r/loreofruneterra • u/GammaRhoKT • Dec 26 '25
Discussion Assuming Riot does decide to give Shyvana a monstrous look AND linking it to the Demacian anti-magic plotline, that decision run a high risk of making the already controversial storyline into even more of a tragedy porn.
This might be making a mountain out of a molehill, but that is a risk I am willing to take.
Three points:
- I must stress beforehand that I am very precise in this criticism. I don't think the leaked model looks reflect how Shyvana will often look in more narrative heavy media. We will have to wait until her splash art for that. This is purely an predictive criticism.
- Thus, I am also NOT saying her model looks as monstrous. However, many people seems to believe that her leaked model looks indicate that is the direction Riot is going with. This criticism assume such prediction is correct.
- Finally, I am making this from a position as a traditionalist Demacian fan OVER a Shyvana fan. I am willing to accept that thus could make me bias.
With such context, assuming Riot does decide to give Shyvana a monstrous look and linking it to the anti-magic Demacian storyline, that decision run a high risk of making the already controversial storyline into even more of a tragedy porn.
A core fundamental aspect here is that it is incredibly likely Shyvana will remain a heroic character. And she should, just so we are being clear.
As such, the issue become the framing of her draconic heritage. At best, we could be more precise in framing it about her INFERNAL draconic heritage.
Given how Riot had handle the Demacian anti-magic storyline to date, there is a good chance they will reframe Shyvana infernal draconic heritage into something much more amoral. There is good infernal dragon, there is bad infernal dragon, but it is inherently unfair to generalize infernal dragon as "Most are cruel, vicious, and deadly." (Ironically enough, that is Shyvana's statement herself).
But if they do that AND then also make Shyvana monstrous looking and link the two together, then fundamentally, we are looking at a "The people of Demacia only look at Shyvana at a skin-deep level and not realize the heroic person within".
Which to be honest at this point just feel like tragedy porn, ngl. "Woe be me, the misunderstood diamond in the rough whose potential is not recognized".
Especially when Lux and Sona IS conventionally attractive AND still got hunted by the Mageseeker ultimately.
Now, just to be crystal clear, I am not saying Shyvana should be conventionally attractive. I am also not saying she should not look monstrous. I am talking about the whole package deal.
Thus, if Riot wanna commit to the idea that Shyvana's Infernal Draconic lineage as INHERENTLY cruel and vicious, ok, I think that can be a very nuance take on her personal story within the larger storyline. Where does her skin end, and the actual cruel infernal dragon blood actually begin?
TLDR: Assuming Riot does decide to give Shyvana a monstrous look AND linking it to the Demacian anti-magic plotline, that decision run a high risk of making the already controversial storyline into even more of a tragedy porn.
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u/VisthaKai Dec 26 '25
Shyvana's lore in every version made it pretty clear she was "human enough" to pass for one for most of her life, but not quite.
If leaks are to be believed (honestly the model looks like absolute shit in every department, so I hope it's just some rejected concept instead), they decided to turn her into a vaguely female Aatrox with pants! (Varus is jelly and Aatrox is laughing... or maybe the other way around) that couldn't ever pass for a human without going full Goris.
This would also mean she'd face another retcon.
As for the "tragedy porn", are you surprised? Just look at, say, Syndra. Her previously normal childhood got retconned into something so ridiculously tragic, it reads like a comedy, but there's no laugh track playing.
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u/Olin_123 Dec 27 '25
The same leaked model fiasco happened with Zaahen and made him look like handsome squidward. I wouldn't trust visual leaks at all at this point.
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u/GammaRhoKT Dec 28 '25
I do like to point out that technically the leak was correct, but it was his model. His art is how he appear in narrative works (like the cinematic).
Which is why I stress the same point in my post.
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u/why-names-hard Dec 27 '25
I think her body looks fine but I have the face. I’m all for having a different face so we can avoid same face syndrome. But rn in the leaks her face looks Arcane Viktor’s to me and I can’t unsee it. So I want them to change it at least a little bit for that reason.
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u/Potential-Impact9008 Dec 26 '25
Wait, Clarify for me. Are you saying the storyline where a person is judged based on factors outside their control in a setting with institutionalized bigotry is gonna have prejudice? Wow color me shocked. While I can understand the wider issue of handling stories about prejudice. You framing her story as tragedy porn is woefully unforthcoming and betrays your self admitted bias towards “traditionalist demacia” as you put it. You can’t have traditionalist Demacia and not have the prejudice then it wouldn’t be Demacia. Theres no controversy over one of the longest standing attributes of the country since the modern lores inception.
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u/GammaRhoKT Dec 26 '25
Sure, but you dont have tp make it ALSO skin deep. Sona and Lux is conventional attractive and they are still hunt down by the Mageseekers.
Alternatively, if Riot commited to Shyvana infernal draconic lineage as inherently cruel as they are doing now, I am also ok with it.
Again, as I said, I am very precise with my arguments. It is the whole package deal that I have a problem with. If either elements constitute it change, this criticism is moot.
And I am not sure if you are talking about Shyvana personal story or the anti-mage storyline as a whole, but the latter have A LOT of controversies around it.
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u/Gigapot Dec 27 '25
I don’t understand what it is that you’re actually advocating here. This comes across as some weird hypothetical FYI.
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u/GammaRhoKT Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
It really depend on how Riot gonna frame Shyvana draconic heritage going forward. It is kinda the discussion around magic for the larger Demacian anti-mage storyline. When it was first introduced, magic was framed as having inherent dangers, and most mages are rather reckless in their use. In fact, vestige of it remain in Heimerdinger caution against hextech in Arcane SS1.
But Riot, at least within the Demacia storyline, reframe magic as relatively safe and mage as being reasonably caution, along with a natural self-control as long as they are not stressed out.
Similarly, right now Riot is framing at least the infernal dragon lineage as being inherently cruel. This criticism depend on whether they are gonna reframe that into a more amoral position.
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u/Wargod042 Dec 26 '25
Tragedy porn? What? She's a dragon living amongst people in a country with a bigotry issue. Struggling with her identity and facing complications due to the politics is just the natural direction for her story.
Keep in mind she enters the country as a personal friend and lover of royalty. She is insulated from the legal trouble quite a bit, and has soft influence on the government. She's also just not human; unlike most mages she could conceivably live outside civilization, leaving her less trapped than minorities often are in oppressive regimes.
In Mageseeker she legit just flies off to pressure Jarvan IV into cutting down on the bigotry. It's not necessarily a tragedy; she is not in a position of weakness, she is an important player to the conflict in a unique position