#ember labs

(Curse Tumblr Mobile's 10 images per post limit)

I know that a lot of people have been upset about the lion switch, saying that it seems out of line with what they expected from the show, or that the lions or paladins were mischaracterized with who they ended up with (especially in regards to Allura who a lot of people wanted to see in Black) or that it was done in a way that was emotionally painful or damaging to the paladins (I'm looking at Lance and Blue's split here, but my thoughts on that are on a different post - one I'll link when I get home and not on mobile). I know a lot of us are disappointed or upset, but I think the seat change was actually handled well and very important, despite how cheated some of us feel with the lack of Black Paladin Allura (or even Red Paladin Allura, I've seen that floating around too). A lot of people have been saying it feels forced too, but I'd like to remind everyone that the lion switch has been foreshadowed since episode one when Shiro and Keith share Black and Lance and Keith share Red,, so we've known it was coming so nice the literal start of it all. (I think Lance's head was also briefly in Black's shot and if that's the case I suspect we'll get a little bit of Black Paladin Lance too, but don't quote me on that because I need to re-watch.) And I think everyone of in the lions that will help them most to grow right now - Lance /does/ have Red Paladin traits, he is impulsive and agile and quick, but he thinks things through better even when working on the fly. He's a rapid strategist, which is what a Voltron led by Keith needs. Someone who can keep up with Keith, keep him checked, and solve their way through the next mess the face while Keith is decisive enough to keep them moving forward. Also being a right hand man will really boost Lance's self esteem once he accepts that he's really meant to be there. Keith needs to learn to rely on others more and being the head dependent on the rest and of the body for all mobility despite making decisions, is exactly the way to make him do that. He had no choice but to learn to truly be a team and think with others rather than charging ahead. Allura is brilliant but she's also stubborn, and really biased against anyone with Galra blood. She's uncompromising and often unforgiving until someone drags her back and points out things like, hey, Keith and the Blade aren't awful for their bloodlines. Blue is the most forgiving and accepting lion. Blue requires that her Paladin be flexible and accepting. Blue wouldn't work with Allura until Allura stopped ordering Blue around and instead asked for help. Until Allura was ready to work together rather than commanding. When breaking down everyone's roles Pidge didn't say Allura was a leader, they said Allura told them what to do or where to go - that's not the same thing. Leaders need to be willing to compromise at times, and they need to be open to multiple options. Until Allura can be at free flowing and open as Blue she cannot lead to her fullest ability. Without the lessons Blue will teach her she's run the risk of being too hot headed and veering towards hateful of all Galra. She needs her fire tempered with water lest she run the risk of falling into Empress Allura. That's why we got that flash. Keith needs his fire checked by Lance's reasoning. He also needs his loner nature broken by the necessity that being a central price requires - a head is nothing without the body around it. Lance needs his insecurities bolstered by Red's confidence, but he also needs to be there to balance Keith out. And Allura needs to learn temperance which Blue is the best candidate to help teach her. They are all exactly where they need to be. I know it seems painful right now, and some of the handoffs haven't been ideal (in fact, none of them have been - the switch was jarring and I think it affected all of them in a negative emotional way) but it's necessary, and change and development can hurt sometimes. That's why we call them growing pains. So I think we need to have some faith in the writers, and trust their placement of these three, because I really do think this is where they need to be right now.

Look he's just sitting there look at him what a lad