Moral Ambiguity Fan

A Blog devoted to all my favorite shows, movies, and books. I'm a huge fan of morally ambiguous characters and redemption arcs. I'm also a passionate fan of high concept shows with complicated mythology.

[torpublishinggroup]

“I’m capable—”⁣ “Three hours after we met, you sold yourself into slavery and then died.”⁣

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews is a thrilling fantasy adventure novel.

The art featured in this image is by Luisa Preissler.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT

Maggie awakens in the familiar world from her favorite unfinished fantasy series. Despite her initial efforts to get home, she finds herself drawn into the lives of the motley crew of characters she’s come to love and care for. With her extensive knowledge of its plot, setting, and characters, she navigates the world of Kair Toren and attempts to save  her new friends from the inevitable war and ruin on the horizon.

[celluloidbroomcloset]

Look, man, I've always enjoyed Good Omens (have DEEPLY mixed feelings about it now, but that's not the show's fault), but, no, Aziraphale and Stede Bonnet are not the same character, please stop.

[youngdeerengineer]

I read the book, never did watch the show, but yes, thank you, "The characters in all the shows are the same character!" sounds like a dystopian nightmare to me.

[celluloidbroomcloset]

It's...honestly, just feels like fandom's attempts to pack characters into the same narrow boxes so that they can be swapped in and out for AUs and fanfiction, rather than engaging with what the show is doing and saying. I do think there are some elements of GO and OFMD that gel together and it makes sense why there's some overlap between fans (I do not understand about HR, that feels like the continuity is a very broad "fans of yaoi"), but it's a disservice to both characters and their performers to try to make them into the same person.

[sparklywaistcoat]

I wonder how much of this is an artifact of shipping culture, where the characters are dolls to be swapped around and manipulated at will, rather than individuals with their own personalities and histories.

[celluloidbroomcloset]

I think at least some of it stems from that, yeah. I've seen discussed, both here and elsewhere, being a "fan of fandom" rather than being a fan of particular things. I think a lot of fandom culture is connected to that, people being more interested in being a fan than in the specific show/film/book/whatever they're supposed to be a fan of.

[blacklister214]

The idea that they are the same character is bonkers. Yes, they are blond, like books, enjoy fine dining, fancy dress, and are the nominally "nice" and optimistic half of the ship. But consider:

Stede's goal in life is to be a pirate. The first person he kills, he feels very little remorse over. He gets the fancy folks to burn their boat to the ground with a little smile on his face. He's always constantly telling his partner he is perfect and he accepts him, just as he is.

Aziraphale tells one lie to save the lives of three children and thinks he is going to Hell. Despite his love for Crowley he's always slightly looked down him for being a demon and is delighted at the opportunity to "fix" him.

Forget human vs angel, their values and goals are WILDLY different.

[blacklister214]

Wicked For Good: Poor Wizard Choices

SPOILERS

I'm pretty disappointed with Wicked for Good's handling of the Wizard. I said this in Part 1, but it bears repeating, they needed the Wizard to do things to make the ending work.

First he needed to bond with Elphaba. Second, he needs to be conflicted. Why? Because if those two things aren't true, his ending sucks. Morrible gets prison for the rest of her life. The Wizard gets to go back to his home world. These are not equal things. His suffering therefore needs to be emotional. He must be devastated he killed his daughter. He must feel guilt for his actions against Nessa and the animals.

First mistake, they had him happily playing with his trains. That's not sorry. That's not lonely. They could have had him holding Elphaba's figurine, looking sad, hoping she would arrive. It wouldn't be crazy for him to expect her, on the day of her best friend's wedding.

Then they had him share his and Elphaba's bonding song with Glinda. When the cages are discovered, he takes responsibility rather than passing the buck to Morrible and/or offering to release them later to exile them.

They DID have a promising scene where he seems upset when Dorothy and co. arrive. The scene was a perfect opportunity to flesh out that relationship with Morrible and create a little reflection for the Wizard. He could have been snarky her after he executes her plan and Morrible could clap back at him. She could have called him sentimental and remind him of the evil choices he made to get himself to this point. Enter the Wizard's drinking (which we saw).

Unfortunately the very next time we see him he is once again cool with murder! His excited "do you have her broom?!" ruins the prior scene's set up. He is supposed to be upset Elphaba may be dead BEFORE he finds out they are related. The shared bloodline is supposed to be the icing on the cake, not the whole cake!

[little-cute-pink-horrible-being]

Hello to my fucking favorite shot of Wicked for good.

