#but if you don't believe he deserved a redemption arc I think you need to take a good long look internally

[rnadett]

I have an extremely wild theory about the ending...

So...

PLEASE DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO >>>POTENTIALLY<<< SPOIL SOMETHING FROM THE FINALE!!!!

I WARNED YOU!!!

I'm not going into too much details, since I don't have too much time because of my work. 😭

So let's start with Ekko:

We already know that the key character of Act 3 is him, whose unique ability is to turn back time. From the previous part, we also know that Jayce has tried to kill Viktor before, but every time so far, he has failed.

I think what Jayce and Ekko are trying to do in ACT 3: comes from the same root, but in very different ways – much like how their characters have always been, with parallels to each other throughout the series from the beginning. (the poster above is also telling)

We’ve also seen countless scenes from Act 3 that were quite significant hints... I haven’t pieced all the anchor points together yet, but my theory is that many characters will die in the final ARC — including Ekko, who will most likely make one last attempt to rewind time so the sisters can succeed.

We already have this screenshot from Reed. And It's from s2ep9. Behind Ekko it's some kind of machine, I believe it's a time machine, but not for rewind seconds, but for more... So much more. And they built it with Heimerdinger together.

This environment and this machine also appears in these scenes from the trailers:

Also in the recent teaser Vi says this.

I mean c'mon, It can't be more obvious than this at this point.

Also I noticed something while I rewatched this trailer:

https://youtu.be/Sl-xmZTH6GE?si=rW5vFHJUWm0ECD6p

Parallels and flashbacks were deliberately included. I think those will be the key points for the time travel.

The fate of the characters from a dramaturgical perspective... Well, I think many main character will die, What will make the stakes of the siblings' success even more important.

Yeah... Almost ALL characters except the sisters.

For example:

Caitlyn... I think Caitlyn may not die by Ambessa's hands but there is a possibility. But either way she will die. But one thing for sure: her final act will paves the way for the siblings to succeed. This makes her redemption arc finalized. Ambessa also planted this idea in Caitlyn's mind. Sacrifice . (Maybe the only thing truly worth learning from Ambessa about leadership, though not in the way Ambessa intended it to be understood.)

And for Vi... Yeah, she will watch yet another person she loves and cares about die. The Arcane writers seem to enjoy making her suffer....

Since the story revolves around the two sisters, they will finish the story, as they started.

THE LAST DROP

So the final scene probably will be about the sisters and the final sacrificing. Many say, Jinx don't need a redemption, but I think everyone deserves one in one way or another.

.

.

It has been hinted - or a fact from episode one that Jinx/powder ruins everything. She got her second name because of this. It's her character.

“Vi always used to say, I can fix anything... Before I broke everything.”

But why is it like this? What is it based on?

I think the 'last drop' will be foreshadowing of the first season, where she tried to save everyone, but nearly everyone ended up dying.

Why this would be any different?

I think what moslty form Jinx is how many people 'believe' in her.

Jinx and Powder, as appeared in a methaphore in Season 2, Episode 6, symbolize a coin with two sides. Both sides exist within her, but which side prevails depends on the events that unfold.

In Season 1, Episode 3, Vi allowed her heart to be influenced by the protective love she felt, which prevented her from trusting her sister.

That's why I believe that this will not just be Jinx's redemption, and not only will it rewrite her story, but also Vi’s. Vi, whose personality is so protective that she often doubts everyone else - (including Caitlyn), will have to learn to let go of this feeling and trust others, even if it means there's a chance her sister might die.

So what's my prediction?

So, if I wasn’t clear enough, (since English isn’t my native language and there are so many things in my head at all once that I want to express but I don't have time for more 😭)

My theory is that the siblings will eventually bring everyone back to life, but it will come at a cost, and I think Jinx will be the one to make that sacrifice.

But her death will not be a sad thing from her perspective, she will be finally free from the burden and suffering she felt, also she will be free from her demons as well.

.

.

As for the fate of the other characters I mentioned here, I can’t say for certain. Unfortunately, due to the 10-image limit, I couldn’t attach more visuals, but I believe Ambessa will die at the hands of the Black Rose. This is foreshadowed quite well in the intro: first, we see Ambessa crushing the rose, then a petal falls, but we don’t actually see her destroy it completely. Later, we see her daughter stepping in to take her place, reaching for the same rose while petals are scattered on the right-hand side, symbolizing Ambessa.

I think this story arc will continue in future *Arcane* series.

As for Sevika, it’s pretty clear that Viktor will transform her after her death and bring her back to life. That’s how she’ll end up with another cool new arm. (The new Sevika poster is literally titled “Armed and Ready,” by the way.) She’ll probably try to incite the Undercity against Piltover again, which is why we see in the trailer that Piltover is fighting Zaunite civilians.

My other theory for Sevika (Or a continuation of the above, perhaps a combination of the two. ) is that Singed will make her a new prosthetic to her... And it’s also possible that through Singed Savika will side with Ambessa.. Since Ambessa is very good at seeing what people need and how to manipulate them, she might offer Zaun's independence in exchange for her help.

From Corin Reveck’s side – He will succeed in bringing his daughter back to life (Orianna), and I think this is no longer in question... After nearly everyone in the series has suffered the consequences of his actions, directly or indirectly... One might hate this character, but he is the perfect example of someone who would do anything, sacrifice everything, and set the whole world on fire (and does) for the love of his daughter. He is fully aware that he has become a monster, but he doesn’t care.

From Viktor's perspective... I'm not sure what his story will be. Perhaps the fact that they’ve saved each other’s lives multiple times with Jayce will become a symbol that ultimately, they will end up taking each other’s lives together. At some point, there was a possible foreshadowing of this when the creators depicted a "Memento Mori" between the two characters in season 1, when they were at the place where they tried to jump separately. A "Memento Mori" is an optical illusion where the combination of various elements forms the image of a skull, symbolizing death and the transience of life.

Overall, please take all of the above writing as just a theory; many parts may not turn out this way, and in fact, nothing might happen as I’ve suggested. Have fun!

And yes, I know my post turned out quite long despite saying I don’t have time, but believe me, if I did have time, it would be about six times longer, with all the references and every thread detailed in full.

[thestargayzingetherian]

Shadow Weaver's "Redemption"

So I often see posts going around about Shadow Weaver's death scene and how she "deserved worse" or "doesn't even count as a redemption". In my opinion, like a lot of She-Ra stuff online, it ignores a lot of the nuance of the show's actual writing.

