#onion thoughts

[theonionqueene]

HOW WE FEELING COALECROUX NATION

[justsomespace]

When did I get so into onions. There was once a time when I didn’t give them a second thought. I barely knew what they were. Now I smell onions cooking and get genuinely excited. When did this happen???

[butteredonions]

You have no idea how curious I now am about your thoughts on Kuron.

I don’t know if my thoughts about Kuron are different so much as they’re not really popular. 

The short version is I don’t like Kuron. I don’t hate him, but I don’t like him. Most of the time I avoid saying that at all, because there’s an unfortunate set of assumptions that accompany that statement. When Kuron was first introduced in s3, a divide quickly arose between fans: you either love him or you hate him. As fandoms usually go, the idea of a middleground seems to have been widely overlooked. As a result I tend to avoid saying “I don’t like Kuron” because people’s first reactions is inevitably “you hate him? How can you say Kuron is evil! He’s a Shiro!” That’s not what I’m saying at all. I don’t think Kuron is evil. I might have thought that at first, when the seasons were brand-new, but now a few months out and especially after s4, I’ve had a little more time to think about things.

The more I think about it, the more I think s3/s4 would’ve been stronger for the team if Shiro hadn’t been there at all. Yes, that hurts me to say. It would’ve been a stronger season if he’d been allowed to come back much later, perhaps in s5/s6, and realize how much the team has grown. Common plot technique: you can level-up the others by temporarily removing the strongest. Don’t get me wrong. I would’ve missed Shiro hardcore if he hadn’t been in s3 and s4 at all, but I would’ve gotten used to it, and the character growth of the others would’ve been worth it. Keith as a Blade works, and I love it, but he also could’ve grown in a longer stint as Black Paladin. I’m not saying that’s what Keith wanted, but who knows where his journey would’ve taken him instead? Imagine Keith as Black Paladin at Naxzela! Imagine the different journey Voltron would’ve taken to not only get Keith there, but the entire rest of the team - emotionally, mentally, you name it. Shiro’s return also short-changes the switch Lance had to make into Red, too. We still see the shifting dynamic between Lance and Allura as she learns to pilot Blue, which is beautiful, but - and I say this with no connotations of ship whatsoever - we were getting somewhere new with Keith and Lance, too. Lance as Keith’s right-hand man, literally, was awkwardly cut short. With Shiro’s return and the flip-back to normal - to a new normal - all of that seems weirdly stilted and fast. 

Kuron’s inclusion and incorporation into the team is a clever solution to returning Shiro to Voltron, and I really have nothing but kudos for the writers who came up with it. On many levels, it’s brilliant. With how exceptionally strong the clone theory is, Kuron is - basically - Shiro. He appears to be operating off of Shiro’s memories, perhaps fully believing he has also experienced Shiro’s trauma, living another sort of trauma that may come to hit him when he realizes he’s not the original after all (and that would hurt, and I do feel sorry for him if/when that moment comes. Shiro’s so loyal in any form - that sort of revelation would be devastating, no matter which Shiro he is). Logically, I can see the appeal. As Shiro, Kuron is therefore unconsciously making his choices and living with whatever Shiro-memories/experiences he’s been given (I don’t believe he has all of them - personal headcanon), as well as Shiro’s mannerisms and techniques and ticks. It’s who he is. I didn’t like that at first, but he’s the Shiro we have right now, and there’s something to be said for that. 

I’m still struggling with the Black Lion, but this is what I’ve come to. The Black Lion must’ve seen something in Kuron, at least, since she rescued him from imminent death and allowed him to fly her. That’s interesting. As a result, I don’t believe that Kuron is evil, malicious, spiteful, hateful or a conscious mole to the rest of the team. If any of that was conscious thought or intent, the Black Lion would have seen it, and not bonded with him or saved his life when it most mattered. Shiro/Kuron still cares for the team very much. Therefore, I think it’s damn hard for Kuron to be an evil sleeper agent unless he’s not aware of it, which would mean the Kuron we’ve seen is not actively plotting to destroy the team/undermine Keith at all. The Black Lion would’ve seen that. Shiro’s a great actor, but he couldn’t fool her.

This doesn’t mean some of Kuron’s behavior can’t seem fishy, and of anyone on the team, I do headcanon that Keith has noticed. I firmly believe it’s part of the reason why Keith left. Maybe Keith is the only one who’s noticed that something is off with Shiro, even if he can’t entirely put his finger on what, and Keith would notice because of his shared history with Shiro that the show’s hopefully going to give us someday (please show please!!). Of course some of Shiro and Keith’s interactions may seem odd under that light. I think the choices Kuron makes can be and are slightly different from the choices original-Shiro might make, because although he’s the same person, he’s under different circumstances and that just can result in different outcomes. A same but different person. A puzzle.

That said, I can rationalize all that until the cows come home, but my unpopular opinion is I still don’t like Kuron. I don’t hate him, but I don’t like him. The middleground here is that Kuron might be a Shiro, but he isn’t the Shiro that I fell in love with. He is a different Shiro, and the bottom line for me is that makes Kuron a Difference on my absolute favorite character, and regardless of form or content that’s really hard for me to swallow. I admire the people who have, but I just can’t. I’ve tried. It has nothing to do with thinking of Kuron as evil, or ‘lesser’, or ‘bad’ or ‘unsympathetic’ in any way. He’s Shiro, but he’s different, and I fell in love with the Shiro of s1 and s2 so hard that this ‘new’ Shiro hurts. A lot. And until I figure out how to justify that for myself - in words, in canon, in fic or otherwise - in a way that doesn’t hurt, I’m not going to.

Middleground.

[theonionqueene]

The Starlight Krew became 80% more fuckabke IMO. But in truly astonished by how sexy Starlight Gideon is. Like I didn’t think it was possible to make Gid any hotter, but then they gave him even beefier muscles, tattoos, fangs, and a husband, and now I melt whenever I look at him. Same for Torbek!

[theonionqueene]

From the way it’s being phrased, it sounds less like Karina’s leaving Drawfee and more like she got kicked out….I’m really weirded out. The transition will be easier for me cuz I’ve been here since the Nathan and Caldwell days, I just feel bad for the fans who have only known the channel with Karina in it.

I have my colloquial “theories” as to what happened, but I’ll keep them to myself. I wish Karina and Drawfee the best of luck, and I plan on following both Karina and Drawfee.

[theonionqueene]

CoaLecroux was in my dream. I’ve rewatched the Starlight finale so many times that there permeated into my sleeping world. Kremy brought Gid a glass of water while he was in bed and then kissed him. I’m crazy about them.

[theonionqueene]

Desperately in need of a “Kremy Being A Faggot” compilation.

[theonionqueene]

In desperate need of OUAS Coalecroux prompts, spicy or not, as long as they take place post canon! I’ve written a very nice opening vignette establishing that premise, but I have no idea where to go from here!