur
He freezes at those words. Hes been trained not to freeze in these conditions but how could he not when it's someone he loves.
You're sitting on the edge of his bed, crying. He just finished bandaging up your arm after you just tried to do it yourself. Did you really just say what he thinks you said. Your sobbing just gets harder. Your face is soaked, tears running down your chin and dropping off onto Arthur's hand.
"Love...I..I could never," he reaches up and holds your head between his hands, not caring how wet they get from tears. You didn't dare to move. You didn't deserve his touch but you couldn't muster the energy to move. "I love you-"
"Y-you said- you said you would do a-anything for me!" You half scream half sob. Was he just lying? He said anything.
Arthur gets on the bed with you, getting you to lay down with him. He wraps you in his arms and plays with the ends of your hair. Your cries don't stop. You want to push him away. You want to say horrible things. But you can only cry.
"Shh. Relax, love," he talks softly, holding back tears of his own the best he can. He's not even worried about the blood all over you and him. You keep your arm close to your chest, wanting to keep some distance between the two of you. You don't deserve to be held.
He kisses the top of your head. He thinks back to when he worked as a doctor and how he would help his patients. "Why don't I tell you a story?"
~~
Theo
He blacked out for a moment. Kill you? No no. This couldn't be happening. The two people he loves the most are both-
He snaps out of it and quickly wipes the tears from your face. "Hondj- Liefje..I could never," he brushes the hair out of your face. His touch is soft and gentle. He doesn't take his eyes off yours.
Your eyes seem so lifeless, like there's no light behind them. He's seen this look plenty of times before and he never thought he would see it on you.
"T-Theo pl-please," you plead through your tears. "It hurts. I hurt so much," he's strong. He could make it quick and painless. He would barely have to try.
He's desperately trying to find the right words to say. "I-I can't" tears form at the corners of his eyes. "You can hate me if you want but I could never hurt you. I love you."
You can't look him in the eye. You're too.. embarrassed? No. You're scared. Scared to see the look on his face.
"Come here, Liefje," he pulls you into his body. Not caring how wet you get his clothes. He's not letting you go.
#SO SO SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG#i wrote leonardos part and saved it and then tumblr wouldn't let me edit it until a few days ago#ikevamp#ikemen vampire#ikevamp leonardo#ikevamp arthur#ikevamp theo#angst#tw#tw suicide#tw suicide mention#tw self harn
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HEAR ME OUT
I like a reverse AU as much as the next person but the way it gets done sometimes is so out of character so I'm gonna just throw my two cents out into the void for anyone to draw inspiration from because I don't have the motivation to write it myself right now!
So, starting with the ones that get reversed a lot: Hank and Connor
Connor is obviously younger than Hank, so make him a newly assigned lieutenant who is trying to live up to his position of power. Being Connor, he's unsure, he questions himself a bit, he's scared of messing up as someone with power over others. Portraying him with Hank's personality just doesn't fit if you ask me, Connor's not that guy.
Now, due to Connor being a great but still new Lieutenant, who better for Fowler (or maybe Amanda if you want to get deep in a reverse AU) to partner him with than an Android that's basically perfect. which is not to say he should be optimistic and cheery as he is in some depictions. He can still be a stone-cold bitch or a sarcastic prick but less in the vein of "I hate everyone around me" and more in the "You're a bitch, you don't deserve my kindness" sort of way. AND HE CAN HAVE THIS ATTITUDE WITH HANK TO BEGIN WITH BUT I HONESTLY THINK HE'D BE MORE INTIGUED BY ANDROIDS AS MYSTERYS THEN GENUINELY HATE THEM, YOU CAN PRY THAT IDEA FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS.
I'd also like to make a point that, whether Cole is a character in the story (as a brother or a kid from a case) who is present to make Connor sad, HE *CLAP* CAN *CLAP* STILL *CLAP* REACT *CLAP* LIKE *CLAP* CONNOR. He doesn't have to become Hank's mirror image after Cole's death, he can grieve in his own way. And even if you do chose to make him take the same route, he doesn't have to act like Hank when he's sober! (this is coming from a place of frustration that Connor just... wouldn't be cold towards everyone for no reason and it annoys me that he is in some fics)
Hank as an Android would be gruff and straight to the point because he is a "machine." He's designed to be no-nonsense, straight to the point and probably annoyed by Connor's persistent Empathy (similar to how Connor can be during some playthrough's of the game). The absolute key to this portrayal would be emphasising that Hank acts like this because he is programmed to. Cyberlife has to have a reason for making Hank the way he would be so please, jump on the nuance of why Hank would be such a sullen, apathetic android and the implications that has for him to achieve deviancy. He's not meant to be nice to the people he works for, he's meant to do a job.
Now for the icing, how does this reverse dynamic work in context of the plot?
Connor needs someone steady and secure to fall back on lest he succumb to the pressures of the position he's in. Hank's blunt, maybe sometimes rude way of getting to the point is exactly what Connor would need to stay afloat. He needs someone who can be tough and give it to him straight when he's doubting himself. In regards to their cases, yes, he has a very "Hank" way of responding to the android actions (i.e. shooting Chloe, Hunting down the Traci's) in that he takes an empathetic approach towards the Andorids but less from a "they look human and it's disturbing" standpoint and more from a "deviants are alive" standpoint from the get go. He shows empathy towards the Traci that was killed in the Eden club, he tries to understand why deviancy is occurring, he defends Hank against anti-android people.
(And please feel free to fight me on that point, I've seen one playthrough and have a general idea of Hank's reactions to deviancy based on fanfic and whatnot. I'm not an expert on how Hank reacts and I want input)
And here's my favourite part, Hank deviating with Connor's help. It is Connor's humanity and empathy that really intrigues me on this part. When people portray him with Hank's characteristics, he comes off really angry and Hank deviates from a position of "I care about this kid, I have to look after him." And while this is *chef's kiss* it's not the only possible way for Connor to influence his deviancy. His general kindness to people around him, his resilience, his empathy, his humanity can influence how Hank starts seeing the world around him. (I guess that it just really bugs me that Hank only seems to really deviate for Connor when there are so many more facets that can make Hank the purveyor of his own deviance, with Connor giving him the nudge)
Just like in canon where Android Connor helps Human Hank find purpose in his life again, Human Connor can help Android Hank realise he is more than a machine, that he's alive.
In conclusion, stop making Connor into Hank! (I obviously can't stop you but food for thought.)
I'll come back at some point with other characters.
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Okay I wanna write down a few thoughts on that part of the climax in Thanks to Them that has garnered some mixed opinions. Specifically Hunter’s possession and the subsequent death of Flapjack.
I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m defending this scene, as people are perfectly within their rights to be uncomfortable with it and criticize everything from its execution to its inclusion at all. Whether this whole thing was objectively a terrible writing decision for Hunter’s character, his arc, and the overall message it sends is....a discussion starter to say the least. Rather, what I wanna do is maybe try and dissect the reasons why these scenes might exist in the first place. From a writing perspective.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot, trying to figure out just what angle the crew was going for and I think I might have some vague idea. And I’ll admit, I think there’s something poignant in here somewhere. Maybe they fumbled the bag a bit and didn’t consider just how troubling some of these implications could be. Writing gets clunky sometimes. But that’s up to every individual viewer to draw their own conclusions. But personally, I don’t believe that these scenes were intended to be gratuitous. I don’t believe that they were added solely because the crew are sadists who enjoy wringing Hunter dry like an angsty dish cloth. As flawed as they may be, I think I can understand why they were written. Possibly.
So, I’m gonna try to give an objective look at the themes, storytelling and symbolism at play here and how all of that relates to Hunter’s overall character and the big climax of his story.
We’ll start with the very understandable hurt viewers felt when Hunter’s road to recovery was abruptly relapsed by Belos. The thing many people are vocalizing their feelings about is how the episode made sure to demonstrate just how happy Hunter was. That’s what devastated them the most. Hunter was in the process of healing, which hits close to home for many, making what Belos did to him all the more disturbing on a personal level.
