#darius rewatch meta

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i think it is especially hilarious that the fandom made such a big deal out of Darius' "only the small ones will get eaten" moment, considering:

how many times characters try to eat someone; not to mention many gags where the core characters are comicaly callous in inappropriate moments. And that Darius' line was framed similary as a comedic moment in canon!

[metalatias5]

Ich habe 68 Mal im Jahr 2022 etwas gepostet

Das sind 43 more posts als 2021!

62 Einträge erstellt (91%)

6 Einträge gerebloggt (9%)

Blogs, die ich am häufigsten gerebloggt habe:

@metalatias5

@metalatias

@metalatiasgravityfalls

@pra370r1an

Ich habe 66 meiner Einträge im Jahr 2022 getaggt

Nur 3% meiner Einträge hatten keine Tags

#meta – 61 Einträge

#metalatias – 61 Einträge

#metalatias5 – 61 Einträge

#metathetrifox – 57 Einträge

#toh – 46 Einträge

#the owl house – 46 Einträge

#hunter – 29 Einträge

#golden guard – 26 Einträge

#gus – 20 Einträge

#tricerafox – 19 Einträge

Longest Tag: 112 characters

#and i have caused a bottle to spray all over myself like that before due to dropping it on the corner of a table

Meine Top-Einträge im Jahr 2022:

#5

Aladarius with a self-indulgent happy flap-ador and my witchsona Jacky with the smug little expression of young Eda from Them's The Breaks Kid

122 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 27. September 2022

#4

The return of 'Hunter and Gus get really into MLP' 

Totally not just an excuse to draw Hunter in a too-small MLP shirt (Yes, it is and it was actually inspired by this little scene from Playing With Fire)

https://youtu.be/J9ngUgrV5Go

Also Hunter not having a belly button is just another little fun Grimwalker weirdness headcanon and this was a good opportunity to show that off ;)

195 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 15. Juli 2022

#3

I’ve been rewatching some HLVRAI again lately and since I’m still pretty deep into TOH I made Hexsquad dress up because of it

We’ve got Vee as Darnold, Gus as Tommy, Hunter as Bubby, Willow as Dr Coomer, Luz as Gordon Freeman and Amity as- uhm, I mean The Collector as Benrey

Looks like the Collector took Amity’s place there, he’s a better fit for Benrey anyway I suppose, wonder what he did with Amity though...

Oh, right, she’s playing Sunkist now

Vollständigen Eintrag ansehen

197 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 24. September 2022

#2

Vollständigen Eintrag ansehen

290 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 3. November 2022

Meine #1 des Jahres 2022

A clean-freak and his beloved slobs~

This was my first time drawing Darius, Eberwolf and Alador and I really like how they turned out, though Darius was harder to draw than I expected

413 Anmerkungen – Gepostet 26. Juni 2022

Hol dir deinen Tumblr-Jahresrückblick 2022 →

[virareve]

30 Questions

Rules: Answer 30 questions and tag 5 blogs you are contractually obligated to know better.

Thanks for the tag @tiredandtoothless !

Name/nickname: Vira

Gender: Female

Star sign: Leo (I don’t know much else except something about me being primarily in the tenth house???)

Height: 5′4.5″ (that half inch really counts)

Birthday: July 29

Time: Approximately 3:30pm

Favorite bands: (in no particular order...) Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Rising Appalachia

Favorite solo artists: (in no particular order...) Zedd, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Anuel AA, Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, Darius Rucker, David Bisbal, Maren Morris, Marshmello, Norah Jones, Ruel, Shakira, Yola

Song stuck in my head: La Bikina written by Rueben Fuentes. While not quite exact, this song reminds me a lot of Brienne in post-show and encapsulates a lot of the feelings I’d imagine she would have after GOT canon. I love this song very dearly and have listened to it with the written lyrics and without the written lyrics. It’s a haunted and beautiful song.

Last movie: That I finished? Princess Switch 2: Switched Again. It’s maybe the third Christmas romance movie I’ve seen in my life but I really loved this one. It’s a good bad funny unlike the first which was just boring lol. Why have two Vanessa Hudgens when you can have three? 

Last show: Avatar: The Last Airbender. I’ve been slowly rewatching it since it came onto Netflix in 2019. 

When did I create this blog: 2012 ( I had to check because I couldn’t remember lol.)

What do I post: Anything that interests me. Usually things I find funny or fandom stuff I would want to see again (i.e. artwork or meta).

Last thing googled: News on my aunt’s uncle who was taken by the government in our family’s home country recently. 