I don't really call her arc a redemption arc... but I do see this scene in particular as her finally, at long last realising how much harm she's caused to Catra and Adora. By keeping them apart... she's actually made Adora weaker, ironically, all those years of manipulation... and it's been for nothing. Adora isn't her perfect little pawn, she's weak and dying of green prime virus running through her and hurting at the thought of her best friend dying to Prime's little pet cthulu.

I see way too many people say that SW should have died sooner and to be honest, yes, if this was any other story, yeah they'd have probably killed her around season 3. If they genuinely did want her to have a redemption, they'd have made her arc in seasons 3 and 4 more genuine, have her work to really be an ally of the rebellion and not being the manipulative witch she'd always been. But that's not what Nate Stevenson wanted to do. By keeping SW around as long as the show did, they got do more with her and show how someone like her is in various environments, both in the Horde and on the side of the rebellion.

I genuinely think this WAS SW doing a "one good thing" like Catra did. And to be honest, it was the only good thing she could really do. There is no way that if she did survive this that she could truly make ammends for the harm and cycles of abuse she perpetuated, especially not at this point in the story.

Hordak was at least under the influence of his programming and war was the only thing he knew when he started the Horde. Sure, he's not entirely absolved of his actions in the war, but he's at least more of a victim and his compassion for Entrapta show's he's at least worthy of a second chance. Shadow Weaver was clearly a woman driven by power, a desperate need for control and that was her own choice, likely from being scared of being weak. (I believe she was telling the truth when she told Catra that Catra reminded her of herself, that she was once a weak and hurt young woman who hated being weak and wanted to be stronger and that began her lust for power.)

Also, what she says to Catra and Adora? "It's much too late for me, but your story is just beginning. I'm so proud of you. You're welcome."

She could have very easily just said sorry, much like Catra did when she rescued Glimmer.... but would ANY apology be really able to make up for what she did? No, probably not. Instead its just... "you're welcome" as if to say "you're finally rid of me, congrats". Because she knows that pain now and how it tore Catra and Adora apart. And the fact she does this with her mask off, without any hint of lies, as if to be finally honest for the first time in so long.

I know it's fun to dunk on SW and say she's the worst ever and yeah, I do enjoy that too... but I also know what her arc, if you can call it, that is about and why she is in the story. Like everything in She-Ra, she has a lot of nuance to her, even if you didn't realise it.

[dreemurr-skelememer]

Be honest with me but do you think that Underverse Ink is unredeemable? Saw someone say that in response to his redemption arc in the latest episodes.

irredeemable? no. needs a lot of work and a lot of talking to? yeah absolutely

i think his desperation to stick to the truce really ended up making him do stupid decisions with xgaster because he has this need to help create and to help make something new and interesting. he was so focused on doing his job and helping out his new "friend" that he didn't consider that he was being manipulated to help with xgaster's growing need for perfection

i genuinely think he's done some really careless shit for the sake of getting to his goal in helping xgaster, but i can't ignore the fact that xgaster was basically vaguely leading him to this path of disruption just to get what he wants

i don't think he's irredeemable. i think he's fairly easy to convince when you start baiting him with things important to him (like his vials)

i do think, however, that cross needs to beat the shit out of him for everything ink did to him to really get the message across that ink messed up LOL (always a strong believer that ink needs to get hit for being a real piece of work throughout the series)

i think that him realizing that xgaster was simply just using him as another part of his grand scheme is what rightfully triggered his redemption arc from his assery from all previous episodes. he ended up becoming another victim and i think that's the only way for him to realize that he'd been doing wrong, and he deserves that kind of character arc because he was never meant to be evil or be on the bad guy's side, anyway

he is, and always has been, written to be morally gray. i think that him doing a buncha awful stuff is fine, and him trying to redeem himself from that once he realizes how messed up it is, is fine too

it doesn't make him perfect. he's not one of the big evil bad guys that does everything evil and bad and will only do that forever but he's also not the perfect goody two-shoes hero that does everything right. he messed up gravely and still has enough good in him to try and make up for those things

i think that's neat!

[violetasteracademic]

I dream of a day where our daughters can read a book...

A book that strikes them so deep in their heart that they find the strength to leave an abusive situation. A book that makes them realize- if I don't believe ink pressed into paper should be treated this way, why do I accept so little for myself?

A book where women take center stage. A book where women heal. A book where women find strength and hope because they left him. Because they believed they deserved more, and found it.

I dream of our daughters reading these books and being thankful that there are other women out there who understand. Who can tell them through their writing, you were right. He was wrong. You deserved better. You did not deserve what was done to you.

A book where we get to move beyond the abuser, who is rightfully suffering from the harm he caused, and continue to focus on new women coming into their power in each following story. And I hope these books give our daughters strength.

I dream.

I dream so vividly of a future where our daughters read these books. And they come online to join a fandom to find other women who understand them. Women who know what it is like, and how hard it can be to get out. Women who also healed and found strength through fictional women climbing their way out of the dark. Women who are still forgiving themselves for thinking they were worth only the most twisted, harmful, and controlling forms of relationship and believing those who told them it was love.

I dream that when they come online to find community, they are not met with:

Well we need his side of the story. We've only heard hers.

I can't wait for his redemption arc.

I really want all of his thoughts. We neeeeeed his POV. He's actually so much more interesting than she is.

Women who don't like him are just projecting. They should be more considerate of his trauma.

As if this is not the exact same mentality that perpetuates the cycle of abuse. As if these are not the exact same words that our mothers and aunts and friends said to us in our real lives that kept us feeling lost and confused and wondering if what happened to us was really so bad.

I dream of a future when even fictional men are held accountable. Because fiction often feels like the only place it will ever happen.

I close my eyes, and I dream.

[silverflameataraxia]

It's sad how much of a unequal distribution there is of the word "love" in Nessian's own romance story.

From Cassian:

Nesta didn't fight as he hauled her to her feet. Held the knife against her throat. Pleading shone in his eyes. Pleading and fear and - and love.

From Nesta:

Nesta let her mate see the love shining in her face.

Nesta had loved Cassian since she'd first laid eyes on him. Had loved him even when she did not want to, even when she had been swallowed by despair and fear and hatred. Had loved him and destroyed herself because she didn't believe she deserved him, because he was all that was good, and brave, and kind, and she loved him, she loved him, she loved him -

Cassian's arm shook, and Nesta braced herself for the blow, showing him her forgiveness, her unending, unbreakable love for him -

Nesta pulled away, whispering, "I love you," and it was all Cassian needed before kissing her again, the force of it more powerful and enduring than the Cauldron itself.

Her mate. Her love. Her friend. The light within her chest brightened to a radiant sun.

It was Nesta who spent all book long trying to find the courage and level of vulnerability to tell Cassian that she loved him, but Cassian never had that struggle. There's no reason he couldn't have said he loved her more times than she said it to him. Instead, the only times in the book Cassian said or thought the word "love" was in relation to Rhys, Feyre, and Mor. Never once Nesta.