However, every single one of us knew that Belos was alive before we watched the episode. Hunter did not. Hunter believed that Belos was dead and this was the only reason that he felt safe enough to make such progress in his recovery. So now matter what way you twist it, we all knew Hunter was set up to relapse the moment he realized Belos was in the Human Realm.
So what was the point of showing this sixteen year old abuse victim experiencing safety, warmth, happiness, confidence and self exploration just to cruelly rip it all away from him?
Put simply, to establish just how much Hunter now has to live for. Just how much Hunter has to fight for. His motivations for living and for fighting are sprinkled all throughout the episode. This boy has such a hopeful future laid out before him and he knows it. So when he finally gets his moment to tell Belos exactly what he wants for himself, you understand exactly where this passion and determination is coming from. It means something.
And then there’s the possession itself, which everything comes down to. We saw the leaks, we hated them, some of us talked ourselves into believing they were fake but we all kinda knew deep down. It was a very fun very terrible week. ANYWAY.
I think that Hunter’s arc would have felt incomplete if he didn’t get a final confrontation with Belos. That’s the popular opinion. However, many are also in the opinion that Hunter getting possessed was very unnecessary and violating and it should not have been done in the first place. And I’m not gonna argue with this view. It’s legit. But again, here’s what I believe the crew might have been going for with this.
The possession of Hunter’s body is a symbolic manifestation of everything Belos has always represented in his life. It’s a final culmination of all sixteen years under that man’s thumb and all the damage he’s done to Hunter’s body and psyche.
Ever since Separate Tides, Hunter has been Belos’ puppet. And honestly, though the specifics of the arrangement have shifted, this was still the case throughout Thanks To Them. Between Separate Tides and Hollow Mind, it’s pretty simple. Perfectly obedient Golden Guard who does everything his uncle tells him to do, without much say in the trajectory of his own life.
However, after Hollow Mind, Hunter was no longer that. But that didn’t mean the puppetry stopped entirely. He was a nervous wreck for the rest of the season. The mention of the Emperor’s name paralyzed him with fear. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t done directly. Belos still had an alarming amount of control over Hunter.
So long as he was alive, Hunter knew he wasn’t safe. And once Hunter starts to realize that he’s still out there, it becomes obvious that he will never fully recover until he’s certain Belos is dead.
Everything about the possession is an encapsulation of what Belos’ years of abuse and manipulation have been like to Hunter. How powerless he’s always felt. But this time, it isn’t done through words or threats of violence. It’s worse than that. It’s physically invasive. It’s desecration. It’s having his very self taken away from him and nothing is more sacred than a person’s autonomy. The weight of what’s happening to him is palpable.
This is the worst thing Belos has ever done to him.
But what does Hunter, the boy who spent his entire life petrified of this man, do about it?
He finds it in himself to rebel against it.
Because, though Belos’ abuse and the negative effects of his upbringing have always been such a crucial aspect of Hunter’s sense of personhood, it’s not all that defines him.
A long time ago Hunter was given orders from the Emperor to slay a selkidomus. Instead he passed the job off to somebody else because he didn’t want to do it.
Hunter self-sabotaged his own mission and allowed Luz to escape with the palismen he was ordered to recover.
Hunter studied wild magic against his uncle’s wishes.
Hunter went to Eclipse Lake even when he was told not to.
Hunter had a secret palismen named Flapjack.
Hunter assigned himself to the Hexside mission without getting Belos’ approval.
Hunter owned a secret scroll.
Hunter refused to roll over and die in the mindscape even when Belos decided that he was no longer useful.
Hunter has a rebellious heart. Had one from the very beginning. He was definitely in denial about it back then (Happily declaring just how much he loves “Authority! And rules!”) but it was there, clear as day.
But this is the moment where Hunter embraces that rebellious heart. And in doing so, he finds the willpower to regain control of his body. To Hunter, this moment is a reflection of everything he’s always wanted to do. To break free of Belos’ power. To speak his mind. To choose his own future. To choose himself.
And all that genuine joy we saw him experiencing earlier in the episode is what strengthens his resolve to grit out his final words to Belos.
Hunter releases years of pent up frustration that he was too brainwashed to ever let himself think about.
Hunter openly expresses desire after desire, fully aware that every single one of them will boil Belos’ blood.
Hunter outrights demands that he be allowed happiness.
He’s proving, not only to Belos, but to himself that you can hurt him, you can scare him, you can manipulate him, you can even possess him, but you will never own him. Nobody will ever own him.
So, yes, absolutely. There are valid criticisms to be had of the concept of Hunter being possessed. And it’s likely the writers didn’t really think a lot of the ramifications through.
But I believe the idea it’s trying to portray was how the intensity of that moment and how violating it was to Hunter further emphasized just how powerful Hunter’s final act of defiance was. It wasn’t just one last fight between the two of them, it was a visceral way of having Hunter confront everything Belos has ever put him through, allow his resentment to bubble over and finally understand that he has the right to reject who he was “supposed” to be, whether Belos likes it or not.
One thing that came from the possession scene that I believe is genuinely a good and healthy thing is that Hunter’s perspective of Belos has changed for the better.
This was the worst thing Belos could have possibly done to him. And Hunter did not only survive it but he was capable of resisting it. Something he’s never been able to do before. He has officially endured the worst Belos can inflict on him. So, with that in mind, Hunter has no reason left to be afraid of this man anymore. With this, all remaining control Belos had over him has been shattered.
I have to acknowledge that, though this experience was truly godawful, it did provide Hunter with the closure he needed. It was necessary to how he proceeds forward. With all that fear out of the picture, Hunter’s current feelings towards Belos consist of righteous fury and contempt. Which is cathartic to say the least, as Hunter’s hate can finally be directed at the person who hurt him, rather than himself. In the case of a victim struggling with their trauma, allowing themselves to be angry at their abuser can be a very therapeutic thing.
This is huge for Hunter. While many have expressed the opinion that the after effects of this moment will be detrimental to Hunter’s overall arc, I honestly think it’s a massive step in the journey to recovery. It’s not the nice peaceful part he experienced while in Camila’s house but not everything about an abuse victim’s healing process is pleasant. Sometimes it’s ugly. But progress is progress.
And then there’s the matter of Flapjack’s sacrifice which is a doozy of a subject.
Anyone who follows me is aware that I was very vocal in my belief that Flapjack would survive, because surely they wouldn’t take something so precious to Hunter away from him. Surely.
(Well I’m Stan and I was wrong, I’m singing the Stan Wrong Song, okay fuck you.)
But once that episode was over and the credits were rolling, I started to think about Flapjack as far back as his introduction in Hunting Palismen. And honestly, I feel like his death was planned from the start. The kind of friend who comes into your life, changes you for the better before inevitably having to say goodbye. But even if it’s temporary, that doesn’t make their presence in your life any less impactful.
While Flapjack had plenty of personality, he wasn’t so much a character with his own arc, as he was a tool in progressing Hunter’s. His role in the story was to guide a lost and lonely boy into the light and show him that he’s worthy of being loved.
And with Flapjack’s influence, Hunter let himself meet people who don’t make him feel worthless. He has never felt more loved in his life.
Flapjack officially imprinted on Hunter when the boy expressed a longing to figure out his own future. Flapjack decided that he would try to lead him in the right direction.
And in his final moments, Flapjack watched the boy he had been guiding adamantly proclaim everything he wanted his future to be. It was safe to assume he had figured it out.
Flapjack’s existence in Hunter’s life also represents the link to Caleb along with Hunter’s complicated “relationship” with this ghost of a man that he’ll never know. Caleb is not Hunter and Hunter will never be Caleb. However, they’ll always be connected by the strings of terrible, terrible destiny that Belos tied together. And though Hunter didn’t know it, Caleb lingered in his life in the form of the bird he left behind.
