#gahh thank you for the ask sorry I didn't answer it sooner

[rrat-king]

What are your current opinions on the Rat Grinders post EP 17? I just think no matter what happens its very sad that they seemingly have no positive adult figures in their lives (seriously WHERE ARE THE PARENTS) and are being manipulated/groomed by people with authority/power over them? We need to cure them and give them SO MUCH therapy (and maybe bring Lucy back so Kipp can give her a smooch- WHO SAID THAT??)

oh 100% on the frostkettle train so so real. the thing about the rat grinders is that i have. a lot of opinions but they sit in like. two different camps.

so like, as plot elements they are so super interesting as not only foils for the bad kids but also as like you said they are these kids who are so jealous of the bad kids (at least in kipperlilly's case) but really they are just like these pawns in this greater game. it's super interesting to see what they bring out in the bad kids too as well as just being super interesting in the fact that the bad kids are considered so cool and liked but everyone has enemies or normal people at school who just. don't like them.

character wise I love them because I fucking love kind of shitty kids. it's why I work with middle schoolers. like I know everyone wants to save them kinda but I almost wish that they were just... regular shitty kids if that makes sense? like I understand them in plot terms being part of the Big Bad Scheme, but in my beloved fannon mind they are just kids who beef with the bad kids. like yes kipperlilly is being kinda manipulated by the adults in her life being told that they are the only way she can gain levels and lost her best friend being apart of her plot but before all that she was still a try hard with anger issues and a group of friends who loved to get under her skin.

tldr; the rat grinders are spinning around in my head and I love that they are both interesting plot elements as well as just ur average slightly shitty kids that have beef with a group that didn't even know who they were for two years.