#I always laugh at the choice of Sidestep picking Herald as their rival

[thecryptidenthusiast]

No wait, because I’m still thinking about the ‘Sidestep hating Herald’ thing-

There should’ve been a choice early on to be sympathetic with Herald. Because Sidestep’s immediate hatred/forcing us to dislike him has always been a point that just…didn’t feel like it fit right, especially when you’re first reading book one. (At least not for every Sidestep, I’m sure there are some that do hate him for taking their spot!)

But the opening fight while you’re possessing Argent feels personal and angry with him, so you’re thinking oh! There’s history here we’ll learn about! Something to explain why we got such enjoyment beating him/taking the time to kick him again.

But there was none. This is just a new recruit we’ve never even met.

Why hate him then? Because Herald is ‘taking their place’ on the team? Why don’t we hate Argent the same way? She’s another new recruit. And Herald is the poster boy for the Rangers, the ‘face the cameras love’ according to Step, not like their old role.

(Also! This makes even less sense on the vigilante/sidekick path! Like sidestep, you were just the masked weirdo that was always hanging around the Rangers like a stray! What about Herald is setting you off??)

Being sympathetic would’ve been so interesting. Step sees this young recruit, very obviously in over his head (considering we wipe the floor with him in the museum fight) and they see younger them. Somebody stuck in a system that’s using them. A system that’s going to chew him up and spit him out, like they were, because nobody is looking out for this kid.

He’s going to get himself killed, and nobody is going to stop him. Just like nobody was there to stop us.

(Would’ve added an interesting conflict in the friendship/relationship too, with a Step wanting to do what they can to protect Herald. And Herald not wanting that, he’s already considered the “kid” on the team, he doesn’t want his idol/crush seeing him that way.

Herald needing to learn that he’s still got some ways to go to being a hero vs. Sidestep needing to realize they can’t paint him in their shadow, they have to trust him to know his limits.)

Anyways, I don’t want to be mean to him anymore-!