(One of) my favorite parts about Cameracap is that neither of them are idiots. Like, yeah, we can joke around about Red and their actions in the show - but said actions aren't driven by a genuine belief this would be the best option, only the safest. What they've been told to do about whats the correct way to handle things. This is because, without Purple, Red has no moral compass or even a solid sense of self.
Their identity without Purple has attached itself to their "Captain" label. Their job. What it means for them. Any attack on it and their competence is a direct attack to their primary insecurity: that, even if they made the sensible, safer choice in signing the NDA, they were in the wrong for doing so.
That they have always been in the wrong. A trait that Red knows and acknowledges at the end, and it takes an entire crew getting wiped out for them to peel back their cowardice to admit it. Despite the fact they've FUCKING KNOWN THE TRUTH, it's just been locked away by multiple walls of fear, crewmates needed to DIE for it to be spoken aloud.
Like, yeah. Purple has mental walls against Red that could prevent a titan from entering, but I'd argue Red does, too. At least in their Captain persona.
Both of them have these intense, barricaded walls stacked up against each other for different reasons, but the common denominator is protecting their inner self, their identity, and their emotional stability. Purple and Red directly oppose each others insecurities by proving to each other that both their outlooks are flawed.
Purple's idealism and sense of right and wrong doesn't account for overwhelming situations in the heat of the moment; they need to fight and act and PROVE they should be allowed to exist. They have the more morally upstanding view of things, just not the realism connected to it. Then, Red's self-preservence and duty to appease can look at the broader picture, but not the emotional threads they may be burning in the process.
AND!!! NEITHER OF THEM ARE IDIOTS FOR BELIEVING THIS!!!!! Not even Red. Red attaching themselves to the Captain's Handbook is a direct reflection of the fact they don't know what they're doing - not only with their crew, but themselves. Their true purpose.
Because their purpose outside Purple is aimless, insecure, and cowardly. Their heart has always been held by Purple, in the end.
Idk. I think it's important to regard that it's Red's instinct to fawn, cower, and appease is why they made so many stupid decisions in their time on the Skeld. Not that they are inherently stupid, just that they have a lack of social awareness and sense of self to do The Right ThingTM.
i need them thrown into a blender, ysa. they're RIDICULOUS
HI, NECTAR, I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
I KNOW, I KNOW!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. That the show itself doesn't frame either them as irredeemable or evil? Yeah, Red is silly and kinda dumb sometimes, and yes, Purple is impulsive and a bit reckless, but it's so consistent with their characters and beliefs.
Red is good at self-preservation. They're the ideal MIRA employee stooge. Keep your head down, follow orders, do things by the book, and you won't risk a thing. I love Red's perspective, bcos they really act like. Someone from a family that had high-expectations or demands, and valued conformity and obedience over developing your own personhood. Their primary trauma response is FAWN and it has gotten them this far.
While Purple is just. They're so idealistic. I will always be a bitch for it, Purple is IDEALISTIC. They've gotten beaten down, yes, but their sense of justice, belief in what is right and wrong, and tendency to ACT is FASCINATING. They'll go down fighting for what they think is right. They can be so clever and brave, but pausing or stopping goes against their core beliefs???
I just. I really love how deeply caring both of them are, but they show it in such polarizing ways. Purple trusted Red to be someone who'd have their back, bcos trust is something Purple gives very sparingly, only for Red to betray them. Bcos for Red, they want to PROTECT themself and Purple, and if bowing out meant keeping both of them safe, then Red will do it. Red is not prideful enough to challenge MIRA over this. Sacrificing themself and Purple over this colony is not worth it.
They're both so, "I will do anything to save the world." VS. "I will do everything to save YOU."
AND YES. I keep yelling about it, but it is FASCINATING to me how Red's identity is so tied to being Captain. Bcos they made such huge sacrifices to get here. It has to be worth it. They can't lose their title and job, too, bcos then what was the point? What was the point of compromising their morals, losing Purple? Nothing would matter.
Red is good at self-preservation, at not taking any risks, but it's funny that the riskiest thing they've done in their life is getting attached to this incandescently bright, clever, and reckless idealistic person who'd burn themself for the world.
