I LOVE that she adds value, which will help in real life to solve the root of many problems, not just distracts from the problems. I try to do the same in my videos (like what lesson people can learn from each "Spy x family" episode).
They both suffered at the hands of their own kind. Difference was that Carmilla wanted a kingdom to make everyone else suffers as she did, but Isaac wanted a kingdom to ensure no-one suffers as he did
I like the juxtaposition between Isaac and Hector's arcs in the season. Where Isaac needs to learn to change his cold outlook, Hector needs to learn that he has to be able to look out for himself. The interesting link between the two of them is that they both have to learn to be the lead of their own story, not the background character of someone else's trauma, pain, and rage.
I like the conversations Isaac has with FlysEyes, a damned soul who decided to embrace the evil he was accused of in life. You can see, especially in the last season when Isaac gives FlysEyes the berry, the idea that's no one gave the night creatures a choice other than to be wicked, but if given a chance, there is goodness.
It's even hinted at before the berry scene with Flyeyes denies playing with the doll to the other demon. He plays it off with "I needed to see it still works." Yeah, sure you did. He just wanted to enjoy something for a moment that wasn't destruction or despoiling as he would say to Isaac in the berry conversation.
First off, I am INCREDIBLY glad you did a part 2 for Isaac and that you hit on his conversation with the Captain which I think is one of the best dialogues in media over the past decade or so. One part I really loved was when Isaac asked him if he denies that the human race is cruel and the Captain says "No". I really loved just how visibly shocked Isaac was and you could tell the Captain had his rapt attention from there on out. I think that was perhaps the biggest reason why the Captain's talk with Isaac worked so well because he started by validating Isaac and his belief about the cruelty of humanity and acknowledging the possibility that maybe we do all deserve to die...but then he follows it up with the idea that maybe we could be better too and planting the idea that Isaac could help people learn to be better. Essentially he did not attempt to refute Isaac's world view which would have only caused him to double or triple down, but got him to consider the possibility that maybe he was not looking at the full picture or considering all the possibilities. I do not know what stars had to align for Castlevania to turn out so amazingly well, but I am grateful that it did. On another note, I am glad to see that I may not be along in my belief that Social Media is perhaps the worst invention of our lifetimes though I have to acknowledge the irony and hypocrisy of me saying that in a UA-cam comment.
I don't know if I've ever seen a side character developed as well as Isaac was. I honestly would have liked to have seen more of him even if it meant less of Sypha and Trevor.
I also interpreted Isaac making his drink the same way as the captain as him coming around to the point of taking care of himself. The captain clearly drinks water with lime as a practice to prevent scurvy. Isaac, who's form of meditation is self-flagellation and was more than willing to die/be a sacrifice, is taking measures to care of his own health in a small way. Primarily, he's finally learning to be kind to himself.
I love the symbolism in the glass of water. The Captain shared his wisdom to Isaac whilst preparing him a cold beverage. And now Isaac doing the same with Hector. His last sentence in the series was perfect: "I'm going to live". His character development from a zealous fanatic to a kind but firm ruler was like seeing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. And we have to thank the Captain for that. He planted the seed on Isaac, and made him question almost everything he once stood for. An interesting conversation is also the one he had with the bug philosopher. For me Isaac saw himself in him, close-minded, with only his designed purpose in mind; and also helped the philosopher to look forward and towards a life.
My experience on social media has been a continual exercise of checking myself from engaging in argument with someone in order to attain some “win.” But there is no winning, everyone loses, and more angry and bitter than before. We don’t sit down and discuss things with people anymore and society is becoming very sick as a result.
It is a question of attitude. I can get quite a lot of interesting conversations from UA-cam comments. The trick is to care so little about the opinions of random people you will never meet that it isn't even worth an emotional response.
It seems pretty pointless BC even if you try to engage people as kind as you can, most of the time it seems like they don't know how to read and just fixate on "one specific part" of your writing and then misinterpret it. The basic definitions aren't even able to be agreed upon.
@@ahn0xdon't discount the % of bad actors in UA-cam comments (or social media more generally) The internet itself is a selection filter with a positive draw for bad actors. You'll meet a much higher % of dishonest people looking to waste your time or make you angry than irl.
Sorry I'm late to the party, but just wanted to point out that here you are having a civil discussion about social media discourse on social media. One thing that's become clear to me through subreddits and discord is that, while r/all (and it's equivalents) might be a circus, there are sub-communities out there where healthy discourse is possible and encouraged. And I think that's worth working towards.
The show is very good at setting up character duality - we have the combination of Isaac who is self-interested but has an excessive trust of others, versus Hector who pairs a total distrust of humans with total subservience of himself to one designated superior. Both end up needing to grow into more fully-functional people and only manage to do this once shocked by trauma into beginning to change, even as they go in entirely different directions. It's very telling that after many encounters with people that contradict Isaac's worldview by being unselfish he simply decides that exceptions prove the rule, but an encounter with the pirate captain, who is exactly the sort of immensely selfish and occasionally dangerous person he believes all humans to fundamentally be and yet is genuinely open and interested in Isaac's self and story, puts the first major crack in his worldview. Even people who are exactly like you think they are can be much more and much better than you expect - a thought that his misanthropic worldview cannot coexist with.