Other blogs: I only have this one but I’m thinking of making a sideblog just so I can keep organize all the patterns and inspo I get for Animal Crossing.

Do I get asks: Occasionally but sometimes they’re also just the randomest things that I think someone wants to just send me from anon  and not really meant to be answered. XD

Why I chose my url: I’m not exactly bi- or multilingual now but I was raised among many spoken languages. Vira was a name given to me by a friend, it is a play on my name in one of their languages. Reve is from a language I spoke as a child and no longer remember. 

Following: 81

Followers: 103

Average hours of sleep: It varies wildly but I’d say three to four days out of the week I get 8

Lucky number: I’ve never ascribed to any. 

Instruments: I used to have a rudimentary understanding of piano, violin, and harp

What am I wearing: Turtleneck, flare jeans, and heeled black mules

Dream job: trauma surgery but a physical health issue from the last few years  means I might need to rethink that if I go back, another dream job I want to run simultaneously (whether or not I return to medicine) is growing the company i work for

Dream trip: Going backpacking for a year or two through Europe and Asia and visiting some of the places the last few generations from my family came from before ending up in the US

Favorite food: Ramen, fresh churros, California burrito, mashed potato tacos, Pho, Kimbap, or Dolsot Bibimbap

Nationality: American (the second gen remix)

Favorite song: Hotel California by The Eagles

Last book read: The Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Pamela Mingle. (The story was was ehhhhh. It was first person and read a bit like a YA novel. Sometimes I felt the author imposing her beliefs a bit strongly. The MC also felt like she took a new character and decided to call her Mary Bennet. It was so-so, enjoyable but I wouldn’t recommend spending money on. If you find yourself intrigued by the idea of a Mary Bennet Spin-off, The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath was a bit more true to the way I imagine the book character and more character-centric. One thing I do appreciate these novels for is painting the Bennet sisters’ relationship is a less harsh light.)

Top three fictional universes I’d like to live in: 1)  Pokemon (I want to be ten and go on adventures and get protected by plot XD) 2) Crazy Rich Asians (I just want to be friends with Go Peik Lin and Astrid Leong) 3) A:TLA post-hundred years war and without the existence of LOK (that’s too dark to retire in lol)

Tagging @twelvemonkeyswere @ladym-rules @writergirl2011 @treadcareful @hillaryschu

[numericalbridge]

Oh, but what always gets me about this moment:

Is the specific word choice of 'protecting'. Because it doesn't seem like the most obvious word choice. The writers could have written it as 'helping' or something like 'actually turned out we were on the same side'. There were probably ways to describe Darius's actions that would have been more straight forward and would have explained better whatever happened with Raine and the rebels.

Instead the focus is on Darius trying to protect them, and Raine wasn't even close to him at that point in time!

And, in-universe, do you think Darius himself would've put it like that when explaining his actions to Raine, or was the 'protecting you' part something they've figured out themselves😭

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This is actually something i've only just noticed, but you can already see Darius looking serious and upset when he collects the Emerald Entrails even before he starts talking to Hunter:

He is not pleased, but it doesn't look like the expression of an annoyed villain who hates to be bothered; nor is it angry, but instead it's more quite and serious, concerned. He also seems to be looking slightly down and maybe to the side, rather than directly at the children or the viewer which adds to the upset impression:

(Super shitty enlarged version, but it's more clear here that he is not smiling)

Like, to me this doesn't look like an expression they would draw for a man who is supposed to be - according to the fandom - hatefully gloating because Hunter's behavior proved him right or who doesn't care what would happen to the children.

[numericalbridge]

On the rewatch i find it interesting that Darius seems to be smiling more often in public, while the fandom tends to exaggerate it into him being more outwardly disdainful (of course, there are certainly moments when he is disdainful). And i definitely caught myself focusing too much on the angst and drama of Darius having to face Belos, but his public persona / 'mask' specifically in front of the Emperor seems to be smiling:

Yet notably Darius doesn't smile when he enters the room just before:

(personally i like to headcanon that while his public persona was quite "effortlessly happy" looking, when he couldn't maintain it he would default to haughty and disdainful)

And if Darius' outward persona was someone who doesn't look too scornful, at least in front of the Emperor/during official ceremonies, it certainly would make his sad look in the HM memory portrait more noticable and memorable. (At the same time, although i like the theory that Belos at least somewhat suspected Darius of being disloyal, it wouldn't surprise me if Belos - with the way he viewed witches - would have bought into Darius being power hungry and willing to overlook his mentor's death for power)

But it's not just with Belos. Actually Darius looked quite happy at Raine's ceremony:

Yes, other Coven Heads like Hettie and Graye are also smiling, but since Darius is in the focus in the episode, it probably would have been easy to show him as disdainful and prideful, like when he first enters the screen in episode 6, but he looks quite pleased. It might be that he is happy because he is expecting a new ally in Raine, or this might be his 'default' public persona.

