The Thief and the Cobbler

[thethiefthecobbler]

Why do you think that the idea of "morally dubious Callum" is so prevalent in the fandom?

I think there are a couple of reasons why, some good some bad. All of this is just speculation, but imo, some of the more positive/neutral reasons are:

It's angstier (and thus, less predictable story-wise) if Callum isn't just a straightforward good guy.

It creates a much more morally ambiguous story if both sides are willing to do dubious things, which can be more intriguing and engaging than others.

It makes Callum more complex if his morality is a bit questionable.

However, there's more than a handful of pretty terrible rationales that I've spotted over time.

The spooky factor to dark magic has warped people's sense of right and wrong, and categorize simply casting dark magic in of itself as always evil regardless of the circumstances (I say "casting" because apparently Harrow, Sarai, and Amaya are not ever judged by the fandom for either using dark magic or helping gather the materials for it).

Since a few of the "morally dubious" traits people cite often sound a lot more like Rayla, there may be some projection going on, as people try to deflect her traits onto Callum. For instance, temper, ruthless, devotion.

Speaking of projection, I think some fans see Rayla as a wish fulfilment character, and thus see Callum's main purpose as essentially "serving" Rayla, either by protecting her, helping her, or most importantly, destroying himself and his moral code for her (because then all that is left is total and unquestioning loyalty to her).

I also think there might be a subsconscious desire to prove that Rayla is somehow "better" than Callum. This was especially true pre-timeskip, when fans were adamant at saying that Rayla is stronger than Callum, is faster than Callum, is more noble than Callum, will live longer than Callum, is taller than Callum, etc. Now that Callum has either caught up or eclipsed Rayla on most of these, I think there's added pressure to argue that Rayla is still nobler than him, and the way to do that is to argue that he would do things she would never consider doing.

Anyway, that's my take. Feel free to agree or disagree.

[thethiefthecobbler]

What do you mean about there being a "hierarchy of loyalty and devotion" for callum?

Basically, if you believe in the idea that Callum consistently prioritizing those he cares about over the greater good, one of the largest challenges to that is the fact that, when he had to choose between Harrow (someone he loved) over returning the egg to Xadia (the greater good), he chose the latter. To reconcile this, some fans have proposed a complex moral hierarchy governing Callum's loyalties.

According to this theory, Callum's highest loyalty lies with Rayla, Ezran, and sometimes Zym. For these individuals, he would allegedly sacrifice the greater good. A second tier includes figures like Harrow and Amaya, whom Callum cares for but not enough to prioritize over larger concerns. Beyond this, the theory suggests Callum is largely indifferent to others' welfare, despite evidence to the contrary throughout the series.

The issue here is that if you think about this for even a few seconds, it doesn't really make much sense. Even if Callum prioritized Ezran's safety over Harrow's during the castle attack, it doesn't explain why he would then lead Ezran into the far greater dangers of Xadia. Multiple opportunities to return Ezran to safety (Banther Lodge, Moon Nexus) were bypassed. These actions are more readily explained by a simple, overarching desire to do what's right rather than a complex, arbitrary moral hierarchy.

Additionally, if you're wondering who gets to be in which tier, and why are, for instance, Ezran is in the highest tier and Harrow isn't, unfortunately that's not the point of the theory. The point isn't to provide some speical insight into who Callum is or how Callum thinks, it's to retroactively explain all of Callum's actions (particularly his noble ones) to justify a very specific headcanon about his actions.

[thethiefthecobbler]

could callum actually choose the greater good over rayla? i think not.

I'm personally not sure why this would be so unbelievable, since Callum has certainly prioritized the greater good over his loved ones before - in fact, one of his most defining moments is him choosing to return the egg to Xadia over helping his stepfather. This was such a signficant moment that people have had to invent a convoluted and contradictory hierarchy of loyalty and devotion for him entirely out of whole cloth (one that doesn't really explain why he would choose an egg, a total stranger, and placing his defensless little brother directly in harm's way over rescuing his step-dad, but I digress).

