#snake boi callum

[raayllum]

This was some of the most insane shit to ever come of Callum's mouth, and that was saying something

[zuppizup]

I’m still processing S7 but Callum really froze Claudia’s blood, eh?

[hiccupshypotheticalleftsock]

end credit images for tdp 7x07

[elf-callum-human-rayla]

My thoughts on season 7

I loved season 7. I really do! Yet, I can’t help but feel disappointed with what could be the final season of the series.

I feel so disappointed because it had everything I could want and more, it was comfortable. Too comfortable.

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT FOR SEASON 7

Rayla x Callum aka Rayllum

I’ve mentioned before that season six felt like it was straight out of a fanfic and it was magical. I really loved it, because it also worked for the story. It made sense that those things happened, because that’s where they were up to relationship wise. It was the calm before the storm, emphasising all that they had to lose in the coming battle.

Now don’t get me wrong, I squealed at every rayllum moment in season 7. But unlike last season, it didn’t feel like it fit the story. This season was suppose to be intense - it’s a story that has been building up for six seasons - this is the climax. And yet, they spent half the season basically in a domestic blissful ignorance in the Silvergrove.

I can understand some time there. Some of that needed to be in there - they did believe that it was truly over. It made the fact that when they find out that they failed their last mission all the more devastating.

BUT it was too much. And it feels very wrong to say that because I loved it so much. But a lot of that didn’t shouldn’t have fit into the story before the big fight that’s what season six was for.

Snake boi Callum aka dark magic Callum

The trailer suggests, and all the promo, basically suggests this massive struggle between Callum and dark magic. And there is, kinda. But I have two main problems with how it was dealt with.

1. That whole talking to himself scene felt like it was put in just so that they could have something to grab for the trailer. It had some substance, it showed the internal struggle Callum was facing. The fact that even through he found his true north, it doesn’t mean he is completely perfect. But that leads to my next point:

2. There were no real consequences to Callum using dark magic in the end. Sure, he got his white streak. But at the starscraper Kosmos tells Callum, that if he is ever to use dark magic again he would be lost to it. But, he’s not?

It was an intense scene, Callum having no choice but to turn to dark magic if he wants to trap Aaravos forever. But the consequence is dark magic would have a firm grip on his soul - Aaravos would be able to control him. And in the end Aaravos is temporarily defeated and it never actually happens.

This would be completely fine if there was more story coming (I talk about that in the next point) and it could be (fingers crossed). But there’s a chance that it won’t. If the story continues, I can see this becoming a massive problem for them later down the line when Aaravos returns.

But if we were to treat this season as the final season, all of that build up just fizzled away. We won’t get to see the long term consequences of what happened.

Which brings me to the next thing:

There is no real win at the end of the day, but they treat it as one.

There were so many ways they could have defeated, or temporarily defeated Aaravos. In the end it’s only temporary - another 7 years and 19 days until he returns. And we may never get to actually see that.

It was a situation where they won, but they also didn’t, which is a way to end it (see my last point about Merlin). There was a way to trap him (kinda) forever in a coin much like the pearl did I don’t think they were devastated enough that all their work is only a temporary reprieve.

Again, if we knew the story was continuing that would be the perfect way to continue it. They faced him down once, but have only stopped him temporarily and need to work on stopping him once and for all. But there might not be a chance to tell that story. If it just ends there, like that, there is no real resolution after all that build up. I would be incredibly disappointed if that’s where it ended.

It was somehow too fast and too slow

A lot of things felt rushed, there wasn’t enough time to really address every little thing. The beautiful thing about season three is that everything was connected, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Everything lead to the battle at the storm spire, where all of the storyline’s that had been established, had come to some conclusion or another. Even though that wasn’t the end of the series, it could have been left there and still feel like a complete show.

I’m so glad it didn’t end there, but if it did it would’ve been okay. If the series does end with season 7, all those established storylines, all that build up over the seasons don’t get a conclusion. We see that with dark magic Callum, where it was set up to be a big thing just for it not to be.

Next point: Soren should have died (PLEASE put down the pointy sticks and hear me out)

I didn’t want Soren to die, I still don’t want Soren to die. But Soren’s death would be devastating to both sides. It would be in line with his character to take a fatal blow while protecting someone else.

It would’ve really added an edge to the final battle, the heroes facing the reality that they (temporarily) won at a cost. Basically all of the arch dragons die which is something, but it doesn’t feel as personal as a member of their own team dying in the midst of the fight.

Added bonus that it would really send Claudia off the edge. She’s just lost her father, she’s just lost Terry, now she’s lost her brother. It would make more sense why she sides with Aaravos, because she is hurt and is taking it out against the world. Instead she just accepts it and escapes to wait it out for Aaravo’s return - which we might not even get to see.