And in all that time where Hunter figuring out his own identity, Caleb’s bird was helping him along. It was when Hunter was finally certain exactly who he was (Not a witch hunting accomplice of Belos) that Caleb’s bird was ready to move on.
With all these ends tied up, Hunter did not need Flapjack anymore.
But Flapjack still had one more job left to do. And that was to make sure Hunter got to stay with the people who loved him and Hunter got his chance to experience the future he had decided for himself. Figuring it out is useless if it’s all a hopeless fantasy. Flapjack wanted it to be a reality.
It must have been a relief to the little bird’s heart that his witch had grown so much and he could leave knowing Hunter would be okay without him.
(There’s also the interpretation that Flapjack is an analogy for a service animal/disability aid. But that line about learning to carve could not set it up the future any clearer. Hunter will not be without a palisman forever.
Obviously, it might take him some time before he’s ready to begin again. But he will make a new palismen. As a boy who’s spent his entire arc learning how to let new loved ones into his life, it would make absolutely no sense whatsoever if he didn’t.)
Anyway, my biggest fear when I saw the leaks which showed Flapjack sacrificing himself for Hunter’s sake, was how much something like that could completely destroy all of Hunter’s healing progress. Because why wouldn’t it? He not only lost his best friend but Flapjack died to keep him alive. How could he possibly live with himself after something like that?
I think this is one of the main talking points over why people are upset about Flapjack’s death. How it’s going to effect Hunter. I’ve seen the belief that this devastating loss was detrimental to his recovery journey and it’s rendered all of the lighthearted scenes of enthusiasm and confidence from earlier in the special obsolete. But I honestly feel like it’s the exact opposite.
Hunter’s reaction to Flapjack’s death was different than I imagined it would be. And not in an objectively bad way. It’s quite telling of how far he’s come. Compare it to Hollow Mind where Hunter also experiences a traumatic loss which results in him having a complete meltdown. He cries, he hyperventilates, he runs blindly into the woods. It was borderline apocalyptic. And it’s completely understandable. At this point in life, Hunter lost what he believed to be his entire world.
After Flapjack’s sacrifice, the first thing Hunter did when he regained consciousness was smile, softly greet his remaining loved ones and ask if they were alright. It’s revealed seconds later that he already knew Flapjack was gone. But he still had it in him to smile. Because even in the devastating aftermath of losing the creature who changed his life and introduced him to real happiness, he’s relieved to know his friends and family are safe. He knows he’s not alone.
Flapjack was deeply important to Hunter. It’s impossible to even articulate just how much he adored that little bird. When he lost his former life, Flapjack was all he had.
However, by this point, Hunter’s life is flourishing with hobbies and interests and ambitions and friends and family and love. Flapjack was no longer everything Hunter had. And being surrounded by so many people who cared about him in his moment of grief is a powerful thing.
Hunter is quiet about Flapjack’s death. He’s weak, he’s exhausted, he’s utterly gutted. But there’s nothing that implies he blames himself. Judging by how he was aware of the sacrifice despite just waking up, I believe they did get one last goodbye via their mental link.
And I think this is why Hunter seems so accepting of what had just happened. Whatever Flapjack said to him, he had successfully made Hunter understand that this was just how it had to be and that it was not his fault. And with all the love and optimism Flapjack has instilled in him since they met, Hunter decided that what he needs to do now is try and lead the most fulfilling life he possibly can. He has to. This life had been a gift from Flapjack after all.
But as mentioned way up above, Hunter can never have the life he wants until Belos is permanently out of the picture. I think this is where his new lease of life comes from in the final moments of the special.
Hunter has changed significantly throughout this episode. While in his opening scene, he was completely clueless on how to comfort Luz properly because he equates the guilt she feels to his own and that link between their similar feelings sabotages any attempt at clarity on his part. His words of comfort were basically “If it helps, they’ll hate me more.”
But before he steps through the portal, Hunter has a new perspective on the self-loathing that has been corrupting both himself and the girl he now calls family. It was never them. It was Belos. It was always Belos. Hunter is able to tell Luz that it was never her fault because he finally understands that it was never his fault. And he’s telling her all of this because she’s important to him and she always will be.
Hunter still has Luz.
He then expresses his new motivation. To fight back. To regain control of his life. To get some justice for all the damage his abuser has done to him and so many others. To protect the world that he cares about.
Hunter still has Willow and Gus and Amity.
Hunter still has Camila and Vee.
Losing Flapjack did not kill Hunter’s fire. It did not render all of his prior growth in the Human Realm null and void. Hunter has experienced a loss and his grief is palpable but he still has so much left.
In fact, I think if Hunter hadn’t had these experiences, hadn’t built these relationships, hadn’t realized just how much life has to offer to him, he wouldn’t be taking such a defiant stance. He wouldn’t be the first one to march into the portal, taking Flapjack home, determined to end Belos once and for all. And he’s standing on a strong foundation of mourning, experience, wisdom, love and support.
I keep thinking about that very infamous line by Dana that was misinterpreted to Hell and back.
“Dana doesn’t like happy endings.”
That line never bothered me much, even when I didn’t know what the exact context actually was (Dana doesn’t like happily ever after.) Like, I watched the Owl House, I know the kind of stories Dana liked to tell. So, the way I always interpreted that opinion was the simple message that we can never have it all.
Life is tumultuous. There are ups. There are downs. There are gains. There are losses. And I feel like that’s an accurate summary of Hunter’s development throughout the special.
Hunter had been mistreated. He now has far more scars than he started out with. He lost Flapjack. These are all devastating blows to him physically and emotionally.
But please, don’t allow the suffering Hunter went through distract from all of his positive growth in this episode. Hunter spent months making happy memories. He strengthened his bonds with his friends. He now has somebody who genuinely loves him that he can call family. He’s discovered all these brand new hobbies and interests.
He likes who he is now.
That hasn’t changed. I promise you that it hasn’t changed.
And most importantly of all, Hunter is no longer ruled by fear of the man who hurt him. He is no longer under Belos’ control.
Hunter is grieving right now but he is not in ruins.
This is not rock bottom for him.
I feel that Hunter’s gains and losses were pretty evenly distributed throughout the episode. However, because of the attachment people have towards him, as a teenage abuse victim who’s steadily recovering, it’s easy to only see his losses. Because it hurts to see, it really does.
But I promise you all of those happy Hunter memories meant something too. Those are what’s him pushing forward right now.
Anyway, those are my two cents on that whole thing. Again, I don’t think these scenes are immune to criticism. However, I did want to take a moment to examine them a bit because I truly believe that there was a team of passionate writers attempting to create something profound with this.
I like to write myself and I understand that a lot of the time I miss the mark and don’t always execute the point I’m trying to make. So, at the very least, even if things aren’t handled perfectly, I’d like to try and dissect the message that they were attempting to send.
It’s absolutely fine if you don’t agree with a word of this. I understand that these scenes have hurt quite a lot of people. But thank you for reading. I appreciate it. 💕
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As it seems clear that we’re going to have to wait several months before we get new content in the manga, I am going to cope with some more speculations, so here are the
Reasons why I believe that Sigma is going to be alright:
For start, Sigma is not dead yet. He absorbed too much information from Dostoyevsky and his brain wasn’t able to handle it all, causing him to pass out/go into a coma [we see this happening briefly to Atsushi after he exchanged information with Sigma in the Sky Casino Arc]. Fyodor seemed sure that Sigma will never be able to recover from it and wake up, but if Season 5’s finale made anything clear is that Fyodor underestimates people, and while he may have hyped Sigma up as “exceptional because normal” at first, he had already decided to eliminate him because he wasn’t useful to him anymore, and doesn’t think highly of him at all. But I believe that Sigma’s determination and strenght is truly exceptional, and characters in this manga have survived waaaay more unsurvivable injuries before. Which brings me to the next point,
Asagiri doesn’t like to kill characters in the main manga (that’s saved for the light novels), and it took him more than 110 chapters to kill the first recurrent character(s) [Fyodor and Fukuchi, tho we’re not really sure about Fukuchi are we. He apparently came back as a fairy samurai with horns and lasers]. I really don’t think Asagiri would kill another character in the same arc, especially since Sigma’s death would serve literally no purpose in the narrative, and he’s not close enough to anyone else that his death could be motivational for a life-change or revenge. Other series can have “shock-value deaths” were the point is that life is unfair and the bad guys win sometimes, but that has never really been Bungou Stray Dogs’ MO. Again, that is saved for the light novels.
