#i dont know what compelled me to make this

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

I must be brutally honest, I dont usually pay that much attention to cast interviews. “Assistant” or “secretary” Galadriel was hilarious to me, I must say (someone should write this fanfiction). But I think the only time Charlie talked about Sauron and love was to make the point he’s not human. Sauron doesn’t love in the human sense of the word, or something like that. And, yes, he’s correct. Sauron is pretty much a demon (even Tolkien calls him that in his letters).

The only time I fully disagreed with Charlie was when he talked about W.H. Auden “evil loves only itself” (from 1956 “Return of the King” review) which caused a lot of confusion in the RoP fandom because many thought it was a quote by Tolkien. In Charlie’s defense, he never said it was, but the fandom took it as such. And I’m saying this as a Tolkien nerd, because Tolkien didn’t agree with this, at all. And he rejected this view and wrote a few-pages letter (Letter 183) counterargumenting it, and saying Auden was misunderstanding his work because he doesn’t believe in “absolute evil” nor does it appear on his stories.

Charlie knows this because he has studied Tolkien letters, he said so himself. So he knows Tolkien opinion on this, and it’s obvious on his own performance, otherwise he wouldn’t have created the nuanced acting we are seeing on the show. So I have no idea why he brought it up. He was probably instructed to. Actors in these sort of projects usually have guidelines in what to say.

Sauron’s love is a topic in “Morgoth’s Ring” book, actually. He fell into evil and relapsed because of his love for order and co-ordination. So, ironically, Sauron is driven by love (even thought it will get weaker later). Tolkien also tells us in this book and on his letters, Sauron’s ultimate goal is the good of the peoples of Middle-earth. He loves Middle-earth, which is one of the major diferences between him and Morgoth (who just wanted to destroy everything). The problem with Sauron is his methods, and his pride and lust will eventually consume him until he becomes the second incarnation of evil in the Third age. Like we are told in “Morgoth’s Ring”, his virtues were also his downfall.

He’s that kind of villain with the mindset of “the end justifies the means”. I think him believing he’s doing “good” until the bitter end is what makes him such a compelling villain. Also Tolkien ideas of evil aren’t as simple as one might expect. It’s all about intention. Good deeds on occasion don’t make characters less evil. So him having one of his main villains being driven by love is actually fitting. Evil can love and it doesn’t make it any less evil, because there’s no such thing as “absolute evil” in Tolkien legendarium. In RoP, we had this with Adar and the Orcs, for instance.

But, in my opinion, Sauron’s true intentions about Galadriel haven’t been fully revealed by the show, yet. I don’t take Charlotte’s words to heart because it has to be the show itself to reveal this to the audience (the same with the actors). And I’m sorry I didn’t see how Sauron truly loved Galadriel in that finale. Which is why Charlie’s comments actually raise more questions, at least for me.

Why does Sauron wants Galadriel as his queen or to make her queen of all Middle-earth (depending on who you ask) so badly? He made this offer twice already. Even if she would end up as his “assistant”, why her in particular? Why didn’t he pitch the same to, let’s say, Mírdania (who was fully willing to be his assistant in more ways than one, if we are being honest)?

Charlie also said Sauron sees Galadriel as a “useful tool” on his plan (heal Middle-earth) but why and how? It’s not like RoP Galadriel is the same as her book counterpart, nor does she has the same amount of “power” yet. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have them sword fighting in S2 finale.

The obvious answer is Sauron wants Galadriel’s light. He spoke of binding himself to her in Season 1, she binds him to the light, and he binds her to power. To me, this read as Sauron believing Galadriel’s light will keep Morgoth’s bounds on him at bay, to help him heal. She stopped him from getting his revenge on Adar in 1x06, after all. The “heal yourself” quote is related to this: Sauron desire of healing Middle-earth = his desire to heal himself; both cases from Morgoth’s corruption.

But Galadriel’s light is the same that shines on every Elf that was born during the Years of the Trees in Valinor. Celebrimbor had the same light, and Sauron didn’t ask him to be his king or bind himself to him. This light is more visible on Galadriel because of legendary hair, and her beauty. Which always leads to romantic subtext. Or to lust, which will become more true as he relapses further and further into evil.