Having said that, even thoughI wouldn't put it past Callum to choose the greater good over people he loves, I don't really think he should, and I think the story is trying to tell us he shouldn't. As I mentioned here and here, the whole point is that choosing between sacrificing the greater good, and sacrificing the ones you love, misses the point. It's the sacrifice that's the problem.

Claudia would doom the greater good for one life (her father) - that's wrong.

Harrow would doom one life (the Titan) for the greater good - that's wrong.

So if Callum is faced with a situation where he has to choose either Rayla (or anyone) or the greater good, he has to do something different. He has to find a different way. The narrative won't allow for any other way.

[thethiefthecobbler]

To be sure, there's only one way I can see Callum doing dark magic is if it ends up going the way of Viren's "not-really-dark-magic-spell" at the end of s6, where the inherent good of Viren's actions not only allow him to not say the spell normally but even reverse his corruption. I don't see this happening since this seemed like a one time thing and really just for the purpose of symbolism about Viren's character.

However, there really isn't any time for anything else that doesn't leave people scratching their heads and wondering "what did that all mean?" Either Callum turns down dark magic for good, climaxing his story in a very Luke Skywalker fashion, or he "performs" dark magic in a way that reveals there was another way that negated the corruption all this time.

[thethiefthecobbler]

What I don't get is that, if callum isn't going to do dark magic in s7, then why did the show bother raising the stakes so much if it really wasn't setup for something?

I'll answer this question with another question.

If Callum were to do dark magic in s7, get completely overwhelmed with darkness and corruption, , only to quickly overcome its corruption through some unexplained "way out," all in the span of just a few episodes, then what was the point to begin with?

Such a quick fix would suggest that the risks of dark magic aren't as severe as we've been led to believe, weakening the show's central themes. And if Callum could easily escape the darkness, it would diminish the weight of his choices. That would mean we spent the last few seasons (basically since s2) setting up the moment that Callum completely gives in to the darkness, only for the show to immediately walk it back in a very rushed and unsatisfying way.

[thethiefthecobbler]

Since this post caused such a stir, I want to make a couple things clear.

I never said the asks were anonymous.

I never said who exactly was touting their English credentials

So if anyone is making these assumptions, that's already revealing something I never said...

[halyasgirl]

Bonus

[hiccupshypotheticalleftsock]

Really leaning into the theory that Callum won't use dark magic in s7. Yes, they have set the stakes high and made the perfect set up for dark magic to be used again, BUT, those same stakes still remain if he doesn't succumb to them and instead chooses to not, to find another way which isn't dark magic. Especially since there is a theme in the show of dark magic being the second option, the only option, the creative solution, basically the easy way out.

I want Callum to see that he can do things the hard way. To affirm his beliefs that dark magic isn't necessary. I want him to discover a connection to the Moon Arcanum, (which is tied to illusions and truth ect ect) without using dark magic for a third time. Because he is the 'destiny is a book you write yourself' guy.

[thethiefthecobbler]

By the way, just a minor PSA (since I have a self-professed English major in the asks right now), it's fine to tout your English credentials when discussing a show, if it's just a way to explain where you're coming from. But it should come with some humility about functional limits (i.e. a novel written and published all together by a single author cannot be interpreted the same way as a visual story developed by a large and ever-changing creative team incrementally across many years and forced to deal with executive meddling, budget constraints, and renewal issues). It should also come with a realization that literary analysis (to the extent it can be applied to a show) says very little about the morality (or philosophy in general), as well as predicts very little about the direction a story is going.

In fact, with a deep knowledge of the wealth and depth of English literature, the fact most pressing to me is that literary devices (themes in particular) can be used in an infinite number of ways. There is no one way or two ways that a story MUST go, and foreshadowing elements can only readily be analyzed in hindsight. Trying to rely on one's English background to predict a future season is almost certainly a fool's errand.