This has been my favorite Castlevania video so far, not just because Isaac's character is my fav in the series but also because of the immaculate way you described their discourse with the captain. There are so many insights to be taken lessons from. I think I've said this before in many other comments, but the thing about people not listening and only trying to win in a convo is one of things that bother me a lot. Not just on the net, but also in person. No one is actually listening and thinking things through, people just say something and are already focused on what they should say next. Very rarely people listen what you say, think about it and answer positively. Most of the time conversations and such discourses feel like talking to a wall. No natural back and forth, only trying to top a point. I also really liked how you mentioned the captain is not aggressive but gentle. "A lot of times we think that the stronger, the louder, the more aggressive we are with something the more powerful our statement is. When you come in with a hammer, sometimes it just breaks things. Sometimes a soft argument is a much powerful one." Well said, because I think this is the summary of Isaac's character development. During his scene with Hector, when Hector asks him what will you do now about Isaac's future plans, Isaac grabs Hector's hammer and says he is "interested in future and interested in building a way to live." Right before that, he says to Hector that they have been tools used for levarage. He grabs the knife to cut the lemon as he says that. The knife he used to cut out humanity from world, the knife he used to make monsters for destruction and revenge. But now he chooses the hammer, the hammer Hector used for "destruction," hammering his way to make his point as you said. And with hammer in Isaac's hands now and him being much more gentle like the captain, he will rebuild and make things better. It all comes along perfectly. I also couldn't stop thinking about Uncle Iroh from Avatar The Last Airbender when I first watched the captain. They both offer drinks, are gentle with their words, wise mentor characters. And your video made me realize Isaac is also exactly like Zuko. You said gentle and soft arguments are much more powerful and persuasive, sometimes they don't work right away but they leave their message more deeply especially if it comes from someone we like. In Avatar, Zuko is an anger driven character, finds purpose in his pain inflicted by his father, is hateful and his entire purpose is revenge. He wants to please his father by catching Avatar, the only hope of the world. He has his mentor Uncle Iroh, who guides him with gentle patience throughout the show, accompained with tea partys. Iroh also shows him that all elements compliment each other and finish each other, that they are the same thing esssentiall but just seem different. He uses his fire element in destructive ways and much later they learn how to create fire in a more natural way from the dragons. Up until that point many firebenders and Zuko believe to create fire you need to be like fire, destructive, like fire burning everything in its path. But dragons, like his Uncle, teach him that fire is not meant to destroy. Fire is passion, it gives life, it is the inner fire and it is beautiful. It can be created without anger. After that his character development peaks, he is no longer vengeful and driven by anger. He then becomes the next firelord himself and leads his nation in the same gentle way. Firebenders no longer see their element primarily destructive and negative, but as the source of life, as passion and inner fire. Isaac is literally the same and I cannot unsee it now. He has been treated bad by people around him as well and finds purpose in his pain and uses pain to focus on his mission. His mission is to please Dracula by destroying humanity through the monsters he create. He wants his revenge and only works towards revenge and destroys. When he meets his gentle mentor character and has a "tea party" he also undergoes the same change. The captain shows him that, just like how killing the avatar is killing what unites people and gives them hope, Isaac killing humanity also kills the joyful and hopeful parts of humanity he recently came to know. He leaves his revenge behind, and among all people him the most loyal servant is the one to say they should leave dracula and his ways behind. Also with his interaction with the night creature that can speak, he realizes they are more than instruments of destruction, but they can actually be useful. Just like how fire can be redefined as a creative force, he redifines the creatures he creates by giving them a second chance in life and also giving night creatures a second chance as tools of creation and helping restore humanity rather than destroy and burn it to ground. He too becomes a kind leader who leads people towards a better life. He also understand that vampires too play a role in nature and he lets Hector hang out with Lenore and doesn't seek to kill her. Just like Zuko acknowledging all elements are the same and they are just a different facade of the same thing and reality and they all complete each other, Isaac also tolerates all creatures now and doesn't seek to wipe any of them out. Anyway, I really liked your commentary on this one specifically. Believe it or not, it is the best analysis of his character I've seen. I also like your simplistic and minimalistic cosplay for this one. Great as always! Can't wait for what comes next.
I really hope at some point, you decide to do Trevor Belmont. I'd love to get a complete breakdown of his character and his journey from a therapists perspective.
Too bad there was not a mentioning of his conversation with Miranda, or how Isaac talks with his phylosopher demon about rebuilding, and his monologue in front of the magician's statue. All powerful scenes, important to his development. But I loved this video anyways, you always know how to bring good points to the table from pieces of dialogue, love your work!
Wow, I wasn't expecting an episode on one of my favorite characters--the Captain, one of the best one-scene characters in animation. (Or two, I guess, if you count the dock as a separate scene.) It's so easy to over-write a "wise" character, having them take on a pedantic air and spout platitudes. I love the Captain's "we're just having a conversation here" style, and I loved how much Isaac (another of my favorite characters, incidentally) really took it on board.
Isaac was the greatest surprise of the show. I was super skeptical of his and Hector's inclusion at first, but the writers forged truly brilliant characters out of both of them. Isaac's journey is one of the most gripping and beautiful things I've seen in a long time.
I was absolutely enchanted by the philosophy in Isaac's arc. Amidst war, monsters, family drama, and perils, they took their time - a lot of time - to just have a chatacter think. It was incredible to witness. His conversations with the beastie whom he offers the berry, with the old witch, with Hector, but first and foremost with the captain are just fascinating and had me at the edge of my seat even though nothing was seemingly happening. To see such a script in our times is a joy and a gift. Thank you for magnificent analysis.
I just realized as you made the comment about Issac traveling the world, unsure if another had noticed this too; but Dracula traveled the world too, as a man when Lisa asked him to give humanity another try. The difference is that Dracula may or may not have learned much on his travel, we do not know the extent of his time traveling. Yet Issac, despite being filled with bitterness and anger, did learn and grow into a magnificent character.
I think their are distinctions Dracula had his wife killed , what would have happened if she wasn't killed..I believe we would see a very different Dracula ....
@@markkaasha2111 Yeah, I believe that was a possibility robbed from them. Though it does bring back to mind what Issac said to Hector about Vampires and their nature of being stuck in the past.
13:12 Thought of an expansion to this analogy of a Hammer. That if you come in with a hammer, you indiscriminately break. If you come in with a chisel, you don’t have the strength to break the layer of rock. If you have both, then you can chip and break away while keeping it whole. You need to be both calm and understanding, but you also need to be firm and confident while speaking to truly try and change someone’s mind.
The Captain's contribution is significant because, in the absence of a profit motive, in the absence of a motive for self preservation, he tries to encourage a troubled young man to self actualize simply because he's been around the block and he knows hurt when he sees it.
I like your take on how social media has us all at each others' throats. I would add to this: social media usually is just text based, and does not allow the benefit of the nuance which accompanies face to face verbal exchange.
I never noticed the parallel with the limes, really amazing Isaac's arc really is the best in the show. His final line of "I'm going to live." with a truly content smile on his face is one of my favorite shots in the series
On the topic of learning: Two items of powerful wisdom my step grandpa gave me (he stepped up to be my dad when he had no obligation to do so): " Do not judge a man by his mistakes, but instead by how he chooses to fix them" "Never leave any person you know without having learned something good from them"😊
Isaac has to be the character who's development I love the most in the castlevania show, his rediscovery of his humanity is very inspiring. I just wish the night creature philosopher had a spotlight when Isaac had a conversation with him.
