Rayla was trying to protect Callum, *however,* leaving him in the dead of night (on his birthday, nonetheless) without contacting him at all for 2 years definitely wasn’t the best way to do it. While I understand these two still have a lot of issues to work out, I do hope they can reconcile their romance and learn to trust one another again.
It annoyed me that she never sent Callum letters or contacted him in any way to let him know she was alive and thinking of him. Was there any reason she needed to be completely incognito? It's not like she was a fugitive. He probably would forgive her more easily if she had done that.
I get that Moonshadow elves believe that the best way to protect your loved ones is to leave them behind. However it looks like an exception to this is if you are stronger with your loved one as this was the reason given by Tiadrin to explain why both her and Lain had to leave Rayla rather than just one of them. What I really want in S5 is for Rayla to realise she and Callum are stronger together than apart and maybe attribute this to why she failed to find Viren for 2 years. At least this way she can be with Callum and not have to betray her cultural beliefs, or as Amaya puts it, she can have 2 cakes!
@mkg2124 yeah I realised that too. At this point Callum is probably just as capable as Rayla is in his own right and im glad she acknowledged that. Now we just need that apology which the writers pretty much confirmed in a Q&A will happen.
True. Also proven by the series clearly showing us that Ezran doesn't realize the scope of their situation either. "She's been trying hard to get things back like they were." Things like they were weren't good enough. If they were, this would never have happened lol
100% agree. I hope that the coming seasons will explore this and maybe even that Rayla and Callum bring up these viewpoints when it’s time for their big feelings time❤
Hi @The Cov. Love your analysis and content. This was incredibly well done. While I completely understand that Callum was hurt and was distant for the first half, and I do admit it was bad for Rayla to leave on his birthday, but I also completely understand why Rayla believed that this was the right decision because it was literally how she was raised and grew up around, coming from a culture that's very much narrow minded in some ways. What you said makes so much sense. I truly believe that this situation isn't supposed to be presented as something simple, as some believe it is. The biggest key factor that ruptured their relationship all came down to the complete lack of understanding, and when I look back on TTM, it's no wonder why they broke up and fell apart, so devastatingly and easily, because they didn't fully understand each other, their respective cultures and/or how they grew up. Once they have their long-awaited Big Feelings Time conversations, this is going to be extremely crucial and critical for Rayla and Callum to have because there is a lot of things that they seriously need to talk about. They still love and care about each other. They just have some issues to sort out. Once they have these conversations, I genuinely believe their relationship will become even stronger than it was before, having gained an important newfound understanding and trust for one another, realizing that they're wiser and stronger together. Let's Go Season 5. 🙏🙏🙏 Keep up the great work. 👍👍
Rayla came back acting as if it was no big deal but it WAS a big deal. Ditching a loved one on their birthday is a dick move,no matter how you slice it. Plus, there's something she needs to remember: Callum is not a Moonshadow elf, he's a human and supposed to be her equal partner in their romantic relationship. She needs to understand Katolis culture and his viewpoints on protecting loved ones, especially if she wants to stay in Katolis. Rayla is in the wrong for leaving him, lying to him, disregarding his feelings and coming back as if it was no big deal. Period. P.S. Her letter ticked me off and justified nothing.
I agree, however it comes down to either saying "rayla needs to remember, or rayla needs to LEARN." I personally don't think she's learned yet, which may sound crazy, but think about it. When living with runaan and ethari, it was always that way with them. Ethari NEVER went on missions with runaan (besides bloodmoon huntress... I guess...) so she learned that things just worked that way. She needs to LEARN (perhaps the hard way, hehe) that Callum is not Ethari, he isn't meant to just be left behind like that.
@hannahburke7328 Hi Hannah. I'm curious what you thought about Rayla's parents and her surrogate fathers Runaan & Ethari. And how do you think Callum will act upon seeing them again? I know Callum and Rayla are starting to mend and repair their relationship. But I really am curious about him meeting her parents. I have a feeling he'll be extremely cruel, harsh, and verbally hostile towards them, for he will have a lot to say. At least in my opinion.
11:28 What was she thinking after coming back after two years apart? I went for Viren and see if he was alive. Came back empty handed and now I want to talk to you That is really, really poor of her and blind-sightly selfish too. Can't believe Rayla.
I have a different idea. Instead of an awkward break up, make a long distance relationship. Let them use these established methodes of communications over long distances. It seems like the writers think that rayllum happened too early and realized that we have four more seasons. I mean we have seen the journey from friends to lovers in season 2 and 3. Do we have to see the same journey again. The worst thing is the time skip. I mean the break up happens in a comic (to appreciate the show you must do your homework) and i think that should have been an important event to be shown on screen. Worse Rayla did not find a single clue about viren. That there was a dark mage(claudia) rampaging freely in Xadia did not grab any attention. To answer the question who is at fault for the current state of rayllum. I think we should do a role reversal of this situation that callum left rayla on a important day to look after viren (he can fly) for two years. Would we judge the characters the same? Or another situation: callum moved on and found a new love interest. Would Rayla still have a role in the story? Aside from the coins? The writing of Rayla in season 4 has even inspired the rayla is an imposter theory (not a good sign). I think many of the problems in season 4 could be avoided if they establish that they are in a long distance relationship. They communicate with letters and miss each other. Now the writers have more time for more interesting stuff like the mystery of aaravos.