Sigma is the only person who knows all of Fyodor’s secrets, and if he dies those secrets are lost forever. Now of course there is a slim chance that Fyodor also is miraculously still alive, but personally I don’t think so, his arc felt complete, he accomplished some of his goals [in aiding Fukuchi], failed miserably some of the others [killing Dazai], and he truly was defeated by his own presumption and need for absolute control. And even if he were alive, he wouldn’t ever reveal all his plans, his secrets, his past. That is why we need Sigma alive to warn the ADA and give us the Fyodor-lore we are missing.
Unlike Fyodor’s, Sigma’s arc doesn’t feel complete at all. We don’t know why he was created or by who, and he clearly struggles with his identity and with the desire for a place to just belong. He also risked his life in order to repay Dazai and help the ADA, and for him to die after failing to do so [cause again, if he dies now he cannot share that information] would be completely pointless and cruel.
Related to my last point, there is another character in BSD who had to overcome his struggles with his humanity [or lack thereof], with not knowing why he was created and how, and with the desire to belong and find a family that looks after him just as much as he looks after them: Chuuya. This is only my theory, but honestly Chuuya would be the perfect person to help Sigma with this in the following story arc, he’s already there at the same location as him right now, and it would also be an excellent excuse to animate Stormbringer before they make Season Six.
Dazai promised Sigma he will get him out of there alive. Can Dazai make mistakes? Sure he can! But not that many let’s be real. At the very least he is not going to leave the prison without Sigma, unconscious or not, and that will give Sigma a chance to recover in the time it takes them all to go back to Japan.
Sigma shared a moment with Atsushi in the Sky Casino arc and it would honestly be really fitting and sweet for them to meet again. Just saying. It would be cute.
I think we are about to enter a story arc where the Reality Altering Book is even more relevant. Like, it was very relevant already, but I think the Book is responsible for whatever madness was happening at the end of Season 5? Like Fukuchi’s appearance and powers, and Akutagawa’s High Fantasy-looking clothes, it really looked like someone heavily altered reality again… A person created by the Book would be really fitting and possibly useful right now!
And last but not least, I really love Sigma and I don’t want him to be dead, and I think that’s an extremely compelling reason. It’s the most valid reason.
#bsd#bungou stray dogs#bsd sigma#sigma#bungo stray dogs#bsd season 5#bsd s5#this worked for dazai so like to charge and reblog to cast
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*this isn't organized.
I think it's sad how little opportunity Josh and Simon were given to develop. Like, at all. Even their dialogues sounds terrible, almost like they're speaking for the game instead of as actual human beings. [Edit: Ha, this is so funny I'm keeping it in. "As actual human beings" bruh]
A scene on the Capitol park chapter is the clearest example of this. If he's still alive, Simon says (ha!); "Our broadcast is all over the news. Now the humans know what we want. We have to think about public opinion." Or something similar. At first it sounds like normal conversation, right?
Until you realize he's talking to Josh and North who all have the same amount of information as him so they already know what he's saying is true. And Markus isn't there so he can't be speaking to him. Which means he's talking directly to the player, literally spelling out everything for us and it makes me 😭😭😭 is that what people sound like irl? Like mouthpieces?
He's literally telling us "public opinion is really important in this game, just so you know. Think about all those blue arrows you're going to get *wink wink*" to remind the player to go pacifist.
For all the terrible ways David Cage handles North's character, in contrast to the other two Jericho leaders, she looks so fucking well written lmao. Most of what comes out of Josh's mouth when he's talking about the revolution doesn't sound like it's personalized. He's just spewing words to push the player in the direction the game/David Cage wants. Where's the personality? Where's the fucking motive behind his words???
Anyways, I could talk on and one about how unfair that shit is but that would be too depressing.
JOSH
I've talked about Josh here and there but never this indepth
From what we see of Josh, he's pretty opinionated. Just like North, he has his own set of beliefs and he's willing to die for them. Unlike North though, we never know why. And sure, he doesn't have to spell out all his motivations but it would have been nice if we'd known why he so strongly believes freedom can be won with dialogue. Especially in a world that is determined to prove him wrong.
Because ignore how happy the pacifist ending looks, there's androids still being executed while Markus is giving his hopeful speech. And the ending tag literally says "androids won their freedom. For now." What kind of ominous sentence is that?
Anyway, Josh reminds me of Rose; pacifism that exists not because the person is naive but they've choosen peace while being surrounded by violence. In DBH, choosen violence is easier and it pays off more. So while that doesn't necessarily make it the wrong option, it does make the people who go against it stand out.
But also, his stance could come from a place of fear. There's also that to consider. Maybe he's scared of what the humans will do if the revolution kicks off and he'll prefer they stay silent. Because that's his reasoning against the Stratford Mission
He's the one that expresses hesitance the most to the other missions Markus assigns. North is usually the first to agree with Simon agreeing too. But then in Freedom March, Josh is all for the March but Simon (later on) and North are hesitant. It makes me think Josh prefers taking risks when he's sure it'll actually pay off. Because like he says, that mall and the surrounding areas will go down in history. No matter the outcomes.
We also don't know anything about his past except that he was a university lecturer and hot attacked by his students. It's a shame this information doesn't come from Josh himself but from the character gallery. I wonder how long he's been teaching for?
His relationship with Markus is also very impersonal. He doesn't seem to like him much no matter which route you take but will somewhat tolerate him if he's pacifist. I think they're differences are beyond what Markus chooses for the revolution. He also doesn't like North much and Markus and North have a few things in common; they're action oriented, have a tendency to take risks with unknown chances of it paying off and Josh might not like that the risks they're taking could mean the end of android life if it fails.
He starts to warm up to him in night of the soul though but Markus has to save him first.
This adds to my theory that Josh chooses peace because he's cautious. He doesn't like the risky decisions Markus makes because he's scared of the consequences.
SIMON
I think Simon falls somewhere in the middle of the Violence - Pacifist scale. I wouldn't say neutrality (it's not the word I'm looking for🤔) but being able to go both ways should the need arise. Some people in the fandom frame him as a coward and I think that proves to be incorrect when you start thinking about it.
He's usually not vocally opposed to any options the player chooses and will be supportive. If you choose violence, he's ready to fight but if you choose pacifism he's also ready to march. But, he chooses to back down in some moments: high risk moments with opportunity to retreat.
It's almost like he's willing to take risks but when there isn't much on the line.
He agrees to missions when it just his life and the lives of the other three at stake but when something greater is on the line, he backs down. For instance, he'll agree to the spare parts mission, but will express hesitance after the bags of thirium have been gathered. His reasoning is because he doesn't want to lose the spare parts they've gotten and the mission be for nothing.
"We can’t bring them back with us. It’s too dangerous!"
"This is suicide, Markus. Our bags are full. We got what we came for, let's go before they catch us."
Hmm.
And in the freedom march chapter, he agrees at first. Not strongly though. He simply suggests if Markus wants to go through with the March, he should convert more androids to increase his chances of success. He disagrees later on; after he realizes that things might not go well and with the hundreds of androids gathered, that means more casualties.
"And dying here won’t solve anything. Markus, we need to go, now, before it’s too late."
It's insanely difficult to get a read on the guy though: he's really non vocal. He hovers in the background during conversations, only getting involved when it looks like conversations are getting heated. Does that make him the glue of the team?
