vix/nadia

So, as we all know, Janus has joined the light sides. He’s going to want to make it seem like they made the right decision letting him in, since his acceptance made Roman leave. 

So what will he change it to?

Ethan

Why is he changing it, and why to Ethan?

1. The connotations of Janus

In case you don’t already know, Janus is a two-faced Roman god of doorways, transitions, beginnings, and endings. One head looked into the past, the other toward the future. The implications that two-faced brings about wouldn’t help Janus’s case to become more of a light side, so he’d want to change it. The name Ethan also follows the traditional naming conventions of the light sides (PattON, RomAN, LogAN) and would showcase him in a transition, a new beginning (as his original name suggested he represented). It would show his allegiance to the light sides and help them be convinced they made the right choice. If he’s willing to change his name to gain our trust, he must be trustworthy, right?

2. Ethos, pathos, logos

One of the most popular fan names for Janus (and one I had been convinced of) was Ethan, because it helped complete the ethos, pathos, logos trinity that Logan and Patton had started. Ethos, pathos, logos refers to different types of argumentative speaking used in speeches and debates (it’s quite effective in my experience). Ethos is convincing the audience you know what you’re saying, pathos is using emotions to drive your point, and logos is using facts and logic to back up your words. This makes sense in the context of Sanders Sides. Janus always wants to seem like he has authority on the subject and is qualified to speak, Patton constantly uses his emotions and kindness to convince (both these shown in SvS), and Logan always uses people or studies to prove his points (Yerkes-Dodson Curve anyone?). It all fits. But, what I, and many others, forgot to consider, however, was the fact that all the dark side names from that point on ended with -US, not -*vowel*N (like Virgilius/Remus). Since Deceit was a dark side, he couldn’t have a name ending with -AN. This all changes as of the recent episode since he’s now a light side. The above can be applied to him now.

Okay great, you’re saying. If Janus can change his name, why didn’t Virgil? He desperately wants to be considered a light side and to distance himself from Janus and Remus. 

I hear you, and I’ve got an explanation. 

Virgil never thought about changing his name. He thinks that cutting off the -IUS is distance enough. It doesn’t sound like he’s a dark side, or ever was, unless you know his full name in the context of ancient Greece (little side note, I love how all their names are connected to Greek and Roman mythology. I’m a huge classics nerd and it makes me happy). 

All this to say, he’ll be in the episode where Janus changes his name. Remus might too. Possibly even Roman shows up. What would they think?

Virgil: He’ll be confused about how Janus can just, you know, change his entire name, just to seem allegiant to the light sides. He’s never even thought about doing that before. He thought shortening his name would help distance himself from his past, but all it did was make it so that he would never belong on either side. No name ends with -IL. He’s going to spiral, think he’s not really as good as he thought. If the light sides can accept Janus with all his scheming and lies (because he still thinks of Janus as a liar), what does that say about his character? Is he any better than Janus? Maybe he goes to comfort Remus and sees how upset he is. Maybe he joins back with him, goes back to his original name, Virgilius. Maybe in the gamble Janus made to join the light sides, Virgil has gone back to the dark.

Remus: We never see his reaction to Janus joining up with the light sides, but I’m pretty sure he’d be crushed. Virgil already left, now Janus? He’s going to be sad, confused, upset (heartbroken? I’m a big dukeceit shipper), wondering what he did to warrant this. He’s going to be furious when Janus changes his name. It’s the ultimate betrayal to him. Now he’s all alone. Or, at least he was for a while. Until Virgil joins him.

Roman: Roman isn’t going to be convinced in the slightest. He’s going to think that it’s just a bold move to gain their trust, only for Janus to attack and hurt them and Thomas. It’s too big of a gesture. he tells himself. If he wanted our trust, he would prove it to us normally. Not like this. He’s not going to understand how Patton and Logan can just trust him after their history. He’s going to storm off when they won’t listen to him. He’s going to go to Virgil’s room because he knows that Virgil wouldn’t buy the story of “I want to prove my trustworthiness hahahaha”. But Virgil is gone. Roman is alone, with no one to believe his accusations, whether they end up correct or not.  

STEVE BLACKMAN JUST POSTED THIS TO HIS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

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