Kind of a long VSMP ramble about V!Scott, but—
From a character perspective, V!Scott is so fascinating because he IS unapologetically a monster, and self aware of that fact, (and so so SO blasé about everything going on, it’s such a chilling factor in so many scenes) but also he makes statements and answers questions in ways that hint at past tragedies and general emotions that he is either ignoring, repressing, or has removed himself from the whole notion of emotional consequence. Like Detachment and Playfulness as primary character traits is just so fun to watch.
In the Episode 5 Town Meeting, there are two direct questions he’s asked that he Does Not Answer— he responds in a way that remains on topic but distracts from the fact he doesn’t answer.
The first being Legs asking him if he regrets it— Scott replies he actively chose those life, and then expounds on the benefits of vampirism: that is, very importantly, not an answer to the question asked.
I forget the exact wording but the second is that Martyn asks him if he killed/turned Shelby/if it was her choice— he replies with all the ways Shelby’s existence and interests are actively improved, But Again: Does not actually answer the question about killing her/her consent in turning. (V!Scott avoids lies that are just blatant false information, and tends toward omissions, half truths, or avoiding direct answers, it’s an effective tactic.)
(Episode 5, actually, in my opinion, is the most insightful to Scott Goldsmith’s character of all released episodes thus far.)
His conversation with Pyro, the uh, dressing down as it were for Pyro lying to him. A lot can be dissected from this whole interaction, but that’s not the current topic. And at some point Scott states “Being a vampire can be lonely,” as just a blithe statement of fact, which possibly hints at his own experiences over many many years.
(Something something, he says he turned all his old friends and family but they’re no longer here, something something, he seems genuinely fond of both Pyro and Shelby in a “they’re my pet,” way as if pets aren’t one of the most important relationships in some people’s lives, something something. He spends the majority of his episode 5 and 6 WITH Pyro comparatively. Listen I’m not saying these are GOOD relationships, they’re toxic, but it is toxic in the way you see in real life families and friend groups in a way that makes it both realistic and mildly uncomfortable to watch. Just upped a few notches by circumstances of vampirism. Something something.)
(Listen I could go on and on about Toxic Yaoi Delight that is V!Pyro and V!Scott, that’s neither here nor there for this post, but their dynamic is So!! It fascinates me. I do ship it, yes. It’s not a happy ending kind of ship, but it does do me well for a Toxic Ship fix.)
In his conversation with Legs where they’re talking about bad memories versus good, no matter how I look at it, it reads as Scott admitting he’s “forgotten” (more than likely repressed or detached himself from) all the less savoury experiences he’s had in his life.
He ALWAYS in this episode and others states that he chose this life, that it was a choice, that he had a good life that he wanted to continue living, “Or unliving, rather.” But we NEVER get any context of how that choice was made. If it was a choice, what were the other options? Was coercion involved? Or was it freely offered, freely taken? We don’t know! It’s open ended in a very purposeful way that allows him to fully embrace and put forward the “Just here for a good time!” persona.
I don’t know, maybe I’m just insane, but it just hints at some fascinating depth of character that V!Scott himself is keeping well away from what he presents as his true self (I.E., unbothered, vibing, amused, only really upset when people disregard manners or etiquette and such, altogether, from his POV, more laid back than anything else.)
And we do see those snatches of being terrifying, most especially from other POVs more than his own, (in his own POV, our manipulative king is largely just a Disappointed Sire with his coven or Annoyed Neighbor towards Oakhurst) but it’s just. So interesting.
Like V!Scott is the Evil Vibing Guy, but there are hints all over the place that 1) Every Monster is created somewhere and somehow and 2) the Coven and Oakhurst haven’t seen him at his worst and I think they really shouldn’t try pushing him in that direction.
(As an aside, as I’m rewatching Scott’s Episode 5 while writing this up, Martyn acting so consistently and annoyingly proprietary of the Beacons (calling them “Ours,” in reference to the Humans), and honestly I’d be annoyed in V!Scott’s position too, these humans have been here like a few weeks and he was here first, so. Listen I support his rights just as much as I support his wrongs, I want this Diva to win okay, I’m cheering for the villain and have no shame in admitting that. It’s bias from being a Scott fan for very many years, probably, but if Scott wins I think several other of my faves also win so! It is what it is!)