Glinda sits on a throne made out of lies, of anti-Elphaba propaganda. Yes, she is pushed onto it by Morrible, but why is the poster pile make such comfortable of a seat? Why was it right behind her to fall on? She helped shape it that way, and when she is confronted with the reality she can't do anything beside sit on it with an angry face. Morrible doesn't need to make new threats, she just tells Glinda to do what she already does. And Glinda does not have a good rebuttle.

[blacklister214]

It's such a powerful moment that we didn't need Girl in a Bubble. Wake up and smell the complicity Glinda, you sit on a throne of lies!

[demonfairyprincess]

Just watched the second Wicked movie, so here are my unorganized thoughts:

As Long As You're Mine is very horny. The whole time I was thinking, these two are really about to fuck. And then they did! Good for them.

Madame Morrible has the best outfits. Everytime she appears on screen, she's slaying in a new cunty dress. Love Michelle Yeoh.

That said, Elphaba's sleveless outfit? Muah. Chef's kiss. AND it parallels Glinda's blue-and-pink dress with the sheer sleeves.

On that note, No Good Deed was SO GOOD. The MOST cinematic song in the movie, powerful performance, and the ending shot is stunning. I wish Cynthia's voice was a little more belt-y but I think that's artistic choice.

For Good is one of my favorite songs in any musical, hearing it always makes me bawl like a baby and this time was no exception.

Gelphieryo for the win. Polyamory could have solved not all, but at least some of their problems.

Glinda was a lot more take-charge at the end than I remember her being in the stage musical. The shot where she has Madame Morrible taken away feels a little villanous. It seems like Glinda at the end is a benevolent dictator, focusing on benevolent but the dictator part is clearly there too.

Glinda inviting the Animals back into Ozian society feels too simple and easy for me, all that propoganda and cultivated prejudice can't be forgotten just by Glinda being nice. Especially with the themes of mob justice and the rise of fascism so present in the rest of the movies. But "people are so empty-headed, they'll believe anything", so maybe anything can happen if Glinda says it to happen.

I didn't really like either of the new songs, maybe because they're new but I thought they were both just kind of boring. No Place Like Home I think is a little better. I liked the theme of mirrors shown in the cinamatography of Girl in the Bubble, but other than that I did not care at all about it.

There is a LOT of dialogue that's referencing lines from various songs, and some of them are fun and cute while some of them feel shoved in there trying to be clever. It happens so much it does start to grate, especially when they repeat the same words and phrases over and over.

Very much enjoyed the scene where Glinda and Elphaba fight. The Girls Are Fighting!! Very fun

[blacklister214]

Yes, As Long As You're Mine is very horny. Though I definitely have some notes. First they spend way too much time not even glancing at each other in the beginning. Second Elphaba's wearing that dress and we barely get to see it because she pulls that grey thing on over it almost immediately, which wasn't really the mood. It seemed like they only did it so Fiyero could take it off her. Personally I was hoping he was going to do her hair instead. Finally, those spenders should have stayed on his shoulders for much longer. She should have at least the opportunity to grab them and kiss him. Also its pretty presumptive at that point in the song to assume his pants are coming off tonight. Given their respective levels of sexual experience he should be taking his cues from her.

Anyone who says that the three of them did not love each romantically, was not watching the movie I was watching. It is only the political climate that messes up everything for them.

Yes, definitely a dictator, though that makes sense, because she needs to slowly transition the population back to sanity. It's why I had a hard time buying the immediate acceptance of animals back into Munchkinland. A subtle nod at them followed by the exposing the crimes of the organization pointing at Morrible who went behind the poor Wizard's back. Pardons, pardons for everyone.

I didn't hate Girl in the Bubble, but I also don't think it added much, given its similarities to Thank Goodness. No Place Like Home I did think was a good addition, because it addresses the questions of why oppressed people shouldn't just flee their oppressors. I did however not love them dragging the lion out of no where to turn the animals against Elphaba. A flying monkey attack and the sorry we have families excuse would have been preferable to me.

Agreed. It was a lot and I only loved "You deserve each other"

Yes, very fun!

[unnatural-story-collector]

WICKED: FOR GOOD SPOILERS

I think Fiyero should've gotten his own song instead Glinda getting The Girl in the Bubble. I think it should've either been when he walks off in Thank Goodness or after he's turned into the Scarecrow and is writing the letter that Elphaba receives right before For Good.

I think it would've added so much to his character and his relationship with Elphaba. Also it would've given actual substance to lengthen the movie with.

[blacklister214]

I agree. It's not that I think Girl in the Bubble was bad, but it covered a lot of the same ground as Thank Goodness. If we could have found a moment somewhere between his agreeing to Marry Glinda and the wedding, that would have been good. The man has a lot on his mind. Loving different two people (Side note I do believe he loves Glinda as well as Elphaba. His choice isn't about who he loves more, its about the life and version of himself he is choosing). Being torn between taking the easy path and the righteous path. Feeling his own responsibility in the empty-headedness epidemic. Even without a song, how about a scene with his horse friend? Missed opportunity.

