Under The Mountain Podcast
Region: US
Tuesday 29 July 2025 21:40:14 GMT
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Popcorn After Dark 🌙 :
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again… Tamlin was not that bad
2025-07-29 21:58:29
93
MissFire :
If Rhys suddenly did a 180 after UTM, and we saw apologies and remorse, then I’d believe him when he says it was all a mask. But we don’t. Even when the narrative tries to paint him as a good guy, he’s still doing the same bad things, just now he tries to justify it to us. And some of the justifications are pretty weak, like what they did to Tarquin. And we haven’t really seen him held accountable by the narrative for the harm he’s caused either. Meanwhile the narrative loves punishing Tamlin (and Nesta)
2025-07-30 10:50:45
31
Heather :
Feyre is an unreliable narrator. My first read through I fell into the trap of that first person POV being gospel and obviously correct. Then on a second read I am now a Tamlin Defender and see so much unreliable information and opinions from feyre
2025-07-30 13:00:06
8
may!! 🍓 :
Like are we forgetting how rhys treated feyre UTM??? Like that was SA, to save her and she still ended up dying and turned into fae 💔
2025-07-29 22:12:27
27
AmysArchives 📚🎙️💄✨ :
Welcome to this side of the fandom!
2025-08-13 18:26:47
10
dogmeat :
i'm going to be really disappointed if sjm really thinks that rhys was a portrayal of a good guy after reading tog
2025-08-11 01:17:10
11
PlantsRUs :
For me it was the glaring retcons between book one and two with Tamlin’s behavior. A lot of if it was really Rhys telling Feyre his opinion on what happened (even when he wasn’t even there) and then her agreeing, when what he said didn’t even happen that way. Feyre and Rhys also assumed a lot about Tamlin’s motivations and inner thoughts and the reader is meant to take them as fact. But it shown multiple times throughout the series that her assumptions about people are completely wrong
2025-07-29 23:03:43
36
MissCannibella :
I mean, Rhys definitely isn’t a good guy. But Ben if he’s not the big bad in the series, he’s a complete ass.
2025-09-12 13:34:15
4
Callieamanda :
You’re not alone. I actually thought she was a terrible writer bc ACOTAR was the first SJM I read. Now I know she isn’t so I believe this is all intentional and the inner circle are villains lol and you’re just picking up on that
2025-07-30 17:48:39
11
Moon Struck Lady :
I was with you. I thought SJM intended Rhys to be the “good” guy we all cheer for. The perfect morally grey sMMC. But a very huge plot point in Nestas book had Rhys make a HORRIBLE decision regarding Feyre’s LIFE! (Trying to be spoiler free here) Fans of Rhys even hate this plot and call it the worst part of the book. That was an intentional choice by SJM to make him make that choice. And it is harped on and there is no plausible deniability. We see Rhys talk to Cassian and order this horrible act, from his own mouth. To add insult to injury, in the novel (not novella) prior, the ENDING of the novel is him promising to Feyre he would never keep a huge secret from her again. So he promises never to keep a secret from her, then hides a HUGE secret from her regarding her LIFE, and tells everyone around her, but his MATE, and makes them swear not to tell. ON TOP of this, in Nestas book, the pain and hurt of Rhys’ actions is not dealt with satisfyingly. It is handled OFF SCREEN, and we next see Feyre essentially say yeah I’m mad, but I’m not allowed to be too upset about it so I’m letting it go. Tee hee it’s fine. There is just no way SJM is that ignorant about how awful this comes across.
2025-07-31 15:44:09
8
Mary Emma📀🌄🌟 :
I think the thing that’s so complex about Sarah’s writing is that all of the characters appear differently in different characters povs. So yes I think all of the characters portrayed red flag like behavior, but because we are in Feyres POV and what she was receiving from Tamlin wasn’t what she needed, Rhysand was the “savior” figure for Feyre. Do I think Rhysand is a “bad guy” or that he’s going to be? No, he sacrificed himself UTM to keep the people he loved safe and I think that says enough about his character. But do I think Tamlin is a bad guy either? Also no, he just wasn’t right for Feyre when she was changing so much.