[thethiefthecobbler]

Thoughts on whether Callum intentionally meant to give Finnegrin the wrong ingredients?

I go back and forth on this, but ultimately lean towards, yes, Callum had intentionally given Finnegrin the wrong ingredients, if for any other reason than that it explains why a person with a photographic memory didn't list out the same ingredients that Viren did.

Additionally, it also portrays Callum as more than just a desperate, out-of-control youth, but as someone who can think on his feet and make calculated decisions. It shows that, just like his aunt (which the story went out of its way of portraying similarities with Callum) he's capable of strategic thinking even in high-pressure situations.

The idea that Callum is actively trying to outsmart Finnegrin doesn't diminish his internal struggle for control—it amplifies it. He's not just reacting to events, but actively trying to shape them, which creates a more intense internal conflict. This interpretation shows Callum grappling with the limits of his own abilities and the temptation to use quick fixes to gain an advantage.

The theme of control is not lessened, but rather explored in a different light. Instead of Callum simply feeling out of control, we see him actively trying to assert control through a sleight of hand, which ultimately fails—leading to his use of dark magic.

I think some see it as more morally ambiguous than the alternative (the fact that the people saying this already see him as morally ambiguous should render this point moot, but I digress). But I think this read shows something a much deeper, fundamental ethical dilemma: the absence of a morally untainted option.

He lies to Finnegrin about the spell -> deception -> morally ambiguous

He gives Finnegrin the spell -> an Archdragon dies -> morally ambiguous

He refuses to give Finnegrin the spell -> Rayla dies -> morally ambiguous

In essence, it's a trolley problem. Each of these choices carries significant moral weight and negative consequences. It challenges Callum to reconsider his black-and-white moral framework he's been relying on for five seasons, and it illustrates that, potentially, choice is an illusion.

In essence, by having Callum lie about the spell, it shows Callum attempting to, once again, have it both ways. If he lies, then Finnegrin thinks he gets what he wants, and neither Domina nor Rayla have to die. Everybody wins. As Finnegrin tsks, it highlights Callum's naivete, and what pushes him to actually perform dark magic.

And idk, I find that to be a deeper and more worthwhile than what's otherwise been suggested.

[thethiefthecobbler]

I wanted to drop by to first say I really love reading your takes and analyses, specifically the ones about Callum not being characterized as a morally dubious individual and how he truly does care about doing the right thing. Now I wanted to ask about how your thoughts about Rayllum in S6, specifically Callum’s one deep deep truth manifestated in Rayla, how their reconciliation happened and how their relationship progressed throughout arc 2 😊🙌🏽

Aww thanks fam! I appreciate it :)

For Callum's deep truth, I think we are supposed to interpret it to be "Love, manifested as Rayla." Rayla is his guiding star, his center, and that it's all made of stardust suggests love is never wasted, that it can take all sorts of forms and never truly dissapear. I like the theory that had he done this test earlier - let's say, five years ago - his one truth would have manifested as Sarai, Ezran, or Harrow. The idea that love is an energy that swirls around us and takes a all sorts of shapes is something that's very compelling to me.

I think Callum, for the last few seasons, has been in a bit of an bind in terms of how to forgive Rayla, but I think this realization - that his love doesn't leave this world, that it guides him and that he should embrace it - helped break this impasse. Which helps him embrace Rayla.

[thethiefthecobbler]

I've seen a lot of people (not on Tumblr but definitely on Reddit) complain that Rayla essentially "got off easy" with Callum because she didn't verbalize an apology and just waited for their relationship to get better on its own.

I think there are two issues with this take - first of all, it was by no means "easy," Callum initially kept her at an arm's length and even in s5 and most of s6 was still keeping some distance. So even if Callum decided to forgive her and have the two of them resume their relationship, it's not like her decision in TTM had no consequences.

But second (and more importantly), it is entirely within Callum's character to help others (and specifically, the "right thing") over his own feelings.

