#how to write a controlling character

[unboundprompts]

advice for a character who grips control like a lifeline. who wants to be in charge of every little thing because whenever they're not in control of something something bad could happen. has happened. they can't let a single variable be wild or in someone else's hands

How to Write a Controlling Character

Backstory Rooted in Trauma or Guilt

This character likely has a history that has ingrained the belief that they must be in control or face devastating consequences. Perhaps they once trusted someone else with something crucial—a promise, a responsibility, or a life-altering choice—and that trust was broken in a way that had lasting repercussions. For example, maybe they lost someone because they weren’t “careful enough,” or they experienced a betrayal when they trusted another person’s plan.

They might frequently flash back to this moment, possibly catching themselves thinking, If only I’d been the one in control, this wouldn’t have happened. This memory fuels their need to keep a tight grip on everything, especially if they’re in high-stakes situations.

Rigid Daily Routines and Habits

This character’s day is probably packed with small rituals and routines that give them a sense of security. From double-checking door locks to setting multiple alarms, they rely on routines to give themselves a sense of order. In fact, they might be nearly ritualistic about small actions—checking emails three times before sending, never leaving a task halfway finished, or meticulously arranging their workspace.

Even something as simple as making coffee can become a precise process. If someone moves one of their tools or a file from their desk, they may feel a spike of frustration or even anxiety, seeing it as a disruption to their personal “system.” They could feel that control in their daily life is the only thing keeping chaos at bay.

Intensely Observant of Details and Mistakes

They are hyperaware of mistakes or inefficiencies in others, mentally cataloging things like a coworker’s slight lateness or a friend’s disorganization. They may feel a sense of superiority (or frustration) over people who don’t “have it together” and take it upon themselves to organize or “fix” things for others.

In conversation, they might cut people off or “correct” them even over small points, often justifying this to themselves as necessary. For instance, if someone shares a plan that seems half-formed, this character could immediately dive in, pointing out potential problems or filling in details.

Controlling Relationships and Social Situations

This character struggles in relationships where they aren’t the dominant or organizing force. They might instinctively take over when making plans with friends, micromanaging even casual hangouts to make sure everything goes “right.” For example, they might pick the restaurant, plan the travel route, and check weather forecasts—assuming that if they don’t, no one else will think of these things.

When someone resists their attempts at control, they can respond defensively, often turning cold or resentful, unable to understand why anyone wouldn’t want them to manage the situation. Statements like, “Fine, but don’t blame me if this doesn’t go well,” are frequent in their interactions.

Extreme Anxiety or Panic When Control Is Taken Away

When things go beyond their reach, this character might experience panic, as if they’re suddenly powerless. For instance, if an unexpected roadblock prevents them from handling a task (like a canceled flight they needed to board, or a plan that falls apart), they might spend hours trying to regain control, calling every contact or frantically exploring alternatives.

Their reaction may feel extreme to others. Even minor setbacks—such as a colleague taking initiative on a project or a friend planning something without consulting them—can trigger a disproportionate response, like clenching their fists, pacing, or silently stewing as they feel the situation “slipping.”

Inability to Accept Help or Collaboration

Their controlling nature makes it hard for them to collaborate, as they believe their methods are the only ones that work. For them, accepting help feels like an admission of weakness or failure, so they rarely delegate or ask for assistance. If they do reluctantly accept help, they are constantly supervising or “suggesting” things, making it feel more like they’re still in charge.

In a team setting, they might take on all the major tasks, either out of distrust in others’ abilities or a feeling that no one will match their standards. Their motto could be something like, “If you want something done right, do it yourself,” even if that means working late or burning out.

Reluctance to Show Vulnerability or Need

Since vulnerability and control rarely coexist for them, they avoid showing weakness at all costs, preferring to mask stress or struggles as “just part of the job.” If they do become overwhelmed, they’re more likely to shut people out, saying, “I’ve got it handled,” even if it’s far from true.

When people push them to let go or share the load, they might lash out, accusing others of “just not understanding.” They often see their intense responsibility as a form of sacrifice, justifying their behavior with, “If I don’t handle this, who will?”

[kastalani123]

Not my usual content, but I just. I wanna ramble, ig.

