#deepotsav

Because when you think about it, Rian’s character is all about weight. The weight of his father’s reputation, the weight of truth, the weight of responsibility and the weight of loss, grief, symbolized by the essence vial he keeps carrying. As Alice Dinnean said in her interview, he starts off as a spoiled kid. He was at the core of society, but unlike Brea, he didn't question anything. He took everything for granted. But he got the biggest slap on the face ever, and he grew up very quickly afterwards. Even if he still takes dumb decisions and is very very flawed, I love how he has a very mature mindset after being listed as a fugitive. He is a victim of his people's fear and ignorance, but what is truly inspiring is how he forgives and kind of understands them, he is more sad than angry about it all. It seems like seing his loved ones dying opened his eyes about Gelfling’s vulnerability and, deep down, his own. The truth can easily die with him. I had the pleasure to have a chat with Neil at the Great Con Junction (Dark Crystal’s first convention), and he said that he portrayed Rian as a character who has more growth in his heart than in his fighting strength. And it shows ! He gains more empathy and humility. We can see his movements getting slower and heavier like all this weight is literally accumulating on his shoulders, and at the same time these movements are gentler, more careful. I don’t know if it’s only Neil getting better at his portrayal or if it was made on purpose, but as he said we can easily project things on puppets.

(There was a poll) As my favorite Rian moment, I chose the group dreamfast scene in episode 4 because even if it happens a bit fast, it encapsulates that evolution the best. Rian convinced Kylan, Tavra and Naia to dreamfast with him, thanks to his sincerity and explaining calmly the truth. Dreamfasting is for me the ultimate form of empathy. A communication without any words, only memories and feelings. Reliving Mira’s death over and over again is seen as a torture for Rian by some viewers, but I saw it as a chance to heal. For the first time after dreamfasting with Gurjin, a weight is lifted from his heart and shared. He has his father with him, and new allies, he is able to cry and they are all crying with him. Rian is still very young. He is deep down a frightened Gelfling in a twisted world, running for his life. He lost practically everything and is searching for new foundations. He needs help, he needs others and he knows it. He found what he wanted in Brea and Deet. He rely on them but is overprotective and extremely worried if something happens to them, because the weight of his losses is still there. He acts this way mainly with Deet. I know that it’s pretty controversial, but I love their relationship. Deet is not Mira, and they are not officially a couple yet ! For me when they are together, they’re in a bubble of solace. They can be themselves, Deet can put down her happy face and show her sorrow and homesickness, and Rian can put down his brave face and show his doubts and vulnerability. One lifts the other up, and they give each other that precious hope powering the resistance. Now that he lost her too, all that weight is falling on him again. Will he go after her and not run away again ? Or would it be the time to properly mourn his losses ?