#ava jansen

I think there's aspects about it that are very interesting to explore, but the way the narrative treats the whole thing is where my problems with it lie. They gloss over how fucked up the whole thing is, and even treat it as a good thing bc it saved everyone (as stated by Caltheris)

Like Grey being driven to do things she wouldn't do otherwise (morally or just a lack of want, both in this case) out of grief and a desire to preserve some part of Sam is REALLY interesting. This idea that even someone as kind, loyal, and somewhat naive as Grey could be driven to do questionable if not outright terrible things bc of her love for another and the grief they feel at their loss, IS an interesting direction for her character. And I think it could also draw some interesting parallels between her and Eddie, since bringing back Mary and Samuel is his entire reasoning for everything he does

I think MW3 had at least some acknowledgment through Ava when she learned the truth about how messed up the whole thing is. And with the context of Eddie taking Sam's eggs without her consent (I don't think there's any situation where it could have been truly consensual), it IS very messed up. What he did to her was medical rape. Medical rape that likely occurred during a period of time she was locked up and isolated from everyone else and being tortured. She was in a situation where true consent would not have been possible

Some of the dialogue in Bo7 where Grey asks about Ava is really bittersweet (in a vaccum), but with the added context behind it, it leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. Not just the Sam's trauma related aspects, but also after hearing the line where before learning more about Ava, Grey straight up says she doesn't want to be a mother and doesn't ever want kids. They don't even like. Build up to her changing her mind or deciding she "has" to do this on her own terms. It kinda feels like she was just pressured into accepting it by Caltheris pushing this on her so much

I don't mind the idea of it, but it's not well executed. I don't think it could ever be fully fixed (if we go the pregnancy/IVF route specifically, I'll expand on this), but I have some ideas on how this could be made less shitty

The first approach is to treat the subject with the nuance it deserves rather than treating it as good. It's messed up on literally everyone but Samantha's part, and arguably Ravenov's. Grey for wanting to do this despite knowing how the eggs were acquired, everyone in team ex-Requeim for not questioning this and going along with it, Eddie for stealing Sam's eggs in the first place, and the Shadowsmiths, but especially Caltheris, for pushing this to happen so much. The narrative needs to acknowledge that this is wrong and that the good that came out of Ava being born doesn't undo that fact

The other idea is to have Sam be brought back by the end of Bo7 but unable to leave the Dark Aether so she can at least like. Agree to the whole thing. Like, I don't think it'd make it much better bc in the end, the eggs were taken against her will, but at least she could have a say in what happens with them. Maybe even have Ava be HER idea instead of (presumably) Grey and the other Requeim members

But those ideas are if we stick with the pregnancy/IVF route. Which brings me to my last idea

Just have Ava be born from the Dark Aether itself. Have her be made from a part of Samantha that lingers in the Dark Aether, or maybe even a manifestation of Samantha's memories of/love for Grey and/or Grey's love for Samantha. Its clear she's seen as Grey and Samantha's daughter rather than just Sam's daughter, so why not just go all in with that idea?? A lot of crazy shit already happens in CoDZ, is a baby made from the Dark Aether really that far out?? Maybe, but I'd take it over what we got regardless