From a different perspective...
Dec 10, 2016 0:46:14 GMT -5
kinkajou, Sootfeather, and 4 more like this
Post by ✶Jaysong✶ on Dec 10, 2016 0:46:14 GMT -5
"Ashfur only ever tried to love, and no-one can blame him after his mother was killed by Tigerstar, then Tigerstar's son gets Squirrelflight instead of him."
Good Lord I can't even say how much this infuriates me. And not just because I dislike Ashfur and feel this is incorrect, but because it demeans his character development as well. And as a writer, this is a terrible thing to do.
Now don't let me scare you off. This isn't an Ashfur rant, this is more directed at the writer of the comment.
Don't get me wrong, I DESPISE Ashfur--but that also means he is an effective villain. The writers did their job--they created an unexpected villain that I don't think anybody saw coming. He was cruel and deceptive and ultimately the polar opposite of what we saw he COULD be with Squirrelflight.
An important rule of writing: "A villain is just a character whose story has yet to be told".
This was semi true for Ashfur. His story had already been told, but I don't think anyone expected something that extreme would come from heart break. He harbored it in his soul, hid it away, put on an act, let it grow and fester... and when it finally unleashes on Squirrelflight and the Three it's absolutely terrifying. Ashfur didn't have love with Squirrelflight-- he had a fleeting flirtation that made him feel important. Made him feel special that Squirrelflight had chosen him over Brambleclaw, the son of a traitor and undoubtedly a great and loyal warrior. He thought it was love, maybe Squirrelflight did too, whatever it was, it wasn't going to last. Ashfur wasn't a toy--he was a steady constant, a comfort for Squirrelflight when she needed him. Ashfur saw Squirrelflight as a chance to love, not his actual love. He saw her as a chance to be loved in turn, and, maybe even exact indirect revenge on Brambleclaw for what his father did. That may be stretching it a bit. Anyways.
A villain is great because even after you see their tragic backstory, you don't sympathize. Because you see them now, for who they are. Who they became--because they chose to react the wrong way to their tragedy. Ashfur reacted the wrong way. Even if I'm wrong in saying he never really loved Squirrelflight, even if he did, it's not a valid reason to react the way he did. Would a true lover let hate fester until he blackmails and tries to kill his former lover and her kits? Or would a true lover let his loved one go, putting their happiness ahead of their own? Love is sacrifice. Ashfur exhibited no sacrifice when he tried to harm Squirrelflight. He was selfish. Evil. Vengeful.
Next, Ashfur undoubtedly harbored hate towards Tigerstar for killing his mother. But that is no reason to take it out on Brambleclaw. If Ashfur judged Bramble off of what his father did, it's only natural to assume he could have looked at Squirrel, judging her off of Firestar. This shouldn't be, obviously, but it is at least slightly implied. Plus, I don't see how it's relevant to the fact that Brambleclaw got Squirrelflight. If we're going by this logic, Ashfur was in love with Firestar, sot Squirrelflight.
In the end, all of these characteristics-- vengeance, sense of self importance which is later swiped away, selfishness-- made up for a very hateable villain. Ashfur is beyond reason, and definitely not my favorite character, but from a creative stand point he was a complex, hard to navigate character. He wasn't the best villain, but he was an interesting side villain to add emphasis to the main plot twist.
Ashfur wasn't a good cat. Period. But he was a good villain. And trying to justify what he did is not only an annoying and weak defense of his crimes, but it makes him look weaker too. It takes away plot importance and demeans the actual good part of his character--hs involvement in the plot. I repeat, that entire comment is baseless and, in my opinion, untrue. But it's also adding insult to injury by taking away Ashfur's purpose.
I hope you enjoyed my Ashfur Plot Involvement Rant from a different perspective.
(Drops Mic)
Good Lord I can't even say how much this infuriates me. And not just because I dislike Ashfur and feel this is incorrect, but because it demeans his character development as well. And as a writer, this is a terrible thing to do.
Now don't let me scare you off. This isn't an Ashfur rant, this is more directed at the writer of the comment.
Don't get me wrong, I DESPISE Ashfur--but that also means he is an effective villain. The writers did their job--they created an unexpected villain that I don't think anybody saw coming. He was cruel and deceptive and ultimately the polar opposite of what we saw he COULD be with Squirrelflight.
An important rule of writing: "A villain is just a character whose story has yet to be told".
This was semi true for Ashfur. His story had already been told, but I don't think anyone expected something that extreme would come from heart break. He harbored it in his soul, hid it away, put on an act, let it grow and fester... and when it finally unleashes on Squirrelflight and the Three it's absolutely terrifying. Ashfur didn't have love with Squirrelflight-- he had a fleeting flirtation that made him feel important. Made him feel special that Squirrelflight had chosen him over Brambleclaw, the son of a traitor and undoubtedly a great and loyal warrior. He thought it was love, maybe Squirrelflight did too, whatever it was, it wasn't going to last. Ashfur wasn't a toy--he was a steady constant, a comfort for Squirrelflight when she needed him. Ashfur saw Squirrelflight as a chance to love, not his actual love. He saw her as a chance to be loved in turn, and, maybe even exact indirect revenge on Brambleclaw for what his father did. That may be stretching it a bit. Anyways.
A villain is great because even after you see their tragic backstory, you don't sympathize. Because you see them now, for who they are. Who they became--because they chose to react the wrong way to their tragedy. Ashfur reacted the wrong way. Even if I'm wrong in saying he never really loved Squirrelflight, even if he did, it's not a valid reason to react the way he did. Would a true lover let hate fester until he blackmails and tries to kill his former lover and her kits? Or would a true lover let his loved one go, putting their happiness ahead of their own? Love is sacrifice. Ashfur exhibited no sacrifice when he tried to harm Squirrelflight. He was selfish. Evil. Vengeful.
Next, Ashfur undoubtedly harbored hate towards Tigerstar for killing his mother. But that is no reason to take it out on Brambleclaw. If Ashfur judged Bramble off of what his father did, it's only natural to assume he could have looked at Squirrel, judging her off of Firestar. This shouldn't be, obviously, but it is at least slightly implied. Plus, I don't see how it's relevant to the fact that Brambleclaw got Squirrelflight. If we're going by this logic, Ashfur was in love with Firestar, sot Squirrelflight.
In the end, all of these characteristics-- vengeance, sense of self importance which is later swiped away, selfishness-- made up for a very hateable villain. Ashfur is beyond reason, and definitely not my favorite character, but from a creative stand point he was a complex, hard to navigate character. He wasn't the best villain, but he was an interesting side villain to add emphasis to the main plot twist.
Ashfur wasn't a good cat. Period. But he was a good villain. And trying to justify what he did is not only an annoying and weak defense of his crimes, but it makes him look weaker too. It takes away plot importance and demeans the actual good part of his character--hs involvement in the plot. I repeat, that entire comment is baseless and, in my opinion, untrue. But it's also adding insult to injury by taking away Ashfur's purpose.
I hope you enjoyed my Ashfur Plot Involvement Rant from a different perspective.
(Drops Mic)