Lots of Rants about Lots of Fandoms.

Kaz Brekker's 'type' & Defending Mal Oretsev

Spoilers for the Shadow and Bone trilogy and the Six of Crows duology

Okay, the first part of this rant is kind of short, but I thought it was funny.  So, we all know Kaz is in love with Inej, and they are so perfect and sweet and beautiful and broken - *sobs*.  I LOVE them - even though their ship name sounds disturbingly like 'carnage'.  Anyway, in Crooked Kingdom, Kaz has a flash-back about how he tried (and failed) to get over his phobia of touching people for this girl he had liked named Imogen.  It's not a long flash-back, but from what we see of her, Imogen doesn't really seem to have anything in common with Inej.  I just think it's funny because I guess Kaz has a thing for people whose names start with 'I'.  

Anyway, on to my other point.

So, why does everyone hate Mal?  When I first read Shadow and Bone, yes, I may have thought Mal was a boring.  I definitely thought he was a stereotype.  But as the series progresses and his characters grows in Siege and Storm, I really liked him.  I think his little monologue near the end of Siege and Storm is really sweet and compelling too: 

"No, Alina.  You came here for Ravka.  For the firebird.  To lead the Second Army.  I came                     here for you.  You're my flag.  You're my nation.  But that doesn't seem to matter anymore."

There are other times when Mal says things like that, but I remember reading that line, and it really striking home, like:  Okay, he loves Alina.

What I see people hating on Mal for is that he's supposedly a sexist and misogynist, that he was the worst option out of him, Nikolai and the Darkling, and that he got a 'stupid' tattoo.  I'll address them in that order.

1.  So, I can never remember thinking Mal was sexist.  I mean, people are going to see what they want to see, I guess, but Mal literally lays down his life and everything he's got for the woman he loves but is never overly possessive or controlling or patronizing of her.  Yes, he is jealous when he thinks she might marry this other dude, but that makes sense.  It's a realistic flaw that most people can probably relate to even weather they're male or female - or neither.  Also, Mal isn't very good at coping with his feelings for Alina and ends up taking out his anger by fighting with Grisha to prove to himself that he's strong.  Again, a character flaw that makes sense.  He never brings his problems to Alina, or abuses or manipulates her because he feels mistreated, and I think that says a lot.  

2.  I don't know why people think the Darkling was a better option.  I really just can't understand why people like him.  He seduces Alina and manipulates her for his own gain and power.  I've never seen the Netflix show, but I understand that his actor is apparently very good looking - this is NO reason to set aside the fact that he's creepy and conniving and only does things for himself!  Also, I see a lot of people saying that he has a tragic backstory, but what is it?  Like Baghra has a tragic backstory, but the Darkling?  Like - his mom was disciplinarian?  Is that it? Sure, he faked his death a bunch of times, so what?  That doesn't make him tragic, it just makes him sinister. 

Then there's Nikolai, and I at least kind of get it here.  In a lot of ways, I like Nikolai better than Mal.  Mainly because he's funny.  But he and Alina never really had any chemistry at all, and I think it would have been really weird if they got together.  Like, I see a lot of people say things like, "Huh, Alina's stupid!  If I were her, I'd totally go for the hot pirate prince over Mal!"  and, yeah, maybe they would.  But Alina was never into Nikolai, and people should just respect that there's no chemistry there. 

Mal, on the other hand was always there for Alina - to the extent of his capabilities, and I just think they definitely make the most sense together.

3.  I don't know why people think Mal's tattoo is stupid.  'I am become a blade' is a very Old English way of saying what it sounds like:  I have become a blade.  People say it's dumb because it's improper grammar, but it isn't really, and it just sounds really powerful.  I think those words were very important to Mal, because he felt like he'd just become a tool for Ravka, and more personally, for Alina.  Also, the foreshadowing it holds - about Mal being the third amplifier is really cool, and I really don't see why people complain about it so much. 

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I'd LOVE requests!  Comment your favorite Grishaverse character, and if it's Kuwei, tell me why, because I really don't understand you.