#personally i think this sentiment embodies the player character. so it's okay

[daz4i]

love talking to or seeing videos from other hsr players who focus on gameplay. idk what a main is. i don't have a team i use all the time. i have all 9 team slots filled and i gave my husband psychic damage when he saw it. one of them is called "i like them" and it's genuinely just 4 characters i like bc i think they're neat (apparently they're considered shitty when it comes to gameplay too). i don't understand a thing that anyone here is saying god bless

[slo-liveblog]

Post-Bonus Stage Bonus Thoughts Pt.2

And this time, it’s all about the special girls!

1. ZIZEL, CLAIRE & META

This isn’t nooormally the sort of thing I’d dwell on when analyzing fiction, especially not for a game that doesn’t directly involve any sort of 4th wall breaking elements into its story. While looking at a story from the perspective of how it’s intended to affect the player can be cool, I generally prefer to strictly focus on how the story affects its own universe. However, I think Zizel and Claire serve as a really neat bridge between the game and the player, and I wanted to acknowledge that for a second.

It isn’t exactly a novel idea to have a character whose primary function is to explain things to the audience. It’s even less unusual for the protagonist to serve as an extension of the audience, since most of the time they’re the character we’re meant to project onto. But something I didn’t really think about a lot until playing Witch’s Heart is that, often when designing a protagonist, they’re not only a character that we’re meant to project onto. Sometimes, they also represent the sort of person the creator expects to most enjoy their story. For example, in isekai anime, the protagonist is often a very generic young otaku guy since that’s the primary audience the show was created for. In an adventure book with a plucky teenager who’s bored of their normal life as the protagonist, that’s usually the sort of people that read them, too. Of course, all kinds of people who aren’t in those demographics can enjoy those. That’s true of any media. But if we look at it from that perspective, that Claire is meant to represent the core audience of Witch’s Heart and act in tandem with what the player wants, it’s clear that the writer expects a lot of empathy from the player.

Ultimately, Witch’s Heart seems to really, really want you to sympathize with these characters. Even if you don’t like some of them, I think at the end of the day you’re meant to want them to be okay. I certainly do. While other characters criticize Claire for her naïveté, you’re meant to see her as being almost entirely in the right, if to an extreme degree. You want to see her succeed and save everyone, ideally- an awfully Claire-like sentiment.

And, to compliment this, Zizel serves as the writer’s mouthpiece. She doesn’t want Claire to look at this in black and white terms- she wants her to understand the characters, wholly and completely, before coming to conclusions about them. Who she decides to side with and why is her business, but Zizel wants her to actually THINK about her decision, rather than dismissing them for being evil or accepting them blindly. She likes seeing the way Claire responds to the choices she’s given, and watching her truly come to understand who these characters are. Zizel is the one picking and choosing what information Claire gets to have, so at this point, she’s essentially the one building this story by picking which parts “matter”. And this all applies to the player, too. Bonus Stage is OUR opportunity to get a deeper look at the characters, actually think about them beyond their basic character traits and see how they ended up this way, and decide who we want to help most. In the majority of Zizel’s scenes, it seems like she’s not only talking to Claire, but adressing us too.

I think all this is probably a big part of the reason why Zizel is characterized the way she is. Things could be different in the future, of course, depending on where her character goes. I’m sure there’s more to her than just a nod to the player, and I’m excited to see the rest of her motivations laid out. But at the moment, she definitely feels like the embodiment of a writer. She loves these characters, but that’s not to say she wants them to always be happy. On the contrary, tragedy and imperfection only serve to liven things up. And most importantly, she’s interested in an engaging story where the characters have agency and make unexpected decisions. So long as both the creator and the player enjoy the story, the outcome itself isn’t really that important.

2. BROKEN PACTS

I don’t have much to say about this yet cause we still don’t have much information about HOW to actually break pacts, but looking back at the books from the beginning of the game, we do know a tiny bit about what it entails. If something Claire did broke her pact, she may not even actually HAVE a functioning witch’s heart anymore because apparently the body part won’t be collected. Or, maybe saying that the pact was broken in the bonus stage credits was just in reference to the fact that the witch’s heart wasn’t actually used, although I don’t know that that would make sense considering Ashe is never able to use the heart when he gets it anyway. Just something I wanted to note, since her being able to leave the mansion without having the witch’s heart at all anymore could be a pretty big deal, if only symbolically.

3. THE AUTHOR...?

I looked back at the red jewels book and I have absolutely NO idea why Rogue would be significant here. What is going ON

[ralfstrashcan]

3x22 Reaction / Commentary

Fair warning: Despite all feelings of nostalgia and melancholy with this being the last episode and all, this contains the usual amount of salt. Just, consider yourself warned XD

Impressive. Quick question though, why didn't Lilith pull this neat trick before going to Magnus and begging for an opening in the rift? We'll never know. Possibly because she's dumb.

Why would he give away his element of surprise with that stupid roar? Wtf man.

Istg if they kill Meliorn off just after I fell in love with him last episode imma riot so hard. Wtf.

1) Jeliorn Shipper: It's not actually clear who he's addressing XD 2) Am I the only one who feels like Meliorn's feelings for Izzy skyrocketed after they broke off their little mutually beneficial arrangement?? Because I sure do. Very convenient for the plot too.

This is both hilarious and infuriating XD

Boo Team Warlock. They can see that Meliorn is lying on the ground, obviously wounded, and all they do is stand around. Why do they all suck at first aid?? I mean, man down! What more do you need to know wtf.

Also what is that? Lorenzo actually being helpful? Wtf haha. Btw I made up my mind, he's lost bits of his character along the way. I don't like it. He's suddenly supposed to be a good lizard baby? Sure. *scoff*

I like that bit where Lorenzo and Magnus pool magic for a more effective attack but I'm doubtful they're perfectly synchronized since they never fought together. Or is this like a standard warlock fight maneuver? Are those a thing? I need answers.

Lilith shooting her fancy fire spit ball five meters to the left is both an overused cliché and ridiculous.

THIS is their plan of attack? They're all gonna die haha.

Script: Close up of female shoes with heels so everyone knows this is a woman.

RIDICULOUS

So did I understand that correctly? Lilith flew right into the line of literal fire? Whyyyy?

RIDICULOUS PLASTIC EYE IS RIDICULOUS

Wtf why isn't Lorenzo loudly objecting??

That circle reminds me of Guardians of the Galaxy in the worst way. Wow. I can't believe I just watched this. Wtf this was so bad *weeping* Btw note, considerate CGI flames only burn on torso and arms not on legs. Riiiight.

...................................................................what.

I mean, yay. All shadowhunters are jobless now. Guess all problems are solved. We just have an entire (slightly racist) race on our hands that's out of an occupation and also, militry. Those things don't mix well. Wtf. I cannot. comprehend. Wtf.

Also wtf. This was supposed to be the boss fight. And they finished it without a plan with one player literally before the opening?? UHHHH???

But, anyway. I guess I should be glad Alec didn't have to make good on his promise of living in Edom with Magnus, because as @intezaarlily so hilariously pointed out

The Alliance rune was temporary and wore off in like 5 hours, and Nephilim can’t survive in Edom because of their blood once the rune wears off, but Alec says he’ll spend the rest of his life with Magnus in Edom … I mean, I love the romantic sentiment! But that will be a very short life.

XD XD XD

Uhhhh yeah, the fact that Sizzy get a sex scene (ugh, could have done without that honestly) Clace get cute cuddling and Malec get................ lying five feet apart even though THEY ARE LEGIT A MARRIED COUPLE WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Honestly, I mostly skirt the negativity that surrounds the issue of how Malec always get shitty kisses and intimacy etc. But this is ridiculous. RI-DIC-U-LOUS. At this point, who knows if they'll even kiss at their wedding? We'll be lucky if they hold hands. Honestly. WTF.

