The Brothers Sun
Warning: rant not spoiler-free
Recently, I watched Netflix’s The Brother Sun and to be honest, I’m still not okay, because my mind is for days processing everything and analyzing over and over again.
I don’t watch much TV series and I decided to give the series a chance mainly for the titular brotherhood between Charles and Bruce and the series did not disappoint me in that regard. I’m absolutely drawn to Charles, not just because of his good look (and he does look very good), but his whole character and development through the story and also, how despite being such badass, he was also the one in need to be saved from the life (trap) set by his own father. But above everything else, how much he is similar to his mother, how both sacrificed so much for the family.
I swear, I don’t remember the last time when a female character captured me the way Eileen “Mama” Sun did. All female characters were pretty cool and each interesting in their own way, but Eileen definitely stole the show and ultimately, it is her and Charles' relationship that glued me to this series. And I still think about the parallels between those two characters, especially in regard to Eileen’s two lines, from episode 3 (how those who cook for you and clean after you are those you forget about) and from last one (how much she sacrificed for Bruce and no one ever asked what she wants). Because Charles is the one cooking for people he cares about and who was showed doing widely understanded cleaning (getting rid of the dead body, unpacking Alexis’ things and making her flat more home-like, tidying own room before sleep and we were told he always loved do that as a child) but also the one trapped, the one who never had a choice, the one sacrificing everything for the family’s sake - even when he was allowed to pursue his own dreams, the family came first. And I’m so, so much thinking about Eileen and Charles, as he was the one that would fully support her when she finally decided to take something for herself, to take control over triads as the Dragon’s Head. Bruce, understandable, didn’t want her to be involved with gangsters and murderers, especially after everything they've been through, but also, he didn’t want that for his own sake. She was his mom, there was a normal life to choose and I don’t think he truly gasped how much Eileen sacrificed to spare him the cruel life his older brother was forced into. But Charles would step away from the position of head of family - something he may never want but would carry on as a dutiful son - just to make her plan (desire) come true and later step away from the one thing (baking) he desired for himself to support and protect her. And I’m truly touched by their relationship and how it evolved from each doing things their own way into a well-working team, but also, if Charles will learn from his mother how to be so cunning, he is gonna be a much more dangerous figure in the future.
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I literally figured out the best way to connect Djura and Eileen in Bloodborne because there IS actually a way that Djura’s, “Hey, every beast, every monster…was once a person. They still ARE people,”could influence Eileen and actually become relevant to her story.
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There’s something to be said about Djura’s mentality and how it could clearly be a metaphor for how we see certain people in society. He’s sympathetic. He’s ahead of the game and is shockingly different compared to the people of Yharnam, who literally judge you as lesser and evil based on the fact that you’re an outsider alone.
Beasts? Being people? No way in hell would they accept that. It’s the same issue that Byrgenwerth and the Church had. If they could convince themselves that the sick and the ill were subhuman, then what would stop them from committing atrocities against them? This way too accurate to real life human history as well. We know plenty of examples, and Bloodborne imitates them flawlessly.
“No, these malformed aquatic creatures of this village are not human. It’s okay if we torture and mutilate them.”
“No, these vile-blooded fiends are subhuman. We can genocide them.”
“No, these people in Old Yharnam are all turning into beasts anyway. They lost their humanity. We can burn down their home and seal them away.”
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Djura is considered a fool for what he does, but his kind heart and will to defend those that others consider monsters is incredibly admirable.
Eileen is similar in a sense because her goal is to mercy kill blood-drunk hunters and ensure they die true deaths. There’s honor in what she does even if she doesn’t believe it.
However, it’s clear that there’s also an element of refusal on her part to acknowledge that beasts and blood-drunks are the same. She warns the Good Hunter to keep their hands clean because a hunter should only hunt beasts, not people.
She warns us that there are no humans left, but that they are all beasts now. She knows that they were human once, but she seems to believe it no longer matters because of their transformation. I actually think this may subtly influence how she sees blood-drunks, whether she believes it or not.
We can kind of see it if we attack her during Henryk’s boss fight. The way she talks to us is fascinating.
"Aren't you a shame? You drunkard. Don't display your embarrasing form like a beast. I'll be your humble suicide assistant. You're a hunter, aren't you? Isn't that the true purpose of being a hunter?
Enough already...No one could blame you. Aren't you a shame? You drunkard."
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This is the Japanese translation of course, but it still has the same energy we hear in English. There’s a tone of horror and disgust. To Eileen, it seems like she’s convinced that a drunkard is like a beast. They have taken on a shameful and low form. It’s not willful, but it’s definitely not a sign of true humanity either.
I theorize that Eileen may have lost heart at some point, and no longer sees her task for what it is. She thinks it’s sort of hopeless in a sense, because drunkards and beasts are really no different. At some point she believed that she was allowing hunters to die human deaths…but if beasts are human…then how is her work any different than a normal hunter’s?