Do you understand how baffled I was about how the vampire book, written by a man in 1897, is essentially a PSA about how important proper communication is?? Even after I scrolled through Tumblr, saw the memes, read people geeking out about the relationships (platonic and romantic) in Dracula, I was still caught off guard, because. Like. Everything in this book is about communication.

Sure, it's kind of a given, considering it's an epistolary novel partially made up of letters between the characters, but. I dunno. From Dracula controlling Johnathan's lettres, van Hellsing refusing to tell anyone shit, the men keeping Mina out of the loop, to Mina using her telepathic link with Dracula, it's. It's literally all about how important actually talking to each other and sharing information is. Fuck, throw in the fact that "Harker", Mina and Jonathan's, arguably the main characters, last name means "to listen"/"eavesdropper", and that the book is Mina's in-universe creation to help compile, organize, and share what they know about Dracula, and the book's very essence becomes centered around information-sharing!

And I just. The narrative punishes just about every secret hidden, every time the characters don't communicate. There's the obvious, Dracula keeping Johnathan from sending out letters for help and Mina getting bitten because the men leave her home alone, but also. Van Hellsing not telling Lucy's mom that the garlic flowers and closed windows and so on are the treatment and she is not to touch them is what kills Lucy and her mom! They maybe could have survived if he just told them what's happening/what he's doing! And even the godsdamned telegram he sends to Seward! If he had just addressed it properly (communicated to the telegram boy properly!) then Seward wouldn't have been late and maybe could have prevented the massacre!

There's also Jonathan's diary right after he finally reunites with Mina, and obviously Mina's whole ✨ thing ✨ with the diary during their wedding is like. Peak romance, but Johnathan doesn't fully get better until Mina reads and shares it with van Hellsing and van Hellsing assures Johnathan that he's not insane. Sure, it's an oversimplification of PTSD and healing and such, but it makes sense, especially if you consider communication and information sharing as a major theme! Only sharing his experiences, reading through them himself after blocking off the memories, is what heals him! He cannot get better without knowing what happened, and without others knowing what happened, because knowing and sharing is important.

Renfield's also an interesting case. I don't have the book with me right now to check, but as far as I remember, he tries to talk about Dracula, tries to get Seward to release him from the asylum so Dracula can't use him against Mina, but is dismissed entirely; as a consequence, Dracula gets in the building, kills Renfield, and bites Mina.

Even the language barriers! The villagers Johnathan meets on his way to Dracula's castle try so hard to warn him of the danger but they can't. They can't, because they don't speak enough of the same language, but they try so hard. But whatever does get through to Johnathan, such as that woman begging him to take the crucifix she gives him — that might've saved him. It keeps him unsettled and wary and he does keep the crucifix, which wards Dracula off. They can't communicate the full extent of the danger, but what they managed is probably responsible for him surviving.

And the whole idea is even mentioned in-text! Sure, Lucy saying that a wife ought to share everything she knows with her husband is definitely sexism-flavoured, but Johnathan says it too! He says that his idea of an ideal marriage is one without secrets! And Johnathan is effeminate, yes, he spends a good chunk of the book as the "damsel in distress", but he is still the hero! He is still the one who kills Dracula (with Quincey), and can therefore be assumed to be an intended role model. The (male) main character and hero of an 1897 novel says that a good relationship relies on communication. Sure, he doesn't always stick to it, mostly by agreeing to keep Mina out of the loop when van Hellsing pushes for it, but that doesn't discount that that is what Stoker set as the ideal.

I just. I love this book so much. It subverted just about all expectations I might've had about it and I'm so glad for it. It's undeniably a product of its time, with plenty of racism and sexism and ableism, but it's also so. Not, at the same time? It's so good.

[madbard]

“You came back wrong.”

Maybe I didn’t want to come back. Maybe you dragged me, kicking and screaming, from a death that while cold and final, was at least my own. When you placed my body on the dissection table, understand that I could not welcome your touch. When you stole back my life for me, understand that you stole it from me as well, because I was not able to choose this.

You chose it for me.

“You came back wrong.”

