terraaurea: I know that part of this season was selflessness not needing to be rewarded, but poor Pi
terraaurea: I know that part of this season was selflessness not needing to be rewarded, but poor Pidge honestly deserves so many praises for what she gave up this season just because she cares about Lance and Allura so much. The number of frames included in Pidge’s expressions when Romelle asks her to accompany them to find Allura a dress is insane. There are more than I can fit in here. The fluidity of the animation is there for a reason, folks. Pidge has gotten a lot better over the show with talking to people, being comfortable with them rather than just with technology. But the first scene is the most uncomfortable we may have ever seen her. With Colleen’s great mother’s jokes it makes it seem at first that it’s because Pidge is a tomboy–but we see later that really, her fashion sense isn’t nearly as ridiculous as others’ (it’s just subdued and minimalist). Her discomfort is probably because she actually has had feelings for Lance–not that she would expect him to reciprocate. He felt like Allura would never love him because he was “just a boy from Cuba, not a Space Prince like Lotor.” If paralleled, Pidge probably could have thought something like she was “just an awkward nerd who has more connections with technology than people, not a beautiful Space Princess like Allura.” Pidge certainly is proud of her genius/intellect, so she wouldn’t have put herself down for that, but her mom’s comments on her fashion sense likely hurt a little (parents do this without meaning it normally) because Loverboy Lance’s type (she thinks) is the traditionally gorgeous type. She hasn’t wanted to have to face her feelings, hoping they would resolve itself and go away. But she has to face it here. She goes from shocked and wide-eyed, to avoiding all eye contract. Her eyes dart back and forth so much–there is no reason to have this many frames showing her avoidance of eye contact. She pulls her tablet in close, making herself small. Because she shows some emotions on her sleeve (it’s the eyebrows–we large eyebrowed folks understand, Pidge!), she even has a moment of being annoyed, if not vindictive. But she pulls back, agrees to go. She works HARD to help them. She even gives up something that one hand, Rizavi just wants to finish (”I’ve been waiting to finish that game for 3 years!!”), but which means so much more to Pidge. Her saying there won’t be time to play it is insanely sad. She and Lance wasted time digging in a MALL FOUNTAIN to play a game and relax together. The fact that they are going to another ‘mall’ is (likely) written paralleling, but the body language in the situation here is purposefully designed paralleling, because I don’t trust the writers to have cared as much as I trust the storyboarders. Her giving up this game and saying there is no time to play is a lie–it is actually that there will be no time for her and Lance (and whoever wants to join), to have time to sit, play, enjoy one another’s company when she knows that he is going to be devoted to something that involves Allura–who is more interested in other things. But she does it, because she cares so much not only about Lance–but about Allura. She wants them to be happy. This isn’t a sign that Pidge is less materialistic, as much as Rizavi’s materialism foils her here. It is showing that she has a loyalty to her friends that runs deep. This happens again at the carnival, though by that point Pidge jumps right on it rather than giving any hesitation. By that point she has devoted herself to their happiness, and it is so touching. As much as I’m glad they didn’t pit Pidge and Allura against one another (that would be so painful to watch and against their characterization at the core), the fact that Pidge does show a couple moments of pure discomfort is characteristic of her feelings. I hope she got to talk to her mom about this–would have been another great “this is how teenagers address serious romantic feelings for the first time if they aren’t usually flirty” moment to go with the other great Colleen and Pidge moments, but alas. Headcanon it is. It does hurt, though, that Lance may not know that she gave this up. It is nice that Allura thanks her–but Allura does not quite understand what a sacrifice this was for her, which isn’t her fault. We can see it in Pidge’s bittersweet smile when Allura thanks her. This could have been (but is was a wasted opportunity for) another great parallel to the Space Mice telling Allura that Lance washed them and really likes her. Her expression of “Oh…he said that?” Allura could have told Lance “Oh–we almost weren’t able to find an outfit! But Pidge bartered this Phantasm game–we couldn’t have done it without her!” to which Lance would have understood, and been like “Oh…she did that?!” He probably really would have appreciated it, and a thank you from him probably would have meant the world to Pidge. Headcanon it is. This made my soul cry -- source link