#But yeah I love love love this and I love Malevolent

[crispycreambacon]

The Journey to Break Free • An Analysis of Malevolent's Themes

This is more like a ramble, but analysis sounds more professional y'know y'know-

Major Spoiler Warning for Episode 19

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Episode 19 may be my favourite episode at least for Season 2 – bear in mind that as I type this, I haven't gone past Episode 19. Regardless, it is definitely a highlight of this podcast for me. It unpacked a lot about Arthur and John, and it explored many interesting themes. The strength of kindess and letting yourself be vulnerable, the reality that healing and becoming a better person isn't always a clean journey, the significance of the connections we make and the memories we carry from them...

The first one is subversive in how despite Arthur losing some of his morality in order to survive, he still retains some of it and uses it ro his advantage. It may be baffling to see Arthur still wanting to trust others and treat them kindly, as seen with Arthur wanting to offer water to the cana, because this world can turn on you so quickly. However, that may be the point. The fact that Arthur can still find it in himself to care about the beings in this world is a true testament to his resilience. The Dreamlands is unrelentlessly cruel and tests you, trying to mold you to become the monsters that roam this realm, and I think that is why Arthur won't succumb to this world's terrors like so many before him did.

It ties into the tone of the podcast and how it shifts. Arthur may need to be cruel at times, but that doesn't mean he needs to be a monster. Likewise, Malevolent may be a bleak story, but it is not one which needs to overly indulges in tragedy and darkness. Even within the episode itself, there are moments where Arthur and John laugh. There's an entire section in which Arthur interacts with a buopoth, and it's the most adorable thing ever. These moments provide a balance that help emphasize the impact of intense moments even more than if the entire story had just been trudged in grimdark.

(Putting the rest under a "Read More" section as to not make this post too long to scroll through)

As for the second theme, I particularly appreciate it as people who try to heal, typically victims of trauma, are often villanized for not being perfect, nice or behaving. Anyone who doesn't fit the mold of being sad and helpless via lashing out or express anger about their trauma get dogpiled with insults and accusations from those who refuse to understand them. Those who only want to imagine a narrative that recovery is always pretty and always going up with no relapses whatsoever. That narrative formed because society crafted it and enforced it with media tackling trauma victims in a shallow way at best. Because it's uncomfortable for society to face the truth that trauma is ugly, and those that went through it won't come out unscathed like people want them to.

The theme of names being significant is an uncommon but meaningful one. John Doe is a name to give the King in Yellow a new identity, a way to rebuild himself. Lilly is a name that meant a lot to John as the only form of human connection he had while Arthur was comatose and the catalyst to John becoming a better person. Faroe is a name that Arthur keeps recalling because he can't let go of his daughter and the trauma that came with it.

Even the name of the episode is important. I think "the Prison" truly is an apt title for this episode. Not only because this involves Arthur and John escaping the pit they're trapped it, but it's also a metaphor for Arthur's situation. His body is a prison for John that both want him to get out of, yet Arthur is the real prisoner as he loses control over everything from his body to his life. He is trapped in the past because he can never let go of Fareo. He can never forgive himself for causing her death through his neglect no matter how unintentional it was.

And he gave in at the end. He gave in to the past and went to the city to search for Faroe even though the cana instructed them to avoid the city. Even though so many signs point to it being yet another trap. Even though the chances of Fareo being there were next to none.

Yet John didn't protest. It really shows how much John has grown to emphathize with humanity. How he has grown from someone who is selfish and uses others to his whims, discarding them when they no longer serve him purpose to someone who may not fully understand humanity but can genuinely appreciate and care about it. He may not understand why Arthur still clings onto Faroe, but he understands Arthur deserves closure, so even if this may be a trap, he lets him walk in. We, the audience, may not fully understand either, but we understand this is a necessary step for Arthur even if it may be one that leads to his doom.

[scooterscoob]

[a moment of solace]

[physical-manifestation-of-spite]

As an ace person, platonic love is so, so deeply important to me. And for Malevolent to do it so well genuinely makes my chest swell. I keep listening to Season One and how their relationship is this shakey, fragile thing full of manipulation and rage and resentment but there's a seed there of understanding and warmth and compassion. The fact that John and Arthur have fought tooth and nail against each other, to the point of trying to kill each other, only to then die for each other. To hold each other and pull each other back from their darkest moments, looking to them as a rock to hold them steady. And then to see that love fully blossom in Season 5, where Arthur holds back his anger ("I would have forgiven you.") and where John screams and rages and protects Arthur with everything he has. "My love for Arthur saved me," he says. "I choose you," he says.

They love each other so deeply, and it's a love that's just as equal and valued and warm as romantic love. Platonic love at this level is possible, and to see it so beautifully executed in a horror medium has me choked up.

[critter-wizard]

ep 43 had me tearing up in a fucking shopping centre ‼️‼️

b+w alt version that I truly couldn't decide if I liked it more . Also I included a lot of thoughts in the tags but they're somewhat incoherent<3

[lordofthesoups]

one chance Noel Malevolent Finley

one chance please

Kicking my legs and giggling like a stereotypical teenage girl while thinking about Noel Malevolent

[teafromthemicrowave]

Recent boykisser doodles - that are almost only charlie - I did during class because I literally don't have time for anything else (fuck you exam phase)

[yepmadness]

“To the light that you keep burning there (all hell)”

[dyke-in-crisis]

never properly drawn this wretched yellow rat before so here’s a WIP!! commissions

[arthur-lesters-right-arm]

I know it's already implied that Kayne did this on purpose but I want to bring it up because it wasn't obvious to me until my relisten

(Part 1; The Entity vs Part 20; The King)

[an-actual-floof]

thinking about human!John Doe on this fine ep43-eve

[cutter-kirby]

this is how the episode ended right

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

i know ive made jokes about it before but being serious for a second. daniel's willingness to accept arthur's objectively batshit confession also just. gets me right in the fucking heart, man. because, like.

yeah. of course he does.

seven is a Big Number, but daniel's never met any of those other people. they don't actually mean anything to him, they obviously weigh on arthur but they're stories he doesn't know and doesn't really care to. they're just, accounting. they're a bunch of guttering candles in the face of the fucking solar flare that is The Reason daniel has to hate arthur. what the fuck does he care about a bunch of people he's never met, that died some reactionary death in self-defense or however arthur wants to justify it? when from daniel's pov arthur's already stolen two of the most important people in his world away from him. everything left of his family, his blood, for no defensible reason. out of nothing but self-absorbed youthful stupidity.

and he's already decided that isn't enough to drive them apart permanently.

so sure, fuck it, seven people. you probably had your reasons. i've already decided to move past worse. add them to the fucking list, or whatever.

because, y'know. he can't lose another person.

[q-isthebestletter]

Oh my goodness, I love them

Arthur falls and John starts laughing, and Arthur laughs just cuase John is

John does his annoyed little "Arthur" when Arthur is being stubborn or going against him, yet still guides him

The way they bicker, and scoff at eachothers' jokes, and apologize to one another, and encourage and help calm eachother

Aaaugh, these two are gonna destroy meee

[chialattea]

Anyways this is my Agatha Christie murder mystery rip-off where I psychologically torture Arthur for a bit but I also let him sleep on a bed so I think I treat him rather nicely. I love you malevolent and I understand why, for obvious reasons, you don’t have many female characters— but doctor, I need women to survive

[art-o-gant]

[arthur-lesters-spinal-cord]

Work in progress update because its slowly consuming my will to live (plus im really psyched about it and if i dont show someone i may explode)