I agree, the events of TTM currently seem completely unnecessary, but I won't be that guy to claim they should have just written it completely differently. We got to work with what we got :)
I would like to point out that Rayla's parents never lied to Rayla. Runaan thoroughly explained why to her afterwards after she had acknowledged the fact they had left, she had accepted they left but couldn't accept the reason saying "it was a fancy way of abandoning her". What she did to Callum was far worse, even unacceptable, she broke a promise and couldn't let Callum even comprehend her departure let alone why. I feel like if you tell me you're leaving and then we fight about it, we can eventually find a common ground and understanding. You can't leave me and then expect me to even give you a chance to explain yourself. And as much as I agree that she doesn't understand the culture and there maybe a lot of things between them that they have to sort out, I feel like this wasn't a point of cultural difference coming to play but a feeling of overwhelming vengeance. When Callum falls asleep she says "I left the best thing I ever had", she seriously knew what Callum would go through, she knew what she went through and maybe she didn't know the emotional impact due to culture that it would have on him but she sure as hell knew the emotional impact it would have due to their relationship. Even at the end of the season, she still decides to throw away the shot of reconciling with Callum just so she can see Viren dead, only now Callum has just accepted that, did he understand the culture of Rayla, the vengeance burning in her heart or did he just give up on her knowing that she would probably be happier if he let her go. And Rayla oh boy... on a man's birthday?! Oof! She needs to learn emotional balance and to know when to be calm and composed, then again, if she hsd been capm and composed she would've killed that soldier and well... Rayllum would've never happened. Just my 2 cents, nice analysis by the way! 😊
For the record, I don't disagree with what was said at 7:51 At the same time, Rayla is not a baby. She can't use ignorance as an excuse forever. Life is all about learning and whether we're human, elf, dragon or anything else in-between, we will make mistakes However, there's one thing that we should do our best to remember: The biggest mistake anyone can ever make is not learning from them. (Also, the comic implied she lived in Katolis for some time)
like I said at the start I kinda sorta blame rayla... but this was an unbiased view to the best of my ability so I tried to give her some benefit of doubt 😆
Maybe this is an unpopular take but Rayla's lucky that Callum DIDN'T move on with another person to be his girlfriend She never contacted him and she didn't come back for two whole years. How would he know for sure Rayla would come back?
What Rayla did was actually egoistic and wrong and I dont really think that culture has anything to do with it. Of course on the outside it may look like her actions were anything BUT egoistic, that she did what she did to protect Callum. She may even genuinely feel that way. But in reality, it was all about her comfort of knowing that Callum is safe, despite how much it hurt him. She went on her journey not having to worry for the one she loves, though leaving him with a broken heart and with uncertainty whether she's alive or not, or if she'll ever come back, and she did it becouse it made HER feel better this way. However, Callum is not a child, nor some property to have no free will of his own. It was his right to do with his life whatever he wants, and even if it meant giving up his own life for her - it was still his decision. And Rayla DENIED him this right for her own comfort of not risking Callum's life, thus not treating him as an equal, as a partner, but rather someone lesser, whom she expects to adjust for her own comfort. It is clear for me who is in the wrong here, and I hope that future seasons will show Rayla understanding her mistake, and not just finish on assuming that both are equally wrong, or that noone is wrong at all, becouse that's not true. Callum's actions are completely justified. I will be really angry if the show goes the way of Callum "learning" to just let Rayla keep doing it despite how hurtful and unfair to him it is, and thats the feeling I got at the end of the season, especially with Callum letting her go yet another time and the show implying that he is the one who is and supposed to be undergoing some change, that his actions were out of place and needs to change them, instead of the other way around.
@@DragonGoddess18 I've been thinking about it for a while now, and not only in the context of Rayla's and Callum's relation. What inspired me was actually one well-written fancition from Trollhunters, actually one of the best I've ever read, written by a proffesional and not some cringy teenager as it is usually with fanfics and it really changed my perspective on hiding one's selfishness and possesiveness behind a courtain of being overprotective and the illusion of doing what one considers to be the best interest of the one's loved one.
@@jak00bspyr72 That's good I love Trollhunters. Some fics are better written than others. I think maybe some of the well-written ones are written by teens but I don't bet on all of them being written by teens. Some of my personal favorites are "Withhold", "A Secret's Worth" and "Blue Moon Rising".
i literally don’t know who’s side to take. i would say that rayla is at fault, but honestly, can we blame her? she was taught that ever since she was young. it’s normal for her to think that she’s right, and justified that she thought callum would welcome her back (like ethari probably welcomed runaan back after his missions). callum’s reaction is incredibly real. at first i was like “okay yeah he could’ve been a little more welcoming towards her” but thinking about it? i would have acted the same. and that’s why they need to understand each other more. they need to talk. about everything, their relationship, their feelings and their culture.
She's 100% at fault. No amount of mental gymnastics will be able to logically make an excuse for the way she went about things. I kind of wish Callum attempted to move on after the two-year ghosting with someone else or at least made her work a lot harder to get back into a friendship level relation with him. Rayla needs to be taught that all actions, not matter how just and right you BELIEVE them to be, have consequences.
