#subversion of fantasy

[ramiesie]

I told my friends something along those lines the other day

Quentin it's different (he's autistic and a magician) but not different enough to do something important (like Alice defeating the Beast or Penny working at The Library) or to be someone important (Julia being a literal goddess, or Eliot and Margo being the high king and queen of fillory)

him being a magician that discovered magical land would be enough for him to be THE protagonist in any other series, but in The Magicians (both the books and the syfy adaptation) that's just not enough, it's nice, it's make him interesting, but it's simply not enough

he's the only one without a discipline and that doesn't mean that he has access to every type of magic, it just means he doesn't do anything special

he discovered Fillory!! but he wasn't the only nor the first one to do it, and he needed help to actually discovered it

he tried to defeat the big bad guy... and failed miserable at the point he lost an entire arm

he ISN'T the one destined to rule Fillory

he's just there

it's a great subversion of the magical genre and I would even say it subverts the chosen one archetype, because if you only listen and know about Quentin, he IS the perfect protagonist, a normal guy whose interest in fantasy helps him discover he can do magic and that helps him find a magical place, but that's Quentin on a vacuum

once you add the rest of the cast, Quentin it's just the guy that knows the important people and Fillorys lore

I love how Quentin wants really badly to be the main character, only for every important thing to be out of his league

The Magicians it's amazing for that

Penny 40 rattling on about White Male Protagonism made me remember this comment i wrote a bit ago on a post where our fandom was picking who they relate to most:

"crazy how everyone picked Q, its as that pervert white astral projection said paraphrased " god i relate to a strong white male main character " - this show is such a satire of the fantasy genre i love is"

While many other things may cause us to relate to Quentin like him being "a queer autistic coded character who is awkward, nerdy, and has depression" It is still clear that Quentin being set up as the main character is constructed to subvert but maintain fantasy.

Quentin is a side character endowed with the privilege to be the protagonist, and while he still contributes and has his own quests - his friends are contributing slightly more or at least the same. Julia was a literal Goddess, Margo and Eliot ruled Fillory, Alice was the one who turned into a niffin to defeat the beast, and Quentin greatest accomplishment was (in some ways) finding out that Fillory was real and making friends along the way.

I would like to note that even though I said Alice bests Quentin (due to how much she had to fight for her knowledge and her becoming a niffin to defeat the beast), she is the white female non-protagonist to pair with Quentin.

For me his non-protagonist role gave me the room to fall in love with and relate to the rest of the characters (Eliot and Margo and Penny and Julia and then Benedict Pickwick and Harriet Schiff)

Eliot and Margo are iconic and full of nerdy enough pop culture references. Penny's sarcasm and I won't say I care but I do attitude. Julia's role as someone who has had to fight for her power and knowledge. Then Benedict Pickwick and his maps and Harriet Schiffs tumultuous relationship with the Libraries that raised her.

And overall in my opinion every character is "a queer autistic coded character who is awkward, nerdy, and has depression".

[1500sfemmefatalevamp]

Spirit Bag by La Lune Official ⚔️

[the-modern-typewriter]

Could we get a love triangle where the rivals fall in love with each other instead of the intended love interest? (Would love if it's m/m and enemies to lovers)

"Tell me," Cassander murmured. "Is it that you don't like my hands on her, or simply that you wish I had my hands on you instead?"

Azael glared at the other fey. His jaw clenched with the sudden horrible realisation that the truth wanting to slip passed his lips wasn't "her" immediately and without question.

Cassander, bastard that he was, smirked at his silence. He sauntered closer, his gaze fixed on Azael with the disquieting familiarity of any good enemy. He wasn't like the human. Cassander didn't look at him he was some beautiful, otherworldly and magical thing. All positive qualities and power. A dream within a dream within a fantasy. Cassander looked at him like he knew every filthy, dark thing about him and still wanted to sink his teeth in for the rest. Rake out every lingering secret with clawed hands. Rend and own and conquer.

Cassander was not fragile and caring and brave. If Azael shoved Cassander into a wall, if he grabbed him by the shoulders, experience told him there would be no need to be gentle. No fear of breaking something fleeting and perfect.