He is also smiling in his Coven Head banner, although the smile seems to have a bit more unhinged or possibly forced/fake feeling to it:

Anyway, my headcanon is that Darius was actually genuinely enjoying his time as a public figure - or would have enjoyed in a better environment. And while he definitely could and would act cold and haughty - especially if he wasn't able to maintain his usual mask for some reason or needed to put someone down - his public persona was more of 'i am effortlessly perfect and proud'. But he might have also genuinely loved being in public or interacting with the public (he also wrote that textbook afterall) and not just out of ego.

(That's why i don't always agree with the headcanon that he would just sit home after the series. I definitely headcanon that he would need to take a step back and reavaluate his public presence and his role as a former coven head and have a real vacation for once, but i could also see where he would be quite happy to continue to work in the public sphere in one way or another)

But also it's funny if he had that carefully crafted persona, and Raine made him drop it immediately:

Bonus:

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I headcanon that both Eber and Raine are annoying to Darius (affectionate) but in slightly different ways.

Of course it's difficult to tell with no real backstory, but i think with Eber there is more familiarity and they both 100% know what to expect from each other. In ER it seemed like Eber did most of the annoying, while Darius mostly grumbled in response. And at the surface level they might seem quite mean towards each other, like Darius calling Eber 'mutt' and Eber flinging dirt on him, but they know very well to what extent they can push each other, and their banter is more or less 'scripted' in the way siblings and close friends sometimes have the same little routine banter.

Meanwhile with Raine, Darius and Raine are pretty much equally annoying towards each other (as seen in Oh, Titan), and they are more likely to be 'inventive' and surprise each other, even when bringing up their old school days. And i headcanon that while they still would not push each other in actually uncomfortable ways, both can make each other get worked up over stupid little things.

Anyway, Darius starts ER done with Raine and by the end is done with Eber:

[numericalbridge]

Maybe this is a wishful thinking, but it does seem like the viewer's eyes are meant to be drawn to Darius during the Coven Heads introduction in episode 6.

The Coven Heads' entrance begins with his shadow appearing (and then Eber's). And then he is the first shown actually entering:

When the Coven Heads stand before the throne, Darius is very clearly placed in the centre, even though they could've been drawn standing in a horse-shoe formation or Terra could have taken the central place:

And even afterwards when Belos is taken away sick, Darius is again one of the Coven Heads in the frame, seemingly making him the one Coven Head who appears the most prominently in the episode:

And obviously the episode couldn't make Raine the most prominent figure both for in-universe and meta reasons, but why not Terra, who seems to be one of the oldest and would be set up as a prominent antagonist?

Add to this that Darius is the one conducting Raine's inauguration ceremony in the next episode, and that he appeared in the background of the s1 flashback (plus, albeit far fetched possibility that even in s1 ep 13 Coven Heads banner intro was hinting at his prominence as a former Hexside student) it does seem like there was some role reserved for him before the shortening.

[numericalbridge]

One headcanon that i just can't agree with is the idea that Darius would/should just stay at home post canon and care only about Hunter and Eber, at best other close friends and whoever he is shipped with, but not about anyone or anything else.

Like, yeah, obviously there are people who are the closest to him, and i definitely think he would need to take a break and revaluate his position as the former Coven Head and take a real vacation for once, but Darius is just so flanderized in the fandom into one direction or another, and i just don't vibe with it. And yes, i understand that sometimes it's simply the result of what people want to focus on in fanworks, but i've also seen it spelled out as headcanons in general, like 'oh, Darius hates all the kids for real and only Hunter is the exception', or 'Darius actually can't stand other people other than his loved ones' (and not in the sense that he is easily annoyed, or it is difficult for him to interact with others, but fully, for real).

First, I am pretty sure Dana herself had said in one interview that Darius wants to care about his loved ones but also to help others in general. And you can see it in the show too - Raine says specifically that he was 'protecting' them even though they were not close at the time of ER, Darius laments how 'we' (the rebels) were too late during the DoU, hinting that he always wanted to save the whole Isles ("but he gave up for Eber" you might say, well, my first meta was about what i think of 'Darius easily chose Eber over the Isles' interpretations - Post). So in one way or another he probably would want to help others post canon as well.

Second, he clearly has several interests and, of course, his passion for abominations that he would likely want to continue to persue. He also seems to be quite happy to conduct Raine's ceremony, so he might also enjoy the role of a public figure in general.