I absolutely love this analysis and insight given here. My favorite bit about the Captain is after he delivers Isaac and his demon army to their destination the Captain immediately sails away. It's a brilliant move for multiple reasons; the job was done, Genoa would predictably react badly to a demon horde passing through, and the following reactions would be beyond the Captain's control. He did his bit, and moved on. Amazing voice acting from Lance Reddick in delivering a very charismatic performance!
My wife and I have often noted and discussed that in modern "debate and discussion" that it is the viewpoint that is the most emotionally charged that is often seen as being the right one. That whoever feels the most about the issue must be right. That tends to lead to the arguing and belittling, because if you can crack the other person then you are right.
I love how Isaac wears black, representing how he sees humans as inherently evil, but in the end, he wears white, representing how he’s begun to see the good in others.
Thank you for discussing Castlevania. It is such a strong story, with such strong moments and genuine emotion, and people are missing out when they don't know about the show.
I felt like Isaac's fight with the old wizard that controlled and used that entire kingdom as puppets gave him some more clarity of how it's not really "the people" he hated all this time but people with power who were quick to abuse and use others.
I will watch this when I’m hurting and angry at the world cause it always shows me that it’s a part of life and there is still hope for joy in the future and not to let pain cloud my mind
One of my favorite quotes from the show with Isaac would be, “when I am about close to killing the last people on earth, they will asked me: “ why would you do this?” it is because you were all so f*cking rude,”
So true. I was trying to have a constructive argument (open to being proven wrong) and when I proved my point. They said "You win". Win what? We disagreed and I wanted to find an agreement. Turns out they just gave up arguing their point. That was not satisfying. I felt "We" had Lost. True victory is reaching an agreement where ever it may take us. Even if you believe you have the "Truth" you should be able to convince others. Failure to do so means either you don't have the "Truth" or you are poor at communicating or wrong.
Just finished all 4 seasons and wow-Did not expect Isaac to be the best thing!!! Loved his ENTIRE character arc and I’m so glad you did a breakdown of him. Thank you!!!💗💗💗
The same thing happened to me. I met a person that went against my opinions about people and the world in a way that spoke to me. And while I still feel like we are all headed for extinction at an incredible rate I no longer blame everyone for that.
This is an excellent breakdown. I'd like to be like the captain in a way he converses with Isaac, in a honest, charming and charismatic way. Looking for courses and books that teach this.
Isaac is by far my favorite character in the series. I’ve been waiting on your view of him since these episodes started. But watching it was interesting I hope you know your impact of soft conversation yourself, definitely made me think of how i look at the world even in retrospect i felt my guard go up at times and i was just listening but it did give me a chance to analyze my own thoughts a lot of that is deep so i doubt i’ll be pouring a glass of lime water for someone else anytime soon but it gives me thoughts
I really enjoy listening to your analysis of these characters, and how you embody their character and thought process. I do wonder, however, if Dracula sent Isaac to a land away from everything he knew at that time so he could learn to think and act for himself. Dracula is the smartest being in the series, and we all know he was ready to die. But, I think he wanted a different faith for the Forge Masters. I think that is the reason why he sent Issac away, so he could reinvent himself, and become a better person.
I adored this video but really wish you covered the conversation isaac had after defeating the mage where he talks to the bug well rebuilding the town. I think there is something so powerful about him giving this lesson of people and night creatures being more than what there made for, more than just there essence.
You're a natural actress, Georgia. Listening instead of thinking of your next line is the basis of good acting. Also pausing and absorbing. My personal experience is being treated as not worth it or less than, as a man with aboriginal blood. So my voice is more often ignored. And the "fighting" is rarely if ever, fair. Too much opposition, being ganged up on. Too little, if any, support Patience wears VERY thin. Righteous indignation. Emotions pick up steam and velocity and power. BUT I have stopped short. Previously, on my own. Lately though, after an accumulation of yuck...through a very wise red-headed voice of reason. = )
You do a really great job analyzing this! The captain was such a fascinating character for isaac to play off of: he never downplays the world’s cruelty, but reminds isaac of the joys and potential humanity can bring. You’re really good at this (it’s almost like you analyze people for a living 😜) ! I’d love to hear your analysis on the crew from doom patrol, I feel like that’s right in your wheelhouse.
Thank you for your your comment. I did a couple of doom patrol videos. Let me know what you think. ua-cam.com/play/PL3I0HsOf9M_R_Gqs-is0kJ8BmF97dKBNi.html
One interesting thing to notice is that Captain says "If you kill humanity there will be no more jokes, no more gifts, no more surprises". Captain had given several things to Isaac, but it's important to notice that Isaac had given something to the captain - surprise. The same way old trader had given Isaac a mirror, but Isaac can offer him future freedom in exchange. All those characters feed of each other but in mutual way. Unlike others who are trying to parasitically take from each other more then other party can give. The point is that it happens organically. Each of them have their own goals and needs and happen to be able to help.
10:30 Oh my goodness! That describes some conversations I've had with a neighbour. He wants to talk about LGBTQIA+ things, and he asks me about them because I'm Asexual and gender queer. However, he doesn't want to learn about them, because that might make him question his beliefs about gender and sexuality. It gets frustrating. Unfortunately, some people don't want to learn and grow, and there's not really anything you can do about that much of the time.
I think a lot of the time that is the most effective way to reach someone. “I understand where you’re coming from, but….” and just following their logic to its conclusion. In many cases, most people want the same things. The only difference is what we see as the best/ most effective way to reach those same goals.
I find it amusing that everyone in the show grew except Carmella Sypha became a person instead of just a speaker Trevor gained hope for the future Alucard learned he didnt have to be alone or a robot. Issac learned that he didnt need to be cruel if their were other options. Hector was on the verge of learning that he didnt need to be a tool or a pet. The lesbian couple (sorry im not recalling their names) learned they didnt have to stick with carmellas plan and that they could just be happy on their own together. Heck even dracula learned that his initial response was a bit extreme but that he sort of back himself in a corner and their was only the one way out.
I love what you said about learning! About us being curious about others-not being so close minded and so arrogant in our knowledge. I 100% agree with you that I believe our world is the way it is now because people aren’t curious enough about others, desiring to learn about others. I’ve struggled with my own identity and something my therapist gathered from me that he noticed is a part of my identity is my curiosity about life or others.
