thanotaphobiai literally screamed out loud abt keith ok i sCREAMED
While I do think that Season 2 was severely lacking in Lance moments (growth OR otherwise), I actually think there was some telling stuff in episode 2, and I want to talk about that really quickly.
Once Hunk becomes brainwashed by the Queen, it’s pretty clear to everyone involved that Lance really is the only hope on stopping this whole brainwashing business from tearing the entire civilization apart. It’s clear to the rebel mermaids, and it’s very clear to the queen and her assistants (otherwise they wouldn’t be so nervous about him frolicking about on his own).
Well.
It’s clear to everyone except for Lance.
I mean, look at this. They’re all confident that Lance has what it takes to stop the Queen, but Lance literally has no clue what they’re talking about. Every time they mention him being their hero, he doesn’t respond with his usual cocky bravado or some snarky remark about how he totally is the hero - he’s shocked and confused. Why would they think that of him? Up to this point it’s been snarky remarks from the Voltron team about Lance’s incompetence and snarkiness. No one has really gone out of their way to reassure him that he’s a good paladin. It’s clear that Lance doesn’t have the confidence in himself that the mermaids have in him.
He just keeps denying it and questioning it. He’s not turning them down - he just doesn’t understand why they want to rely on him. He’s confused that anyone would want anything from him. He’s not eager to help these people, or show off his awesome skills - without his Voltron family around to force him to put up his cocky facade, he shows his real self; scared, insecure, and very doubtful of himself.
Of course, as we know, Lance then goes on to kick butt and get his well-earned mermaid kiss. But I wanted to point out this moment because it’s a very subtle thing that the writers did that I quite liked. Stick him in front of his friends, and of coruse he’s going to be the comic relief - but isolate him and put him in a situation where he actually has to be the hero, and all of his insecurities start boiling over.
bittenred
ruinedchildhood