The Darkling manipulates Alina in S1 of Shadow and Bone. Can’t be argued. The where and why is the sticky part when it comes to judging the morality of his actions. The important thing to remember is the Darkling has two aspects General Kirigan and Aleksander. The part of himself that is General Kirigan wants to end the wars and Grisha enslavement/persecution. Aleksander wants to not be alone anymore. When we meet Darkling, Kirigan is in the driver’s seat.
In the first private conversation that Kirigan and Alina have, Alina makes it abundantly clear she has no regard for her Grisha talent and is extremely resentful of being taken away from her friend. She cuts him off when he is explaining her importance to the country and to Grisha. Later, in the palace, she asks if she is a prisoner. Before her introduction to the King she asks about Grisha escaping. Kirigan has every reason to be concerned, because if Alina doesn’t accept that she is Grisha and embrace her role as the sun summoner then he won’t be able to use her gifts to save his country and his people.
It is in service to that greater good that he stops her mail from going through to Mal, intercepts Mal’s letters and reads both sides of the correspondence. It is the motivation behind him have Genya befriend and spy on her. It is why he invites her on that outing and gives her his name. It’s why he gives her the kafka in his colors. All of it is about persuading her to cut ties with her old life and embracing her new life at the Little Palace. That said, there are elements of that first outing where he is, in my opinion, being truthful.
“I do know how you feel, Miss Starkoff.” This is true, and he says the exact same thing to Zoya later on. There was once a time when people looked at him the way they looked at her. Held apart even from other Grisha because of the size of his gift. Knowing everyone’s hope was riding on him.
Him being a boy is a lie, but coming here looking at this fountain, a perpetual reminder of his greatest mistake, I’d bet that’s true. I also wager there have been many times he’s wished he was “anyone else.”
“If you believe anything, believe I will not let that happen.” Once again, I believe he means this. He is fiercely protective of Grisha and I believe in his commitment to making sure the King will get not get the chance to turn on her.
“I shall be right by your side. You and I are going to change the world.” Once again totally true, if a little lacking in details as to how he plans to make that happen.
This is what I believe he means when he talks about telling her “half the story.” It’s manipulative, but not all bullshit. What interesting to me is that none of this is overtly flirting. When this final moment gets a bit intense, he immediately starts talking about taking her back.
The first time he does something that can be interpreted as “a move” it’s in an encounter he does not instigate. He’s up in the middle of the night in the War Room and she comes to visit him. He’s supremely stressed, hence his being awake and in that room, and it all just bubbles over.
And then when Alina reaches out to calm and comfort him…
Finally, we get to meet Aleksander. He’s looking at Alina and for once, not seeing what her power could mean for his people. Instead he sees what she could mean for him. This moment leads him to, rather impulsively, taking her face in his hand and pulling her to him.
If you want proof seduction was not part of the Kirigan’s plan, look no further than this moment of indecisiveness, followed by him locking the door. If he’s slow playing his seduction by tricking her into coming to him, then that door stays unlocked giving her the opportunity to return. Him locking the door shows a part of him fears the consequences of her coming back.
In the scene with their first kiss, it is once again Alina seeking him out.
This shot I really like because I don’t anything could better represents the conflict between Aleksander and Kirigan. Alina is coming around to share his values which is great, except he knows how much she’s going to hate what he has planned. This is why where he was acting somewhat flirty before:
He is now stoned faced. He distances with “You mean alot…to everyone.” He could have said “to me.” That would have been the seduction line. Instead he keeps it impersonal. When she approaches him anyway, his expression is most particular…
It’s somewhere between “I can’t believe this is happening” and “This is REALLY bad idea.”
To summarize, yes Darkling manipulates Alina, but I don’t believe getting her into bed was on the original agenda. Food for thought.
areudirty
gamechangershow
tangentwithtanner
turnnoffyourmind
2087
titsay
izzy806