[miakwat]

Still refuse to believe they walked down that entire road and didn't recognize each other

[starr-angelofnarnia]

Okay but this also meant they had plenty of time to get Boq to see the truth

[blacklister214]

Its like the Wizard said, Boq was never going to the see the truth because he doesn't want to. Boq spent years obsessed with Glinda refusing to acknowledge she does not like him. Despite being in Elphaba's friend group he swallows all of the propaganda about her, prior to her doing a single thing to him. He also knows Nessa was killing him with her spell before he passed out. He's angry and in pain and wants to blame someone. It also doesn't surprise me he doesn't recognize Fiyero. Boq doesn't look beyond the surface. Is his mind Fiyero identity is tied up with being handsome. One look at Fiyero he'd see a fellow "victim" of Elphaba's spells, not his former romantic rival. Fiyero I'm sure does recognize Boq, but was smart enough to know not to trust him.

[keikomivra]

WICKED: FOR GOOD (2025) Dir. Jon M. Chu

[blacklister214]

Honestly I did not love the movie version of the scene, except for the monkeys flying off with her and the call back to the wand scene (which also was in the theatre version).

Glinda came in alone. The guards are very important because they demonstrate they are now following Glinda and it gives Morrible a reason to be afraid of and kotow to her. Elphaba had the support of the monkeys and it wasn't enough. Glinda needs to also be in command of the military.

Morrible, a skilled magic user doesn't even try to fight with her powers

The use of cages rather than prison. The cages are cruelty, prison is justice.

[butchered-icarian]

I wasn't even surprise Jaskier acted the way he did when Radovid suggested him choose between him and Geralt.

He's truly been in love with Geralt since forever and his utmost loyalty lies there. All roads lead back to Geralt and everything he does.

[blacklister214]

Personally I think it was even simpler than that. A person who would use your loved one's safety as leverage just to keep you with them does not love you at all. Season 4 Radovid was a real piece of shit for doing that, and Jaskier going off on him was impolitic, but completely justified.

Had Radovid acted in the way he should have, and immediately gone to help Geralt, this would have been a trickier question. Jaskier might have at least thought about it. Jaskier is allowed to love more than one person, after all Geralt certainly does.

Geralt has a bunch of people helping him more suited to the task at hand than Jaskier. Radovid on the other hand has no one. He doesn't need a warrior, he needs an honest councilor and emotional support, and Jaskier could have provided that. Jaskier may very well have picked Geralt, but it should have been a tougher choice, and Radovid, if we are to take him remotely seriously as a love interest, should have understood and respected that choice.

[blacklister214]

Witcher Season 4-Stranger Danger Training?

Witcher Season 4 Spoilers

Okay so, is it just me or does every member of Geralt's merry band, including Geralt need Stranger Danger training?

You meet a spooky guy in a graveyard at night. Okay. He invites you back to his place. Umm okay I guess, since you out number him and have badass Witcher with you. But everyone drinking his mysterious homemade brew and falling asleep at the same time? Holy crap, are you all insane?! It turned out okay, but it was still so stupid.

Honestly later any suspicion should have been immediately dismissed, because all of them were totally at his mercy and he didn't do shit to them.

[witherwrite]

WHAT DO YOU MEANNNNNN "losing someone you love changes you" AND THE HARD CUT FROM JASKIER'S PATHETIC ASS TO RADOVID'S EVEN MORE PATHETIC ASS. THROWING UP EVERYWHERE. DO YOU WANT ME TO PASS AWAY NETFLIX.

[blacklister214]

Yep, and then they did THAT SCENE! That F***ING SCENE!!! I mostly enjoyed this season, despite missing Henry's Geralt, but this felt like some serious character betrayal. Radovid already had his one strike last season, and then felt remorse for it, so much so that he was getting ready to upend his whole life to make it up to/be with Jaskier. It is not okay that he his first move when Jaskier's family is in trouble yet again is blackmail. It was a STUPID TOTAL DICK MOVE and Radovid is not stupid or a total dick. (Deep Breath) Rant over.

[aenhanse]

Meng'er Zhang and Eamon Farren as Milva Barring and Cahir aep Ceallach THE WITCHER SEASON FOUR (2025)

[blacklister214]

He was for sure, my favorite part of this season. I love this man's approach to redemption. He's very much aware saying "sorry" ain't going to cut it. He's is going to keep popping up like the group's unofficial fairy godfather again and again and again, until Geralt either kills him or he's sitting at the campfire with his new BFFs. Either or. Regis also using this playbook was equally fun for me.

