#the shared destiny between a society's number one public enemy and their accidently complicit enablers can be something that is so personal

[envahisseurzim]

red and purple of all irkens becoming tallest just as they have to deal with the worst threat their empire has ever known (zim) might just be the worst matchup in history it's like the stars aligning for the irken empire's inevitable demise

you see, painting zim as the main actor behind the eventual downfall of irk is easy and understandable, but the thing is the tallest definitely play a part in there as well. and it's because they don't do shit

despite being the runt and disgrace of the irken empire, zim represents everything his kin values pushed to its logical absolute. in this way, his workaholism and eagerness to contribute to the empire puts him even more in opposition to the current tallest at the top of the hierarchy - completely bored and disinterested in their duty towards the empire as leaders, yet free to indulge in their hedonism and innate privilege.

together, they encompass the best and worst in the eyes of the irkens ; that which is valuable or worthless, that which is beneficial or harmful, that which is desirable or undesirable, that which is admirable or shameful... those traits split between the two forces like a sort of yin and yang. but although they may be pitted against eachother, with zim framed as the pariah scorned by the empire he so wants to serve, and the tallest as irresponsible poster children for excellence in irken society, it's the interaction between the former's destructive tendencies and the latter's apathy and unwillingness to deal with them effectively that will lead the empire to its doom