He's also been in Jericho the longest of the four. Unlike Josh we never even know what he operated as before deviancy but I guess it's easy to see that he was most likely taking care of a child. If he's also been there for a while, did he have some form of "power" in Jericho? I like to think so.
But North also seems important too but she hasn't been in Jericho for very long so I can't say I see her as the pre revolution leader. She gets her opportunity to shine when Markus arrives and she's suited for more action oriented leadership. She seemed eager to get out and do stuff; if she was Jericho's leader before the game starts, it would show.
I wonder if Simon had a similar experience with Daniel though. But instead of acting on his feelings of betrayal, he choose to run away instead.
That's about as much as I can think of for Josh and Simon while still remaining within canon. Outside canon though, it opens a world of possibilities. I suppose it's no secret that I'm not a big fan of Simon's fanon characterization (especially in relation to Markus and how their relationship tends to take on tones of racial prejudice) so I won't be talking about that.
But Josh though, I can talk about him——he's an almost blank slate in the fandom since people tend to forget him.
#i know Markus doesn't talk much#most of his earlier chapters are like 2-5 lines each#but Simon is ridiculous#it was actually funny#how little he said. how am I supposed to pick your brain apart if you won't say something#i don't like using body language because that can easily be misinterpreted#especially if you're terrible with body language like me#but he makes it worse by just not saying much#detroit become human#dbh josh#dbh simon#type: text
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yes, surprisingly I’m putting another one because I’m annoying
so-
out of these LOVELY carbon based life forms
(Yes I am aware my art sucks, but ibis paint and shattered iPhone do NOT MIX)
would win in a fight (-triforce stuffs because that would give unfair advantages I think)
I swear, people always wanna power scale characters I write and my response will ALWAYS be:
"Well that depends"
Because I don't write characters based on "Is he over 9,000!?" dragonball logic lmfao.
Dark Link HYPOTHETICALLY could slap the ever loving shit out of all 4 Links if he used his powers right RIGHT NOW in the comic. Comic could be over within 2 seconds if that was the case. (Shadow is disqualified because the triforce of power is)
Because the dude, can literally break your mind in a second and then stab the fuck out of you if he REALLY felt like it.
But...He WOULDN'T. Because in his own words that's "Boring".
Dark Link doesn't play the typical "WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF MY WAY I'LL RULE THE WORLD" because that's literally the last thing on this dude's mind.
Dark's motivations keep him from doing anything that'd end the comic.
Dark's motivations of wanting to be given affection completely cancel out the idea he WOULD hurt the Link's physically long term because he wants them alive.
So the idea "Dark could slap everyone in a second flat" is null and void imo because of characterization reasons. He'd. Never. Do. That.
HE COULD. But he WOULDN'T.
I find hypotheticals that completely disregard the characterization super boring as well "Who is the strongest" Is such a silly question.
Because it tosses out the question "Well would they really do that?"
How do you define power?
Especially when placing arbitrary restrictions like "No Triforce" because, well.. you know the answer then?
Shadow Link is the strongest because he has the triforce of Power. He trumps Dark in that department but also has control over Dark because Dark is a demon. But then, Link hypothetically can slap the shit out of Shadow if he really needed too...Because Link canonically has the power to slap Gannon silly.
But "Why the fuck would they do that" is the prevailing question?
They are written this way for a reason.
I make strong as hell characters (Dark included) but the "power scaling" is mostly defined by their personalities/what they'd actually do.
Because then we get into the question "What is strength actually?" emotional strength? Physical? Magical?
I have a writing rule:
OP Character? Make their restrictions based on their personality.
Cause this isn't two characters fighting in a void...this is a comic with a story flow and specific characterization built the way it is to get to a point.
"That's not what the story is about" is the blunt answer I have.
Dark doodle for my writing rant troubles.
I guess what bugs the hell out of me by the question "Who's the strongest" is
"What the fuck led to this hypothetical death match to begin with?"
and I just cannot fathom a reason why this would be happening because my characters are not written for these weird hypotheticals.
The fights that are in my stories are there, because it furthers the plot. Not to show off power?
They're written for the story they're contained in, in which there are very specific rules they must follow because my brain said so.
"Character x will win this fight, because that's how the story goes, if it were to go the other way, the story would end."
The question itself is antithetical to the idea of the stories I tell.
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theory: akutagawa is now an ada member
i have. four points! which is a lot of points for a bsd theory okay here me OUT yall have worked with less
number 1: the fight on the ship resembles an entrance exam.
in order to join the ada, you have to prove that you would put others' lives before your own. before the fight on the ship, all of akutagawa's "sacrifices" or times when he put his life in danger were calculated, he knew he would probably survive. this is because he was motivated by getting dazai's approval, not saving lives. but by sacrificing his life for atsushi, both atsushi and dazai could vouch that he couldnt possibly have known that he would survive to get said approval. atsushi specifically could vouch that akutagawa had previously said that he couldn't disappoint dazai in his life, because he couldn't bear seeing his disapproval, indicating that he cares about getting dazai's approval while he's alive, not after. so the sacrifice was for atsushi, so he could get off the boat and stop fukuchi.
number 2: his appearance in the "two hours later" segment
clothing is a major factor for a character's allegiance. getting a new item of clothing shows allegiance to the mafia. clothing was a major part of tachihara's development. it also shows allegiance to the ada, as seen when atsushi first joined. and not only does he have an entirely new outfit, but to me its giving goth sherlock holmes. thats a matter of opinion but it really does look like a goth victorian detective.
also, fukuzawa can boost ada members' abilities. and while it might be the lighting making rashomon have that yellow tint to it, at least in part, it does have an extremely yellow look, which to me seems like it is different. why didnt it look like this before? my guess would be he was a vampire, undead, and so fukuzawa's ability couldnt affect him. this is an admittedly weak point though.
number 3: why is he there?
on the surface, sure. akutagawa is at the airport and decides to help out. but this is not part of dazai's orders to him, his role was to save atsushi on the ship and he did that. i dont think mori or any mafia member is going to be at the airport so soon, so on whose orders is he fighting side-by-side with atsushi? three options, i like them all. one is he chooses to save atsushi because it is the right thing to do/he cares about atsushi. i like this, but it seems like a very wide jump from the previous time we see him. impulsively saving someone you were already ordered to save, and voluntarily joining a fight you have no direct business with because youve done some thinking and would fight with him no matter what, is a jump in development. a fun jump, but a jump nonetheless. second option is he chooses to fight because the singularity was created by fyodor and dazai lost to fyodor so hed get dazais respect if he defeated fyodor. and this is fine, i wouldnt hate it. but its the opposite problem, this characterization feels like its going in the wrong direction. akutagawa has been moving away from being solely motivated by dazai's respect. which brings me to option three, he fights because he has a new allegiance. we know how fiercely loyal he can be, the opportunity to prove this allegiance would be enough to get him involved in the fight
number 4: the port mafia transfer
okay i know everyone is tired of pm transfer theories, and im not going to pretend to know who it is, but i think that whoever it will be, there has to be a catalyst. another pm member choosing to leave for the ada may be that catalyst.
akutagawa has been on a redemption arc kick, with the whole not killing people, saving atsushi's life, and now this. it might be that the pm transfer serves to bridge the gap started by yosano's recruitment, which is why we learned about both at the same time. so while akutagawa is transferred to the ada, someone else is transferred to the mafia, and both organizations become closer as they work together with their old friends' new colleagues. i think this is how the pm transfer becomes a real plotline, and not just angst.
i also think mori is going to cash this in at a specific time, not just whenever they're done handling the decay of angels. finding out that akutagawa has left could be that time. it makes this something more than mori knocking on the agency's door after everything is dealt with and going ">:) forgetting something >:) ?" and more strategic, which is more in character for him
its also possible that akutagawa is the pm transfer, which would be crazy and certainly unexpected. akutagawa becomes an official ada member, fukuzawa proves it to mori with his ability, and mori cashes the transfer in to get akutagawa back. shocking, heartbreaking, very bsd.
this is the theory, let me know what you think/if you have any other points to add! im sure theres holes in it but i really think im right about this
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Now that I have all the headshots lemme give you a comprehesive guide of
The Fitz Family!
