#because it just kinda strips down the real meat of the issue: they meant to write Claude as being OOC

[butwhatifidothis]

I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the fact that they intentionally made Claude OOC. Like why, under any circumstance, would any developer or writer want to do that to their game? How would that in any way shape or form benefit the game to do that? Can they not hear themselves? Even fanfiction writers get flack for writing characters OOC but then you turn to THE SOURCE and they come out and say that they intentionally wrote a character wrong for the lolz?

The full context of that can be found here (near the end), but to sum it up: they basically did it to showcase what the characters would be like without Byleth/Garreg Mach. In essence, it’s them saying that “they only look out of character, but that’s just because it’s a different environment! they’re totally the same!” To quote them:

"In this game, because of the Officer’s Academy was suspended soon, the students have been taken away the time to bond with allies and the opportunity to understand each other across different houses. That fact had impact on how a lot of the students form their personalities, and thus changed the content of support conversations. If you feel “Huh? I don’t remember this character having this kind of personality…” at some point, that’s exactly the difference caused by the situation of this game."

Which... kind of speaks to their mindset regarding the characters of 3H, and I don't mean to say that in a good way. They basically see some characters COUGHCLAUDECOUGH as having such weak and malleable foundations and personalities that they would completely and utterly change the second the devs' favorite child/monastery is taken out of the picture. They even say it themselves - they MEANT to change the characters' characters, because in their mind (at least, if we take this as being their genuine intention) these characters would genuinely be nothing like they are in 3H were it not for specifically and only Byleth/Garreg Mach.

So, for example: Claude. His curiosity which brought him over to Fodlan in the first place? Byleth and Garreg Mach. His want to know the truth about his surroundings and to broaden his perspective regarding the world around him, which were also partly why he came to Fodlan? Byleth and Garreg Mach. His unwillingness to work with Edelgard, even when Byleth sides with her on CF and thus tacitly approves of her actions and even with Claude distrusting the Church and even with Claude supposedly being an amoral opportunist who sides with whoever looks like the winner? Byleth and Garreg Mach. Hopes and its creators say that without Byleth and Garreg Mach Claude would have never had the traits that he is shown to have before he ever met Byleth or set foot in Garreg Mach. Or are otherwise completely unaffected by Byleth or Garreg Mach. 

To say nothing of the fact that that quote I took from the interview is directly contradicted by... Hopes. By the characters constantly whinin' and cryin' and shiddin' and snottin' about having to fight their classmates - so much for them not bonding with those from different houses, because they literally never act like it. Hell, the one time I can think of where that ever happens is during a specific interaction in SB, on its bad end where Claude betrays the Empire. If you have Ignatz fight Claude, he’ll go on about their time as “fellow Golden Deer” and asks Claude why he’s doing this, to which Claude kinda reasonably responds “Were Golden Deer. Now you’re just another one of Count Gloucester’s lousy knights.” Which, you know, makes sense that Claude’s response is so “cold” considering that Claude has known Ignatz in this timeline as a “fellow Golden Deer” for, like a month? Max? A time in which they literally can’t even have supports with each other even on GW, so they were literally disallowed to grow close to each other in any way during that time? But Claude is portrayed as the asshole in the situation because he did not value his time with the Golden Deer in Garreg Mach. Y’know, that thing in this game that the devs are insisting 

LITERALLY DIDN’T EXIST.

It’s such a blatant case of wanting their cake and eating it too. They wanna say that these personality changes happened because “No Byleth, no Garreg Mach,” meanwhile the characters are unrelenting in their boo-hoo’s about fighting people trying to kill them because they were around said people in Garreg Mach for A MONTH MAX. These personality changes are because they’re just so much worse without Byleth around to guide them or their experiences in Garreg Mach, meanwhile Claude is the only main character (and one of the few characters period) to have his character have such a drastic change be as negative as it is - Dimitri and Edelgard are inarguably better off without Byleth, as Dimitri has a support system that’s actually allowed to interact with him in a meaningful way and Edelgard is described by the devs of Hopes to be happy in this game with everything going well for her (essentially, “We didn’t wanna step on 3H’s toes, also fuck CF in its entirety lol SB is way better for Edelgard”). But “No Byleth/Garreg Mach” is supposed to be a bad thing, but only for specifically Claude evidently, despite him being the most independent from Byleth character wise of the three lords. 

