March 2025

I’m relistening to TMA season 5 and as I’m doing so, I can’t quite shake the feeling that Martin was mainly needed there for the viewer so that Jon would have to explain himself to both him and the audience

It’s really odd to me that in s5 the canon doesn’t really utilize the fact that Martin is also an avatar. He got tossed into the Lonely, got marked by it, got his own domain in the eyepocalypse, but that was it! The rest of the time he’s just hiking through the Fearscape. Feels like wasted potential to me.

Especially since this fact could be used for further jmart bonding. Sharing their experiences of feeding the Fears etc. But the narrative made Martin completely unaffected by his avatarhood, just so he could be that oh so necessary anchor for Jon’s humanity. They should’ve both gotten a bit more monstrous. It would’ve made them worse but also infinitely more delicious.

I’m going to try and see something

Idea: Jon and Martin have eachother but they’re still lonely -> Martin’s Lonely aspect is showing -> Martin WANTS to be alone and he also wants Jon to stay with him -> Martin purposely isolates Jon from everyone else so that Jon has to stay with him, can only stay with him.

Martin’s Lonely aspect should’ve been highlited more in season 5 instead of just being a vessel/medium for his angst. He should’ve been shown as more monstrous pleeeease. His relationship with Jon should’ve been portrayed as more supernaturally unhealthy. Hurting people is not always physical, and you’re not always aware that you’re being hurt. The Lonely would’ve been so cool if it were also shown as a weapon, as something that can hurt you just as much as the Eye’s compulsion. Not just as a tool for Martin’s character development. The harmful isolation motif should’ve been maintained in season 5 as well instead of being discarded for the sake of the human-monster dynamic.

Every day I mourn monstrous Martin. They could’ve been so much better auuugh…. AND it could’ve made Martin drop the weird superiority thing he has over Jon in s5. That or he would become the ultimate hypocrite (tasty)

Martin fans who acknowledge that he kinda sucks are my greatest friends and allies. You and I, we’re in this together. Hold my hand