i made them kith

Some people: The Cat King is a bad guy and nothing more!

Lukas Gage:

Do you think the Cat King gets the zoomies at ass o'clock at night?

What would Edwins' reaction be to visiting and seeing this insanely hot guy just bouncing off of the walls, shifting between man and cat at the speed of light? Would TCK just barrel into him?

Or does it look more like frantic reorganization of his endless closet?

Just saw someone on TikTok saying the "You could live a thousand lives and never deserve that boy" saying that Cat King, Monty and Charles don't deserve Edwin and I've never seen so much bullshit in my life (as far as I can remember)

How come you throw down 3 character arcs and ignoring at least Charles' temper and context to put above on a pillar one character who has bad things as well.

Post was in Spanish, I'm translating what it said with the colors.

Sorry for the random rambling/texts, I had to get it out of my system and sorry if I had wrong stuff

Obviously spoilers about the whole series

Cat King: he started wrong and pressured Edwin on things he didn't know

There's an analysis post here that explains why the punishment made sense. Edwin was warned of not messing around with the cats. Cat King of course had moments where he made Edwin obvious and clearly uncomfortable, and either stopped there or stepped back. Even between all his flirty aura and wanting to play and be loved by this Twink Ghost, he still respected Edwin and was pretty much consensual (the bracelet not because again, it's just the punishment because of what Edwin did to the cats), like proposing counting cats instead of pleasing him physically as soon as he realized Edwin wasn't in that lane.

By the end of the season, he's the one that changes the less respecting from where they started (I think). He's still a flirty, charming, iconic, still respecting and asking for the hug, this time only calling him from the distance because he knows the context, they're mourning Niko, he can't be that flirty or attention seeker, he knows how much she meant for Ed. The flowers scene where it's both flowers for him but also for her (the flower's meanings about rebirth, purity, innocence. I think it's how Niko was for this world, but also huge kudos to this Reddit when I was looking for the flower scene)

Monty: tricked Edwin so the witch could have her revenge.

Monty is a Crow Familiar. He ofc owes loyalty to his witch. He was turned into a human with the condition of helping his master. And he catches feelings. He's been a human since what? Less than a week? He gets hooked by Edwin. He loves Edwin. When they kiss and Edwin says he doesn't love him back, he's hurt. And he's Esther's familiar. What did she do once she didn't get what she wanted? Plan on revenge. He's still hurt, he thinks Edwin didn't care about his feelings. He even said they shouldn't be friends anymore.

Damn, he even went along deeper even thinking that they wouldn't get the case since they were Ace Detectives, until he heard that the fungus ate ghosts/spectrals so this wasn't an easy revenge. He tried to lead them/him away from it. Then Cat King interrupted and well, shit went down. More hurt feelings, more disgraces. He gets back to Esther who dislikes that her dear crow familiar was on the side of Edwin and caught feelings. He didn't want to feel like that, he didn't ask to be hurt, didn't want to be human and have feelings. Ofc he couldn't be with Edwin as long as Esther is his witch, she still has control over him. And yet he tried to go against her orders. He even helped Charles getting away on last ep.

Charles: said cruel words, wishing he never died and throwing in his face that Ed would never be able to keep the group together because he can't and he lacks Char's charisma.

Charles was fresh from living on a loop that caught him because his reaction to trauma was too strong. He had to live(?) and watch over and over again a family suffering for the exact same thing that reminded him his living life. Even worse, he had to experience on bucle him trying to stop it just to be interrupted and made him watch it until the father was done, looking at the corpses and then the gunshot. Tell me about feeling helpless and useless when you are stuck on a loop where your attempt of trying to help it's not working and you are seeing it over and over again. Ofc he was more than upset for not being able to help, to stop Crystal from getting hurt, from Edwin lying to him because Ed was troubled in his mind, and Night Nurse reminding him the physical violence he lived, how he died.

Charles and Edwin died at 16. Sixteen. How many things they could've experienced but never happened? They'll never get to grow up. He died and he never had a chance to stand up against his dad and protect his mom. He lost the chance to keep the bullies away from others. He lost all the sensations, he lost most of his senses. Not being able to enjoy things because he can't feel them. He misses spaghetti, he said he might miss kissing (he and Crystal kissed, he said he didn't feel anything but well, as long as she does, he's okay with it). He misses being able to have people his age to hang around. And everything was taken away from him.

Ofc he tries to be positive about it, he tries to be useful to make up for not helping when he was alive. He didn't want to be like Brad and Hunter, but he wanted to be that cool guy loved by everyone and was an actual good person. You can't hold on a smile for too long without it turning into a fake one after having all of that. All those years he shoved away the familiar violence, until he had to live it again, two times, and see that he couldn't stop it. He's hurt by everyone (Edwin lying to him, the whole Crystal's case still unsolved, etc), and he reached the limit. Are you telling me he would just smile again and pretend it was nothing? He'd been doing that for so long, and now he was unable to hide it again.

And last but not least, Edwin.

