Voltron Season 8 - Thoughts and Feels
Dec. 17th, 2018 01:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So...let's try this again.
It's been a few days since I've finished S8 of Voltron: Legendary Defender. I'm still processing it, and part of the reason why is because S8 PACKED IN SO MUCH! I know there's a lot of hate right now, but I need to applaud the writers for this season - the writing was tight, it didn't feel too slow or too rushed, although yes there were a lot of things missing.
Also, I started watching Voltron late, only this year. My experience of it therefore is much more condensed than the average fan's. Also, I don't engage with fandom negativity, even if I do agree with the opinions expressed. That's just not how I choose to experience this part of my life.
I'll put the rest under a cut just in case anyone wants to avoid spoilers/Voltron isn't their thing.
There's a few things I wanna talk about with this season:
1. Growing up;
2. Lost stories;
3. All the things I didn't expect; and
4. The ships and curiosities this season left me with.
Growing up
We really saw everyone become themselves, even if sometimes I didn't quite expect it. I'm not going to do a full write up on EVERYONE as I don't have that kind of time, but I'll write the ones that stuck out to me:
Keith: No longer temperamental or insecure (well, still temperamental but he handles it). This may be a tough bit to talk about because of the huge reaction about Keith and Shiro's interactions this season - I fell in love with their bond. I mean, whether it's seen as romantic or platonic, it's a beautiful bond that brought a man back to life at the end of the universe.
It's almost as if the show felt "we've been overdoing Keith and Shiro's bond when this show is supposed to be an ensemble" so this season we get...barely any bond between them. Last season we saw Keith's bond with Hunk, so this season we see it with Pidge and Lance. The Shiro bond is meant to be a given.
I also think it's interesting that Acxa and Veronica saved Keith from Zethrid, though I was disappointed with Shiro. He just kinda stands there and gasps (but at least he's there, he doesn't go to ground for anyone else). Heck, James Griffin was more protective over Keith in that scene than Shiro was! To me, that was a bit disappointing. Even as an adoptive brother, Shiro failed there.
But this is also Keith growing up - Shiro is the sun of young Keith's universe, the man who saved him and changed his life, the man he could never let go of. That's because for the longest time, Keith only had Shiro (well honestly he could have had more, but he closed himself off for understandable reasons), only Shiro broke through his walls. It's actually a good sign that Keith's world is not entirely stuck on Shiro - it's progress, it's healthy. Keith has grown into a guy who can do *gasp* PUBLIC SPEAKING, embrace communities, and I'm overjoyed that he got to lead a Galran Humanitarian Organization. It's so Keith, it's so fitting.
Also, humanitarian Keith in the epilogue is now officially my favorite Keith - he looks so soft, happy, and beautiful. What more could I want for the guy who has become my favorite character of the series?
--
Allura: In so many ways, I had wished for Allura to live when I realized they really were going with Allurance. It's like Sokka and Yue again, but they get to be together. Then this season started, they went on that date, that picture was taken and I went...'ugh...one of them isn't going to make it. Probably Allura because she's the only one powerful enough to go up against Honerva and win.' It was the type of photograph that gets taken to remember someone by. At least in a TV show.
I honestly don't know how else her arc could play out as soon as Honerva was set up as the main villain. It was interesting to have Allura begin as haughty and kind of racist, to see her change to see the good in everyone (I mean her Galra discrimination isn't something she was born with, it was a result of having her entire world wiped out). She goes from believing Alteans are superior, to where she's at in S8. The alternate universe probably taught her the consequences of that mentality. It's good that a character like her is a protagonist on a kid's show, to show that these attitudes are prevalent, even in the people we like. And we can all change.
Allura ends the show as a Goddess, and I hope that if there's a spinoff, we'll see her turn up in a dream.
--
Shiro: Shiro is kinda done with space. Honestly I think if the Atlas didnt need to be out there saving the galaxy, he'd put his feet up at a fireplace and call it a day. The excitement he had piloting the Atlas in S7 is completely gone in S8. Maybe it's because he's basically Admiral Shiro, in charge of the Garrison now and it's a different place to be as an ultimate leader. He can't favor the paladins anymore, he has an ENTIRE ship the size of the Castle (and fully crewed!) to manage. Also...the paladins don't need him as much as they used to. They've all grown up.
