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#lackadaisy #characters #alignmentchart
Published: 2023-06-15 11:00:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 3839; Favourites: 30; Downloads: 0
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Description
If you've been on Youtube lately, you might have heard about the animated short "Lackadaisy", a project created and based on the homonymous web-comic by .Set in St. Louis (USA) in 1927, it's a tragicomedic story about the secret moonshine bar (aka speakeasy) Lackadaisy and its illustrious crew (displayed via anthropomorphic cat-people). Hard-pressed by competition and devastated by the death of original proprietor Atlas May, the Lackadaisy lacks man-power, customers and a constant supply of consumable goods. So most of its hard graft goes to a trio of unexperienced newbies: Atlas' god-daughter Ivy, the washed-up cop-in-training Calvin "Freckle" McMurray and (chiefly) the always-ressourceful, but genuinely clueless Rocky Rickaby.
A description of the characters of the characters you can find here: Lackadaisy
Also please check out the (LACKADAISY (Pilot) - YouTube ) and the comic (Lackadaisy ) if you haven't already, because d this chart will make much more sense that way!
Now, usually, I'd show my appreciation through a review or something. But rather than being humble and economic, I have to do this the hard way: a "Dungeons & Dragons"-style alignment chart of the major characters.
I feel that's the only way to do these nuanced characters the justice they deserve.
For explaination:
"Lawful" in this context means not so much "the law", but "any law" - everything from a religious moral code or a higher authority to ideals of duty, tradition and honour.
"Chaotic" means the character embraces individualism and believes in a world ruled by change and luck.
"Neutral" between them is defined by flexibility, having a personal code OR switching between opportunism and self-interest.
"Good" and "Evil" are defined by the willingness to commit immoral things along those lines.
"Good" encompasses altruism, a respect for live and a concern for others (though not necessarily for evil-doers).
"Evil" is ruled by oppressing, harming and killing for various, not-all-that justifiable reasons.
"Neutral" Characters might be still compassionate and have compunctions against harming others, but can't or won't change the means they have to employ.
Lawful Good - Wick Sable
As a loyal patron of the speakeasy, Wick is not - and never was - directly involved with the iniquities committed behind the scenes and only constitutes as "compliant" by enabling himself and others to plenty quanta of alcohol (and maybe sponsoring medical treatment of a hurt gangmember).
A gentle man and rather naive, he is haunted by even the most harmless acts of violence (committed against a duck in his youth) and still rejects entering a joint partnership with the Lackadaisy on any contractual base - despite Mitzy May's all-too-enticing offerings.
Neutral Good - Ivy Pepper
By now, Ivy is presumably the Lackadaisy-crewmember whose sins don't go beyond joint knowledge and the mildest compliances. As Atlas' god-daughter, she knows most of the staff since childhood, but has only recently joined their business, since it involves her friend Rocky and her new boyfriend Calvin. Even then, she mostly assists as a driver. But even though her loyalty and her altruism determine her actions, she's yet willing to call others out on their behaviour and look out for friends that might be harming themselves. Deep down, she also grows a bit wary on the criminal lifestyle and the consequences it might hold for herself.
Chaotic Good - Rocky Rickaby
Rocky embodies the Chaotic Good-lable to a tie: Even though his personal motivations are not always completely clear, he combines a general disregard for rules and regulations with an ingenious brain full of good intentions, but little foresight.
Most of the times, his actions are supposed to bring a change for the better, but already have the stint of impending backlash. He's still a rambunctious child in that way, with a lot of affection for his employers in the "Lackadaisy", but very little regard for casualties and (subconsciously) a selfish streak.
And while that usually may qualify him as evil or somewhat neutral, it's very clear that he's far more clueless than malevolent: He just wants to belong somewhere and does everything to keep that state.
Lawful Neutral - Calvin "Freckle" McMurray
Freckle - by all accounts - seems to be a pretty straight-forward example of Lawful Good: He's gentle, docile, shy, a devout catholic and prone to justice... overall, he's very much devoted to moral values and an altruistic demeanor...
... maybe a little too much. For as much he might be revelling in catholic guilt, he never seizes to resist the requests of his dear cousin Rocky. You could call it "going with the flow", though "gullible to a fault" might be appropriate, too. (Plus, Rocky's musings on the difference between "lawful" and "righteous" and "justifiable digressions" might have something to do with it.)
His internal conflict seems to be along the lines of freedom and free will, and there are nothing but devils on his shoulder.
Last but not least, Freckle is also covertly doting on weapons - whenever he gets hold of one, his insecurities flow down the gutter and he turns into a different, very gun-savvy person. It's implied to be the reason why he had to leave police academy... and it's the ultimate reason why Rocky recruited him for the initiating gang war.
He still seems to be a fundamentally good person, but it depends on his own initiative to tip the scales of destiny in his own favor.