I don’t think Charlie is being obtuse about this topic per say. He also doesn’t want to ��whitewash” Sauron too much on his interviews. Many people don’t understand nuance. Sauron is one of the most iconic villains of all time. A “supervillain”, even. And the majority of the audience is more used to Third age Sauron from LOTR trilogy (which is the evilest he’ll ever be in the story). But I’m really happy Charlie has finally started to talk about Sauron’s character arc, how he’s a nuanced character and how his perfomance is rooted in Tolkien writings.

never not thinking about charlie vickers's "saurondriel is not romantic" agenda, which i feel baffles a lot of the fandom because "if not romantic, then why all.......that?" but i think i know what he means, and bear with me!!! because charlie is clearly an intelligent guy, meticulous about his research, detail-oriented, so he wouldn't be so adamant about this if he hadn't thought it through.

it's not that sauron and galadriel are platonic, it's just that they're not romantic in a way we usually associate with Romance. like, they're not on bridgerton. charlie loves to bring up the fact that sauron isn't human, he's a "demigod written by a human," and galadriel isn't human either. so while "cosmic connection" has been used to death, it really is the closest we'll ever come to describing their relationship in two words, and using the one - "romantic" - leaves out their eternal memories, the nature of their creations, what they symbolize within the narrative, their power plays and conflicting agendas.... like, it's romantic, but it's like confusing Romance with Gothic Romance with Romanticism with Romance languages. i don't think he's trying to flat-out deny deny deny the romantic aspects of saurondriel (which are confirmed by charlotte brandström anyway, and she must have discussed them with charlie and miv while filming), but by contradicting the conventionally romantic (meaning "love affair") nature of their relationship, he is highlighting that:

1) these characters aren't human and we shouldn't think of them as such,

2) the relationship itself is complex and brings up feelings both of yearning and also deep, unsettling anger, shame, and hurt,

3) sauron is a masterful deceiver and the villain of the piece and his m.o. is literally psychological undoing,

4) his ability to love selflessly has been compromised for literal ages,

5) considering the romantic love aspect (as we typically understand it) isn't enough when there are larger questions of good vs evil and callings which they must both defend. sauron and galadriel are both characters in their own right but also archetypal symbols because, again... say it with me... they aren't human.

so i don't think charlie is being obtuse, i think he's trying to discourage reductive takes on the saurondriel relationship and i respect him for it. he's saying "don't get stuck on looking here, try looking over there too!"

[pinklotushere]

"And I'm trying to be sane."

- Welcome and goodbye Song by Dream, Ivory

---

The Wayne Manor study was cold, despite the fire burning in the hearth. Bruce stood by the window, staring out at the snow-dusted gardens. Dick stormed in, his anger palpable, the door slamming shut behind him.

“You think this interview is going to fix anything?” Dick snapped, his voice sharp and accusatory.

Bruce didn’t turn around. “It’s not about fixing things. It’s about giving Jason the respect he deserves.”

Dick scoffed, pacing. “Respect? You want to give him respect now? After putting him in a position that got him killed?”

Bruce’s shoulders stiffened, but he remained silent.

Dick’s anger boiled over. “You made him pick up that mantle, Bruce! You let him get involved in your war, and it got him killed! He wasn’t ready for any of it. He was just trying to live up to your impossible standards.”

“I didn’t make him do anything,” Bruce said quietly, still not turning to face Dick. “Jason made his own decisions.”

Dick slammed his fist on the desk. “Don’t do that! Don’t act like this is some noble tragedy where Jason’s choices were all his own. He was a kid. A stubborn, angry, reckless kid who wanted nothing more than to prove himself to you. And you let him!”

Bruce finally turned, his face lined with exhaustion and guilt. “You think I don’t blame myself? Every decision I made, every moment I wasn’t there to stop it—I think about it constantly. I failed him, Dick. I know that."

Dick’s voice dropped, the anger giving way to raw pain. “You didn’t just fail him, Bruce. You failed me.”

The words hung in the air like a physical blow. Bruce’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

“I trusted you to protect him,” Dick continued, his voice shaking. “I thought you learned from everything we went through. But you made the same mistakes. And now Jason’s gone because of it.”

Bruce turned back to the window, his voice barely audible. “I thought I could save him. I thought I was giving him a better life.”

