FK General Discussion: LaCroix's Depiction Across the Seasons (Plus a Meme)

[switchbladeeyes]

I started this post to share a Forever Knight meme, but then I began brain dumping about LaCroix. So here we are.

For me, LaCroix is a super fun FK character because he's unpredictable. Is he going to fuck up some shit? Or is he going to be helpful? Or maybe somehow both? You just never know. He’s also fun because he can be quite witty.

There's a marked evolution in the complexity of the character and his attitudes across the seasons. IMO, season 1 LaCroix is basically Snidely Whiplash, a stereotypical mustache-twirling, cartoon villain. (If you don't know who Snidely Whiplash is, please get thee to classic episodes of "Rocky & Bullwinkle.") Wikipedia sums it up nicely:

Whiplash is obsessed with tying young women to railroad tracks; he has no reason to do so and realizes no gain, profit or advantage, but is simply compelled to do it.

I feel like this parallels season 1 LaCroix in some respects: he is obsessed with fucking with Nick; he has no reason to do so and realizes no gain, profit, or advantage, but is simply compelled to do it. (I mean, his ostensible motivation is to keep Nick in the fold, but then he also just pulls some wild, cartoon villain stunts. Turning Alexandra? Daniel? Just for the funsies of fucking with Nick? “I did it for the lulz.” - Season 1 LaCroix, probably.)

Season 2 starts out with some of that same energy, but then quickly retreats from having Snidely LaCroix trying to forcibly tie Nick to the metaphorical railroad tracks. He backs off and starts to morph into a more complex character. Instead of being Snidely LaCroix, he becomes instead, idk, Darth LaCroix. We get more of his backstory, which makes him feel like a more fully realized character instead of just an agent of chaos in Nick's life. He switches tactics from force to persuasion, resulting in quite a shift in dynamics. I mean, geez, Nick even seeks him out at times. LaCroix's behavior becomes more consistent with his objective of pulling Nick in. And he is actually helpful to Nick at times when he could just fuck things up for him.

Then along comes season 3 LaCroix. He still has his Snidely moments in some of the flashbacks (I'm still mad about Nick's dog), but in the present day? He takes a major chill pill toward Nick. So much so that he helps Nick preserve his modern self in "Night in Question" and "Sons of Belial," which I've previously commented struck me as quite strange of him to do. His backstory became even more complex during season 3. I also felt like Nick was starting to rub off on him just a smidge by the end.

Anyway, I don't really know where I'm going with this, but feel free to chime in.

As I said, this started with a meme. As I was toiling away at delightedly working on the challenge of fan fiction that tries to reconcile some season 1 cartoon villainy with the more complicated character we learn about in seasons 2 and 3, I made a meme lol.

Comments

[switchbladeeyes]

And here I am in the comments asking more of the Important Questions: if LaCroix is Snidely Whiplash, does that mean Nick is Dudley Do-Right, the air-headed, but affable and well-meaning law enforcement officer??

But then, who is meant to be Nell? And Horse? 🤔

Perhaps the analogy can’t carry as far forward as I’d hope 😄

[pj1228]

I quite agree with the character evolution you described. He's such an interesting character. You never know what's his agenda and what he's up to. And he gets away with anything. That makes him super fun to write. And I love his witticisms. There's so much potential in a man who has lived 2000 years.

I have no clue who those characters are you are comparing him to, but I love your meme. Especially the fanfic LC. LOL

[switchbladeeyes]

Glad you liked the meme, lol! Sometimes I'm like, maybe I'm the only one who finds my jokes amusing (which is fine, but it's more fun if the humor is shared!)

The characters I'm referencing are from an old animated television show, "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle," which had a bunch of different funny little segments. One of the segments was called "Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties." Dudley was the hero and Snidely was the villain. Dudley was also not the sharpest tool in the shed; his horse, known as Horse, was smarter than him and often saved the day. Dudley loved Nell, who often got kidnapped by Snidely. But Nell loved Horse, not Dudley lol. Very silly stuff, watched it with my dad as a kid.

[calliope24]

I love the meme! I do believe it's spot on. LOL!

