Lotor and Votron

My thoughts on Lotor from VLD as someone who hasn’t watched it in roughly 2 years-

    CW: I will mention serious topics such as racism among others. Do not read if this is a trigger for you!

So, I’m going to start off with a spoiler warning but to get into things I think he should’ve lived.

    His dynamic with the paladins was bound to be interesting/entertaining but also I think it could’ve positively impacted the characters of Allura and Keith particularly and provide commentary on things such as internalized racism, others resentment towards him based off of the actions of others (namely family), learning that forgiveness isn’t for the other persons peace of mind but your own, and also that people can change in time if they actually put in the work.

    I think it would’ve been interesting to have Allura unlearn her hatred of the Galrans through Lotor rather than Keith because we’ve known Lotor's race from the start, so she had that prejudice for him from the beginning whereas, Keith she knew and had a positive bias of.

I feel like him betraying them reinforced the idea that “all Galra are bad” and being that this is still a kids show I feel that the message sent was a bad one because it basically said to put people in boxes based on things they can’t control because they most likely fit.

Personally, I believe putting people in boxes like that dehumanizes them because in the moment they are a title/idea, not a person.

    I get that I might sound chronically online or that I’m reaching however fiction reflects reality and the parallels are apparent to me at least, for example: The stereotype that black people are aggressive and if they don’t seem so then they are putting up a front but they can be pushed to the point of “showing their true colors”. 

Another example I think suits this better is the notion that white people are generally are racist because of the actions of those who came before them.

While I as someone who is mixed with visibly black features who lives in a small town in redneck republican Texas, can understand the frustration of white people not acknowledging the how recent segregation and slavery ended and how rampant racism is today however, I hate the fact a loud minority of people blame the entirety of them for crimes of their predecessors.

I think that Allura’s relationship with the Galrans is a parallel to that situation and I believe that her and Lotor building up trust and a relationship platonic or romantic, over time would show the younger audience that we all aren’t so different after all in a way that doesn’t explain the issue directly, but shows kids how it plays out in everyday life in a digestible way.

   I feel his whole character is a missed opportunity and there’s a lot more I have to say about him + I’m not sure this post will get viewed but if it does lemme know if you wanna see me yap more about him and him and why I think he could help Keith understand what it means to him to  be Galra as well as redefine what it means to himself.

 I think he could be an example of forgiving but not forgetting.

I think he may never necessarily be their friend, but he can prove that he's changed and wants to help and become allies.

 This in my opinion, could've changed the ending even if by a little as well have him to confront the resentment I think he might feel towards his bloodline not just because he’s a part of the Galra, but also because he shares dna with a tyrant (his father) and how his perception of him changed once he didn't just know of his atrocities but witnessed them and the aftermath firsthand.

    Please remember I haven't seen this show in like 2 years but please give your opinions on Lotor, his story, the ending of Voltron (derogatory), Galra, what I might've missed, and how I can improve my writing! (Constructive criticism welcome) 

Thank you for coming to my ted talk    (⸝⸝ᵕᴗᵕ⸝⸝)