Tam as the golden child previous to being banished alongside Linh is actually so smart. I feel like it’s hinted at in canon as well? And Linh being the problem child OOOOGGHHH
I love it so much as well, definitely reverses the expectation that, as Tam is Keefe's parallel (allegedly), he was also a rebellious and trouble-making child before being banished. It also breaks the stereotypes of Tam and Linh's characters. Tam is the "Shade", the "bad boy" that people loooove to pair with Biana, whereas Linh is this sweet, bubbly girl that is compared to a birdie whereas Tam is a tiger (or maybe it was something else, I don't know).
I'm not sure who canon wants us to think was the golden child. The signs are definitely confusing!
Forkle tells us that although Tam was getting really good grades, Linh's were even more impressive. If we're talking golden child à la Fitz, that would point Linh for this.
But then you have Mai Song and her very much boy mom energy in Nightfall. She wants to keep Tam and she doesn't seem to insist much when Tam tells her Linh isn't coming. That would suggest Tam is maybe the favorite.
BUT THEN you have Tam who gives an account about the time he accidentally spilled paint on his mom's sleeve as a child and his dad locked him in his room for three days. That would suggest Tam is the trouble-making twin.
BUT THEN when Tam and Linh share their backstory, Tam says that his parents were way too eager to make him an only son. So, again, is Tam the golden child?
Quan also told everyone that Tam was the elder son which makes me wonder if it's not a callback to traditional Asian households where the elder son is cherished while the daughter.s are in his shadow.
When Linh was struggling with her abilities her mother refused to move out from Choralemere, purposefully took her on a trip to Atlantis, and did not defend her when the Council decided to banish her to Exilium. That means Linh could be the black sheep.
BUT when Quan sees Tam carrying an inanimate body into his house he immediately thinks Tam did it (which is hilarious but still) suggesting maybe Tam is the trouble-making one.
Anyways it is really confusing and the more you dig the more confusing it gets. I feel like, if we're talking Shannon, she would deffo go the predictable route with Tam as the trouble-making Shade to add to his bad boy persona (instead of it just being, you know, a DEFENSE MECHANISM) mythos so the fans can continue to squeal about him. Because good boy gone bad is not something that everyone adores (sarcasm).
I feel like Mai has a preference for Tam whereas Quan just hates the both of them (why do you even have kids sir).
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