As someone that has suffered at the hands of his fellow humans and as a result barely even identifies as a member of the species, the captain's words to Isaac were especially meaningful to me. I have to admit, I am torn between wanting to be a force for the betterment of society and wanting to withdraw from it entirely.
If I am not mistaken, this is also the country Isaac is from. I think being in his childhood home again, talking to two older men helped him. If we look, from his slave master to Dracula, he has a complex relationship with father figures and older men. It seems like after his original master taught him there was no love in this world, Isaac craved a father figure to lead him and help him learn the world. I know Isaac said Hector was still a child originally but I also feel him telling Hector it was time to grow up was him acknowledging that up till now, he had still been that scared little boy looking for the love of a father figure. A parent's job isn't just to tell children what to do and keep the world at bay, it's to teach them to stand on their own when the parent is no longer around. You know you did a good job when your kids have truly become independent and by the end, live on their own. That is funnily what the Captain did for him, not Dracula this man he admired, but a random Captain he met by chance. I love his change from evil loyal helper to self confident wise man eager to make up for his mistakes and live a life of peace. It's honestly one of the best story arcs of the series
Yes I agree that The Captain was the real father figure who gently persuaded Isaac to think about things in shades of gray. His one-time presence in Isaac’s life was truly a life-altering moment in the best way, and I enjoy Georgia’s play-by-play analysis of how he accomplished that.
I only recently found your videos, and love them. I absolutely love analyzing characters and looking deep into them as I watch a show or movie. I highly recommend the movie "Drive" with Ryan Gosling, would love to see your break down of that.
More life n health to you and your indepth dive into this is appreciated.... Especially now that critics be more into stuff they dislike... Castlevania was a beautiful surprise... Not perfect but still stands as a masterpiece of art with many deep themes that sometimes might need multiple viewing to really appreciate
Cutting into the real world issues. Another reason to appreciate thus channel. I have a character that I think could make for an interesting breakdown: Kreia/Darth Traya from SW: Knights of the Old Republic 2.
I'd love to see you analyze the character of Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender, along side the rest of the show's main cast. All of them grow in various ways throughout the show's three seasons, but Azula's psychology is an interesting one. I know other youtubers have already done similar videos, but your take on her as a subject would be an interesting one.
I couldn’t agree more and really enjoy your take/analysis on discourse. Wonderful to hear someone say this. I love communication and wish social media and such as you said was more Socratic method than fighting. Keep up your good work ma’am 🎉
Hey Georgia I just thought about this for some reason but I’d suggest look into and doing a video on Thorfinn and his mental development throughout Vinland Saga.
The only time I'd want to not only win a debate but also beat my opponent into the ground is when the nature of our discussion pertains to values I hold to be, say, "objective" good. The point isn't learning in that situation, though understanding my enemy by learning about them and how they think is undeniably useful. The point is to expose and widen doubts, of my opponent or potential observers. To break down their functionally ""evil"" world view and replace it with something not so bad, or at least begin the process of their betterment. Like, if my opponent or the ideas they represent are existential threats to me, maybe I don't care about their feelings.
These are some things I need to learn as well. I loved that Isaac-Captain scene, too. I would like to learn how to be able to speak to folks like that, I'm much too passive aggressive and hve done things in text over the net like you've mentioned. Though, it's mostly because the other person isn't willing to be civil that causes me to deteriorate to the same lizard brained reactional replies. Truth be told, I resonate with Isaac's viewpoint. The human race as a whole is rather despicable, and I've always hated that I am a part of it. In thinking that way, though, it is actually the same as what I hate: judging the masses rather than the individual. If I were to pull a Thanos and snap those that are selfish, hateful and willfully hypocritical toward others, (rather than just half of all beings willy-nilly) I myself would be erased, too.
If I had to name a 'main character' for this show, it would be Isaac, and not Belmont. Belmont doesn't really have a 'journey'. Isaac goes from slave to starting his own kingdom. He's by far my favorite part about this story because he starts with a dark view, but then he also becomes the reason it doesn't need to be the case... all while leading an army of demons. :P
You may be a therapist but you're putting out some of the best literary anylisis ever on this series, I'm absolutely here for it
That is a really kind compliment = ) meant a lot to me
ABSOLUTELY, you have such an awesome perspective of this and so many other stories that makes me appreciate them all the more!
Completely agreed, as some one who loves video essays, I can testify her channel has one of the best analysis compared to other channels
Love it
I LOVE that she adds value, which will help in real life to solve the root of many problems, not just distracts from the problems. I try to do the same in my videos (like what lesson people can learn from each "Spy x family" episode).
They both suffered at the hands of their own kind. Difference was that Carmilla wanted a kingdom to make everyone else suffers as she did, but Isaac wanted a kingdom to ensure no-one suffers as he did
That’s what separates a hero from a villain
@@Plutofar0utHe transitioned from Villian into Anti-hero
He healed in his road of revenge AND self-discovery
I like the juxtaposition between Isaac and Hector's arcs in the season. Where Isaac needs to learn to change his cold outlook, Hector needs to learn that he has to be able to look out for himself. The interesting link between the two of them is that they both have to learn to be the lead of their own story, not the background character of someone else's trauma, pain, and rage.
Well said.
I like the conversations Isaac has with FlysEyes, a damned soul who decided to embrace the evil he was accused of in life. You can see, especially in the last season when Isaac gives FlysEyes the berry, the idea that's no one gave the night creatures a choice other than to be wicked, but if given a chance, there is goodness.
It's even hinted at before the berry scene with Flyeyes denies playing with the doll to the other demon. He plays it off with "I needed to see it still works." Yeah, sure you did. He just wanted to enjoy something for a moment that wasn't destruction or despoiling as he would say to Isaac in the berry conversation.
First off, I am INCREDIBLY glad you did a part 2 for Isaac and that you hit on his conversation with the Captain which I think is one of the best dialogues in media over the past decade or so. One part I really loved was when Isaac asked him if he denies that the human race is cruel and the Captain says "No". I really loved just how visibly shocked Isaac was and you could tell the Captain had his rapt attention from there on out. I think that was perhaps the biggest reason why the Captain's talk with Isaac worked so well because he started by validating Isaac and his belief about the cruelty of humanity and acknowledging the possibility that maybe we do all deserve to die...but then he follows it up with the idea that maybe we could be better too and planting the idea that Isaac could help people learn to be better. Essentially he did not attempt to refute Isaac's world view which would have only caused him to double or triple down, but got him to consider the possibility that maybe he was not looking at the full picture or considering all the possibilities.