Yeah agree to disagree. I'm not even sorry for my extra salt. Wtf. Still hung up on Malec. At least Izzy's runes glitter prettily in the morning light.

“I mean like relationships. Everyone that I've been in has magnificently imploded like the Death Star.”

SIGH. This is clearly not true. He stayed good friends with his exes (Clary, Maia) so that's a lie. And Saia was working out really well until the series needed it to stop, so it's not like he's inept. So either he's exaggerating because he's hella unreflected or he says that to get some pity from Izzy, either way I hate it.

Uuhhhh Izzy, you were never interested in having a relationship. That's not the same as screwing up a relationship wtf.

...............Does the show want to tell me Magnus is left-handed or what. Wow.

I

hadn't

noticed.

I guess Canon wants to use this last opportunity to tell us that Magnus is ambidextrous *shrug*

Also why the hell did Lorenzo give them back the loft? Oh right, he's a Good Lizard Baby now. The heck.

Anyway I did a very thorough reaction to this sneak peek scene already for a private correspondence, so enjoy ahaha ;)

- Me being deprived of Malec Morning Cuddles (and LittleSpoon!Alec) is unfair and I'm Not Over It.

+ Magnus excitedly writing their wedding invitation though <3<3<3

- Cheek kiss wtf man where are my REAL morning smooches WTF

+ CHEEK KISS SO CUTE OMG MAGNUS'S FACCEEEEEEEE I CANNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

+ MAGNUS'S FRAKKING FACE WHEN HE GIVES ALEC THE INVITATION SCRIPT THINGY, RAISED EYE BROW AND THAT LIP THING HE DOES, LIKE IN THE TRAINING SCENE HAHAHAHA I LOVE

+ MAGNUS'S FACE AS ALEC READS THE INVITATION OUTTTT

+ A L E C S  FACE AT “TONIGHT” LIKE OMG HE LOOKS LIKE HE JUST HAD A LOBOTOMY HAHAHAHAHA I CANNOT

~ Okay I am conflicted about this. While I can buy both, Magnus wanting to move ahead and Alec wanting to plan (because I think it fits them both in terms of being in character) in this particular matter I kinda headcanon the reverse: Alec not able to wait another minute to Lock Magnus Down and Magnus wanting everything to be absolutely perfect and losing himself in planning.

That being said, Magus being like “Gotta get married while we still can and there's not a disaster on the horizon” is.... idk, isn't that kind of sad? He's all about cherishing things in life so you can remember them. And stumbling through his MARRIAGE, with must mean a real real lot to him, being his first in all his 400/800 years, that's... not really uplifting? He deserves better than that.

+ Magnus's clap tho at “location” XD XD XD

+ ALEC'S FACE AT TAJ MAHAL HAHAHA HIS FROWNY MOUTH

~ Quick question, how the hell does Magnus want to hold a whole ass marriage ceremony at a public mundane place?? With glamor? Without? Sounds like an unrealistic mess either way

+ “THE INSTITUTE” I CAN'T MAGNUS AND ALEC KILL IT BOTH WITH THIS WTF HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I CANT

- Alec's reasoning. Honestly, I don't like it that much. Don't get me wrong, Alec being aware of the political dimension and liking it is 100% ic. But. This is their wedding. Their. Wedding. They do everything else for others, for their people and for the mundanes and the frikking world as a whole (3x20 being a prime example, basically screwing their personal happines to hell and back (pun intended) to close the rift saved the world because those wraiths wouldn't have stopped after Alicante let's be real). And their wedding, this should be just for them. How they like it, how they envision and how they've always dreamed about it. It shouldn't be held so others can benefit from it.

I want the wedding to be at the Instutite. In my mind no other venue even comes into question. But I would have loved if the motivation was differently nuanced. If Alec would have said that he's imagined it there, because yeah, Magnus's loft is his home and his heart, but the Institute must hold sentimental value for him, too. He grew up there. It's basically all he's known his whole life up to like three months ago. It's the embodiment of him being a shadowhunter and he loves being a shadowhunter, it's his identity. And Alec is a traditional guy. He wants his classical shadowhunter wedding and those are held at an Institute. He must have envisioned this after he started dating Magnus: exchanging vows in a ceremony held by a silent brother and with their wedding jewelry, in the chapel of the Institute, simply because this is the only marriage proceedure he's ever known.

Pissing off the clave, or rather, having the clave begrudingly accept him with his true self presented to the world should be a welcome byproduct, but not the main motivation.

From Magnus I would buy this line of reasoning sooner than from Alec because Magnus has hated the clave and its injustice since forever, has suffered far harsher under them than Alec, so he has a lot more personal interest to stick it to the clave than Alec, who, sorry, literally discovered their falseness three months ago. But then again, I don't think thoughts like that would be on the forefront of Magnus's mind and so it makes sense Alec would be the one to bring up this aspect. I just don't like how it was nuanced.

In any case, rewatching that scene I'm amazed at the amount of time Alec flounders before catching Magnus's attention, it's hilarious to watch XD

+ MAGNUS'S CONSIDERING POUT THOUGH WTF MAN WHO ALLOWED THIS

Another missing scene waiting to be written, of Magnus wearing a tux around Alec (and Alec drooling over him lol).

“It's just... all these hundreds of years... I can't believe you've never been married.”

Yeah, dito. How about you expand a little more on your personal stance on marriage, Magnus?? It's for science.

NOT ANYMORE APPARENTLY WTF CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE PLEASE

1) Wow this was quick 2) Uh-huh, guess that's why they mentioned them before this episode, oh, never.

1) Then ralf would quit watching this show and who would make dumb comics then? 2) Lol I guess her poor ex warlock boy toy got dumped

HAHAHAHA THE WAY HE DELIVERS THAT LINE I CAN'T XD XD XD

TMI bro

Good. At least he's not completely delusional then.

Gal you said “focus” like once, that's not a lesson wtf.

Yeah, creepy creepy feelings.

But this is actually interesting since she can't lie, and she says in no uncertain terms that she wants to split her power with him, or at least the rule over earth. Buf if she's so afraid of him she even wants to rule beside him and relinquish part of her might, then I don't get why she didn't just kill him off when he was in his cocoon. Why risk making an enemy of him? Makes no sense. (Except that this would have been anticlimactic lol.) Also my question of what happened to Lucifer still stands.

Uhhhh apparently they just slept together, turning into a child is majorly creepy wtf dude. Also, where does her changed wardrobe come from? Absorbing clothes during a transformation is a skill werewolves would pay real money for, I can tell you. Market niche. Patent while you still can.

..................really? *sigh*

#vulnerability #abandonment issues #give jace wayland (or whatever you want to call him) a hug dammit

Finally, happy parabatai. What a sight for sore eyes.

Biting back more Sizzy salt, wow I'm impressed at myself.

HOW ABOUT YOU BOTH FRAKKING SAY THAT ABOUT MAGNUS WTF

(Btw the German Dubbing: “I was just thinking of asking you that!” lol as if the thought had crossed Izzy's mind in that exact second, making that whole thing even more ridiculous.)

Anyway.

“You know, I always thought I never needed a parabatai, that I was at my best when I was on my own.”