When Avizandum killed his mother, he certainly developed hatred towards him, yet still wanted Harrow to pursue peace.

When the Moonshadow assassins came to kill Harrow, Callum chose to take the egg home instead (even though Rayla gave him an out).

When Rayla wanted to stay behind to fight Viren's army, Callum chose to let her make the choice for herself.

When Finnegrin demands him cast a dark magic spell for him in exchange for his freedom, Callum refuses and gets tortured.

When Runaan killed Harrow, Callum nevertheless still chose to help free him.

At the end of the day, when it comes to his feelings versus everything else, Callum consistently chooses to help others and to stick by his principles. So when Rayla leaves him and then comes back years later, it's not a surprise that Callum - once again - chooses to take the high road in the end. It's compeltely within character.

If the response is that Callum should prioritize himself I mean, sure. Maybe. But that's quite frankly a bit too of indulgent of a character arc (a fave getting to do things for themselves), and not really one that the story is interested in telling. The question isn't whether Callum will stop doing things for others and start doing things for himself. Instead, the real question at hand is whether Callum's actions are ultimately the "Right Thing" to do.

[thethiefthecobbler]

do you like morally dubious callum?

Like, on principle? Do I like a main character who is rule-breaking and slippery and doing all sorts of shenanigans for good? Yea, totally! That's my jam. I love that kind of person in fiction. Like, Aladdin was the OG street rat, I'm here for it.

But is Callum that person? Honestly, no. And for the most part, him being depicted as "morally dubious" is less a fact of his character and more an artifact from fandom, and it largely comes from him being held to an impossible standard of moral perfection. He's either a saint or he's "morally dubious" (in which case, by default so is everyone, and then what is so special about Callum in particular being morally dubious?).

I don't really have a problem with that on paper, and if people want to depict him in fanon as morally dubious that's their perogative. Factually incorrect to insist this is who he is in canon, though, and it's also pretty unhealthy to insist that unless he or anyone else is morally perfect they're morally dubious. It's this kind of moral absolutism that the show is trying to reject, and it's certainly something we should all reject too.

[thethiefthecobbler]

haha i think 🐍 is vagueblogging about you

What is 🐍?

[thethiefthecobbler]

Even if Aaravos can still control Callum, thematically it should make sense that he CHOOSES to use dark magic to save Rayla (and thus knowingly puts himself under Aaravos). If Callum really chooses to not do dark magic, and then gets controlled Pharos-style, what was the point?

In my personal opinion:

It is more thematically important that Callum break the cycle of humans using dark magic. This whole thing - and I mean this whole thing - got started mainly because humans can't be trusted with magic, period. Then the main conflict got started because, well, this became a self-fulfilling prophecy and humans did harness a potent but corrupting form of magic. In the present, Viren rejected dark magic but ultimately found he couldn't escape using it. Claudia, meanwhile, embraced it. Kpp'ar did give up dark magic, but that meant giving up ALL magic. Now, if Callum does fail and do dark magic again, despite having two primal sources for magic, it just proves the Cosmic Order, Sol Regem, and whoever else that humans will always be corrupted and will turn to dark magic for easy solutions. It is now up to Callum to prove that sentiment wrong, that humans can be entrusted with magic despite everything that has happened before.

It is more thematically important that Callum be placed in a position where he doesn't truly have a choice. One of the most long-standing questions in Callum's arc is "does he have a choice?" His agency and his destiny are things that run side by side, as he's constantly put in situations where his agency is taken away. This comes up in moments such as Aaravos taking him over, but also in more subtle moments too (Finnegrin giving Callum the "choice" to free his friends only to reveal that the chains were just for show as he could keep them captive no matter what Callum does).

So if Callum does reject dark magic, only for Aaravos to reveal he can take control of him anyway (as he's done so elsewhere before), that would put this question front and center again - can Callum choose not to serve Aaravos' bidding?

