Ship Spotlight: Raylla [Part 1]
Motherland: Fort Salem’s Taylor Hickson and Amalia Holm, sat down with us to chat about their characters, Raelle and Scylla, the Raylla ship, their favorite fan art, moral grey areas, and who else they ship on the show. Check it out:
Do you personally ship Raylla? Why or why not?
Taylor Hickson: I do! I think Eliot Laurence and his writer’s team are giving solid representation to communities, groups and individuals that felt unheard or misunderstood for a long time. I heavily connect with the idea of boundless love. I think to truly care about someone or something, you will face all odds in the way of you and your love. I’m very abstract in what I consider romance, but that is one traditional concept I’ve adopted and stand by. Love that lasts stems from “us vs. the world” not “us vs each other”. I’ve spent a lot of time in my personal relationships making that discovery. I think that’s something we see Raylla challenged with. Something they beautifully represent.
Amalia Holm: In the world of Motherland, I do! The strength they give each other is enough to make them both want to become better people, and I’m weak for that. In the real world, I think it’s hard to know when to let someone go — when the relationship is hurting you more than it is rewarding you. No matter the world, I do believe that people can change for the better.
Who else do you ship on Motherland: Fort Salem?
TH: CRAVENWOOD. So cute!
AH: I ship Abigail and Adil. Hoping they will have a deep going relationship and teach each other about their two respective worlds. I like that Abigail falls for someone with a completely different world view. Can’t wait to see if Petra Bellweather will approve or not. If Adil continues to fall for Abigail, I wonder how that will be seen upon in his Tarim Cell.
Do you think that Scylla can be redeemed, especially given that she may feel regret for her actions?
TH: I do! I’m personally a very forgiving individual. I believe that no one is purely good or bad. Our mistakes and choices can help us grow. Especially in our teens, when making discoveries about who we are feels a lot heavier. We’re all trying to do the right thing and be the best versions of ourselves. These characters are plunging themselves into morally grey waters. Just like the rest of us.
AH: Tough question. In one way: yes, or I hope so. In another way, her actions have been justified by the war she is fighting and it will all depend on whether or not she will stick to her cause and in what context. Also, if she can find a measure of justice for her murdered parents.
Do you think that Raelle will be able to forgive Scylla when she finds out the extent of what she’s done?
TH: I think Raelle is a lot less forgiving than most people. She carries her pain from her past in all the decisions she makes. When she commits to taking someone out of her life, it’s very hard to reconcile once she feels she’s been betrayed. I’m hoping she can apply what she’s learned and keep an open mindedness to other people’s motivations and situations. It will be that much stronger to see such a reluctant character overcome her adversities.
AH: Depending on the strength of their connection at the time of Raelle finding out, she might be more or less willing to put her knowledge of Scylla’s heart and vulnerability first and see Scylla’s actions through a forgiving lens. It is in Scylla’s favor that Raelle previously has been such a critic of the military and how it endangers witches. They need to find a common way with much better means. Would love for one of them to run for office!
Can you share your favorite piece of Raylla fan art?
TH: There are SO many beautiful pieces. There are sooo many talented artists enjoying our show! It’s impossible to pick just one. But because I have to, I’m choosing this one [by Ophélie Mähl] because it felt like a poster for their entire relationship.
AH: It took me forever to choose because I just want to honor them all. The little comics, the posters, the oil paintings…I’m choosing this one [by @runawaybeesh] for its dreamlike setting where Raylla is spending time together outside of Fort Salem.
If you were in your character’s shoes, how would you handle the situation that she’s currently in?
TH: Both Raelle and myself mirror each other in love. We both work hard to maintain stability within our relationships. When that consistency is taken away from us, we get very messy; we feel powerless in our relationships or situations. It often leads to unintentionally hurting others we love while chasing to get that stability back. I see myself very likely reacting the same way.
AH: Right now Scylla is a wreck, having had her love and integrity taken away from her. Being a wreck, I think I too would lick my wounds and become a little morbid before recharging. It would all depend on how tired, hungry and drained I would be. If there is a hint of hope for my future, I hope I would have fought back with whatever I have.
But wait, there’s more! Check out Part 2 here and catch Motherland: Fort Salem Wednesdays at 9pm/8c on Freeform. Next day on Hulu.