I do not know what stars had to align for Castlevania to turn out so amazingly well, but I am grateful that it did.
On another note, I am glad to see that I may not be along in my belief that Social Media is perhaps the worst invention of our lifetimes though I have to acknowledge the irony and hypocrisy of me saying that in a UA-cam comment.
I don't know if I've ever seen a side character developed as well as Isaac was. I honestly would have liked to have seen more of him even if it meant less of Sypha and Trevor.
I agree so much, Isaac is my favorite character
check out avatar the last airbender, full metal alchemist, & vinland saga for similar well written character arcs developed on the level of issac
I also interpreted Isaac making his drink the same way as the captain as him coming around to the point of taking care of himself. The captain clearly drinks water with lime as a practice to prevent scurvy. Isaac, who's form of meditation is self-flagellation and was more than willing to die/be a sacrifice, is taking measures to care of his own health in a small way. Primarily, he's finally learning to be kind to himself.
I love the symbolism in the glass of water. The Captain shared his wisdom to Isaac whilst preparing him a cold beverage. And now Isaac doing the same with Hector. His last sentence in the series was perfect: "I'm going to live". His character development from a zealous fanatic to a kind but firm ruler was like seeing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. And we have to thank the Captain for that. He planted the seed on Isaac, and made him question almost everything he once stood for. An interesting conversation is also the one he had with the bug philosopher. For me Isaac saw himself in him, close-minded, with only his designed purpose in mind; and also helped the philosopher to look forward and towards a life.
I love Issac’s conversations with Flyseyes and totally agree that Isaac saw himself in the creature
Such a mature adult conversation many screen writers should learn from
15:53
"Be the change you wish to see."
And I agree.
My experience on social media has been a continual exercise of checking myself from engaging in argument with someone in order to attain some “win.” But there is no winning, everyone loses, and more angry and bitter than before. We don’t sit down and discuss things with people anymore and society is becoming very sick as a result.
It is a question of attitude. I can get quite a lot of interesting conversations from UA-cam comments. The trick is to care so little about the opinions of random people you will never meet that it isn't even worth an emotional response.
It seems pretty pointless BC even if you try to engage people as kind as you can, most of the time it seems like they don't know how to read and just fixate on "one specific part" of your writing and then misinterpret it. The basic definitions aren't even able to be agreed upon.
@@ahn0xdon't discount the % of bad actors in UA-cam comments (or social media more generally)
The internet itself is a selection filter with a positive draw for bad actors. You'll meet a much higher % of dishonest people looking to waste your time or make you angry than irl.
Sorry I'm late to the party, but just wanted to point out that here you are having a civil discussion about social media discourse on social media. One thing that's become clear to me through subreddits and discord is that, while r/all (and it's equivalents) might be a circus, there are sub-communities out there where healthy discourse is possible and encouraged. And I think that's worth working towards.
The show is very good at setting up character duality - we have the combination of Isaac who is self-interested but has an excessive trust of others, versus Hector who pairs a total distrust of humans with total subservience of himself to one designated superior. Both end up needing to grow into more fully-functional people and only manage to do this once shocked by trauma into beginning to change, even as they go in entirely different directions. It's very telling that after many encounters with people that contradict Isaac's worldview by being unselfish he simply decides that exceptions prove the rule, but an encounter with the pirate captain, who is exactly the sort of immensely selfish and occasionally dangerous person he believes all humans to fundamentally be and yet is genuinely open and interested in Isaac's self and story, puts the first major crack in his worldview. Even people who are exactly like you think they are can be much more and much better than you expect - a thought that his misanthropic worldview cannot coexist with.
This has been my favorite Castlevania video so far, not just because Isaac's character is my fav in the series but also because of the immaculate way you described their discourse with the captain. There are so many insights to be taken lessons from.
I think I've said this before in many other comments, but the thing about people not listening and only trying to win in a convo is one of things that bother me a lot. Not just on the net, but also in person. No one is actually listening and thinking things through, people just say something and are already focused on what they should say next. Very rarely people listen what you say, think about it and answer positively. Most of the time conversations and such discourses feel like talking to a wall. No natural back and forth, only trying to top a point.
I also really liked how you mentioned the captain is not aggressive but gentle. "A lot of times we think that the stronger, the louder, the more aggressive we are with something the more powerful our statement is. When you come in with a hammer, sometimes it just breaks things. Sometimes a soft argument is a much powerful one." Well said, because I think this is the summary of Isaac's character development. During his scene with Hector, when Hector asks him what will you do now about Isaac's future plans, Isaac grabs Hector's hammer and says he is "interested in future and interested in building a way to live." Right before that, he says to Hector that they have been tools used for levarage. He grabs the knife to cut the lemon as he says that. The knife he used to cut out humanity from world, the knife he used to make monsters for destruction and revenge. But now he chooses the hammer, the hammer Hector used for "destruction," hammering his way to make his point as you said. And with hammer in Isaac's hands now and him being much more gentle like the captain, he will rebuild and make things better. It all comes along perfectly.