And. Like. A bit of a tangent but. You don’t really want your audience to feel that a character’s personality has ever changed, per se. You more want them to feel as though it’s gone through development in some way, not that it’s outright different unless something extreme happened to them. Like, extreme extreme. Take Dimitri, in 3H: he goes from polite if snarky and dry-humored to becoming far more prone to violence and being very distant from others between pre-timeskip and post-timeskip. But 1) that’s something that’s directly a result of his experiences throughout the story, and can be seen as something that is building up to what it becomes as one goes through the story - it’s not just springed on the player out of nowhere, it makes sense as to why Dimitri is acting differently from Point A to Point B. And 2) in both moments in his character arc, he never hurts innocents, he still recognizes people like Dedue as being deeply important to him, he rarely genuinely forces people to do what he wants more than he does nothing to stop others from following his reckless and dangerous tendencies, he’s actually still compassionate to some degree (noted here to still retain some empathy) - these core things stay the same, even if the character is acting radically different. And because of that, you can understand how he can recover, because he never lost those core traits that made him good. 

Very different from Claude in Hopes, who loses many of the things that make him redeemable despite his faults - his avoiding violence unless necessary, his curiosity, his drive for the truth, a lot of his compassion, his intellect, etc. - in favor of Something Different (aka him acting like Edelgard). Some of those traits (namely his curiosity and drive for the truth) are just never to be seen at any point in Hopes, and other traits (namely his intellect) are discarded whenever the plot needs them to be gone more than there’s a genuine attempt to develop them out of him. Claude really encompasses that difference between “this character developed into being different because of the events of the story and how they affect them” and “this character was changed into being different because them needed to Be Different Than Before.” And because he doesn’t retain those good traits that made him redeemable, his actions come across as far more damning - he has nothing within his character that could reasonably lift him from the rock bottom his actions sink him to, unlike 3H!Dimitri. It’s sad when Dimitri is unable to recover in non-AM routes, because we know that he still has it in him to become better; it’s annoying and off-putting when Clyde is able to walk off what he does in GW/SB (the latter only potentially, to be clear), because there’s nothing that shows he can better himself from what he’s done. 

And, like. You can tell that these writers kind of had no idea what the hell they were doing when making Hopes? Because they say that things are “unsatisfactory” so that 3H wouldn’t be stepped on, meanwhile they do shit like what I mentioned earlier with Edelgard where she’s literally happier in SB than she ever was on CF (with her happiness being something the devs literally said they intended to do). Claude’s tale is supposed to be heartwarming, as his character is torn to shreds and he does things that completely go against everything he’s ever stood for. The war’s not supposed to ever be concluded in Hopes, meanwhile Dimitri literally does end the war on AG’s good end (even with how much Hopes tries to gaslight the player into believing otherwise - sorry game, there’s literally no one else to fight so yes the war is in fact over). Like fuckin’ hell if you told me that each sentence in this game was written by a different person I wouldn’t immediately disbelieve you with how completely nonsensical the story is to the supposed intention of the devs, it’s just so fuckin’ bad

[spaceorphan18]

Finding Kurt Hummel: Prom-a-Saurus

Masterpost

3x19: Prom-a-Saurus

Hey, it’s the prom episode we always wanted -- dinosaur themed!  Oh wait, no we really didn’t.  This episode is frustrating on a lot of levels.  The fact that Brittany as a senior is basically ignored all season, only for this kind of thing to take place -- and dinosaur themed? Really?  Meanwhile, Rachel gets to be a special snowflake **rolls eyes**.  And we have about 50 couples in the background making out while our two queer couples still have to keep a good foot between them.  I don’t think this is a bad episode on its own, but man, especially at the time, I think as a fandom, we were about to lose our collective shit and it’s easy to see why. 

Prom Round 2

Will’s all excited that he’s having the glee club sing at prom again.  I know it’s been a while, but how about another round of Will ideas Kurt is less than impressed with.  Because this is literally his reaction to the news.  

Kurt: What that makes no sense. 

