The Dragon Prince: Claudia and the Price of Blind Loyalty │ A Video Essay

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  • Опубліковано 11 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 108

  • @scarjaisero4716
    @scarjaisero4716 2 роки тому +78

    I can actually see Aaravos trying to replace Viren with Claudia by manipulating Claudia, acting supportive of her and teaching her new dark magic and to eventually reject her father by use of lies (or Viren to leave Claudia) till he is the only "positive" figure in her life.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому +6

      I can see that being a possibility! :D

    • @Zarastro54
      @Zarastro54 2 роки тому +7

      I think this is exactly what’s going to happen. Viren no longer has a purpose now that humanity is safe and Claudia has more potential than him. I think he will either be incapacitated by Aaravos as leverage from Claudia, or slowly start a redemption arc where he realizes the weight of what he’s done.

    • @ZahrqOfficial
      @ZahrqOfficial 5 місяців тому +1

      You were right

  • @ethenallen1388
    @ethenallen1388 2 роки тому +50

    An important part of Soren's story is that a bad decision he made ended in his back being broken. The only reason he survived was because of Zym and King Ezran. With no movement or sensation below his neck, he could only think about how his actions had brought him there. Then he got a second chance, and chose the path that Zym and Ezran represented.
    Claudia hasn't had that experience and might not get it.

  • @emilyleek-dyer887
    @emilyleek-dyer887 3 роки тому +99

    One of the things I'm most interested to see is her reaction to Callum using primal magic because Claudia is only willing to use dark magic as her solution to her problems because she believes it's the only magic that humans can use because that's what her father taught her she's ok with hurting animals and magic creatures because she thinks it's the only option in order to help people so I'm interested to see how she reacts to Callum considering it completely goes against her worldview also great vid Your Dragon Prince content is the only thing keeping me alive till season 4🐸

    • @ethenallen1388
      @ethenallen1388 2 роки тому +8

      If you think that's going to be interesting, wait until she finds out about Calumn's relationship with a certain magical creature.

    • @emilyleek-dyer887
      @emilyleek-dyer887 2 роки тому

      Lol I didn't think of that😂 plus if the theory that Harrow is in Pip is right then imagine how he's going to react to that

    • @DragonGoddess18
      @DragonGoddess18 2 роки тому +3

      There's a chance that Claudia will see Callum doing primal magic and being Rayla's boyfriend as "siding with the enemy/aiding the oppressor/rewarding bad behavior" in her point of view

    • @ethenallen1388
      @ethenallen1388 2 роки тому +1

      @@DragonGoddess18 And drive her further under Aaravos's control.

    • @ZephyrBW
      @ZephyrBW 2 роки тому +1

      I loved that scene because it showed A new side to Callum underneath that noble heart there’s also a heart that just as dark as it is noble.
      Like a pure sweet honey you get to experience for the first time again.

  • @DragonGoddess18
    @DragonGoddess18 3 роки тому +100

    I don't think Claudia is a bad person.This is a nice take on this. I didn't call it blind loyalty at first because the way I interpreted it was this: Claudia's acting the way she thinks a good daughter should act. Whether she convinced herself of this or Viren had a hand in it, she thinks standing by her father's side is the morally right thing to do. Loyalty isn't always a bad thing but it shouldn't stop you from doing what's right,kinda like how Rayla is loyal to her adoptive father,Runaan, but she went against the mission to take the Dragon Prince back to Xadia. Even if it meant losing her hand ( Although I do think they should have had a better contingency plan for the assassin bindings if plans changed or they got the wrong target or anything else)

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +7

      Really cool thoughts! :D

    • @DragonGoddess18
      @DragonGoddess18 3 роки тому +15

      @@Virrow Thank you
      I liked how when Soren left, he did not force Claudia to go with him because for one, he probably remembers how harsh their parents divorce was on her and didn't want to her to relive that pain again. And two, forcing her to leave would make him no different than what Viren was doing in that point of the storyline and Soren didn't want to be like him,at least not anymore.
      Although, I am curious about how Aaravos is gonna treat Claudia when he comes back

    • @abigailemolina4403
      @abigailemolina4403 2 роки тому

      True 😊, BTW I thought Rayla's adoptive father is Ethari or maybe they are both adoptive father's of Rayla is it?