It should have been about her. She was the better choice in every way. She should have been what he wanted.

"I think you're very quick to physically put yourself between me and her," Cassander continued, in a confiding sort of voice. "Quick to get in my face and see if I'll put you back down . I think, when the three of us are in a room together, I'm the one that you're always watching."

"That's because you're the one who can't be trusted."

"She's drawn to me."

"You're a high fey. She's a human. She can't help it."

"How very patronising and mildly misogynistic. Does she like that about you?"

"I'm trying to keep her safe!"

"Maybe she does," Cassander mused. "Certainly, it's been centuries since I've seen you so worked up. It's an excellent look on you, possessiveness. It reminds me that, no matter how civilised and cold you pretend to be these days, you're still just the vicious little scrap willing to fight every other member of my court. Aren't you?"

Azael seethed. Still, no good response could leave his mouth without damning him. He'd never envied the human's ability to lie quite so much as when Cassander was in the room. He'd never felt quite so much like his very blood was burning up in the heat.

Cassander's smirk grew.

"But what about you, Azael?" His head tilted, as he paused on the other side of the dining table. His voice was ancient music, fey-tongue, home. "Can you help it?"

"It's not my fault you're - maddening."

"Maddening, am I?"

"The worst."

Azael realised, abruptly, that he'd leaned in across the table to snarl the words into Cassander's beautiful face. There were mere inches between them.

What would Cassander do, if it was the human, standing where Azael was? No doubt he'd be charming. He was never charming to Azael.

Their eyes met.

"Kiss me," Cassander ordered.

Without thinking, savagely, Azael did. He tangled his fingers in Cassander's hair and yanked, half hauling him across the table. He bit down claiming at Cassander's lips. He only stopped when he felt Cassander laugh with feral glee against his mouth.

They broke apart. Cassander's eyes were dark, devouring.

"I guess you can't help it, either," Cassander said. He licked his lips. Slow. Taunting. "So how can you hold it against her? Maybe you should apologise."

"Stay away from her."

"Why?"

"Because -" Azael drew in a breath. He could still imagine the heat of Cassander beneath his hands, the scent of him, the wily danger of the summer court's most favoured son. "Because I said so. And you're in my court."

"Would you like me to leave?"

"I'd like you bloody well kiss me again."

It slipped out. Too lacking in the silver that was supposed to coat his frozen tongue.

Cassander grinned with the same triumphant smile he'd once had on the battlefield. He rounded the table, pushing Azael down into the chair and straddling his lap.

"I'll have to send our sweet girl a fruit basket," he said. He mockingly, gently, tucked Azael's hair back from his flushed face. "She might just make an honest thing of you yet."

"You-"

Then he kissed Azael, and Azael realised he was well and truly screwed.

Him.

Maybe it had always been about him.

Damn it.

[zenkindoflove]

When a female character trains to be a warrior and wield a sword, it makes her feminine traits more palatable to a fantasy reader because she still embodies the typical (male) hero's journey. You can allow a FMC be as girly as you want if the audience sees she is willing to be "badass" by also kicking butt (the Buffy effect). But if you don't give that archetype to her in the first place, here come the accusations of a character being boring/stupid/vain/useless. That is the point. It isn't that other characters aren't feminine. It's what has been given to them to temper the inherent misogyny readers have about whose stories are valued.

[khattikeri]

you ever think about how japanese villainess stories overwhelmingly tend to follow the trend of "everyone calls her a villainess but ACTUALLY she's a genuinely kind, downtrodden, misunderstood girl whose actions and intentions get maliciously twisted by her enemies!!!" and then ponder the beautiful parallels between that and japanese war crime denialism

[shy-raccoon]

The princess uses her political power to protect her kingdoms dragon population from knights who are driving dragons closer and closer to extinction by poaching them for their teeth, claws, scales, and the title of dragon slayer.

[flat-neines]

The funny thing about rhysand is that he's one the characters that are the archetype codifiers for the "dark, tortured and brooding shadow daddy love interest" that fills paranormal/dark romance/romantasy books 2010s onward.

