Riptide is such an interesting character, and I feel like a lot of the fandom doesn't realise this--to be fair, I think even Tui doesn't realise this, considering how little she does with him when he's such an intriguing character, and there are so many interesting and juicy dynamics to explore, especially with Webs and the other dragonets of destiny.
So, Riptide was only about a year old when Webs deserted a battle, and consequently had to flee the Kingdom of the Sea, which would have resulted in Riptide growing up under the shadow of his father who abandoned both the army and his family, and this is, of course, further complicated by the fact that Webs doesn't stay gone, he returns and steals Tsunami's egg, and has his wife help take out the guards, resulting in her death. So we have Riptide, with no mother and a father who ran out on him, leaving him only with the weight of reputation, which prevents him from ever being taken seriously or treated well, especially by the queen.
I think it's shocking that, considering all of that, he responds as well as he does to the dragonets of destiny. Because while Webs wasn't exactly a good guardian to them, they still had him. The dragonets of destiny had him, while Riptide was fatherless (but still bearing the weight of his father's crimes). Riptide got the full force of the reputation that Webs was running away from, while missing out actually being raised by his father, only to find out that his father has been raising a bunch of other dragonets instead. The fact that he doesn't seem to resent or begrudge them that is honestly very impressive.
And then there's the whole secretly-being-in-the-Talons-of-Peace thing--I think it's an interesting study into the way that oppressive systems push people into avenues and then punish them for taking that avenue. Coral and Blister despise the Talons of Peace, and want to have Riptide executed for potentially working with them, but Coral has made it impossible for Riptide to earn any kind of respect or upward mobility in the Kingdom of the Sea--it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Riptide's choices here are either resign himself to a life of being disrespected and treated as a traitor simply for being related to his father in the Kingdom of the Sea, or to be treated as a traitor for joining an outside organisation. We also know that Riptide joined the Talons to learn more about his father--I think that Riptide's relationship with Webs is genuinely so fascinating and I want more information on it.
And then of course, there's the elephant in the room, the 'lying to Tsunami' part. And I think that adds an extra layer of interest to Riptide's character, because in TLH--which is a book packed with court intrigue and suspicion--Riptide is pretty much the only SeaWing Tsunami feels fully safe with, because he's a very nice guy. He doesn't seem like the type to be withholding crucial information. And yet, he is, and I think it's worth discussing. The initial reason is, of course, when he first meets them that he's a spy--they won't trust him if they know he's a Talon, so he keeps that on the down-low, and you'd expect that. But then things change and he and Tsunami become closer than expected, and so the impetus for him to reveal his true allegiance becomes higher, but at the same time--so does the cost. Now, I wrote another essay, a few days ago going into how Riptide was very good for Tsunami and just what she needed during TLH, since he provided her a safe space just to be, but I think that goes both ways. Tsunami likes Riptide a lot, he finds her funny and awesome and cool, and together, they're both able to just be themselves. Riptide doesn't have the same kind of expectations of Tsunami that she experiences in other areas, and Tsunami doesn't despise Riptide the way that the rest of her kingdom does. Tsunami is very clear that her feelings towards the Talons of Peace and Webs are not very gracious, and however rebellious and outspoken she may be, she still is her mother's daughter--for Riptide to reveal that he works with the Talons would risk ruining things with the only dragon who doesn't hate him for who his father is. Does that make it right for Riptide to have lied? Of course not. But is it understandable? I'd say yes. Riptide hiding his Talons allegiance is no different than Moon hiding her powers--morally questionable, especially in a social situation, but understandable. Tsunami also muses, upon Riptide confessing to her, that he was a really good actor, and I think that adds a really cool layer to Riptide's character--he's kind, he's nice, he's non-judgemental, he's helpful, and he's a very, very good liar. He's complicated.
All this is to say, that I really don't think Riptide is as much of a nothingburger character as people make him out to be, and that I wish Tui would do more with him (and especially his complicated Webs feelings).
