#seraphina unordinary

[unordinary-diary]

Seraphina and Arlo: The Brainwashing of High Tiers

Exposition:

— Remi, Episode 50.

There is a heavy implication that Seraphina and Arlo were raised in much the same way. The pressure on Seraphina comes from her parents, so I’ll extrapolate that the same goes for Arlo. This raises the question: how do the authorities create such a strong societal pressure on such a small percentage of the population? Most high tiers will probably not know any other high tiers besides their parents. Take Wellston Private High School for example: it’s the most prestigious private school around, and canonically has the “highest concentration of high tiers in the region”. There are six high tiers in Wellston. Apply this to god tiers specifically, and there are only three. Not to mention that this current group of students is uniquely strong, even for Wellston. In Rei’s senior year, he was the strongest at 5.8 max.

So much of this brainwashing relies on the parents to do all of the work, and it only takes one or two people to break the cycle. So how are the authorities creating this immense pressure? One tactic could be by isolating high tiers. There is a very widespread concept that one shouldn’t associate with those outside their level range. A caste system like this that affects everyone is much easier to create and maintain than an expectation for a small group, and it also means that high tiers are only being influenced by those who are also high level. This creates an echo chamber. I’ve researched cults and how they brainwash victims, and the first step in the process is isolating them in exactly this way.

But, if there are so few high tiers, how the hell are they supposed be isolated from other groups? The answer is that high tiers are just isolated in general. Take a look at Arlo: his only friend is Remi, and even her, he keeps at an arm’s length. Arlo is only close with Remi in the first place because he was close with Rei, who, at the time of meeting Arlo, was presumably close in level with him. [EDIT: I forgot about Holden, which I think says a lot about his relevance. He is kept at more than an arm’s length and doesn’t seem to have any actual influence on Arlo, let alone a deep relationship. He is also not presented as an equal.] Take a look at Seraphina: before meeting John, she didn’t seem to have any friends other than possibly Arlo. Seraphina and Arlo pre-John seemed to have had more of a professional relationship, and while they were not close in level, Arlo did fit the bill of being a fellow god tier, and strong enough to also be brainwashed.

Now let’s look at Remi. In episode 60, Cecile says to Remi: “And yet here you are... Always hanging around those two monkeys, Blyke and Isen. Letting them treat you as an equal even though you’re in a completely different league.” This struck me as odd because, aside from Cecile herself, the Wellston students closest in level to Remi were Arlo, Blyke, and Isen. And who is she friends with? She actually was doing a pretty good job at following that social convention, unless Cecile wanted to be friends with Remi, which she clearly didn’t. But... her friends were still not close enough to her level. Was she supposed to just not have friends at all? The answer seems to be a resounding yes. Can you think of any genuine friends that Cecile has either?

Friendship simply isn’t considered a necessity for high tiers.

But... why is it that Arlo and Seraphina were brainwashed differently? Creating a societal norm for an isolated group of people is one thing, because those people’s mindsets feed into each other. Putting pressure on individual families to keep them in line, but doing it all in different ways? That would be near impossible. My theory is that Seraphina recieved the typical high tier brainwashing, and that Arlo was raised differently because he was being groomed to work for the authorities. Seraphina didn’t have a set career path planned out for her, but if she’s trying to be “perfect” by the standards of those controlling her, she’s bound to end up going in a direction that pleases them. Arlo on the other hand was specifically planned to become an authority figure. That’s why his brainwashing is so centered on leadership. Also, growing up with direct contact to the authorities makes it more possible for them to customize his brainwashing in this way.

But does all of this apply to high tiers in general, or is it specific to god tiers? Let’s take a look at the high tiers in Wellston. We have Seraphina, John, Arlo, Terrence, Remi, Cecile, and Blyke. John is a unique circumstance because he wasn’t raised by high tiers, so we’ll cross him off the list. Terrence was also unique, so we can cross him off as well. Remi was different from the norm as well. Why is that? Well, Remi actually wasn’t raised by high tiers either. Rei said on screen that both of his parents were elites. We can cross Remi off. Blyke doesn’t fit the bill either, but that’s easy to explain. He was an elite for a large part of the story, and he shot up rather quickly. We don’t know much of his family, but he probably wasn’t expected to be a high tier at all, and was raised as an elite. (All of this also serves to emphasize how much of this brainwashing comes from a person’s parents.) That leaves only Seraphina, Arlo, and Cecile to look at.

Cecile does seem to have high tier brainwashing, but it’s not nearly as intense as with Seraphina and Arlo. She doesn’t seem “obsessive”, and she wasn’t one of the examples Remi mentioned in chapter 50. It’s clear that high tiers are brainwashed in general, but god tiers are kept on a much shorter leash. This makes sense, obviously, because keeping a population in control like that is less necessary the lower the level. However, it’s also a chicken an egg situation: god tiers are both more important to keep in control, and also easier to keep in control. It’s important to note just how many exceptions we had to cross off. People like Remi and Blyke aren’t actually that unusual— a lower leveled high tier is much more likely to have non-high tier parents, or to have not always been a high tier themselves, or just in general, to have way more day-to-day interaction with non-high tiers. The brainwashing gets more and more diffused the lower down the ladder you go.