But he fails to hold up the foundation that was set by simultaneously being less memorable than other contemporaries of same trope (see the darkling, edward cullen) and far more toothless than his (copy paste) successors.

He's generic.

[triaelf9]

Dealing with Dragons: Cimorene sketch ^_^

Been re-listening to Dealing with Dragons recently (anyone who knows me knows I will not shut up about how formative this series was for me re: many things but mostly dragons) and so I got the urge to draw Cimorene again (I sketched her like a year or so ago, but can't find it, so I thought a redesign with my new style was perfect!)

Also, my fav book reviewer (I have one of those now?? What??) Just covered the first book of the series, so if you want to check out a great reviewer AND my favorite book of all time, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMaKkwHQQKM

Not me trying to speak into existence an Enchanted Forest Chronicles graphic novel series that I get to adapt, whatttt noooo... ^_-

[streets-in-paradise]

I was away the whole sunday because i was watching El Eternauta.

Guys, it's the best show I have seen in YEARS! If you are into apocalypse stuff go watch it, I haven't feel as excited about a show like this since back in the day when I was a kiddo watching the walking dead for the first time.

[anthurak]

Hey, so we all understand that ANY serious RWBY theory that has Jaune getting some kind of cool powerup or weapon or a badass fight scene or killing one of the big bads like Cinder or Salem or literally any other fantasy-hero/power-fantasy staple is effectively dead on arrival, right?

Because it runs counter to one of the fundamental qualities of Jaune’s character: that he is a massive SUBVERSION of the whole ‘fantasy hero protagonist’ archetype. That a CORE aspect of Jaune’s character arc across the show has been all about abandoning any desire to be some idealized ‘Fantasy Hero’ who’s super special and always saving the day and defeating evil, and instead growing in an ‘Every-Man Hero’. Someone who isn’t all that special or strong but is nonetheless committed to helping those in need.

I mean just compare Jaune in Atlas during Volume 7/8 to Jaune in the Ever After during Volume 9: During their time in Atlas, we see Jaune not trying to be ‘The Hero’, instead he’s part of a group, following someone else’s lead and focusing on helping and supporting his friends and anyone else he can. While his friends are off slaying monsters and fighting the bad guys, Jaune is escorting kids to school or evacuating civilians or just carrying a friend or three. And it’s clear that in this role, Jaune flourishes. Emotionally and psychologically, Jaune is the best he’s been in the entire show! To the point where even in the depths of Salem’s ominous Grimm Whale of Doom, Ren’s empathic senses see Jaune as a pure, bright spot of positivity.

Then Volume 9 let Jaune try to be a cool, badass legendary hero in the form of The Rusted Knight. A single, solitary hero at the center of everything who fights monsters and helps everyone.

And it utterly DESTROYED HIM.

At this point I think the show has made it pretty clear where Jaune’s character is going, and just as clear where it ISN’T going.

If anything, rather than Jaune getting some kind of powerup, I think it’s far more likely we’ll see the opposite.

You know the theories that Jaune will wind up being integral to any plans to revive Penny? That Pietro will reveal/confirm that he doesn’t have enough aura to reactivate Penny, or is prepared to sacrifice his life in order to bring is daughter back one more time; only for Jaune to step in and volunteer his aura as the catalyst to bring Penny back.

Well consider how (re)activating Penny permanently stunted Pietro’s aura. I think it’s pretty easy to imagine much the same happening to Jaune.

Specifically, what if reviving Penny costs Jaune his uniquely strong and quick-regenerating aura reserves? As in, the very things that have helped him to be a capable fighter? To the point where Jaune’s aura might now be not much stronger than that of a normal, untrained civilian.

Basically, what if Jaune doesn’t sacrifice his life to bring Penny back as Pietro might have done, but rather sacrifices his strength and even ability to be a HUNTSMAN?

