Rotates Karin in my mind because it pisses me off that there are folks out there who refuse to engage with her character and see her as shipping fodder/just someone who’s mean/reducing to her “I’ve covered wars, y’know.” line, and not as a person. Anyway, her background I think about it lots… how she was the only girl in her family, and her being a Problem Child (neurodivergent Karin, I repeat, neurodivergent Karin). You were supposed to be a cute child, but you’re not. Not that it mattered considering her parents were too busy for her, let the nursemaid deal with her.
That being said, godddd Karin and Dalia… to me they fall under the toxic mother/daughter category even thought they’re not mother and daughter. But I’ll be real, they may as well be.
Nursemaid who kidnapped the poor girl because she thinks she knows what’s best… so what if she manipulated her, so what if there was physical discipline involved? Stop being so difficult, Karin, stop spreading all these lies, I’m doing what’s best for you, they’ll kill you out there, if only you were an easier child (because if you’re an unruly child, you may as well be an unruly teenager, especially if you’re getting yourself in civil rights organizations! and you can blame that on the culture shock!)… and when they bring her back to Bremen and she is finally reunited with her mother, I like to think Karin would feel a bit… conflicted. Despite being right about Dalia kidnapping and manipulating her, she may as well be Karin’s mother, may as well be her daughter. Your honor, they are like this to me.
But another thing that really fascinates me is the Sauer family being “outsiders”. I feel like Karin would Know somehow. Do you think she would internalize all that? Do you think, before she got taken away, that some folks would look at her with pity? Maybe indifference? “The Sauers are the first to go, this child will be thrown to the wolves.” Finding the whole thing unfair (neurodivergents when justice sensitivity)
^ “Karin’s used to working alone, she’s used to the dangers on the field” ah but consider this: Karin being afraid to let people in because the idea of being casted out and having trust issues in general. Girl may want that validation and want to be seen as right but god forbid she’d let others get involved. “Is used to working alone.”, because it’s easier, someone has to do it if nobody else will, and at least you won’t get hurt. Vulnerability is a scary thing and she is *scared*, even if she doesn’t show it.
Anyway to summarize: it really is that simple, engage with Karin Sauer go crazy and stupid with her right now!