#like s3 they were literally together. then ttm happened. s4 they were healing. s5 they were still healing but much closer together again

[wolfwarrior142]

This is one of those posts where I gotta remind myself that the guys in charge of the show love to spin bullshit up in the panels that doesn't end up actually coming to fruition in the season related to the panel or the show in general. Cuz this just feels like them being cryptic and dramatic and difficult more than anything. Remember them saying that Rayla was gonna be so twisted up and conflicted about the coins in s5 and trying to balance getting her parents out with the main issue? Or something like that? Yeah. We all saw how that went.

This isn't against you, op. This is against the creators of the show hinting like theyre willing to throw away years of character building just because. Or just to be dramatic. Feel like Devon would be a much better person to ask this stuff to cuz she seems like she actually has important stuff to say about the show rather than too much cryptic filler. Also cuz she's the lead writer and actually, ya know, writes for the show. And seems to feed into fans' adoration of rayllum, both in interactions with the fans and how she writes short stories/the show. Wish she could have been there for the panel.

Its dumb that I made this big of a reaction to a small, harmless post but I'm just...miffed at the creators today. It would be different if they hadn't done So Much character building for these two- on their own, with/off of each other, and together (as friends through the whole show and an actual couple in s3, and somewhere between that in s5). Having all that NOT lead to them getting together again (and staying together) is just mind boggling cuz it would make all that building have less weight imo. Not everyone probably sees it that way, and I wish I certainly didn't, but I sure as shit do cuz tf is that cryptic bullshit they're spewing.

Okay I'm done I just needed to rant.

Oh, oh! I got to ask my question during the panel's Q&A. I asked how writing Rayllum as romantic affected the plot, and the creators explained how the characters become separate from them. Rayllum isn't 'destined' to be together-they might not necessarily be/end up the series in love, but they love each other, they're friends, there's a deep connection there.

[raayllum]

hi jsyk watching your hype and excitement after the new short story is really funny (affectionate/positive)!!! ur excitement for s5 and love of the show is so clear

oh my gosh thank you this is so sweet!! it's the funniest thing because literally every time I want something specific as hell from this show, but lovingly put my clown makeup and assume I'm not going to get it, or that it's a fun prediction but doesn't have to pan out, but then

I either end up getting that exact thing or an even better variant of it??

Like pre-S1 I noticed Rayla's face markings looked like tears, so I hoped we'd see her cry at one point bc I thought it'd be a nice visual parallel? And then 1x09 gave it to me. Going into S2 I hoped for Callum to get over Claudia and for a Rayllum tag, and then [gestures] All That Happened. Even before S3 aired with the "written in the stars" skit I'd noticed the slight dark-lightness theme running through Rayllum's arc and thought it'd be a nice consistency, but I didn't think it'd be a Big Theme, even if as soon as the S4 intro came out I was like "yeah that 'south star' shit is coming back" and well... Gestures to the entire ass "stargazing" clip just between the two of them. The way post-S3 I assumed S4 would be about Callum flying too close to the sun magic wise, being terrified of Aaravos invading this mind, that Aaravos would get out in S5, and that S5 would deal more with Rayla's coin stuff? Ezran as the thematic Witness / Embodiment of Justice? Everything about Claudia's arc?? Chef's kiss

My first post-S3 theory back in 2019 was a "Rayla and Ezran disagree with Callum caught in the middle, leaving to a broyals conflict" wish, gave up on it when TTM hppened because it seemed like we were going in a different direction, campaigned for 2+ years for Callum to do something Fucked Up for Rayla, and like... now I'm going to get both things, presumably that I have desperately wanted/hoped for??

And then there's like, all the things I didn't even know I wanted that TDP just decided to give me anyway?? An Angor Rot villain variant in Kim'Dael? Motherfucking pirates? The game motif becoming a chess motif? Wanting a trio variant sitting around a campfire scene in S4 (that we haven't had since S1) and S4 gave me one and S5's already given me one and there might be More?

I've talked before about how healing TDP has been for me when my prior two fandoms source materials back to back were very disappointing and shoddily put together / majorly side lined their disabled characters / characters of colour (who were also my favourite characters) but like

You ever watch or something, and it feels like it was Made For You, in a way? Like tailor made for like, your interests or preferences or character archetypes, or whatever? That's always how TDP has felt for me in everything it's released and every time it's a beautiful, wonderful experience and a surprise. It would be hard not to be so excited and positive about it, and I cannot wait to continue to be catered to. They never miss!