Unwittingly Brilliant Characterization

ktg said:
More like he was traumatized.

ktg said:
More like he was traumatized.

Euphoria177013 said:

I agree, someone seeing their entire village slaughtered in front of them + more. I'm sure it would have an effect on how they open up and form new relationships.

Drizzy_Dan said:
Hands down the best thing about this show is the fact that Goblin Slayer is clearly autistic and, given the time period, no one around can tell and just thinks he’s kind of a weird, shy guy. It’s actually such a powerful piece of representation that anime, as a medium, may not have ever explored - even if done by accident.
The way that he begins to learn to pick up on social cues and care outwardly for others through immersion by being with his party is actually brilliant. I came for the gritty violence of the first episode but I stayed to see these characters develop and persevere!

Daoooal said:
Goblin Slayer is autistic.

In episode 3, the Priestess has to explain the concept of a discussion to him. The administrators at the guild call him inscrutable, and say he’s not bothered by rudeness. He doesn’t always explain himself thoroughly, but he always explains himself clearly. He wields a direct and simple logic, with a vast knowledge of his work. And he spends all day, every day, obsessing over his special interest: slaying goblins

This isn’t mentioned at all in the anime. The anime pays a lot of attention to the effects of trauma, but the discipline of psychology isn’t exactly prominent in Goblin Slayer’s heavily D&D-inspired medieval fantasy world. Still, when you take a neurodivergent lens to watching the show, it’s inescapable. The distance put between autistic people and the rest of the world by lack of ability for physical expression is manifested directly before the viewer in the form of a helmet that hides Goblin Slayer’s face.

Anime isn’t always the best when it comes to representing diverse experiences and identities. And this is particularly unexpected in a show often accused of being rape porn, and which does have gratuitous breast shots. However, it’s authentic, and it’s easy to understand. There is something for neurotypicals to learn here.

I’m glad diversity and authenticity can exist in such unlikely places.

Merve2Love said:
That would be "brilliant" if it wasn't made up by you (or some Youtuber you like) and if it was actually canon^^
I would be down for a Comedy/Slice of Life version of Goblin Slayer, focusing on autism - mixed with some wholesomeness to learn about the condition.


In reality it's not that deep, tho.
It's just a Power Fantasy, pandering to more introverted people, who enjoy scenes with the MC learning some Social Skills or people who simply wanna watch some easy, mindless Goblin Slaying.

LucenProject said:
"Souka"

@Drizzy_dan others also asked this as far back as 2018 from what I can tell. As I've watched this season, he also reminded me of Batman.

I think it brings up an interesting question about art. If an artist sets out to draw a cow but people see a zebra, what did the artist draw? It might seem silly in the context of skilled and mature artists, but same applies to a 4 year old. At what point do we change from saying "the artist drew what we see it as" to "the artist drew what they sought to draw"? (Or vice versa, of course.)

I think any art of any form consumed by others beyond the artist is subject to this question. I also think people simply saying it's one answer or the other at all times, while seeking a clean answer, undermine art's ability to highlight the complexity and messy nature of life and perspective.

ktg said:
@Drizzy_Dan That's not autism.
I'm not a psychologist, but what we are seeing here is more like a depression and PTSD combonation or something like that.

Drizzy_Dan said:
Hands down the best thing about this show is the fact that Goblin Slayer is clearly autistic and, given the time period, no one around can tell and just thinks he’s kind of a weird, shy guy. It’s actually such a powerful piece of representation that anime, as a medium, may not have ever explored - even if done by accident.
The way that he begins to learn to pick up on social cues and care outwardly for others through immersion by being with his party is actually brilliant. I came for the gritty violence of the first episode but I stayed to see these characters develop and persevere!

sailaway30 said:

OK one goblin slayer is not autistic to just enjoy this story and stop worrying about stupid representation. That is just one of the many things that has been ruining Hollywood. Oh and one more thing fuck Disney fuck Hollywood.