No that was because you disliked the weird codependency it produces. And it's fine if you change your mind on that and decide that the benefits outweight that, but please don't do it offscreen during an action screen but like, throughout a whole season? Consider sharing a thought or two about that fundamental change in your world view with the audience? Otherwise people (me) can just laugh their ass of at how ridiculous and ooc this is. Wtf. WtF. Then again she literally changed her stance on relationships in like a week and her stance on Simon in half a day, so I guess it's kind of consistent?? *snort*

There's a joke about missing hair in here somewhere. These poor, poor men. They were ROBBED. (And so were we XD)

Since when can Clary order around the Head of Security?? (Also look at her manic face in this shot ahahaha. Was that deliberate on my part?? You can't prove a thing!!)

Also Luke missing Alec's wedding again is history repeating itself.

IMMORTALITY RUNE ON THE RUN!! EVERYBODY DROP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND CATCH IT!!!

Clary, gal, if you keep slinking after the rune like that you'll never catch it. Srsly. And you wonder why you lose track of it all the time? Move your butt, man!!!

WOW GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT EVER. Can I skip this scene? Please?

Wow that was less painful than expected

Oh damn I knew this was too easy.

Btw apparently they have styling opportunities wherever Jocelyn's soul went after her death, because the clothes she wore when she went west

and the ones she's wearing now are similar, but decidedly not the same.

“Btw we'll talk about that creepy ass behavior later, and no supper for you tonight young lady!!”

Uh-huh, and what, pray tell, is Jocelyn? A zombie?? Just wondering.

These so-called “angels” are racists and you can quote me on that.

HAHAHA YEAH EXACTLY, SO RIDICULOUS AMIRIGHT

I mean. “Never draw another new rune or we'll take away your ability to create runes” basically translates to me “You have one last shot.” Right?

(Premonition!Ralf: ..........................you know nothing, Past Ralf.)

HAHAHAH SO FRAKKIN EXTRA I LOVE HIM

I think the white one is the prettiest <3<3<3 And now I wanna eat cake. Dammit.

LISTEN I KNOW HE SAYS THAT TO BE SASSY BUT!!!!! WHAT WAS MAGNUS GONNA EAT FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY???? ROASTED SHAX DEMON DRUMSTICKS??????? I NEED ANSWERS!!!!!!!!!!!

This “beauty” clearly is from his mansion, so he obviously only says this to gloat. What a tool. Or is this like, a different size? And he has the same three pictures of himself plastered over all his homes, but in different sizes??

LOL this feels like splitting household goods with an ex. And they didn't even date (uagh the mental image *shudder*)

Mostly for each other, but continue.

Also, is this Lorenzo's formal request to be adopted into that weird ass Protagonist!Family? Because loooool the position of sassy shady uncle is still vacant. I'm sure Peter Hale will teach him some tricks.

Don't get me wrong, I like the scene itself but...... what happend to the evil lizard baby? It seems that just like Maryse he got a character makeover between one scene and the next. This change of heart comes out of frakkin nowhere. He goes from “good riddance magnus i hate your guts” to “pls love me” in literally half a day. And I don't like that. Wtf.

Also, another thing: Why do they always imply warlocks are completely unable to find a lasting relationship / family / even some level of happiness that isn't “sitting in my plush villa and drinking overpriced alcohol”? As if all warlocks are inapt. Tf.

I mean, he's been showing that through absence, but I guess that's more because of the same reasons that persistently keep Catarina from showing her face than him actually not caring about his kids, there's no real grounds for this level of desinterest in Show!Robert's character. But anyway, I like the sentiment, that conflicts between the parents don't necessarily inevitably destroy the relationships between one parent and the children. And Maryse was always good at compartmentalizing things, so this is very fitting.

Wow I had really hoped I wouldn't have to see this particular face again. Guess we can't always get what we want *sigh* also what's the shit with those glasses? *snort*

Also, I mean, I'm by no means an expert, but even I know that you don't actually store a bow with the string attached? You unclip it so it doesn't wear out? But whatever, what do I know about angelic weaponry, right.

Wtf he was cleared for missions seasons ago. Did they forget? Apparently? Ugh but I don't care so, moving on.

“You'll be save on this balcony.”

*SIGH* Honestly I'm wondering what they even learn at their dumb Shadowhunter Academy. Since common sense, first aid, and make sure your frikkin enemy is dead by slitting their throat and !never! turn your back on them are obviously not on the curriculum. SMH.

Ngl though, good riddance on the Max front XD

Guess I cheered too early. You had one job, Jonathan. One. Job.

HAHAHAHA HONESTLY HAHAHA THE GUY NEXT TO HER FALLS AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN TWITCH, JUST KEEPS RECORDING LOOOL

Btw all the people running away, they're screaming their heads off but they're not really like, running? They're barely even jogging lol it's so funny XD

Let me just....

Yes. This.

Also that whole “I've never been to Toronto” totally clashes with Izzy asking Clary literally three minutes earlier if she can open her a portal to Los Angeles. I mean, they don't even try and pretend that their portal travel is consistent anymore. Sigh.

I mean. He. Hehehe.

Amazing that Magnus has been in this exact street in his exact spot. Luck-y.

Same, Jonathan. Same.

Wow she's smart trying the spite approach to get Jonathan to want to prove her wrong.

.....or not. Wtf Clary. You had him. Even after all this, you could have salvaged this. But there's just No Happy Ending for Jonathan. It's so unfair. Rest in peace, my poor misunderstood murderous incest baby.

Also

Wing Rune? Death via Crushing Wing Hug??

Btw if the runes are gifts from the angels and they don't approve of her use then why do they keep sending them to her?? Just, don't? Problem solved? No need for a Jocelyn!Scolding?

Edit: As a smart person pointed out to me Clary's ability to create runes isn't a direct gift from the angels that they gave her specifically, it's a result of Valentine's neat experiments. But then I wonder a) why the angels even allowed those blasphemous experiments in the first place (since apparently they can long-distance-derune people no problem, then I guess they could have stopped Valentine too?) and b) if they have the power to long-distance-derune people and they have the power to form some sort of resistance against Clary inventing runes..... how does that add up? Why the heck can't they forge a resistance strong enough against Clary's attempts to create a specific rune? It makes no sense. You can't be ridiculously powerful in one rune-aspect and ridiculously weak in one other rune-aspect. Either the angel has power over the runes (since they were a gift from him) or he doesn't. But this is rubbish. Or, y'know, plot convenience. Ugh.

Buhuu, they didn't use the stupid ass angelic rune ever so whatever. Until Raziel doesn't come down and exchanges her spinal marrow I'm writing this off as Consequenceless Dramatics.

Malec Wedding Ceremony. Phew. Originally I thought I'd keep this short but I changed my mind. Since this is my last reaction post I might as well go all out (with the salt, among other things), so. Here we go.

Music choice and the general everything-is-muffled-under-the-song was absolutely wonderful. I really love that song and it's very Malec-y.

UGH

AWWW WOULD YOU LOOK WHO DEIGNED TO SHOW UP

The suit suits him (ahahahaha I'm so sorry) but I'm kinda bummed he's not wearing Shadowhunter Gold?! I mean?!

Whoever that is, she has kickass hair and I love it, and I kept looking for her in the background the whole time. To some success I might add.

Yeah please show me Lorenzo's face instead of, idk, Jace's wtf haha. Also who invited Meliorn.

Is it even a real wedding ceremony when the groom is already wearing his ring??

U G H

Cat should have been the one to give Magnus away. Maryse could have given Alec away if she must (honestly, it should have been Jace, not Robert or Maryse, but whatever). But Maryse giving Magnus away? The Fuck? She HATED him two months ago. She literally gave up on him after he SAVED ALL THEIR ASSES AND WAS STUCK IN EDOM after like half a day. Also I kind hate her ridiculous redemption. But sure, have Cat, his best friend for centuries, stand on the sidelines and only show her face for a second. Frikkin Madzie had more screen time than Cat wtf. I hate that Shadowhunters infiltrate every aspect of Magnus's life and force his Downworlder friends out of it. That's the real oppression wtf. I'm so angry at this. The frikkin audacity.