Edwin Payne, sassy Edwardian Era Teenager who has an ego so big you can see it from space, plays hard to get on the cases, thinks he's better/smarter than anyone (one thing is being it, other is claiming it), thinking everyone is on his same level or page (the whole Does that look blue to you? We have the same left! Implying that what he says and knows are too obvious that forgets not everyone thinks like him. I relate to that soooo bad) Shoved away more than once Crystal, has more salt than the Dead Sea, calls out more than once Charles for trying to keep Crystal around, when Jenny was calling Crystal out for running or whatever he was shocked that Crystal wasn't paying attention to him like how dares she ignore me. And don't get me started with invalidating everyone's feelings when they said they were hurt or living a nightmare... We got it. Hell was a literal hell. But you're dealing right now with a girl who's around 16-18 and you're trying to solve her case, not a competition about "Who suffered the most".

Ofc at the end of the season he's finally fond of Crystal, he was finally accepting her as part of the team even without her powers, he's now able to express better his feelings, better at setting and saying things and stop assuming everyone is on his same level, he starts caring about people like Monty (even after breaking his crow heart, he apologizes and tries to explain that he was new to that as well and things could've been with them staying as friends until Cat King made his entrance and the reveal, Cat King with the whole Cat Mouse Game he was able to again, start accepting he has feelings and being the way they are is not bad, able to set boundaries, even allow himself to play silly things like actually counting the cats.

Edwin had to go through a lot of things to be able to actually be open and grow as a character. I feel everyone likes Edwin at the end of the season or praise his Salty Sassy Edwardian Teenager phase, and it's not bad, but please do not throw down other characters to get him higher. Or at least, don't throw them down like that. Do not treat him like it's flawless, just because you like his flaws.

I mean, I feel like I'm not writing nothing we haven't seen, like stating the obvious. Maybe a rewatch to see better the character arcs?

“But I would be uncomfortable if the cat king said/did that to me!!!” BUT EDWIN WASNT, that’s the point lol, He liked the cat king and his flirting and he thinks he’s hot. HES INTO IT!!! The cat king is one of the reasons he can’t deny his sexuality or feelings anymore because he can’t repress how hot he finds him and how much he actually does want to kiss him and maybe do other things. It’s instant attraction from the moment they meet and they show that over and over again.

The episode where they're going through potential new cases, but the Cat king shows up.

Edwin: "Cat king... Do you, too, have a case you need us to solve?"

CK: "What? Oh no I just missed your pretty ghost face.~"

Edwin is about to tell him to leave when Niko pipes up.

Niko: "Edwin! You didn't tell me he was so cute!"

Edwin: whips his head towards Niko "Yes I did! I specifically remember-" he immediately clasps a hand over his mouth. What was he about to admit in front of everyone. All eyes are on him now, but Niko can't read the room and barrels on.

Niko: No you didn't tell me he was cute, you said and I quote "He has a body that could rival Adonis and eyes that were like a caging spell all of their own-"

Edwin: "Yes, thank you, Niko, you have a great memory! Now we must really get back to case work, right Charles?"

But Charles is making the most disgusted faces while looking between The Cat King and his best friend, like that was really too much information.

The Cat King, however has the absolute biggest grin on his face.

Edwin will not be living this down anytime soon...

Hi! Not a request, I just got done watching Dead Boy Detectives. With The Cat King showing up in the forest…..I thought he was going to attack Monty😆 The dialogue was really good, but the Cat King ‘not playing nice’ I was nervous for Edwin before the whole trip to hell took off the bracelet.

Oh, really? I find that quite interesting. See, for me, I wasn't really worried or saw The Cat King's intentions as hostile, but I understand how it could be interpreted that way.

I saw him as someone who hides behind his tricks and his words, especially with his sexuality, to cope with his loneliness. Because, essentially, he's not a human but someone who embodies a cat. And cats are tricksters, they're independent, they like to play and give affection when they want to, and sure, they are predators, but they're not dangerous to people they respect. Almost no cats are dangerous to humans just because they want to, only when they have a reason for it, and Edwin had not given him a good reason.

The Cat King made his offers and 'threats' but never really crossed Edwin's boundaries, which, to me, showed that he could be trusted, at least to a degree of not hurting him. And they all seemed too playful and sexual to seem really dangerous, do you know what I mean?

Although, I agree with the point of when he said he would 'stop playing nice', I was also a tad worried what he meant by that. Then I realised he truly was all bark and no bite (ironically). But I don't think I would say I was nervous, per se, or that I thought he would attack Monty. The Cat King could have seen Monty as his enemy or victim, and with true cat fashion attacked him, but with the previous display of his personality I did not expect anything like that. When cats don't get their way, they usually go away and (essentially, sulk) do their own thing. So I think that was what I was expecting was him to stop extending his sexual offers to Edwin (his version of 'stop playing nice'), thus forcing him to correctly count all the cats in Port Townsend.

I just really expected him to pretend to not care about Edwin (as cats do when they don't get cuddles when they want) and then reject him if Edwin tried to extend some kindness to him (again, in true cat fashion). I dunno, maybe this didn't make sense, but that's my take on it.

I also might be a bit impartial due to me simping for The Cat King lol.

