PLATONIC RADIOSTATIC CAN STILL WIN
okay time to consolidate my thoughts. as per my little teaser post yesterday, I think platonic radiostatic could/should end up rekindled in the show.
I'm going to separate this into what this would look like on Alastor's side and on Vox's side and further thoughts/notes I have.
Let's begin!
On Alastor:
There are a couple little details that I figure will be/may become important later on that relate directly to Alastor and his character. We've heard from Amir that Alastor will be getting an emotionally-driven song in S3 (and will be, quote "agitated" a lot in S3, since Amir has stated that he tends to stand up voicing agitated Alastor, and he "does a lot of standing" in S3. I think this statement could be connected to the song in question), so I wholeheartedly believe we're going to learn much more about him when S3 drops. So who knows, maybe I'm speaking too soon and platonic radiostatic will remain divorced (and I will continue eating up that divorce and cackling evilly over onewaybroadcast because that's my CRACK-!). For now, however, I'm free to speculate!
Romance and Family are also major themes in S3, with Viv calling it the most romantic season and family as the straight-up theme. Which...reminds me of something from the pilot era that I've come across a few times in my analysis dives.
Now, pre-show stuff always has the ability to not become canon. However, there's nothing in the show thus far that indicates this specific thing is no longer true, so I will continue to consider it's potential.
And that's a drawing Viv made of a few of the characters, and what they desire most.
Alastor was drawn with 'Family' labeled beside him. And, well... *points back up to S3 theme* Wouldn't that be a neat little tie-in, hmm? Wouldn't that be something? I do believe that we'll get something more out of Alastor's backstory, particularly with his family, so I've been eyeing that drawing more often lately.
Now. To the part that's been driving me CRAZY in all the best ways. What's basically the force behind me making this whole post in the first place.
Alastor's canonical aroace arc in the show.
Viv has confirmed that we will be exploring Alastor's asexuality in the show. Which, as an asexual, I was OVER THE MOON for (my friend and I were SCREAMING over text about it - she's also ace!) because Alastor is very special to me in a specifically asexual way, because he's the first confirmed in-show asexual character I've ever come across. Ever. I have seen other asexual characters in other shows, but none are confirmed IN THE SHOW ITSELF, only outside it by the creator, let alone have THEIR IDENTITY EXPLORED. This is a MAJOR win for me, personally, so I have THOUGHTS about how Alastor's aroaceness can factor into the previously-mentioned themes!
Going back to the theme of family and Alastor himself, I think his personal storyline would benefit greatly from an aromantic metaphor. I will discuss this more further down the line, but Alastor seems DETERMINED to not become attached to people. Which makes his admission to enjoying the company of the Hotel Crew in S1E8 SO IMPORTANT to me because this is Alastor post-friendship with Vox, a relationship that I believe had him bring walls back up and harden them in an attempt to not let anyone get that close again. So for him to admit to that? Milestone. He feels more than we think he does. He's just very good at using that smile to lead us astray.
Too bad it was sent back several steps when he almost died
me too, buddy. me too. have your mental breakdown you deserve it. have as many as you want in fact!!
now. I think this would be a good time to switch over to:
On Vox:
Vox is in an interesting place right now. He's at his lowest point ever, period. And I am sooo interested in seeing where Viv will take him, especially since she confirmed we will be getting more Alastor-Vees interactions in S3! I particularly hope we'll get more Radio Trio-Vees stuff because there's just too many parallels that seem a bit too intentional, like they're meant to mirror each other.
And yes. Of course I am looking most forward to where Alastor and Vox's relationship goes next. That's the point of this post LOL! The show is shaping up to have a Vee be a larger antagonist for Seasons 2, 3 and 4 - Vox, Valentino and Velvette. So this 100% gives us ample time to develop Alastor and Vox's relationship further.
Something that I hope we'll see in S3 is Vox getting worse before he gets better. Especially if it's some sort of parallel to whatever pushes Alastor into his song. Vox is a character that desires attention, praise, all of it. He wants to be brighter. And here he is...not shining one bit.
It would be so fucking poetic if his arc ultimately has him accepting that he's not going to ever be romantically involved with Alastor. That all he can get is friendship, and how that is enough. It will make him confront his flaws and be satisfied with what he has.
Vox's problem is that he wants MORE. He always wants MORE, so if he goes through an arc where he grapples with how that toxic part of him keeps negatively affecting himself AND his relationships (with both Alastor AND the Vees! ...INSERT THE CONFIRMED MORE ALASTOR-VEES INTERACTIONS HERE -), platonic radiostatic being endgame would KILL me (in the good way lol). I have NEVER seen this kind of arc before in any fictional universe, so it's completely fresh and new to me, and I think Alastor and Vox are uniquely positioned to do just that!
Lots to chew on here. nom noms.
Earlier today, I found this post talking about how not only is Alastor Vox's punishment, but Vox is quite possibly Alastor's. To TL;DR it, basically Alastor is slated to be Vox's punishment because Vox is left in a perpetual state of desperation, of envy and greed and hurt pride, while Vox becomes Alastor's because - keeping the pilot drawing in mind! - Alastor desires a close bond with someone who'll take him for who he is - insert aromantic metaphor here - and here comes Vox who makes things complicated and no longer solely platonic.
and they ended up shattering each other in the fallout.
[pictured: an awkward bisexual with a crush (right) and a disinterested but fond aroace (left). f in the chat for them everyone.]
Speaking of aromantic metaphors...I mean take how society puts expectations/overemphasizes the importance of romantic/sexual relationships on everyone and how that clashes with aro/aces, how society ultimately ends up expecting things from you that you just aren't capable or willing to give.
There was so much aro coding in Alastor's rejection of Vox in the bar scene, and I literally can't wait for S3 because Amir has said that Alastor may remember the bar scene differently. He might have a different perspective. So all I can do at the moment is speculate and theorize, but I feel very cozy in my 'this is an aromantic metaphor' seat. I will stay seated and will take pieces of this seat with me when S3 drops. I am unmovable.
So these past few months I've been stewing on them. And I so, so strongly think that rebuilding that broken friendship would do both of them so much good. Because they got each other. They were clearly on such a similar wavelength! They know each other so well! Alastor and Vox were such a dynamic duo that Hell loved! Their friendship is the driving force behind their relationship with each other, for better or worse! Mostly worse right now, since we've only seen them be at odds, but see, see! This is where the "for better" part would come in, then! I believe they initially had a positive impact on each other, and as long as they go through their respective arcs, they can again.
Further, I want to touch on the idea of how Alastor may have perceived Vox's offer as wanting to use him/his power, and how that may have made him feel undervalued in their relationship as a result. Because think about it - Alastor, a Black, mixed-race man who lived in the 1920s-30s would have absolutely have to deal with upper-class, white men who would step on him for shits and gigs. Who likely used him. Potentially being another possible factor behind his wrathful acts of murder?
Again, speculation, and I hope S3 gives us answers. (save us Alastor song...Alastor song save us...)
Plus, their relationship very likely persisted ever after the bar scene, because of the radiostatic photo that hints Vox is a later model compared to the one he has in the bar,
platonic radiostatic endgame ftw. i need them to makeup. i need Vox to get worse. i need Alastor to snap. i need them to be brutally pried open. i need a friends to enemies to frien(emies?)ds arc for them.
onewaybroadcast is doomed but platonic radiostatic can prevail. join the alliance. we have the power of friendship.
thank you for coming to my TEDTalk.