Well well, if you're asking why am I making content of my fave Flipline fan theory again, lemme tell you I have a LOT on my sleeve I wanna talk about. As I have been drawing more of them, and also been getting some new followers, I wanted to create a post that can share a lot of info about where I stand on the Fitz family and the Fitz is Radley's dad theory in general- And well, you're reading that right now, so buckle up!
I'll go over all the 6 main characters (one fan character and one fan design of an existing character) and I wanna talk some stuff about their motives, where they stand in relation to each other etc. Starting with the patriarch!
TW warning: Mention of accident, mention of death
Professor Fitz
Fitz is the oldest member of the family and also the one who probably keeps the most secrets. Having married young, he's been always there to provide to his late wife, Anise- After they got into a freak lab accident connected to the warp keys, however only poor Isaac made it out alive. That left him to raise his three kids alone, his oldest, Radley, his middle daughter Petrona, and Marcus who was still a baby when the accident happened.
Anise
She's the most mysterious Fitz family member, not having any info about where she's from or what she did before marrying her husband; the only thing that's known about her is that she really loved and cherished her family, especially doting on her eldest son, Radley. Her death led to the downfall of the family, affecting even her grandson who she never could meet.
Radley
The oldest and supposed heir of the family, Radley has been showing signs of genius since he was a toddler. Being the oldest has always pushed him to do the best, and he looked up to his parents for that, especially to his mom, who he had the better relationship with. He was around 8-10 when Anise passed away, and that has changed him greatly, impacting his relationship with Fitz, who he always blamed for her passing. That later results to an argument between the two, which in turn, results to Radley meeting his old demise. By turning into a radish but that's a story for another day
Petrona
The second born of Fitz and Anise, and the only daughter. She's always been a strong-willed person and was keen to keep the family together. Out of the three kids she has the best relationship to her father, being the only one who regularly visits him.
She also became a mom around her early-to mid 20s. She's VERY overprotective of Iggy.
(Nu)Marcus
The youngest of the three siblings. Being only few months old when Anise passed away, he didn't get nearly as impacted by her passing as his sister and brother did. He's always looked up to Radley, finding his dad very lame. After what happened to his older brother it was only a matter of time till he left Fitz too, deciding on making a business of his own, from the smarts he has.
Iggy
Iggy is the youngest Fitz family member and the only granchild of Fitz and Anise. Not entirely sure about what happened in his family, he spends his time mainly with his mom Petrona, and his grandfather, who adores his company greatly - Fitz has always acted as a father figure to him, since his dad isn't exactly in the picture. Being naturally curious however, it's only a matter of time before he finds out the truth; And no matter how we put it that's going to impact things.
That's all for now! Have fun reading it all <33 If you have any questions about the AU/theory, go ahead!
#flipline fliplinestudios#papa louie#flipline fanart#papa louie fanart#fitz family#fitz family AU#Fitz theory#norambles#Long reads#Long post
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Character Analysis
THE BASICS:
Character’s name: Aria Stafford
Role in story: Princess Witch
Age: 24
MBTI: INFJ-T
Enneagram: Type 2
Zodiac: Scorpio (said the quiz--- I believe she's more a Virgo)
INTERNAL: THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER
What is his/her greatest fear? She'd tell you it's some sort of cataclysmic event caused by the abandonment of the Guardians which is definitely up there but deep down its losing her family-- and she's half way there with Siobhan being missing currently. She's also spends a lot of time worrying about 'what's next' when it comes to Roderick-- she figures its only a matter of time before he gets fed up with Eilia's refusing him.
Inner motivation: Freedom. Returning to normalcy. Bringing back the Guardians for the good of humanity.
Kryptonite: Losing any more of her family or even the idea of it. Not doing enough for her loved ones/country (whatever "enough" means)
What is his/her misbelief about the world? That she'd eve be able to survive on her own (mostly without Eilia)
Lesson he/she needs to learn: To be gentle with herself, that sometimes the best course of action is no action, to be more open with her emotions (especially with her sister!)
What is the best thing in his/her life? On days when she's feeling particularly low she'd say "nothing" right now! But definitely Eilia and her example of how to be a strong leader even in this terrible situation.
What is the worst thing in his/her life? Roderick Varmont probably? and everything and almost everyone he's brought into her life.
What does he/she most often look down on people for? Selfishness. Lack of action. Lack of compassion. Cruelty
What makes his/her heart feel alive? Acts of service for her friends/family/country. She was always the most happy spending time with all the kids at the orphanage-- not because of the gratitude from them for anything she did but because she felt like she was really making their lives better.
What makes him/her feel loved, and who was the last person to make them feel that way? 100000% her sister <3 Aria has always and will forever idolize her older sister and Eilia's presence is keeping her from going completely out of her mind.
Top three things he/she values most in life? Her family. Her country/the people of Astaira. The Guardians.
EXTERNAL: NOT NECESSARY, BUT GOOD TO KNOW AND SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER
What’s his/her favorite book, movie, and band? I have no real logical reason WHY I think this but I would say Aria's three favorite musical artists would be (in no particular order) Rosemary Clooney, Jacques Brel, and Noah Kahan. Def a "my music preferences change with my mood" sort of person.
Bookwise, a huge fan of biographies/autobiographies-- figuring out how people think, how they feel about things and just trying to further understand people. I think she'd also secretly read pop culture romances because they're cute and would make her smile-- but she'd never admit it! She'd definitely love anything directed by Wes Anderson.
Is there an object he/she can’t bear to part with and why? I had this thought that maybe all three of the sisters have some sort of matching item (ring, necklace, something) that their parents had made for them when they were born/youngsters so that's an important item because it connects them all <3. (I keep going back to some sort of star imagery for the Staffords so maybe that it? or maybe that's on their family heraldry... I dunno) Also a hair comb of her mother's aria always loved (but never wears since she hates putting her hair up haha!)
Describe a typical outfit for him/her from top to bottom. Almost always in a fairly simple dress-- usually blues, greens, or greys-- but despite being simple in design she had befriended some artisans who would do some -tasteful- embellishments with embroidery/needlework/etc not necessarily for vanity sake but because she like supporting artisans in the city! most often slippers because she wasn't the most active/outdoorsy person but she's traded those in lately for slightly more practical boots since she's taking up walking all over the grounds to kill time! also almost never wears her hair up (it drove her mother nuts when she was young because it was ALWAYS all over the place!) and often ties part of it back with ribbons, etc. Usually has a ribbon tied around her wrist for that exact reason!
What names or nicknames has he/she been called throughout their life? Mostly just Aria? Probably "Ari" sometimes by her family when she was younger since that's a cute diminutive.
What is his/her method of manipulation? Giving Arthur Varmont two minutes of her time? She never considered herself very manipulative until the Varmonts showed up so she's definitely catering her methods based on who she's got her sights set on at the moment. It has become through flattery of some sort-- whether it's trying to play nice with Roderick or begrudgingly going to Arthur for 'help' with something or pretending she actually cares about something that interests Cassandra, etc.
Describe his/her daily routine. Well there isn't much to life when you're under house arrest!! Aria did realize she needed some sort of a routine so she wakes up early and walking... she's probably clocked miles wandering the grounds. Its both good because she isn't just sitting inside, but it does give her tons of time to think which isn't great because she gets in her own head sometimes. Usually in the afternoons she reads, works on needlepoint, and spends time with Eilia. (I had this idea that Roderick forces all of them to dine together in the evenings, haha, so if thats a thing that's the low point of her day.)
Pre-Varmonts, Aria would keep herself fairly busy. She had been actively trying to develop an artistic neighborhood in the city as well as her philanthropic pursuits. She spent a good deal of time at the orphanage and had been planning to start soliciting the Astairian nobility for donations to expand the facilities before the war began.