Shiro growing up is leaving space behind. Frankly I dunno if the wide-eyed wonder for space can survive a couple of years as a slave, then dying, trapped in a void that made the other older paladins lose their minds, taken over by Haggar, rescued after almost killing one's best friend, then being brought back to life in the body of your evil clone and all the memories of the betrayal that was. I'm gonna say even the most dedicated space explorer would want to just take a 10 year long earth-based holiday after that...AT LEAST. I think it was difficult to imagine what Shiro went through, until we meet the other paladins. It's not surprising that he can't talk about it, I mean how do you even begin? Shiro's distance in S8 is kinda like Bran Stark the 3-eyed raven? I dunno, he's experienced too much. I'm not surprised he found happiness with a guy who had NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THAT. Was the Sheith part of me a little disappointed at the much reduced bond between Shiro and Keith? Initially yes but it didn't last very long. Curtis is obviously a smart, attractive, and kind person - he asks Iverson about the well-being of his beloved dog, tries to include Acxa in the community, saves the paladins because he figures out how to bypass Olkari technology (I mean dayum!)...he's the kind of guy whose kindness and down-to-earthness could make Shiro put that past behind him. Shiro will always love the other paladins, but I can see why he didn't end up with any of them. And Keith I mean...all Shiro has to do is see that scar, and there's no escaping the memory. I feel like Keith would understand.
If Shiro becomes a house husband at 27 - leave him alone. There's nothing wrong with being a house husband. He's experienced enough space exploration for 27 lifetimes. If Shiro retires from the Garrison and does something else, he'd be awesome at that too. Right now, let's just assume the best.
---
A lost story?
This show has obviously gone through so many rewrites it's no wonder it ended on a premise of alternate realities. The most obvious thing that got dropped to me was some kinda arc with Keith and James Griffin. More than the other MFE pilots, James was built up over a couple of seasons (since the flashback episode was supposed to be shown as early as season 2??). I don't know if we're supposed to recognize him as the kid in Keith's class, but we definitely recognize him as the kid that Keith (rightfully) punches (jeez James you were such an ass). Then Keith comes back and who's the first person from Earth he sees? James - James who somehow knows exactly how to get Keith to listen "unless you want to deal with a SWARM of those things LET US HANDLE IT." - I think even old temperamental Keith would have grudgingly listened to that. James who stares at Keith, and Keith stares back - honestly I thought they were going to get into another fight. Or at least talk. Perhaps it was an angle that the writers thought to explore, that these two kids making up would further show the effects of war and how it changes people, then realized it's a little too specific to put into a show. James and Keith's relationship doesn't affect the rest of the paladins, or...anyone really. Just them.
I didn't like James at all when we first get introduced to him. I found him annoying in every scene. Now...I'll head into "All the things I didn't expect..."
(spoiler - I now love James Griffin)
--
All the things I didn't expect
Basically means all the characters I didn't expect to fall in love with. Man if you told me in Season 1 that I would end the whole thing cheering for Zarkon I would have have looked at you funny. I kinda expected that I would at least find Haggar a cool villain, but Zarkon seemed kinda 2-dimensional. Lotor annoyed the heck out of me, my friends can attest that every time he turned up, I just said "Oh SHUT UP LOTOR" because I felt like this guy just turned up and talked and talked and talked and...oh more talking...and he's still talking. And...still...EURGH. He reminded me of Azula (no Zuko at all actually, that's Keith), but I loved Azula.
I did NOT like James, I didn't actually care much for Keith until we get to season 3 or 4? Hunk and Shiro were my favorite paladins. And now, I still love Hunk, but Shiro...I'm happy for him but I don't like him as much as I used to.
S08E02 really emphasized the loss of 10,000 years. Zarkon and Honerva had achieved a kind of immortality for their family but at what cost? They didn't actually "live" those 10,000 years. For 10,000 years they neglected their son - Honerva because she didn't remember him, Zarkon because remembering hurt too much and an Empire couldn't fill the hole in his heart. Holy shit. Lotor really didn't stand a chance. I'm so glad that in another universe, he has a good Dad, his Altean heritage, and probably grows up to be a great alchemist who fulfills his potential. I still don't know where the idea to mine Alteans for Quintessence came from, and the extent of madness that must have cracked him after Zarkon destroyed the first planet he loved, but there was so much wasted opportunity with Lotor and that was the greatest tragedy.
