#ice king doesnt get to be someone whos not simon if simon yields to the crown so he can be born

[sicklyseraphnsuch]

Ice King to Simon feels like what Fionna is to Finn. There's a base template that was shared between the two but ultimately, they are separate entities that grew and developed in ways unique to themselves.

and this is where the writing gets Rocky, because I genuinely find it hard to read Ice King and Simon as the same person but the characters always treat the two as one and the same

After the big reveal, Ice King is treated like Simon but remixed, except... the way Ice King develops - and look, we spent hours with this character, he wasnt just a joke

In his words, "I am worthy of respect"

The way Ice King's character develops was for Ice King's benefit, not Simon's. Ice King making friends, Ice King no longer kidnapping - neither of those character developments made him more Simon-like. He becomes more and more individualized, forming a personality that felt Very Distinct from the bookish, modest Simon Petrikov.

As much as Simon is the victim in all this, I cant really blame Ice King for being born either. He was just a guy - a mean, lonely guy that with some kindness developed better behavior for the people that befriended him.

Like people are dumping hard on Simon, which sucks. But it's also like Ice King was Somebody's friend. Ice King was Somebody's hero. And it doesn't feel fair to all the hardwork he did for himself to wave him off as a false image.

The problem is he was somebody - not just a Simon reboot. He was somebody period.

So it makes sense that some people in universe (in the audience bc lets be real, Ice King had HOURS of screentime and Simon had maybe one) would mourn him. It just sucks that they keep directing that grief at Simon, and dumping on him as a result.

In my opinion, if it's disrespectful to Simon to be confused for Ice King, then it works the same vice versa.