Their go-to cure for a bad day? I think it used to be "running away" from the castle and spending time at the Malconaire Estate with Aoife... which isn't really possible now #thanksroderick so I think she doesn't really have a great way to raise her spirits? Honestly probably hiding out somewhere with Eilia and the pair pretending things aren't as bad as they actually are really helps.
CHARACTER GOALS:
How is your character dissatisfied with their life? Well, she’a a prisoner in her own home until her sister agrees to marry the man that literally turned their world upside down so that’s all not great… other than that just her lack of ability to do anything of substance is really messing with her. She’s also definitely in her own head about a lot of different things-- she's gotten herself convinced she'd a burden on Eilia in this difficult situation but ALSO would have been a burden on Siobhan had they managed to escape together. Also the whole knowing the guardians aren't there and being able to do anything to bring them back... its a lot weighing on her mentally.
What does your character believe will bring them true happiness or contentment? Getting rid of the Varmonts (or at the very least Roderick.) Being able to practice their religion/traditions so the Guardians can return. Eilia being Queen again. Finding Siobhan.
What definitive step could they take to turn their dream into a reality? Poisoning Roderick? Jkjkjk but also not really... beyond escaping her confinement and somehow spearheading a coup against Roderick, there isn't much she can definitively do at this moment.
How has their fear kept them from taking this action already? She knows rebelling against Roderick would definitely end if death for her if it was unsuccessful as well as anyone working with her-- and potentially anyone she cares about. As much as she wants to help her family and her country-- she's not particularly scared of dying (so she tells herself!) but she is not willing to put anyone else at risk.
How does your protagonist feel they can accomplish their goal while still steering clear of the thing they are afraid of? Honestly this is constantly on her mind-- she's trying to win over the Varmont's in an attempt to have some more freedom and hoping something will come from that-- whether its finding a resistance movement or trying to get some of the Astairian cultural events reinstated-- though the more she learns about Roderick's extreme actions re: witches, she might backtrack a bit on that, again, she's petrified of her actions causing harm to others.
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Saw VII and Jigsaw thoughts this fine Saw Saturday! (We actually watched the movies on Thursday but shhh it was Saw Saturday for us in spirit)
I am so sad that Saw VII was…. Not Very Good to put it mildly. Very rushed and all over the place and just did not give me the same feeling as the other Saw movies which was upsetting as this was kinda supposed to be the end cap of the main series :(
Dr. Lawrence Gordon, the character you are. I was so excited when I saw that he came back for this movie but was so disappointed when he was barely in it. I was really hoping for him to be more involved in the story or at the very least to be given a little more explanation for why he joined up as an apprentice. Like give me this man’s psyche and emotional state!!! What made *him* decide to help John do unto others what was done to him? Did he buy into the philosophy? Did he develop some sort of weird Stockholm Syndrome when John nursed him back to health after he survived his trap?
Idk if this is just me but they treated Jill kinda weirdly in this movie? Quite literally just kept her locked in rooms and not allowed to do anything and like. Obviously I would also run to police protection if I had just tried to kill an incredibly dangerous serial killer and failed like Jill did at the end of Saw VI, but I just wish they gave her something more interesting to do than have a weird dream about Hoffman killing her with a train car and cower in fear
The blood and violence was so bad this movie and I genuinely don’t know why. My guess is it’s something to do with the movie being shot/intended for 3D? But even then I don’t think that should make the blood, like, pink right? I’m not watching Saw for the gore necessarily but it was a bit disappointing when you’d see Hoffman’s face ripped open from the end of 6, and then the next shot it looked totally different
(Speaking of the 3D, the scene at the end with Gordon tossing the saw was so unintentionally funny because of it. Like, yes king throw your hacksaw at the audience)
On the plus side I thought the character of Bobby was an interesting angle to explore. A man who basically used Jigsaw for clout and profited off of faking trauma then has to go on and live through that same trauma x10
(It is kinda weird that his wife was punished for his mistakes though considering she literally didn’t know he was lying……… like we saw in 6 with the mother and son that John doesn’t want to hurt those he thinks haven’t done anything wrong (though of course his logic on what that is is skewed) but now he’s suddenly cool using this woman as motivation for a man to do these traps? Seems off)
Mostly solid trap designs this time around!
Jigsaw survivor support group is also interesting! I couldn’t tell if everyone in that scene was actually survivors we had previously seen, but it was cool to be able to pick out a few of them and be like “oh my god I remember you!”
Wish we had gotten to see more Hoffman this movie as well, though seeing him go complete cold blooded killer in the police station was kinda fun, even if it was extremely goofy and unrealistic
If they wanted to, I could definitely see a world where Hoffman is still alive. Yeah he doesn’t have the saw to cut off his own leg, but we know you can skip the chain by breaking your own foot (Eric Matthews) and we also know Hoffman has no qualms about doing that sort of thing to survive (Reverse Bear Trap escape) so he definitely did that. The only question is if he could actually get out of the bathroom afterwards
There’s probably a lot I’m missing about my Saw VII thoughts but unfortunately it’s probably my least favorite of the bunch rn. I think it had some good ideas, some ideas that I was actually super invested in, but the execution was rushed and a lot of our existing characters were seemingly flattened to make them work
So maybe it’s just because I was coming off the disappointment in VII, but Jigsaw was an enjoyable movie to me! The pacing could be a little bit weird, but I also recognize that it was made like… 7 years after the last movie and they were probably trying to find a way to “modernize” the franchise and bring in new fans
The main thing I didn’t appreciate about this movie is how I felt it basically had to trick me for its twist to work. I absolutely LOVE the idea of “the game you’re seeing play out actually happened 10 years ago. We just didn’t say it was a flashback.” It’s such a classic saw thing to do and a lot of it a was foreshadowed. However stuff like the technology level and some of the fashion choices of the victims (I’m thinking specifically of the style of jeans Mitch wore) don’t always work with what would have been around in like 2001 or earlier. Maybe that’s me showing my age and I’m underestimating what was around in the late 90s/early 00s but it just made me a little mad because I felt I couldn’t just sit in the twist and instead had to justify why it didn’t make sense
I do however like the idea of Logan being someone who was saved from his trap by John. He was put in for making a careless mistake, only for John himself to make a mistake in his sedative dosage, not giving him an actual fair chance to fight for his life. It does help bridge the gap between the very obviously personal revenge John took in his first trap with Cecil towards the philosophy he spouts about the games being about appreciating your life later in the timeline
Genuinely though the whole movie I thought the killer was gonna be Detective Hunt, Halloran’s partner. I totally thought it was gonna be something similar to Logan where he wanted revenge on Halloran due to all the shit he had gotten away with. Also, the movie made such a point that “omg the body showed up at Eleanor’s studio/warehouse but only Logan and Eleanor knew about that place” but like….. Hunt followed them to that location. He could have gone in and placed the body there later to frame everyone and then told the cops about the workshop just to make sure the evidence was found. I was so convinced it was him because I felt like Logan was a bit too obvious for most of the movie lol
I liked the shotgun barn game. Very good early Saw trap/game. Short, sweet, and gets the lesson across
Logan’s reveal was hard as fuck, I don’t care what anyone says. I already made a post about how that scene is full of banger lines but it bears repeating: “I am him” “You have a choice: scream or don’t” “I speak for the dead” like okay sir go off
Logan certainly isn’t the most interesting apprentice or character, but I truly think that’s only because we don’t get to see him as an apprentice very much. From everything I’ve seen, he does not come back for either of the next two movies which I think is such a shame because there’s something to explore here with him being the first apprentice! With him being moreso an equal to John, teaching him part of his philosophy that’s so iconic about him, that’s a different apprentice dynamic from what we’d seen before and ahhhh I just wanna know the direction they would have taken this guy
Also makes me curious how much the other apprentices knew about each other. Amanda and Hoffman obviously interacted, but did anyone know about Logan? Was he just like “none of my business” when shit was going off the rails after John died? I want answers on how the Jigsaw apprentice relationships operate lmao
Overall, not the best Saw Saturday showing but yknow what, they can’t all be bangers. At the very least these movies have given me something to chew on and I also still enjoyed myself a lot. Saw, they could never make me hate you even if they’re doing the most with it!!!