Really interesting take! The cultural differences mentioned here do indeed help explain both her actions in TtM as well as her behavior in the beginning of S4. However, if this is the reason then I think it was poorly explained by the writers of the show. It never crossed my mind that there could be serious cultural differences at play here just from watching. After all, the elves and humans do seem to hold similar values when it comes to romantic relationships. The elves do not have any complex courtship rituals or require any permission from a legal guardian or relative when choosing a partner (which is the case in many real world human societies). Instead, just as in contemporary western societies, it seems pretty straightforward for them to develop feelings for someone, confess their feelings and then, if the feelings are mutual, they become a couple. Also, I think it is worth remembering that Rayla does go through a similar situation to TtM in S3E8 when she wants to remain and protect the dragon queen alone while the others run. After Callum shows her that her parents did not abandon their duty she changes her mind and says that whatever they do they should decide it together. To then have her take the opposite decision in TtM makes it feel like the writers threw that part of her character development out the window (along with everything else she and Callum built up during the first 3 seasons).
i watched season 4 atleast a year and a half after watching season 3. season five was just released i think and i am hesitant to watch it because i really do not like their relationship. i cant exactly explain why i hate rayla so much but it has definitly stopped me from enjoying the show as much 😭
I think that it's a bit less of a Moonshadow culture thing and more of a Xadian thing regarding self-sacrifice. In Bloodmoon Huntress, we saw lots of other elven families that were living just like humans would: talking about upcoming festivals and hanging out with friends. For Rayla, she was exposed to the more "noble" side of her culture which carries a lot of sacrifice and pain along with it. Both her parents were part of the Dragonguard and Runaan was the leader of the assassins, both having to make hard, self-sacrificing decisions for the greater good of both their loved ones and all of Xadia. And with the hard choices they make, they also impact their loved ones. But in Xadia (at the very least, Moonshadow culture), these elves are seen as the greatest and strongest because of their sacrifice, and their loved ones share in that greatness with their understanding and support of it. The reason I bring this up is because near the end of season 4 (episode 7), Callum is asking Rayla to kill him should Aaravos take control of him again. This would be seen as a noble self-sacrifice, right? But Rayla is against this idea completely! This was also brought up during an interview related to the episode. If it's from Rayla, she NEEDS to sacrifice because she was raised this way and it's the "noble and right" thing to do, but if Callum tries the same thing, he's sacrificing when he doesn't need to. I will also add that Callum did, in fact, go through abandonment, twice actually: his mother and step-father. While we don't know about his birth father, we do know Sarai left on a mission that would help save 2 kingdoms, but lost her life while doing so, leaving Callum behind. Later on, Harrow avenged her by killing Avizandum but realized too late that it didn't fix anything, and he later resigned himself to his fate, telling Callum to look after Ezran during their last exchange, a sorrowful goodbye. While he lost them due to different reasonings, Callum still ended up losing both his parents.
@chandlerblack1667 This was beautifully well said. It also shows how Rayla was literally raised in a culture and society where sacrifice, honor, and justice are huge core values of the Moonshadow Society. It demonstrates how honorable and noble it can be until it becomes self-destructive, self-deceptive, and extremely problematic. Look at what happened to her parents and surrogate father Runaan. They lost their freedom and suffered a painful and devasting fate that's far worse than death over the past two years because of their self-sacrifice. With Runaan, it's beyond devastating because seeing Rayla's parents in those coins not only left him distraught and hurt but realizing his actions, decisions, and choices sabotaged, jeopardized, and abandoned Rayla's very life, leading her to being banished from her home. He ultimately contributed to her losses and tragedies, which left him even more devastated, scarred, and hurt upon that revelation. Just like Callum, Rayla's also suffered from abandonment issues, struggles with her self-worth, developed extreme trust issues, and duty and honor above all else mentality. She developed some of Runaan's negative traits. Seeing how this philosophy and ideology made her believe that the lives of others have way more meaning than her own. It continued to repeat itself, and now this is Rayla's cycle to break. I think upon hearing this, it will horrify her parents, Runaan and Ethari, that she thought that, and together, they start breaking those cycles together as a family. Because being trapped in those coins will most definitely make them have regrets and thinking back on their choices and decisions they made as parents. I would love nothing more than to see the moonfam breaking these cycles together and forging a new foundation for their family. I have strong confidence that we'll see this.
Dont know anything about this show and this may be my human side speaking, but yea, if someone whom I loved left me for 2 years, specifically after promising the opposite specifically, I would definitely be pissed and deel betrayed. Different cultures sure, but the girl is definitely in the wrong imo. It was done for the right reasons I suppose, even the guy sees that, but the fact that it was done in the first place, and the fact that it was done after a promise of the opposite dooms her actions and its kinda baffling how their relationship could have even been going well to begin with if there is such a huge cultural gap so as to make her unaware that breaking a promise and leaving someone for years will create an issue. Its not just what she did, but how she did it. Tho id like to know how this ends now, does it work out well? Do they talk to each other about it?
