Jagged Peak, and why he is terrible. (SPOILERS FOR DOTC)
Jun 3, 2014 22:39:22 GMT
Garrus Vakarian likes this
Post by bbun on Jun 3, 2014 22:39:22 GMT
At first, when one thinks of bad cats, they tend to think of Thistleclaw, Ashfur, and the like. While I understand those point of views, there's one character I've come to despise so much throughout his three books of appearances so far; Jagged Peak. (My memory may be a bit rusty, so bear with me.)
(NOTE: CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST 3 DOTC BOOKS, AS WELL AS Fading Echoes.)
You may be surprised. "Why cute little Jagged Peak?"
I have several reasons for why I hate the little tomcat so much.
1) Often puts his, and sometimes several other cats' lives in danger.
"But he survived a blizzard all on his own!" Uh, he survived it, but since he was, y'know, a kit at the time, he could've nearly died. Cool as it sounds, the kid would have died if Gray Wing hadn't found him in time. What a foolish decision to make, imo.Speaking of Gray Wing;
"But Jagged Peak saved his brother! He impressed him with his tracking skills!" Correction; he saved his brother from drowning, but could've drowned himself. They should've been more careful at that time. Also, for the tracking skills, cool, cool, Jagged Peak is a tracking prodigy, but he was risking his life just to lead his brother out. If anything, he should have made Gray Wing lead because his older brother is more experienced, and would know at least more about how to get out of their tight spot.
"But he lead the dogs away from Thunder and Shattered Ice so that they could get away!" Friendly reminder that he nearly died in a tunnel. Who's at fault? Himself. He does not deserve any sympathy for getting himself nearly killed. Sure, he managed to save two cats, but he could have risked the lives of Wind and Gorse by putting himself into unnecessary danger. Jagged Peak could have just found another way.
2)Although he claims to be trying to be useful, in reality, he barely does anything.
According to The Ultimate Guide Jagged Peak is said to be good with kits. In The First Battle he tries training them.
That's all he does.
Not once does he try to fetch herbs for Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. Not once does he try to hunt. He's only good at playing and training with kits. Nothing else. That isn't going to get him far in the Clan. In fact, he's doomed unless the idea of mentoring comes up soon, because if he can't hunt and if he, for the most part, can't fight, then he's left for dead, in my eyes. At least Briarlight tries to made herself useful - and she has a broken spine.
Also, being a cripple does not excuse him for being a jerk. Although it hinders him, he is just as well-functioning as any other cat, so he shouldn't get a free pass because he was cute, and his "big meanie brother" kicked him out (although Clear Sky is a douche, but that's another story for later.)
3)He bullied Thunder, and got away with it.
Main point here. This big quote in particular is from The First Battle, pages 47-48.
Thunder: I'm sorry I interfered. I just don't think we should be-
Jagged Peak: Who cares what you think? I've lived more moons than you. I came from the mountains with your father.
Thunder:I was here when those kits were born!
Jagged Peak: But you left, didn't you?
Thunder: I wanted to live with my father! What's wrong with that?
Jagged Peak: Clear Sky didn't want you, did he? Just like he didn't want me! He kicked you out too!
Thunder: Clear Sky didn't kick me out. I left.
Jagged Peak: You left?
Thunder: I don't agree with Clear Sky.
Jagged Peak: So Clear Sky didn't make you leave.
Thunder: I came back to help my old friends!
Here's when it starts to go worse.
Jagged Peak: And we're supposed to be grateful?
Uh, yeah. Aren't you supposed to be glad that you're getting any extra outside help? I mean, the moor group only has two new cats in it joined so far. Clear Sky's group seems to bring in followers in swarms.
Let's continue with the quotes.
Thunder: No! I just-
Now here comes the big one;
Jagged Peak: You wander from moor to forest and back again, depending how you feel. Those kits-those kits were born here. They belong here and if I want to teach them how to defend what's theirs, then they should be allowed to learn!
A few things;
1. Jagged Peak, you are not in charge. Being from the mountains is not a thing you can use to use to explain certain privileges you get. You do not have mountain-cat privilege. You are just another member of the group who is unfortunately crippled. You are not Gray Wing or Tall Shadow. Please stop thinking as if you can boss other cats around.
2. You weren't even told to train the kits. As much as they were enjoying it, they weren't ordered to. Well, by an official leader. Wind Runner is not Tall Shadow or Gray Wing, and cannot command others to do certain things.
3. Who cares what you want? There are plenty of things I want that I can't get, so you shouldn't be getting everything you want, either. Somewhat reminds me of my little brother; and he's a jerk.
4. You're being a hypocrite, Jagged Peak. You did the very same, only that you were forced to leave. Why are you acting like this to Thunder? So you can get your way?
The moment I read this line of his, I lost all respect for Jagged Peak. I will probably not feel any sympathy for him when he dies. Abuse is never okay - in particular, this is verbal abuse.
4) In the end, he's rewarded.
According to The Ultimate Guide, Jagged Peak is said to;
1. Join WindClan
2. Get a mate
3. Raise up kits
This is completely unfair and ridiculous. How can a rude, selfish tomcat like Jagged Peak manage to attract any cat and have kits with them? It's like he's been spoiled too much in this arc. Why isn't Petal getting this treatment? Is it because she's not disabled, and a part of Clear Sky's group, therefore making her less likely to be rewarded? Remember that she had a hard time before joining Clear Sky, and she manages to prove herself as a valuable asset to his group. Jagged Peak, as said before, is nearly useless, and can barely do anything helpful at all.