I'll leave the detailed analysis to those who have studied LaCroix more intently than I, but of course Season 1 LaCroix is largely a product of Nick's memories of how the events transpired. And that is in the light of the fact that Nick believes he killed him and must be trying in some way to justify that to himself.

Of course, LaCroix is a bit of a bastard in Dark Knight which is 'real time' Lacroix. It is pretty consistent with how we see him the rest of the season.

I do like my villains and my heroes with shades of gray, so I am happy to see a more well rounded and nuanced version of LaCroix emerge. Still not a good guy, but no longer a cartoon characterization of an evil one. For what it's worth, I wish we had seen more of an evil Nick, particularly in early flashbacks (not stupid Nick, we saw enough of that) but the Nicholas who kept captives in the cellar to feed on. A Nicholas who has a reason to feel the guilt that is crushing him.

I do suspect that LaCroix and Nick have gone round and round forever with these various behaviors--he pretty much tells us that in the fb in NiQ. "You really do like me, you just know that you do." "Our relationship hasn't always been this difficult." Then something snaps and they start all over again with "Snidely LaCroix." I'm going to hang on to the hope that Ashes to Ashes finally changed the dynamic up a bit.

I am old enough to recall the characters, but I'm not going to venture a guess as to who would be Nell and who would be Horse!

[switchbladeeyes]

Glad you loved the meme! Sometimes inspiration just strikes :-D

but of course Season 1 LaCroix is largely a product of Nick's memories of how the events transpired. And that is in the light of the fact that Nick believes he killed him and must be trying in some way to justify that to himself.

Interesting point! This made me also think of not only the memories, but also the LaCroix that lives exclusively in Nick's head. In "Dying for Fame" and "Feeding the Beast", if I recall correctly, the LaCroix that lives in Nick's head is antagonistic and fucking with him.

But then in season 2, that's not the case. In "Near Death" (however you take it, as a hallucination or reality), Nick's mind puts LaCroix in the role of "the guide" in that place between life and death. And the LaCroix that lives in Nick's head in "Curiouser and Curiouser" is actually there to help Nick (Nick also has a more positive flashback memory in that episode as well).

For what it's worth, I wish we had seen more of an evil Nick, particularly in early flashbacks (not stupid Nick, we saw enough of that) but the Nicholas who kept captives in the cellar to feed on. A Nicholas who has a reason to feel the guilt that is crushing him.

He was very interesting to get glimpses of. I agree that it was helpful to see that side of him to highlight what it is he's coming back from. I mean, he reveled in it. "Fallen Idol" is a great example. "Hunted" is the other one that comes to mind.

I do suspect that LaCroix and Nick have gone round and round forever with these various behaviors--he pretty much tells us that in the fb in NiQ. "You really do like me, you just know that you do." "Our relationship hasn't always been this difficult." Then something snaps and they start all over again with "Snidely LaCroix."

They definitely seem to have a pattern. We see them antagonize each other all the time in flashbacks (usually because Snidley LaCroix enters the chat), but then, they always end up together again anyway.

I'm going to hang on to the hope that Ashes to Ashes finally changed the dynamic up a bit.

Me too! 💯

Also, glad I'm not the only one who remembers Snidley, Dudley, Nell, and Horse lol

[pj1228]

>but of course Season 1 LaCroix is largely a product of Nick's memories of how the events transpired. And that is in the light of the fact that Nick believes he killed him and must be trying in some way to justify that to himself.<

I really like this point. It explains a lot why he's so one-dimentional in season 1.

[thefruitbat]

Hehe, yes, this is spot on. :) I like how he get's a more nuanced character as the show progresses, as he loses his "snidelyness". Sadly, like with Janette and many other characters, there's not that much about his past in the show, but this way we (writers) can add lots of headcanon.

[greerwatson]

we (writers) can add lots of headcanon

Hear, hear!

[switchbladeeyes]

but this way we (writers) can add lots of headcanon

Yesssss! So satisfying!

[greerwatson]

I've just made pages for this in the FK Wiki and Fanlore.

[switchbladeeyes]

Oh my, maybe I should have put more thought into this than a brain dump lol 😆