@The Cov I honestly hated and despised what TTM did to them. A part of me felt it was completely unnecessary. However, a part also feels that it's supposed to represent when cultures come face to face, it can cause fragmentation and creates such deep conflicts leading to both sides not understanding each other. Which is exactly why Callum and Rayla broke up so devastatingly. Their big feelings time will be huge and full of angst, but also bring some important resolutions, newfound hope and reassurance as well as better understanding of each other's culture and upbringing. It'll definitely be worth it. I have faith in them. I have an idea for a video. This has been one humongous criticism I've seen in the fandom. Do you believe that TTM ruined Rayla's character? Alot of people strongly scrutinize that the writers destroyed Rayla's character for no reason.
My Theory on Season 5 Ending I think Season 5 will end with Aaravos being free from his prison in the Sea of the Castout. Aaravos will fulfill his deal with Claudia by healing Viren from his short life expectancy. Team Aaravos (Aaravos, Viren, Claudia, and Terry) will head to the realm of the Startouch Elves in space. Before leaving, Aaravos will take Callum with him leaving Team Zym helpless to stop Aaravos as he will bring the downfall of the Startouch Elf society. It is likely Aaravos is manipulating events so that Elves and Humans can live in peace by making himself the villain of the story. He is a Startouch Elf and these Elves have the ability to see the future and different possibilities.
I could just be entirely wrong too, but I don't think she's oblivious. She obviously understands that he's hurt, and she's leaving it to him to initiate things going forward. Notice all the awkward moments between them in season 4? Rayla is purposefully giving him the space he needs. I think she knows they need to talk, but she's leaving it up to him to initiate it. "Whatever it is you need to say to me, everything will be fine." She's waiting for Callum to give her a piece of his mind, and she knows it will be tough, but she also knows he needs time to think about everything with clairvoyance and not through clouded eyes (if they had talked on the storm spire for example, I think it would have went very poorly cause Callum was clearly not in a good place.)
She was a baby when her parents left, of course she couldn't come to battle come on, Calum was an equal to her when she left him, capable of protecting himself like when he's mother and the king went together, simply because she is an equal to him, and also Calum experienced the same thing about being left behind when his parents went to war, it's not by any means a cultural problem, it's only WAR, believe it or not, we don't bring babys to war, the king respected Calum's mother enough that he treated her as an equal and respected her request to come along, the same way rayla's mother and father went together to protect the dragon prince, ITS NOT A CULTURAL PROBLEM, the humans have it as well, it's called war, babys don't go to war, it's just bad writing,
@hannahburke7328 You seriously need to take a chill pill. She made a mistake, but to call her selfish and stupid is beyond despicable. Both sides are at fault. Even before this, their relationship was already showing signs of fragmentation. It was only a matter of time before it would fall apart. In all honesty, they didn't fully understand each other's cultures and upbringing. This will be their biggest, most challenging obstacle in the coming seasons. With these conversations, they will finally be able to gain newfound trust and understanding, individually and collectively.
In all honesty, if things were going so well, this wouldn't have happened. As I stated, they need to understand each other's cultures and upbringing. And litterally have real important conversations without shouting matches. But that's just me.
![Brave Enough [A Rayllum Animatic]](/img/n.gif)
Rayla was trying to protect Callum, *however,* leaving him in the dead of night (on his birthday, nonetheless) without contacting him at all for 2 years definitely wasn’t the best way to do it. While I understand these two still have a lot of issues to work out, I do hope they can reconcile their romance and learn to trust one another again.
It annoyed me that she never sent Callum letters or contacted him in any way to let him know she was alive and thinking of him. Was there any reason she needed to be completely incognito? It's not like she was a fugitive. He probably would forgive her more easily if she had done that.
I get that Moonshadow elves believe that the best way to protect your loved ones is to leave them behind. However it looks like an exception to this is if you are stronger with your loved one as this was the reason given by Tiadrin to explain why both her and Lain had to leave Rayla rather than just one of them.
What I really want in S5 is for Rayla to realise she and Callum are stronger together than apart and maybe attribute this to why she failed to find Viren for 2 years. At least this way she can be with Callum and not have to betray her cultural beliefs, or as Amaya puts it, she can have 2 cakes!
Bro you called it. That Rayla and Amaya moment in s5 was right on the nose with what you said.
@mkg2124 yeah I realised that too. At this point Callum is probably just as capable as Rayla is in his own right and im glad she acknowledged that. Now we just need that apology which the writers pretty much confirmed in a Q&A will happen.
10:55 Ezran is a good support system and a good little brother but when it comes to love things get tricky in that department.
True. Also proven by the series clearly showing us that Ezran doesn't realize the scope of their situation either. "She's been trying hard to get things back like they were." Things like they were weren't good enough. If they were, this would never have happened lol
@@TheCov no spell can turn back time
@@robertm.german9248 well….there might be one…
@@Jellytarts1 how do you mean?
He just doesn't want to get hurt again
100% agree. I hope that the coming seasons will explore this and maybe even that Rayla and Callum bring up these viewpoints when it’s time for their big feelings time❤
Hi @The Cov. Love your analysis and content. This was incredibly well done. While I completely understand that Callum was hurt and was distant for the first half, and I do admit it was bad for Rayla to leave on his birthday, but I also completely understand why Rayla believed that this was the right decision because it was literally how she was raised and grew up around, coming from a culture that's very much narrow minded in some ways. What you said makes so much sense. I truly believe that this situation isn't supposed to be presented as something simple, as some believe it is.
