#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

-

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.

[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

[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

[dyke-in-crisis]

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

[art-o-gant]

[idontparticularlyliketoast]

Loved the scene where John and Arthur spent ten minutes dithering about wether or not they were going into the obviously haunted wall, both seemingly in the knowledge that they were, 100%, going to do that

[plan-3-tmars]

sometimes I'll be happily thinking about arthur lester and then I remember he's a cannibal and I just have to take a moment of silence

[venezashade]

She… she was so young. She trusted me. My baby…

Day 3 of Malevoversary 2024! The Guilt (and also Addison in some kind of way)

Here i wanted to do something without lineart, more like a painting

I know there are still a lot of mistakes! But i wont progress if I wont keep trying and get out of art block every time

And yeah more of the textures, but mostly pastel brushes!

[floraotome]

i started malevolent podcast and im uhhh yeah im obsessed

[yamikakyuu]

Cannot stop thinking about the contrast between John and Arthur this season to season 4.

Season 4 where Arthur is so desperately wanting to connect to another human that it makes John feel jealous enough he nearly kills a man over it. That John lied to Arthur that whole time since s3.

But Arthur forgave him after everything and John confessing how lost he feels. How Harlan said isolation would be a theme to s5 which is felt so deeply with the few parts of s5 just John and Arthur. How alone John feels when Arthur is killed by the Hag, how desperately he wants him back that he makes a deal with Yorick.

He wants to be with Arthur, they are whole together. But even after John realizes this and gets Arthur back, they're still in this world that isn't theirs. They can't trust anyone. They're still running from the horrors as they do best.

And now John is telling Arthur to lean on him, use him, because Arthur is sick. He can help. And Arthur trusts him to guide him even after all that happened in s4, the lying, the attempt to kill Oscar, the deal with Kayne. Arthur trusts John with his life. And not because he has to because he knows John now, more now than any season prior.

S5 has been so John focused which I absolutely love. Giving him his identity, shedding the full KiY name, being his own.

They grow every season but now they are whole. I feel now John wouldn't mind if Arthur finally made friends (assuming they ever get back to their time or find Noel in Spain)

I feel John understands why humans now want to connect with others. Yorick is nice to talk to but he's not their friend.

I hope the boys do get friends in the end who know about John and can talk to him like Noel did. (Obv major factors need to play into this like does John actually get a body? Does he even want one at this point, etc)

I don't know if I explained my ramblings coherently but just how change in John from saying I can do this why won't you let me?? To okay I see you're struggling, let me help because I can do it.

THE BOY HAS GROWN THATS WHAT IM SAYING

[izzymarksthespot]

Hmmm, Arthur as the Magician, but with a yellow cloak, Yorick at his belt and Kayne's dagger in his hand.

[ceaselessims]

me with h*rlan g*thrie