2025-07-29 23:00:33
3
Emily Reads 📚 :
I think sjm is excellent at marketing lol
2025-07-30 02:24:22
6
TheRoseKnowsYou :
welcome to the conversation! it's wild on here so be prepared! I think it's possible that an author, especially an author who writes complex characters knowing that the world isn't black and white, could love a character who is essentially a villain. or who at least is playing a different game than what is represented. so I don't think SJM liking Rhys is actually any kind of indicator. would also destroy any kind of twist if she outright said she didn't like who the fandom is perceiving as the MMC. this being said, I was pretty shocked in TOG when Aelin suddenly had a random mate and previous love interest was significantly written down so I don't really put anything past her. we'll just have to wait, continue to argue on here which is hilarious, and see 👀
2025-08-02 12:42:59
5
sammymasser :
i think it was because of the person fayre was and that he didn’t give her what she NEEDED. i personally think it’s beautifully done because it is exactly what it feels like to be in a toxic relationship. did it happen EXTREMELY fast yes, and people loved tamlin yes, but it wasn’t just fayre leaving it was her growing and it was beautiful
2025-07-29 22:05:26
2
completefreak0 :
For me I don’t think tamlin was the wordy boyfriend and proved he cared although unhealthily about feyre however when teaming up with hybren even if temporarily makes me think he’s not a good person and his further aggression and lack of care for his people
2025-08-14 21:32:34
0
Flowerhenny~ :
can't wait for you to read Nesta's book!
2025-08-09 00:37:45
2
My name is Tara 🩷 :
Have you read TOG? She wrote that when she was basically still a kid (young adult ) Do I know where she’s going with this; no. But after understanding some of ways these worlds connect I can ABSOLUTELY see a bigger picture. 1000%
2025-07-30 23:02:09
1
Giana Cremo :
I had the same feelings reading it the first time, so weird.
2025-08-07 21:26:59
3
SpaceCat :
In my opinion... It's weird to hate on a morally grey character for not being perfect and doing bad stuff. He's morally gray. Take it or leave it. And everyone who hates Feyre for becoming a high lady better hate on Harry Potter any any other "chosen one". My opinion. I understand any critique but at the same time there is a good explanation for the character flaws
2025-08-15 10:33:06
0
LP Loudon :
So this is just my subjective experience, but I went in blind and didn’t realize Tamlin was gonna get dumped and I did not like him. He lies, he’s controlling, he gives never really grew up energy. Rhysand isn’t perfect. He gives guy with trauma who hasn’t worked on himself. I don’t think he’s evil (not a perfect good guy but not evil) but I low key think that leaves him open to danger. At the very least, making bad decisions but maybe even influence from evil that we know exists in the Maasverse. Feyre is too young and in love to see it. Nesta admits he’s good and honorable but he rubs her the wrong way and I think it’s like calling to like. She knows he’s raw and damaged and she (correctly??? Maybe??) reacts negatively to it.
2025-08-03 18:04:01
0
Rue :
There’s a theory that this is because it’s supposed to show Rhys’ deamati powers/mind control/changing memories and perceptions to fit his narrative bc everyone outside his control (nesta/the CC ppl) don’t see him as “good”.
2025-09-26 01:21:40
0
Paige :
Everything ‘bad’ Tamlin did is 1-his own PTSD from utm 2- feyre not communicating at all 3-her pushing him on purpose. He didn’t do anything that was monstrous at all. And in the end, everything Tamlin did, rhys did the same or worse. I’m still hoping Rhys becomes the ultimate villain but I don’t think she has the ⚾️🏀 to do it
2025-08-14 01:48:21
8
Anni :
It sounds like you’re already seein the light. Stick with it. I’m on the side that something is off with Rhys and even if he’s not evil? The man’s a mind twister so I can’t trust him.
