#dk.rtf

[dailykallura]

Thinking so much about the intimate way the camera focused on the physical closeness of Keith and Allura on their final hug... Zoomed all the way in to obscure how their bodies touch, yet still emphasizing the proximity of their faces to each other.

The way this hug, in 40 frames, establishes the intensity, yet deniability, of their relationship - because everyone else got visible loving yet despairing hugs and a soft kiss, but Keith and Allura got a sustained focus on just their faces. And still, the depth of the intimacy and sadness is laced in the animation - Allura, slowly approaching Keith, eyes closed even before she touches him; Keith, the curl of his body subtle in the way his head minutely bows as they hold each other, his facial expression central to the experience.

We never do see them separate from this embrace.

[dailykallura]

Still obsessed with the crew going "yea they might not end up together this time, but Keith and Allura love each other to the ends of the universe" and kept posting all this art of other media where they're dressed as the love interests in that media – and did that whole con hunt with the storyboards for their Ark of Taujeer pre-escapade hangar talk – and had Steven put all the warmth and emotion into his voice for "Remember when we first met Allura..." in the conference room – and had him support her through the depths of her missions – and had Keith be told Allura would have been so proud of the man he became – and had them tell each other about how much impact they've had on each other – and made them embrace so lovingly but couldn't even animate them letting go of each other and and and

[dailykallura]

I've been going through my final Netflix rewatch of the show with a friend of mine, and I caught this blink-and-you-miss-it shot of Keith glancing backwards to Allura after they stumble during AR!Slav's bomb detonations in 3.04, 'Hole in the Sky'.

And it's just... something to note because this isn't something I'd have expected to be included, with everyone's focus on their own footing. And yet, Keith is drawn and animated to look back at Allura in this sequence.

Keith's concern and care for Allura is sometimes hidden in split-second moments.

[dailykallura]

Gonna be honest, but every time I think about Keith, the first thing I think of is the intensity of his quiet love for Allura. It's like... I can't actually separate Keith's love for Allura from him at any time. Not that his whole life is in honour of Allura, because of course not. But I guess I've been so steeped in reading his late s7-to-s8 actions as an indication that he doesn't have the time to be selfish anymore with this woman — that his love manifested out of regret for his actions, reflection on its reasoning, and acceptance of the impact of her on his heart (and in s8, the overarching fear of losing her forever and wanting to facilitate her plans because Allura needs to know if there is dissent from everyone, he will always be behind her despite that — he will always be the single voice saying "yes" loudly over a chorus of "no"'s.). That's been a big part of Keith to me since 2018 and it's just... it's just him. His love for her is just a big part of him.

[dailykallura]

Keith: *taking off his hood to hear Allura better* I said I didn't want a lecture.

*stays to listen to her anyway*

[dailykallura]

Let's talk about the conference room scene in Season 8, Episode 11.

I wanted to delve into the contexts of Keith and Lance's conference room conversation, their mutual resolve, and my observation that Allura has always been central to their conversation, especially from Keith's side.

-----

To add context to this scene, we have to take context from the previous scene and call-to-action - the Mission Postmortem.

Keith and Pidge debrief the ensemble on their findings and explanations of Honerva's behaviour from their previous mission in Episodes 9 and 10 - a mission where, at its tail end, Allura is incapacitated.

As Allura's partner, Lance doesn't take this well -

"We know what Honerva wants to do, but we can't get to her. [...] Without Allura, we can't chase her, and we can't form Voltron."

I've been a big proponent of the idea that narrative intention can be gleaned not just from the script and context of a scene, but together with how the final animation itself is framed and voiced - especially because animation as a visual medium is planned with specific intentions.

It's interesting to note that "we can't form Voltron" falls on a shot where Keith is in the foreground of the frame. I'm taking this from the bones of another piece of analysis, but Episodes 9 and 10 shows that Keith understands that Voltron requires connection -

and as such, having one person incapacitated means that the bond, and Voltron itself, is considered incomplete.

Keith knows that having Allura out of commission hurts the greater mission, but at its core, her being out of commission hurts Team Voltron. Lance's defeatism is an example of that - Keith understands exactly how Lance feels, and as such, he is the one who approaches Lance after the Postmortem, with:

"[Allura's] gonna be okay." - framing this conversation entirely in context of Allura.

Lance's "I hope so" and subsequent statements about Honerva's plans still highlight his defeatism about Allura's incapacitation and its impact on them, though - and Keith tries something different.