Kurt to Brittany after every thing she says regarding prom.  I’m with ya Kurt.  Nothing about this episode makes any sense.  

Oh, and Brittany bans hair gel.  Because she doesn’t like how Blaine looks.  How about stupidest plot line ever.  I’m sure, writers, you could think of a better way to free Darren’s hair.  But I digress.  At least Kurt’s a little WTF on Blaine’s behalf. 

Big Girls Don’t Cry

Rachel’s singing her woes on stage, and the Klaine boys come to join her.  It’s one of those rare times when the studio version is vastly different than the on screen version.  Kurt sing more on screen, but I hate to admit it, I think the studio version is better (the balance is better, and the sound is, overall, cleaner).  Anyway, the song is mostly about Rachel dealing with her shit, but Klaine get a nice moment to themselves in the full version of the song. 

Like the little school mate in the school yard We'll play jacks and uno cards I'll be your best friend and you'll be my Valentine Yes, you can hold my hand if you want to 'Cause I want to hold yours too We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds

I mean -- how adorable is this.  We barely get anything post-Dance With Somebody, but I enjoy that while we don’t always get to see their connection, the production was always all over the Klaine-ness, whether was giving them lines in the songs, or props, or costumes.  It’s kind of textured into the show.  

Kurt, Blaine, and Rachel all have their reasons for lamenting about prom.  Rachel doesn’t want to see her boyfriend go with his ex-girlfriend.  Which -- ya know what Rachel, I feel ya on this one.  

Kurt doesn’t want to go because of the high chance he could be crowned Prom Queen again.  And I mean, it’s a nice moment of reflection here.  Yeah, he held his head high, and was amazing at dealing with it -- but as he says here, it was humiliating.  And he has no desire to relive that traumatic experience again. 

And Blaine doesn’t want to go because of the ban on hair gel.  And there are two points I’d like to pull out of this little moment.  

First, yes, while Blaine is validly insecure about his hair, Kurt’s giggling a little bit about it.  Because to him, it really doesn’t matter what Blaine looks like -- it’s Blaine, and he loves Blaine.  And it kind of reminds me of a moment we’re going to get later on -- when Blaine has his bubble machine and Kurt says to Artie that ‘Blaine just has to have his bubbles’.  Idk how to describe it, but it’s one of those old married moments.  

The other is the commentary I’ve seen on Blaine’s line about them never seeing him without hair gel.  And while I do think this line is more so directed at Rachel, I do think it’s possible that Kurt’s never really seen Blaine without hair gel at this point.  Sex will make them sweaty, but the hair gel most definitely won’t be gone (and I actually don’t think they’re having as much sex as fanfic leads us to believe).  And I’m guessing that since it is such a sensitive matter to Blaine, he makes it a point to not show Kurt what he looks like with out the gel.  So yeah, Kurt’s definitely see Blaine naked -- but Blaine’s still controlling what that image is presented to be.  Interesting, huh.  

Anyway -- more on the point to this scene -- I’d like to point out that it’s Kurt’s idea not to go to prom.  I like that’s thrown out there as an option -- cause really, prom is not a thing everyone needs to experience -- and usually, it is overrated. 

Kurt’s face as Rachel explains the whole anti-prom idea.  Lol. 

And when Santana shuts them down. 

So -- there’s a whole lot of complicated stuff going on in this scene, because there should be an opportunity for people to not go to some over-hyped party, but Santana has a point when she shuts down Rachel saying it’s a pity play, at the same time, Rachel is going through a hard time, at the same time Santana’s later going to eat her words when she crowns Rachel prom queen, and it’s such a mess that I’m glad I don’t really need to spend time untangling it. 

Mostly, Kurt and Blaine have legitimate reasons not to go -- and I don’t think they should be forced to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.  But it is one of those awkward things -- do you go be with your friends because friends, or do you skip and just hang out with each other.  Kurt and Blaine don’t really explore the issue at hand, but I just wanted to point out that it was there.  

The Anti-Prom

I think there’s a better BTS still of this floating around somewhere.  

I have so many questions.  What exactly was their grand plan with this whole anti-prom? I mean, it’s obvious by their cluelessness that there wasn’t a plan.  But a hotel room? What did they think was going to happen, lol. 