If Callum does do dark magic (and presumably gets "cured" somehow by the time the show is over), this undermines a consistent theme about dark magic having consequences. One of the driving themes of dark magic is that, sooner or later, the bill comes do and the price has to be paid.

So if Callum does dark magic, has corruption and darkness overwhelm him, only to be all fine by the end of the season because, um, reasons (which no one has really explained, but will have to happen since this is the last season of the arc), that does undermine the whole consequences bit. Resolving or curing Callum's use of dark magic so quickly would undermine the gravity of dark magic use that has been built up throughout the series. Hence why it seem so unlikely, from a thematic standpoint, that the showrunners would have him do this at all.

[thethiefthecobbler]

Your latest post about Callum is honestly so spot on!!! Most people I’ve seen have taken the entire interaction regarding Callum and dark magic as proof the when the time comes he’ll sacrifice the greater good for her, but I feel like that’s a misread of his character. Callum has always cared about “doing the right thing”, even as early as season 1. That’s why he’s so driven to find a way to defeat Aaravos and make sure he can’t hurt anyone, that’s why after Rayla gives him the speech about “making the sacrifice” he turns it around and makes her promise to kill him if it comes to that. Even on Finnegrin’s ship when he did dark magic to save her, he thought that was the right thing. You could also argue that his decision in that moment was for the greater good. I mean if Rayla is killed, the rest of the Dragang would likely be next. They can’t exactly stop Claudia from freeing Aaravos if they’re all dead.

Like you said though, Rayla is his guiding light. She’s a positive force in his life that leads him to clarity in his choices and keeps him on the path of doing the right thing. While Callum being forced to choose between the greater good and Rayla, and ultimately sacrificing the greater good for Rayla is angsty.. I just don’t agree that’s where his story is headed, and I don’t think that’s who he’s truly ever been as a character either. Even in season 1 when Rayla offers to go back to the castle with Callum to make sure Harrow is okay, he chooses the egg. Soooooooo….🤷🏼‍♀️

For sure, Callum desires to do the right thing above all else. While Rayla tells him to do the right thing when faced between her an the greater good, what's notable is that Callum has never actually sacrificed the greater good for Rayla. Of course, Rayla fears this could happen in the future, but every time Callum has used Dark Magic, there was no "greater good" that was sacrificed to make that happen. Indeed, TDP is a show that is pretty skeptical about separating the One from the Many, where the "greater good" has to be served atop the bodies of the Few or even the One.

That actually makes whatever Callum does in s7 all the more interesting, and why Rayla's phrasing of "Do the Right Thing" (rather than just straight-up telling him to choose the greater good) is so apt. Callum cannot sacrifice the greater good for Rayla next season, or else they all lose, but if he sacrifices Rayla for the greater good (i.e. lets her die in exchange for stopping Aaravos), then it's no different than had he - for instance - carved out a Titan's heart to cast a spell that saved thousands of lives. He loses the moral high ground anyway.

In short, to win, Callum has to figure out a way to choose both.

[thethiefthecobbler]

Thoughts on the Rayla/Aaravos foil relationship?

Wait, is that a thing? Do people really see them like that?

I mean, I guess when we all thought Aaravos was banished just like Rayla, we had a point of comparison, but now that this appears to not be the case, I really don't see what overlap they could possibly have.

Claudia is probably the closest thing to a foil to Aaravos - just as Aaravos is a father who lost his daughter, Claudia is a daughter who lost her father. And both have had their love for their loved ones twisted into a pursuit for revenge (which presumably is all that Claudia has driving her at this juncture).

Next I think is Callum - pretty natural to compare the only two mages who have mastered multiple primal sources, where one possesses a key that belongs to the other. Aaravos having the centerpiece to his heart missing and filled with darkness, contrasting with Callum's inner darkness being held back by the light of his innermost truth. Callum is driven by Love, Aaravos is driven by Love that then got twisted to Revenge. Poetic cinema.