#I HATE THAT GUY SO MUCH

[glitter-stained]

No you don't understand, I don't hate the pseudo-incestous vibes in Lost Days/Under the Hood because they hurt my moral sensibilities, I hate them because everytime I think they could be interesting to study from a psychological angle the ghost of Sigmund Freud descends to whisper right in my ear and he has bad breath

[doriantomybasil]

you know when i first started studying philosophy i was like “hm i don’t really like kant” and i noticed that other people didn’t really like him either, some went as far as to say they hated him but i was like, i’m not gonna set my opinion in stone just yet, i’m gonna take a kant class next semester, and i did, and i’m so glad that i didn’t make up my mind about him before because now i hate that guy so fucking much i want to reanimate his corpse just so i can kill him with my bare hands

[bobyram]

i hate the leafs for subjecting me to a kucherov achievement

[autistic-crypt1d]

[the-lokal-homo]

I have this strong urge to write a hurt/no comfort Fan fiction about that "and when dad came home" scene in season 5, episode 16 "dark side of the moon" of supernatural.

[eksvnd]

LAPTOP WON´T TURN ON FUCK MY LIFE

[okayclaryfray]

Evajacks >>>

I would never support cheating BUT when the one that's being cheated on is an asshole like Apollo, HELL GIRL I'M ROOTING.

[noctobright]

// ep 11 preview spoilers

Haha imagine Ryo is the one ordered to kill Kazuki because of Rei's attatchment to him. Rei finds out late from his boss and runs away to go and protect him. Hypocritical for someone who swore that he made no connections.

[gabriel-landeskog]

forming wes mccauley haters union

[landonor]

i DO NOT need to see m*sk on my screen

[katiefratie]

THE TITLE SCENE!!!!!!! AHHHH AND NOW VEX GETS TO STAND UP TO HIM TOO GET FUCKED SYLDOR

[horrorwebs]

im devastated by all the pictures and videos i lost with my stolen phone. i want to cry so bad

[memoiandy]

Great analysis!

I love that you pointed out that the description of the abuse is always from Astarion's POV. Does he tell us everything he went through? Of course not. Some things might be too painful or embarrasing to talk about for him. But he tells us enough to know it was unimaginable torture and at least for me, the emotional/psychological abuse was the worst.

Emotional pain lingers for ages. And if you truly listen to Astarion, it's clear what caused him most pain. Feeling hopeless, not being able to defend himself, to choose, being used as a thing without anyone caring what he thinks. Being put down over and over. It's honestly a bit tiring to hear he has sexual trauma when that is just one part of the emotional damage that's been caused.

Cazador as an abuser truly is written so well. He obviously put a lot of sickening thought into his torture. But the abuse is never used gratiously, it's never voueristic (unlike a lot of Astarion art, ehm...). I am glad Caz is quite pathetic in the end, such people shouldn't be glorified. But damn, do I wish there was more content with him.

:*Trigger Warning for Abuse:** An analysis of the nuanced depiction of abuse dynamics in *Baldur's Gate 3*. Please skip if you’re uncomfortable with this topic or you hate long rants <3

**Cazador at the Head of the Table, and His Forced Family, with Astarion as the Scapegoat**

Cazador is one of the best-written abusers in fiction, and Astarion is one of the best depictions of a non perfect survivor. Showcasing how abusers systematically break down their victims in a way that is thoughtful and non-voyeuristic, and how this may effect the victim after.

Astarion often receives criticism for his behavior. Much if it valid. I don’t seek to excuse his actions or speak about him as if he were a real person, But to break down this amazingly written narrative and how his experiences shape his character and a depiction of a non perfect victim. It's great to see actions having consequences in the story and being the driving force in chatecter development and I think it was handled very respectfully

One of the most compelling aspects of Astarion's story is the depiction of the "scapegoat" abuse tactic. Where a caregiver selects one child as the primary target of ridicule and abuse. Astarion says, "He took a special pleasure in my pain. He said my screams sounded sweetest." Often, the scapegoat is the child who most reminds the abuser of themselves when they were most vulnerable, or has similarities to the abuser of the parent or even someone they witnessed being abused when they were a child. The abuser uses this child to demonstrate the consequences of disobedience, and as a way of bonding the other children against the scapegoat, often by forcing the other children to engage in abuse themselves. The parent will inflict the trauma they were exposed to when they were most vulnerable on their child in a twisted way to re-gain their own power and autonomy buy projecting it onto someone elses. Acting out scenarios where they felt weak but now they are the one with all the power.

Cazador's tactics of infantilization are particularly gut-wrenching. He calls Astarion a "stupid little boy" and forces him to call him "father," undermining his belief in his ability to make adult decisions on his own while simultaneously also forcing him into adult work and physical abuse. A way to break down his self esteem and take away his autonomy. This adds another level to Cazador's twisted, intimate abuse.

It's evident when you ask if Astarion called Cazador "master" in the bedroom, and he reacts negatively. It is also implied in the dialogue, "One final thrust... and I'll be rid of you..." as Astarion stands over Cazador, ready to stab him with a phalic symbol and Cazador in a submissive position.