I also couldn't stop thinking about Uncle Iroh from Avatar The Last Airbender when I first watched the captain. They both offer drinks, are gentle with their words, wise mentor characters. And your video made me realize Isaac is also exactly like Zuko. You said gentle and soft arguments are much more powerful and persuasive, sometimes they don't work right away but they leave their message more deeply especially if it comes from someone we like. In Avatar, Zuko is an anger driven character, finds purpose in his pain inflicted by his father, is hateful and his entire purpose is revenge. He wants to please his father by catching Avatar, the only hope of the world. He has his mentor Uncle Iroh, who guides him with gentle patience throughout the show, accompained with tea partys. Iroh also shows him that all elements compliment each other and finish each other, that they are the same thing esssentiall but just seem different. He uses his fire element in destructive ways and much later they learn how to create fire in a more natural way from the dragons. Up until that point many firebenders and Zuko believe to create fire you need to be like fire, destructive, like fire burning everything in its path. But dragons, like his Uncle, teach him that fire is not meant to destroy. Fire is passion, it gives life, it is the inner fire and it is beautiful. It can be created without anger. After that his character development peaks, he is no longer vengeful and driven by anger. He then becomes the next firelord himself and leads his nation in the same gentle way. Firebenders no longer see their element primarily destructive and negative, but as the source of life, as passion and inner fire. Isaac is literally the same and I cannot unsee it now. He has been treated bad by people around him as well and finds purpose in his pain and uses pain to focus on his mission. His mission is to please Dracula by destroying humanity through the monsters he create. He wants his revenge and only works towards revenge and destroys. When he meets his gentle mentor character and has a "tea party" he also undergoes the same change. The captain shows him that, just like how killing the avatar is killing what unites people and gives them hope, Isaac killing humanity also kills the joyful and hopeful parts of humanity he recently came to know. He leaves his revenge behind, and among all people him the most loyal servant is the one to say they should leave dracula and his ways behind. Also with his interaction with the night creature that can speak, he realizes they are more than instruments of destruction, but they can actually be useful. Just like how fire can be redefined as a creative force, he redifines the creatures he creates by giving them a second chance in life and also giving night creatures a second chance as tools of creation and helping restore humanity rather than destroy and burn it to ground. He too becomes a kind leader who leads people towards a better life. He also understand that vampires too play a role in nature and he lets Hector hang out with Lenore and doesn't seek to kill her. Just like Zuko acknowledging all elements are the same and they are just a different facade of the same thing and reality and they all complete each other, Isaac also tolerates all creatures now and doesn't seek to wipe any of them out.
Anyway, I really liked your commentary on this one specifically. Believe it or not, it is the best analysis of his character I've seen. I also like your simplistic and minimalistic cosplay for this one.
Great as always! Can't wait for what comes next.
Oh raven thank you for this wonderfully thoughtful commentary - ) it was enlightening and gave me things to think on as well
I really hope at some point, you decide to do Trevor Belmont. I'd love to get a complete breakdown of his character and his journey from a therapists perspective.
booze and fights what's to analyze lol 😀
@@idontknowwhatahandleisohwellExactly, no healthy person would make those 2 things their life.
@@Mediados ......wait.....what!.....how is that bad!.....also, for the record, i also paly a good game of billiards so thats THREE THINGS!
@@idontknowwhatahandleisohwellbros entire family was killed when he was a child
Too bad there was not a mentioning of his conversation with Miranda, or how Isaac talks with his phylosopher demon about rebuilding, and his monologue in front of the magician's statue. All powerful scenes, important to his development.
But I loved this video anyways, you always know how to bring good points to the table from pieces of dialogue, love your work!
The most badass character in the show
the captain?
@@idontknowwhatahandleisohwell it works for either character honestly.
The Captain is hands down one of the best side characters ever made. I was hoping to see an analysis of this at some point.
Wow, I wasn't expecting an episode on one of my favorite characters--the Captain, one of the best one-scene characters in animation. (Or two, I guess, if you count the dock as a separate scene.) It's so easy to over-write a "wise" character, having them take on a pedantic air and spout platitudes. I love the Captain's "we're just having a conversation here" style, and I loved how much Isaac (another of my favorite characters, incidentally) really took it on board.
Isaac was the greatest surprise of the show. I was super skeptical of his and Hector's inclusion at first, but the writers forged truly brilliant characters out of both of them. Isaac's journey is one of the most gripping and beautiful things I've seen in a long time.
I was absolutely enchanted by the philosophy in Isaac's arc. Amidst war, monsters, family drama, and perils, they took their time - a lot of time - to just have a chatacter think. It was incredible to witness. His conversations with the beastie whom he offers the berry, with the old witch, with Hector, but first and foremost with the captain are just fascinating and had me at the edge of my seat even though nothing was seemingly happening. To see such a script in our times is a joy and a gift. Thank you for magnificent analysis.
fun fact, the Night Creature he had the conversation with is named "Flyseyes".
I just realized as you made the comment about Issac traveling the world, unsure if another had noticed this too; but Dracula traveled the world too, as a man when Lisa asked him to give humanity another try. The difference is that Dracula may or may not have learned much on his travel, we do not know the extent of his time traveling. Yet Issac, despite being filled with bitterness and anger, did learn and grow into a magnificent character.
I think their are distinctions Dracula had his wife killed , what would have happened if she wasn't killed..I believe we would see a very different Dracula ....
@@markkaasha2111 Yeah, I believe that was a possibility robbed from them. Though it does bring back to mind what Issac said to Hector about Vampires and their nature of being stuck in the past.
13:12 Thought of an expansion to this analogy of a Hammer.
That if you come in with a hammer, you indiscriminately break. If you come in with a chisel, you don’t have the strength to break the layer of rock. If you have both, then you can chip and break away while keeping it whole.
You need to be both calm and understanding, but you also need to be firm and confident while speaking to truly try and change someone’s mind.
well said thank you
The Captain's contribution is significant because, in the absence of a profit motive, in the absence of a motive for self preservation, he tries to encourage a troubled young man to self actualize simply because he's been around the block and he knows hurt when he sees it.
I love how Issac learned a fair amount from the captain
I like your take on how social media has us all at each others' throats. I would add to this: social media usually is just text based, and does not allow the benefit of the nuance which accompanies face to face verbal exchange.
What a masterful performance by Lt. Daniels, gonna miss that guy.
Excellent Rant, Needed because “Curiosity” is something we each need to be more of.. that’s ok
My favorite bit is the Captain, didn't give his name, as he is old enough to know what a magic user can do with having your name.
I never noticed the parallel with the limes, really amazing
Isaac's arc really is the best in the show. His final line of "I'm going to live." with a truly content smile on his face is one of my favorite shots in the series
On the topic of learning:
Two items of powerful wisdom my step grandpa gave me (he stepped up to be my dad when he had no obligation to do so):
" Do not judge a man by his mistakes, but instead by how he chooses to fix them"
"Never leave any person you know without having learned something good from them"😊
Nice. Sounds like you were blessed to have a wise and loving grandpa!
The conversation with the captain is my favorite moment in the series. So goood!
Isaac was such a well written mature character
Isaac was easily my favorite character on the show. The development the writers gave him was quite good. Your analysis rings true :)
Isaac has to be the character who's development I love the most in the castlevania show, his rediscovery of his humanity is very inspiring. I just wish the night creature philosopher had a spotlight when Isaac had a conversation with him.