Maybe I did. Maybe you were desperate to hold on to me and I was desperate to hold on to myself, to keep believing I had any control over my own body, my own soul. Maybe in that moment of struggle between your fear and my will, you pulled too hard and left a part of me behind.

Maybe that was the part of me that you loved.

Maybe that was the part of me that loved you.

“You came back wrong.”

Oh, my love. What makes you think I came back?

[oleafia-art]

some golden guards + caleb

i wanted to take a break and do some character design of a few golden guards based off of some of the ones seen briefly in canon. i also drew hunter and caleb as references for faces and stuff. i tried to make them as similar as possible, but also looking very individual to one another. since belos claimed that hunter looks the most like caleb, i tried to stay true to that while keeping the other three looking similar but not quite as identical. anyways i love them <3 they’re like the most mentally ill family ever to me

these weren’t supposed to be real ocs or anything but then i ended up giving them names and backstories and so i wrote a little about them aaaand now im obsessed. i will try to make a full body ref for them, especially alistair and/or constance, if i have time

i apologize for my godawful handwriting 💔

[brucewaynehater101]

I keep trying to write an angst fic about Tim's time as Robin being discovered. In true Tim Drake fashion, he keeps focusing on the pain of literally everyone else.

I'm trying to strong arm him into talking about his feelings, but this fucking idiot is all like "I guess it was rough and hurts, but let's delve into how this relates to your trauma instead."

Tim, please. Please just let me go in depth about your pain. Please stop dragging up Dick's, Jason's, Steph's, and Bruce's trauma in order to comfort your siblings instead of focusing on yourself. You're probably gonna throw at least Damian's on there as well, aren't you?

Fucking hell, Tim.

Whelp. If I'm gonna write Damian angst as well, any ideas about his relationship with the Robin mantle and Bruce?

[stygiansauce]

Nerf war reminded me of something I wrote a while ago...

Superhero AU my love!!!!!

(as promised @twodiamondhoes I give you deadshot Jimmy from the unnamed au)

[princessofghosts-posts]

Another day another morning where I hyperfixate on Nico and his powers. Today we are going to have another episode of: "Riordan trying to not make the audience realize how much Nico is OP by writing off something and never talking about it again". (There are a lot of those moments unfortunately).

We are going to talk about a specific moment in SoN. This from XIV Percy PoVs (pag 105-106):

“You mean the Doors of Death,” Reyna said, ignoring Octavian. “They are mentioned in the Prophecy of Seven,which sent the first expedition to Alaska—”

Cato the ghost snorted. “We all know how that turned out! We Lares remember!” The other ghosts grumbled in agreement. Nico put his finger to his lips. Suddenly all the Lares went silent. Some looked alarmed, like their mouths had been glued together. Percy wished he had that power over certain living people…like Octavian,for instance.

This also isn't the first time Nico showed to have control over them,since during the dinner in a couple of chapters before he did the same thing.

For understanding the real picture of this,we need to actually talk about what Lares are in mythology.

Lares were guardian deities in Ancient Rome. They were believed to: observe,protect,and influence everything that happens within the boundaries of their location or function. The statues of domestic Lares were placed at the table during family meals because their presence,cult,and blessing were required in important family events.

Romans writers sometimes identify or conflate them with ancestor-deities,and because of this,Lares are sometimes categorised as household gods,but some had much broader domains: roadways,seaways,agriculture,livestock,towns,cities (like New Rome at CJ),the state,and its military (the cohorts) were all under the protection of their particular Lar or Lares.

Compared to Rome's major deities,Lares had limited scope and potency,but archaeological and literary evidence attests to their central role in Roman identity and religious life.

So,while in Camp Jupiter they are treated a bit like trash,together with their fauns,in Ancient Rome they were extremely important. They were like minor gods that protected you,your family,your whole city and military force. And that's something big especially for the Roman Empire because they were literally everywhere during their golden years.

Nico has the ability to literally controll minor romans deities (that works as protective domestic gods) with just one of his fingers. And they listen to him because he has the power to do so.

Of course Lares in HoO have a totally different role from the one in roman mythology. But they are ghosts right? So it doesn't matter what status they have,they will always be under Nico control no matter what,because they are portrayed as ghosts even with their larger role. Because Nico is the Ghost King and every ghost is under him.

