A Lot of Thoughts About Varian’s Post-Redemption Outfit
(Obligatory disclaimer about all of these being my opinions and my staunch unwillingness to debate this particular subject, as, again, they are just opinions.)
(Additional disclaimer that different people may perceive color differently. Either suspend your disbelief and try to follow along, or— in the privacy of your thoughts— dismiss me as a lunatic and move on.)
(A third disclaimer that, obviously, the writers did not intend any of this. I am using my imagination to speculate on what we were given, even if the conclusions I can draw were not ones I was intended to draw. That is what analysis is.)
I’m more partial to analyzing dialogue and expressions than clothing, but something about Varian’s (second) season three outfit never sat quite right with me.
It doesn’t look bad at all. To me, though, it feels… jarring.
He’s always been in blue (or a bluish green, depending on how you view it). This reddish burgundy color is a switch-up.
Now, other characters have had color changes in their outfits. Eugene, for example, has worn blue, light green, brown, and even red (which is probably a post for later).
I’m not saying that Varian wouldn’t select this particular outfit. I’m saying that I can’t look at it without thinking about anger.
Which is… weird, right? When have we ever associated the color red with Varian’s anger?
Well, okay, sure, that’s an example, but it’s so in-your-face about it. Surely it has nothing to do with the reddish color of Varian’s second s3 outfit.
Here’s his first s3 outfit:
Now, we know that at this point in time, Varian wasn’t entirely driven by anger anymore. He just wanted everyone to forget what he did.
It’s almost as if he has a red mask over his face… With fangs…
(I posted about this mask before: https://www.tumblr.com/bad-holmes-impression/792784857295142912/you-know-what-pleases-me-about-this-well-very)
💬 0 🔁 11 ❤️ 82 · you know what pleases me about this?
(well, very little. don’t kill children.)
andrew is holding varian by the mask. if
Anger is a secondary emotion. It’s always hiding something, whether that’s insecurity, or hurt, or grief.
While piloting his automaton, Varian says as much: “It’s not enough until you endure the same amount of pain and agony I have!”
Let’s look at his post-redemption clothes again:
The only reddish color in his outfit is his vest. It’s nowhere near as bright as the automaton or his Separatist garb. In fact, he almost fades into the background.
Every character will do that in certain environments, but it barely applies to Varian in the first season. Now, he is specifically dressed in browns and dark reds, which happen to be the color of many of the backgrounds. He spends the majority of his screentime doing things like:
-Attempting to bring Rapunzel and her parents’ memories back
-Making Rapunzel a hot air balloon so she can travel more easily
-Going on the kingdom-wide treasure hunt Rapunzel set up
-Traveling with Rapunzel to use the compound that encased his father in order to nullify the red rocks
-Translating the Demanitus Scroll so Rapunzel has an advantage against Cassandra
-Building a portal to send Zhan Tiri back to the netherworld
-Building a helmet that electrocutes his father’s brain and very well should have killed him
With all that effort (either centered around Rapunzel or Corona), Varian simply doesn’t have time to address any remaining anger. Whether that secondary emotion conceals hurt, a twisted mess of lingering grief, a feeling of betrayal, or all of the above… Well, Varian wouldn’t know, would he? He’s too busy. He’s fading into the background. He’s fading into his work.
“But wait! You’re missing the obvious point of what his outfit resembles!”
It’s true:
Varian’s outfit is— at least partially— meant to resemble Quirin’s.
I’d argue, though, that that fact doesn’t negate anything I’ve said.
For what is Quirin known for, if not keeping secrets?
I animated There Are Lines from the Death Note Musical w/ Varian & Quirin (+Andrew)
This would take place in season 3 after Quirin finds out about what Varian did 👀 Basically before he comes back with his outfit change. In case it isn't obvious he's kinda having issues w/ seeing his dad as Andrew...
I included little things like eye bags for Varian bc my guy is tired. Feel free to send any asks about the animatic if you'd like 🤩
I had to learn a whole new program for this, and I worked on it over the course of seven months so the artstyle kinda changes a bit 😅 80% of this was done like half a year ago