And third and probably the most important thing for me, it just fits the narrative of the show better if Darius opens up to other people who are not the closest to him. Yes, found family is great, but it is not the only thing that matters. There are many instances in the series where it is shown how important community is or how its absense is damaging - and not only to the kids but to adult characters too - and i think it is a very deliberate choice, and one of the good things about toh. (And by that i don't mean - and i don't think the show means either - that every character should become an extrovert and completely change personality, or that every character should like and interact with everyone, it can mean different things).

The biggest example is Eda - she starts the show isolated, and while it's not her fault, in season 1 she is, as Luz had put it, individualistic. But through getting to know Luz, Eda not only develops better relationships within her own found family, but she goes from only agreeing to help Bump in the school because it will help Luz and being distantly playfull at best towards other kids, to trying to reach out to Hunter and to mentor Edric in season 2, and finally to opening her own school; she goes from not wanting to free the conformatorium prisoners to saving a wild witch in ER. Yes, the paternalistic conformity of the EC is shown to be bad, but personal isolation and individualism are also not good. And the same happens with others too. The Bat Queen not only opens up to the palisman adoption program but praises the good qualities of the kids when they tell their wishes. Alador improves his relationship with his children, but he also works on using his inventions for the good of the Isles in the epilogue. It is at least implied that if Camila and Luz had bigger support from the adults around them, and Camila had more friends other than her husband to help her, their life after his death would've been easier. Not as noticable with Raine because of how their arc is written (/negative), but it is at least hinted in the ER that their rebellion wasn't very sucessful because of how small it was. This is more headcanon-y, but i can easily see how Lilith's single-minded focus on finding the cure for her sister caused her to ignore the harm done by the EC. And then, of course there are villains like Belos and Odalia whose focus on the family is twisted.

So, i really don't know why Darius's development should go in a different direction and be focused on isolating rather than opening up to more people - in one way or another, it can take different forms, and doesn't mean that he can't be a private person. It doesn't even mean that he must be a public figure (although i think he might be happy in a position like that), he might just sit and write more text books. But I think getting to mentor someone like Willow (not in abominations but in general sense) or Jerbo would be good for him too.

(And tbh with the way Darius's grief over his mentor was twisted into bitterness, and how he seemed to be very much not over his broken friendship with Alador and possibly Odalia (maybe even Raine) for so long, i can see an interpretation where it would be healing for him to learn to expand his circle and through that to learn how to easier let go of his grievances and adjust to change.)

[numericalbridge]

To be frank, i think that even as a villain Darius didn't do anything irredeemable or particulary evil. At least not to the extent of what fandom confesses ascribing to him pre ASIAS. Exceptionally cruel? Irredeemably power-hungry? Automatically without standarts and willing to hurt children? Cowardly?! All of these are just not true.

Let's see, what does he actually do in ER? Looking strictly at one episode as if he is meant to be a villain.

Conducts Raine's ceremony, while looking quite pleased and then grumbles when they fumble it.

Then together with Eber sets up the trap for the rebels, captures the Batts and translocates them to the Conformatorium. There is no gloating when he captures them, no targeted malice, nothing beyond punch-clock villainy, really.

Of course, he attempts to capture the 'turn cloak', with a lot of grumbling about missing his 'me time' and how the forest is gross; and, sure, it's a villainous role, but there is nothing particualry cruel about his conduct, and his fixation on the 'turn cloak' part might even contradict the selfish power-hungry aspect and paint him as someone who is loyal to his cause (again, looking at it as if ER is the only episode we have). He does, of course, 'threaten' Raine and Eda with 'hand yourself over before things get nasty' and there is something personal with his fixation on the turn cloak, but this is not something so exceptionally evil that, for example, season 1 Lilith wouldn't have done it.

Then he gets angry after he gets the dirt thrown literally onto his face, but this is also not something that makes an irredeemable villain. There are no additional threats from him ala 'i'll destroy your family and friends' either.

And when he captures Raine and Eda - he should be able to straight up see Eda btw, since i doubt she had time for the invisibility glyph - he lets Eda go, even though he is smart enough to set up the trap for the rebels in the first place:

And, as i've said before, despite nearly getting killed, and then Raine painfully cutting his arm, he doesn't even bring that up (which is a strange behavior for even the most vain person), and when the confrontation with Raine happens there is more focus on his cloak and his threat is fraimed as a comedic moment rather than scary. There is nothing that paints him as 'the worst' or particulary cruel. Comparing ER to, for example, the first episode and Warden Wrath and the way he treated Eda - while his scenes were also mainly comedic there was something real-world creepy about his attitude.

