#and lwj was underdeveloped too but he had CRUCIALLY 1. actual relationships outside wwx tho not many and 2. A CHARACTER ARC | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

llycaons · 2 months ago

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saw a post w an excerpt of tgcf where the scene of the townspeople forcibly gagging xl in order to keep him quiet while they stabbed him is compared to hc being like 'if it hurts it's okay to say so!' while removing like...a needle or smt? from xl's foot and while I see the appeal of the contrast etc. I just grimaced a little at how clumsy and unsubtle that was compared to other themes in tgcf 😭 like okay hc just go out and just say it. let's not worry about inplications or parallels, complex and nuanced writing is reserved for side characters and the main character's internal journey ONLY

#mdzs certainly has its own issues and obnoxious writing aspects but in terms of hurt/comfort it's SO much more powerful #esp since you thinknabt xl's past and you're like wow that is fucked up. why is a teenage ghost here too #tgcf is like a beautifully detailed portrait of a character and his two best friends tragically lost to time and circumstances #rendered with humor and compassion in the rich fabric of the story. surrounded by less detailed but still carefully wrought minor characters #and then a crayon drawing of hua cheng much as a 5 year old might achieve standing next to him 😭#okay it's not THAT bad. he's. funny? he's a little overdesigned but that's the point #and the implications of his jewelry and the butterflies point to his ethnic group in a rly interesting way that wasn't explored #but it's like he has more motifs than character traits!#and lwj was underdeveloped too but he had CRUCIALLY 1. actual relationships outside wwx tho not many and 2. A CHARACTER ARC #hc didn't rly change did he!!!!#uhhh #ask to tag #torture tw #tgcf txp

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