#moral compass

[vintage-tigre]

[myinnerchildisaweirdo]

People who feel bad for shipping characters where one of them already has a partner —what?? Bitch, that partner better hurry up and exit the building.

[crimsonprose]

*two disclaimers: I normally hate making prediction posts, and I keep changing my mind about this one, so don't be surprised if I change it again before S4*

woke up thinking about this post from last fall. I know the OP was trying to make a slightly different point, but for me it serves as a reminder that Nat has historically been considered the "moral compass" of the show, while Lottie has... not.

in fact, I think the way S3 ends really drives home the point that Lottie has fallen to new depths of shall we say "corruption" (for lack of a better term), while Nat has risen to near hero status. this is represented by Lottie's time in the cave while Nat was climbing the mountain to call for rescue, but that's kind of been the contrast between them ever since Doomcoming.

btw, this is not to say that our fandom has not already recognized Nat's imperfections or debunked the "moral compass" allegations. in fact, no one has done this better or with more nuance and love than my moot, and I highly suggest checking out her gray morality post and her post about Nat's avoidance.

up until now, however, we've only ever seen her on the edge of violence. she had the knife at one point during Doomcoming, but she didn't use it. she threatened Jackie after Jackie made that comment about Nat being "mayor of poundtown," but she didn't follow through with it.

she also shoves Misty and cusses her out when she discovers the black box, but she quickly stops herself from harming her any further and even teams up with her (and Van) to use parts from it to fix the transponder.

there are many instances, in fact, in which Nat teeters on that edge of violence without going all the way there. let's also not forget that she initially came after Lottie with a tree branch when she first escaped at the compound.

and yet, I was reminded today that we already know she can and has gone over that edge. we just haven't seen her do it. we've only been told she has.

which brings me to the infamous mugshot photo...

when I first saw this, I assumed she'd been arrested for some petty crime— public intoxication, drug possession, or something of that sort.

but... isn't it possible (not certain, by any stretch, but possible) that we are going to see her completely fall from her position as "moral compass" in a really dramatic way?

I know that if I had a character like Nat, whom I had last placed in the position of "hero" (meaning, literally atop a mountain, calling for rescue)— and if I were writing a show that had "gray morality" as one of its central themes— I would be painfully tempted to knock her as far down as possible just to make a point.

in fact, I can almost hear Bart and Ashley in my head, saying, "oh, you thought she was a hero, huh?" while twirling their metaphorical mustaches.

I know, I know 🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅

it's fine if you disagree.

and, like, I said... do not be surprised if I change my mind again before S4. this is definitely something I never feel very sure of, but... as a writer myself, I can't help but wonder.

[rockstar-vamp]

Where’s my moral compass?? Oh yeah, I sold that for gold.

[bruisedandbubbly]

I have never been a people person, but I have always cared for the world.

 

@bruisedandbubbly

[a-typical]

But there is an alternative. In fact, there has always been one: 

A de-zionised, liberated and democratic Palestine from the river to the sea; a Palestine that will welcome back the refugees and build a society that does not discriminate on the basis of culture, religion or ethnicity. 

This new state would labor to rectify, as much as possible, the past evils, in terms of economic inequality, the stealing of property and the denial of rights. This could herald a new dawn for the whole Middle East.

It is not always easy to stick to your moral compass, but if it does point north – towards decolonization and liberation – then it will most likely guide you through the fog of poisonous propaganda, hypocritical policies and the inhumanity, often perpetrated in the name of ‘our common Western values’.

My Israeli Friends: This is Why I Support Palestinians – Ilan Pappe (10 October 2023)

[hale-my-nathan]

Trump Weird News - Trump's Lodestar: "Would I Do It?"

"The Constitution has been a lodestar for American democracy"