Originally Posted by Cowoline
Originally Posted by Tharrow
I like how Halsin is a clear communicator with firm boundaries. He's good representation of relationship anarchy. He is a fun character outside of his sexuality, though it's nice he's also happily and comfortably sexual to a receptive player character. He shoots his shot in realistic ways. I feel desired and pleased by Halsin's writing. I hope more of his romance and friendship gets developed. I would be very surprised if he is written to agree to monogamy at any point, but I hope that it would not be something he is written to arrive at through a storyline that foregrounds free love as something negative about his character, that would be very upsetting to do to this rare example of a polyamorous, relationship anarchy style character in a piece of mainstream media.

I hope that his click-on voice lines are patched in soon.

Okay, so several things:

1. Representation is great - but at a character you add ONLY because of player feedback, this was a very poor choice. It's like they saw the request for romance and fans thought "relationship" the anyluzers thought "Oh, they all just want to bang him.

2. Halsin being comfortable with his sexuality is great. Unfortunately, this is extremely fetishsized in a way that makes it seem like and extremely unhealthy reaction to rape, imprisonment, loneliness, abandonement, being fetishsized by others and being a people pleaser. On his comments on it, in no other context is fine, but when you see the character as a hole this becomes really messy and really icky.

3. You are right about his dialogue if you look at it seperately from the rest of the context. He does try to be upfront and many of his lines are endearing, lovely and wonderful. The issue is, that there are other dialogue that is in direct contradiction to these lines, which gives you whiplash - which is what gaslighters do. Now, a person might be a relationship anarchist, but they can also adhere to monogamy and more importantly: Being a relationship anarchist should not be 1-2-1 comparrable with gaslighting and manipulation - Halsin's poor writing does this.

4. Halsin is presented to us as loyal, kind, carring, supportive and thoughtful by the game itself. But then after the shadow curse he takes this weird turn where everything becomes abnout what he wants - this is even directly stated.

- He tells Tav how he feels about them, and then makes an assumption ()in some cases based out of nothing) that they must feel the same. When they say they feel the same, he is overjoyed and then again, goes back to what he wants - which is a politely worded ultimatum.

- During act 2 he gives several equivalent responses of "soon" and "you should have my full attention", which gives the implication that he is highly dedicated and doesn't partake in anything he isn't fully commited to. This gives the vibes of a slow burn demi-romance - which is also underrepresented btw. But what you then get by act 3 is the exact opposite of that. Specifically saying it's not a relationship, it has no commitment, and no permanency though all other parts of Halsin's personalioty gravitates towards this like a black hole.

- By the end of the game he makes a choice without even really involving Tav - and talks about as if they have no freaking clue what is going on - then gives another ultimatume (again lovely worded, but still an ultimatum) "I want to do this, and I have decided to do it alone. But if you wish you can come by and we can fuck, okay?". Relationship anerchist or no, this is disrespectful to another person and takes away much of their agency

4. Polygamy is wide, but the most healthy poly relationships (not this word) takes a lot of work, commitment, and respect of other peoples agency and feelings. The way poly is presented in the game is not that. With Karlach and Astarion it seems coercede, and they clearly do not like it, but agrees to keep Tav. Just like Halsin requires the same of tav without further discussion. Now, is that really the best representation that could be brought to a relationship prefference that is already under so much stigma?`Personally, I think it's the worst because it confirms all of the most misunderstood believes about it.


So, yes, this is certainly represantion, but it's horrible representation that does harm to everyone involved. I am all for including relationship anarchy (you already have this in Lae'zel) and polygamy - especially the healthy and respectful kind - but for several reasons Halsin was the wrong choice for this because he was a fan request. He was added to please the fans, and as this thread is evidence of, this was not achieved.

I would by fine with Halsin prefering polygamy, but for his personality to do so without discussion or empathy for Tav's feelings or point of view was awful.


I didn't want to mention the topic directly but yes, as it is, Halsin not only has an unhealthy relationship with Tav. On the other hand, since you bring up the topic: isn't it very strange that a good character like Halsin, in those circumstances, would commit himself more to the drow than to Tav? This character really needs an overhaul.