#rayllum is so interesting imagine reducing them that badly

[tategaminu]

"Familial Bonds are nothing compared to Romantic Bonds"

Except that TDP has never held that message, at all. In fact, all forms of love are treated as important in TDP. Romantic bonds overlap with familial bonds; Rayla and Callum are family, just as Janai and Amaya are family.

I honestly have no idea and can't understand why Amaya's scene is used to prove this point at all. It isn't meant to show that familial bonds are as important as opposed to in S7; it was meant to show Amaya's struggles after her sister died, how she was suffering alone like Rayla. Right after that, she explains how Janai, her romantic partner, helped her. She didn’t have to do everything alone, just like Rayla doesn’t have to. This scene is showing that you should trust and share your burdens with your loved ones, with your closest companion in this case.

"To be fair, the problem started in season 6, where Callum's 'One Truth' isn't a deep love, or protectiveness, of loved ones; it's just Rayla"

It's amazing how this is still controversial to some people. Yes, overall love could have been Callum's one truth, but we are talking about the ONE truth, which is, in fact, deep love—deep love for a specific person, but still love. Why would it be protectiveness? His one truth being about… protection? He loves his family, but he mostly loves Ezran and Rayla. Rayla is just special to him, so…

Let's check Callum's character and why Rayla being his one truth makes total sense:

Callum started as a solitary boy who lost both of his biological parents at a young age and was living as a step-prince in a castle. He had a strained relationship with his stepdad, struggled with being a prince, and had only two friends in his life, with whom he barely had any relationship—Soren even bullying him. He was a very lonely person, with his closest bond being with his little brother. And while that may be cute, there’s only so much bond or common ground we can have with a 5-year-younger brother.

What changed this exactly? Rayla. The day Rayla came into his life was the day his life changed forever. Rayla was the first one to call him a mage; she was always there, listening to him, not caring at all about his prince status. They both bonded and became best friends quickly, something neither of them had in their lives before meeting each other. They went through a lot together in a short period of time. Rayla never doubted him or his abilities. Rayla showed him real courage and inspired him to get better. She was the indirect reason he could master the air arcanum.

Rayla must have been the first person who spoke so highly of Callum, the first one to call him her best friend.

They both grew attached to each other so quickly because they finally found someone who had unconditional love for the other. Before meeting Rayla, absolutely nobody had the confidence in him that she did. Neither of them had someone who was so loyal to them before meeting each other.

Callum became miserable in those two years without her, and once she returned, his feelings for her were complicated. But when he found his one truth, his feelings finally became clear, allowing him to take the next step.

Why wouldn’t his feelings for her be his one truth? He was dealing with a major imposter syndrome throughout the entire arc, but you know who never had doubts about him? Her.

Callum used to think he was nothing, but Rayla thinks he's everything. They are both people with self-worth issues who found someone who loved the other unconditionally.

Also, to add, Janai and Amaya are each other's one truths, just like Callum and Rayla, but apparently, this is only Rayllum's problem for some reason, even though they have had more development as individuals and as a couple than Janai and Amaya.

"There's a difference between sharing all of yourself with the one you love, and giving up yourself for the one you love."

Callum hasn’t given himself up for her—like, where exactly? In fact, it’s the complete opposite. By finding his one truth (his love for her), he was able to embrace his own identity as well, because dark magic was consuming his spirit and spiraling his mind into self-doubt and hatred. They both have the goal of protecting each other to the point of sacrificing their happiness or lives, as long as the other is okay, but it’s equal.

"You are you; a young man who happens to be in love with a young elf named Rayla. You are not vessel of love specifically made for Rayla."

Once again, where is it stated or shown that he's a vessel specifically made for Rayla? Rayla doesn’t even treat him that way; she doesn’t see him as her love vessel, she sees him as his own person. He is his own person, and the narrative never reduces him (or Rayla) to just love interests.

The core of Callum's character is that he cares more about his loved ones than the kingdom or himself. In fact, he chooses to sacrifice himself to save them all, and if it had meant sacrificing himself to save her, he would have done it too—because he loves her, not because he's her love vessel (what a way to describe something).

"You can live with her happiness in mind, you can adjust your goals for the sake of your lives together, but you still need to have an identity outside of her."

Once again, when does he not have an identity outside of her? Callum is a young man who loves doing magic; he has his own personality and arc, just like her. It just so happens that their developments are intertwined. In fact, this season and previous seasons have been linked to the theme of identity (as shown, for example, by Callum choosing his own destiny, which she respects even if it means sacrificing her own heart).