I also love the theory that she’s on the edge of blood-drunkenness because of this, and even targeted someone like Henryk that was actually sane. She’s slipping.
But that’s where Djura could come in, because what would save Eileen from the madness of what she does could be the full acceptance of beasts being human. She would have to decide if she was willing to kill them, and since she was already a mercy-killer, she probably would. Not out of malice no, but in the way you shoot a wounded deer. That’s been Eileen’s profession as a crow since she began.
The problem is that she was clearly prepared for the “defilement” of becoming a crow, for the honor-less side to it. She willingly shouldered that burden. But did she do the same with beasts?
And when it became her close comrades losing their minds to the blood, did she accept that they were still human? That they were the same person? Did she tell herself they were monsters to get through the pain of having to see them change so much?
Accepting the truth about beasts could help Eileen to avoid giving the “safe” answer for why drunkards or monsters do what they do. You can’t separate the human from the beast. You have to accept that they are one and the same, even if sick.
That’s the whole point. If you accept that a person does what they do because of sickness and not because they’re an inhuman devil, you can show them mercy. That’s a rarity.
Djura chooses to do this by sparing them, and Eileen does this by way of mercy-kills and an honorable burial. They are similar, but Eileen clearly still struggles with it, and honestly who wouldn’t? Who would want to accept that they had so much blood on their hands?
Who would want to accept that someone you once cared for is absolutely unrecognizable and monstrous now? Who wouldn’t try to cope with that by saying that they simply aren’t human anymore?
No, that’s not the person I knew once…it can’t be them…
No, they’re just a mindless thing now, aren’t they…
(You all know what I’m thinking with that last part lol).
But Djura rejects that illusion and embraces it. They’re not monsters, they’re human. They were human. They are human. No type of sickness would ever change that, be it mental or physical.
Yes, Eileen your targets are no different from the beasts, because beasts are humans too. Yes, it’s horrific and depressing. Yes, it feels hopeless, but that’s why we need vessels of mercy like you and Djura.
They both get the idea, and while Eileen may struggle, I think there could be a lot of potential to dig into her psychology and how she could change her mind in the story. Djura could be a strong source of influence. That’s why I want to connect them.
Eileen very likely lost people in her life to blood-madness. That hurts, and exploring the ways in which a person would try to deal with that just fascinates me. It can be hard to watch someone you love change in a darker way, especially if you feel responsible for it.
In a world like Bloodborne, where actual beasthood is a possibility, who wouldn’t try to convince themselves that such a person had simply lost their humanity?
Aaaaand that’s where the drama comes in :)
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Anyway, shoutout to Eileen and Djura. I love FromSoftware so much.
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i’m loving the name thing, can you please do one for eileen? sending hugs
eileen is such a 1940s woman. clothes are ironed at all times, hair is nicely done, fingernails clean, hat perched above her brow. eileen is prim and elegant. she likes to go out to bars and dances to flirt with people but never lets anything become of it because it’s just for fun! she always insists on splitting the check because she doesn’t want to owe anyone favors. eileen wears blouses and tucks pencils into her hair. she wears heels that hit the ground with a satisfying noise. she has red hair and siren eyes. every night, she has a singular glass of wine as she listens to music from her gramophone. when she falls in love, she falls HARD. crashing and burning. she loses her momentum when she falls in love, and she’s quick to confess her love too. she’s not scared of rejection as much as she’s scared of not trying
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As if Eileen isn't expressive enough, her stand is balls to the walls: ‼️⁉️‼️⁉️.
Since Eileen has spent most of her time with the Hounds being so unrestrained-ly reactive with no problems (if you can't see them, you can't be freaked out by them), SDC brings a very big change!!
Now when Carmine and Clay beg for food scraps everyone can see it, they use the puppy eyes on Joseph all the time. The Crusaders can definitely tell what Eileen is feeling, even when she's trying to hide it because the Hounds are going batshit!!!
This embarrasses Eileen a lot, but it's taking a lot of work to reel the dogs in!
Just argh, how were you supposed to know other people could see your emotional support spirit???
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Thank you to Li 💕 (@lovelikealandslide) for tagging me in this this morning and I completely forgot till right now whoops 🫣✨🌸
10 favorite songs with names in the title: (I chose to do it in alphabetical order)
“Adam’s Song” by Blink 182
“A Letter to Elise” by the Cure
“Alrighty Aphrodite” by Peach Pit
“Andy, You’re a Star” by The Killers
“Bobby Jean” by Bruce Springsteen
“Come On Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners
“Forgot About Dre” by Dr Dre
“Francis Forever” by Mitski
“Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks
“Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)” by Taylor Swift
I’m tagging: @adorelashton @arishemmo @brave-tomlinson @sofsversion and anyone else who wants to you can just say I tagged you I really honestly do not mind 💛🌸🩷
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