In conclusion, Jagged Peak is part of the cesspool of filth that threatens to ruin DotC for me. His terrible actions and personality, although small in comparison to Clear Sky and Tom, cannot be excused because he is a cripple.
(NOTE: CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST 3 DOTC BOOKS, AS WELL AS Fading Echoes.)
You may be surprised. "Why cute little Jagged Peak?"
I have several reasons for why I hate the little tomcat so much.
1) Often puts his, and sometimes several other cats' lives in danger.
"But he survived a blizzard all on his own!" Uh, he survived it, but since he was, y'know, a kit at the time, he could've nearly died. Cool as it sounds, the kid would have died if Gray Wing hadn't found him in time. What a foolish decision to make, imo.Speaking of Gray Wing;
"But Jagged Peak saved his brother! He impressed him with his tracking skills!" Correction; he saved his brother from drowning, but could've drowned himself. They should've been more careful at that time. Also, for the tracking skills, cool, cool, Jagged Peak is a tracking prodigy, but he was risking his life just to lead his brother out. If anything, he should have made Gray Wing lead because his older brother is more experienced, and would know at least more about how to get out of their tight spot.
"But he lead the dogs away from Thunder and Shattered Ice so that they could get away!" Friendly reminder that he nearly died in a tunnel. Who's at fault? Himself. He does not deserve any sympathy for getting himself nearly killed. Sure, he managed to save two cats, but he could have risked the lives of Wind and Gorse by putting himself into unnecessary danger. Jagged Peak could have just found another way.
2)Although he claims to be trying to be useful, in reality, he barely does anything.
According to The Ultimate Guide Jagged Peak is said to be good with kits. In The First Battle he tries training them.
That's all he does.
Not once does he try to fetch herbs for Cloud Spots and Dappled Pelt. Not once does he try to hunt. He's only good at playing and training with kits. Nothing else. That isn't going to get him far in the Clan. In fact, he's doomed unless the idea of mentoring comes up soon, because if he can't hunt and if he, for the most part, can't fight, then he's left for dead, in my eyes. At least Briarlight tries to made herself useful - and she has a broken spine.
Also, being a cripple does not excuse him for being a jerk. Although it hinders him, he is just as well-functioning as any other cat, so he shouldn't get a free pass because he was cute, and his "big meanie brother" kicked him out (although Clear Sky is a douche, but that's another story for later.)
3)He bullied Thunder, and got away with it.
Main point here. This big quote in particular is from The First Battle, pages 47-48.
Thunder: I'm sorry I interfered. I just don't think we should be-
Jagged Peak: Who cares what you think? I've lived more moons than you. I came from the mountains with your father.
Thunder:I was here when those kits were born!
Jagged Peak: But you left, didn't you?
Thunder: I wanted to live with my father! What's wrong with that?
Jagged Peak: Clear Sky didn't want you, did he? Just like he didn't want me! He kicked you out too!
Thunder: Clear Sky didn't kick me out. I left.
Jagged Peak: You left?
Thunder: I don't agree with Clear Sky.
Jagged Peak: So Clear Sky didn't make you leave.
Thunder: I came back to help my old friends!
Here's when it starts to go worse.
Jagged Peak: And we're supposed to be grateful?
Uh, yeah. Aren't you supposed to be glad that you're getting any extra outside help? I mean, the moor group only has two new cats in it joined so far. Clear Sky's group seems to bring in followers in swarms.
Let's continue with the quotes.
Thunder: No! I just-
Now here comes the big one;
Jagged Peak: You wander from moor to forest and back again, depending how you feel. Those kits-those kits were born here. They belong here and if I want to teach them how to defend what's theirs, then they should be allowed to learn!
A few things;
1. Jagged Peak, you are not in charge. Being from the mountains is not a thing you can use to use to explain certain privileges you get. You do not have mountain-cat privilege. You are just another member of the group who is unfortunately crippled. You are not Gray Wing or Tall Shadow. Please stop thinking as if you can boss other cats around.
2. You weren't even told to train the kits. As much as they were enjoying it, they weren't ordered to. Well, by an official leader. Wind Runner is not Tall Shadow or Gray Wing, and cannot command others to do certain things.
3. Who cares what you want? There are plenty of things I want that I can't get, so you shouldn't be getting everything you want, either. Somewhat reminds me of my little brother; and he's a jerk.
4. You're being a hypocrite, Jagged Peak. You did the very same, only that you were forced to leave. Why are you acting like this to Thunder? So you can get your way?
The moment I read this line of his, I lost all respect for Jagged Peak. I will probably not feel any sympathy for him when he dies. Abuse is never okay - in particular, this is verbal abuse.
4) In the end, he's rewarded.
According to The Ultimate Guide, Jagged Peak is said to;
1. Join WindClan
2. Get a mate
3. Raise up kits
This is completely unfair and ridiculous. How can a rude, selfish tomcat like Jagged Peak manage to attract any cat and have kits with them? It's like he's been spoiled too much in this arc. Why isn't Petal getting this treatment? Is it because she's not disabled, and a part of Clear Sky's group, therefore making her less likely to be rewarded? Remember that she had a hard time before joining Clear Sky, and she manages to prove herself as a valuable asset to his group. Jagged Peak, as said before, is nearly useless, and can barely do anything helpful at all.
In conclusion, Jagged Peak is part of the cesspool of filth that threatens to ruin DotC for me. His terrible actions and personality, although small in comparison to Clear Sky and Tom, cannot be excused because he is a cripple.