[normallyiminsane]

Ew this dude

[blacklister214]

So much, yes!!! Like it wasn't bad enough he's a crazy baby-murdering tyrant, who treats everyone genuinely loyal to him like crap. You want to do WHAT with your daughter???!!! And the idea that doing it with non-relative peasant girl is what is disgusting you???!!! Were you always this PSYCHO???!!!

To be clear, I haven't read the books or played the games, but based off of what I'd seen on the show, I thought I understood this guy. I thought he had been a good guy who loved and lost his wife, and had his kid kidnapped by her grandmother. Then someone starts whispering in his ear that he can get his revenge and get his kid back. He's poisoned by his rise to power and the violence he commits to get that power. Yet somehow I never doubted that he loved Ciri as much her grandmother did. Well, guess I was wrong about that. Holy crap the law of Surprise knew what is was doing!

[hold-me-witcher]

LOVE Ciri's new look she gets but I do have to admit that while Mistle was cutting her hair the whole time I was just like, "plsplspls angle the blade AWAY from her skin c'mon"

And "yo this looks sick but also literally has not done anything to make her have not ashen blonde hair and green eyes"

[blacklister214]

My thoughts exactly! Shorter hair does not help that much. If we have tattooing, surely hair dye exists.

[ladynearthelake]

So, do we think Rad knew Jaskier and Geralt were set to be executed? I genuinely don’t think he did. He was so checked out of everything and deferring to Dijkstra that I don’t think he knew.

Even in the scene with Jaskier, he’s like D’s got a plan for everything or whatever. So I’m thinking no, but I’m curious how it read to other people.

[blacklister214]

I don't think he knew Jaskier and Geralt were within a 100 miles of him, let alone held being held captive and awaiting execution. When presented with new information he defaulted to what he'd been doing, decrying all responsibility. He's taking the path of least resistance, comforting himself that Dijkstra is smart, and was already running the country through his brother for x number of years.

I'll tell you what super pisses me off though, Dijkstra's whole plan hinged on Radavid being a stupid selfish A-hole. If Geralt starts screaming and Jaskier goes, "That's my bestie being tortured. You know he's not a spy. You said you were sorry about the Ciri thing. So, maybe go do something about that?" This guy cared about Jaskier enough to give up being a prince. Wouldn't you think he would bestir himself to walk a 100 feet and give an order to an underling? Radavid was portrayed last season as being smart. A smart person would realize that blackmailing someone doesn't exactly make them love you, particularly when you already fucked up once before.

[hislittleraincloud]

So...enemies to lovers anyone?

This is the 🏳️‍🌈gayest🏳️‍🌈thing I've seen on this show man. Y'all wanted gay, you got it with AGNID and I was all on top of that shit already LOL Oh shit they did the ol' bait n' SWITCH 💀💀💀💀💀

[blacklister214]

This is definitely the ship I did not see coming, but I'm all aboard. While on the surface being very different people they both loyal, courageous individuals both struggling to find their "pack." Also Enid encouraging Agnes to "Be your own psycho" was one of the season's sweetest moments.

[blacklister214]

A Little Clarity on Tyler Galpin Please!

SEASON 1 and 2 SPOILERS

I enjoyed a lot about Season 2 of Wednesday, but I think they really dropped the ball on Tyler Galpin.

Tyler Galpin is a pretty divisive figure within the fandom, and rightly so. Thornhill's supernatural grooming and control over Tyler makes it unclear exactly how culpable he is for his Season 1 behavior and what if any choices he makes are actually his own. How exactly did he/does he feel about Wednesday? Some say he's sociopath, some say he's a victim and honestly both sides have good points. I would consider him an unsolved mystery of Season 1, just as much as Wednesday's stalker was. Unfortunately we weren't given an equal amount of closure.

Season 2 gave us two perfect opportunities to unpack Tyler's mental state: Dr. Fairburn's sessions and the hallucination of Sheriff Galpin. In the end they didn't really make the most of those chances. We didn't see any therapy sessions, they were only referenced. Galpin only shows up once and neither Thornhill nor Wednesday are mentioned.

Additionally despite all the conversation there was about Tyler this season, not one adult; not Weems, not Morticia, not Fairburn, Capri; brings up the fact that Tyler was controlled by Thornhill, and therefore was perhaps not completely deserving of her rage. The fact it isn't even discussed, and that Tyler's actions this season don't do much to inspire clemency, makes Wednesday's act of mercy during the finale very odd.

My guess is with Season 3, since Tyler is finally free of masters and mothers, we will get the answers to those questions. Still I think it would have been preferable if they explored this issue at least a little in Season 2.