[indieblossoms]

made some stat sheets for 2nd year Sera, ability-less Sera, and half power Sera

I had no reason to do this i just felt like it

[cuntcashier]

someone needs to draw arlo seraphina and john playing games NOW. I need seraphina and john grinding in certain videos games and arlo peaking over their shoulder every few minutes, confused at the yelling. eventually he starts looking up guides for them, trying to defuse the situation the two have gotten themselves in

[monowritestoomuch]

How UnOrdinary Characters would react if you told them that you wanted to become a vigilante:

(Hi guys, my first post like this exploded! Thanks for all the support!)

TW: swearing

John:

-He would freeze up, reminiscing what had happened to other vigilantes and wishing that you would change your mind

-He would try to tel you to reconsider but you stood firm.

-You two would argue about it ending up in him leaving to cool off and the two of you reconnecting later

-He says it’s ok but begs you to be careful, telling you that he’s going to train you in hand-to-hand combat first

-You tell him you will be and the two of you end up playing video games the rest of the day

Sera:

-would be open to it

-tells you not to be a dumbass and get yourself banged up or killed

-helps you make your costume

-teaches you pointers she learned from John about how to beat ass

Remi:

-When you say you want to be a vigilante shes not surprised.

-she tells you she’s also one and that so are Blyke and Isen.

-she helps you with your costume, your fighting style (not your vigilante name tho)

-you end up going on a patrol with her, Iswn and Blyke to see how it’s done

(cue epic fight scene)

Blyke:

-he’s surprised that you want to become one but ends up helping you train first

-you have your costume put together but he helps u come up with a name that you won’t have to come up with on the spot

-he takes you on patrol with him and it goes smooth-ish (save for beating up a few assholes)

Isen:

-bro is shooketh

-he did not originally want anyone else getting involved but like, now you are

-he help you come up with a name and a costume, keeping an eye out for you

-half tries to teach you how to fight, stating that Remi and Blyke, who are also vigilantes would help you with that part

-get you a mask that covers your whole face

-he tries to talk you out of it at first but you tell him that you’re becoming one and he accepts it eventually with a long sigh

Arlo:

-bro is shook

-he doesn’t want you to get caught by the government too, not wishing to lose ALL of his friends

-he’s tired asf

-he heavily tries to convince you out of it but you tell him that this decision is final

-he tel you he doesn’t want you getting caught or being seen like that because that’ll put a target on your back

-you reassure him but he’s still a skeptic

-he says a reluctant “fine” and lets you start to become one

-checks on you frequently and gets Elaine to heal you if shit hits the fan(oh it will)

[burstbub]

This was arlos awakening

[oplishin]

headcanons centering main cast’s passive abilities

I just think having your power constantly manifest itself in some way would be pretty impactful on your life actually

If Remi goes into a room with a lot of complex electrical stuff going on (a computer lab maybe) she’ll start getting a headache from how overstimulating it is. She functions as a portable phone charger which Blyke and Isen take full advantage of. She can identify any circuitry problem by just. feeling how the electricity is flowing through the device

Seraphina always knows exactly what time it is down to the millisecond. John always asks her what time it is just to annoy her. 

arlo tried to get more piercings once, but it didn’t work because his passive defense stopped it from happening. Any sort of invasive medical procedure does Not work on him. This includes IVs and needles in general (he hasn’t gotten vaccinated in 2 years). honestly i have a million headcanons centering arlo’s passive and his theoretical medical trauma

John uses his aura detection to sneak up on people and jumpscare them. by people i do mean arlo. 

isen’s (not a high tier but i had the idea and wanted to put it here) eyes are based on tracking movement, so he has a really hard time with focusing on things that are stationary. what im saying is that his ability gave him both adhd and dyslexia. he has hair trigger reflexes that let him crush Blyke at video games which pisses Blyke off to no end.

[cantheywinthehungergames]

Submitted anonymously

Tribute Name: Seraphina

Age: 17

Restrictions: No powers or superhuman abilities of any kind

If you would like to see your favorite character either as a tribute or as a mentor, please fill out this Google Form. Just keep in mind that for mentor polls, they will be posted every Saturday so chances are it could take a long time before they are posted.

Please also look at my pinned post for submission rules as well as a list of previously submitted characters prior to submitting your character.