The biggest key factor that ruptured their relationship all came down to the complete lack of understanding, and when I look back on TTM, it's no wonder why they broke up and fell apart, so devastatingly and easily, because they didn't fully understand each other, their respective cultures and/or how they grew up. Once they have their long-awaited Big Feelings Time conversations, this is going to be extremely crucial and critical for Rayla and Callum to have because there is a lot of things that they seriously need to talk about. They still love and care about each other. They just have some issues to sort out.
Once they have these conversations, I genuinely believe their relationship will become even stronger than it was before, having gained an important newfound understanding and trust for one another, realizing that they're wiser and stronger together. Let's Go Season 5. 🙏🙏🙏
Keep up the great work. 👍👍
Your videos are getting better and better, you can see that you put a lot of work into them, which translates into the mood in the video, good job Cov
Rayla came back acting as if it was no big deal but it WAS a big deal.
Ditching a loved one on their birthday is a dick move,no matter how you slice it. Plus, there's something she needs to remember: Callum is not a Moonshadow elf, he's a human and supposed to be her equal partner in their romantic relationship. She needs to understand Katolis culture and his viewpoints on protecting loved ones, especially if she wants to stay in Katolis.
Rayla is in the wrong for leaving him, lying to him, disregarding his feelings and coming back as if it was no big deal. Period.
P.S. Her letter ticked me off and justified nothing.
I agree, however it comes down to either saying "rayla needs to remember, or rayla needs to LEARN." I personally don't think she's learned yet, which may sound crazy, but think about it. When living
with runaan and ethari, it was always that way with them. Ethari NEVER went on missions with runaan (besides bloodmoon huntress... I guess...) so she learned that things just worked that way. She needs to LEARN (perhaps the hard way, hehe) that Callum is not Ethari, he isn't meant to just be left behind like that.
Yeah. Reading her letter once was quite enough. 💔😭
I agree they both need to fully understand each other so this never happens again. I hope they have a talk alone about all of this and settle it
I will watch this video when I get home but from my early experience with this video I know I will love it
🤔😂
7:30 Callum And Rayla Are Long Due For A Big Feelings Time.
0:18 I Was Never Mad At Callum, I Was More Mad At Rayla Due To Her Own Obsession With Killing Viren And Her Pride.
@hannahburke7328 Hi Hannah. I'm curious what you thought about Rayla's parents and her surrogate fathers Runaan & Ethari. And how do you think Callum will act upon seeing them again? I know Callum and Rayla are starting to mend and repair their relationship. But I really am curious about him meeting her parents. I have a feeling he'll be extremely cruel, harsh, and verbally hostile towards them, for he will have a lot to say. At least in my opinion.
2:48 Oh It Was Out Of Love It Was Just Selfish.
It's The Sh*test Thing She Ever Did To Callum On His Birthday.
11:28
What was she thinking after coming back after two years apart?
I went for Viren and see if he was alive. Came back empty handed and now I want to talk to you
That is really, really poor of her and blind-sightly selfish too. Can't believe Rayla.
It is definitely poor of her in our view, but from hers its sadly the norm. It's something she's gonna have to learn, perhaps the hard way.
Glad you get it
She is pretty selfish and needs to change. Soon.
I have a different idea. Instead of an awkward break up, make a long distance relationship. Let them use these established methodes of communications over long distances. It seems like the writers think that rayllum happened too early and realized that we have four more seasons. I mean we have seen the journey from friends to lovers in season 2 and 3. Do we have to see the same journey again. The worst thing is the time skip. I mean the break up happens in a comic (to appreciate the show you must do your homework) and i think that should have been an important event to be shown on screen. Worse Rayla did not find a single clue about viren. That there was a dark mage(claudia) rampaging freely in Xadia did not grab any attention. To answer the question who is at fault for the current state of rayllum. I think we should do a role reversal of this situation that callum left rayla on a important day to look after viren (he can fly) for two years. Would we judge the characters the same? Or another situation: callum moved on and found a new love interest. Would Rayla still have a role in the story? Aside from the coins? The writing of Rayla in season 4 has even inspired the rayla is an imposter theory (not a good sign). I think many of the problems in season 4 could be avoided if they establish that they are in a long distance relationship. They communicate with letters and miss each other. Now the writers have more time for more interesting stuff like the mystery of aaravos.
I agree, the events of TTM currently seem completely unnecessary, but I won't be that guy to claim they should have just written it completely differently. We got to work with what we got :)
I always get so exited to see tdp content on youtube
I would like to point out that Rayla's parents never lied to Rayla. Runaan thoroughly explained why to her afterwards after she had acknowledged the fact they had left, she had accepted they left but couldn't accept the reason saying "it was a fancy way of abandoning her".
What she did to Callum was far worse, even unacceptable, she broke a promise and couldn't let Callum even comprehend her departure let alone why. I feel like if you tell me you're leaving and then we fight about it, we can eventually find a common ground and understanding. You can't leave me and then expect me to even give you a chance to explain yourself.
