#retjohn

[xbox-turn-off]

JOHN: DISSOLVE [ok to tag as kin/me/etc]

[madjazzed]

[bananonbinary]

you know, everyone’s talked about how the retcon meant that alpha vriska didn’t really get character development and how tragic it is for her to either be alive or happy, but no one really talks about how tavros kinda got the short end of the stick too. John basically created a new alpha tavros who never fused with vriska and never got to do the whole “tavros gets to have a meaningful character arc” thing. This tavros is still terrorized by vriska and has basically no self esteem and I just. why do all these poor children need to die to actually become happy healthy individuals.

[letsgomaybe]

Since Homestuck’s started back up again, I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to be an archival reader. Since I started reading in January 2012, I’ve been around for almost all of Act 6 and for over half the comic in terms of pagecount and of time. 

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT

The most emotional moment of the comic for me, and the climax of Act 5 Act 2 (I consider Cascade to be the climax of Act 5 as a whole) is Vriska’s death at the hands of Terezi. It was something that had to be done for the sake of survival and to eliminate Vriska as a source of future problems. It was obviously something that Terezi regretted, even though it was necessary (see her conversation with Aranea). We get a hint of some closure with [S] Remem8er, and I really hope this whole remembering thing goes somewhere. Even though today’s update has Terezi acting all fine after she remem8ered??? whatever.

Anyway, all that changed with the retjohn. And the worst part is that the sense of inevitability of Vriska’s death is gone, specifically on this page. This is the last page before Vriska’s death, and it also happens to be the last page with a mysterious “[???????].” For the archival reader, Vriska’s death is no loner inevitable or certain. The  “[???????]” link provides a glimpse of a third option that neither Terezi or mspa readers had before the retjohn. If I were reading the comic now, this would really lessen the impact for me. Until the moment it was revealed, I’d be wondering what that  “[???????]” was for, and how it tied in to that pivotal moment.

[luvbloggingandreblogging]

Homestuck Retcon

I’m kind of tired of people knocking the retcon, so I’m going to voice my thoughts about this.

First of all, I can’t stand Vriska. No matter which Vriska, I can’t stand her. I’ve had too many people in my life be the exact fucking same. The gaslighting, the bullying... It’s way too close to home.

But here’s the thing. 

Sometimes people need to be called on their bullshit. Rose’s drinking problem was bullshit. Gamzee’s behavior was bullshit. Vriska stepped in and called everyone on all of that shit when no one else would, because she’s a bully. That’s what bullies do. They are trying to call you out on something that does not make sense to them. They insult you for picking your nose or stagnating in growth, and if you’re smart, you piece together which of their complaints are actually valid and which aren’t. 

Everyone else definitely isn’t doing that. They’re letting each other get pushed around by a bully without putting any thought into it, because she had enough valid points that they don’t think they have the authority to overrule her.

And you know what? That’s completely reasonable for them to assume.

I’m going to remind all of you that these are 16-year-olds who have spent anywhere from three years to nearly their entire lives depending on the individual without any adequate adult supervision. 

OF

COURSE

They don’t know what they’re doing

IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD

AND WE SHOULD RESPECT THAT FACT AND THE FACT THAT HUSSIE IS THEREFORE SUPER REALISTIC AND GOOD AT CHARACTERIZATION

And Vriska is the only one who’s had any drive to do anything remotely resembling progress because she’s had to be autonomous her whole life

THAT KIND OF POWER WOULD GO TO ANYONE’S HEAD AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT I LOATHE VRISKA WITH MOST OF MY BEING I WILL RESPECT THAT FACT

THANK YOU

GOOD NIGHT

[madamehardy]

Retjohn Changes

Here’s my list of the status quo post-Retjohn (so far).   Note that many canon events whose original triggers (e.g. Vriska dying) have been removed may, in the Retjohn continuity,  have been triggered by different events.

Overall:

Game cartridge de-glittered by windy powers 

Therefore a lot of obscured events will be visible (and possibly changed).

Meteor:

Vriska not dead  Therefore:

5X Showdown Combo can’t have happened as shown (Vriska’s dead body clearly shown in background).

Gamzee and Karkat don’t become moirails as a consequence of 5X Showdown Combo.

Terezi doesn’t date Gamzee from grief over dead Vriska;  therefore potentially Dave and Terezi don’t break up because of Terezi’s kismesis.  (On the other hand, Terezi may well kismes with Vriska.)  Other consequences: Terezi doesn’t become Faygo addict; Terezi remains blind.  And, of course, Terezi doesn’t set up the password system to force John to Retjohn, but blah blah alpha timeline.

Gamzee can’t use Vriska’s corpse to prototype a sprite.

Terezi and Rose not drunk

Shown in post-Retjohn panel where meteor survivors encounter Jade.  This means both Seers have time and opportunity to actively plan post-meteor shenanigans.

Battleship:

John is killed early by explosion on his planet

Explosion on John’s planet kills Davesprite, therefore Jade and Davesprite never date and break up, therefore Jade’s next encounter with Dave doesn’t have residual bitterness from Davesprite breakup.

Jade is alone for 3 years ... but apparently still becomes grimbark on arriving.

And, of course,

GAME OVER cannot happen as shown.  Whee!

Have you got other changes?

[cornershate]

GUYS GUYS WAIT WHAT ELSE WAS PROTOTYPED WITH TAVROS

[thecozburger]

Well, I'm certainly interested to know where Hussie will draw/draws/has drawn the line in regards to these retjonning shennanigans. Obviously, John exists outside the story (thrown through the fourth wall, you could say), but where's the limit to what will be/is being/has been affected by him and his zappy bullshit.