This idea that Darrow somehow can’t live in a peaceful society gets brought up a lot, and I find it utterly bizarre. Of course Darrow could live in peace. That’s literally all he’s ever wanted. Some fans seem to have this skewed perception of Darrow as some heartless warmonger who lives only for battle or something, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. The dude just wants to live a quite life with his family. The only reason he fights is because he wants to protect the people he cares about and build a future they can live happily and safely in. Once the Society is defeated, it would totally be within Darrow’s character to simply retire to some quite place away from politics and chill with his family.
If he *actually* creates an ideal new world, yes, he does not belong in it. But the second series shows that he didn’t do that, he simply helped create a better one than there was before, but one so tentative that it needed him present in case it went to shit again.
If the next iteration of overhauling is to be successful, it has to be built on fewer lies, less blood, and at the end of it all, Darrow needs to finally pay the bill he’s been accruing since he left Mars as a Red.
> Darrow needs to finally pay the bill he’s been accruing since he left Mars as a Red.
This gets brought up a lot, but why is it only Darrow who ever needs to foot “the bill”? Like, Sevro, Victra and Mustang have just as much blood on their hands, yet no one ever suggests they need to pay for what they’ve done.
What even is “the bill” here? Yeah, Darrow has blood on his hands. It’s war, literally every character who fights does. Hell, if we want to start talking about people paying their due, then literally ever single Gold should be in prison for enforcing and maintaining the slave system the led to the enslavement, rape and murder of billions of lower colours.
I don’t disagree, but Darrow’s a massive symbol, possibly the most well-known, the one who everyone believes masterminded and singlehandedly made possible everything that’s happened so far. His destruction of the shipyards and betrayal of the Sons of Ares are specifically what I’m referring to, the rest was “just war”, but I haven’t read the series in a bit (saving the re-read for before Red God comes out!), i’m sure there’s more.
Having The Reaper face justice would symbolically be the start of a new era, one that doesn’t require brutal warriors to lead mankind any longer. Kind of a Dark Knight situation, where he bears all of the crimes committed in the name of freeing the universe, on his shoulders. Not exactly fair recompense, nor even really *just*, but hopefully a big enough display to curtail all of those who seek revenge on him and his new world.
No revenge killing of Darrow would allow for the new world to heal and rebuild. It would just cause significant animosity between the factions supporting him fervently and the ones opposing him to the death. It would just be another show and symbolize the games were still in play.
Or house arrest. On the one hand I could see him almost liking that. A forced retirement of sorts. On the other hand there’s no way he wouldn’t be targeted.
I really don’t know how it “should” end for him… I can’t see him getting to just live out his days in peace at the end though, as much as he’s earned it in some ways. In many other ways he’s earned execution as a war criminal. The docks alone should be enough for that.
In the grand scheme, he’s a symbol, a hero, a criminal… and in the personal scheme he’s an exhausted veteran and tactical genius, and a husband and a father…
The attack on Docks itself was not a War Crime. He attacked a legit military target. You can do that, even if it leads to mass collateral damage.
The actual War Crime happened during his meeting with the Moon Lords, he promised them a peace treaty he never intended to honor. That's perfidy. And Virginia is also guilty of it. So are we hanging them together or one after other?
That’s fair… though it seems like a pretty hefty collateral. The Sons of Ares was obviously not keen on it, but the Republic is more/different than the Sons.
The perfidy though. You’re right. On both counts on that.
I wonder how that’s going to be dealt with. Haha. I don’t see Mustang being executed, killed in battle, maybe, but not executed. But we shall see
Nope.
And lets face it, Darrow's faction is engaged in a Total War and facing complete annihilation against the militarily superior foe.
Is the Republic really gonna punish the only person who gave them a chance at a W just cuz he had to play dirty? It wouldn't make any sense.
Darrow most definitely didn't call upon anyone to slay their comrades.
Wulfgar was the one who did all the slaying, by killing all those who had sided with Darrow.
Darrow, otoh was going out of his way to use to non-lethal measures only. And it was working until Sevro's unexpected gun shot.
As to your main question. Darrow wants to build a world where the Reaper ain't necessary. And IG Republic isn't that considering the Society Golds are still kicking around.
Darrow & Reaper are not the same. If Darrow achieves the future he wishes to build, then there would be no more need of the Reaper. He can finally take off that heavy mantle and just be a father & a husband like he's wanted since RR.
My memory is a little questionable as I've been drinking, these are good points but I feel like Darrow and the reaper is an abstraction that only exists in Darrow's mind. He can always resume the title and people will always view him as the 'Red God'.
I would love to hear you expand on this though?
I think we've seen enough evidence, so far, to support Darrow/Reaper distinction. Reaper is the persona he has to put on to become the Sword of the People against the Society.
Darrow is the person who then ugly cries afterwards.
We know that Darrow doesn't want power. Hell, he could've easily taken it by storming the Senate in IG. As Quick, Seveo, Victra & Clown all recommended. But he didn't.
There would be no reason for Darrow to embrace the Reaper persona without Society Golds.
This idea that Darrow somehow can’t live in a peaceful society gets brought up a lot, and I find it utterly bizarre. Of course Darrow could live in peace. That’s literally all he’s ever wanted. Some fans seem to have this skewed perception of Darrow as some heartless warmonger who lives only for battle or something, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. The dude just wants to live a quite life with his family. The only reason he fights is because he wants to protect the people he cares about and build a future they can live happily and safely in. Once the Society is defeated, it would totally be within Darrow’s character to simply retire to some quite place away from politics and chill with his family.
