#we also presumably see this in 6x01 with everyone else disagreeing with callum about the prison so

[raayllum]

Been thinking about this in the context of the similarities between this scene and conflict in 2x06 vs the conflict of likewise leaving a wounded dragon in 2x07, and in regards to potential mirroring with the main trio, but specifically looping in Amaya, Sarai, and Harrow's responses with Viren being like a narrative vessel for the 'Logical' side of things, so just put a pin there.

Now, while I think there are some aspects of this scene in regards to 2x07 that can be read in parallel — Harrow and Rayla both refusing to leave the wounded, Rayla being mirrored with Sarai leaving to save Viren and said dragon, Callum and Sarai going to save Viren and Rayla, Callum and Sarai collapsing/being injured because of it (varying degree of metaphorical death for Callum as well because of dark magic) — I want to draw a different sort of parallel line here.

This scene, I think, is the strongest piece of characterization we have for Harrow, as it lines up with just about every other decision he makes. He is a servant king, he doesn't set himself above others (Viren being the sole, angered exception), and he is unbendable to this principle. What's most noteworthy about his 'stubbornness' here, however, is that every other person he'd reasonably seek counsel from agrees with each other, and Harrow still doesn't bend.

We don't get the sense from 2x05 that Viren and Sarai agree on much, but here, even Amaya and Viren are in agreement. With that in mind, I'd argue that for the modern day trio:

Rayla is lining up the most here with Amaya (as even though she wants to save the dragon in 2x07, she is more than content to risk only herself do so alone, and 3x01 / 5x04 reaffirms this independent streak, even if it grew worse after Sarai died)

Ezran lines up with Sarai ("We have to get back to Zym" and similar sentiments of togetherness, like his brother, but still a bit more measured. We see this even with when he's encouraging Callum and Rayla to return Zym without him while he goes back to Katolis to be king; sometimes splitting up the group is for the necessary good of the mission)

And Callum lines up with Harrow. Like Harrow, once Callum gets stuck on something, he will not bend or waver, even when everyone else around him is telling him, too.

This is often times a good thing, as his determination helps him be there for people who are less keen to open up ("He persisted, as he always did" with Rayla) and serves as the backbone to his success as a mage, as without his persistence he never would've become a primal mage.

However, like most positive character traits - for Harrow or for Callum - it also sometimes be more negative / circumstantial. We see this unyielding nature get Harrow into trouble in more than a couple of instances, and we also see it happen to Callum, perhaps most notably in 5x04 as he refuses to leave the library even though Amaya, again, and Rayla are both telling him that they have to. And like Harrow, this is coming from a good place: Harrow wanted to help protect the wounded, and Callum wants to help Rayla free her parents.

The biggest difference is, I think, also where Viren is more of an asshole, in that he asserts "You wouldn't do this if it wasn't your wife's sister". This speaks, of course, both to how Viren views the world as well as aspects of his dynamic with Harrow: he wants to be special and important to Harrow, to be above other people to him, but if Harrow would do the same thing for any of them, that noted specialness doesn't well, feel special.

And while I think Callum would be working to free the elves Viren trapped regardless of who they were, because it's the right thing to do, I think the fact that they are Rayla's family is what makes him a little crazy about it, too.

#2x06 #tragic trio #the royal family of katolis #tdp harrow #tdp callum #king harrow #analysis series #mini meta #analysis #we also presumably see this in 6x01 with everyone else disagreeing with callum about the prison so #yeah that bodes well :)) #tdp #the dragon prince