Honestly, I think this would be the perfect conclusion to Jaune’s character arc; the idea that things like martial strength and the ability to slay monsters and fight bad guys are actually so unnecessary and even counter to who he really is as a person that Jaune can just give up those things without issue whatsoever (remember that he would STILL have his semblance that allows him to empower others).

Perhaps even to the point of admitting that he never really needed to BE a huntsman in the first place.

[thistlerock]

Which one of you fuckers put Kristen/Fig (faebees??) in my head after junior year. Who fucking was it I KNOW I got it from tumblr. I'm SO mad they're ruining my fucking life I CANT stop thinking about them oh my GOD it's because she's her fucking knight IM SO WEAK. FOR KNIGHTS. AND DEVOTION. BLOOD AND DEVOTION. ITS ALWAYS BLOOD AND DEVOTION WITH ME eughhh im gonna fucking DIE it's so . Armor of Ayda protection spell Ayda specifically makes for Fig -> forging her armor -> one girlfriend forged her armor and the other girlfriend is her charge. Because she is her knight. Oh yeah this and figayda aren't mutually exclusive . The sapphic polycule is calling to me. She wants me to heed her. Save me polyamorous lesbians SAVE ME

[incomingalbatross]

This is an unpolished and untested thought but I think at this point the only way I'd be interested in "portal fantasy as child abuse" fiction is if you had TWO former protagonists of different portal fantasies in conversation, and one of them is traumatized and the other experienced growth and empowerment and is literally fine.

[1500sfemmefatalevamp]

[shitpostingkats]

I think it was… Penny Parker of Snapcube who I first saw pointing out the comparison between Rebirth’s ending and the fix-it fics and game mods that save Aerith from being killed in the temple. For the game mods in particular because Aerith doesn’t exist on the other discs she has to stay behind. Even if you pretend she lives it leaves a necessary hole in the narrative: she has to go pray, or something has to happen so that the story can keep moving. It breaks apart if she’s still in the picture.

He still dies. She still dies. That’s how the story goes.

And it makes me INSAAAAAAAAAAANE

[jenn-the-mostly-harmless]

I think Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy is probably one of my favorite ongoing anime right now. I've been reading the light novel and I just keep having feels about it.

It's easy to dismiss it as just another isekai or harem show but it has a habit of surprising me. A lot of isekai anime are just regurgitations of tropes in new slightly different configurations, but unlike those stories, the author of Tsukimichi (Kei Azumi) seems to have something to say. There are obvious themes and explorations on beauty, power, responsibility, mental illness, and the power of familial love.

I don't know if the author intended it or not, but I think it's really interesting that Makoto has trouble connecting to feelings besides anger and embarrassment, that his decisions only take him and his friends into consideration, that he feels nothing when he kills a person he doesn't know, and that he can be destructive and impulsive on a national level without realizing how others will perceive it. To me personally, he comes across as someone with a severe mental illness who grew up in the best environment possible and learned to cope with most of his issues in healthy ways.

He would be a totally different character if his environment and connection to other characters were taken away, and the story plays with that constantly. The anime hasn't gotten there yet (super light spoiler warning for details that are not as far as I know, important to the larger plot), but at some point he's granted dreams of true alternate realities of his path and they are all incredibly dark. In those other realities he was left alone with his fear and anger and became a terrifying destructive force.

In his own timeline, multiple side characters realize that he has no qualms about killing (even if he only ever does it to save or avenge friends, a classic hero trope) and decide that he's scary and needs watching. When one of his closest companions starts to worry about him falling victim to bloodlust, another close friend tells her that Makoto will never love killing because life means nothing to him.

But my favorite part of this reading is that Makoto is a kind, thoughtful boy, who treats his friends well, treats every new person he meets with respect, helps any random little girl that is in danger around him, and generally bends over backwards not to hurt anyone who isn't actively attacking him or his allies. The people who love him know he has some dangerous faults and love him totally and completely anyway and without fear.

I haven't finished the series quite yet, so I hope this doesn't slap me in the face, but it feels like a really nuanced, positive depiction of a mentally ill protagonist and I love it.

[shoot-i-messed-up]

…ngl the Ilana & Rick dynamic was more interesting before they fucked