"If you like Rayllum, awesome! Enjoy, just don’t use it as a model for your own relationships"

I mean… that's the point?? I don't think you should overall use a fictional couple as a model for your own relationships; fictional stuff is fictional stuff. Of course, some couples out there are good enough to take as an example. But we’re talking about a magical boy who threw himself off a cliff for his girl — that can’t happen in real life. And honestly, Rayllum is actually a very healthy couple. Codependent? Yes, but we’re talking about two people with abandonment issues who have survived a ton of stuff together; they mostly have each other.

And Rayllum is actually a very good model, if you know what to take out of them. They both support each other, listen to each other, save each other, respect each other's decisions, and enjoy spending time together. You know what toxic couples do? None of these things. You have to be equal with your partner, and Rayllum is. In a world full of Edwards and Bellas, why wouldn't you take Rayla and Callum as an example? In fact, a lot of people could learn from them. A lot of men could learn from Callum about how to treat a girl. He's a great example of a good partner and healthy masculinity.

The goal for fictional couples is also to be entertaining; their being codependent makes it even more interesting for a lot of us, and it makes a lot of sense in their narrative. Shouldn't a fictional couple be more fun and interesting than a real-life one? That's what fiction is for.

"it’s not healthy to be so hyper fixated on your partner that you burn other loving healthy relationships without serious consideration."

Except that Callum hasn't burned his relationship with Ezran or any other person.

Callum did betray Ezran, yes, but that doesn't mean he did it without serious consideration. As he stated, Ezran will always be his brother; there's a difference between his status as high mage and being Ezran's brother. Callum wasn't cutting ties with him or renouncing their bond. Callum never showed any special interest in being a high mage, while he showed great love for Ezran.

Why did he betray Ezran then? Easy: just because he was his brother doesn’t mean he had to agree with him. Ezran had every right to be mad, but he was holding Runaan hostage (the father of their best friend) when he forgave Zubeia, the main reason their father died. Callum had a point about the cycle of violence, something the show is very clear about: choosing forgiveness and stopping hate.

Like Callum makes his point here, things are complicated.

Then Callum goes to help Rayla because what was he supposed to do? Let her get hurt or worse, killed? (Ezran wouldn’t have killed her, but he could have killed Runaan, her father—the one they both fought so hard to bring back).

Now, Callum and Rayla both have abandonment issues. They suffered for two years without each other. While she’s more willing to separate from him because she’s really self-sacrificial, they both hate the thought. Callum has stated he doesn’t want to be separated from her; they are both happy with each other.

And one of the narratives these two hold is that they do things together, as a team, and that's a very good message. You don't have to do everything alone; you can ask for help.

Now, another thing is that in this situation (and overall), Ezran has Soren, Corvus, Opeli, and Zym, but Rayla only had Callum by her side. It wouldn't have made sense for his character and loyalty to side with his brother on this, especially in a situation that hurt Rayla and that he didn’t even agree with.

Callum choosing to go with her and betray Ezran made complete sense for his character.

TDP emphasizes romance a lot, but also doesn't dismiss other kinds of relationships. In fact, it acknowledges all forms of love—familial, platonic, romantic... The reason Aaravos wants to bring pain to the world is because of the death of his daughter, which the series also shows: that love can make you do both good and bad things. This is something they also explore with Rayllum. Love can save you and can doom you (Rayla has both saved and doomed Callum, for example).

Whatever kind of relationship is more important and works better depends on the characters themselves. For Callum, his main relationship is Rayla, a romantic one; for Aaravos, it's a familial one. TDP's message wasn't that romantic relationships are superior, but that love overall is what motivates someone.

TDP Season 5: Familial Bonds are as essential as Romantic Bonds

TDP Season 7: Familial Bonds are nothing compared to Romantic Bonds.

To be fair, the problem started in season 6, where Callum's 'One Truth' isn't a deep love, or protectiveness, of loved ones; it's just Rayla. Which, I just want to bring the boy in close and tell him: "There's a difference between sharing all of yourself with the one you love, and giving up yourself for the one you love. You are you; a young man who happens to be in love with a young elf named Rayla. You are not vessel of love specifically made for Rayla. You can live with her happiness in mind, you can adjust your goals for the sake of your lives together, but you still need to have an identity outside of her."

And this is just another example of them coming up with a really good concept, just to throw it away later. It's not as big as 'it's a circle of violence, but not giving Xadia their fair share of blame', or 'it takes time and effort to get over upprejudice, except when it doesn’t for time constraints and/or would interfere with cute domestic moments', but I still think it needs to be shared.

(If you like Rayllum, awesome! Enjoy, just don’t use it as a model for your own relationships, it’s not healthy to be so hyper fixated on your partner that you burn other loving healthy relationships without serious consideration.)