He'd spent most of his time thinking about how he'd like to peel Eris's skin off in tiny strips, how Rhys and Feyre had crossed a line by asking this of Nesta. He loved them both, but they could have found another way to ensure Eris's allegiance.

"Because she's my sister, and I love her."

The only time he came close to thinking it about Nesta:

The apology, the declaration he still needed to make - all of it.

I don't know if SJM forgot to add an "I love you" from Cassian to Nesta or if she's waiting until she gives Cassian a redemption arc. I feel like any "I love you" from him would have fallen on deaf ears after he didn't defend her, and allowed Rhysand to threaten her, in HOFAS. So, I'm fine with waiting until he comes to terms with his guilt over "failing" Rhysand and learns to let go of it so he can be fully devoted to Nesta. That's when an "I love you" from him would mean the most.

[ckret2]

i WILL cry if you do the “character dies just as they were becoming a better person” trope with your bill “goldilocks” cipher fic

Now I'm not gonna outright spoil things, but this is something I feel strongly about and that underpins the entire fic, so—

There's an idea that justice means punishing a wrongdoer in proportion to the harm caused.

There's a rival idea that justice means preventing further harm and undoing as much of the harm done as possible. If punishing a wrongdoer is necessary in order to prevent further harm—such as, for instance, by killing an evil space demon triangle because he's literally actively causing the apocalypse and it's the ONLY way to stop him—then that's fine; but, ONCE HARM HAS BEEN PREVENTED, any further punishment in excess of that, "because they deserve it," is unnecessary & wrong.

Many times, the redemption equals death trope is an offshoot of the idea that justice means punishment. Sure, sometimes it's just done for the tragedy; but a lot of times it's because there's this idea that, after the crimes this character has committed, they deserve to die. There's no possible way they can fully "redeem" themselves after acts so extreme and heinous, so they have to pay for their sins with their own life.

I think this is a cruel and disgusting attitude. I think there are situations where, for public safety and/or self defense, someone might need to die; but that never means they deserve to die.

I've talked before about redemption arcs. One of the things I believe about redemption is that people need to be offered a second chance BEFORE they "deserve"/"earn" it. If you've already been written off by society—no community support, no resources, nowhere to turn, no hope—then you don't have the tools you need to get any better. SOMEBODY needs to give you those tools. Somebody first has to offer you community, resources, hope, and only then can you grow.

When the Axolotl recites his poem that reveals Bill has a second chance, what he doesn't say is something like "if he wants to try again" or "if he wants to make amends." What he says is "if he wants to shirk the blame." That to me sounds like an offer to get Bill out of trouble without strings attached, and without being punished for the things he's done wrong. He's been handed a second chance, for free. Not because he "deserves" it; but because he needs it.

There is no "karmic retribution" waiting for him. The objective of justice is not punishment. Bill might get better or he might get worse, and it's possible he could die if his new, current actions make it necessary; but he's not slated to get just better enough for it to be sad when he dies for his sins. The narrative does not require him to pay back his second chance with his life.

He's done unforgivably evil things. You don't need forgiveness to move on.

[bougiebutchbinch]

It baffles me that some people think the only reason people talk about the awful things Ed did in canon is because they hate him

not because he's... y'know..... a SUPER INTERESTING CHARACTER

Redemption arcs are freaking delicious, man. But in order to have one, you need to actually have done... bad shit.... to begin with??

Like how Izzy was a bossy bastard to Stede's crew in S1? Then stepped up to protect that crew from Ed, when Ed turned on them all and Izzy started to see 'the kids' as his crew?

The redemption arc of Ed - a man who's done genuinely bad abusive shit that was certainly influenced by his atrocious mental health - would have been even more fascinating. If it had been handled well.

As anyone who suffers with severe mental health issues knows: this shit is fucking ugly. It's not about pretty sadboy aesthetics or quirky 'teehee so chaotic' bouts of hyperactivity. Sometimes you fuck up. Sometimes you fuck up, badly. Sometimes you hurt people. You lose friends and push away family and may even end up isolating yourself through cruelty to others as a form of self-harm.

Before the inevitable bad faith actors wilfully misinterpret what I'm saying: Mental health problems don't cause abuse.

But they can be one of many contributing factors. If you have a disorder like my own (which I certainly headcanon Ed as sharing!) where you are incredibly sensitive and reactive to any hint of negativty or rejection, you have to expend genuine time and energy on learning techniques to control yourself, for the sake of others. When that doesn't happen... well, I was excited to see the consequences depicted graphically on screen.

But no matter the cause, you still have to take responsibility for the harm you perpetuate?? And I want to see that on screen, too!

If you were physically mutilating a guy repeatedly over whom you held power as his captain (and no, Izzy did not 'deserve it'; get your victim-blaming bullshit out of here), and you kept everyone else in a perpetual state of fear in the hopes that one of them would snap and kill you..... you still did that? Even if you were motivated by suicidality?

If you forced two people who deeply cared for each other to fight to the death, because your mental health was so awful that you couldn't believe that love was real......... you still chose to hurt them in such a deeply personal way?

If you chased a guy around with a knife For Funsies and made him constantly break down in tears because you were so engrossed in your own issues that you genuinely didn't realise you were traumatising him... You still traumatised him!

Exploring what comes next is incredibly interesting. It could have made a great plot about accepting accountability for one's actions - but also understanding that even people who've done terrible things can change and heal (although obviously, their victims owe them nothing).

Like. Excuse me for wanting to explore such a complex, fascinating, multi-faceted storyline centred on mental health issues near and dear to my heart for one of my favourite characters? And for being disappointed that the show and half the fandom took the simple & boring way out by pushing all of The Atrocities under a rug, because they struggle to love a character who has done abhorrent things?

[vro0m]

Do you think people immediately jump to conspiracy theories because we're just not used to seeing Lewis struggling with a car/not winning? Or is it more a nature of 2024 social media (or a combo of both).

Thank you so much for calling out the bullshit though, I was starting to feel like the only well-balanced Lewis fan on my dash.

I don't know these things are multifactorial and very complicated. Here are some factors I think may play into it from the top of my head.

Lewis has been pinned the victim since ad21 (imo rightfully) and I think some people are struggling to move past that. Now everything that happens that doesn't go his way is just a confirmation that people have it out for him. It made some level of sense early on (we saw how the sport at large reacted to the idea of his 8th title in dts in particular and many of them didn't make it a secret that they would rather he didn't win it) and now it's becoming harder and harder to find him a bully as we move away from the original event and so it's becoming more and more absurd. It was Masi's fault and then Max's and then George's and then Toto's and then the team's in general and now it's his own mechanics and engineers' or whatever... We're five minutes away from people saying Bono himself is sabotaging him. (Actually nevermind we're already past that he's been accused of not giving him the info he needed that one time George changed startegy or something like that.)