And as much as I agree that she doesn't understand the culture and there maybe a lot of things between them that they have to sort out, I feel like this wasn't a point of cultural difference coming to play but a feeling of overwhelming vengeance. When Callum falls asleep she says "I left the best thing I ever had", she seriously knew what Callum would go through, she knew what she went through and maybe she didn't know the emotional impact due to culture that it would have on him but she sure as hell knew the emotional impact it would have due to their relationship. Even at the end of the season, she still decides to throw away the shot of reconciling with Callum just so she can see Viren dead, only now Callum has just accepted that, did he understand the culture of Rayla, the vengeance burning in her heart or did he just give up on her knowing that she would probably be happier if he let her go. And Rayla oh boy... on a man's birthday?! Oof!
She needs to learn emotional balance and to know when to be calm and composed, then again, if she hsd been capm and composed she would've killed that soldier and well... Rayllum would've never happened.
Just my 2 cents, nice analysis by the way! 😊
For the record, I don't disagree with what was said at 7:51
At the same time, Rayla is not a baby. She can't use ignorance as an excuse forever. Life is all about learning and whether we're human, elf, dragon or anything else in-between, we will make mistakes
However, there's one thing that we should do our best to remember: The biggest mistake anyone can ever make is not learning from them.
(Also, the comic implied she lived in Katolis for some time)
like I said at the start I kinda sorta blame rayla... but this was an unbiased view to the best of my ability so I tried to give her some benefit of doubt 😆
@@TheCov Fair enough
11:44 It's Basically Neutral.
9:11 "Hurt Him?" That's An Understatement, Rayla. I'd Say More Like She Crushed Callum The Moment She Left On His Birthday. 😡
Maybe this is an unpopular take but Rayla's lucky that Callum DIDN'T move on with another person to be his girlfriend
She never contacted him and she didn't come back for two whole years. How would he know for sure Rayla would come back?
@@DragonGoddess18 Little Bit Of Faith Maybe.
What Rayla did was actually egoistic and wrong and I dont really think that culture has anything to do with it. Of course on the outside it may look like her actions were anything BUT egoistic, that she did what she did to protect Callum. She may even genuinely feel that way. But in reality, it was all about her comfort of knowing that Callum is safe, despite how much it hurt him.
She went on her journey not having to worry for the one she loves, though leaving him with a broken heart and with uncertainty whether she's alive or not, or if she'll ever come back, and she did it becouse it made HER feel better this way. However, Callum is not a child, nor some property to have no free will of his own. It was his right to do with his life whatever he wants, and even if it meant giving up his own life for her - it was still his decision. And Rayla DENIED him this right for her own comfort of not risking Callum's life, thus not treating him as an equal, as a partner, but rather someone lesser, whom she expects to adjust for her own comfort. It is clear for me who is in the wrong here, and I hope that future seasons will show Rayla understanding her mistake, and not just finish on assuming that both are equally wrong, or that noone is wrong at all, becouse that's not true. Callum's actions are completely justified.
I will be really angry if the show goes the way of Callum "learning" to just let Rayla keep doing it despite how hurtful and unfair to him it is, and thats the feeling I got at the end of the season, especially with Callum letting her go yet another time and the show implying that he is the one who is and supposed to be undergoing some change, that his actions were out of place and needs to change them, instead of the other way around.
😳 Woah.
You said it all perfectly and better than I could
@@DragonGoddess18 I've been thinking about it for a while now, and not only in the context of Rayla's and Callum's relation. What inspired me was actually one well-written fancition from Trollhunters, actually one of the best I've ever read, written by a proffesional and not some cringy teenager as it is usually with fanfics and it really changed my perspective on hiding one's selfishness and possesiveness behind a courtain of being overprotective and the illusion of doing what one considers to be the best interest of the one's loved one.
@@jak00bspyr72 That's good
I love Trollhunters. Some fics are better written than others. I think maybe some of the well-written ones are written by teens but I don't bet on all of them being written by teens. Some of my personal favorites are "Withhold", "A Secret's Worth" and "Blue Moon Rising".
@@DragonGoddess18 The one I've read was Coming Back Broken, it was actually so good that it made my expectations too high for most of other fanfics.
@@jak00bspyr72 Is that on Archive of Our Own or what?
i literally don’t know who’s side to take. i would say that rayla is at fault, but honestly, can we blame her? she was taught that ever since she was young. it’s normal for her to think that she’s right, and justified that she thought callum would welcome her back (like ethari probably welcomed runaan back after his missions). callum’s reaction is incredibly real. at first i was like “okay yeah he could’ve been a little more welcoming towards her” but thinking about it? i would have acted the same.
and that’s why they need to understand each other more. they need to talk. about everything, their relationship, their feelings and their culture.
She's 100% at fault. No amount of mental gymnastics will be able to logically make an excuse for the way she went about things. I kind of wish Callum attempted to move on after the two-year ghosting with someone else or at least made her work a lot harder to get back into a friendship level relation with him. Rayla needs to be taught that all actions, not matter how just and right you BELIEVE them to be, have consequences.