Crazy right?

Well,HoH kinda fucked that up with the fact that the roman skeletons/ghosts weren't attacking under his command and Frank had to step up as a leader role.

I'm going to be honest here,I don't like how Riordan gave the children of Mars and Ares control over the dead soldiers that were killed/died in wars/conflict. It's too much and it doesn't really rappresent their nature. I liked how Frank finally grow up in his own role and he got rid of his insecurities,but the fact that it happened in that way wasn't really something I appreciated. I liked more when he had to cleanse Venice from all the monsters to have Nico and Hazel back (even tho I didn't liked his attitude towards Nico during that mission).

Nico showed he could have control over the dead from the Roman Pantheon part,since in SoN he made every ghost shut up with just a movement of his hand and they were hopeless to him. They couldn't go against his order. And now in HoH,in the place where he and Hazel should be the strongest of the group (even with the fact he is half dying already),you are telling me that the deads won't listen to him because he isn't roman? Where is the logic at??

When they were trapped in the palace of the God Notus he was literally training with the scepter,to make sure it was in tune with his powers,for when they reached the his dad temple. That's something both him and Jason talked about before Nico got angry at him (valid),and he even said he got the good hand of it. So yes,he already used it once and the dead responded to his summoning without a problem. The scepter itself should act as a sort of amplifier to strengthen Nico's powers.

And then you want me to believe that the dead took one look at Nico and decided he was too greek for them? When a couple of chapters before they responded to his command and at the start of the serie Nico literally made roman's dieties shut up?

Riordan need to stop adding powers to Nico if he realized they are too much for him to write,or because he don't want someone esle to overshadow his favorite MC. He put himself in deep trenches when he stated that Percy was the most powerful demigod of this century,when there are characters that are his equals (all the Big 3 kids) by just their parentage. And of course,there are also character more powerful than him too,be it demigods or gods,monsters,primordials,titans and the list goes on.

And if he want to add more powers,then he don't have the right take them away with stupid reasoning,or just completely forgot about it after 2 lines (like Nico's sword). A side character can still be stronger than the MC without overshadowing him,you just need to balance them well. Which it's something he never did because Nico is clearly nerfed in everything.

This is not how it work.

[velvetjune]

“Darkness flowed from Cauldron Lake. Gaze into the black mirror of the lake, you'd see it all around you, and you'd understand, it was already out, already where you were. It was already too late.”

— Alan Wake 2

[justalittleguest]

Why is the spiciest, vilest, sinisterest take on Horror him being a cannibal. Girl that’s NOT his toxic trait. He’s so much worse.

[epickiya722]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like along the way that some people misdirect their anger or whatever other negative feelings when it comes to stories.

Like, when characters do bad or other questionable things the reader gets mad at the writer, some going as far as wishing harm on the writer.

Over fiction.

I don't know about anyone else but when characters do bad things, my emotions are sparked by what the character does. I don't mind it when characters are antagonizing or when characters make bad decisions because stories will have conflict, just what kind is what differs. Stories and its characters are meant to evoke some emotion from you.

I get it if the writing is flawed and sometimes maybe the character's actions don't make sense or it seems the writer really just don't want what they're doing, however...

What about the cases when the character's actions are questionable and that's on purpose? Maybe it does fit into the story and there's a message there to be seen or a reflection you're meant to have?

Should how you feel be directed towards the character or the writer?

Nowadays, I feel like more people have taken the latter and forgot that stories, no matter the form, are meant to be entertaining.

"They're a bad writer." Are they, or you just happen to be a bad reader?

And I don't mean like "you can't read". I mean as in "I think this story should cater to me and only me and the characters should do what I want them to do even though I'm not writing the story and I'm not the only audience out there".