If Soren didn’t die, something equally as devastating would need to happen.

Sorry for the long post, if you’re still here, hi! Basically what I am saying is that if the show ends here that would be disappointing, not only because it would be over, but because season 7 is not a series finale season. It has been left incomplete. I can see why they wanted to do that, in the hopes that they do get to write more. And I’m sure it’s a terribly tricky balance to write in the hopes of something more but the chance that there won’t be. But they did do it with season 3.

I think a big reason why I feel like this doesn’t work as a season finale is because they are acting as though it’s all over. There’s no sense of the doom that is to come, a whole “we haven’t finished but we won’t give up” kind of ending.

I thought about the ending of Merlin - spoiler alert if you haven’t watched it - it has a completely heartbreaking ending. But it works because the story feels complete. Even though everything didn’t work out, the story was done. Everything was tied up. There was this sense of “we won but we lost” yet the story is complete. AND the added bonus of being able to continue the story with its ending if they so desired.

Despite all of this there are so many things that they did well (angry Ezran and Terry’s realisation being my favs). Don’t get me wrong, I really did love season 7. But it could’ve been better and less fan service.

Thanks for listening to my little all over the place Ted talk. Let’s hope this isn’t the end, cause that would be very disappointing.

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

- Sarah J Maas, Throne of Glass

[otter-and-terrier]

so. uhhh now that season 7 has come out...

... NO 😭

on white streak callum

okay so a white streak would be SO cool. like do I even need to explain anything???

but on the other hand, it's a permanent reminder of the not-so-great things he's done (that is, dark magic).

like imagine:

yay, it's a nice day, sun is shining, birds chirping, time to brush my teeth, let's just look into the mirror-

oh shit it's the perpetual reminder of the darkness inside me and the bad things I have done that I feel immense guilt over and can't undo.

[its-leethee]

(no; no; no--

my contribution of pain for snake boi callum week; prompt: corrupted

individual portraits below the cut

Ezran felt a coldness twist its way around his heart. It took his lungs, too, and for a long moment he could not breathe, could not feel anything but an unfamiliar anger so potent it seized the whole of him, inside and out.

I ignored something that was true. I denied something that is undeniable. We are angry! I am angry.

--Reflections: Deep Below; 4x03

Rayla wanted to press her hands to her ears, but she knew she had to watch. Soon, it would be her turn to fight.

Rayla made herself strong. “I’m looking for a dark mage.”

--Reflections: Chasing Shadows

...already tainted by darkness and destined to play right into my hands.

I didn't have a choice, because... I would do anything for you.

--4x04, 6x03

[bird-freakk]

I saw someone (wish I remembered who) once mention how it would be neat if in addition to a white hair streak, Callum would have some white feathers and all I can say to that is YES PLEASE!

This was originally just a sketch I made for Snake Boi Callum week but I suck at getting things done so this just ended up in my WIP folder for a while but with S7 so close (4 DAYS!!!!😭) I wanted to go back and finish it before S7 completely destroys this headcanon lol.

[theredhairedmonkey]

I think this is something worth pointing out that I think (some) have overlooked.

That look—Callum’s look—is one of defeat. He had escaped, his group had won, and his even gotten a second Arcanum for his troubles, something that I don’t think anyone has ever been able to do!

But he had to use Dark Magic to get there, and in his mind, that means he failed. In case anyone says that Callum is willing to break his principles at any time for his loved ones, ehhhhh no. That’s the look of unbridled shame and self-loathing. That look shows that his morals are real, they exist, and even if he failed this test, there will be others in the future.

[possumdrawsstuff]

gift(albeit very late) for @raayllum!

Angsty boy to celebrate the trailer! I’m finally on break so I had a little time to draw but there has been a literal butt ton of things happening in my life including midterms! 😭

ik it’s not as good as my other work but I didn’t want to leave you hanging for any longer lol

[potatounicoorn]

All I want for christmas is for my favorite mage to go through the horrors of his inevitable destiny of dark magic corruption that he so tried to avoid <3

[raayllum]

being high mage got in the way of callum comforting rayla one (1) time and then he was like "yeah i'm quitting"

[sorinethemastermind]

My guy's got a snake tongue. Snake Boi Callum IRL?

Corrupted Callum does look kickass

[hiccupshypotheticalleftsock]

end credit images for tdp 7x08

[rayllurn]

"I did one spell. One. I had to."

[a-very-sparkly-nerd]

Broyals in their ✨️dickhead era✨️ love that for them