    • @DragonGoddess18
      @DragonGoddess18 2 роки тому +2

      @@abigailemolina4403 🤨 Dude. Ethari and Runaan are a married couple and they adopted Rayla after her parents left to be Dragon Guards. Both Runaan and Ethari are her adoptive parents

    • @MrTombombodil
      @MrTombombodil 2 роки тому +2

      They definitely also indicate that it's not just loyalty, she is bending over backwards to justify maintaining a relationship with Viren because she can't stand to lose another parent. People will do serious mental gymnastics to overlook the flaws in the people they love.

  • @carlslater8843
    @carlslater8843 3 роки тому +51

    Nice take! Tbh it’s plausible that Claudia could become the main villain of the show. Even though we see Viren start to really lose it at the end of season 3. He’s actually the most conflicted between Claudia and him. I think we’ll see Aaravos begin to corrupt Claudia and it’ll be Viren that gets a redemption arc. Eventually going against Aaravos to save his daughter. After all Claudia is the only character he has openly said he loves.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +9

      That would awesome!! I would love for that to happen! :D

  • @florinaslan5482
    @florinaslan5482 Рік тому +6

    Claudia was a heart of gold,
    With intentions pure and bold,
    She wanted to do good in the land,
    And lend a helping hand.
    But dark forces did conspire,
    And Claudia's path did mire,
    Manipulated by deceit,
    Her actions became incomplete.
    She fought to keep her family near,
    But her struggles did not disappear,
    She tried to keep them all together,
    But in the end, it did not matter.
    Though Claudia's heart was true,
    And her intentions pure and blue,
    In the end, she couldn't win,
    Against the dark forces within.
    But even in her final hour,
    Claudia had the strength and power,
    To know that she had tried her best,
    And that her love would forever rest.

  • @infinityc2859
    @infinityc2859 2 роки тому +11

    I just realized something: Both times Claudia was faced with a choice between one of her loved ones and the other, both times the person that left her chose for her to save her the pain. I feel like it would be really interesting if Claudia was faced with another choice between two people she loves with no one choosing for her. That would be horrible for her, but that could be like ripping off the band-aid of her emotional baggage. It would be the start of a possible redemption arc... or she could go the Jinx route and literally go completely nuts and start a war... either way would be awesome

  • @chandlerblack1667
    @chandlerblack1667 2 роки тому +12

    When it comes to Claudia falling back to Dark Magic for everything, I believe it's because she does see it as a sure-fire shortcut to whatever she wants in the short-term. It's like using a cheat sheet or cheat code initially used as a "safety precaution"; if things get too hard, you have a guaranteed backup. But as you use it and get your results immediately, you're tempted to use it more and more. For Claudia, she is convinced that Dark Magic has an answer for everything. But as she is starting to depend on it more deeply, I know we're gonna see how much this changes her.

  • @infinityc2859
    @infinityc2859 2 роки тому +7

    It's easy to forget how damaged Claudia is. She clearly has a strong fear of abandonment, because everyone she loved she lost. Her mother left her when she was a child. Callum and Ezran, her two best friends from her childhood, both "abandoned her" (In truth, it was technically her own dark ways that scared them off, but in her eyes they left her). Her brother later left Viren, and because she couldn't choose between her brother and father, he made the choice for her and left. Then, her father, the only one she believes who truly cares for her anymore, dies. So its no wonder why she has blind loyalty and a fear of abandonment. (Not saying her actions are excusable because of this, she still has done awful things and has questionable morals, but she's a villain that's truly understandable).

  • @thenewdragonguard6670
    @thenewdragonguard6670 2 роки тому +29

    I like this essay. One important trait I'd like to add: She evades responsibility. We saw her with that deer, it's not like she's apathetic. Yet she uses dark magic on a regular basis, even for her pancakes. If something achieves results, she will never think about potential liability. The justification comes from the education her father has given her and whom she trusts unconditionally. That may be why she breaks in situations requiring responsible behavior. She can't accept Sorens injury and behaves like a whiny child when Soren leaves.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому +3

      I completely agree with you here. I think you have a great insight about her avoiding responsibility. I think that is definitely something we can see her father doing as well. At least we know where she gets it from.

  • @leshyaedawnfire
    @leshyaedawnfire 2 роки тому +32

    One incorrect thing you said in Claudia's backstory is that she chose to stay with Viren in the divorce. It was actually Lissa, their mother, who made that choice for her to keep the siblings together after Soren chose to stay with Viren. This actually plays into her later conflict with Soren, as she begs him not to make her choose.

    • @RyuSpike
      @RyuSpike 2 роки тому +7

      This becomes doubly tragic because Soren was recreating that moment with her mother leaving the family. Soren chose for her to stay with Veren and left just like their mom. That "No no no!" are like daggers being stabbed into her heart.

