Alright euhh lets start this off with the obvious statements that opinions can differ. This is just my opinion. And that none of this is intended in any rude way^^. We might simply be in disagreement and interpert the text differently. As is the way of the world.
I am also not disagreeing with everything. Rather the overall sentiment and words that were left out.^^
So first lets quickly go over my expertise; mystreet Garroth.
I agree he was selfish in pdh! Tho Laurance also kissed aph and then told Aphmau not to tell Garroth. So they are both sneaky about it. Singling out Garroth is kinda odd. Though tbf Laurance did vocalise his feelings while Garroth did less. But that doesn't rlly matter. Mystreet Garroth grows from this and is not defined by his teenage self. And has apologised to Aphmau about his past actions.
(its also kinda odd to compare pdh Garroth (a teenager) to mcd Laurance (an adult) in this, but we carry on)
While this was not mentioned in this post, in mss4 Zane does call mys Garroth selfish, and calls out the way Garroth hasn't been noticing how his actions made him feel. Upon which Garroth immediately sets out to change. And in mss6 Garroth has quite selfless characteristics, like immediately offering to sacrifice himself. Immediately trying to calm down Aaron him upon seeing Ein, so much a forgetting himself. Immediately forgiving Aaron and only blaming himself for what happened. Aswell as actively hiding the ways he has been struggling in order to keep up a brave face for others.
All this together paints mys Garroth as a character who primarily unintentionally does selfish things from time to time, often struggling to understand the way his actions affect others. But deeply caring about others and not wanting to hurt them, always trying his best to better himself after he realises his mistakes. Aswell as holding countless selfless qualities aswell, that really shine through in the later seasons.
Now mcd Garroth is where things get shakier and more up for interpertation but oh well!
Firstly,, why I included Crows tags.
In the nicest way possible. I kind of dislike the way Garroth running away from his abusive home is viewed as something that inherently makes him selfish and an asshole, and that people [not just you I have seen MANY do this] refer to that rather then using his other actions to point out. Mcd Garroth comes from an abusive household and probably never got to choose himself and always had to choose his parent's wants and needs, and then choses himself once by running away. I doubt anything would be better had he stayed, things would probably be worse. And I cannot blame someone in an abusive situation for leaving. But it is a self serving act, that's true. I just personally empathise with him far too much in this too ever blame him or anyone else in his situation for that.
I do agree that there is a level of selfishness in a few of mcd Garroth's actions that GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING HE WANTS TO STAND FOR. I think that is key.
Emphasis on that. It goes against what he wants to stand for and he tries to go against it and heavily shames himself for it hoping this will make himself grow rather then giving himself patience and understanding. Garroth always tries to be good.
Garroth is also not without his care for others. His deep heavy invested care that goes so deep that he was incapable of fighting back against Zenix. Laurance even says Garroth cares too much.
So then the betrayal comes along. Soooo-- imo that was not just about love, rather how upset he was at the idea of Laurance and Aphmau going behind his back and not trusting him. This is an instance of him caring too much, being too sensitive behind the helmet. He was hurt upon this, because of how much he emotionally invested into them. Because of how much he trusts them. My proof? If you look at what Garroth says during the betrayal, he always emphasises this going behins his back and falling for their lies.
Lillian used Garroth's sadness and fears to her advantage to manipulate him into joining her and Zane. Lillian's manipulation is key, Garroth was just sad and miserable before she enabled his insecure paranoid thinking and used it to manipulate him onto his brothers side.
Garroth messes up with the betrayal, but in my opinion the betrayal isn't Garroth unwilling to let Aphmau go romantically. Mcd Garroth never seems to expect to even have a shot in the first place. I think it is about Garroth's incapability of opening up about his emotions to Aphmau and Laurance. And how bottling up and running away from your feelings and shaming yourself for them show up in destructive ways. How Garroth's way of coping isn't self-sufficient nor healthy.
But I personally think that to just call Garroth selfish does a disservice to him. And doesn't aknowledge his kindness and care.
After all, Garroth isn't always nice, but he is always kind.
Atleast that is how I feel^^