[do-you-ship-this-comic-ship]

[adventuresinanarchy]

ep 308 + fast pass ep “thoughts” (incoherent rambling)

THIS ENTIRE INTERACTION WAS EVERYTHING I LOVE THE IDEA OF A BLYKE JOHN FRIENDSHIP IT'S SO SILLY

and omg i actually squealed at this isens reaction was so cute he was so happy :(((

i love elaines friends they seem so fun

&i actually really like kass she seems kindhearted AND THE REI CONTENT

okok now spoilers for 309 & 310

this is my first time fast passing anything because i had free coins im so fucking hyperfixated on silly teens and their silly powers

THE JERA WAS SO STRONG IT WAA ACTUALLY ADORABLE

and doc is so silly like he's so aksnsjsndjnw

i really don't have much to say im just so!!

i liked how sera and john had a bonding session over mommy issues it was great

that's all i had to say rhanks!!

[liviavanrouge]

Beach Day pt 2

Helga: *Laughs, smiling as John made faces*

Seraphina: You're really silly

John: Hey! Helga enjoys my funny faces!

???: Dad your faces are the worse

John: *Looks back at his son* WHO ASKED YOU WILLIAM!?

Seraphina: *Snickers* Not you beefing with your son

John: Little brat has my attitude...

Seraphina: *Snorts amused*

Arlo: *Looks up as Faith and Carlos came back*

Carlos: *Runs over* Is that Uncle John! HI UNCLE JOHN!! AUNTIE SERAPHINA TOO!!

John: Carlos! Hey bud!!

Seraphina: *Grins* Hey Carlos!

John: We heard you got your ability kid!

Carlos: Yeah! I have a Barrier just like Pa but my barrier is a snowy white texture!

Arlo: *Chuckles*

John: That's awesome!

Seraphina: Helga are you excited to get yours?

Helga: Mhm! I don't mind which I get! Mama and Papa's are both cool

John: Indeed they are! Hey, don't let us keep you, have fun with your parents alright!

Seraphina: Call us when you're home

Arlo: *Pops into view* They will

John: Have fun!

Carlos and Helga: Bye Uncle John! Bye Auntie Seraphina!

Arlo: *Reaches over, pressing the hangup button*

Faith: *Smiles at them, standing in the waves* Come on you three!

Carlos: Yeah! *Runs over to Faith and leaps into the water*

Helga: *Giggles, Arlo carrying her*

Arlo: *Sets her down and takes her hands* Here comes the wave

Helga: *Laughs, kicking her feet when Arlo lifted her up before the wave touched her feet*

Arlo: *Chuckles, setting her down when the wave retreated*

Arlo: Here it comes!

Helga: *Squeals laughing as Arlo lifted her up again*

Faith: *Laughs, splashing Carlos*

Carlos: *Gasps and hides behind Faith* AH MOM!

Arlo: *Looks over surprised* Huh?

Faith: Oh it's a jellyfish!

Faith: *Lifts her hand, her eyes glinting then aims the star forward scooping the jellyfish up and sending it back out to sea* There we go!

Arlo: *Nods to her*

Helga: *Gasps, looking away* Papa! Seashells!

Arlo: *Sets her down, following the child as she ran off to grab some*

Carlos: Wait! I want some too!

Faith: *Chuckles, walking after him*

[ninoucheuuuh]

Fanart of Seraphina

I drew a little fanart of Sera (my girl ❤).

I know that my art is not something incredible but if you want to see more, I have a DeviantArt account (NinMtc).

[unordinary-diary]

I’ve been thinking about Seraphina, and how cool it is storywise, to have such an immensely powerful character, and take everything from her. But then I revised that thought— her ability wasn’t everything to her. Her freedom was everything to her.

Seraphina then trades in her freedom to get her ability back.

[olixxxxx]

[pending125]

No cus they’re 3 of the most powerful characters that have struggled with themselves against the corrupt system the most, and their dynamics are just brilliant

Seraphina, Arlo, and John you could have been my OT3 were it not for the fact that Arlo is a nosey manipulative lil bitch, John is literally batshit insane, and Sera is emotionally unavailable for like a majority of the series

[ozyras]

runaways

[ro-rogue]

what i love most about the character development in uno is the ways in which the characters stayed the same. remi has taken off her rose-colored glasses but she's still unendingly kind. blyke will fight any injustice he sees but he's still impulsive and a little reckless. isen has become so much braver but he's still practical and doesn't have a hero complex. arlo is finally (finally) willing to fight the institution and even in that he needs to appear perfectly level-headed and in control. john is at last doing something heroic - by fighting people, of course - and he still completely disregards his own wellbeing and his limits. seraphina is fully rebelling against everything her parents stand for and support, but now she cannot afford to make mistakes. she needs to train her ability back to its old level and perhaps even above it, she (and leilah and darren) needs to know as much as possible in order to stay ahead of the authorities and spectre, and she has no time for frivolous things like friendship.

all of this is to illustrate that well-written character development involves keeping some key traits at least somewhat intact, and adapting other existing traits into similar ones that best fit the new environment. time and trauma change people, of course, but in a lot of ways people will remain similar to who they once were, and writing your characters this way often makes for more dynamic and emotionally devastating character development. the 'what have you become?' moment often is a lot more impactful if there are still traces of who they once were present, and positive character development is often a lot more believable if the character doesn't completely change personalities.