I didn't realize how much I needed to see the version of Zarkon that the Black Lion chose, until I saw S8. Zarkon was...such a good guy, and we could see the similarities between him, Shiro and Keith in his short appearance (more Shiro actually). Considering the consequences of Zarkon's obsessive love for Honerva (victory or death), it is perhaps not entirely terrible that Keith learns to live for more than Shiro. What wouldn't Keith do to save Shiro before S8? Of course, Keith is not Zarkon, I don't believe he would have ever sacrificed the other paladins to save Shiro. It's still a disturbing thought - it's great that Keith's love for Shiro saves rather than destroys (no Shiro no Atlas, no victory), but Zarkon and Honerva's story shows that such dedication is delicate and dangerous.
James James James. I probably hated him because we only saw him from Keith's POV. The parents mockery was inexcusable, and he deserved the punch to the face. I'm annoyed that he had the gall to look annoyed at Keith while they were waiting for Shiro, but that's just his default look around Keith, as we find out through S7 - he looks at Keith like that even when he's helping him out! (Flying Keith to the Galra base, same frown). Keith just straight up annoys James, yet rewatching S7 implies that James maybe just...really wanted to be Keith's friend but never figured out how. The other thing I picked up was...James is subtly protective of Keith when he comes back to earth as a paladin of Voltron. I don't know if it's hometown pride - you know how when you move to a new place and you find someone from your original neighborhood - even if the two of you never got along you'd still make sure they were okay? That. But James is working off knowledge of a much younger Keith - temperamental and judgy. That Keith would have never accepted James' help, and probably didn't accept it when James reached out in school (I'm sure James must have, he gets along with EVERYONE ELSE in that class except Keith). So James can't say "I want to help" or "I hope we become better friends," he has to hide behind posturing and bravado, which is what was annoying in the first place. James in S8 is softer, sillier, much more relaxed around his friends. A lot of the tension is gone because Earth is saved, and this is probably the more genuine version of James (that we see hints of in those classroom scenes), than the tense guy putting up a brave front that we meet in S7. In S8, again, it's James who flies Acxa and Shiro to Keith and Zethrid, delivering the people on the Atlas who love Keith the most (really the only one missing was Krolia and she was probably on a Blades mission). Of course it's Veronica who saves Keith, which is an interesting commentary about how we get stuck on certain characters or circles, when everyone is part of the team.
It's hypocritical of me to hate James somewhat, because James and I express remorse similarly by nature. I've gotten better at apologizing verbally (I'm also a woman so there was little chance that society would allow me to get away with not verbally apologizing even when it's not my fault), but I'm an "acts of service" kind of person. I'm not in touch, I don't talk much, but when I feel guilt I feel it acutely and I try to do things to make up for it. James' acts of contrition are grand gestures that involve putting his life in danger - "I yelled at Hunk, now I'm going to help him get his family / I could have been better to Keith all my life, I'll make sure he gets to where he needs to go."
I really hope that after the war is over, that Keith and James at least manage to become friends. I mean James is now friends with Acxa haha, if he can pull that off, he can be friends with Keith. I know Keith has found his place out there in the universe, among the Galra, but it would be nice if he count have this connection with the person who has known him the longest out of everyone in the show. He's not obligated to, James was not always stand up, but neither was Keith. James lost his temper at Keith for a good reason - Keith screwing around got everyone punished, and Keith only lived for Shiro he didn't bother making friends. For someone as community driven as James, that is terribly selfish and irritating. I just like the idea of Keith having a good link to his past as well as his present and future.
Ships and curiosities:
If you couldn't tell from my write-up above, I actually ended Voltron S8 a Jeith shipper. What the heck right??? This may as well go under "things I did not expect" but there are so many interesting aspects for me to explore with them - past/present/future (circularity), complements (they're actually similar deep down - Keith is another "acts of service" guy, which may explain why we never saw them talk it out - Keith understands the significance of James' actions because he speaks the same language himself); this urge to throw themselves into the front line of a fight. Neither Keith, nor James, would ever order their team to go somewhere they wouldn't go too. As we can see from Keith yelling at Zarkon for betraying his paladins, this is a quality that Keith would appreciate. I also want this ship for James' sake as much as Keith's - James is the type of hometown boy who never left home until work called him away. He should see more of the universe and grow on his own volition. I feel like after flying on the Atlas and seeing how much his community expands, he would be drawn to do this. The person he grows into, could be a good match for Keith. Also, I like the idea of James' protectiveness (subtle as it is) over Keith because for so many seasons I've seen Keith run after Shiro with Shiro hardly having a chance to repay the favor.