Dick took a step back, his anger simmering beneath the surface. “Well, you didn’t. And now you’re dragging yourself in front of Gotham to pretend like this will make things better. But it won’t. Nothing will.”

Bruce didn’t respond. The only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire. Finally, Dick turned and walked out, leaving Bruce alone with his guilt.

---

The studio was unnaturally quiet as Bruce sat across from the reporter. The lights were harsh, casting deep shadows on his face.

“Mr. Wayne,” the reporter began, her voice gentle, “the loss of Jason Todd has left Gotham in mourning. How are you handling this tragedy?”

Bruce took a long pause before answering, his voice low and measured. “Jason was… a son to me. Losing him is the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. There are no words for that kind of pain.”

The reporter nodded sympathetically. “Can you tell us about Jason? What was he like?"

Bruce’s lips twitched into a faint, bittersweet smile. “Jason was…complicated. He was stubborn, always pushing boundaries, always asking questions. But that’s what made him special. He never accepted things as they were—he always wanted to make them better. He had a sharp mind, a quick wit, and a fierce determination to prove himself.”

Jason, grinning as he leaned against the Batmobile, grease smudged on his face. “Told you I could fix it faster than Alfred,” he’d said with that cocky smirk.

Bruce blinked, pushing the memory away. “He wasn’t perfect, but he was good. And he deserved more than what he got.”

The reporter’s tone turned cautious. “There’s been speculation that Jason’s proximity to you and your high-profile life may have contributed to his death. How do you respond to that?”

Bruce’s expression hardened. “Jason came into my life because I wanted to give him a chance—a real chance at a future. He deserved to feel safe, to have opportunities he’d never had before. If people want to blame someone for what happened, they can blame me. I made the choices that put him in harm’s way. And I’ll carry that responsibility for the rest of my life.”

The reporter’s voice softened. “What do you want Gotham to remember about Jason?”

Bruce’s voice faltered, his face blank. “Jason was… just a kid. He wasn’t perfect, but he tried. He deserved to grow up, to figure out who he wanted to be. I want people to remember that he mattered. That he was loved.”

"If there was something you'd say to jason now, what would it be?"

“There was a life before you, Jason,” he said aloud, his voice quiet and hoarse. “And then there was life with you. But for some reason, I never thought there would be an after you.”

He closed his eyes, the weight of those words pressing down on him. “But here it is. And I’m in it. I’ll be in it forever. I dont know how I'll go from here on”

"I'm sure he'd want you to move on" the interviewer smiled gently

Jason, standing in the kitchen, grinning triumphantly as he held up a burnt lasagna. “Alfred said I couldn’t cook. Joke’s on him—it’s technically edible!"

Bruce’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “He had this way of… making you believe anything was possible, even when you knew better. He made the world feel bigger somehow.”

---

Dick Grayson sat forward in his chair, his hands clasped tightly. The grief in his expression was raw and unfiltered.

“Thank you for being here, Dick,” the reporter began. “Jason Todd’s death has been a tragedy felt across Gotham. How are you coping?”

Dick exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “I’m not. Jason wasn’t just some kid I knew—he was my brother. Losing him feels like… like losing a part of myself.”

The reporter nodded. “What was your relationship like with Jason?”

A faint smile flickered across Dick’s face, tinged with sadness. “It was complicated. We argued a lot. He was stubborn, always trying to prove himself. But that’s what made him… Jason. He didn’t back down, even when he probably should have. He cared about people, even if he didn’t always show it. He had so much potential.”

Jason, laughing as he raced him across the rooftops. “Come on, dickhead, keep up!” he’d shouted, his voice full of that youthful arrogance.

Dick’s smile faded. “But he never got the chance to figure it all out.”

“What do you want people to remember about Jason?”

Dick’s voice softened, his eyes glistened “Jason was just a kid trying to find his place in the world. He deserved so much more than what he got. I want people to remember that he mattered. That he was loved.”

The reporter asked, “What would you say to Jason now if you could?”

Dick’s voice cracked, his composure slipping. “I’d tell him I’m sorry. That I was too hard on him. That I didn’t mean half the things I said. And that… I loved him. I really did.”