Really interesting take! The cultural differences mentioned here do indeed help explain both her actions in TtM as well as her behavior in the beginning of S4. However, if this is the reason then I think it was poorly explained by the writers of the show. It never crossed my mind that there could be serious cultural differences at play here just from watching. After all, the elves and humans do seem to hold similar values when it comes to romantic relationships. The elves do not have any complex courtship rituals or require any permission from a legal guardian or relative when choosing a partner (which is the case in many real world human societies). Instead, just as in contemporary western societies, it seems pretty straightforward for them to develop feelings for someone, confess their feelings and then, if the feelings are mutual, they become a couple.
Also, I think it is worth remembering that Rayla does go through a similar situation to TtM in S3E8 when she wants to remain and protect the dragon queen alone while the others run. After Callum shows her that her parents did not abandon their duty she changes her mind and says that whatever they do they should decide it together. To then have her take the opposite decision in TtM makes it feel like the writers threw that part of her character development out the window (along with everything else she and Callum built up during the first 3 seasons).
Neither are really in the wrong if you see it from both their perspectives. So you can’t really be mad at either for feeling what they feel
There's actually a comic about on how Rayla Left it would explain on why she left to find Viren
Rejoice for this man knows who the king of all kings is !!!
I guess Callum and Rayla need to work on understanding each other
i watched season 4 atleast a year and a half after watching season 3. season five was just released i think and i am hesitant to watch it because i really do not like their relationship. i cant exactly explain why i hate rayla so much but it has definitly stopped me from enjoying the show as much 😭
When something is lost you can’t make it the same
I think that it's a bit less of a Moonshadow culture thing and more of a Xadian thing regarding self-sacrifice. In Bloodmoon Huntress, we saw lots of other elven families that were living just like humans would: talking about upcoming festivals and hanging out with friends. For Rayla, she was exposed to the more "noble" side of her culture which carries a lot of sacrifice and pain along with it. Both her parents were part of the Dragonguard and Runaan was the leader of the assassins, both having to make hard, self-sacrificing decisions for the greater good of both their loved ones and all of Xadia. And with the hard choices they make, they also impact their loved ones. But in Xadia (at the very least, Moonshadow culture), these elves are seen as the greatest and strongest because of their sacrifice, and their loved ones share in that greatness with their understanding and support of it.
The reason I bring this up is because near the end of season 4 (episode 7), Callum is asking Rayla to kill him should Aaravos take control of him again. This would be seen as a noble self-sacrifice, right? But Rayla is against this idea completely! This was also brought up during an interview related to the episode. If it's from Rayla, she NEEDS to sacrifice because she was raised this way and it's the "noble and right" thing to do, but if Callum tries the same thing, he's sacrificing when he doesn't need to.
I will also add that Callum did, in fact, go through abandonment, twice actually: his mother and step-father. While we don't know about his birth father, we do know Sarai left on a mission that would help save 2 kingdoms, but lost her life while doing so, leaving Callum behind. Later on, Harrow avenged her by killing Avizandum but realized too late that it didn't fix anything, and he later resigned himself to his fate, telling Callum to look after Ezran during their last exchange, a sorrowful goodbye. While he lost them due to different reasonings, Callum still ended up losing both his parents.
Well said! Perhaps it is more of a xadian culture than just moonshadow
@chandlerblack1667 This was beautifully well said. It also shows how Rayla was literally raised in a culture and society where sacrifice, honor, and justice are huge core values of the Moonshadow Society. It demonstrates how honorable and noble it can be until it becomes self-destructive, self-deceptive, and extremely problematic.
Look at what happened to her parents and surrogate father Runaan. They lost their freedom and suffered a painful and devasting fate that's far worse than death over the past two years because of their self-sacrifice. With Runaan, it's beyond devastating because seeing Rayla's parents in those coins not only left him distraught and hurt but realizing his actions, decisions, and choices sabotaged, jeopardized, and abandoned Rayla's very life, leading her to being banished from her home. He ultimately contributed to her losses and tragedies, which left him even more devastated, scarred, and hurt upon that revelation.
Just like Callum, Rayla's also suffered from abandonment issues, struggles with her self-worth, developed extreme trust issues, and duty and honor above all else mentality. She developed some of Runaan's negative traits. Seeing how this philosophy and ideology made her believe that the lives of others have way more meaning than her own. It continued to repeat itself, and now this is Rayla's cycle to break. I think upon hearing this, it will horrify her parents, Runaan and Ethari, that she thought that, and together, they start breaking those cycles together as a family. Because being trapped in those coins will most definitely make them have regrets and thinking back on their choices and decisions they made as parents. I would love nothing more than to see the moonfam breaking these cycles together and forging a new foundation for their family. I have strong confidence that we'll see this.
After the new season Shi broke my heart bruh I hope they make unit up in the new season
11:07 Better Than Moping Around All The Time, On The Bright Side, Callum Got Better And Better At Sky Magic. 🌬️
Where the invite link 🔗 to the dragon prince (discord)
The only reason I watched the dragon prince is because the video you made about rayllum and I loved that
Dont know anything about this show and this may be my human side speaking, but yea, if someone whom I loved left me for 2 years, specifically after promising the opposite specifically, I would definitely be pissed and deel betrayed. Different cultures sure, but the girl is definitely in the wrong imo. It was done for the right reasons I suppose, even the guy sees that, but the fact that it was done in the first place, and the fact that it was done after a promise of the opposite dooms her actions and its kinda baffling how their relationship could have even been going well to begin with if there is such a huge cultural gap so as to make her unaware that breaking a promise and leaving someone for years will create an issue. Its not just what she did, but how she did it.