Acxa fits into a similar role - yeah I also ship Kacxa (after S8 I ship Veracxa more lol). Ezor and Zethrid straight out say that Acxa is in love with Keith. Acxa never denies it, and as for Keith we never hear what he thinks of it but it doesn't matter really. They're very similar, and in real life that works out better. In fic, it's a little less to write about hahahaaha. I like the idea of Kacxa being the subtle canon pair ending for Keith though - similarly to Shiro's comfortable companionship, I feel like Acxa and Keith can be that for each other. Their backgrounds and the emotions they work through are similar. We've seen that they can open up to each other (or at least that Acxa can open up to Keith), and when they spoke next to that fire it felt like they had wanted to do that for a long time and finally could. They feel like home, all that's up for question is whether they're each ready for that.
I mean while I'm at it, why not Jeithacxa but I'm not sure I'd be able to write it haha. It would require a lot of time and complexity because of how introspective and emotional I tend to want to be while writing fic, and I don't think I have the time, or have it in me, to deep dive into all three of them at the same time. Especially for 3 characters whose details and backstories aren't fully fleshed out.
I'm so happy for Zethrid and Ezor - talk about the best couple in Voltron.
A friend suggested that I write a Jeith and Veracxa fic lol.
At first I wanted to write a rom-com about how Curtis and Shiro fall in love. Now I realize I really don't have it in me to make up the amount of what I'd have to, in order to fully flesh Curtis out. But so many others are gonna do that :D
These are the first of my thoughts about Voltron's ending. I'm sure I'm going to have more. (Save me!)
no subject
Date: 2018-12-21 07:04 pm (UTC)You're actually the first person the say that last part, which I hadn't even considered.
Because I think if there's been anything that's hurt Keith's character development, it's been that there's no balance between his close connection with Shiro (which is beautiful in any context) and the building of relationships between the rest of the group. It seemed like they were going more for that with him and Lance in season one and partially season 2 but it got nerfed eventually.
Honestly, Shiro either should've died off for good or they should've found some other organic work-around that would've forced the lion switch without sending Keith away out the group before he had those needed connections, but I'll make my own post on that. But I agree that as much as I enjoy his connection to Shiro, I did grow to like Keith more once he had interactions with the rest of the Paladins.
...which speaking of which, if we needed a last minute gay wedding, I kinda wish it's been Keith and Hunk, cuz roller coaster date, amirite? *nudge wink*
A friend suggested that I write a Jeith and Veracxa fic lol.
I would very much be here for both of these things :3
I didn't realize how much I needed to see the version of Zarkon that the Black Lion chose, until I saw S8. Zarkon was...such a good guy, and we could see the similarities between him, Shiro and Keith in his short appearance (more Shiro actually).
That took me by surprise, too. Like, when Allura reminds him of what he'd destroyed*, he was very clearly devastated by this. And this kind of thing is what makes everything that came after just that much more frustrating, because there was a good show with good moments and they could've set this up at least as early as season 4 when Lotor has to kill him for the greater good.
*And honestly? the discourse over her fate notwithstanding, I wish Allura had had a moment of someone calling her back from the edge, too. Because she goes full out against Galra all the time, for obvious reasons but her flooding Zarkon with memories of what he'd done so quickly felt a bit OOC for her without at least a realization that he wasn't exactly under his entire control.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-22 12:09 pm (UTC)Haha Keith and Hunk stuck together on Clear Day and Keith destroying the ride. I loved the little adventure last season where they go off to try to rescue Hunk's parents, I mean until S7 I felt that Hunk's development was left to the wayside, but then S7 delivered so much! I'm really sweet on Hunk and Shay though. I would have loved to see the internet's response to a Hunk/Keith wedding heehee!
I've started trying to write the Jeith thing, and Veraxca will definitely be in it. Eurgh! Let's see if I succeed!
Yeah the tragedy of all the previous seasons only really comes to light in this final season. I didn't feel anything for this family until now, but Lotor having to kill his father is now such a tragedy. It's a wonder he mostly held it together for as long as he did.
I chalked up Allura's sudden aggressiveness over the dark entity within her, which was the same thing that drove cool guy Zarkon to evil Emperor Zarkon. So in a way, she was always pulling herself back from the edge.
I have been trying to put thoughts together about what I feel about Keith's support for Allura's plan the entire time. Yes, Honerva is a great threat, but Keith and Shiro's unwavering support of Allura's plan was definitely putting the mission over a person. For a couple of seasons, Keith tried to teach the Blade of Marmora that the mission doesn't trump all. I have conflicted feelings about that theme because it was the "right" strategy to follow, but yeah...still trying to form coherency over that.
Thanks for the comments! Hope it's okay if I subscribe to you, would love more Voltron discourse buds!