And the scene with captured Raine at the end of the episode. It starts with Darius grumbling at Eber and then he mentions them tormenting Raine, who is caught in the abomination. Obviously it is not a good behavior. But still it is quite telling that what Darius says is 'tormenting Raine', not even 'torturing'. And this is probably the worst Darius does in the episode.

And on the meta level i think the way the scene is framed is quite notable: the scene is comedic, the focus is on Darius being done with Eber's antics and Eber annoying him, not Raine's PoV of being afraid of the supposed torment. And Raine themselves looks done and annoyed, not terrified or actually hurt:

Compare it to how they react when captured by Kikimora, even before Kikimora does anything:

Also this might be a stretch and simply a case of not drawing details from far away, since on the screenshot above Raine doesn't have scratches, but they are shown to have scratches only after being caught by Kikimora:

And then Darius's role ends with him saying he and Eber didn't need help from Kikimora and grumbling about Alador. Neither moment is exactly villainous, and he isn't even particulary disrespectful towards Kikimora (who in return literally ignores him and doesn't respond).

There is nothing exceptionally evil about any of this, nothing really power hungry, nothing that means Darius would not have any standarts at all and is someone who would be willing to hurt children. There is nothing about Darius's ideals or thoughts on the Covens/Empire except wanting to catch the turn cloak and disliking Alador and his inventions.

But actually his interactions with Eber are much milder than you'd expect from a vain individualistic villain. It doesn't show well through screenshots, but when you listen to the voice acting even the 'mutt' comment doesn't seem to have malice to it, and his "Eber, help me out here" (on the screenshot it seems like he is mad at Eber, but when you watch/listen that's not the case) and the way he connects them together with 'we' when talking to Kikimora are not hostile in any way and seem kinda comrade-ry.

And the show could have chosen 'Eber and Darius are villains so they hate each other' route and show them trying to backstab each other or be truly mean or competitive; or even make Darius have a 'kick the dog' moment towards Eber. He also could've been shown actively trying to torment Raine by threatening Eda or Batts... But nothing like that was shown. So why did the fandom immediately chose the worst possible role for him?

And the 'coward' part? Explicitly contradicted by the episode and his (non-)reactions to the corrupted spell that had almost killed him or Raine hurting his arm.

And yet the fandom just admits to immediately jumping to the conclusions and seeing him as the 'the worst'. And instead of writing him as an interesting, worthy adversary or exploring his backstory and villainous friendship with Eber, popular fandom writers admit to - before ASIAS even aired - rushing to write Darius hurting/betraying white child Hunter, and painting Darius as a coward - which seem like very racialized tropes. And in general the fandom's obsession with writing villains of color as someones who hurt/abuse specifically white children? Gross.

And it's quite telling that the people in the fandom still gleefully laugh about ascribing racialised tropes to Darius instead of just not bringing it up and reflecting on why they had done it.

And i wasn't in the fandom when ER aired, but i was when Labirinth Runners aired, and i remember how the immediate reaction to Graye - who actually did hurt children on screen - was to invent all the theories how he is a secret basilisk with a traumatic backstory and wonder about the horrible visions he had.

So something tells me that if Darius was white, the fandom would have noticed all the discrepancies in his behavior like his non-reactions to almost getting killed or hurt and letting Eda go, and the fandom metas about his deep depression and sob backstories would have been finished before the episode's end credits rolled.

So, yes, i think that even as a villain Darius didn't do anything to warrant the fandom's reactions.

[numericalbridge]

Actually interesting that the Coven Heads banners - at least as far as i've noticed - had first appeared in season 1 episode 13. But, unlike season 2, Darius' and Eber's banners are not placed together or even close to each other:

Although you can say they are placed diagonally from each other?

The Bard Coven banner makes sense since it is still Scooter Crane and not Raine, but with Darius and Eber this is a curious difference. Considering that the Coven Head designs already look roughly finalized, and Darius appears in the background of Eda's and Lilith's flashback fight and already separated from the Blights in the scene, thus his story seemed to be already included in some way.

[numericalbridge]

tbh, if Darius was meant to be a bad guy in s2a, his behavior in Eda's Requiem would be very strange and off. A vain villain who thinks spoiling his clothes is worse than rebelling against the Emperor? Sure. But you would think even the most vain person would react and lash out over almost getting killed with the corrupted spell and then having their arm sliced painfully by Raine? And yet he doesn't behave as you would expect. Yes, he catches and threatens Raine, but there is no personal 'you've almost got me killed/you will pay back for hurting me'. So if he was set up as villain his non-reactions would be a weird characterization choice.

