Observelor

For Natalie is such a stable teen despite her upbringing, in the wilderness. Lottie is the opposite, and I know that’s apart of her mental health.

The pull between them in character design is irrefutable, profit vs non-believer.

Now I care less about if they are romantic or platonic (although I hope the former). The fundamental design is that they are mirrors, but not completely, it’s almost like it shifts each timeline.

Teen pre-crash, they are struggling with home life and mental health, Lottie deals with it by being in the background of social circles (head cannon). Natalie deals with her situation the best she can by numbing out. These two dynamics are very reflective of their home situation.

Teen wilderness. Natalie becomes more stable and even the leader, after such is required of her. Lottie looses her grip of reality and clings to other thrills they seek in the wilderness (similar to Natalie pre-crash)

Knight Rhaenyra spots Queen Alicent for the first time

But studies conducted in correlation towards schizophrenia, which Lottie Matthew’s has (presumably), is from high stress, genetics or childhood abuse (this is equally as predisposing as a genetic predisposition).

Realising this made me think just how low Lottie had to be in order for her schizophrenia to set in at such an early age.

Perhaps childhood abuse, not physical or sexual, but just general neglect set it in.

Even so, her smoking weed or anything would have worsened it, making Nat a bad influence perhaps — psychologically — despite Nat not knowing.

Again just rambling, but still can’t ignore just how much Lottie would have gone through, mentally, for a gene associated with schizophrenia to activate — especially if it came from a distant relative considering her parents don’t display any signs of the condition.