  • @danielramsey6141
    @danielramsey6141 17 днів тому +1

    After Season 7. Claudia is in a Much Darker place now. She’s losing herself more and more, and sadly, it’s never going to get any better till a Mirror is in her face repeating and revealing all the Horrible things that happen to her.

    • @AuraKumo104
      @AuraKumo104 9 днів тому +1

      At least Claudia in season 7 still didn't completely fall from grace. She still cares about Callum and Soren. She told Callum during their fight "I don't want you dead. I don't hate you." and then she fled. She told Soren in the last episode "I could kill you but I won't. I'm still nice, I'm still me." Plus she was really upset that he gave up on her. I definitely think she'll be redeemed by the end of the series but her path might get even darker first.

  • @Zarastro54
    @Zarastro54 2 роки тому +12

    Here’s my prediction: Claudia will slowly be led deeper into darkness by Aaravos, and Viren will slowly realize the weight of the things he’s done. Her hair turning white (imo) represents her life force being drained away by extreme dark magic use, and it looks like she’s spent half her life force trying to resurrect her father. Aaravos will continue to manipulate her until he encourages her to use a spell that risks expending the rest of her life force or otherwise manufacture a situation where her life is in danger. Viren by this point fully realizing what his actions have caused will try to get her to stop and ultimately end up sacrificing himself for her sake in a permanent death, probably saying something along the lines of, “I was already supposed to be dead; you gave me extra time to atone for my actions. Now live” and THEN she will understand where they both f*cked up.

  • @bobacat2888
    @bobacat2888 Рік тому +2

    Claudia is my favorite character, and I wholeheartedly believe that she isn't a bad person by nature. Rather, she's experienced a lot of trauma and her father literally taught her to follow blindly and set her up to be manipulated. Despite that, I can see how the writers are setting her up to become the main villain. If she lost her brother or her father for real, she could turn into a Delilah Briarwood-type character pretty easily. If she gets a redemption arc in the future, I would adore that, but I think her path is going to get worse before it gets better.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  Рік тому +2

      Bringing up Delilah Briarwood instantly lets me know you are a very cool person!

  • @osmanthuswine5336
    @osmanthuswine5336 3 роки тому +12

    Claudia is one of my favorite characters I really hope she is able to see the light and do what is right eventually

  • @Shadowcat107
    @Shadowcat107 2 роки тому +12

    Did you noticed Claudia's hair is kind of turning White? If she keeps on using dark magic her hair is going to turn White. She's not seeing what her father is doing and staying as a loyal daughter.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому +5

      I think she is turning her hair white to steal Rayla's look lol jk XD

    • @Zarastro54
      @Zarastro54 2 роки тому +2

      Kind of turning white? She’s full on Cruella De Ville after the time skip.

  • @alastor858
    @alastor858 2 роки тому +11

    Claudia might be smart in books and magic but not very smart with common sense hopefully she sees the errors in her ways and gets redeemed💖

  • @ShatteredShqrd
    @ShatteredShqrd 2 роки тому +3

    The relationship between her and terry is very similar to her and her fathers Claudia killed for her dad’s life and terry killed for hers, and she has blinded loyalty to her father and terry has blinded loyalty to her.

  • @seatherny_y
    @seatherny_y Рік тому +1

    claudia is literally me as an animated character 😭

  • @mrunaltondre6051
    @mrunaltondre6051 3 роки тому +19

    She is loyal to Viren as technically and logically he hasn't done anything wrong during his rule, if consider their history it was humans who were always oppressed by the elfs and dragons and dark magic was just created to create a balanced power between elfs and humans and when an oppressed community forms a nation which is always in the threat of getting attacked or invaded by a powerful enemy the weak is most likely to do the first attack to tip the scale in their favor and I have heard people saying that viren did wrong killing the inhabitants to sunfire elf kingdom but I ask what would have elfs done if they marched through human lands for them humans are basically pests and killing them is nothing more than pest control, soo basically for her he isn't a bad guy yet

    • @ethenallen1388
      @ethenallen1388 2 роки тому +5

      Did you see what he did to his own soldiers?
      The dragons and elves could have committed genocide a thousand years ago, but chose to drive humans to the west.
      The most important thing Team Zym has been doing is breaking a cycle of violence and the chains that have been holding their peoples back.

