Random Watership Down Thoughts
- Vervain’s sense of purpose is completely dependent on serving Woundwort and he’s too afraid to find something better for himself.
- Bigwig and Spartina’s relationship came out of nowhere and has the least development when compared to Hazel and Primrose and Blackberry and Campion’s relationship. I’m not saying the relationship is bad or that Spartina isn’t a good fit for Bigwig but Spartina went from being a spy in one episode and his lover in the next with little to no context or growth and they deserve better than that!
- Silverweed is severely misunderstood: He’s a good rabbit but his mystic powers made him an outsider and Cowslip made it worse by using him as a storyteller.
- All of Woundwort’s hate stems from unresolved trauma from his past. Everything he did was inexcusable but he needs serious help (this is especially true in season 3. His mind just split after the first episode of the season).
- Similarly while I’d love to see a redemption arc for Woundwort, I’m not sure if he can be fully forgiven for everything he’s done. I think he’s somewhat more redeemable than Cowslip though (he’s too sick in the head and only does anything if it serves him somehow).
- Hickory and Marigold’s design in the 3rd season kind of bothers me. Their designs are great, but they look so similar that I thought they were siblings at one point (this was back when I first saw them when I was little).
- The Darkhaven rabbits are essentially a rabbit cult but the history of the warren sounds very interesting and relevant to Woundwort’s evil.
- Woundwort, Vervain and Campion’s relationship is the most damaged and abusive in the entire series and you can see how much it affects them: Vervain goes from respecting Campion to hating and resenting him while also conflicted about being loyal to Woundwort and being sick of him, Campion is heavily conflicted about betraying Woundwort and still struggles with it during season 3 but also knows it was the right thing and Woundwort never gets over Campion’s betrayal and tolerates Vervain.
- In a nutshell, Woundwort, Campion and Vervains relationship with each other is what break up and pop songs are made for.
- Blackavar was only relevant in the TV series for a few episodes but then disappeared (despite having a slightly bigger role in the movie) and Buttercup (from the winter episodes) was never seen or heard from again.
- I would have loved to see a spin off series about Moss and the Efrafans after they left Watership Down and see how their dynamics and relationships changed and see Moss as a leader.
- Skree is a missed opportunity to explore other possible allies with elil.
- Hazel and Primrose’s kittens gained some relevancy in season 3 (as the junior owsla) and that is why they are a consistent three with names versus the previous random baby rabbits we saw in season 2.
- Vervain is both an asshole and a coward yet I somehow feel bad for him at season 3.
- If Vervain didn’t survive at the end of season 3, I would have liked to see Granite survive and join Watership Down. That poor giant marshmallow deserves a better life.
- I think Campion had some feelings for Primrose at one point. I don’t know if I’d call it a crush but he does respect her and cares about her.
- Red Stone warren has the saddest history in the whole series.
- Bigwig and Woundwort are my favorites but I like just about everyone in the TV series. I can’t think of a single character I don’t like (yes I even like Vervain and Cowslip).
- The TV series is full of complex characters.
- I don’t know if it was originally written for it but the song Bright Eyes is the theme song for the entire Watership Down franchise and no one can convince me otherwise.
- Bigwig’s design in season 3 kind of reminds me of Cruella’s fur coat in 101 Dalmatians. I don’t know why the designs changed in season 3 but I don’t necessarily dislike them (I actually like Woundwort’s design in season 3 more than his design in season 2. I like Bigwig’s season 3 design too but it made me think he grew old when I was little XD).
- Getting Silverweed out of Cowslip’s warren is arguably one of the few good things Woundwort did. Why? Because, while Woundwort only did it to serve his own purposes, him getting Silverweed would eventually lead to Hazel and the others bringing him to Watership Down and giving him the freedom and happiness he so deserved. He didn’t mean for that to happen but I would count this as an accidental good deed on Woundwort’s part.
- Pipkin is the most wholesome character of the TV series as he see’s the good in everyone he meets and can make friends with just about anyone.
- Spoiler but the TV series ends with the Black Rabbit basically coming in and saying: “I don’t care who started it, I’m finishing it!” like a parent whose had enough of their kids bickering.
- You know you went too far when even the Black Rabbit of Inle is sick of your bullshit.
- Vervain has had countless opportunities for redemption but he consistently chooses not to take them. He’s either too much of a coward to take them or he’s not confident enough in himself to try.
- Also, Vervain is no fighter but he enjoys having power over other rabbits.
- Just about all the Watership Down rabbits have relatable moments.
- Speaker of The Past (or Speaker, she never got a name) mentioned that Hemlock (Woundwort’s father) had other sons before having Woundwort, implying that Woundwort had older brothers and was the baby of the family. Are any of his brothers still alive? Probably not but it makes me sad we didn’t get to see Woundwort get reunited with a surviving relative who later tries to reason with him…I think I have an OC idea now.
- The idea that Woundwort might have once been someone’s baby brother is as cute as it is sad. I would have loved to know more about his family.
- Hannah is a mood!
- Woundwort still laughs about that ‘hedge wizard’ incident and never lets Vervain forget it. Meanwhile, Vervain is still convinced he saw a hedge wizard. The story doesn’t help his reputation at Darkhaven as many rabbits (manly Granite) tease him for it.