Awww, the other half second of Cat's screen time. Let me fawn over it. I love her dress, especially the arms, the necklace is a bit much but she rocks it anyway, I love her hairdo and her smile is the sweetest.

*cough*

Ngl I laughed my ass off at this. Because, y'know, communication. Is totally their thing, isn't it. They're so good at it. This is sarcastic in case you can't tell.

I really really loved this line though.

HAHAHA I LOST IT. I mean, I found their interlaced speaking ridiculous already, but this?? PFFFF HAHAHA. No. Just, no. But I guess the one good thing I can take away from this is that since they both say their “always” together it is in fact the same “always” so thanks for more Immortal Alec Foreshadowing.

Whoa those are a lot of candles. I approve. Lexa does, too.

Magnus throwing confetti is too cute for this world.

And then they just.... leave? Am I the only one finding that weird???? This was so short? Where are they going?? lol????

Okay, apparently Clary's runes are all gonna disappear. Uh. Okay. I don't see where this makes sense, but anyway. Her acting in these last moments was absolutely awesome.

I really love that Magnus and Raphael got the scene together that they deserved. I just enjoy that Downworlder Dad Magnus and Grumpy Son Raphael aren't treated as a Plot Devices and only interact when some Stupid Plotline requires it, but outside of it too. It's so refreshing.

Ralf: “Oh God please spare me.”

........not my lucky day apparently.

Hahahaha love ya.

DAMN RIGHT

Jace and Maryse dancing in the background tho. Cute.

BTW wtf, I didn't undestand Annoying!Ghost!Jocelyn in the way that Clary was gonna die. Just, she wouldn't have her fancy rune powers anymore. And okay, apparently she won't have any rune powers but... uh, death? That's a whole different dimension we're talking here. And why tf can't anyone be precise on this show for once wtf!

1) Helen is valid and for probably the first time in her life said something smart. 2) They started dating 3 days ago, wtf gals, I mean I heard of the u-haul cliché but honestly wtf. lol.

Ralf: *hits pause* NO. Kay, in the same room as Ralf, fully aware that the latter is watching the last half of 3x22 with the Malec Wedding (with headphones, I'm considerate and don't want to spoiler my sister): What is it? Are they adopting a child? Ralf: No, WORSE. Kay: Are they pregnant?? Ralf: NOOOOOOO Kay: Tell me. Ralf: ........no. I want to see the look on your face when you see this.

You had one job dude. One job. And you failed.

Ralf: I'm going to be sick.

Honestly. WTF. Sorry, but Lorenzo is probably the un-gayest character on this show. Wtf. No. I refuse. I also refuse to believe that anyone looks at Lorenzo's self-important pompous ass and thinks hnnnngh relationship material. Or worse, one-night stand material. No! No! Punching bag material! Sleek antagonist material! That's all he is dammit!!

I REALLY AM GOING TO BE SICK WTF. UGH NO. NOOO WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE (aka screen writers) WHO THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. And also, can I give the biggest anti-compliment to the Max actor for the absolutely shitty delivery of this line? It's as if he's as dead inside as I am, because he says this as if he honestly couldn't give a single shit about Magnus and just ??????????????? wtf

Yeah, that one time she glanced at him in the Ops Center really gave it away. What the actual ffkk. Alec was preoccupied with other things then, wtf, he wouldn't even notice that on a good day. Sorry, show, but less is more sometimes. Not everyone needs a frikkin significant other and this is just ridiculous. What's next, Max and Madzie? UGH.

Lol this would be less ridic if apart from 1x05 this wasn't their first interaction.

NO NO NO NO!!!!!! I hate that I can't stop scanning the background for them! It's like the countdown on a bomb, you can't look away even though you know you should just turn and run. WTF. NO.

bitch what's alec been doing his whole life huh huh huh????

“Every single cell in my body loves you. And when those cells die and new ones are born those cells love you even more. So Jace, no matter what happens, my love for you will never die.”

Ridiculous Shadowhunter Biology Knowledge striking but I'll let it slide because that was really sweet.

Also ahahaha shouldn't that rune be gone already???

Shadowhunter #1 in the Background: *biting back a sob* I'm so crushed I wasn't invited to Malec's wedding and saddled with active duty instead. Shadowhunter #2 in the Background: *wiping away tears* Yeah, me too.... What did we ever do to deserve this </////////3

Again, how did she understand that from the weird AF scolding??? TF.

Uh, yeah, blatant contradiction, whatever. Btw since I know how that goes in the books (for Simon) I'm really wondering if they're gonna pull the same thing for Clary now. (Ugh.)

Also, following both a hint and innate curiosity I paused on the letter that Clary supposedly actually wrote AND WTF HAHAHAHA. I CAN'T.

Dear Jace, forgive me for leaving all of a sudden. I came to the realization that it's time for me to move on. I don't know what is motivating me to take this action but I must act on my feelings. From the first day we met we had a connection from ??? my introduction to the Shadow Hunters World. Alec, Simon, Izzy, the institute and all of the Shadow Hunters opened up skills and experiences that I could never imagine I had. You and I spent many years together and have experienced many adventures together which I will never forget. Many times over they have put our lives at risk but we have always managed to survive in the end. You have saved my life on many occasions (screen end, but I guess sth like “you have looked”) after me and taken care of me (same, “which I'll never”) forget. Your love for me I will always (“treasure”?) May our Shadows meet again, Love Clary

WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL HAHAHAHAHA WTF

........................I paused here and I was this tempted to just, stop watching. Honestly, Shadowhunters, what have you done to me. Making me honestly consider to ditch the last ten minutes of a show that I dearly, dearly love. Wtf. I just, I can't. Wow.

Where's the beard, Luke. It's been “a year” so uh you've had time to grow it back.

1) Magnus “left handed” Bane again writing with his right hand. Mysterious. 2) Honestly I kinda spaced out on this scene after this shot because those blue smears? I was so SURE those would be fingerpaint clumsily smeared on Magnus by Malec's Baby of Horrors. I was so focused on there being any hints of them having adopted a baby already, dreaded anguish kinda making it impossible to taking in anything else. The only thing I really noticed is that they moved with their whole ass loft and I love that.

Honestly, this and the “High Warlock of Alicante” are the only two acceptable things about this whole terrible fever haze dream I have entered. Not that “High Warlock of Alicante” makes any sense. It just has a nice ring to it, that's all. I really can't put into words how ridiculous and, yeah, almost offensive I find it that they actually pretend that blatant racism can be wiped out of the minds of people in the matter of a single year. Sure. The whole Clave changed their racist beliefs and Alec skipped from being a mere Head of an Insitute over being a Clave Envoy to being an Inquisitor (which doesn't even make sense, since an Inquisitor seems to be going from Institute to Insitute and acting as a judge for Shadowhunters on trial, not negotiating how the Clave treats Downworlders). And which warlocks exactly does Magnus represent in Alicante? It makes no sense for the Clave to allow Downworlders to just, randomly live there? And that's got nothing to do with discrimination, that's just logic if you run a military organization: You don't allow civilians to mingle. They don't belong in the Ops Center of an organization they have no part in? I'm all for Downworlders being allowed to participate in legislative etc. but living in Alicante (as more than the significant other of a Shadowhunter) makes no sense. And sorry, I don't believe that in one year there formed SO MANY Shadowhunter/Warlock relationships that SO MANY warlocks moved to Alicante that they need a HIGH WARLOCK for representation. There's SO MUCH wrong with all of this that I have no choice but to move on.

