Why Roman Torchwick Should Be in The Lies of P Sequel (not a shitpost):
If Roman were ever adapted into a Lies of P side story, I would hope the performance direction embraces that theatrical identity. My personal fan casting would be Jaafar Jackson—or another actor capable of delivering fast-paced, charismatic dialogue with a playful, stage-like presence.
Likewise, I think Roman's optional questline would benefit from drawing inspiration from the absurdist humor of Monty Python while combining it with the unsettling psychological atmosphere (and setting inspiration?) of We Happy Few. That blend of dark comedy, theatrical performance, and social decay feels like a natural fit for both Roman Torchwick and the world of Krat.
Here is a checklist for my proposal (if you consider my words important you can use the hashtag '#pinocchiowick' on Tumblr to spread the word):
I. Roman Torchwick Should Be Written as a Gay Character.
II. Roman Torchwick Should Survive.
III. Roman Torchwick Should Remain an Independent Villain.
IV. Roman's Emotional Loyalty Should Belong to P Alone (not Carlo).
V. Any Official Adaptation Should Acknowledge Monty Oum's Work RWBY.
VI. Roman Torchwick Should Be an Optional Side Quest (C-Plot).
I. Roman Torchwick Should Be Written as a Gay Character.
This is not proposed as a superficial identity change or marketing decision. It is a narrative choice intended to define the direction of his relationships within the new setting.
Within this interpretation Roman's primary romantic relationship is with P. Establishing that relationship clearly prevents the character from defaulting back into familiar heterosexual shipping patterns that have dominated much of the RWBY fandom over the years.
It also provides a coherent foundation for the pinocchiowick dynamic rather than leaving it ambiguous.
No, really the reason I changed his sexuality is b/c I don't like one character (Neo) defining his entire arc. I believe that P has more narrative depth than Neo Politan and the general world of RWBY--because Roman could challenge P and the other characters around Krat. I basically hated Volume 9 and saw how they used Roman Torchwick as nostalgia bait and fan service to promote CRWBY's book "Roman Holiday". Personally I was insulted how Roman was not even respected by Viz Media for turning his manga self into an uncaring and annoying villain.
This is where the character design died. In the worst Volume 9 image I could find we see the total surrender of Roman Torchwick’s archetype. He is no longer the independent force of nature designed by volumes 1-3; he is a static, sentimental ornament. This is why he must be in the Lies of P sequel. Krat is a world of social decay, moral ambiguity, and structural collapse—the exact environment where a character like Roman can actually breathe, act, and oppose P with genuine ideological weight, rather than being trapped in a dying franchise.
A defined romantic orientation also redirects Roman's interactions with female characters away from romantic subtext and toward rivalry, respect, manipulation, diplomacy, or conflict. His relationships become structurally distinct rather than interchangeable.
II. Roman Torchwick Should Survive.
One of the most common shortcomings in action games is reducing charismatic antagonists to memorable boss fights before permanently removing them from the narrative.
Roman functions more effectively as a recurring political and criminal force than as a disposable encounter.
Allowing him to survive transforms him from a dead boss fight into a single chapter antagonist in Krat. His existence allows conflict and long-term character growth that cannot exist if his narrative purpose ends with a boss battle where he dies. Also, if he dies it would be queerbaiting (technically?).
III. Roman Torchwick Should Remain an Independent Villain.
A romantic relationship should not eliminate ideological conflict.
Roman should continue pursuing his own ambitions even when those ambitions directly oppose P's goals. Their relationship is strengthened—not weakened—by genuine disagreement.
P represents responsibility, restoration, and the future of Krat.
Roman represents ambition, criminal sovereignty, theatrical power, and personal freedom.
Their opposing philosophies create dramatic tension that can continue throughout an entire side-quest rather than ending once mutual affection is established.
IV. Roman's Emotional Loyalty Should Belong to P Alone.
Within this reinterpretation, Roman's emotional center is not Carlo or P's former identity.
The relationship instead emphasizes P's present identity and his ability to choose his own future rather than remaining defined by his origins.
The intention is not to diminish previous relationships within Lies of P, but to establish Roman and P as an independent narrative partnership whose significance comes from choices made in the present rather than obligations inherited from the past.
V. Any Official Adaptation Should Acknowledge Monty Oum's Creative Footprint.
Roman Torchwick originated as the work of Monty Oum and the RWBY creative team.
If the character were ever officially licensed into another franchise, I believe the adaptation should reflect serious study of Monty Oum's approach to character animation, choreography, staging, and visual storytelling rather than treating Roman as a legacy character from an IP alone.
VI. Roman Torchwick Should Be an Optional Side Quest.
Roman Torchwick should remain separate from Dorothy's main storyline and the Wizard of Oz narrative. His role should be an optional side quest that expands the world of Krat rather than competing with the main campaign.
This allows both stories to stand on their own while giving Roman the space to develop as a recurring criminal force with his own ambitions, allies, and conflicts.
Not every important character needs to be part of the central plot. Sometimes the strongest stories are the ones players choose to discover.
These five principles are not intended as a complete script for a sequel.
The objective is not to reproduce Roman Torchwick exactly as he appeared in RWBY, nor to use him as nostalgic fan service.
It is to reinterpret the character in a way that gives him lasting narrative significance within the world of Lies of P. I
It allows him to become a recurring force whose presence meaningfully reshapes the future of Krat while acknowledging the creator from which he originated.
Why These Seven Principles Matter
One of my biggest criticisms of Lies of P is that Romeo functions as a tragic boss programmed to die rather than an ongoing ideological rival. Because P cannot meaningfully communicate with him, the game's excellent Lie and Truth mechanics are never used to create a true moral crossroads.
I believe Roman Torchwick could fill that role. Instead of being another boss fight, he should become a recurring rival whose relationship with P evolves through the player's choices, allowing the Lie and Truth system to shape both their conflict and P's character growth.
Roman Torchwick is Based on Disney’s Lampwick
Another reason I believe Roman Torchwick deserves serious consideration is that he is already built upon multiple literary and cinematic allusions. According to the official RWBY allusions list, Roman is derived from Disney's Lampwick (also referred to as Romeo Candlewick in some references), while his visual presentation also draws inspiration from Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange through Alex DeLarge's theatrical clothing, cane, and stage-like mannerisms. Roman's design therefore reflects a deliberate blend of classic fairy tale and modern cinema rather than a completely original archetype.
I did not make up Roman Torchwicks allusions:
Throughout the production of a series, a lot goes on behind the scenes in regards to planning and design, which often go through multiple st
His official RWBY turnaround model, the emerald green used for Roman's irises echoes the emerald green bow tie/ascot worn by Disney's Lampwick, while his ginger hair shares a physical resemblance to Disney’s Lampwick further distinguishing from other modern Romeo-inspired characters. The Lampwick connection extends beyond the often-cited cigar reference. Both Disney's Lampwick and Roman Torchwick wear a rounded bowler hat accented with a colored hatband and feather—a silhouette that distinguishes them from the other antagonists in Disney's Pinocchio, who instead wear traditional top hats. Roman's bowler hat, combined with his theatrical personality, reinforces the visual lineage between the two characters.
If Roman Torchwick were ever introduced into a future Lies of P title (aka the sequel) through an official character licensing agreement, the objective should not be simple crossover recognition. The following principles could preserve the dramatic function of the character while reinterpreting him within the themes of Krat.
anyways this sounds nuts...but oh well. :D. if he doesn't get in I won't be mad