I absolutely love this analysis and insight given here. My favorite bit about the Captain is after he delivers Isaac and his demon army to their destination the Captain immediately sails away. It's a brilliant move for multiple reasons; the job was done, Genoa would predictably react badly to a demon horde passing through, and the following reactions would be beyond the Captain's control. He did his bit, and moved on. Amazing voice acting from Lance Reddick in delivering a very charismatic performance!
My wife and I have often noted and discussed that in modern "debate and discussion" that it is the viewpoint that is the most emotionally charged that is often seen as being the right one. That whoever feels the most about the issue must be right. That tends to lead to the arguing and belittling, because if you can crack the other person then you are right.
New viewer; I was worried the last vid would be your only one him. But the theme focus is an awesome way to do it!
I love how Isaac wears black, representing how he sees humans as inherently evil, but in the end, he wears white, representing how he’s begun to see the good in others.
Thank you for discussing Castlevania. It is such a strong story, with such strong moments and genuine emotion, and people are missing out when they don't know about the show.
The Captain is probably my favorite character in the entire series, he's just such a good person!
I felt like Isaac's fight with the old wizard that controlled and used that entire kingdom as puppets gave him some more clarity of how it's not really "the people" he hated all this time but people with power who were quick to abuse and use others.
I will watch this when I’m hurting and angry at the world cause it always shows me that it’s a part of life and there is still hope for joy in the future and not to let pain cloud my mind
One of my favorite quotes from the show with Isaac would be, “when I am about close to killing the last people on earth, they will asked me: “ why would you do this?” it is because you were all so f*cking rude,”
Wish I could find a therapist this insightful
So true. I was trying to have a constructive argument (open to being proven wrong) and when I proved my point. They said "You win". Win what? We disagreed and I wanted to find an agreement. Turns out they just gave up arguing their point. That was not satisfying. I felt "We" had Lost. True victory is reaching an agreement where ever it may take us. Even if you believe you have the "Truth" you should be able to convince others. Failure to do so means either you don't have the "Truth" or you are poor at communicating or wrong.
YES I LOVE THIS CHARACTER SO MUCH.
Just finished all 4 seasons and wow-Did not expect Isaac to be the best thing!!! Loved his ENTIRE character arc and I’m so glad you did a breakdown of him. Thank you!!!💗💗💗
You always find the best shows to analyse
I'm starting to get my recommendations from here
thats great hehe !!
Yes, the Talk no Jutsu arc. I love it!!
The same thing happened to me. I met a person that went against my opinions about people and the world in a way that spoke to me. And while I still feel like we are all headed for extinction at an incredible rate I no longer blame everyone for that.
such a great point that the captain really wants to know Isaac
This is an excellent breakdown. I'd like to be like the captain in a way he converses with Isaac, in a honest, charming and charismatic way. Looking for courses and books that teach this.
Love your videos, they make me appreciate these series even more.
Glad you like them! thx so much
Isaac is by far my favorite character in the series. I’ve been waiting on your view of him since these episodes started. But watching it was interesting I hope you know your impact of soft conversation yourself, definitely made me think of how i look at the world even in retrospect i felt my guard go up at times and i was just listening but it did give me a chance to analyze my own thoughts a lot of that is deep so i doubt i’ll be pouring a glass of lime water for someone else anytime soon but it gives me thoughts
My top two favourite characters: Isaac and The Captain.
I really enjoy listening to your analysis of these characters, and how you embody their character and thought process. I do wonder, however, if Dracula sent Isaac to a land away from everything he knew at that time so he could learn to think and act for himself. Dracula is the smartest being in the series, and we all know he was ready to die. But, I think he wanted a different faith for the Forge Masters. I think that is the reason why he sent Issac away, so he could reinvent himself, and become a better person.
I adored this video but really wish you covered the conversation isaac had after defeating the mage where he talks to the bug well rebuilding the town. I think there is something so powerful about him giving this lesson of people and night creatures being more than what there made for, more than just there essence.
You're a natural actress, Georgia. Listening instead of thinking of your next line is the basis of good acting. Also pausing and absorbing. My personal experience is being treated as not worth it or less than, as a man with aboriginal blood. So my voice is more often ignored. And the "fighting" is rarely if ever, fair. Too much opposition, being ganged up on. Too little, if any, support Patience wears VERY thin. Righteous indignation. Emotions pick up steam and velocity and power. BUT I have stopped short. Previously, on my own. Lately though, after an accumulation of yuck...through a very wise red-headed voice of reason. = )
You do a really great job analyzing this! The captain was such a fascinating character for isaac to play off of: he never downplays the world’s cruelty, but reminds isaac of the joys and potential humanity can bring.
You’re really good at this (it’s almost like you analyze people for a living 😜) ! I’d love to hear your analysis on the crew from doom patrol, I feel like that’s right in your wheelhouse.
Thank you for your your comment. I did a couple of doom patrol videos. Let me know what you think.
ua-cam.com/play/PL3I0HsOf9M_R_Gqs-is0kJ8BmF97dKBNi.html
@@GeorgiaDow *THATS AWESOME!*
Imma check that out thank you!
One interesting thing to notice is that Captain says "If you kill humanity there will be no more jokes, no more gifts, no more surprises". Captain had given several things to Isaac, but it's important to notice that Isaac had given something to the captain - surprise. The same way old trader had given Isaac a mirror, but Isaac can offer him future freedom in exchange. All those characters feed of each other but in mutual way. Unlike others who are trying to parasitically take from each other more then other party can give. The point is that it happens organically. Each of them have their own goals and needs and happen to be able to help.
10:30
Oh my goodness! That describes some conversations I've had with a neighbour. He wants to talk about LGBTQIA+ things, and he asks me about them because I'm Asexual and gender queer. However, he doesn't want to learn about them, because that might make him question his beliefs about gender and sexuality. It gets frustrating. Unfortunately, some people don't want to learn and grow, and there's not really anything you can do about that much of the time.
I think a lot of the time that is the most effective way to reach someone. “I understand where you’re coming from, but….” and just following their logic to its conclusion. In many cases, most people want the same things. The only difference is what we see as the best/ most effective way to reach those same goals.
I find it amusing that everyone in the show grew except Carmella
Sypha became a person instead of just a speaker
Trevor gained hope for the future
Alucard learned he didnt have to be alone or a robot.
Issac learned that he didnt need to be cruel if their were other options.
Hector was on the verge of learning that he didnt need to be a tool or a pet.
The lesbian couple (sorry im not recalling their names) learned they didnt have to stick with carmellas plan and that they could just be happy on their own together.
