My problems with the Apects (and a minor talk on the void)
Well, I think i have made my point very clear about targon. But there is one last thing that I need to let out., the second largest problem i have the Targon; the aspects. I've gone into detail with them in My problems with new!Taric, but I thought I might go into depth with them.
Let's start with Pantheon, he paints a very poor picture of the rest of his kind. Pantheon removed Atreus from his mortal body, and now works for targon. He also is the one in charge of overseeing Sol whenever they need him to blow something up. Let me get this out of the way; like all of the other aspects, he is a flat character. What we do see of him paints him as not caring about his host, and... that's about it really. In sol's short story, she is a slave-driver who is incarnated by sol. Honestly, the way he goes about it is cruel. He Uses the bodies of his host, and if they said no (and strangely, nota single one of the hosts ever said no) I have a feeling he won't care.
The Sun aspect is a interesting case. He shows up at the beginning and at the end of Linda's (see the other post for details) story and is the source of her powers. when he enters Linda's mind, her hatred of Diana is changed to be simple waiting to go navel-gazing with her. It's creepy. He is a deus ex machina to get Linda into a place that she can work together with Diana. Ill get into my little theory on the aspects on a whole later, but he creeps the hell out of me.
The Moon aspect manages to be darker, it takes a hipster by the name of Diana, and leads her up the mountain and gains the aspects. It takes control of her and gets it's host some armor and a sword, and then sends Diana back. When Diana gives her speech to the solari, but instead of Diana killing them in self defense, the moon does it for her. It uses her body to kill the elders... and quite strangely leaves the leader of the Ra-Horak alive. Of course, perhaps the moon aspect and the sun aspect were working together, but that's later.
The Protector is honestly the nicest of the bunch, but even he is suspect. I like that he is at least concerned with people, but he strangely seems very manipulative. He's honestly the best of the bunch, but that's because he's a person instead of a magic plot device. He also doesn't seem to object to, say, The "misguided" Soalri who are implied to have killed "Heretics" before. He's honestly a strange on, that's for sure. I personally feel that the main problem i have with Taric is he's new ego. In fact, i like to think that is his short story, the two armies look at one another for a brief second, and then promptly beat the crap outta him. Why? i think it's funny.
Now, Let'sd talk about SOl's Slavery. Sol destroys my sympathy towards the targonians. Yes, he's an egotiscal asshole, but he is honestly the most likeable of the bunch. The aspects and the Targoinan slave empire treat him like a tool, and if he disobeys, one of his stars will be destroyed. He views the stars as his children, and given that the original lore implied that the sun was senitient, it may not be metaphorical. Not to mention that they never say that the other worlds those stars orbit have sentient life on it (or life in general) so for all we know, they commit genocide for the benefit of stopping the void and getting their toy to work. Granted, i doubt it, but given their behavior, they seem to be the type to do anything to stop the Void. Anyways, enslaving a thinking being, and killing something that he loves if he disobeys is a great way to lose my sympathy.
Now, my theory on the Aspects; they are the type of aliens that work for 'The Greater Good". (No, not the Tau's philosophy, even they have their limits.) The Greater good, as in, to quote Litch from DOTA 2 "For the greater good! Mine!" They seem to be only be interested in their empire and preserving it. They only care about Targon because it holds significant to THEM, they oppose the void because, well, it's the one thing that could destroy the universe. The Aspects do not care for their hosts. Pantheon kills his host and uses their body as a meat-puppet, the sun aspect controls his host by altering her mind until it better suits it. the Moon aspect takes over Diana and does all the work, and the protector is... well he's better, but he's the only one. They don't care about their hosts, after all, they are just one
They oppose the void, but in the end, they are no more sympatheic than the Hp lovecraft rejects. You wanna know why? I know about the void, they have a character, they have a unique theme and lore. You see, if the void does do a full scale attack, Runeterra is screwed. Cho'gath is a kaiju, Vel'Koz can melt anything, kogmaw is a living artillery/ machine gun. And there is more, a damn near infinite about of them. They work better as a threat that comes in slowly, like they need a certain cultist (AKA
) to weaken the boundaries or something like that. It makes them weak, but at least it's justified and makes it possible for them to be defeated. They have a relatable motive: They're hungry, and with the notable exception of Cho, they're not exactly cruel about it.
But the aspects are not given characters. Kog'maw is creepily innocent, Vel'kox is curious, Cho's a sadistic monster who actively hates runeterra, and Kha wants to be the very best, like no voidborn ever was. The aspects though? all of that up there was just my interpretation, ultimately they are Deus ex machina. They do nothing for the story, and they just come off as creepy and ultimately unnecessary.
Well, what are your thoughts on the aspects, please share them below.
so far but meh.ill just enjoy the ride for now.
Pantheon is pretty much a War God, and thus the most ruthless. Diana and Leona are still who they originally were, but now are host to an Aspect that have each filled them in on the situation.
Leona was proud and was as firm and as unshakable in her will and belief in the teachings she grew up with she would naturally hate everything about Diana. Leona only faltered twice, and each time she was met with a Golden being, and each time she took the next step in life. First time it inadvertently ended up causing her to have to fight Atreus for her honor, and the battle earned her a spot amongst the Solari, and she just soaked up their teachings with fervor. She fully believed in these teachings, and would of killed Diana on the spot had it not been for Moon power. She then met the Golden Being again and got her dose of Aspect, and thus things have become at least somewhat clear to her. Now after learning the truth of things it seems she has learned the big mistake she and the Solari have been making and now seek Diana to possibly reconcile so both Sun and Moon can face the coming threat together.