You don't have to publish this but omg I am having a laugh at the people in the notes of John's speech set just now realizing he's a socialist. I know it's because Legends doesn't totally nail his character much of the time but they're acting surprised at stuff that has literally been there from day one of his character and I'm just rolling with laughter. (I haven't watched just yet but just from that speech I can see what you mean about John really seeming like himself in this one.)
I was really confused myself by people who are acting like he suddenly developed an addiction overnight.
I know Legends has chosen to do its own thing with him, and I'm ok with that. But I always felt like the one area they failed him in was exactly what last night's episode tackled, that toxic relationship he has to magic. They touched on it twice back in season 4 with Nora, but they never went anywhere with it. They had him say one thing and then also just act so blasé and cavalier when using magic.
But this man has always been an addict. Hello, lung cancer storyline? All the drinking he does? I have thoughts about the great number of functional alcoholics on this show but that's another story.
I'm not super confident I'll love everything about how they handle it, and I'm already seeing a lot of really gross and harmful reactions to John, but we'll see.
[GENERAL PSA: If you think someone is gross, vile or unworthy because they struggle with addiction, then I think you're trash]