I don’t care what canon says, he died at 18, so he can legally be with the Cat King-

Catwin is my favorite ship but by Satan’s beard, Edwin will always be 18 in my works-

I dunno, maybe I’m thinking about it too much lol

Go check it out on TikTok!

and it's so much smut. That little queer is killing me.

[Dead Boy Detectives] My Ships

First: Go watch Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix if you haven't already!

Second: Here my ships (that I will probably write on) with the pet name I use for them (other pet names that I'll probably forgot to add in my tags)

1- Chadwin (Painland) - Charles Rowland/Edwin Payne

Aren't they adorable?

2- Niklace (Crysko) - Crystal Palace/Niko Sasaki

Deep down, we all know it wasn't the Sprites.

3- CrowKing - Monty the Crow/Thomas the Cat King

The Sweet Heart & The Bad Boy

Sort of bums me out that so many people didn't seem to Get the Cat King so here are my thoughts:

So let's start with Edwin's crime. He uses something the cat desires (a sardine) to lure the cat to him and then uses an enchanted string to trap the cat with magic. He demands the answer to a question in exchange for its release. Edwin knows it is dangerous to use magic on a cat, that it violates Rules but he does it anyway.

Binding a creature and agreeing to set them free under a certain condition is very Classic Fairytale. its also a favourite trope of Neil Gaiman's (he did not write this show but his influence is there). In both the Sandman and his novel Stardust (and the film adaptation) trapping a creature with magic and demanding a task/favour in exchange for their freedom is an extremely important plot point. Edwin binding a cat and demanding an answer in exchange is exactly in line with this Fairytale trope

And so is the Cat Kings response. The Cat King is a trickster. What he does to Edwin is exactly what Edwin did to one of his subjects. He entices Edwin, he binds him with magic and when Edwin demands to be free he turns his own words against him "why all the fuss for one little spell?" Edwin did something wrong. He imposed his will/magic on another creature and the Cat King is punishing him for it in a way that is poetic. Its fairytale. its trickster. its classic.

I've also seen people complain that the task Edwin was given 'count all the cats' is 'impossible'...except its fucking not. Edwin does it. He does it so well he actually BEATS the Cat King ("you didn't count yourself" Are.You.Kidding.Me. Classic!Fairytale!Vibes!)

The Cat Kings choice to bind Edwin to Port Townsend is good on so many levels. From a storytelling perspective it forces characters who can travel anywhere in the world to stay in one place, and increases the stakes for these characters who are supposed to be on the run. From a genre perspective...its an excellent use of fairytale tropes using both Rules of magic, a protagonist who is unkind to a seemingly weak creature who is punished by a more powerful law, a binding, a task to complete, etc

Which just leaves the character perspective which it ALSO does really fucking well and introduces the final aspect to the Cat Kings character. He's seductive. He is responsible for Edwin, 100 years old ghost boy, finally unpacking his internalized homophpbia. he is the catalyst (cat pun not intended)

He pushes Edwin, challenges him, at times literally forces the truth out of Edwin, but he really never does violate his consent. Significantly Edwin is attracted to him, like its an important part of his character that he is. He may not like the Cat King but he is attracted to him!

The Cat King is such a great example of a trickster, a morally grey character who imposes a sense of justice on Edwin after he crosses a line, but also has his own selfish interests and meddles. Hes so important to the plot of the show, to Edwin's character arc, to the genre.

And he's just fun. Unapologetically queer, powerful, complicated. Silly little outfits. Petty cat behavior. Deep heart.

Some of you just didn't get it. And I'm sorry for you. because the Cat King is Excellent actually.

Plz I need a second season

a cut scene from the last episode

don't mind me staying up all night just to make these

It’s crazy to me that I see people talking about the cat king being a rapist or wanting to SA Edwin. I need people to understand that framing and the way things are shot matters. At no point is Edwin shown to be scared of him, uncomfortable sure but that has more to do with his repression. He’s attracted to Thomas and doesn’t want to be. They frame every thought Edwin has of Thomas as sexy, never from fear or anything even close. When Edwin thinks of Thomas he’s sexy slow mos and his abs and his breath against his cheek and leaning in close and whispering in his ear and his eyes and lips. Edwin is uncomfortable with the thought of being attracted to a man itself NOT with Thomas in general. Also aggressively flirting is not SA can we stop with that. He never forced Edwin to do anything. He made a suggestion of sex in exchange for being free and when Edwin even looked uncomfortable he gave him another option. He never once forces sex onto him or even tries. Not to mention Thomas is shown to clearly actually care about Edwin. He warns him about Monty and the witch, he tries to get the witch to back off and gets beaten to death for it, even after that he still gives crystal and Niko info on the witch knowing possibly if they fail he could lose another life or get killed all together. He shows up to just say goodbye and give him a flower. Thomas is not some evil villain here. He basically did the same spell on Edwin that Edwin did to his cat. He’s a trickster and can be morally gray at times but at no point is he ever evil. Also just to say Edwin’s age is a gray area. He’s been alive for more than 100 years so I don’t think the “oh it’s weird the cat king is hitting on a 16 year old” holds much water either. Not everything in media and every character and every aspect can be categorized as purely good or bad, I’m gonna need people to stop trying to make it.