Hmmmm it only took Maia one (1) year to realize that carefully painting over blood splatters with yellow (and not even removing pictures while doing so) isn't in fact enough to cover them up and she needs to get a completely new paintjob, prefereably in a dark color.

Okay that made me laugh at least.

*rolls eyes so hard* And again with the pointless coupling up of characters. Are singles even a thing in this world? Apparently not. *SIGH*

“The Drevak Demons in Long Island?” “The hunt continues.” “Don't stop until they're gone. Is that clear?”

As much as I love Izzy, I'm not sure this dialogue really assures me of her competence as Head? I mean? “The demons are not dead yet? Kill them until they are, understood? And don’t argue with me on that, I’m super serious!!” It's not as if this isn't literally all that Shadowhunters do all day. I just don't see Izzy working a desk job. She's meant to be out in the field, slaying demons and cracking jokes and her whip while doing that. Sorry, but that's just how it is.

I could even tolerate that Sizzy scene because I was sooooo relieved Underhill didn't mention having a significant other or anything of the sort. Dodged a frakkin bullet there.

Edit: Nope, no, I can't. It's been two weeks and I have regained enough of my strength to be salty about Sizzy. But let me keep it to a minimum because time. 1) Simon not wanting to kiss Izzy in the hall is ridiculous, as if it hasn't been common knowledge since before that whole Downworlder Deputy Stuff started that they are a thing. So obviously this was just to pepper in the fact that he is in fact one of the Downworlder Deputies, whatever that should mean.

2) Nice to know that Simon continues to exploit his girlfriend's authority. Some things never change I guess, first with Saia and now with Sizzy. 3) I just find it ridiculous that while Simon wasn't able to keep a relationship running for more than two weeks before, suddenly this one works out a whole year without a hitch. Oh right, this was The Endgame Pairing, the other's weren't. *sigh*

<3<3<3<3<3 The Jimon Friendship we deserve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS THE CONTENT I WANT TO SEE, NOT WHATEVER THAT OTHER NIGHTMARISH STUFF WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uh-huh, and what was Simon doing, exactly? Oh right.

Anyway.

I mean, as much as I love this dynamic and the fact that Jace managed to form a friendship with Simon who he kinda hated / pitied before, and as much as I love this scene itself..... the implications for Jalec are terrible. Jace is obviously not coping. At All. He's one wrong word from having tears running from his eyes in any given situation. And Alec just, effs off to Alicante to sip martinis with Magnus? Thank you for nothing, Alec. Wtf. I'd like some details on when exactly he decided to leave his parabatai alone in New York with all his heartbreak.

A toned down version of events would have been better. Alec still being Head of the Insitute, fighting tooth and nail against the Clave to implement Downworlder Involvement on more levels. Magnus being the High Warlock of Brookyln (because obviously Lorenzo got sacked for misconduct, come on). Simon and Jace growing closer over the shared devastating loss of Clary. Izzy slaying demons like a Queen. Underhill being single.

We could have had it all.

“You know, I pray every day, every day to the angels that they will see that our love is stronger than their spite.”

Lol Jace I'm not sure that's the way to phrase a prayer you want heard.

Okay, I'm gonna need several explanations here, ranked by importance:

1) WHY THAT HAIRCUT WTF

2) How exactly did Clary go from “complete memory loss, homeless, no money, no family, no friends, no nothing, literally just the clothes on her back” to “well-adjusted human being attending school, being super successful with her art, having an appartment and an astounding lack of depression” in a year?

????? ???????? ???????????????

???????

3) I really don't know a lot about either fashion or art, but both differ greatly from what we've seen from Clary so far. Neither her clothes match what she used to wear, nor her art style. She never drew abstract things. It was always portraits of people, or very detailed and realistic looking buildings / demons / sigils. So this doesn't really make sense either. I don't think they intended this to be the opening of a profound philosophical discussion on how much of your personality is laid down in your DNA and how much is just environment and experiences shaping you, so I really REALLY wonder why the f they did that, instead of having Clary draw Shadow World related stuff like before, when Magnus had her memories locked away.

Love the throwback. Also love Jace's reaction of running away, it's so relatable in this situation of utter emotional overload.

Okay, the end. I'm trying my best to end this on a slightly positive note okay, because otherwise I'll just make myself sad. First off, I HATE open endings with a passion, so this left me enraged. Second off, I can't believe the Clace Shippers were left with this as the last scene of their OTP. I kind of get it from a meta stance, they wanted there to be a point of contact for a possible pick-up, but still. They didn't even kiss. They didn't even have clarity what exactly Clary remembers. I hate it! Third off, how ridiculous is it that after a year Clary randomly remembers? Uhh? Why does the angel's punishment suddenly not work anymore? “Because love conquers all” etc. Uh-huh. Then why did it take a frakkin year? Huh, Jace?! If this had been the first time Clary and Jace see each other again, fine, I would have bought it. But “random” is such an unsatisfying explanation. Just, don't. So if you'll excuse me, I'll happily pretend none of this happened. Or it happened one month later, not a year wtf. Or I'll just follow through on my rewrite and rectify all the things I didn't like about these last two episodes.

And now that all the rage is out of the way, the good things. I loved both of Clary and Jace's acting in this scene (which lolllll I specifically point out because mostly in their couple scenes one of them fails XD). The careful way Clary touches Jace's rune and the way he almost flinches back, too raw for it, but also his vulnerable helpless smile, and how Clary smiles back. I also really liked the song. And the final shot, of the camera pulling away and into the nightsky, that was nice. It felt like an ending, so at least that gave me some closure.

I love this show. Even with all its infuriating plot holes and ooc-ness. It means a lot to me. It has inspired me to write fic like no other fandom. I plan to stick around for a long time to come, with both fics and tumblr posts. I'll rewatch episodes, obsess over details and grumble about shit I disliked because that's just what I do. It's how I show my appreciation. I guess what I'm trying to say is

Thank you

[lily-of-the-eyrie]

🔍💭 Study: Reginald Birch

To solidify my understanding of just what is going on with the British and Colonial Rites in the years leading up to the events of ⟪✠ The Virginian Rite ✠⟫, I’ve decided to do some studies of the key players of the time to straighten up things.

In this exercise, I’ll cover the following figures:

Reginald Birch, Grand Master of the British Rite

Achilles Davenport, Mentor of the Colonial Brotherhood

Lawrence Washington, Birch’s Delegate in the Colonies #1

George Monro, Birch’s Delegate in the Colonies #2 (I realized I’ll be pretty much just coughing up all my HCs rather than do any actual analysis if I have to cover everything about the Colonel, so I’ll just leave this one out...)

In putting this together, I primarily used character database entries, Rogue’s war letters, the ACIII novelization Forsaken, and of course, the relevant games themselves. Hopefully I’ll be able to put together a convincing story for everyone involved once I’m done with this.

Okay, let’s start with Grand Master Birch. 

[⚠️ This is a pretty lengthy document.]

◈ Contents ◈

Timeline

Templar Career 　When did he become Grand Master?

Reputation & Personality 　How did he come across to the other Templars?

Birch’s “Agents” 　Who are they, and how did he get them to work for him?

The British Rite under Birch 　“You have not encountered cunning or danger until you have faced a British Templar.“

✠ Reginald Birch (1705-1757) ✠

☙ Timeline ☙

1733 - Already acquainted with Edward Kenway 1735 - Obtained Edward’s journal 1738 - Entrusted Lawrence with the Order’s goals in the colonies on his return to Virginia 1740s - Devoted himself to scouring the globe for Precursor sites and artifacts 1750 - Ran out of patience with Lawrence’s lack of progress; sent Monro over 1754 - Sent Haytham to the colonies

☙ Templar Career ☙ When did he become Grand Master?