In a Shadowheart playthrough, we see how Astarion seeks someone to follow because he doesn’t know how to think for himself. Auntie Ethel remarks that he misses his chains, and he admits he doesn't know how to make his own decisions. In Astarion's dream, you learn one of Cazador's rules is that Astarion must stay by his side unless told otherwise. We also see that Cazador regularly dined with Astarion, serving him putrid rats. He says "I have spent two centuries with You, and that should be punishment enough," which is quite an intimate insult. In non of these are the other spawn mentioned. He also mentions his sarcasm and jokes, something you wouldn't really think Cazador would permit. This suggesting an intense, twisted co-dependency. A lot of time spent alone together. As what? His child? His slave? His lover? It's sickening. Cazador seemed to want to fill every potential key roll in Astarions life. This is actually pretty common in adults relationships.

The extent of physical abuse is further revealed when Astarion sees the mad doctor in the House of Healing and remarks, "he's just like Cazador." The narrator says, "If you're late, he will flay you... again," and Astarion states, "Sometimes he would have us submit to torture. Other times he would have us torture ourselves."

So, why does Cazador do all this? Beyond sadistic pleasure and rituals off higher power, I believe it's driven by a fear of abandonment. His goal is to strip Astarion of any autonomy so he would return even if freed. When speaking to Cazador alone, he's convinced Astarion will come back because he cannot think for himself. Cazador wants to be the center of Astarion's life, and truly believes he is. A narcissist needing to see himself reflected in others, he required Astarion by his side to validate his awful existence. If Astarion leaves, Cazador feels he's losing an extension of himself. That Astarion is his and his alone to kill.

I also believe he genuinely wants to play house. That he wants a picture perfect family. We don't know much about Cazador before the game, only that he was from a vampire family. That his niece refused to partake. It's quite clear he felt like he was missing something in his family. We know his master committed acts of cruelty far beyond what he did to his own spawn, impaling him for ten years and draining his friend Infront of him. Surly a year of solitude is like being sent to your bedroom without supper compared to that? By Cazadors logic, he's far kinder than he was ever treated. He's been kinder and more loving than his own family. His children should be grateful that he protected them from what he went through. He believes his children are spoiled and if anything he has been to soft. After all, he gave thim his families birth right far above their station, eternal life. He gave them a family that will never abandon them. What more could they want?

And if course, we as plays see this cycle continues with AA, who says he will be a far kinder master he'd never make his dear lover eat rats. They wouldn't be his child, more a pampered pet. Compared to how Astarion was treated, what more could they want?

And how very true to live that an abuser will preach about how much worse they had things and how lucky their victims are. How soft they must be to complain.

This gives us a clear picture of Astarion at the start: someone with a fragile sense of self, preferring to see others tortured rather than be the one in the chair, and looking for someone to follow. He'll fake a smile to keep them around. While this doesn't excuse his cruelty, it explains it; Astarion is free for less than a day when you meet him. There are no perfect victims, and unlearning brainwashing takes time. Reducing Astarion to "evil" or "good" overlooks the complexity of a character who could become either an abuser or a liberator.

What I appreciate most is that Astarion's past doesn't vanish when Cazador dies; he still carries the scars, but in a positive playthrough, there is hope. Astarion has the chance to do better, starts making his own choices, and sometimes gets it wrong.

Crucially, the abuse is never voyeuristic. It is always shown from the survivor's perspective, focusing on its effects on their lives. It's always clear when a player choice disrespects his growth and autonomy. Cazador and Astarion are never framed to titillate or as a mind of grousome special to the viewer, unlike in shows like *13 Reasons Why* or Ramsey Bolton in *Game of Thrones*. The game handles the topic with a lot of care. Infact the only time we see Cazador in person is when we have the chance to stop him. We never see Astarion subjected to something we can alter in some way.

Also, we do hear of Astarions bravery in trying to defy his master and save people. Unfortunately as in the game and real life, people don't always have a choice. Still, in a good ending Astarion can choose to try and help others who have been hurt and use what he has learned to make real change.

The reasons why Cazador is the way he is are another rant entirely. But while I hate him as a person, I adore him as an antagonist. How can a character be written to be pathetic and terrifying at once?

**TL;DR:** *Baldur's Gate 3* presents a complex, nuanced abuse narrative, executed beautifully. Many people overlook or disregard Astarion as an excellent depiction of survival in my opinion.

[cblyblybly]

Hate post to that one guy in that discord server that's a "transformers fan" but has only watched the live action movies by Michael bay and yet made transformers his whole personality. Unlike that pussy I watch the shows, the movies, reading the comics. Dude is so painfully cis and straight and I know he thinks I'm annoying but that's because he's boring. So fucking boring.

[whyamiawakes]

The things I wish will happen to Norris would get me cancelled on every social media in existence

[s0up1ta]

"so grunkle ford how do you know bill?"

"... that's not important."