Red and Blue make Purple

Anonymous asked:

I keep seeing people saying Lotor is manipulating Allura, but there are absolutely no hints to that, and there are too many subtleties between them for me to think it’s fake. Like, we already know he can play people well, so I feel they would have put something in there for people to pick up on. The only possible example is with the lion in ep 6, but hat seems more his desires overwhelming his judgment and so his nature kicks in with the whole “victory or death”

professorpotato answered:

Oh I totally agree!! I think everyone is too harsh on Lotor, it’s been like that from the start. Let’s be real, we were all lowkey expecting him to betray team Voltron this season, but he proved us wrong and was very genuine. Like you said, they would have put something in there for us to be suspicious, like a smirk while no one is watching.

This season showed Lotor in a new light, it humanized him and the narrative is sympathetic. While I understand why people may think Lotor is manipulating Allura, I think it’s more that he’s constantly amazed and blown away by her. I think she will be his salvation, the light that stops him from going overboard like his father.

I also really like what @royalalteans said here:

@royalalteans: “This is so nicely put! If it’s alright, I wanted to add that it’s likely he doesn’t betray them, only because I think the idea is too cliche and overused. Plus, it’s an act that everyone is EXPECTING him to do so there’s a chance the writers don’t go that route (and like you said, why build up this great character arc only to fuck it up right?). Maybe Lotor gets framed somehow? We know Shiro is Haggar’s inside person and could use him to pit the paladins against Lotor or something? Who knows
But yeah, great thoughts and long live lotura lmao!”

People just can’t accept that he’s good, now. Why? I think the show is testing us, the viewers, now. Despite the show’s message that not all Galra are bad, how many people actually believe it? Lotor has done nothing wrong in s5 and there is still so much doubt for no reason.

The crew kept baiting us forever that Shiro’s gonna die, and by this point we’re pretty numb to it and we know it’s not gonna happen because of the way they’ve been dangling him around. If they did kill him off, we wouldn’t even believe it, and talk about anti-climactic. They keep teasing that Lotor is out for himself, he’s on his own side, Friend or Foe, and I think that was true up until this season.

They want us to doubt Lotor. They want us not to trust him and to be suspicious of him. That’s why you have stuff like this:

But then there’s this: There’s the trope that the narrative builds up suspicion against a character only to have them redeem themselves and show us just how wrong we were. And i think that’s what this season was about.

Lotor truly wants peace, they said in s3 that he let his controlled planets rule over themselves, so we know he isn’t lying to Allura when they talk about it. And before anyone says anything, Lotor was placed in charge over those planets by Zarkon, he had no say in the matter, particularly when it comes to freeing them, especially with what little support he had. So he did the next best thing; he worked alongside them and let them rule over themselves. Also, consider the fact that he told team Voltron about plans he didn’t even trust to tell his generals. He led them to an ancient, unlimited power source of quintessence. He gave them a weapon they can use against him.

As for episode 6, I don’t think Lotor did anything inherently wrong. He was raised his whole life, for centuries, the motto and lifestyle of Victory or Death. He was shamed for his Altean heritage but he gripped to it tightly anyway. He is so gracefully humble about this, and about being locked up by the paladins (and you just know he went there willingly). Lotor has only ever known combat to overcome trials, he was not taught the Altean way of ‘peace first’ that allowed Allura to pass the trial. Lotor had been chasing this legend for centuries, something people probably ridiculed him for if they found out (not that he told anyone, his generals didn’t even know what he was doing with Daibazaal) it was his dream. He was incredibly happy to go on this journey with Allura. He opened up to her, shared his trauma with her. He also never lost faith that Allura could help them succeed in this mission. So when he failed, it’s only natural he would be heartbroken that he lost his one chance. Is he supposed to be happy?? Is he supposed to just be okay with it? Imagine if you were so close to reaching your dream and you failed because of something that was out of your hands. Lotor can’t help that he was raised with this Galra mindset, he’s a victim of it. Lotor is good at hiding his feelings, yes, but I don’t think it’s out of malicious intent or to manipulate people, it’s to protect himself.

Lotor has had only himself to rely on his entire life, there’s no way he would lay his feelings bare for just anyone, let alone someone who was once his enemy. The reason is simple; he is genuine in this alliance. They even dedicated a good portion of the episode to the garrison trio having fun with the galra/sentries to help lighten the tension.

If this episode showed us anything, it’s that Lotor has more to learn, and that’s exactly what character development is all about. There isn’t anything wrong with it. This season, and episode 6 in particular, made us sympathize with him and his efforts on a whole new level. They are not trying to frame Lotor as a villain. The way Lotor was drawn this season was also so genuine with a wide variety of emotions. He’s never made so many expressions, especially soft ones, and they were all aimed at Allura.

Lotor didn’t fail the trial because he’s evil, he failed because he has more to learn. And even if he does turn on team Voltron, the focus will be on Lotor and Allura because of how much they’ve bonded, and ultimately, I believe she will convince him to come back to their side. Lotor and Allura are about how they can overcome their father’s paths, the parallel that good and peace will conquer.

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.