Note that Keith is in focus and dominates the frames in the foreground when he reminisces about meeting Allura for the first time -

And although he is out of focus while he reminisces on his observations of her, he is still in the foreground of the frames.

"... and it worked."

This scene, although between Keith and Lance in presence, clarifies exactly how Keith feels about Allura - taking note of three things:

His choice in highlighting their first days with Allura as a shared memory between him and Lance - appealing to both Lance's current romance with her, but also implying how closely he's held this memory himself;

His observations of Allura calling back to their earliest meeting, implying that Keith has been taking note of Allura and her habits since the first episode, seven seasons ago;

The animators' choice to soften Keith's facial expression for the sequence where he talks about her, because his expression prior to mentioning her by name is entirely neutral, implying that Allura is closer to his heart than otherwise believed.

I'm also of the idea that this current statement from Keith reverts his previous statement to Hunk in Season 7, Episode 6:

Keith states to Lance in the conference room that, yes, Allura's belief in them was insecure, but her unwavering faith in them has brought them this far, and has essentially changed the both of them:

And Keith extends to Lance, in the same way that Allura's faith has guided them to this moment, for him to honour Allura by having unwavering faith in not just her and her awakening, but also faith in the possibility of righting Honerva's wrongs.

And it works.

[dailykallura]

I'd like to expand on my nice little tiny cute thought about how Keith exists on the fringes of both of Allura's relationships and how he technically is instrumental to both of her relationships being started with Lotor and Lance and how that too, is kallura meta.

--

The events that take place between 4.07 and 6.01 kickstart the relationship between Allura and Lotor (in my opinion), since that is when and where they are both face to face, with explicit knowledge of what each other looks like and what they can do for each other. 

My idea is that Keith is instrumental to starting this relationship, primarily because in 5.04, during the Kral Zera, Lotor is at a risk of being gravely injured by the bombs placed all over the Temple, and Keith takes a shot and successfully rescues Lotor from the blast, further allowing him to take up the mantle as the new Galran Emperor. 

It’s this change in leadership that changes Lotor and Allura’s relationship from the vague “when I take control of the Empire” to the realistic development they had as diplomatic partners and then as romantic partners. 

Keith remains on the fringes of the relationship however, and has some measure of conflict with Lotor because of what he finds out about the hidden Alteans, and he is shown to be both the catalyst for its breakdown (by bringing back Romelle) --

-- and also acknowledge the possibility of salvaging the relationship Allura may have had with Lotor (by being the one to suggest them rescuing Lotor from the quintessence field).

I’ve joked about this so much in 2020, but regarding Lance in s8, Keith is instrumental to this relationship being started because of Lance’s insecurities re: Keith and Allura’s relationship: Lance doesn’t choose to make a solid move to Allura until he finds out that it’s popular opinion that Keith and Allura have a relationship (based on the cartoon, yes) - 

and unbeknownst to Keith, also still harbours insecurities that he’s unworthy to be with Allura. 

It’s Keith’s very kind reassurance that Allura is interested in him, and that Lance does have something to offer to any relationship he’s in that gives him the confidence to go through with the date - 

and with the offer of a relationship with Allura. 

Keith still exists on the fringes, however, as s8 (consistently) props Keith up as Allura’s support - 

and as such, he is shown to be the one that Lance speaks with regarding how he feels about Allura and her decisions\their relationship.

Kallura meta comes out of this primarily because it’s something to note that Keith and Allura are written to be similar in a multitude of things and also be written as not having a relationship past detached friends with some measure of tension - but also have Keith be central to Allura’s relationships like this.

TL;DR: Keith saved Lotor at the Kral Zera and Lotor became Emperor, leading to Allura and Lotor’s relationship; and Keith told Lance to go for Allura, leading to Allura and Lance’s relationship, and it’s because Keith is written as putting priority to what might make Allura happy.

[dailykallura]

it’s been 5, almost 6 years - can the s8 animation crew release the storyboards for Season 8 Episode 13, because I know for a fact the boards are showing Keith and Allura squeezing each other in that farewell hug, I just know it

[dailykallura]

*stretches a bit for this reach*

so like Coran knows Allura likes Keith and I have proof? it’s called s2e4: Greening the Cube :)

here’s my proof: 

I know he’s looking for something and you know, mice are finicky, but here’s the thing: 

1. They’re linked to Allura’s mind

2. Why would they need to be in Keith’s room like there’s no way they could have gotten in - the doors are closed and afaik there’s no random exit points in his room?