Tho id like to know how this ends now, does it work out well? Do they talk to each other about it?
Wait, wasnt Zym's egg recently hatched in Book 1? Why are they showing Rayla as a young girl?
@The Cov I honestly hated and despised what TTM did to them. A part of me felt it was completely unnecessary. However, a part also feels that it's supposed to represent when cultures come face to face, it can cause fragmentation and creates such deep conflicts leading to both sides not understanding each other. Which is exactly why Callum and Rayla broke up so devastatingly.
Their big feelings time will be huge and full of angst, but also bring some important resolutions, newfound hope and reassurance as well as better understanding of each other's culture and upbringing. It'll definitely be worth it. I have faith in them.
I have an idea for a video. This has been one humongous criticism I've seen in the fandom. Do you believe that TTM ruined Rayla's character? Alot of people strongly scrutinize that the writers destroyed Rayla's character for no reason.
Tl;dw
Who is in the wrong? The writers.
Bro did the rayllum 27 minute thing and the 41 minute thing disappear or am I trippin?!
8:49 of course she doesn't understand even after everything she's been through with Callum and Ezran I bet her mind is wondering all over the place.
Covtheory 💛
Ye
@@Jellytarts1 Hey!
BrbRayllum
😂
My Theory on Season 5 Ending
I think Season 5 will end with Aaravos being free from his prison in the Sea of the Castout. Aaravos will fulfill his deal with Claudia by healing Viren from his short life expectancy. Team Aaravos (Aaravos, Viren, Claudia, and Terry) will head to the realm of the Startouch Elves in space. Before leaving, Aaravos will take Callum with him leaving Team Zym helpless to stop Aaravos as he will bring the downfall of the Startouch Elf society. It is likely Aaravos is manipulating events so that Elves and Humans can live in peace by making himself the villain of the story. He is a Startouch Elf and these Elves have the ability to see the future and different possibilities.
*skips an entire section because I haven't read Bloodmoon Huntress yet* I will know in a week I will know in a week I will know in a week-
I wish you a spoiler free week
This somehow feel like httyd all over again. Just my own thought, even tho this doesn't really happen in httyd
7:38 Human Rayla Annoys Me. 😤
Who hurt you? 😱
It annoys me too
That bit was never funny then and it's not funny now. People just have different senses of humor. Period.
@@MJSolit No One. I'm Fine.
11:11 I Can. 😢💔
9:18 It's really really stupid she's that oblivious to Callum's dark thoughts. I bet Stella was more than receiving the attention than him.
I could just be entirely wrong too, but I don't think she's oblivious. She obviously understands that he's hurt, and she's leaving it to him to initiate things going forward. Notice all the awkward moments between them in season 4? Rayla is purposefully giving him the space he needs. I think she knows they need to talk, but she's leaving it up to him to initiate it. "Whatever it is you need to say to me, everything will be fine." She's waiting for Callum to give her a piece of his mind, and she knows it will be tough, but she also knows he needs time to think about everything with clairvoyance and not through clouded eyes (if they had talked on the storm spire for example, I think it would have went very poorly cause Callum was clearly not in a good place.)
@@TheCov I'm wondering if in Season 5 Callum is still not in a good place.
@@robertm.german9248 The hug says a lot. I think he's ALMOST ready
@@TheCov it’s a start and a first
@@TheCov oh right sorry not oblivious I meant pretending.
Interesting
How's college going?
She was a baby when her parents left, of course she couldn't come to battle come on, Calum was an equal to her when she left him, capable of protecting himself like when he's mother and the king went together, simply because she is an equal to him, and also Calum experienced the same thing about being left behind when his parents went to war, it's not by any means a cultural problem, it's only WAR, believe it or not, we don't bring babys to war, the king respected Calum's mother enough that he treated her as an equal and respected her request to come along, the same way rayla's mother and father went together to protect the dragon prince, ITS NOT A CULTURAL PROBLEM, the humans have it as well, it's called war, babys don't go to war, it's just bad writing,
11:28 Because She Was Selfish And Stupid. 😡
Bro calm down i know she make a mistake but stupid or selfish are not the good word
@hannahburke7328 You seriously need to take a chill pill. She made a mistake, but to call her selfish and stupid is beyond despicable. Both sides are at fault. Even before this, their relationship was already showing signs of fragmentation. It was only a matter of time before it would fall apart.
In all honesty, they didn't fully understand each other's cultures and upbringing. This will be their biggest, most challenging obstacle in the coming seasons. With these conversations, they will finally be able to gain newfound trust and understanding, individually and collectively.
In all honesty, if things were going so well, this wouldn't have happened. As I stated, they need to understand each other's cultures and upbringing. And litterally have real important conversations without shouting matches. But that's just me.
rayla is at full fault for that mess
callum is in the right and rayla is in the wrong
'promosm' 😠