[numericalbridge]

🔥While to me Eda's Requiem is one of the best Eda episodes, if not the best Eda episode, Darius' (and Eber's) introduction is not really that great imo, and doesn't fully work for me. And i admit that a lot of it is retrospective, but when i look at it from the perspective of the whole show there was just such a missed opportunity to show Darius (and Eber) as complex antagonists from the very start, and i can't help but think how that would have benefited Darius' character in the long run.

My problem is not that ER shows Darius (and Eber, lol) as villains - and visually their intro is memorable. It is about what is ultimately shown/explored and what is not explored about their relationships and how the time is utilized when looking at the episode with the knowledge of how the show and Darius' character develop and when taking in consideration his screentime as a whole... just leaves such a huge 'what if' feeling. And yes, i think the episode was probably very screwed by the cancelation, especially if the writers didn't have time to adjust ER for the shortened show - and even if they had, it would make sense if tertiary characters were not exactly immediately on their minds, so it's not like this is a glaring writing mistake; and it was also in retrospect kinda sorta screwed by the old Hexsquad 'retcon' but it still leaves the feeling of a huge missed opportunity of not establishing certain things about Darius early on.

And then looking at it just as a single, separate episode - ok, certain tropes were utilized to be subverted later, but it still makes it weird to watch.

Like, with the knowledge that Darius was in some way connected to Eda's friend group and both she and Raine had some sort of memories about him rather than just going to the same school, it feels odd that it would not be mentioned or alluded at all in ER - and i don't even mean that they would need to agonize over it, but a throw away line how 'Darius has really changed' or 'I can't/can believe he became like this' would've made the audience intrigued about Darius and his connection to Eda and Raine, and would have made sense in-universe.

And, yes, i believe the old Hexsquad became a thing only after the shortening so i can't really blame the writers for it, but the end result is lacking (at least for me), especially with the way Darius and Raine are then written in Oh, Titan.

And if the old Hexsquad was always planned to be a thing, then not only it is a somewhat weird choice not to bring it up in ER, but more importantly the writing of Eda's interactions with Gus and even the Blight kids just really would be so odd, especially Gus, with the way he was sidelined in s1 all the while there would've been a perfect opportunity to connect him to Eda (as if the interest in the Human Realm stuff wasn't enough🤐).

But back to Darius, ok, that was just a missed opportunity to enrich the story, whatever.

What i really feel like a bigger missed opportunity in the context of the whole show is not showing more of Darius' and Eber's relationship. And by that i mean just showing that they care about each other via reacting to the other almost getting killed by the corrupted spell. It would have been one thing if there was some sort of ongoing question about whether they actually care about each other, culminating in Darius giving up for Eber in KT, but it wasn't presented this way, there was no real narrative conflict, and the show focused on Darius' relationship with other characters in the episodes leading to KT, so i think there was no need to be coy.

The show could've had some sort of 'save yourself' moment in ER that would have clealry established that the two - even though they are villains/antagonists and annoy each other - care about each other, it would've made the audience curious. Maybe it would have changed the tension in KT but still, it feels like the show just placed more emphasis on subverting the expectations about Darius rather than giving him more time to actually be himself. And i don't think the show runners should have simplified the already pretty straightforward kid's story for the sake of the willfully obtuse adult fans on internet, but it is still sad that we barely had any straightforward interactions between Darius and the others, while other tertiary characters like Alador or Gwen or even Steve got some clear interactions.

So, yes, it is retrospective, but i just can't help but think about it.

[numericalbridge]

So, I've just finished the first season of the Owl House, and i don't understand why people like Eda and call her King's mom when she is so mean?!

In the first episode alone she pokes Hooty in the eye, and says Luz is more valuable to her alive (than dead) even though Luz is clearly scared. And she tells Luz she will only allow Luz to return home if this 14 years old helps her first. Luz clearly doesn't understand the world and its dangers, yet Eda brings her and an 8 years old Kind to a prison without even explaining the tyrannical regime and the existence of the capital punishment. Idk, the vibes are really fishy there? She doesn't even want to free the prisoners in the Conformatorium and flippantly jokes about the Warden tormenting 'some tiny creature'! The impression is that she is at best a rather uncaring and apathetic person. And, as we know, there is no such thing as character development and characters always stay the same as their first appearences, so Eda doesn't value community and hates children forever.