I’m hopeful that my friend and I will be able to watch both Spiral and Saw X next week and then we’ll officially be through all of them and I won’t have to worry about any more spoilers! Hooray!
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I’m going to preface this by saying that I’m not a professional critic or reviewer, and these are just my subjective opinions. There’s no need to get upset that someone on the internet has a different opinion than you.
Now, with that out of the way- I THINK WORM SUCKS
Okay just kidding. It’s good, I like it a lot… but for the most part, I like it despite its protagonist, rather than because of her. And not just because I think the story contorts itself around her in a frustrating way, although it very much does do that. It’s just that, at the end of the day, I don’t think there’s much about her that makes for an interesting viewpoint character.
At the end of the day, what actually motivates Taylor? She starts off wanting to ‘be a hero,’ but gives up on that pretty quickly, yet never really commits to ‘being a villain’ either. It’s not saving the world, either, that’s just basic self-preservation. Her real motivation is simple- protecting her friends, and having them continue to like her. She continues being a villain explicitly for the latter reason (once Coil is dead and Dinah is free there’s no real reason for her to remain a villain other than that), and does most of what she does in service of the former.
Self-preservation and the desire to protect one’s friends are fine primary motivations for a main character… in the right context. For the former, we need only look at Blake from Pact, whose life is in constant danger through pretty much the entire book, so he never gets the chance to develop any goals beyond ‘stay alive,’ and instrumental to that, ‘get stronger.’ That’s fine- it would be weird if Blake was really preoccupied with some other goal considering all that’s happening to him during the events of that story.
Likewise, in the latter case, you have Sylvester from Twig, whose desire to protect his friends is important because their lives are considered expendable, so wanting to protect them motivates him to act proactively and pursue other goals. He even extends his definition of ‘friends’ to basically all experiments, which eventually pushes him to take on the entire Academy and Crown, because he’s got a problem with what they do to his fellow experiments and him. That’s a great motivation for a character! (Twig is the best thing Wildbow has ever written and I hope it never gets a sequel.)
On the other hand, Taylor wanting to protect her friends is a much weaker motivation, because they are almost never in any danger that they didn’t put themselves in. I can’t really cheer for her beating up on Protectorate heroes to save her pals because they chose to take over an entire city. That’s on them. Of course, Taylor is incapable of not perceiving it as unjust persecution, because she has a literal victim complex, and rightfully so, she was a victim for a long time, but not for most of the events of the story itself.
So when it comes down to it, her motivation is basically ‘me and my friends should be able to do whatever we want, and get to kill anybody who tries to stop us.’ Which isn’t an especially compelling motivation from an outside perspective! If she was really driven to be the best parahuman criminal in the city, and supplanting Coil as a crime lord was her plan all along, that would at least be interesting, but she just kind of gets dragged along into everything, and then retroactively justifies it in her mind by deciding the people opposing her are ‘bullies.’
As a consequence of this, Taylor doesn’t really stand for anything, either. She does plenty, but in many ways she’s still basically a passive protagonist, going in whichever direction the flow of the narrative takes her. It just so happens that the narrative flows very quickly, so she never ends up spinning her wheels too long (badly mixing metaphors there, I know), but if things weren’t constantly happening for her to respond to, Taylor really wouldn’t end up doing much on her own.
So- we’ve established why I think Taylor makes for a weak protagonist. Let’s take a look at who I think would make for a compelling replacement.
Number one with a bullet, it’s your boy Theo. I’ve touched on this recently elsewhere, but I want to make a more comprehensive pitch for him now. You might say ‘but isn’t Theo also largely reactive and motivated by self-preservation?’ To a degree, yeah- most of what he does in the story is motivated by not wanting to get killed by Jack Slash. But even if you take Jack out of his story completely, he would still have a more interesting motivation than Taylor. The heroic scion (heh) of a villainous legacy trying to atone for his parents’ misdeeds is a way more interesting story than whatever she has going on. The thing with Jack is just a cherry on top.
(Atonement is a great character motivation in general, which is part of why Rain would have been a far superior protagonist for Ward than Victoria, but that’s a whole ‘nother post.)
Obviously you’d have to rework the story somewhat significantly to make him work as the protagonist, but I think it’s doable. If you wanted to keep things as much the same as possible, you’d probably start with Theo already in the Chicago Wards, and tell the story of how he got there in recurring flashbacks. Taylor could also still be in the story, I actually kind of think she’d work better as a supporting character (as long as you got rid of some of the truly ridiculous shit she did like killing Alexandria). Seeing her training Theo from his perspective would be very interesting, since canon Worm skips pretty much all that stuff.
Next pick: Weld. You might think you’re detecting a theme here, but not so much, actually. Weld’s story is more about him becoming disillusioned with the Protectorate, and even with being a hero in general. But unlike Taylor, who gives up on being a hero roughly three chapters into Worm, that would be a slow arc, starting with him as a true believer, who over the course of the entire story loses his faith and quits to found his own team. It’s worth noting too that the Irregulars weren’t just an independent hero team, but mercenaries, which suggests Weld has soured on the ‘hero’ thing overall.
Plus, Weld has a very solid motivation- finding out who the hell turned him into a Case 53. That’s an actual goal he could pursue over the course of a story and get closure for! We could see his relationship with Sveta actually develop, watch him try to manage the internal tensions of the Irregulars, and go up against Cauldron, which Taylor only really interacts with incidentally until the very end of the story.
Third choice: Faultline. We know a lot less about her than any of the others I’ve named so far- her interlude is so unmemorable I actually forgot it existed before writing this. We never learn her actual name (I’d keep ‘Miss Fitts’ because I like the pun but modern wildbow is a joyless monster so he’d probably change it) or even her trigger event, but I still think she’d make a solid choice. Clearly Wildbow agrees because she was the protagonist in an earlier draft of the story.
Much like Weld, she has a strong motivation in wanting to track down Cauldron, and I think the cast of characters surrounding her is more interesting than the Irregulars, and arguably even the Undersiders themselves.
My next choice is gonna be controversial, but… Armsmaster. Yeah, he starts out as an antagonistic force in Worm, but only because Taylor perceives literally every authority figure in existence as her enemy. His actual story is really compelling, not least because I firmly believe he was framed for the armband thing. That interpretation isn’t canon, but the facts fit, and I think it makes Worm a hundred times more interesting, so I choose to believe it.
So you have a kind of autistic, extremely driven but also somewhat self-involved hero, who gets framed for something he didn’t do, loses everything, and has all the people whose respect he was hoping to earn turn on him. And he comes back from that! Tell me that isn’t a more interesting story than Taylor, who never meaningfully loses a fight or has anything taken from her.
Bonuses for him include: getting to see him fight Leviathan one on one from his perspective, getting a better look at the inner workings of the Protectorate and Guild, giving his relationship with Dragon more development, and seeing a Tinker actually do some tinkering, which is something we’ve basically been completely denied across two books.
And finally, we have the wildcard option: someone else entirely. There are vast swathes of Worm’s world left entirely unexplored, and I’m sure there are plenty of more interesting protagonists hiding somewhere in them. People with more interesting powers, histories, and motivations than the protagonist we actually got. Or Victoria. Goddamn do I wish we got someone other than Victoria for Ward. Rain was right fucking there, hoW DO YOU FUCK THAT UP AAAA
okay that’s it, post over, thanks for reading. bye
#worm#worm meta#worm crit#Ward#parahumans#wildbow#effortpost#seriously if you take nothing else from this post#read that thing I linked#it’s extremely convincing#worm spoilers#Ward spoilers#twig spoilers#pact spoilers#just to be safe I don’t really give details for any of them except Worm#also#Read Twig
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