I do also see it as a trend for fans in general to try to make up story lines even when there might not be any. That might be in part due to dts but more generally to the fact that I believe a lot of people are watching F1 like a show rather than like a sport. Like I once said, this isn't Hollywood, stories in real life rarely wrap up definitively and prettily with a bow on top, there's no such thing as redemption arc, and because your fav has been done dirty at some point doesn't mean he's necessarily gonna come out on top afterwards to balance it out. There's no such thing as deserving a win or deserving a good car or deserving a proper farewell. Because it's not a story. It's reality. And reality is messy. But a lot of fans will rather weave a plot together to try to make it make sense to themselves and try to find that happy ending at all cost or try to explain why it's not a happy ending in any possible way that has a narrative rather than accepting that that's life at the end of the day. Which is human to some extent and we all do the same thing with our daily lives btw. It's a normal coping mechanism to put events together into something that resembles a coherent story even when that implies disregarding some parts of said events to make them fit together like we want them to.

I think a lot of Lewis fans (including me) are very frustrated with the way things have gone because it's truly annoying and it makes us more prompt to point fingers and try to make the problem simpler than it is by pinning it on someone or something specific because it's just easier to deal with that way than admit that F1 just like the real life that it is, is fucking complicated and "unfair" (in that no guaranteed happy ending way I described earlier).

And honestly that's fine I too vent my frustration during races and jump on things that make me tick and only afterwards think them through but the fact that Lewis has to make such a post to tell people that no, his team isn't sabotaging him, and that yes, he did relent to their tyre suggestion, shows that's it's been indubitably been taken way too far for everyone's comfort and his own first and foremost. And that's just honestly kinda embarrassing for us all imo.

[dross-the-fish]

First of all I just really want to say I absolutely LOVE your art and specially the way you draw Erik, Leroux-Erik my beloved 😭💕

Ok ANYWAY. I saw your posts discussing about Erik and how the Phandom portray him and Raou, and I really want to point out some of my views (in the healthiest and most polite way possible!!!)

I'm not trying to deny Erik's flaws nor that I have an obvious bias since he's my favorite character ever AAAND Raoul is a character I dislike a LOT for multiple reasons lol but, I want to adress that: Erik is a person that endured multiple ways of abuse and humiliation in his life, since he was a child. He has multiple scenes of trauma response and, as you pointed out your post, acts impulsively many times and also shows clear remorse for his actions. What I think separates him from Raoul is (aside from the obvious class diference and the fact that Erik has a whole history of trauma and evidences of mental illness) the fact that Erik learns something from his selfish, self-destructive behaviour. He *had* a chance to end up with Christine if he didn't so shitty with her, and this is very impactful in the end specially because Leroux didn't treat him as a villain who deserved punishment, but as a traumatized AND completely abandoned person who fucked up pretty bad

Obviously, despite my personal beef with Raoul, I don't think he's some sort of abusive devil or any shit like that. I just think Christine would be better at her own. Forgetting Erik's flaws for a minute — Raoul *is* very manipulative, childish and uncaring towards Christine. He, unlike Erik, doesn't learn from his mistakes and presents the same behavior until the end of the story. Idk my girl Christine could be better at her own, single, following her career. The fact that Raoul was born in a rich family in the 19th century and didn't face any of the poberty or struggles that lower-classed people like Daroga, Erik and Christine had also make his character waaaay more difficult to like in my point of view. I'm NOT SAYING THAT "being rich makes you evil" (duh) nor that Erik's actions are ok, just to be clear! It just bothers me how so many people treat Raoul like a saint little puppy and Erik as a monster, like COME ON

Now, back to Erik: I'm not saying you intended to mean that, but I have a huge problem with how part of the Phandom thinks Erik had malicious intentions when approaching Christine, or that his feelings for her are fake. The "Erik knew precisely what he was doing since the start" really makes sense considering how his redemption arc went in the novel. Obviously this changes a lot in many adaptations (for example he's clearly much more self-aware and manipulative in the musical). But Leroux-Erik *genuinely* believed he was doing the right thing. Maybe he had an idea of "uuuugh maybe this is pretty bad maybe i should stop" but the self-destructive-fear-of-abandoment-everything-is-fine voice spoke louder. Let's not forget that what turned Erik into having such a violent mental breakdown was not "Christine doesn't love me and I must punish her" bullshit, it was when he heard her speaking not so many cool things about him and his appearance at his back (NOT BLAMING OR HATING HER, I love Christine, I'm talking about Erik's pov). If Erik didn't love Christine, or if he was a monster, he wouldn't feel any guilty for his actions. The most impactful thing in the ending of POTO is that Erik realized he had treated the woman he loved like trash and even still she showed him the compassion he needed

Ok ending this long ass text, I just wanted to state that I agree with a lot of your points specially how the Phandom tends to summarize everything to black and white even though most of the characters are all morally grey. I wanted people to stop dehumanizing a mentally ill abuse survivor like Erik while also stop hating on a poor woman who never asked to be put into Raoul's or Erik's bullshit lol thanks for having the patience to read, I'm really curious to know what your thoughts about this are 💕💕💕