2025-07-29 21:55:37
17
Book Friend Pola 🇵🇱🧩🪩🦄 :
I had a very similar approach on my first reads. I love the books but I dismissed all the inconsistencies, over valuing author's presumed intent over what's in the text. I moved past it, to the point where Sarah herself could knock on my door and tell me that Rhysand is a good guy and he's the best possible mate for Feyre, and I'd not care. Her interviews are not part of the story. Her tweets or ig posts are not canon. If she wants us to like someone, she should not have made them do all the things they did. I find this way of analyzing text to be so much more fun 😁
2025-08-04 11:43:34
1
Kim Danielle :
I’m still with Tamlin, on the third book. I doubt I’ll change my mind. He’s protective in an honest way, which I like, versus Rhys is so manipulative and controlling using mind control.
2025-07-30 01:35:10
57
Alexandra J. :
TV writer here. The bells about Rhysand started ringing for me when we started seeing the IC constantly have to verbally reinforce that Rhys is a good person. Why do you need this many people telling me you’re good instead of your actions showing me?
2025-08-05 14:12:29
52
Jade :
There are so many read flags for Rhysand when you start noticing them. And reminder, Feyre loves to not think too deeply about well… anything
2025-07-31 14:21:58
33
Becks 📚 :
Like a lot of other commenters are saying, if you step out of Feyre’s super biased (and uninformed) POV and look objectively, you see the red flags of both abusive manipulation tactics and straight up mind meddling. I think too, if you get into her other series, you will see the differences in the FMCs. There’s a reason this series is in first person. And that’s because we’re meant to be as manipulated as Feyre.
2025-08-01 16:49:14
10
Arty the Ninth :
For me it was the treatment of POC characters and also the blatant plagerism of the black jewels series, Game of thrones, etc SJM was doing
2025-07-31 21:56:32
8
‧₊˚✧ em ✧˚₊‧ :
It’s way more fun when you reread it as Feyre is an unreliable narrator, a very young naive and frankly kind of dumb girl who isn’t even that good at painting and can’t even read!!!
2025-08-04 00:11:52
4
Boodlepie🍉 :
Both Tamlin and Rhysand are not good people. It’s Lucien who I feel terrible for because he seems to genuinely be caught in the middle and has consequences for his actions and tries to do good but JESUS THEY ALL NEED THERAPY
2025-08-12 16:02:28
4
Angular Frequency :
I was a little confused at book 2, thinking did I miss something that made our view of tamlin switch up like that SO much? I even joked maybe the tattoo ink on feyre was poison. 😅 Then I was like OH maybe it’s the guy who put the ink there 👀 And honestly I’d love to see a villain reveal for Rhys AND Feyre. I know we have her unreliable POV but it would be fun for her to finally see some of the red flags with Rhys and everyone in the IC and say ok and become the next amarantha.
2025-08-01 07:40:46
3
Book Breathing Btch Queens Pod :
The execution might not always be the best but our pod is doing a reread of ACOTAR right now (but with all books from all three series in mind) and there’s a LOT of little things that set up Tamlin as bad. I think we fall for it because it’s her POV but the relationship really isn’t that strong/deep, he is emotionally unavailable at every turn, and if you look at the descriptions of their physical touch, they are almost always likely meant to be interpreted as nervous but if you think about it do not seem pleasant/good. Tamlin is very often described in proximity to her with language that fits with claustrophobia, being trapped, etc. even in Book 1! But also, her husband looks like Rhys so I think there’s no way in hell he’s bad lol
2025-07-30 02:47:35
3
Lara! 🦆 :
Tamlin literally put a baby fence on Feyre because girlie pop was going into an active warzone without even having control on her own power 😭. Nothing that Tamlin does, Rhysand does something 4000% worse, and does actual harm
2025-08-06 07:00:21
1
Tulip 🌷📚 :
Yeah it always makes me pause cuz we can see time and time again that SJM is capable of writing actual villains so... I didn't buy the "Tamlin is a total asshole" either. I hope she makes it all come full circle with something spicy.
2025-11-03 22:13:37
0
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