    • @RyuSpike
      @RyuSpike 2 роки тому +2

      @@ethenallen1388 If I recall the lore right, it was the Dragon Queen of that era that made that call after an elf suggested that they didn't exterminate the humans. Which is still an awful thing to do, but could've been worse considering that the Dragon King was Sol Regem aka that one racist grampa at the family union who nobody really likes but feel obligated to invite anyway. He would 1000% go for the human extinction plan before anybody could ask him what they should do.

  • @lilrockstar8170
    @lilrockstar8170 2 роки тому +2

    I don't think I've ever felt as bad for a character as I do for Claudia...
    Also, Eryth Sea Day! Nice music choice

  • @Sebastian20745
    @Sebastian20745 3 роки тому +8

    This went from 🤔 to 😥 real quick

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks for watching, Sabastian! :D

  • @ahmedalissa7620
    @ahmedalissa7620 Рік тому +2

    seeing season 6 trailer your words resonated with me.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  Рік тому

      Thanks!
      Thanos: "They called me a madman."
      🤣

  • @nenenei
    @nenenei 3 роки тому +8

    I WNAT THE GODDAM NEW SEASON AM DYING

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      Me too fam XD

  • @EGV88
    @EGV88 2 роки тому +5

    Personally, I hope she keeps descending into darkness, slowly destroying herself. Don't get me wrong, she's one of my favourite characters, but I think I would love the drama of someone so bubbly and eccentric to slowly withering away from playing too much with powers she doesn't fully understand.

  • @Vic-se1fz
    @Vic-se1fz 2 роки тому +4

    Fantastic video, Virrow! I do also hope she gets redemption, but it would be interesting to see what she'd be like as the main villain. If she does become good, I'm curious what her relationship with Team Zym would be like. Definitely do not want a love triangle drama. I actually think that she and Callum could for a healthy platonic relationship. Since they've known each other for so long and share an interest in magic, they could be great friends. He could teach her about using primal magic. And I would definitely like to see how she mends her relationship with her brother.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому

      That would be such a great way for things to play out! I would love that! :D

  • @renatooliveira7680
    @renatooliveira7680 3 роки тому +5

    I haven't watched yet (I'll do it later), but I can conclud by the title that you became Joshua Fagan.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      lol I love Josh's videos :D

    • @renatooliveira7680
      @renatooliveira7680 3 роки тому +2

      @@Virrow Me too! He's one of the reasons why I want to course Philosophy.

  • @chialuenlis5931
    @chialuenlis5931 2 роки тому +2

    With the season 4 trailer, Viren looks like he has dug a hole too deep to get out. As people keep saying: "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Viren, though noble, would sacrifice the majority for a minority. He hasn't raised his children properly. His son wants to kill him. His daughter has become sociopathic.

  • @slightlyembittered
    @slightlyembittered 2 роки тому +2

    This was really good. The loop got a bit annoying, but the essay and scenes you used to emphasis your points were really good.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому +1

      Thanks for the watching and the feedback! :D

  • @ZephyrBW
    @ZephyrBW 2 роки тому +1

    The love of a daughter is ho wants her family more than anything is despairing

  • @emillyhale7557
    @emillyhale7557 2 роки тому +2

    I feel Claudia's pain, being a child of divorce myself. I understand her loyalty to her family. Still, it doesn't mean that blind loyalty to her father... even at the risk of her own soul, is right.
    I don't hate Claudia, but I certainly don't envy her either. Though I admit I can relate to her in a lot of ways, e.g. quirkiness, broken home. I could never kill animals like she does though.

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому

      I feel ya. My parents are divorced too. Let's hope Claudia gets back on the right path :)

  • @tartlynerdy
    @tartlynerdy 2 роки тому +2

    Honestly, I find it harder and harder to sympathize with Claudia the longer this drags on with more and more people trying to tell her that Viren is human garbage and should be left alone to deal with the consequences of his decisions instead of being bailed out or defended for being horrible & manipulative.
    Here's my takeaway from watching this character's decline over the seasons: she has unresolved mommy issues. In her mind, MOM was the one that broke the family. MOM was the one that made her choose and SHE left her kids behind. So Claudia has put her father on top of a pedestal and now Soren has decided to leave Claudia just like their mom. She's acting like a child.
    Case in point: I was rolling my eyes at the scene where Soren just calmly walks away from his sister. She asked him not to make her choose but I couldn't help feeling that Claudia was hoping Soren would have gotten mad or at least fought a little before walking away? Maybe she didn't expect Soren to actually be mature and respect what she wanted? Either way. I've just washed my hands of this girl, lol. It highly looks like the writers intend for her to crash and burn in these daddy issues.