And people say she is a great teacher, but she doesn't even want to teach Luz in the first episode. She didn't even try to think whether Luz would be able to learn magic before making a promise to teach her. And then in episode 2 she cruelly mocks a 14 years old for believing herself to be a chosen one - even King, who is a child, lately admits it was cruel - and she never learns from her mistake because in episode 6 she claims she would never trust Luz again if Luz messes up, causing Luz anxiety to the point not only Luz but also Willow and Gus believe Eda would hurt them at the end of the episode! Yes, she says she only wants them to clean her house but why did she need to pretend to seriously threaten them?

And she never truly apologizes or [verbally flagelates herself] explains how and why she changed her mind, so I am not saying you must hate her, but we can appreciate the person she becomes later, while [only focusing on imaginary bad things about her] acknowledging all the shitty things she's done! Such as: She constantly physically and emotionally (through neglect) abuses Hooty in front of children, endorses child labor, uses wages against an elementary schooler and brags about humiliating King in episode 3, cruelly mocks Gus, Willow and the Blight kids. She even said she would let the twins die by Sleetherbeast to save herself! And kinda suspicious how she knew Odalia and Alador and so must know that they are bad parents yet doesn't try to help the Blight kids. Seems like she had been complacent in their abuse for years, don't you think?

And i am not saying that i am completely against mama Eda either, but to enjoy anything involving her and King everyone must first admit that she has been emotionally negletful and physically abusive towards King. Because King doesn't even know he is a child - that's super fucked up, right? And he doesn't have any friends and thinks demons are underappreciated - and obviously it's because Eda made him feel that way, and he acts older than his age, probably because he had to act as her personal therapist. And, yes, Eda is physically abusive too, since in the episode 4 she says she would break every bone in King's body for stealing the elixir, and that can't be an unfortunate writing choice, because we must look at the scenes in isolation and chose the worst possible interpretation of the character, and if you don't see it that way that means you can't deal with admiting your fave has flaws! Also she literally ate someone in episode 2.

But don't worry, you are alowed to like Eda as long as you are agreeing with all the bad faith interpretations of her and want her to self-flagelate and every character to hate her and talk down to her. And she must experience over the top guilt that no other character has to experience, including begging for King's forgiveness on her knees. Oh, and don't forget that you absolutely must crawl into the notes for any silly fanart of her with King to whine how she 'needed to be nicer sooner' and put your Eda bashing fics in her tag while laughing how 'mama Eda stans' must hate you now! Anyway, i am going to go make a fanwork about older King realizing what a shitty parent Eda had been and he isn't sure whether he would be able to forgive her, but it's ok, she is allowed to become a one-dimensional comfort provider as long as it brings the notes in.

[i know people in the fandom looove to be obtuse so i will spell it out: this is a parody of the way toh fandom talks about Darius (and pre-season 3 Camila too, but i based it on Darius because i look into his character tags more often). I will make a serious post, but later since i don't actually want to post too much negativity about Eda.]

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A random AU where Darius isn't a rebel, but also Hunter actually is a spoiled beloved nephew of the Emperor.

Maybe Belos actually did get attached to a baby grimwalker in this AU (but he is still terrible, just not terrible towards Hunter) and fully intends to bring him into the Human Realm. Hunter is still the Golden Guard, but it is a position of authority to prepare him for taking over the witch hunting duties and there is no physical punishment or abuse, though Belos's influence is still unhealthy. Hunter is still not very happy and feels restricted, and still meets Luz and Flapjack, but his personal stakes are different in the beginning. Belos would probably still react very badly if he discovered Flapjack, but Hunter doesn't know it (still hides him because palismen are forbidden and 'dangerous' and gets attached).

Darius is like he was presented before the rebel reveal - he is not really cruel, just doesn't care much; but he still values individuality and doesn't like the idea of betraying one's friends (others might a different matter). Maybe in this AU the previous Golden Guard died because of something clearly unrelated to Belos, so Darius never got any suspicions (although i prefer to headcanon that his rebellion was not solely because of his mentor); or maybe Darius was never mentored by the Golden Guard in this AU and his path towards the Coven Head position was very different and made him less caring. But then there is less edge to his initial relationship with Hunter in this scenario, he is just distantly somewhat playfull and doesn't pay much attention. He still accidentally makes Hunter to go get the recruits because he doesn't want to be bothered, and still - initially more on accident - guides Hunter towards character development.

But anyway somehow by the end of ASIAS they still bond and influence each other's character development.

