Controversial opinion, but I LOVE Klaine ss4 breakup arc.
It may start with lousy writing for how Blaine cheat, and gives the shipdom the darkest period of their life or whatever. But narrative-wise, it does A LOT of good.
Why? Because THE ANGST is so good
Like, I genuinely impressed how good and heartache they manage to convey during this Klangst period. Thanks God for Gl** * to able to show this as well as an angst fic should be if it's on television.
I really appreciate how Klaine can jump from different types of dynamics: from fairytale at ss2; to diabetic highschool sweethearts at ss3; and then hot and angsty exes at ss4; (then stressful growing-up couples at ss5b; then reassuring married couple at ss6). I think this period is such a good oportunity for writers to explore this hot aspect of dynamics, so whoever decides to make the ss4 breakup arc, THANK YOU!
Ok, now I'm going to get serious, bare with me.
1. The debatably perfect start of Blaine Anderson character exploration
Him destroying his prince charming facade in one swift decision (ch**ting) while still make the audience able to forgive him well, most audiences is kinda brilliant. Fans have said this over and over again, but after that breakup, the story starts making him a real boy.
2. Good Redemption Arc CHECKED
Any Blaine bias agree that season 4 is Blaine's season. It goes beats by beats with the redemption arc well, and his character explorations get tagged along nicely.
- Establish the Character's Flaws: the breakup, duh. Show us his worst flaw (impulsive, self-sabotage, emotionally dependent to a point?, etc.), then providing context and making him relatable so that we can forgive him.
- Confront the Consequences: him struggling up and down after the breakups is great - story-wise I mean. Confronting his habit of running away (Dynamic Duo), learning to express his feelings more, even the uglier parts (with Sam and Tina), making real friends on his own (not just with Sam, Tina, Artie but also the whole ss4 newbies.)
- The Turning Point: Rewatch ss4 most recently and I have an opinion: Blaine was fluctuating between being sad and being happy before "I do" (like even his crush on Sam seems sad and teenager angst-y) VS after "I Do," he seems much happier (and unhinged). He's even acting a little ridiculously and openly about his crush on Sam. There is a reason(s).
- Changed Behavior: he definitely changes around season 4, or as the fandom claims "personality transplant'. bUT I genuinely think his "new" personalities are the extension of his ss2 personalities.
And anyone who genuinely insists that Blaine will cheat again: It's already shown (as in show not tell) that Blaine regrets it, with a long-assed arc to show he regrets it and that he changes himself for the better.
3. Klaine Development Arc 1 CHECKED - The theme? "Will you love me, even with my dark side"
I've read a few posts explaining that Blaine wants everybody to like him, therefore he doesn't want to show his flawed side. But his deepest desire is actually for people who matters to love him for who he is, even the worst parts of himself. And it first establishes very well with him singing Dark Side with the Warbler.
- One problem though, the Delusion of forgiveness: he sings the song in front of all the people who always absolutely adores him for his perfect facade and talents, who barely know what he did and even if they do, they feel the bare minimum burn of Blaine's "dark side" because they don't actually know Kurt or even cares about him.
So Blaine barely confronts the consequence of his action by singing this. He is just venting to strangers and want to run away again.
- But then, Real forgiveness: Sam and some of the ND, who are Kurt's friends. They somewhat feel the burns of Blaine's actions, Sam even outright says it's a terrible thing to do. But then confirms that it doesn't make them see him as anything less than a friend. They forgive and love him as a friend, even with his dark side.
- And then, The Ultimate Forgiveness: The Thanksgiving Phone call - omg, THE THANKSGIVING PHONECALL. Even at this point, Kurt is still feeling freshly hurt by Blaine's actions, but decides to call Blaine anyway. Not just to accept Blaine's apology, but to be absolutely honest with Blaine: that he believes Blaine's explanations why he cheats; that he WANTS to forgive him but he's just not completely there YET; and finally, to tell Blaine that he still loves him.
Kurt - without any context about what happened in Dynamic Duo or about Blaine singing Dark side - fulfills Blaine's deepest desire, without Blaine having to tell him point-blank so. Kurt - having seen Blaine's darkest side and bares the worst burn of Blaine's actions - decisively tells Blaine that he still loves him, even with his dark sides! And even better, Kurt is shown to still internally craves the future life they've planned together, even long after the breakup on much later episode (in his daydreaming about Come What May.)
Goodassed storyarc I'm telling you
4. Klaine Development Arc 2 CHECKED - Actual Growth
For someone who is anxious about the possibility of Kurt moving on once he's in NY, Blaine has to deal with the experience for real after being the one who did the final blown that basically forces Kurt to move on. Which is amusing, on narrative aspect, but it is also what the whole “self-sabotaging” is about.
Though, it is not a bad thing, storytelling wise. Blaine learns to live and deal with the fact that Kurt's (seemingly) moving on at NY and eventually being okay with not being a part of it till the end of the season - if that isn't a sign of growth, I don't know what is.
And now, how Kurt and Blaine grow together during this Arc:
- Blaine learns to expresses himself more and lets go of his prince-charming facade (to an extense) >< Kurt finally learns the full extension of Blaine's internal problems and decides he will love him anyway .
- Blaine weirdly firmly believes in their love and their future despite Kurt outwardly says they are just friends (because his body languages wholly say otherwise) >< Kurt slowly but genuinely accepts Blaine's touches again (like, very awkwardly on Christmas than to whatever the hell is 04x14 to friendly-flirty in Wonderful)
-Blaine learns to accept his own flaws and his uglier emotions and feelings (about his misery being without Kurt and about their Breakup, about "ugly" unrequired crush for his straight friends, etc... And I believe this extends to his "ugly" behaviors in Tested, when he has to voice them out during their fights >< Kurt learns to accept that being hurt by people you love is a part of life by singing Being Alive in Swansong "incidentally" right after being hurt by the love of your life and after you deciding to forgive him *nudge nudge wink wink*
So in conclusion: Blaine finally shows his darkest side to Kurt, the worst thing he can do to Kurt (and regrets it ofc) and that Kurt is able to find himself forgiving Blaine, is actually the first growing up step for their relationship, in my opinions.
the second step is actually the ss6 breakup, one that I will not get into in this post but I will let you know, I think it mirrors the ss4 arc somewhat points by points.
Blaine has been constantly showing to be a perfect, dutiful boyfriend who can be, uhm, disloyal in the moment of weakness - and because Kurt loves him anyway despite it, and that Blaine is willing to change himself for Kurt and their relationship, I think this arc is a good step forward - in the narrative points ;) Unfortunately for them, it's not the final step - but it is a good start and a good development.
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