Julija Čeng 🌌🌕🐺

I’ve been replying to so many people with this exactly screenshot - I realised I should explain just in case globally some people may not know the story and how LADS marketing is subverting the prejudice of wolves in stories. For context, according to the Cambridge dictionary the definition of subvert is: to try to destroy or damage something. LADS consistently subverts expectations in the writing of all love interests, from a demonic Fiend Underworld Owner having a soft pure love, to a doctor who is actually from the higher plane of existence and was a supreme god, to a sea god who has the power of sun-fire that can harm and heal. A lot of these concepts seem to directly contradict each other, by being the opposite of what you would expect but the narrative shows their complexity through their narrative scope and characterisation. Valko as a werewolf was written to subvert the “big bad wolf” perception from Fairytales and Fables. This isn’t even assumption - the explicitly reference Fairytales in the marketing material for this reason! The infamous “do not bathe in the pot” is a reference to the ending of the story of the Three Little Pigs wherein they manage to trap the Big Bad Wolf that was trying to eat them and kill it by boiling it in a pot. The warning isn’t for women, it’s a warning to a *wolf* to not be trapped and “bathe in the pot” in a tongue in cheek way. Furthermore, in his Foregone Fall trailer they explicitly again indicate to the viewer Valko is a good and trustworthy wolf because they subvert his behaviour from the build up to the pay off. Allow me to explain: Build up: The narrative starts with a fairytale-like slightly haunting rhythm with the visuals of MC alone at night. The text reads: “In every fairy tale, hunters are wolves’ worst nightmare” This is already positioning MC as the one in the position of power, as instead of the wolves tormenting the hunter, it’s the Hunter the wolves should be afraid of. As MC is also a Hunter by occupation, the remark is establishing ironically her job is a Hunter AND within her dynamic with Valko, it is a play on Hunter x Wolf. “Home alone, Hunter? Better watch out-“ This is not a call for danger, it’s the establishment that on this night MC is dealing with the silly nightmare of a wolf instead of the other way around. But it is not literal danger, it’s a joke of him being extremely needy about being in her presence. We can also see from his hand earlier that he has been wounded, so MC’s “nightmare” is a needy wounded wolf who she clearly is attracted to coming to visit her. Pay off: Unlike old stories of evil wolves like Three Little Pigs or Little Red Riding Hood, Valko has no interest in “eating you” in any dangerous way, he just wants to play and adore you. Hence the dialogue goes from a old book style font to a modern bold font (like his modern and bold personality!) stating his “invasion” is not literal but him making his way into your heart. In the Three Little Pigs, the Wolf falls into the Pigs home through the chimney to eat them, but this trailer story is the opposite premise and romantic, with no pigs but a capable beautiful Hunter. There is no chimney, Valko is going to the Hunter’s balcony, and he does not “fall” into her house, Valko “falls” in love with her. Hence the dialogue reads: “Love Falls in Wolf form.“ It’s why the trailer is called Foregone Fall. It is a romantic descent he cannot help but feel for her. It is a conventional paranormal romance trope for the otherworldly being (often a man) to visit a mortal (woman) at night to suggest a sense of secret intimacy and unconventional private romance. Romeo and Juliet has a key scene about this very theme of secret meetings between lovers where he goes to visit her. The premise is around their Bond “Date”, which also indicates the meeting is romantic and potentially Valko being in danger he needs to get away from, so finds safety with MC who he is courting. It is an impromptu date.