Heck even dracula learned that his initial response was a bit extreme but that he sort of back himself in a corner and their was only the one way out.
16:15 same
That was a very heartfelt video 🙂
13:21 Sounds like the discussions that happen between Isaac and the talking demon Fly Eyes.
Isaac was hands down the most interesting character
I love what you said about learning! About us being curious about others-not being so close minded and so arrogant in our knowledge. I 100% agree with you that I believe our world is the way it is now because people aren’t curious enough about others, desiring to learn about others. I’ve struggled with my own identity and something my therapist gathered from me that he noticed is a part of my identity is my curiosity about life or others.
I admire your detail, thought and care with how you perform your analysis as always 💗! Love this.
Thank you so much!
As someone that has suffered at the hands of his fellow humans and as a result barely even identifies as a member of the species, the captain's words to Isaac were especially meaningful to me. I have to admit, I am torn between wanting to be a force for the betterment of society and wanting to withdraw from it entirely.
If I am not mistaken, this is also the country Isaac is from. I think being in his childhood home again, talking to two older men helped him. If we look, from his slave master to Dracula, he has a complex relationship with father figures and older men. It seems like after his original master taught him there was no love in this world, Isaac craved a father figure to lead him and help him learn the world. I know Isaac said Hector was still a child originally but I also feel him telling Hector it was time to grow up was him acknowledging that up till now, he had still been that scared little boy looking for the love of a father figure. A parent's job isn't just to tell children what to do and keep the world at bay, it's to teach them to stand on their own when the parent is no longer around. You know you did a good job when your kids have truly become independent and by the end, live on their own. That is funnily what the Captain did for him, not Dracula this man he admired, but a random Captain he met by chance. I love his change from evil loyal helper to self confident wise man eager to make up for his mistakes and live a life of peace. It's honestly one of the best story arcs of the series
Yes I agree that The Captain was the real father figure who gently persuaded Isaac to think about things in shades of gray. His one-time presence in Isaac’s life was truly a life-altering moment in the best way, and I enjoy Georgia’s play-by-play analysis of how he accomplished that.
I only recently found your videos, and love them. I absolutely love analyzing characters and looking deep into them as I watch a show or movie. I highly recommend the movie "Drive" with Ryan Gosling, would love to see your break down of that.
Glad you enjoy it!
More life n health to you and your indepth dive into this is appreciated.... Especially now that critics be more into stuff they dislike... Castlevania was a beautiful surprise... Not perfect but still stands as a masterpiece of art with many deep themes that sometimes might need multiple viewing to really appreciate
What a great message of thoughtfulness and enlightenment in an age when those things seem out of fashion. Bravo!
It's difficult to hate Isaac for everything he's gone through, for the changes he went through and for where he ended up!
I like when Issac speaks with that bug guy.
yes I almost added that in also - very telling
Cutting into the real world issues. Another reason to appreciate thus channel.
I have a character that I think could make for an interesting breakdown: Kreia/Darth Traya from SW: Knights of the Old Republic 2.
A muscle gets stronger through stress. If your ideas are challenged, (in a safe and respectful way), it's healthy.
I already loved this scene, but the depth at which you were able to expand upon the details helped me love it even more! Thanks ❤
Thank you for shining some light on one of some of my favorite scenes in this show 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I'd love to see you analyze the character of Azula from Avatar: The Last Airbender, along side the rest of the show's main cast. All of them grow in various ways throughout the show's three seasons, but Azula's psychology is an interesting one. I know other youtubers have already done similar videos, but your take on her as a subject would be an interesting one.
Isaac and orlox are my favorite.
I couldn’t agree more and really enjoy your take/analysis on discourse.
Wonderful to hear someone say this. I love communication and wish social media and such as you said was more Socratic method than fighting.
Keep up your good work ma’am 🎉
The captain was the father figure Issac needed.
Y'know, i'm probably coming out of left field, but here's my character-to-cover suggestion:
*Varney Of London.*
Hey Georgia I just thought about this for some reason but I’d suggest look into and doing a video on Thorfinn and his mental development throughout Vinland Saga.
Thank you so much for these videos. You've save my life just by posting those videos. ❤
The only time I'd want to not only win a debate but also beat my opponent into the ground is when the nature of our discussion pertains to values I hold to be, say, "objective" good. The point isn't learning in that situation, though understanding my enemy by learning about them and how they think is undeniably useful. The point is to expose and widen doubts, of my opponent or potential observers. To break down their functionally ""evil"" world view and replace it with something not so bad, or at least begin the process of their betterment.
Like, if my opponent or the ideas they represent are existential threats to me, maybe I don't care about their feelings.
Fuck ya! This is the one I was waiting for.
Es la primera vez que veo una reacción así que me gustó mucho, muy buen vídeo
Despite Carmella’s comment Isaac is actually the most interesting man in Draculas court 😂
The Captain was voiced by the inimitable Lance Reddick. He is a talent truly missed.
Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your thoughts: lots of great insights. Blessings on your day!
Oh gosh! I do now wonder what your study of Syril Karn from Andor would be
These are some things I need to learn as well. I loved that Isaac-Captain scene, too. I would like to learn how to be able to speak to folks like that, I'm much too passive aggressive and hve done things in text over the net like you've mentioned. Though, it's mostly because the other person isn't willing to be civil that causes me to deteriorate to the same lizard brained reactional replies.
Truth be told, I resonate with Isaac's viewpoint. The human race as a whole is rather despicable, and I've always hated that I am a part of it. In thinking that way, though, it is actually the same as what I hate: judging the masses rather than the individual. If I were to pull a Thanos and snap those that are selfish, hateful and willfully hypocritical toward others, (rather than just half of all beings willy-nilly) I myself would be erased, too.
I love your views and takes on this series through individual breakdowns..... im so curious as to wha you would take on Fullmetal Alchemist
Try Savathun next.
I'm curious of what you can tell about the Witch Queen of Lies.
If I had to name a 'main character' for this show, it would be Isaac, and not Belmont. Belmont doesn't really have a 'journey'. Isaac goes from slave to starting his own kingdom. He's by far my favorite part about this story because he starts with a dark view, but then he also becomes the reason it doesn't need to be the case... all while leading an army of demons. :P
Absolutely brilliant
Excellent episode, very much daoistic. Thank you.
Will you be covering the Flyman philosopher?