True Neutral - Dorian "Zib" Zibowski
As far as the Lackadaisy's crew is concerned, Zib is the least involved in its daily affairs, neither joining in for crime activities, just playing the sax for the few remaining patrons. He has no delusions about the Lackadaisy's state and fate, but can't really convince anyone to leave it behind, the least bit Mitzy May, his former partner in music and love, whose marriage to Atlas he views as a mistake. Under several layers of smoke and grass, his moral compass and sense of survival might remain intact, yet have to go back through years of drug addiction to actually come into action.
Chaotic Neutral - Mitzy May
My personal favourite character, Mitzy is not everything you'd expect from a femme fatale in a crime story. Sure, she's gorgeous and she has mysteries, there's a bit of a golddigger in her, but she also has a big taste for high risks and is the occasional troll, even if the moment absolutely does not call for it. Like a gambling addict, she never knows when to stop, and that's the core of her character: She's determined to bring the "Lackadaisy" back to old glory, and - unlike Rocky - she doesn't attempt to justify it by any means other than personal attachment. Knowing the methods on which her husband's empire was built, she might be hesitant to follow him entirely down the rabbithole, but she already plays with the lifes of those who joint her and isn't above manipulating the sympathies of those who can benefit her. She only leaves it to Rocky to do the dirty work...
However, despite her general morbid outlook, it's still on the hook if she's made to be a villain. So far, she's merely interested in good business ventures, has a favorable relationship with her stuff and only employs violence to defend her livelihood.
Lawful Evil - Mordecai Heller and Viktor Vasko
Both former henchmen of Atlas May, Mordecai and Viktor were essential in the violent build-up of his organisation. Of the two, Viktor is the more applicable to social values - he started out with a worker's union and got bailed out by Atlas' lawyers after a strike went sour. Once he decided to "pay off his dept", his former social life burned to ashes in the smouldering pits of the Underworld. And so, Viktor stayed with Atlas - first because he felt it his duty, later because he had no other place to go... and at last because a certain someone crushed his knee cap. Nowadays, Viktor is more on the Neutral side of things, but he still considers the Lackadaisy a home, and its crew as the closest thing to a family.
Mordecai however paints a much clearer picture... a picture of absolute symmetry. He adheres to a strict work ethic, absolutely impersonal and of meticulous efficiency... no matter if it's statistical math or cold-blooded murder. Showing some signs of OCD, he's handcuffed to Order as much as Rocky is to Chaos. Getting into underground business from a very young age due to poverty, Mordecai also got acquired by Atlas in a time of personal strife, but ultimately left the Lackadaisy in the turmoil after Atlas' death to join the Marigold-gang. Which clearly wasn't his best choice, given his partners are the Savoys...
Neutral Evil - Asa Sweet and Atlas May
Asa Sweet manages the speakeasy beneath the Marigold-Hotel and is currently the head of the Marigold-gang. He was once on friendly terms with Atlas May (who met his wife on the Marigold's stage), but didn't extent the hand of friendship towards his establishment and now exploits all necessary means to drive the "Lackadaisy" out of business. As far as evil goes, he's not oppressive or even unpleasant, but beneath his jovial attitude and soothing words, he has very little qualms. He might be justifying his deeds by the demands of higher-ups and play up the benevolent, but he will also make tasteless jokes about death and pain frequently, and takes a certain delight in his people's cruelty.
Atlas May on the other hand is... more difficult to read. He's more of a posthumous character and very little is shown of him (the least of it dialogue). He's far more stoic than Asa, shows little emotions even upon battle, and is described as "by all means an opportunist". Most of his people have been recruited while in peril, and even with honest feelings for his wife, one can't call him neither saint nor devil...
Chaotic Evil - Serafine Savoy (and her brother Nicodeme)
The Savoys are currently the bloodhounds of the Marigold and the biggest weapon against competition and other minor threats to the business. They are more or less Chaos incarnate - to the point they actively worship the Loa Maître Carrefour (aka Kalfu), who has a key to the spiritual world and allows the "crossing" of destruction, misfortune and injustice. And legit practicioners or not - they are definitely implied using the cult to gain themselves some influence in the circles of St. Louis. But outside of that, they're already evil enough, enjoying their criminal activities like a hunting sport and laughing at the sight of incoming havoc. Expectedly, they don't get along too well with their colleague Mordecai and treat his cold professionalism with gleeful mockery.
(c) Lackadaisy and all related artwork is owned by Tracy J. Butler and only serves illustrating the work in question.
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(And now you've checked it out... we agree it's good? Just incredibly, mind-meltingly good? Good? Good.)
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Comments: 3
sarkomndsarkomnd [2023-09-22 05:22:14 +0000 UTC]
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BluegirlWoomy [2023-06-18 07:37:37 +0000 UTC]
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Fermin-Tenava In reply to BluegirlWoomy [2023-06-18 09:25:43 +0000 UTC]
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