　Birch seems to have been Grand Master of the British Rite for as long as anyone can remember. He certainly had been by 1738, at which point he refers to it as “my Order”, over which he had the power to decide the priorities of—and presently, that priority is the Grand Temple (✉️“Lawrence of America”, 1738). He’s 33 years old by then, which sounds kind of young for a man who controls what’s arguably one of the most powerful and influential Rites of the time, but then again Grand Masters have come from quite a range of ages. But reason would dictate that you won’t want someone who’s too young and/or inexperienced to be appointed the Grand Master of an old and storied Rite, so the earliest point at which Birch had most likely earned his title is probably in his late twenties.

　I can’t find much information on the metrics used to appoint someone the Grand Master of a Rite, but I suppose their immediate superiors, the Inner Sanctum, are the ones calling the shots if they’re already around. Given how Birch’s obsession with the remnants of the First Civilization was clear as day to his contemporaries, I guess the bigshots thought they could use someone who’d look for Precursor sites etc. seriously? It’s always been a major preoccupation of the Order.

☙ Reputation & Personality ☙ How did he come across to the other Templars?

　With how he was, I think most of his allies would know him as “that Precursor artifact addict” 😂 Some, like his buddy Harrison, or his friend in the French Rite, Lévesque, didn’t seem to mind, and were actively helping him; some others, like Braddock, thought he’d gone mad; the rest, while understanding towards his requests for assistance, didn’t share his passion for the search (eg.-a couple of members of the Portuguese Rite, who made their sentiments clear through their letters, ✉️”The Omani Arabs”, 1743, and ✉️”Dead End”, 1746). In any case, a fixation on Precursor research was undoubtedly one of his most defining characteristics.

　That said, if Braddock’s assessment of his character before he made Precursor research his main goal is to be believed, he used to be a “man of honour, of discipline, of principle”, and was “the embodiment of everything that made [the] Order great” (✉️“The Siege of Bergen-op-Zoom”, 1747). Now, I do have some doubts about whether or not Braddock’s definition of these descriptions matched most normal people’s standards, and whether or not Birch was also posturing in front of him. Either way, he’s at least good at pretending to be an honourable gentleman, and as someone who seems to frequent places favoured by the upper crust of society, which he’d also have to regularly rub shoulders with, he would have at least learned the necessary etiquette to project that impression.

　If there’s one thing you can’t take away from Birch, it’s that he was definitely very talented in getting people to work for/with him. We can see him masterfully employ a wide range of incentives (gifts, promises of power, military assistance, personal charm, money, debt) in order to either inspire or force people to obey him. Even without anyone comparing him to Crawford Starrick, a future successor of his office who’d have complete control over London a full century later, it’s clear that the was a very powerful man in his own right. All his activities certainly made his name known among his colleagues—even another Grand Master had gone to him asking for help once (✉️”The Hospitaller’s Plea”, 1747).

☙ Birch’s “Agents” ☙ Who are they, and how did he get them to work for him?

　We know Birch had a few really close subordinates, who presumably are also his most trusted. They also seem to frequently get orders directly from him. To list out the ones we know:

John Harrison 　Harrison seems to be Birch’s closest and most loyal subordinate; they both share an obsession with the First Civilization, and they’d been working together for a very long time. He also seems to be his main man in the business of searching for Precursor sites and items, and was constantly on the move, reporting back to Birch from various places across the globe on whatever leads he could find about the subject. He’s also his representative when dealing with faraway Rites. Harrison shared Birch’s more callous attitude, as can be seen in his casual suggestion to stir up war between the European powers to create a cover for the Order’s activities (✉️”The Manila Galleons”, 1742).

Edward Braddock 　While he and Birch were already falling out with each other by the 1750s, the fact that he was the one the Grand Master went to when he needed someone to help him attack the Kenway mansion is probably enough to suggest that Birch at least used to trust him (enough to make him his dirty jobs guy, which is saying a lot). Braddock’s disrupting of Haytham’s attempt to find his father’s killers, essentially a cover-up of Birch’s involvement in the murder (✉️”The Siege of Bergen-op-Zoom”, 1747), can be seen as a show of goodwill to a former friend, so it seems that something still remained from the mutual respect they used to have.

Haytham Kenway 　It’s probably not inaccurate to call Haytham Birch’s protégé, what with the personal rearing and tutoring the Grand Master did for him since Edward’s death when the boy was 10. Having painted a picture of himself as not only his caretaker and teacher, but also a benevolent Templar Knight™ who only meant well for the world, it’s not hard to see why Haytham thought serving him was a good idea. On the other end, Birch seemed to have absolute trust in Haytham as his student and personal executioner (he obviously has great confidence in his skill at long-term deception here). 

Lawrence Washington 　Birch most likely met Lawrence when the latter was studying in a grammar school in England (1729-38). We don’t know how old Lawrence was when he was inducted into the Order, but by the end of his school years, he was already a Master Templar, the direct subordinate of a Grand Master, at a mere 20 years old (!). I don’t know what he did to earn that promotion, but that’s a fast track runner if I ever saw one 😂 If even fledgling Assassin Shay knew he was an important Templar, he must have been quite something. The only clue we have as to why he joined the Order was that he had “great ambitions that Templars have helped fulfill” (Rogue Seq1-3, “Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy”) . Birch probably had a hand in that, and the exchange of favours for loyalty certainly fit into his usual tactics. The Grand Master showed that he had a lot of faith in this new overachiever in his parting letter to Lawrence, mailed when he was going home from England to Virginia in 1738 to look for the Grand Temple, so I imagine the disappointment he showed in his next letter in 1750 was well-warranted when, after 12 years of waiting, he still has no idea where this Precursor structure was.

George Monro 　So, the Colonel. Much like Haytham, he was explicitly named as one of Birch’s agents, and was dispatched to the colonies to pick up the slack in Lawrence’s efforts to locate the Grand Temple (✉️“Monro”, 1750). However, since Monro’s history with the Order before his transfer to the colonies is just one giant black hole, it’s hard to pinpoint how or why the Colonel got close enough to Birch to be sent for this exact purpose. Given that the Grand Temple is Birch’s #1 priority, he’d hardly just throw random people at the task; it could be that he was just sending the best Templars his Rite has to offer at the moment (and the Colonel sure looked like he belonged in that category), but I think it had to, above all, be someone he trusted could get the job done. Monro was already obviously very loyal to the Order, and with an absolute respect for authority, sounded like he’d do virtually anything if the Grand Master of his Rite commands him to (orders from above and all that, right? *wink wink*). Given these traits of his, I don’t think Birch would ever need to manipulate/blackmail/bribe him into serving his needs… But was it really as simple as just saying “do it for the Order”? 🤔 We can have several very different versions of the Colonel depending on how one writes this part out.