Can we talk about Kurt’s outfit for a second?  It’s a stark difference from the previous year, which makes sense that Kurt would go the other way.  It’s also a much more relaxed and open look -- which is a little different for Kurt.  I mean, he’s in a safe place, so to speak, but I also think it’s part of Kurt being more relaxed with himself, too.  Also, I kind of love it.  

So -- the anti-prom starts off on a shaky foot.  Becky’s all about strip poker and giant orgies apparently, but Kurt’s quick to shut that down.  I find it funny how he reminds her that he and Blaine are gay -- as if this conversation had happened before.  Meanwhile, Rachel wants to do a fashion show, and Puck wants to watch porn.  Blaine looks like he’s bored already.  Kurt entertaining himself at first -- and man does he love that bed, cause all he does is bounce on it the whole time.  

So -- the anti-prom gets pretty boring really quickly.  And Kurt seems to be regretting, a little, that they didn’t go to prom.  I kind of love that he leaves to Blaine’s decision.  He might be feeling okay to go, but like last year, he’s not going to go without Blaine feeling comfortable to go. 

Oh right -- Blaine does specifically say to Kurt that he’s never shown Kurt what he looks like without a ton of hair gel.  Well -- I stand by all my original points above.  And I love Kurt’s little smirk.  He doesn’t really care.  He’ll take Blaine however he is.  And this is just one of those smaller moments that I just love between the two of them.  Cause they like each other and love each other. 

So Finn comes along and says they should all come to prom -- which they decided is more fun than doing nothing in a hotel room.  I have to wonder -- I’m assuming the hotel room is paid for that night.  Who gets it after prom is over? ;) 

I’m guessing based on the comments in season 4′s I Do -- that Kurt and Blaine definitely did not return home that night, lol. 

Real Prom

I’m kind of rolling my eyes at their entrance, standing literally in the shadow of Finchel.  So yeah, because Wemma kinda goes on the backburner, Finchel became the A-couple of season 3, and Klaine the B-couple.  Unfortunately, that meant that Klaine was tied in it’s parallels -- which will continue through season 4, but also not get as much as meat as Finchel does.  On the plus side, I think Klaine still works better for not being the focus, too. 

Anyway -- Blaine’s gotta wash out the hair gel, and Kurt’s being a supportive boyfriend.  

And then Kurt goes to dance with Mercedes during What Makes You Beautiful -- a song I really adore, even if it’s a One Direction song. 

It’s not that bad, Kurt, lol.  I don’t even think it’s that shocking -- but it is kinda funny.   

Kurt: I love finally getting to see the real you.  The man without the product.  And I want everyone here to know how proud I am of my brave, handsome, bushy-haired boyfriend.  

I think this quote speaks for itself, and is an understated, small yet romantic moment between the two of them.  And, I think someone’s getting most definitely laid after prom. 

God, sometimes Glee, I’d really like to bop you on the head with that scepter.  Obviously, what was done to Kurt last year was a mean prank.  Why relive that with making him crown next year’s winner?  Oh because the writers seem to get off on the idea of Kurt crowning Rachel prom queen.  **grumbles**  At least Kurt is not at all enthused during this.  

I like that there’s a moment where Kurt thinks he might actually have had another write in.  Poor bb. 

We’re not going to talk about Rachel being prom queen.  I have so many issues, it’ll fill up a whole other post.  

We do get a couple of shots with the two of them dancing -- and being flirty and having fun.  It’s kinda there.  And I do like Klaine in this episode, and there’s actually a lot of it! But yeah -- there is an imbalance that is very obvious when you watch the episode as a whole.  Finchel get to slobber all over each other during the whole episode.  Wemma and Tike get to kiss.  There are, literally, fifty or so hetero couples draped all over each other, and many of them are full on making out.  I didn’t need a Klaine kiss in this episode, but I didn’t need to see a bunch of close ups of people making out that I didn’t care about either.  And yeah -- Brittana is treated the same as Klaine -- lots of distance.  I understand the frustrating at the end of this season guys, I do.  

At least these two goobers are adorable. And at least we can deduce that these two probably did have a ton of sex afterwards ;)