Talk:Varian/@comment-37232527-20181206062759

Warning this is looong, I apologize.

I actually like Varian as a Villain as well as a character, because he fits the mold of not suited for it. He’s sympathetic because we understand his true nature from before the “Queen for a Day” Episode and his anger while misdirected is understandable. He blames Rapunzel not for his fathers’ fate but for braking her promise and apparently, he was accused of attacking her so it can be assumed nobody else helped him and may have even resented him. With how he helped them or tried at least being loyal to Rapunzel initially.

I like how he becomes so unstable because a 14-year-old would go into such a state, when you consider his circumstance. Rapunzel has always shone to be competent kind and honest to her word and with her status it only makes sense he’d go to her for aid so then to be denied by her (Regardless of her legitimate circumstances) he became distraught and to have been told his circumstances weren’t important enough (By the advisor) and Rapunzel to not deny that he would come to see it as a betrayal. Which it was but not out of want or intentionally but by necessity for the people. He could take it as that the people of Corona are more important than of Old Corona (Him and his father) who were attempting to solve the Black Rock at her request.

It didn’t help that Rapunzel the current Queen at the time didn’t stop her guards from dragging him away when she could’ve but instead allowed him to be taken away (Albeit saying to be treated gently which by what was said of him wasn’t the case) The whole situation came down to not shades of black or white but grey and Rapunzel choose to pout her people first over a single friend which while it may be the right does not make it one without consequence.

To a boy of 14 who was as loyal as he who aided the princess and who was even on a first name basis with its understandable why her refusal (By actions not words) would shatter his belief in her. I don’t think he truly even blames her for his father’s fate, after all he repeatedly says it’s their fault and the like a lot. Almost as if to reaffirm it or push away his guilt. Rapunzel’s fault was in asking Varian to help her figure out the mystery of the Black Rock but it was obviously not with the intention of such happening her only true betrayal was not coming to his aid after giving her word.

To him the girl who’d help anyone and never broke her word did nothing for him and let him be taken away. The people of corona were saved that day at the cost of him receiving no aid and his father suffering for it. Varian was a boy who was abandoned for the better good and resented them for it with each failure to save his father he became more unstable as any child would in such a situation. Most teens won’t admit blame so neither would Varian when he was betrayed it would be easy for him to fully project the fault entirely on them. More over in Alchemist returns He even shows hesitance over leaving with the flower as brief as it is.

It only once he sees hears the doors and what I believe truly set him off Rapunzel’s promise that he decided. As far as he knew her words was useless and last time, he trusted it it cost him his father receiving no aid and succumbing to his fate. He didn’t run to betray her or for power or the like but instead because it was his chance to save the one, he holds dear. Ironically Rapunzel made a similar choice when she allowed him to be taken away prioritizing one thing over the other even if it wasn’t moral right.

Once more he doesn’t come off as truly evil, just lost in anger and spite over the obsession with freeing his father hating those who benefited for his suffer. (I.E. Those Rapunzel helped) Also while he clearly wants Corona to suffer, he prioritizes his father above that. If he were to succeed, I do believe it is quite possible his hate would vanish or at least become insignificant. (Unless his father who seems to be loyal to the crown looks at him as a traitor for his actions.)

I’d even go as far as to say if his father told him too, he would cease his hostility with the kingdom. After all when he failed too drill a hole with Rapunzel’s hair he was blatantly in despair not caring about his hate only his failure to save his family. It was only once he saw Rapunzel with her family who were saved on that day that he wished to kill them as in the mind of someone who suffered the loss of his father on that day it was a reminder that she’d lost nothing and he everything.

I don’t hate Rapunzel or Varian, in fact I really love their motives and conflict over the events brought this about as it seems realistic how it unfolded. Rapunzel was a girl forced into a position she was not yet ready for and had to sacrifice the few (Attempting to help Varian and his father) for the many (By virtue of not acting). She shows clear regret over these events and doesn’t show to hate Varian and even appear sympathetic and guilty for her choice. Varian on the other hand was a boy who was for all intents and purposes was turned away by his friend, queen and country who he strived to aid when he needed them most. His turn towards anger and hate is understandable and his prioritizing his father and freeing him over said hate and willing to become the bad guy (admitting it in ‘As Ready as I’ll Ever Be’) to free him is actually admirable and even are I say respectable if only in the sense of his determination to do so even at the cost of his morality.

Rarely is the world so black white and the hero and villain so obvious… what truly pitiful is that Varian was willing to become the villain, so he could save his father. This is why I fell he doesn’t make a good villain but instead a sympathetic one.

Sorry for the long rant, and to those of you who read the entire thing I would really love your feedback. I thank you and apologize.