Reflection and Analysis

VLD - Infinate AU Doesn't Mean Your AU/Ship is Valid (3/12/19)

I've seen some fans thinking along the lines, "since we've seen that there are an infinite number of alternative universes that means the AU that I wrote, and my OTP exist."

Nope.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions regarding alternative universes but misses one of the biggest messages which should be taken away from the final season. I'm talking about the fact the multi universe theory only covers possibilities. Seriously, the theory says there is an infinite number of possible universes, not simply an infinite number of universes. An impossible universe is still an impossible universe. A few may be thinking, but it's impossible to have an impossible universe.

How about an alternative universe where there are no alternative universes?

The fact alternative universes exist does not give the writer the excuse to write badly, nor does it mean their bad writing gets a pass. As a writer of AUs and a staunch lover of the AU it is insulting to see writers try and use the genre I love as an excuse for their bad writing, but even more insulting when they try saying I'm the one who doesn't know what I'm talking about let alone love the concept. Yes, I've had a few writers say I don't like AUs and should just sod off.

I'm not saying people shouldn't ship what they want to ship. I don't take issue with that at all. I do though take issue with people who are denial about their ships; the ones who see things which are not there, but not seeing things they should. I mean, in what universe would a strong female character like Allura fall back in love with the man who thought experimenting on their people was okay? In what universe would a strong female like Allura be with a guy as possessive as Lance.

The VLD universe imploded on itself because the writers tried forcing impossibilities to be possibilities.

So no, we shouldn't be taking the message that all AU stories out there are valid because they're not. They're only valid if the writer makes them so. The same goes with ships, they're only valid if the writer utilizing the ship makes them so. I'll be one of the first person to say there is practically no impossible ship out there, the writer simply needs to make it possible, but not by making other impossibilities like the issue of OoC happening.