☙ The British Rite Under Birch ☙ “You have not encountered cunning or danger until you have faced a British Templar.“

　According to Miko, the remaining co-leader of the British Assassins after Edward’s death, in a letter of warning to Achilles, a British Templar is the most dangerous Templar there is (✉️”Warning”, 1751). It’s an interesting statement, and a believable one too, since he’d had the chance to go toe-to-toe against them in person; and with his work also taking him around Europe (ie. that Corsica episode with Haytham), I think we can assume he said this while also taking other Rites into consideration. If the statement is true, this sheds a bit of light into the state of the Templar Order at the time: although it’s still got ways to go before becoming the biggest empire on Earth, Britain’s global influence was on the rise at this point in time, and the British Templars and Assassins would both naturally want to capitalize on the fact to strengthen their own parties (or, to put it differently, if one of them went for it and the other one didn’t follow suit and get there first, the loser would surely get wiped out). The Templars won this round soundly by getting rid of both the Assassins’ leading figures in London (Edward in 1735, Miko in 1754) and tossing the net of their influence far and wide, all the way up to the court of King George II (✉️”The Swedish Levant Company”, 1748).

　As for how it came to be, Birch’s ruthlessness and thirst for Precursor knowledge likely played a considerable part. Nothing is sacred to him when it comes to finding more leads on First Civilization remnants; even Edward’s and Miko’s deaths were arguably more about the research and artifacts they owned than the positions they held within the British Brotherhood. This hunt also had the side effect of driving him to expand his network of contacts across other Rites and distant lands, evident in the locations where the slew of letters addressed to him were sent from, to make a global search effort possible. Of course, he needed money to fund all these operations, but as a successful merchant and the head of the British Rite, financial problems were probably not an issue for him. So under his leadership, the British Rite became a well-funded, well-connected enterprise—if the Templar Order was a country, the British Rite would’ve become something like its capital city. As of Birch’s time, they appear to have held a leading position among the other Rites.

　If this was what happened, I suspect the British Rite’s members would probably have to be (or become) as tough as nails to survive, considering there’s no way the local Brotherhood would just sit and watch as their enemies’ influence grew, and would try their best to curtail it. Assuming the Assassins stepped up their game to match up with the Templars, and managed to at least cull the weaker members (while the stronger ones would be the only ones left—oops) before the Order took London entirely from them until the end of Starrick’s reign, it’s not hard to imagine that the kind of Templars Miko had to deal with would give him this particular nasty impression. Also, considering Birch’s nature, the kind of Templars that thrive best under his rule would probably be more like him than not, creating a pretty vicious collection of adversaries for the Brotherhood. 

[akatokuro]

With the advent of Go Away, Milo: The Episode: The Series: The Franchise: The Life, some more in-depth thoughts about Saintia Sho and the fundamental problems I have with it.

I watched the first episode of Saintia Sho when it aired, and found it cute and interesting enough. A series revolving around ladies, awesome! Saint Seiya is fun in its goofy way, but that was always an obvious hole within its fabric. And the protagonist seems very cute and earnest, and I love the focus on Saori. With my interest in Saint Seiya recently being tragically reignited, I went ahead and binged on the manga soon after.

Uh... well.

Well.

That sure was a lot of Milo!

Okay, well, let's look at the premise of Saintia Sho and what it's about in relation to Saint Seiya as a whole. There's actually a really interesting, unique, potentially fascinating setup going on here!

yumetabibito pointed this out to me, but Saintia Sho actually has a more "standard" shounen setup than the rest of the franchise, in terms of Shoko starting out as a normal person who ends up sort of tripping and falling into Sainthood, and learning about it from the ground up. Which, in a lot of ways, when she finds out it's actually composed of an entire worldview and a lifestyle, and not just magic punching powers, would be fucking wild for an ordinary person to wrap their head around.

Sainthood is a really screwed up, brutal, dehumanizing process. The training candidates are young children who mostly get killed in the process. The series basically opens up with "to train new Saints, we kidnapped a hundred orphans, and ninety of them died! Well, them's the breaks! Get going on protecting Athena, kids!" Saints aren't allowed to marry or generally have children. They are expected to devote themselves wholly to Athena, body and soul. To become a Saint is to prepare yourself for death. It is expected that basically everyone will die in the Holy War. These things are repeated over and over.

And that element is present in Saintia Sho. You have Mayura trying to lock Shoko away because her being so strongly fueled by her love of her sister is unacceptable in a Saint. You have Mayura, again, reminding Saori that she is the Goddess of War and "it is a Saint's role to die." Even in terms of basic plot points, being unable to save Kyoko and having to kill her instead for the good of the world at large fits into this idea. You have Katya having to sacrifice her love for Saga and literally wipe all traces of it from her mind in order to accomplish her mission as a Saint.

It's an interesting tension throughout the original series, which, emotionally, more or less culminates when Ikki finds himself unable to kill Shun in spite of all of his tough-talk before then. And even though there is a climax of sorts with Ikki in regards to it, I wouldn't say Saint Seiya devotes an actual specific "exploring this theme" to it, per se. As established, Saint Seiya is generally pulled from Kurumada's ass to sell toys, but nonetheless - that tension still did emerge, one way or another.

Saintia Sho, though, seems to go out of its way to more explicitly embrace this through the subplots of the various Saintias. Mii makes it clear that her devotion to Saori goes way beyond simply a servant for her Goddess. Nearly every single Saintia besides Mii has a subplot about having to face off against a loved one, that they feel they have personally failed in the past, in order to accomplish their duties, in an almost formulaic way that Saint Seiya never really did. EVERYONE HAS A DEAD SISTER THEY MUST DEFEAT. And once again, Katya's whole deal is falling in love with Saga, something that is seen as unacceptable in a Saintia.

This is complemented by the early focus on Saori herself. Saori is a good girl, who genuinely loves and cares about the people around her, and is deeply troubled by the institution of Sainthood being necessary for the greater good and for her own protection. It's a great idea to focus on Saori's pain over this, and her trauma, grief, and nightmares about people suffering and dying for her sake. There is an inherent contradiction about Saints, who are meant to help Athena protect "love and justice", being tortured and sacrificed and not allowed to actually be people in most meaningful ways. The people who protect "love" are discouraged from loving. It's an excruciating position for Saori.

You can even tie this in to the (questionable and pretty gendered, but anyway) idea of "Saintias are meant to protect Athena's noble heart." What does that mean? Well, from the various character setups and portraying Saori herself struggling emotionally near the beginning, the obvious translation is helping Saori to balance humanity, love and compassion with the actual duties of being a goddess and commanding the Saints.

So with this basic setup - we have a more explicit look at Athena being torn up at how her Saints are treated - an ordinary person in Shoko who would suffer total culture shock at the zealotry of Sainthood, and is basically committing a form of heresy by entering Sainthood for solely personal reasons - and a team full of girls who all have personal emotion-fueled encounters standing in the way of their duties - Scorpio Milo also enters the fray and is a major character, with lots of pagetime devoted to his antics, to contribute... uh... hm.

Hm.

It is pretty ridiculous, with this in mind, to set up Rigel - a character who is also motivated solely by his personal love for Kyoko - as Milo's rival. Like, in this context, what does Rigel vs Milo have to add to the conversation? Milo tells him "hey, you're doing Sainthood wrong." Uh, no shit, Sherlock? Like, even if you want to have a character stand-in to take that standpoint, we already have Mayura, and more importantly, potentially the other Saintias. Why miss the opportunity to actually develop the girls and the bonds between them by not having Mii, not Milo, be the one to talk about what a great Saint Kyoko was by being willing to die? Why not set things up so Mii is ultimately the one who chooses to pull the trigger, and this being a point of tension and development within the girls' team?

Like, imagine a Mii who went there on Saori's orders to try to help Shoko, but for the good of the goddess whom she is obviously in love with, and considering herself Saori's most devoted servant, she acts on her own - to Saori's own protests - and does "what needs to be done" to protect her, as per her Saintia training and worldview. That puts Mii in a super interesting position in respect to both Saori and Shoko. Does properly serving her Goddess mean sometimes disobeying her Goddess when she feels Saori's human sentimentality is clouding her decisions? Is this what it means to protect Athena's heart?

