The Loss Of The Addiction Angle In Kevin's Character In The Transition From Ogs To Uaf Really Shows To

the loss of the addiction angle in Kevin's character in the transition from ogs to uaf really shows to me the flaws in uaf's writing compared to ogs's, at least in terms of Kevin's redemption.

Kevin's energy addiction is a key part of his character in ogs. it's implied to be why he swings so drastically from being good to Ben out of the kindness of his heart to trying to kill hundreds of people in mere hours, and it seems like this has been going on a while, shifts in mood correlating to his energy consumption. the addiction is why Ben and Kevin break apart, because Kevin's behavior because of the effects of the drug and his pursuit of it stop them from being healthy friends. Ben never stops believing Kevin might have the capacity to change, though, trying to see through the person the drug created to the person inside, like him sparing Kevin in framed and helping him out in grudge match. Kevin is, at this point in his life, dangerous, but he's still a kid, and Ben's failure to protect him weighs heavy on him for the rest of his life. you see this narrative and think well, if he's redeemed later, this should be important. recovery should be hard, especially when he seems to have been in survival mode for years. it must be hard for Ben to trust him afterwards, especially with the sheer amount of pain they've put each other through, Kevin especially, because of his addiction.

in uaf, Kevin is already good. he can still absorb things, but they don't hurt him now, they aren't a compromise he makes, sanity for safety. he's a con man, he makes measured plans and scams, not drugged out bids of random violence. he's calm, mostly, and he's a good guy now, and he'll help Ben because he has "honor", and he no longer thinks of life totally selfishly. this, I feel, is a cop out.

main characters aren't really allowed to have rough edges in uaf, and when they do, it seems jarring and out of place, or a result of weird writing. Ben's transition from being a little too kind for Ben to being unreasonably cruel in a way he never was as a child is strange, unfitting of how perfect the show wants him to seem. gwen's random bouts of insulting Kevin or pettily harping on him for things he apologized for seem strange when paired with how kind she usually is to him. and Kevin, Kevin is a "bad boy", but not in a dangerous way. all of his crimes are amorphous "things he's done" that they never elaborate on, his scams not cruel but only conniving. even when mutated, he still seems lucid, way less vengeful and violent than he was as a child. he's not an addict. why would he be? he's a good guy. he's changed. even at times where it seems obvious to show that he's "fallen off the wagon", they don't mention it.

I feel like this leads into a larger discussion about uaf, mainly about character flaws and the white sheet covering specifically the alien trio. character traits that got lost in translation, Ben's hobbies, Gwen's love of technology, Kevin's addiction metaphor. especially in terms of flaws. in uaf Ben's "flaws" fluctuate, sometimes being perfect, sometimes randomly getting an ego, losing it, then gaining it back. Gwen in uaf has no stated flaws, or at least ones that are intentional, but because of that, the ones she accidentally has are more toxic and weird than she ever did as a child. and Kevin? he's an amorphous concept. vaguely criminal. vaguely angry. a doormat. what's the issue with writing Kevin in a way where he really does feel like a homeless kid with addiction problems and enough trauma to have that dead look in his eyes forever? I don't know. I don't know where I'm going with this. give Kevin a little violence back.

More Posts from Xynnietheslut and Others

xynnietheslut

4 months ago

8K notes View Post

xynnietheslut

2 months ago

Gotta love the implication from the marauders fans - if you're an ugly, white, poor kid - you deserve the many crimes committed against you. But if you are an ugly, black, poor kid - wait, that will make my faves look bad. My faves are saints because their victim is ugly and not part of a minority.

They're like Lily, laughing at someone who's being abused because the abusers are ~handsome~

Well, at the end of the day, these are people who engage in victim blaming, support and excuse bullying, and minimize sexual offenses—so it’s not like we can expect much from them in terms of moral consistency or ethical coherence. The real issue isn’t that they think it’s acceptable to abuse a white child; it’s that they know they can justify it because no one will call them out the way they would if the child were a POC. The latter is visually more striking, carries far more controversial implications, and forces an uncomfortable conversation they don’t want to have.

The problem with these people is that they refuse to confront their own cognitive dissonance and the narrative of victim-blaming and perpetrator-exoneration that they’ve upheld for so long. They know that the moment the severity of the bullying Severus endured is laid out in a way that can’t be denied—because it will be too visually explicit to ignore—they won’t have anywhere to hide. And honestly? I find that wonderful in one way, but on the other hand, it’s pretty sad that this isn’t about genuine political awareness for them but rather a purely materialistic concern over their own image within the fandom.

39 notes View Post

xynnietheslut

5 months ago

2K notes View Post

xynnietheslut

1 month ago

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and even to some extent Severus were heroes. What did James do to contribute against a war? Fought a few death eaters? Alright many of other order members did that, even if they weren’t as strong as James.

But why do people call him a hero? For standing straight against Voldemort? That's it? For trying to protect his son? I suppose Narcissa is a hero too then.

James is the perfect example of a man who wants to appear noble and heroic, but is only reckless, arrogant and idiotic in reality. His character is so shallow. I have a hard time seeing him as the good guy, because we didn’t see his change and because the only things we know about him are decent at best.

Don't downplay the effort of spending years stalking a girl, chasing after her even though she told him to get lost, lying to her by saying he wasn’t a bully anymore just to be with her—when he actually still was—getting her pregnant before turning 20, and contributing his sperm to the creation of a fetus. It’s a super elaborate plan that took him about 10 years; it’s quite impressive that it worked out. Too bad he ended up dead for being an idiot.

16 notes View Post

xynnietheslut

1 month ago

(ID in ALT Text)

its uh titts out monday (i think) In case you don't know, there is this really entertaining and spicy fic @ranilla-bean wrote named Nip It in the Bud.

zuko sure wasn't subtle and sokka an absolute gentleman.

8K notes View Post

xynnietheslut

2 months ago

485 notes View Post

xynnietheslut

4 months ago

"The marauders bullied Severus so bad" "They weren't comparable enemies, Severus was just protecting himself"

Riddle me this; If Snape really was bullied, why would he go to the shack?

If your bully came to you saying "hey, why don't you come to the local HAUNTED HOUSE in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? There's something special for you 😌" WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU COME?

109 notes View Post

xynnietheslut

3 months ago

You know what I can't get over about the angst the Marauders fandom has for The Prank?

None of it is to do with the fucking victim

It's all about Sirius and Remus and their "fractured" relationship and Sirius' "guilt" and Remus being "angry" or "guilty"

But it's never about the actual fucking victim

It's never about the victim who got tricked and nearly killed. The victim who was silenced by the adults around him. The victim whose own best friend didn't even believe his version of events.

Severus Snape is the biggest victim of the Prank. Out of all the people with any right for angst, he's got the biggest right. For goodness's sake, his abusers didn't even regret what they nearly did, James just was aware the consequences would be nasty for him and his friends. And I don't think even Remus truly cared enough either to truly feel bad about it.

But nobody ever discusses that.

283 notes View Post

xynnietheslut

5 months ago