  • @gagaball88
    @gagaball88 3 роки тому +7

    This is gonna be interesting

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      Thanks for watching Gabs!

    • @ost6279
      @ost6279 3 роки тому

      yo am subbed :DD

  • @kamikazexd11
    @kamikazexd11 3 роки тому +2

    Claudia is loyal to Viren and Viren is loyal to "Humanity"

    • @ethenallen1388
      @ethenallen1388 2 роки тому

      The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

  • @sofialarsson9100
    @sofialarsson9100 2 роки тому

    I see Claudia either going towards the villain or the redemption road. Both are very interesting to me! Also, you've earned a new sub :D

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  2 роки тому

      Welcome aboard! Thanks! :D

  • @thevioletbee5879
    @thevioletbee5879 2 роки тому +3

    I kinda want her to replace Viren’s role as secondary big bad. Redeeming her would be a tad too easy a route to take.
    Also, based Xenoblade music.

  • @Lord_Derpington
    @Lord_Derpington 3 роки тому +1

    I don’t think it has to be an elf she used because maybe the magic came from somewhere else. Like she used a different creature to cast the spell that transferred the lifeforce of a random human into Viren

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      Yeah I think that could be what happened

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      A soul for a soul LMAO

  • @ost6279
    @ost6279 3 роки тому +4

    Virrow nice vid :D

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks for watching fellow human! :D

    • @ost6279
      @ost6279 3 роки тому +1

      @@Virrow virrow your remember me from joshuas vid?

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому

      @@ost6279 I think so :D

  • @Sand_0
    @Sand_0 3 роки тому +6

    I got my friend to watch owl house and tdp and now they are brainwashed
    Also forced them to ship rayllum

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      You are doing good work

    • @Sand_0
      @Sand_0 3 роки тому +1

      @@Virrow thank you master

  • @JustMe21233
    @JustMe21233 3 роки тому +4

    I was asleep and missed the video:(

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      It just came out like 30 minutes ago so you are one of the first here! :D

    • @JustMe21233
      @JustMe21233 3 роки тому

      @@Virrow thanks :D

  • @icedcream414
    @icedcream414 3 роки тому +1

    *I C E D C R E A M*
    I love the different kind of video this is, really cool

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks! I like to try different things every so often XD

    • @icedcream414
      @icedcream414 3 роки тому +1

      @@Virrow it’s great!

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +1

      Thanks so much frin!!😁

  • @altithoraxperotorum5133
    @altithoraxperotorum5133 3 роки тому +3

    I wonder how claudia will react about aaravos

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +1

      It'll be interesting for sure

    • @thedragonprinceaaravos
      @thedragonprinceaaravos 2 роки тому

      avaraos is going to flirt with her💗🔥🔥🔥🔥🤣lol

  • @ShatteredShqrd
    @ShatteredShqrd 2 роки тому +1

    Welp ibis died because of her and terry :/

  • @lady.c4846
    @lady.c4846 2 роки тому +2

    I noticed with Claudia is that she thinks her father's right and she has to follow on her father's path cuz she thinks that's the right thing to do and she doesn't see that she's hurting people she was kind she was sweet I like Claudia I would honestly love to see her become good in the show at the same time I have no idea she hates elves and rayla is a elf so it's hard tell me what you think 🤔🙂 p.s love your videos 😍 and hi

    • @acutechicken5798
      @acutechicken5798 Рік тому

      She's dating an elf. What she hates is the arrogant and racist attitude elves tend to take about humans. In the past, the elves did mass scale ethnic cleansing on a continental scale upon the humans. The elves and dragons viewed them as inferior beings. So, everything she does makes sense in this context. She wants to balance the scales so humans can also prosper.

  • @wolfkitty42
    @wolfkitty42 3 роки тому +4

    This is sad :(

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +3

      I know Mel I hope she finds her way :(

  • @ozmasterofmasks5838
    @ozmasterofmasks5838 3 роки тому +1

    Can she be already considered a zealot though? Mmmmm

  • @darkshadows7817
    @darkshadows7817 6 днів тому

    So sad

  • @Sand_0
    @Sand_0 3 роки тому +5

    FIRST

    • @Sand_0
      @Sand_0 3 роки тому +2

      Also very good vid just what we needed

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      Your prize for winning is in the mail! XD

    • @Virrow
      @Virrow  3 роки тому +2

      Also thanks so much for watching! :D

    • @Sand_0
      @Sand_0 3 роки тому +2

      @@Virrow my pleasure