I appreciate your courtesy, I understand where you are coming from but there are a few points i'm not sure I fully agree with. While it is fair to depict Erik as traumatized or mentally ill, I feel these are ultimately reasons for his behavior, not justifications. I agree that he is a sympathetic character and his story is a tragic one, I also agree that Erik had a great capacity for good under better circumstances. Leroux says "he had a heart that could hold empires but had to content himself with a cellar," or something to that effect and I believe that's true. But some of Erik's behavior cannot be written off as impulse or trauma response. He was still an assassin who built torture chambers and even when no longer in Persia he still had a torture chamber in his home that he made use of. He has enough agency that he can still be held responsible for all of the death and destruction he caused even as we acknowledge that he doesn't enjoy killing and feels remorse. How he deals with his remorse in particular is a bit of a sticking point for me. Erik's consistent ability to willfully "forget" what he does or completely deny the severity of his crimes is very likely a product of guilt but the presence of guilt is not a sign of virtue and after awhile it starts to feel like he is first and foremost dodging accountability. He never feels guilty enough to stop and prefers instead to alleviate his internal discomfort by emotionally distance himself from his actions. I also think it's important to acknowledge that Erik is a villainous character and he is violent with Christine. He does try terrorize her and coerce her into marrying him by threatening to kill her and everyone else. To be honest that's why I like his redemption, because he actually NEEDS to be redeemed. You can't redeem a character that never fell from grace. If we can't hold him accountable for his choices and acknowledge the full harm he did then his redemption is hollow. On the subject of Raoul, Leroux tends to write him as being kind of young and stupid and most of his boorish behavior the product of youthful impulse and the older I get the more I'm inclined to agree. This doesn't make Raoul right or even necessarily likeable but if we're giving Erik grace based on the author's sentiments towards the character we should probably give some to Raoul as well. Ultimately I feel Raoul redeems himself by proving he's willing to die for Christine. He throws himself into mortal peril to save her because he does love her. Yes, he has a lot of privilege compared to other characters and it certainly contributes to him coming off spoiled and bratty at times but at the end of the day he and Christine do love each other and he is who she chose. I'll admit I sometimes feel compelled to defend Raoul even if he's not remotely close to my favorite character just because the fandom tends to over inflate his flaws and hold him to the worst faith interpretation while making every excuse under the sun for Erik. The phandom will go to great lengths to see nuance and humanity in Erik's behavior but not in Raoul's and, while I have my own character preferences and Erik is certainly my favorite by a long shot, I try to be fair and empathetic to ALL the characters in the story, whether I actually like them or not.

[almdragonrend]

I have somthing I really need to say, I don't get how FL could be popular, I mean if you think for a moment about it even OG Katarina is morally superior to the Heroine in Maria and all The Capture Targets in the story, I mean nothing against an Evil protagonist or a good antagonist, but than don't portray Katarina as a Villain and Maria as a hero ! That's wrong! Katarina leaves Maria completely alone in both the Nicole and Alan route, meaning she only opposed Maria when she's trying to seduce HER fiancée or mess with her family or do both in the Harem route!

Than the fact that she's accused of bullying those bellow her station is bulls* she only bullied Maria who I just said why she did it and Keith whose arrival at HER HOME turned HER PARENTS against eachother when she was a Child! That doesn't make it right but she couldn't know that this wasn't his fault, and his own original family wanted to kill him! Luigi saved his life and that's how he thanked him ?

than Geordo she gave almost half her life up to that point in complete support and devotion to that mother fu* and he swore an Oath to marry her! I don't think many people get how bad a possible future king breaking an Oath is especially considering Geordo's Grandpa's actions,

further more Katarina actually don't mistreated dose below her status, first her Maid Anne who despite being related to Nobility is herself a Commoner just like Maria and Katarina even in FL verse treats her like a Sister more than a servant!

Next there's Sianna, she's the bottom of the barrel of Nobility and still Katarina cherished her more than anyone else! This makes the claim of her bullying people for their status down right nonsensicaly!

Especially when she's the only one who never partake in bullying everyone's favorite Target Sophia Ascart, since we see in VOD is never once mentioned that she did so when Sophia joined her book club, that would have had to be brought up than ! Meaning is the only Noble Girl who didn't bully Sophia! (Except Marry) and it's even implied she discouraged others from bullying Sophia!

When Bakarina in verge of doom just assumed OG Katarina bullied more people and wanted to apologize during VoD judgment event no one spoke up! And that Is most likely because she never bullied anyone other than the Girl who tried to steal her fiancée and/or shame her family!

Also, it's said that Katarina's bullying was only on the very edge of Criminal, meaning she never really committed a crime, the one attacking Maria with fire was Noelia, who acted on her own accord!

Keith and/or Geordo basically rigged the Trial to get Katarina stripped of her status and exiled which is a way to hard punishment anyway! When she comes back with dark magic she didn't even kill someone for it! She just had it !

And that idiots in the development team must have believe that this made her appear more evil since she's just born with the "bad magic" but instead it just means she didn't kill anybody for it ! Right OG Katarina is not a murderer and the idiots of the FL development believed Katarina being NOT a murderer makes her more evil than people who literally commit murder to get the same magic! what does that say about their Character ?

I heard a lot about people saying something for a Original Katarina redemption arc and I really hope she gets an happy ending, she deserves it but what people need to understand is Original Katarina dosen't need an redemption arc because she has not done anything so bad that she deserved getting to that point anyway, instead she deserved a pretty enormous apology from Geordo, Keith and Maria

To give her a redemption arc basically means recognizing Maria, Geordo and Keith, Cheating, betraying,Oath breaking and manipulate a Chords to commit prejudice as a good thing, Original Katarina shouldn't have to apologize to them! They should have to apologize to her! Even when something like that calls for ways more than an apology! And first of all her entire sentence should be revoked !!!! + there has to be compensation for everything she had to go trough!!!

[sweetmariihs2]

Cedric and Wormwood's childhood together

In the "Substitute Cedric", at the end of the episode, Cedric talks about teaching the royal prep students a spell that can turn rocks into ravens. The fandom also noticed this, because somehow it may be implying that Wormwood was a rock before. And I also believe that this is true, or else they wouldn't have put that in the episode because it would cause misinterpretation of their characters- there's a huge chance of this being true.

Cedric knows the spell, which means that he did it before. The only raven we have in the show is Wormwood, who happens to be his familiar. So like. Okay.

CEDRIC DID THE SPELL AND MADE WORMWOOD. It's not like my first headcanon: that they met when Cedric was young and still at Hexley Hall, and someone in the school staff (because it's an advenced spell, Cedric can't cast it) did a spell who would guarantee Wormy's life while Cedric is still alive (or else he would already be dead by now, he's a bird, there needs to have a spell somewhere) because he's his familiar now. I believe that everyone needed to find a creature to be their familiar at some point at Hexley Hall, in the first years (because having an animal assistant is necessary). But at first I was thinking like "no, okay, Cedric found Wormwood somewhere and brought him home, they did the spell and now he's his familiar" but some days later I watched that episode and found out about the "turning rocks into ravens spell"

You know what this means? Cedric literally made Wormwood. He gave him life after a rock. So his betrayal gets more painful and has a whole different meaning.

I guess we can compare this situation to a son turning against his father, somehow. I don't believe that Wormwood sees him as a father, actually very from that. He just thinks that he was a middle schooler who cast a spell on a rock and since then Wormwood is his familiar, that's all. They grew up together, more like brothers or "best (worst) friends" I would say. @shychick-52 has a good character analysis of him in her fic "The Master Wand", that explains that Wormwood's anger comes from the fact that he was just as miserable as Cedric, but Cedric got help. He got out of the dark, but he didn't held Wormwoods hand (wing) to pull him from there too. While he was getting better and being influenced by Sofia to be a good person, the same didn't happened to Wormwood, who was so deep in his hatred, insecurity (not getting other people's approval and believing that just being nice wasn't enough), revenge that he didn't change his mind. While Cedric had Sofia to help him, Wormwood had no one. It was assumed that just because Cedric got better, his raven would get better too, because of couse, a familiar obeys and thinks the same way as his master, right? He could have been saved by Cedric or Clover. But that didn't happened. And I still think he deserves a redemption arc btw, or at least an episode.