3. They’re linked to Allura’s mind aka: why didn’t Coran seek out Allura to ask her where they would be if she could communicate with them to bring back his item?

4. They’re linked to Allura’s mind aka: why go to Keith’s room unless you KNOW where Allura’s mind wanders 👀

there’s my 4 points. Allura has a crush on Keith. thanks for reading

[dailykallura]

Keith looking at Allura:

[dailykallura]

to me, keith and allura are best friends, they’re married, they’re family, they’re each other’s wingperson for literally everything, they’re partners, they’re roommates, they’re roommates, they’re rivals when they want to be, they’re in love, they’re enemies when they piss each other off, they’re each other’s safe haven and home, they’re co-captains and head and heart and right hand, they’re both intertwined and spinning with hands clasped because “Allura! Grab my hand!” and “Keith, grab my hand!”, and they’re so devoted the lines blur and you can never properly make out where one ends and the other begins.

[dailykallura]

Lance goes up to Keith one day after seeing the patterns of Keith touching Allura – hand resting on the small of her back; cupping the nape of her neck; subtly squeezing her shoulder; and starts, sheepishly – “Hey man, I know it’s not my place to be forward, but I have to ask. Are you and the Princess… sleeping together or something?”

And Keith looks up, crosses his arms in contemplation. "Uhm... I know we got caught napping together that one time in the break room... but no, not really."

[dailykallura]

Sat in traffic tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, thinking "Wow...... Keith and Allura really do love each other......"

[dailykallura]

isamukuro: allura and keith were in the same frame for like two seconds and my heart skipped a beat

--

Their conversation starts and ends with their eyes.

Keith’s eyes don’t waver from Allura’s confident stance in the middle of that conference - and should it? She commands attention with the cadence of her voice, her shoulders squared, her words recalling every hurdle their combined efforts have overcome.

At Kolivan’s side, he keeps silent - they’ve compromised on allowing him to see his fellow paladins, and his presence meant that there was one less Blade to debrief. At Allura’s voice, he straightens his posture, eyes scanning the rest of the paladins.

When the Blade’s conference channel widens to facilitate two-on-six discussion, Keith locks eyes with Allura’s.

Allura holds his gaze long enough to raise her chin - Are you okay? - and Keith dips his by an inch, with a slow calculated blink - I’ll be fine, don’t worry.

It’s five seconds of movement before their attention is drawn elsewhere - back to the weight of this war they’re fighting - but it’s there, and after the communications have ended and they go their separate ways, they each breathe deeply and resolve to go forward.

[dailykallura]

I went back to review s8.13 and found something interesting:

During the sequence where Allura parts ways with the paladins, she praises them for their growth, and their characteristics, and thanks them for how much they've helped her.

The only one to thank her back...

...is Keith.

[dailykallura]

Keith, who's back on Earth with his family, familiar with making do with what he has in his cabinets - going out, getting groceries because why not? - cooking for Allura.

She's familiar with the motions though - she's never really seen her cooks prepare anything, sans Hunk whenever she's curious, and since the war, all she's known is the food goo, but Keith is using new ingredients and he looks at home while he stirs and reads the labels.

Allura's impatient, that's for sure - she's been shadowing Keith for the past half-hour while he steps around the kitchen, and once or twice something hot almost splashes her before she huffs in resignation and leans against the doorway, pouting - he finds it endearing though.

Keith has her taste a spoonful of what he's making, and it takes a little time - she's unused to the spice\texture of it, so she crinkles her nose and he laughs like "that bad?" but she keeps tasting and after a while she's really into the food itself;

She still watches Keith as he cooks though, something about the way he looks as he concentrates at the stove, and Keith notices - he reaches over: "do you want to try?"

Allura's hesitant, but she still allows him to pull her closer, to guide her hands to the spoon -

Allura doesn't know what's warmer in the kitchen - the heat from the steam, from the stove, or the warmth of Keith's torso on her shoulders, his hands over hers as he walks her through the recipe steps.

They finish, and Keith shares dinner and seats Allura, presenting it in front of her with a flourish - and it tastes amazing; she's beaming because she helped in the final stage, and Keith smiles, because making Allura smile was his intention all along

(She doesn't spare him - Allura leans over with a forkful of her food, beckons Keith to taste, and he can't resist - he takes her hand and guides the food to his mouth, only breaking eye contact to hum contentment, and Allura shrieks with laughter he hasn't heard in months.)