Jason tackling him during a training session, both of them laughing as they tumbled to the ground. “Not bad for the new guy, huh?” Jason had teased, his grin infectious.

“Not bad,” Dick had admitted, ruffling his hair.

---

Dick found Bruce waiting outside the studio, leaning against the car. The two stared at each other for a long moment.

“You heard it all, didn’t you?” Dick sighed

Bruce nodded. “You did good.”

Dick’s anger flared again. “Don’t patronize me, Bruce. I’m not doing this for you.”

Bruce’s expression darkened. “I know that.”

“Do you?” Dick stepped closer, his voice rising. “Because sometimes, it feels like all of this is still about you. Your guilt. Your pain. Meanwhile, Jason’s the one who’s gone. And we’re the ones left trying to make sense of it.”

Bruce looked away, his voice quiet. “I’m trying to do what’s right.”

Dick shook his head, the anger giving way to exhaustion. “Yeah, well, maybe you should’ve thought about that before putting Jason in the crossfire.”

The two stood in silence before Dick finally turned to walk away. “I hope you figure it out, Bruce. For his sake.”

--

Dick sat alone in his apartment, His hands trembled as he stared at an old photograph of Jason. It was from one of Alfred’s rare attempts to capture the family at peace—Jason mid-laugh, trying to swat away Dick’s hand, messing with his hair.

"I should have picked up the damn phone"

He clenched the photo tighter, the edges biting into his palm.

They’d been in the Batcave, the tension between them boiling over after another mission. Jason leaned against the Batcomputer, arms crossed, his expression defiant.

“You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?” Jason snapped. “Just because you were the first. Golden Boy Grayson.”

“That’s not what this is about,” Dick shot back, his voice sharp. “You don’t listen, Jason. You charge in without thinking, and one day, it’s going to get you killed.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Right, because you never made mistakes. Spare me the lecture.”

Dick’s temper flared. “This isn’t about me! I’m trying to keep you alive, you idiot!”

Jason smirked, his usual defiance masking the hurt in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Dick. I’ll make sure not to ruin your perfect record.”

He'd stormed out, leaving Dick standing there, fists clenched.

Dick’s hand trembled as he brought the photo closer. “I should’ve apologized. I should’ve told you that I didn’t mean it, that I was just scared for you. But now… now I’ll never get the chance.”

He swallowed hard, tears streaking down his face. “You weren’t supposed to go, Jay. I wasn’t ready to lose you. Not like this.”

---

Headline the next week:

"Wayne’s Tragic Loss: ‘I Never Thought There Would Be an After’ – Bruce Speaks Out About Jason’s Death"

"Grayson Breaks Silence: ‘I Was Too Hard on Jason’ – A Brother’s Regret Revealed"

"Gotham’s Darkest Hour: Dick Grayson Reveals Guilt Over Jason’s Death"

"Jason Todd’s Tragic End: Wayne and Grayson Speak About the Boy Who Didn’t Make It"

"The Aftermath of a Tragedy: Grayson and Wayne Face the Public After Jason’s Death"

@BatFan25

"Damn. Bruce Wayne just admitted he never thought there’d be an ‘after’ Jason. That hit hard. #WayneFamily #JasonTodd"

@Nightwing_13

"Dick Grayson saying he was too hard on him? Man, I felt that, I'm mean to my little brother all the time, too. You can see the guilt in his eyes. #RIPJasonTodd #GraysonRegrets"

@GothamWatcher

"Anyone else feel like Bruce Wayne is still carrying the weight of this? His words about Jason... so heavy. #WayneFamily #GothamGrief"

@MissMysterious

"Honestly, watching Dick Grayson break down about Jason... I can’t handle it. He loved him so much, even when they fought. #GraysonFamily #JasonTodd"

@WonerwomanFangirl

"The way Bruce talked about Jason... like he’s still trying to process it. But I get it. Jason was his son. 😔 #WayneFamily #RIPJasonTodd"

@GothamKnight48"

Dick Grayson: 'But he never got the chance to figure it all out.' Jejxysgej my babies nooo #RIPJasonTodd #GraysonFamily"

@crimsoncider

"I honestly feel for Bruce. The man lost a kid he raised. People forget that part sometimes. #WayneFamily #JasonTodd"