How it goes after that might branch into different directions - a) Hunter still ends in the Emperor's mind, only Belos at first honestly tries to convince Hunter to join him in destroying the Isles, but Hunter choses what is right and goes in hiding (he might be convinced he will be able to reason with Belos in the future), then Darius tries to find him and switches sides when he has to save Hunter from Graye/other CHs and gets proof about DoU. b) Hunter doesn't go into Belos's mind (Luz goes alongside Raine while Eber accidentally is left behind and has to get Eda's help) but when he hears about Graye branding the students, he goes to warn his new friends, while Darius - for whom branding kids also seems unreasonable and suspicious - follows him, and it spirals from there.

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These are super rough, but i just wanted to share some tidbits from the fics i've plotted but not sure whether i would write in full. All are from different stories:

A.

"Darius?! Darius! Please, please, wake up!"

The voice is sending pinpricks of pain right through his brain. Darius opens his eyes. Everything is swaying. It feels like all the energy has been drained out of him. What happened? He blinks groggily and attempts to sit up.

"You're alive!" Eda's human ward - Luz - lets go of his shoulder and mutters something in a language Darius doesn't understand. "Is Eda all right? Everyone else?"

"Where are we?" He doesn't recognize the place. There are lines of strange glyphs around the two of them. "And what are you doing here?" he demands. He doesn't like this. Where are the other kids? His head is still foggy. The Ceremony. The fight. The translocation. "Yes, Eda and the rest should be safe. Are you here alone?"

Luz twists her mouth into a forced smile, "Well, you see... But first ugh..." Her eyes shift. "Please don't freak out..." she mutters.

Is she looking at his arm? He follows her gaze to his sigil...

B.

Raine knew that look. Imperious and somewhat disgusted, as if he had just seen something so beneath him that it fascinated and repulsed him in equal measures yet wasn't worth a verbal reaction. That look was enough to shut up even the oldest Coven Heads. Only... Raine couldn't recall it ever being directed at them.

Then the boy's lower lip wobbled, and the illusion was shattered.

C.

"I assume the Great Demon King has not heard the blood-curdling tale of Brie the Blimp?"

"Brie the Blimp?" Ha! The name was catchy. But King had his mission.

"Oh, yes," the witch said. The abomination on his head shifted. "The mysterious and frightening witch-eating flying apparatus." He raised an eyebrow and then nodded towards the window. "They say she prowls the skies on nights just like this."

"And?" King asked - just in case. He had to find Eda, but this was something new. He needed the intel!

"Oh, I don't know," the witch leaned his head on his hand. "Perhaps this story is too much..."

"No!" King objected. "The King of Demons is not afraid of some old nursery story. I demand to hear the blood-calling... blood-curling tale of the evil Blimp!"

"Hmm, all right," the man smiled, "if you insist."

King grabbed one of the abomination toys closer to himself - also just in case - and plopped down to listen.

"It all started one bright and peaceful morning..."

D.

"Oh my Titan! Are you Perry Porter?!" one of the scouts squealed. "From the Crystal Ball? For real?!"

"Yes, yes," Perry forced himself to say. Normally he would be embarrassed, but this time was different. "Glad to meet a fan..."

"Do you even know who this is?" the scout pestered their colleague who shrugged non-comittally.

"I love seeing you on the Crystal Ball!" the first scout addressed Perry again.

"Thank you. But can I help you?" Perry knew his voice sounded polite, but his heart was pounding. Here we go.

"We are looking for dangerous rebels, potentially wild witches," the less enthusiastic scout announced. "They were seen in the vicinity of your house. Have you noticed any suspicious activity?"

"I don't think so," Perry answered. "But there is a forest behind these houses, it would be easy to hide there."

"Are you sure you didn't see anyone?"

"Come on," the chatty scout interrupted them. "It's Perry Porter! He would've noticed if the rebels were here. Thank you for your time!"

No, thank you.

"No problem."

E.

"Oh, wow, this Construction Coven's book is surely a brick," Luz waved the book in front of herself. Judging by the blank stares, the joke didn't land.

"The most prominent figures of the Construction Craft, tome 2," Skara read the title from below.

"Sounds fun," Luz started - she had a really good one...

"Hey!"

Eberwolf grabbed the book right out of her hands, and she nearly fell down the ladder. Eber hurried to the other side of the room, put the book on the desk and began hastily turning over the pages as if looking for something specific. Then they seemed to find that something. He read the page, chirping almost silently to themselves and tugging on his mane from time to time.

"Eber?" Darius had stopped mending the abominations and came up to stand by them.

Eber shook their head, jumped down the chair and silently trotted out of the room, leaving the book on the table.

Darius sighed.

"What happened?" Skara asked.

Luz leaned to look in the book. There was a portrait.

"Galatea Vault," Darius said. "She was the Construction Coven Head before Mason."