But yes, the thought about Wormwood being created after a rock by Cedric it's implied in stf and it makes the whole situation more tense. Imagine how Wormwood was feeling, imagine how Cedric was feeling. Wormwood's reasons are understandable but it's a little weird the fact that he choose to betray Cedric so fast with someone who he doesn't even know yet (Prisma). It was REALLY FAST. He didn't think twice. And it confuses me why he choose to be so many years by Cedric's side, when he could have just ran away like that at any moment. If he always thought that Cedric was an idiot then he should have ran to another master years ago, because as we can see, he doesn't even think twice before leaving him.

When Cedric says something like "what about all those years of friendship" it's not just about their friendship. (Headcanon part) It's about when the whole class needed to turn a rock into an animal to make that animal their familiar, for each animal there was a different spell and all his classmates got the best ones first: owls, cats. He got one of the last ones, a raven, the one no one wanted, just like him.

And he was the only one who repeatedly was making feathers, vegetables, while everyone was laughing, making fun of him and whispering about "him being him" again, looking at him with disgust, asking why he was still trying- and the situation was starting to get humiliating. Everyone had already finished. And after so many tries, everyone looking at him with a judgemental look like he was in the middle of the room (just like how happened at the incident, he remembers that really well), Cedric gave up.

Maybe he watched while his teacher did the "familiar will live until their master is alive" spell in each one of the students, making sure that they all were now officially connected. But Cedric didn't had one, so he was the only one who just watched in silence. His teacher went to him, and as always he told Cedric to keep trying later, which made him feel a little better, but not a lot.

He kept trying, trying and trying after school, maybe at night (Hexley Hall boarding school headcanon time). And when he finally did it, the rock turned into a baby bird, and Cedric started crying out of happiness. He was able to make a real crow- and the baby was just in the palm of his hand making little noises and looking at him with a confused look, with not even a thought going through his mind. The baby raven didn't knew a thing but Cedric loved him already, just like the feeling of getting your first dog but this time with the whole stituation of the spell, Cedric being pressured and judged, and now he finally did it.

He immediately knew that this bird would be his best friend. He was a little weird looking, just like a little fluff ball, but Cedric was a little weird too, that was one more thing that they had in common. And he was so proud and loved his new bird so much that he wouldn't mind even if he didn't had feathers. What happened was that in the next day everyone went to class with their new familiars and Cedric was there with his baby bird, all proud of himself. Everyone saw this and some even thought that he got the bird somewhere, that he was pretending the spell worked just so that he wouldn't make a fool out of himself in today's class. But somehow they proved it was true, or the teacher just simply believed in him, the thing was that he finally had his familiar and the spell was casted on him to make his familiar permanently. And since then he carried the bird everywhere.

He gave him the name Wormwood after the herb. Maybe there was a funny situation with a wormwood and the baby bird involved, and that's when Cedric decided his name. But the thing is: they were always together since their childhood. I'm not really giving a deep dive into their relationship right now, so there's no conclusion to this post, but I wanted to share my headcanon. I made a drawing yesterday and their childhood together is in my mind ever since.

That's what I made (visual representation of the scenes):

I think I'm gonna make more but idk. Hexley Hall Cedric is my roman empire

[that-girl-glader]

My DEAD BOY DETECTIVES TRUTHS (OPINIONS)..it's literally just me yapping lol

I did not care for CRYLAND I'm sorry not sorry. And here is why. I fully believe Charles liked Crystal. I could see it. But I just wasn't convinced that Crystal liked him more than a friend. Did find it dope though that she told him she wasn't ready for a relationship. Cause she effing wasn't.

I'm not saying I ship Edwin and Charles. But I find their dynamic very cute. And I 100% believe that Charles likes Edwin. The thing is he doesn't realise it....But he does like him. And he also likes crystal....both do and can coexist in my opinion.

I found Monty to be a really sweet adorable character. And I think him getting a crush on Edwin was so sweet. I really liked him and Edwins dynamic. Their friendship was yes. And I kinda liked that they were each others first kiss. And that Edwin got to experience what he never thought possible. Being a teen inlove.

Scenes that makes me truly believe that Edwin is in fact just a teenage boy. Is the scene where he is just staring at Edwin talking to crystal in the lighthouse episode with hearteyes(sorry if I got the scene wrong). Aswell as the scene where he is watching scooby doo with Niko.

The scene where Edwin chooses to do the case for Month was Edwin trying to show that even though he can't be in love with Monty. He still cares about him and their friendship, and would like to mend it. And it's rather sweet.

I was not convinced that Edwin and Crystal were actually friends for a while until maybe the last two episodes. Even though Crystal and Charles got romantically involved. I don't think it really justified how Crystal "favoured" him over Edwin. Same with Niko. Like It was like she was friends with them off screen. Like I need to see Crystal hanging one on one with either of them lol. Like she was just with Charles the whole time. Love her and Charles btw. Just want her being good with them all.

The catking was pretty alright. But him and Edwin felt a bit off. And only because the whole "older guys" comment kinda just...made it weird. I don't know if I like it. But I do think he was a sweet character in his own weird way I guess. Kinda weird though to trap someone in a city cause you find them attractive but yeah. The roleplay scene was soooooo weird. Revealed something about Edwin to us and to him. But it was soooo weird.

Monty deserves to be a REAL BOY. I miss my baby. I miss him. Come home. We have your favourite meal my love. Love you and your redemption arc yum yum. Come home to us. We miss you.

[crowleycorvid]

Yapping about post-resurrection Garmadon's quote-unquote "redemption"

!! LONG RANT AHEAD !! much of this is his redemption arc in the Garmadon comics vs in crystalized

I actually love the version of post resurrection Garmadon that exists in my head but simply because. I read the Garmadon comics before I watched crystalized and THAT is the post resurrection "redeemed" Garmadon I think of when I think of him and I think they had him really good there. But generally I think they totally fumbled him.

Crystalized just. Misses the mark. They kind of loosely have the fundamentals of his character but they don't employ them the right way I think?

Garmadon WANTS to do good. But part of the problem is he doesn't understand that he wants that at first. At the end of the Garmadon comics he has a better grasp on that, but an important part of that is he wants forgiveness. Particularly from Lloyd! And he does not think he deserves that! He also believes that he's not capable of being more than what he is, which at least from his perspective is a destroyer and a conqueror.