[tender-hearteddd]

bertholdt exudes the same vibe as the guy who killed the CEO of UnitedHealthcare ifykyk

[brlankinney]

rewatching s03e08 and i know people always talk about the first scene with them in the office and the whole 'then i can see no reason that you'd object to me completing my education.. that you're paying for :)' but honestly the writing for the later office scenes are just so perfectly written

justin accidentally fucking up in the meeting with the eyeconics lady and getting fired was really just an easy excuse for brian to take back some sort of control over the situation, justin turned up everywhere he went and he's never been able to stay away from justin for very long

brian mentioning ethan FIRST is such a big deal!! sure justin wasnt subtle about going after brian, he never was, but the fact that brian was the first to straight up make the conversation about their relationship (or lack there of) is just? ?? perfect?

and then he goes and gives justin like an out? "almost as stupid as falling for his bullshit in the first place. but you're young and inexperienced" like excuse me? that's a whole ass excuse brian is willing to give him? and without being offered anything in return? brian just wanted justin back sooo bad and he had no idea how to go about it so he just made excuses for him that he allowed justin to use

brian was also the first one to get all up in justin's face with the "is that what you wanted to hear?" justin 100% just felt so shitty about the whole situation that he couldnt even see that he had brian wrapped around his finger from the moment it was just the two of them in the office. and brian pulling him back to continue the fight. it's all just brian grabbing at whatever he could and saying whatever he thought would get justin to stay at that point. continuing the fight means actually fighting for it, and justin can't even see that he already had him back

[diskusaurus]

My biggest issue in Epic the Musical is Odysseus, actually. In this essay, I will....

[decalight20]

slight spoilers for ep 4

so like, the heroes are controlled and changed by trust and what ppl believe is true about them (lin ling’s appearance changing and him being unable to go after the enlighter)

let’s say ghostblade (or any of the heroes) were to fuck up while stopping a villian and accidentally seriously injuring a civilian (or someone who looks like a civilian), and the ppl started to believe that he was a monster, would he physically (or mentally) become a monster??

if the ppl loved and believed in x and his abilities enough to the point where he’s basically omnipotent, could the opposite happen where if theyre feared and thought to be monstrous that they would become that monster? we’ve only rlly seen what happens when a hero isn’t believed in as much as before, but i don’t think we’ve seen a hero be outright hated and feared so idk

[jesuis-assez]

Popping in with another #Chenford Chat! We know The Rookie likes to throw in little winks or callbacks to previous episodes. What do you most hope to see a parallel to at some point?? 👀

Brace yourself, reader. I'm going in-depth with this one.

And then going off topic to eventually come back around to the question 🤭 Talking points outside of the question are: the different dynamics they've had + doors.

Trigger warning: Partial mention of 6x06 break-up + gifs (for those of you who are still traumatized 🤣) or still affected by it, as a result of personal circumstances (which I understand whole-heartedly)

1. I would like to see a callback to Day of Death ft. the necklace Tim gave Lucy.

But, I'm not going to hold my breath for it 🤣If they were to ever do anything similar to that… I'd be over the moon. If it does happen... The legend was foretold in this post. Apart from the aftermath of it in episodes: 2x12, 2x14, 2x17 and 4x17 .. we barely acknowledge its existence.

We get small glimpses of it every time Lucy touches the tattoo (Tim's words echoing on her fingertips as she lingers over the writing) and I clock it every time she does it. ESPECIALLY when she does it around Tim, or when it's about Tim. The person who helped her view that tattoo\traumatic experience differently. He is the reason she kept the tattoo. D.O.D was such a significant episode and I probably won't ever stop eluding to that.

I've said this before somewhere on a post (I think) that @thesassywitchofthenortheast made some time ago. I'd link it in a cute (x) but I can't find it 🙃 It'd be a nice way of them finding their way back to each other.

The necklace instead of the ring this time to lead Tim to Lucy.

It feels like it's something you're more likely to see in a fanfic (That I would probably propel myself to write, for I have grown tired of them wrapping that storyline up and never mentioning it again, when there is so much more they could

tell or do with it.) Especially with everything they've been through and how different their dynamic is now. I don't think it met its conclusion yet. Not if Lucy keeps touching that tattoo. But, who knows? fanfics have come to life before. Maybe I can manifest this into existence, too 👀🤭

The end of 6x10 also has SO MUCH potential, though. The feeling of it bringing their story full circle with Lucy being the one with her walls up and Tim having the role of lowering the walls by returning her kindness. * Fingers crossed * that they really deliver this new beginning. 'Cause that would be one mighty callback.

