This continues to fuel my reason that Lance is one of the best leaders I have seen. I had taken the liberty to re-watch the first episode over and over again, as to try to get my friends into it, and in the process I notice who Lance was before and after Keith and Shiro.
If you listen and watch carefully, Lance was the leader of their group’s space cadets in the garrison. He actively defended each of his team mates and redirected and took the harsh fire, which is generally what a team leader does. He also relies on others to see the faults in his plans and get better ideas, as he had during the first episode right before they saved Shiro.
Not only that, but through the entire season, he thinks of each team member equally, even Keith as he has put enough attention into seeing Keith’s strong suits and flaws, as he does for everyone.
He also puts everyone’s safety at top priority as shown when he wanted to live to fight another day. I dont think it was just fear and the longing of home. Only Allura knew what was happening, and the rest of them didn’t really know what they were up against. Its only natural to want to leave and gather information on the enemy before taking it head on (actually, I think what Allura did was extremely reckless and not one of her finest moments).
While I have yet to rewatch the rest of Voltron again, this is what I have gathered;
Lance’s position as Leader was ripped right from under him by Shiro. Shiro is probibly oblivious to this as he is older and used to looking down on the younger generation while mainly focusing on his own problems, as does Keith. But the way Shiro looks down at Lance is not the same way an older man looks down on someone younger than him, its judgmental and if to say ‘you know your place’, but once again, I dont think Shiro is aware of what he’s doing as he’s mainly focusing on himself.
Shiro likes the strong. Keith is strong Physically and Pidge is strong mentally, showing his favoritism. Both Lance and (most likely) Hunk are not stable in both ways from what Shiro probibly sees. Lance looks like a hot-head who wont shut up and Hunk is just a giant teddy bear.
But thats the interesting thing about Lance and Hunk. Out of everyone, they’re the only ones who dont focus on themselves for more than 5 minutes. Shiro is worried about his past. Allura is constantly obsessing over the past. Keith is just trying to find himself. Pidge is obsessing over their family. Ok. In reality, they’re all obsessing over something.
But never once have I seen Lance or Hunk obsess over personal matters. And Lance is constantly there for each and every member. Hell. Even Corran!
Being a leader is alot of work, and you often have to push your own personal matters aside and focus on the task at hand and your team. Often times, leaders can get depressed very easily as they have ignored their personal matters for too long.
For Lance, this process is sped up as the roll of Leader was ripped away from him and was forced to the back of the group where very few pay attention. This is shown in the way Lance and Hunk slowly start to become secondary characters, seeming only to exist to keep the plot going and for comic relief as the way Lance’s insecurities have grown over time.
I know that season two was based around mainly Keith and Shiro, with a bit of Allura and Pidge, but I have found often times when something like this happens, there is often times more than one reason as to why.
By Season Two, Lance and Hunk are really no more than Secondary Characters really. Their appearance, save for the rescue, was generally just to keep the plot going. And often times I wonder why Lance wont leave Voltron with the way he’s being treated.
I think it’s because Voltron is still his team, and he’s still in someway the Leader. No matter how much abuse he takes, he’s still redirecting the mental harm to him all while continuing to support his fellow teammates all he can.
I also think that now his Leader position is gone, he doesn’t really know what to do with himself, which is why he begs for praise, so then he know he can do something to aid his team. Complements is how you know your doing a good job. Lance rarely gets complements, and when he does its mainly by Hunk who seems to recognize Lance’s efforts.
Thus I think Lance is trying to re-fit himself within the universe.
If you have something to add to this conversation; please do!
We need more Lance Mcclain Love!!
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