They had part of this in crystalized where Garmadon wants time to himself to understand himself better (i.e. "before I can help others, I must first help myself" or whatever he says along those lines in Christofern) and I think the use of Christofern itself as a way to show his complicated feelings towards Lloyd and the internal desire for forgivness is good! But then. After that. He doesn't show it. There's a difference between him being abrasive and brash to try and hide that this is something he secretly desires or cares about- which is what happens in the Garmadon comics, especially the scene with Min where she knows he isn't ACTUALLY as angry about the red crows as he's trying to seem- and just. Being abrasive and brash because he truly feels that way. Which is more what we get in crystalized and I don't? Get why they did that??

And MORE frustrating is Lloyd is kind of painted as unreasonable for not being willing to see past that! He has no reason to! If they wanted Garmadon to be a redeemable character, which they CLEARLY do, and I honestly think it's not impossible for him to be. they absolutely needed to acknowledge that it was ultimately Lloyd's decision to forgive him or not and they just. Don't. They genuinely don't. They push this idea that Garmadon is good now or is at least trying to be and therefore Lloyd SHOULD forgive him. And that's not right! Garmadon in the comics hardly forgives himself. Literally the turning point of those comics is that the enemy he's been fighting is his own internal baggage and turmoil and it should not be the EXPECTATION for anyone else to forgive him.

Lloyd is a generally forgiving person even WHEN he's deeply betrayed. Hello. Harumi. Now granted, his father is someone much much more personal to him and it was clear he was trying to disconnect post-resurrection and sensei Garm in his mind, but I don't think it would have been out of character for him to at least partially forgive Garmadon in a natural way instead of slightly implying it in literally the last scene of the last episode if that was what they wanted to happen.

And don't get me STARTED on how the fandom treats Garmadon like some kind of saint because "it wasn't his fault." NO! His actions are his OWN! And in the comics he understands that at LEAST to some extent by the end of it! Yes, there were outside influences and factors but that does NOT excuse everything he ever did nor does it make anyone obligated to forgive him

TL;DR I don't think Garmadon is an unredeemable character but god crystalized fucked up the solid setup the Garmadon comics had for it

This another crowley rant brought to you by the obviously rushed production of the second half of crystalized and how angry it makes me. That is all good day

[thatmexisaurusrex]

if we got a second season of tfatws what would you want to be in it 👀

Oh my gosh, such a good question to ask! 😆 A very hard one too Cassie, lemme think on this 🤔

Okay, a few things that would be a must would be:

A "Meanwhile, on the boat..." moment, or perhaps a montage of moments where things are happening throughout the MCU movies that happened post-TFATWS and Sam and Bucky are just 😂 on the boat, hearing about the events after the fact. I keep thinking about the scene in season 7 of Supernatural where they montage Dean commenting on what Castiel does with his new godlike powers while Dean fixes his car, but it doesn't have to be like that (3:16-3:46 here for reference lol).

Sam needs to save Bucky from falling. Sam had someone he couldn't save in the air. Bucky didn't have anyone to save him when he fell. Sam and Bucky both need that catharsis and it's wild that didn't happen in the first season.

Sam flying around as Bucky snipes at things 😂 Again - how did that not happen in the first season?

Sam and Bucky must either be already roommates or looking for an apartment which will be the place they will live in together.

Sarah, AJ, and Cass must be in it as well as other people we've seen like Carlos, Tommy, Isaiah, and Eli.

Another song by Curtis Harding must close the show's next sunset ending (it MUST be a good ending where they look into the sunset again, I'm sorry, I don't make the rules). Perhaps Can't Hide It by Curtis Harding?

Joaquín! There must be more Jay, I refuse to believe there wouldn't be so much more Jay in a season two.

FLASHBACKS. WHERE. WERE. THE. FLASHBACKS. Gimme Sam and Riley flashbacks, flashbacks of Sam with his family, gimme more info on Sam.

Can we???? Get more info on Sarah too???? Like was she married before??? Who are Cass and AJ's dad or dads??? How does she feel about Sam disappearing for a huge chunk of years??? I just want to know more about her.

And GIDEON. GIVE SAM HIS OLDER BROTHER.

Also, GIVE SAM BIRD TELEPATHY, YOU COWARDS, AS WELL AS A FALCON NAMED REDWING.

AYO AND ANEKA VISIT. THEY HAVE TO VISIT. LET AYO AND ANEKA BE BESTIES WITH SAM AND BUCKY.

Acknowledgment that Sam found Bucky in Europe but kept Bucky's secret and visited Bucky. Also that Sam visited Bucky during his time as a goatherder in Wakanda, possibly with a reference to the costco tub of lube 😂

MORE EPISODES. GIVE US MORE EPISODES. GIVE US TEN EPISODES AT LEAST, YOU COWARDS.

Things I can live without but I think would be a waste if they aren't in a hypothetical season two:

A huge and exciting action sequence during a New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade with Sam being the King of that parade.

There's a team of villainous jugglers in the Marvel comics called the Death-Throws. I really want them as secondary comedic villains who may or may not be kind of good people a la Jessie, James, and Meowth from Team Rocket in Pokemon movies. Just let Sam and Bucky have some comedy villains in the background doing their thing, Marvel.

Visiting Steve on the Moon. I just think Sam and Bucky deserve space shenanigans. I will also take a Facetime, if that's too out of budget, though.

Misty Knight cameo where Sam and Misty either imply or outright talk about being exes. Probably amicable, though, it would be funny if Sam's a bit awkward about it, but Misty's chill with him.

Karli resurrection. She deserved more of a redemption arc than Walker. Bring her back to life, Disney, I dare you.

Bucky and Falcon!Redwing don't get along. More because Bucky is jealous than anything else.

A VISIT TO WAKANDA! Do they go to Birnin Zana? Do they visit the town Bucky was living in as a goatherder? Do they go to Ayo and Aneka's home for dinner? Maybe they possibly only let Sam into the country while Ayo is like "I told you to lie low for a while, White Wolf" to Bucky 😂

Baron Zemo can have a cameo, if only because Anthony Mackie was bummed that Daniel Brühl isn't a part of Cap 4.

Wildest Options I Don't Think Would Happen But I Would Love:

SamBucky wedding. It all takes place the days leading up to their wedding. Or, if I'm being more realistic, a wedding. Like, if, say Sarah and Rhodey were getting married or Carol and Valkyrie or perhaps Ayo and Aneka.

SamBucky kiss? Though, again, highly doubt that and I'm really okay with SamBucky not being canon.