And Rigel vs Shoko with debating ideas on how best to help Kyoko is the most obvious thing in the world. They literally have the same basic motivation, but are choosing wildly different ways to go about it - Rigel with the more fucked up, flawed one because, implicitly, he differs from Shoko in that he was conditioned to be a Saint. Sainthood demands absolute loyalty and largely giving up personal attachments and happiness. So it's natural for Rigel to just tilt that into a different directions when he decides something exists more important to him than Athena. Shoko, meanwhile, as an outsider to Sainthood, is in a position to want to search for a different way.

"What does it mean to be a Saint? What do you have to sacrifice to be a Saint? How do you love other people as a Saint? How do you protect your, and Athena's, human heart as a Saint?" is a question Shoko and the girls, close to Athena, understanding that Athena doesn't actually want Sainthood to be a glorified slaughterhouse but doesn't know any other way, are in a really specifically unique position to question and explore.

All of these things would have been great to delve into, but instead, we get pretty simplistic characters - again, Shoko doesn't seem to really develop beyond "I want to save Kyoko" and weaving awkwardly in and out of the original Saint Seiya plot - and lots and lots of Gold Saint fanservice. Shoko sits outside of Eris's keep while Milo and Aiolia storm the place, have dramatic rescues, and uncover the true villain, Saga! They have a dramatic confrontation with him! Because Shoko has... so much reason to care about Saga popping up as the antagonist...

And here's the kicker: even if you must include Milo as a major player within this story and this theme, you could still make it work. You just have to, you know, keep him in character.

If you want to keep Milo, have Shoko actually react to his attitude and his actions. Milo would consider he and Shoko to be polar opposites on the Saint spectrum. Milo is all about pride as a Saint, he thinks he embodies Sainthood more than anyone else - he even argues with or overrides Athena in the name of Proper Sainthood. He shittalks Aiolia because he has "traitor's blood" and is pissy about Aiolia possibly dying because it'd make the rest of them look bad. He gets huffy about being assigned missions he considers "beneath him" as a Gold Saint. Milo is stupid enough about this to put Kanon through this whole hazing torture ritual to prove he's worthy of Sainthood while they're being invaded by Specters coming to assassinate Athena at that very moment and Kanon is in the literal process of trying to fend them off.

Shouldn't this sort of attitude be very repellant to someone like Shoko, who loves her family, only became a Saint out of the desire to save her family, and was raised as a normal person? Shoko finds all of Mayura's talk about love being a form of evil and Athena's worthiness completely incomprehensible. Milo's arrogance and ideas of being the High Standard for all Saints to have to measure up against is off the charts. The series touches briefly on the idea that Saintias are looked down upon by regular Saints to begin with. Wouldn't it make sense to involve Milo on some level in this, because Milo is very, very uptight about Saint Standards?

This doesn't mean you have to make Milo evil. But he can at least start out as logically antagonistic as far as Shoko is concerned, and very skeptical of her capacity to succeed as a servant of Athena. You can carve him out as a figure that Shoko looks at and thinks "I don't want to be this kind of Saint." Shoko can make him soften, or change his mind, or prove herself worthy in his eyes. And it gives Shoko the ability to wrestle with a concrete figure she thought was respectable actually being a huge reflections of the aspects of Sanctuary and Sainthood that she would find troubling. I would love the idea of Shoko and Milo actually challenging each other instead of their interactions stopping at "wow, what a strong, dreamy Gold Saint here to princess carry me away!"

And finally, for Milo himself, I'll be blunt: what the hell are you smoking when it comes to a series with the recurring theme of negotiating personal love vs Saint duty, include Milo as a major character - the major Gold Saint - and then, uh, basically pretend like Camus doesn't exist?

There was already a tension throughout Milo's character in terms of him having to negotiate his friendship with Camus, who he loves so, so, so much, and his own ego-driven ideas of what is necessary to be a worthy Saint. You can see it in almost every appearance he has. (And this is me actually delving into the fun time of "cross-referencing the pachinko with the gacha game and...) Milo running all the way to Siberia because he's freaking out about Camus not responding to the Pope's summons quickly enough. (Warning him: you'll be seen as a traitor, dumbass!) Milo fantasizing about Camus and he in perfect harmony as loyal Saints to Athena. Milo in EpG going out of his way to nose his way into Aiolia's business because he's worried it'll somehow reflect badly on Camus in the eyes of Sanctuary. His over-the-top tantrums about it in Soul of Gold, failing to even notice Camus protecting him.

And fundamentally, of course, Camus himself. The person Milo, Pride of Sainthood, Gatekeeper of Sainthood, loves more than anyone else in the world is someone who, when it comes down to the wire, is not only very much driven by personal love and a very humanistic moral code, but is willing to toss aside duty and Athena for his loved ones if it's a dire enough situation. Camus doesn't actually care about the institution of Sanctuary. Athena only matters so much as she is useful to actually help people. And there's a sense that Milo did his best to just refuse to actually process those things about his beloved best friend, because of the implications it carried. Milo walking that weird mental la-la-la tightrope is interesting.

Milo is someone who has internalized Sainthood so much that Camus can't explain the traumatic, painful (if very stupid filler) reasons he's abandoning it without Milo taking it completely personally and rejecting it out of hand. To him, as far as Camus goes, rejecting being a Saint is a rejection of Milo himself, and he completely loses his head about it. Milo is someone who, in a lot of ways, cannot reconcile how much he loves this person - because he does, truly - with his role as a Saint. When you try to force him, it comes out in extremely weird crying-while-strangling-him ways.

There would obviously be an interesting place for a person like this within Saintia Sho's setup and themes.

So if you must have Rigel vs Milo, you can still have some form of the broader conversation - how they choose (or chose, in Milo's case, since Camus died) to "protect" their respective loved ones. Rigel is choosing a path of absolute unconditional loyalty, protecting Kyoko no matter what she becomes or how much harm she causes, even if it means throwing away everything else. Milo, on the other hand, was in this constant state of trying to correct or cover for Camus. Constantly subtly warning Camus not to step out of line, or punishing him for doing so - because Milo is really afraid to lose him. Because as a Saint, Milo can't actually choose him.

So how would he react to seeing Shoko, shamelessly, blatantly, unapologetically, and repeatedly, choosing her sister, and trying to find another way that, unlike with Rigel, he can’t just dismiss?

(Milo and Rigel are both wrong, by the way, and both stances reflect that neither of them are really thinking of their loved ones' actual feelings and wellbeing, but nonetheless. But you can even play that up: Rigel's tactics led to losing both himself and Kyoko, fundamentally, and Milo still lost Camus and even wound up hurting him even further, no matter how much he tried to corral him in and squash out his disloyalty. You guys both suck, congratulations.)

But of course, there's none of anything like that! Milo's role as a hardass, arrogant Saint is stripped from him in any meaningful way, and his internal conflict over Camus is stripped from him too, so what we've left with is Generic Cool Gold Saint who, well, looks like Milo, and... is there for cool badass action scenes and heroism that the girls should have gotten? There is literally no actual reason for Milo as he exists to be there, let alone take up so much pagetime and focus. He adds nothing to Shoko's story. He adds nothing to the themes. He adds nothing to the question of the role of the Saintias. Hell, he adds nothing to his own story arc and struggles.

Go away, Milo.

To the manga's credit, in the more recent chapters it's finally tilting towards focusing on the girls, which is fantastic. It just took way, way too long (and it's pretty obvious that for all intents and purposes we're basically on the final story arc) and for some reason Pod Person Milo is still hanging around trying to act like he's relevant.