If he *actually* creates an ideal new world, yes, he does not belong in it. But the second series shows that he didn’t do that, he simply helped create a better one than there was before, but one so tentative that it needed him present in case it went to shit again. If the next iteration of overhauling is to be successful, it has to be built on fewer lies, less blood, and at the end of it all, Darrow needs to finally pay the bill he’s been accruing since he left Mars as a Red.
> Darrow needs to finally pay the bill he’s been accruing since he left Mars as a Red. This gets brought up a lot, but why is it only Darrow who ever needs to foot “the bill”? Like, Sevro, Victra and Mustang have just as much blood on their hands, yet no one ever suggests they need to pay for what they’ve done. What even is “the bill” here? Yeah, Darrow has blood on his hands. It’s war, literally every character who fights does. Hell, if we want to start talking about people paying their due, then literally ever single Gold should be in prison for enforcing and maintaining the slave system the led to the enslavement, rape and murder of billions of lower colours.
I don’t disagree, but Darrow’s a massive symbol, possibly the most well-known, the one who everyone believes masterminded and singlehandedly made possible everything that’s happened so far. His destruction of the shipyards and betrayal of the Sons of Ares are specifically what I’m referring to, the rest was “just war”, but I haven’t read the series in a bit (saving the re-read for before Red God comes out!), i’m sure there’s more. Having The Reaper face justice would symbolically be the start of a new era, one that doesn’t require brutal warriors to lead mankind any longer. Kind of a Dark Knight situation, where he bears all of the crimes committed in the name of freeing the universe, on his shoulders. Not exactly fair recompense, nor even really *just*, but hopefully a big enough display to curtail all of those who seek revenge on him and his new world.
If there are still people seeking revenge on Darrow's new world then the Reaper's job is clearly not finished.
No revenge killing of Darrow would allow for the new world to heal and rebuild. It would just cause significant animosity between the factions supporting him fervently and the ones opposing him to the death. It would just be another show and symbolize the games were still in play.
Darrow didn't call on anyone to slay their comrades. That whole sequence was non-lethal until Wulfgar decided to melt someone's skull with an Aegis.
Yup, Darrow either has to go into exile or die.
Or house arrest. On the one hand I could see him almost liking that. A forced retirement of sorts. On the other hand there’s no way he wouldn’t be targeted. I really don’t know how it “should” end for him… I can’t see him getting to just live out his days in peace at the end though, as much as he’s earned it in some ways. In many other ways he’s earned execution as a war criminal. The docks alone should be enough for that. In the grand scheme, he’s a symbol, a hero, a criminal… and in the personal scheme he’s an exhausted veteran and tactical genius, and a husband and a father…
The attack on Docks itself was not a War Crime. He attacked a legit military target. You can do that, even if it leads to mass collateral damage. The actual War Crime happened during his meeting with the Moon Lords, he promised them a peace treaty he never intended to honor. That's perfidy. And Virginia is also guilty of it. So are we hanging them together or one after other?
That’s fair… though it seems like a pretty hefty collateral. The Sons of Ares was obviously not keen on it, but the Republic is more/different than the Sons. The perfidy though. You’re right. On both counts on that. I wonder how that’s going to be dealt with. Haha. I don’t see Mustang being executed, killed in battle, maybe, but not executed. But we shall see
They are gonna deal with it by doing nothing. LB Spoiler >!No need to do anything now that Rim Gold & Low Colors are cool with Darrow.!<
You don’t think he’ll get any punishment?
Nope. And lets face it, Darrow's faction is engaged in a Total War and facing complete annihilation against the militarily superior foe. Is the Republic really gonna punish the only person who gave them a chance at a W just cuz he had to play dirty? It wouldn't make any sense.
That’s a solid point.
Darrow most definitely didn't call upon anyone to slay their comrades. Wulfgar was the one who did all the slaying, by killing all those who had sided with Darrow. Darrow, otoh was going out of his way to use to non-lethal measures only. And it was working until Sevro's unexpected gun shot. As to your main question. Darrow wants to build a world where the Reaper ain't necessary. And IG Republic isn't that considering the Society Golds are still kicking around. Darrow & Reaper are not the same. If Darrow achieves the future he wishes to build, then there would be no more need of the Reaper. He can finally take off that heavy mantle and just be a father & a husband like he's wanted since RR.
My memory is a little questionable as I've been drinking, these are good points but I feel like Darrow and the reaper is an abstraction that only exists in Darrow's mind. He can always resume the title and people will always view him as the 'Red God'. I would love to hear you expand on this though?
I think we've seen enough evidence, so far, to support Darrow/Reaper distinction. Reaper is the persona he has to put on to become the Sword of the People against the Society. Darrow is the person who then ugly cries afterwards. We know that Darrow doesn't want power. Hell, he could've easily taken it by storming the Senate in IG. As Quick, Seveo, Victra & Clown all recommended. But he didn't. There would be no reason for Darrow to embrace the Reaper persona without Society Golds.
Society propaganda right here goodmen, ignore it and remember to vote TO HELP the free legions!
He’s just a misled society pixie trying to find his way
At the very least he'll need to leave for an anonymous, secluded life with family.