@TheRealrobin

"Bruce saying he never thought there’d be an after Jason... I mean, who does? Losing a son? That’s the kind of pain you can’t just get over. #Grief"

@GothamViews

"It was hard to watch Dick talk about Jason. I think he always blamed himself a little. But at least he was honest. #Family"

@just_a_lonely_bat

"Bruce and Dick going these interviews about Jason... makes you realize they’re just human, too. So much pain behind those winning smiles of theirs. #WayneFamily"

Pls don't track down my house

[dailychunsik]

[129]

[bustedtech]

Okay this is gonna seem really mundane but trust me on this, hold my hand for a moment; but do you think Dadbert instilled a good sense of skincare into John? Maybe bad teen acne runs in the family, and he wanted to get ahead of the curve, so that by the time acne was beginning to become a problem for John, the solution was already given to him- nothing crazy, just simple moisturiser and cleanser. Anything else would have been "too excessive" in Dad's eyes. "Nothing a simple bit of this stuff can't fix".

John kept up with it most of his life, even when kid's at school picked on him for it. He didn't really get why people thought it was "gay" to moisturise- did that make him gay? He asked Dave and Dave said no, so he guessed he wasn't? But it made him self conscious enough to not let on he was doing it. If anybody asked why his skin was so good in comparison to all the other kid's in his class, who were covered in their first bouts of spots and pimples, the answer was always "good genetics, I guess". Ironic.

And then the game started. And John could only use what was in the house. No big deal, he thought, there's plenty. Dadbert buys it in bulk, he'll be able to cruise off it until he can find some kind of a replacement. He had years worth, he wouldn't run out any time soon.

And then Dad died. And then John ran out. A long, long while later while him and Jade were together. And when the stress became too much, and when he got later into puberty, that first really bad pimple popped up. Right on his forehead. Dead centre like a target.

And John wept. An ugly, mounrful kind of weeping that Jade could hear all the way from the livingroom. She didn't understand at first. "It's just acne," she said "everyone gets it."

And all John could do was shake his head through tears and babble out half an explanation. Only half, because he wasn't sure he even fully understood. Jade sort of understood, enough to sit with him on the bathroom floor while he let it out.

[d1sco-infiltrator]

i need a minute to think about this...

[lightboundpunkz]

the future liberals want

[rentoast]

Gillion Tidestrider, Champion of the undersea, hero of the deep-

But in the form of the pop cat.

[thegreensheepdraws]

shhhhhh not now babygirl daddy just watched a 5 hour video essay on a movie from 2005 and he hasto lore dump on you now

[lcl-cultist]

Fish: the unholy trinity

[aliemboyfriend]

pov: you are inuyasha and your wife bullied you into letting her mess with your hair

[tubbytarchia]

Oh, I'll bow my head, I'll clip my wings I was never gonna make it anyway (x)

[intotheelliwoods]

lmao @dianagj-art @sharkfinn

[amber-angel]

What's the POINT?????

I half expected Misty's fucking chocolate martini to be poisoned, that's how out of left field these stupid plotlines are getting

[mintytea-exe]

every single time someone in the silt verses says "the river rises"

[son-of-avraham]

I've seen the last '"g-d made you perfect" that I can handle, and it's led me to a realization about how I think of g-d.

I don't think we were made perfect. We were made human. And, if I'm honest, the only perfection in my mind is g-d, and that sense of perfection is what differentiates humans from g-d. If humans were as perfectly-made as g-d, I for one wouldn't see the point in following, believing, trusting, caring for, or loving g-d.

I guess for me, I see the ways in which humans alter the Way We Were Created that I really don't think it's right to speculate as to if there's a limit to altering our abilities or bodies. For instance, as a trans person, I've definitely been inundated with this idea that because g-d made my body "perfect" that I shouldn't alter it ever, but isn't that a dangerous precedent? Is it really so, that our bodies are magically made perfect, as g-d that to even tamper with the idea of change would be the same as cursing g-d? I really don't think that's compelling.

I love thinking about just how much g-d is placed into people, but I don't think it warrants restricting the ability to learn, create, grow, or change. Thank g-d that He created the ability to change!

[insanostyle1231]

my professional bg3 villains tierlist