As exciting as it was when they eventually got together in 5x10 and we got to see them as a couple and watch that unfold. Watch that transition of them growing into romantic territory. I feel like this could be everything that journey wasn't.

'Cause don't get me wrong... The moments that we got? I'm happy about. I really am. I'm not at all ungrateful. We just missed a shit ton of their relationship. Almost like it got glossed over. Like, what do you mean we didn't get to see Tim's reaction to her having kept the D.O.D tattoo?

Picture Tim's small doses of kindness that Lucy allows + mutual pining + what their relationship could look like with them coming home to each other. What that reunion could look like after those moments of kindness and mending. Because Tim isn't expecting any of that to happen. That's not possible in his mind, he ruined that. But, he's still hoping for a second chance to mend what he broke.

That chance to really show her how much he appreciated that beacon of light she gave him in some not so bright moments in his life. Because she was at the centre of so many of those right from the beginning of their journey. From the moment they met and were Rookie\T.O to each other, she was in the midst of his past issues. She saw him through those. My mind has now made the leap to 6x06 - the break up. Lucy being at the centre of something from Tim's past again and Tim trying to keep her away from it. That's a whole other topic, though. I won't talk about it here 🤣

There wasn't much of a build-up in terms of the pining arc. It was just 4x22 - 5x08 They just danced around it. Perhaps, it seemed as though it didn't need to be drawn out? If that's the case.... Well, I would've liked it to be drawn out a little more or at least more of it being explored in those episodes during that arc. But, I wouldn't trade those moments we did get, for anything.

If we take into account the different dynamics they've had + all the tropes... You can see their journey. How far they've come. You're able to see a build up there.

( Which is where I am kinda going with this )

Rookie\ T.O [ & them becoming friends through-out that ]

That shot of them looking at each other in 1x01? Ooh. It has that feeling of something about to brew from this. Something beyond their understanding. They have no idea of what's to come from this, of how important the other person is going to be to them. How this will grow into something so beautifully tangible. And that jaw clench from Tim... Even that has growth 🤣

Friends (during the aforementioned above)

The romantic feelings gradually stirring up within them through-out and otherwise being unaware of due to many factors. i.e Tim's suppression (king of suppression) and not being in the place (given what their relationship was) to weigh-out the gravity of those feelings and how deep they are. And unless therapy helped with that, I'm willing to wager that he could still be in that state of mind to some extent.

In terms of when those feelings started to shift, it definitely already had evolved by the end of their dynamic as Rookie\T.O

That barrier between them coming down , despite those feelings having evolved while the barrier was present. Those feelings existed, while she was his rookie. And I don't know if he acknowledged it or is aware of that much, hence my use of the "Unless therapy helped with that, he may still be in that state of mind to some extent" Or if he even allowed himself to accept that. And I don't know whether the show will ever make that known or if it'll just be left to interpretation, that's how I interpreted it, at least.

[x] <- I made a gif-set that focused on this a bit, awhile ago. Shameless plug 🤭

Sergeant\aide

Feelings realisation \ Pining :

Tim did acknowledge and come to accept those feelings rather quickly after the kiss in 4x22. That kiss really opened the door to those feelings that he buried, all that was left was his mind coming to terms with it. The almost kiss in 4x01? the catalyst to opening that door. The spark. Just needed that kiss to open his eyes, for him to completely walk through that door. That door being Lucy's door in 5x01 and the door in his mind that was closed to the idea that there could be something more. It brought all those feelings back up to the surface for him to finally address them, in place of him just having those feelings. Feeling what he does for Lucy and not allowing his mind to determine what he's feeling.

After the kiss, he couldn't just repress the feelings down again, like he had always done, nor could he deny it the way he had after the almost kiss. Now he has that awareness that he felt something from that kiss and that's hard to deny. And it's that same thing he felt, after he comforted her. Only this time... he can't shake it. Even more so, while you're undercover and you're meant to be 'pretending', except it's not pretend and the flood gate has been opened and all your very REAL feelings are pouring out.

He closes the door to those feelings and himself in 4x01 and then walks through the door to Lucy in 5x01.

He gives in to his feelings this time. The way Lucy went to and he didn't give in the way he wanted to.

