#and before y’all say anything TLOVM pikelan is not together yet they are still slow burning

[vethbrenatto]

(Warning for a bit of Vaxleth critical discussion)

Anyway as someone who is not a Vaxleth anti but is just sort of neutral on them, I really like what TLOVM is doing with them. They have a lot of the same character beats but unlike the campaign, we get a slower burn. I think part of what’s always jarred me about Vaxleth is that because multiple years of character establishment happen off screen, the Vaxleth stuff all happens very fast from my perspective. And they keep elements of that (the Briarwoods fight I love you) but also in a way that feels true to Keyleth have her still struggle with those feelings. It’s both true to campaign and entirely adaptation.

I really like that Vax has come to the acceptance point/turning point of his journey and they’re not together yet. Vaxleth to me is so Angst that in the campaign a lot of their major moments are angst when what I tend to enjoy more in their dynamic is the joy they share together. They’re both weirdos! I also think the heavily angsty relationship in campaign dulls the angst of their parting in the finale (my opinion, I know it’s a rare one) because I was just so used to them already interacting in very deeply intense and emotional scenes. I can see a world in TLOVM where they really get to revel in the joy of their newfound relationship before fate rips it away (reminiscent of how Vaxleth are as a couple in the 80s-90s of the campaign).

This is very much a personal opinion because of how I as an individual react to Vaxleth in the campaign, but it excites me that I’m more excited for them in TLOVM. I think they’ll probably get together next season and I’m not apathetic about it like I thought I’d be.