What if the Orange Side represents something not inherently perceived as bad to break the pattern with Janus and Remus and really drive home the fact that the whole split of "light" and "dark" and "good" and "bad" is all relative when they're all a part of Thomas-? Like deceit and intrusive thoughts (even though Janus and Remus do represents more than their titles) can instantly be labeled as bad but the Orange side helps them from that?
Hello! Thank you for sending in the ask. Typically itās me sending your AU asks:Ā my how the turns have tabled.Ā
Okay, I totally agree with you that the Dark Sides (Janus, Remus, Virgil) arenāt all objectively bad. They are contextually helpful in some scenarios, as weāve come to see in episodes like Accepting Anxiety and Putting Others First. Anxiety covers stuff like fear and can be useful when identifying a potential threat that could harm Thomas. Likewise, Deceit covers self-preservation which can lend itself to more positively viewed traits like self-care.Ā Ā
Iāve seen enough theories to really, thoroughly think about the Dark Sides, so while you donāt explicitly mention the term, I think itās important to discuss it. Canonically, the Dark Sides or āthe othersā refer toĀ āsides that have been hidden by Janus from Thomasā so when Virgil says he used to be a Dark Side, it means that he used to be hidden from Thomas by Janus. However, even if Virgil has been accepted into the main group, he is still technically a Dark Side ā at least in the view of the show. Heās grouped that way with Remus, Janus, and the Unknown side on the Putting Others First thumbnail. Whether or not that is the Orange Side as the Unknown, it is the most canonical reason we have for another side.Ā
The reason I say this is because Janus wouldāve had to hide the Orange Side for a purpose, him being something Thomas wasnāt ready to deal with yet. So, while I am open to having a side that isnāt on a first glance problematic, he kinda has to be in order to be a Dark Side. That brings me to the more Fanonical part of the Dark Sides. Typically, Dark Sides have on the surface negative traits, and I feel like that has sort of hampered the communityās theories a little bit.Ā
For instance, let us take popular fan theory, the Wrath Side. Wrath is often portrayed - rightfully so, to be honest - as destructive, angry, and full of negative energy. However, if I were to take a moreĀ āpositiveā spin on Wrath, the side could also be the embodiment of righteous anger. Sometimes bad things happen and itās okay to be upset about them, to not be complicit. All that matters is where that violence is being directed: are you punching down (at the oppressed, the victims) or are you punching up (at the oppressors, the powerful)? Like, I could very easily see this storyline being addressed in the show since it has a direct tie to Christianity, but it wouldnāt be the exact same as the lesson learned while in Intrusive Thoughts.Ā
In Intrusive Thoughts, it was about accepting that those feelings werenāt an honest reflection of who Thomas truly was, and that having those thoughts did not automatically make him a morally failed person. While here, it could be about embracing that anger, that energy for a good cause and utilizing that anger in a more constructive way, instead of just suppressing it or letting it fester silently beneath the surface. There are so many things to be rightfully angry at in the world right now, and itād be a neat lesson to learn about not only accepting that that anger is okay, but ways of dealing with such feelings.Ā
And that, in of itself, I personally believe could fulfill your theoryās requirements, especially since Thomas and Patton have just realized in Putting Others First that applying total moral objectivity to emotions and actions is not only difficult but harmful. If Thomas can accept that there are no Dark Sides, and just sides he has to get to know first and use properly, then he would definitely have a better sense of self.
...Thatās all I have to say on the matter. While itād be nice to have a new side that is at a glance unproblematic, I donāt personally think thatās very likely ā unless heās like a yandere side or something, and the more you get to know him, the more twisted he is, but that wouldnāt necessarily help your idea.
Regardless, this was a very interesting idea, and I loved playing with it. The world isnāt always black and white, thereās... nuance. If there's anything you felt like I skimmed over or didn't go into enough detail about, feel free to prompt me. Again, thanks for the ask!Ā Ā