He stared at the closed door longing to go to her, but didn't give in to that desire, unlike he did with Lucy opening the door to him in 5x01. Just like the story she told of their undercover doppelgangers. He was very intrigued with the " I opened the door for you" answer she gave, too. And he lingers there, because he 'shouldn't' want to come in, but he does. It's written all over his face, how much he wants her, wants to be with her.

5x01 was his mind doing back-flips, trying to connect the dots and wonder where these feelings came from. He was THAT unawakened to these feelings, even when they were emerging during 'day of death' and while she was undercover in 3x14. That same episode he was undressing her with his eyes in her green dress.

He gave in more than once (honorable mention):

That WHOLE episode was them giving into their feelings and feeling them under the guise of this is ' work '

[ Relationship upgrade - Them getting together ]

End of relationship - Exes

New beginning - ???

- [ B a c k - t o - t h e - q u e s t i o n ] -

I don't want them to be put together without building that up, of telling that story (them finding their way back to each other) There's so much history here. And to circle back to all of it? One mighty callback. I want to see Tim mend what is broken through being there for Lucy, the way she was for him at the start of their foundation. I want to see him earn Lucy's trust back. I want to see that unfold. And I'd like for it to be told by calling back all those moments that shaped that beautiful foundation. That friendship.

I.want.to.see.that.journey. You know? 🤣 'Cause it'll look hella dumb and albeit… incredibly disappointing, if they don't show that after ending season 6 on that footnote. I mean, they had small moments of angst before 5x08 came around, but I don't know…I wanted to see more of it. It's what makes them getting back together all the more satisfying. Ideally, It'd be great if they work on their individual issues, as well. Since those issues were affecting their relationship, it wasn't just Tim's issues.

2.) Perhaps Tim is training his assigned rookie… he's getting blasted with reminders of when Lucy was his rookie. Which would be a good way of reminding the audience (Like we could forget the early days) of their foundation. Also showing just how broken it is now. Not just how BROKEN but how IMPORTANT. The contrast of what was and what is now leading to what could be.

And since I talked so much (wasn't anticipating on doing that) about doors. . .

3.) Doors. 🚪🤣 That'd be neat.

Thank you for sending me this ask ^_^! This question was fun to answer. Very thought-provoking. When I first read the question, I only had one thought in mind: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ( This has been my go-to response for things lately )

After sitting with the question for some time.. I eventually came to this essay ✌ (Does anyone actually like reading these detailed responses ? 🤣 Be honest. )

[valzhangism]

i know i said i was happy about how mel's story went, but the more i think about it the less i'm sure about that. this is very much connected to how the themes of classism and wealth disappeared in s2, but mel in the beginning was the epitome of piltover. she wanted to advance piltover to prove herself to her mother. to "put piltover—" and by extension herself, "—on the map."

she wanted wealth just to have it. and i'm not blaming her for anything that happened, especially with hextech! she, just like jayce and viktor, could not have known what it would lead to. i mean yeah heimerdinger said so but who the hell listens to heimerdinger? but anyway i think mel changed throughout s1, much in thanks to jayce. by the end she's become more cognisant of the mistreatment of zaunites. she's the first to vote for their peace. she was a good person all along but now she knows how to act on it. it's also seen more in s2 act 1. when she covers her painting with gold, it's symbolic—she won't act according to what her mother might think. she won't let her desire for approval dictate her anymore.

so somehow i wish those themes were. continued, somehow? like again they were dropped not just with mel but the whole show and it makes her story a off to me. there's no meaningful commentary on war or classism or how her ideology stands opposite to her mother's. like some people have said, it feels like she doesn't have much agency, even if she is really cool. and that to me is a shame because agency felt like her thing. "to shape your own destiny" as she says to jayce in s1. i know her collaborating with the black rose (but not fully joining them) and learning magic is supposed to represent becoming independent from her mother, taking her own path, but some other aspects of her character were thrown away... the more i think about it the more i'm thinking they kind of #girlboss-ed her a little bit. maybe to sell another champion. i can't help but feel like even though i enjoyed seeing her on screen, the payoff didn't feel proportionally satisfying compared to her setup in s1.