Fourth wall break where Feige himself walks into a room, sits down, and apologizes about how he treated Sam Wilson's character in the MCU and promises to do better. He pulls out an entire slide show and the episode is just him talking about how he will be integrating Sam more thoroughly into the MCU. I'm talking how specifically Sam will cameo, where he will cameo, pitches for other projects Sam will be heavily tied to, the works.

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Romione Hot Take

So I have seen arguments from Dramione antis claiming that Dramione would only benefit Draco (re. Draco's redemption) and Hermione would just be a prop to Draco's redemption arc in an AU where Dramione was canon.

And I kind of agree? I do think Hermione could benefit somehow from the ship if I think hard enough but Dramione mainly benefits Draco when you look at it from a surface level.

But I would pose to Romione fans that this criticism applies to Romione too. But in the reverse: Romione benefits Hermione more than Ron.

Off the top of my head, I can recall various and numerous moments where Ron was very caring and protective of Hermione. Like Ron covering Hermione with a blanket (or something like that), Ron screaming when Hermione was being tortured by Bella, Ron praising Hermione for being brilliant, Ron showing concern when Draco hit her with the growing teeth jinx, defending her against Snape in book 3 etc. Of course, Ron has his jerk moments but the dude is a teenage boy. He learns from his mistakes and it's nothing to crucify him for.

I can't say the same for Hermione. When I think about Hermione's treatment of Ron, the first moments that come to mind are moments where she is dismissive, cold and belittling Ron. Nothing Ron has done can top Hermione's vicious canary attack and the way she shows absolutely no remorse for it (she even jokes she is tempted to do it again in book 7). Or when Hermione doubted Ron deserved to be prefect in book 5. Or the Scabber and Crookshanks' fiasco and Ron was the one who was made out to be the bad guy. Hermione does care for Ron in her own way, not saying she doesn't, but it's sickening how the narrative constantly vindicates her. And plus there are a few moments where she shows care for Ron that make her look bad because it involves hurting others. Like how she sabotaged Cormac in tryouts so Ron could be goalkeeper. This is not as romantic as it seems.

I can't believe I keep defending a ship I don't like. But I am tired of seeing Romione fans toss stones from their glass houses. Several criticisms they level at Dramione shippers (most of whom they blanket label as rape apologists and sexists) can be applied to their canon ship.

Romione is not the ultimate romance. I am sure that if Ron treated Hermione the way she treated him, people would have a different tune about this ship. Ron deserved better than Hermione. Ron deserved someone who would build him up and could reciprocate his caring nature. Because Hermione ain't it.

Ron does not need Hermione. Ron is a sociable guy and has other friends and can make more friends. When JKR remembers to treat Ron with respect, the guy is smart enough on his own and he's probably the most emotionally intelligent of the trio. He's definitely the one with the most common sense. Hermione needs him more than he needs her. Romione does little for Ron. Sometimes I feel that Romione is just there to make Hermione feel special IMO. Romione and Hinny serve no great purpose as ships except to ensure our main characters can pop out their annoying offspring in the epilogue. If you take out the ships, nothing really changes.

That's my random TED talk. Not interested in hearing any defence about Romione either. I don't think there is anything that can endear me to this lacklustre ship.

[ishomieokay]

Hi! (Big rant I'm sry, I am such a yapper)

What do you think of homelander x starlight ?

For me atleast, I think it's a missed opportunity to develop both of their characters. They have so much parallels going on. I wouldn't say I wanted a full blown romance in s3, but more of a confusion about who is really is the enemy from starlight's side- since homelander is the biggest victim of Vought . And from homelander's side, every women in his life except for maeve have somehow used and taken advantage of him, starlight is the last person who would do that ! He would be really confused that she isn't doing that. She also never knew his horrid past that too.

I don't think homelander is a character who could really be redeemed, he is so long gone for that. But their fake dating arc could have opened so many doors for both of their character development.

I knw I am being delusional enough to think that he is very much obsessed with starlight in s4 as much as he is obsessed with butcher. Like she is his nemesis who stood up against him for godsake idk why the show has watered down her purpose to petty rival with firecracker. Eric kripke is so bad at writing the show Lord 😭✋

Yes, she was watered down without a doubt. And again and again, Billy is given an importance he doesn't really deserve. The whole nemesis thing he has going on with Homelander makes no fucking sense to me. Ryan has no reason to care that much about Butcher. Beyond the fact that Butcher is relentlessly trying to fuck him over, Homelander has no reason to be so obsessed with him either. Narratively speaking, Starlight should be his nemesis, not Butcher.

I actually am such a BIG FAN of Starlander. Weakness by RovingOtter is an amazing fic about them that honestly changed my brain chemestry. Not to mention it's the main reason why I like Homelander so much.

I realize this is an unpopular opinion in the fandom, but I don't think the issue is so much that Homelander is past redemption. It's just that the writers don't want that to happen. The narrative is not going there, even thought THERE ARE elements that would allow it to happen. For example, I don't see Homelander becoming a hero in any capacity, but after all the abuse he was subjected to by humans, he could have easily fallen in a more morally gray area a la Magneto. The writers are just not interested in exploring that because they are all about politics (which I do believe was a direct result of the US elections) and to get their message across Homelander needs to be an irredeemable Big Bad. If they redeemed fucking A-Train and even made Hughie forgive him after *killing Robin and laughing about it*, everyone gets a pass in my opinion though.

Also, it's about the times. You'd find that the main reason why many people don't want Homelander to be redeemed is that he is a rapist. Nowadays that's just unacceptable. Believe or not, back in the 2000s it was something forgivable and sometimes even expected in certain genres (I'm looking at you yaoi). Talking about Western media, I think the most obvious example of this is Spike trying to rape Buffy, his love interest, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That wouldn't fly today, lol.

The dubiously consensual (or just uh, not consensual) sex scene or attempted rape between the main couple was also a super common trope in Soap Operas back in the day. Don't mind me I'm Latin American and for a long time I didn't have cable.

Anyway, I'm rambling. My point is Homelander is never going to be redeemed in canon, but as far as fanfiction goes, who cares? It's fiction, and you can do whatever you want with fictional characters. The world is your playground!

Homelander does have some parallels with Starlight, but tbh, that's not really the reason why I ship them. He actually has much more parallels with Kimiko (which is also an amazing ship in my opinion, and it really doesn't get the recognition it deserves!). He also has parallels with Butcher, with Soldier Boy, and even with Frenchie. So that's not really what I look at when shipping.

I think Starlight is the only character who could potentially see anything good or worth saving in Homelander, and just that makes their relationship very interesting to me. The fact that they are archenemies (or they would be, if the show made any sense), is the cherry on top. We love some good enemies-to-lovers here!