#nuanced views of flowey have been around for a while

[stainedglassthreads]

In early Undertale fandom days, there was a popular trend in fan projects for a while, to have Frisk scared of Chara (and, quite often, for them to have confided in Sans that Chara made them do a No Mercy run in the past, meaning Sans also hated Chara), while being utterly obsessed with Asriel and the concept of saving him, specifically. (Sometimes going on No Mercy runs to seek a way to save him, which... really never made any sense to me, in retrospect.) 

This was probably a reflection of the fandom’s demonization of Chara and generally feeling bad for Asriel. But I think it’d be interesting to explore a story where Frisk’s feelings on the two are sort of reversed. (But also more nuanced.)

If you believe in Narra-Chara theory, then of course Frisk would feel a lot of good and positive feelings towards Chara. That’s their partner! That’s the person who always accompanied them and kept them from getting lonely, who cheered and encouraged them with jokes and witty observations, who gave them dozens of hints about how to Spare monsters! That person is the reason they managed to Spare Asriel, free their friends, and break the Barrier at all! 

Even if you don’t believe in the Narra-Chara theory, I can pretty easily see Frisk relating to this mysterious First Child. Asriel claims Frisk and Chara are extremely different, but their situations are fairly similar. Two children who fall into the Underground and have a huge responsibility thrust upon them. Two children tasked with teaching fearful, angry, vengeful monsters that it’s possible to coexist with humans. Two children given the responsibility of breaking the Barrier. Two children who become the future of humans and monsters... but also two children who fall into the Underground to find a family, which inspires them to break the barrier. For them. 

(I will admit, Chara’s motives are a lot easier to glean than Frisk’s, but some dialogue while saving Toriel as a Lost Soul implies that by the end of the Pacifist Run, Frisk has come to genuinely care for the monsters and desire their freedom.) 

Even after a No Mercy Run, I like the idea of Frisk feeling conflicted. Because Chara did not give them this idea. Did not start the murders. But they also did not stop them. Did eventually help them. But they were also with them every step of the way, still keeping them company even if they had become more pragmatic and cynical, and still held responsible the one responsible, still forced them to accept consequences. Chara and Frisk are partners, but perhaps their relationship becomes more complicated. 

Meanwhile... Asriel. Asriel/Flowey is a very sympathetic and tragic antagonist, but he’s also the monster who’s the cruelest towards Frisk. In addition, he started out wanting to save and help monsters, but by the time Frisk meets him, he’s simply terribly bored and lonely. Other antagonists are all given sympathetic motives from the moment you meet them. Toriel wants to protect you. Papyrus and Mettaton desire popularity and acceptance. Undyne and Asgore want to protect and free monsterkind. But what does Flowey want? 

Initially, he seems to want Frisk’s soul. As Photoshop Flowey, he wants to play out his trauma by trapping Frisk in an endless loop of death, and then claim their soul. People like to separate Flowey and Asriel as two separate characters, and act like becoming Asriel again is all Asriel needed to feel compassion and love, and magically become his old self again... but no, after gaining not one, but seven Souls and becoming Asriel, he still isn’t fighting Frisk for the greater good. He’s doing it... because he doesn’t want them to leave, and leave him all alone. Him openly poorly coping with death, abandonment, and trauma is a great deal more sympathetic and heart-wrenching than previous fights, but it’s still not him fighting because he believes he’s doing something righteous and just. 

Asriel does apologize and make amends, but we’re still left with the choice of whether to forgive him or not. And honestly I’d like to see it explored more, where Frisk has a very complicated relationship not just with Flowey, but with Asriel? 

On the one hand, he’s the one who gets it. Who understands what it’s like to have reset. To try and try and try to get it right, to feel the simultaneous freedom from consequence and heavy responsibility, to see your friends and family look at you and have no idea who you are, to die over and over and over again...

But at the same time... regaining fluffy white ears and a gentle smile does not erase the fact that he’s one of the ones who killed them the most. It doesn’t change how he tried to hurt their new family, repeatedly. He’s probably the monster that was cruelest to them, and had reasons for why he was like that, but it’s not really a justification. 

 (Yeah, you CAN die to other monsters. But I’ve always thought Flowey/Asriel’s repeated attempts at inescapable killing blows, and initial betrayal, would be more impactful. Just my personal opinion.) 

...Overall tho. Yeah. More nuanced views of Chara are becoming more common, more nuanced views of Asriel are... still rare, but I’ve been seeing a couple people who have them, which is nice.