The Stormlight Archive | Kaladin Stormblessed - A Character Study

This video contains spoilers for The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson.
Kaladin Stormblessed from Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive is arguably one of the greatest fictional characters ever conceived. Stick around and I'll explain why...
The wonderful thumbnail art is 'Stormblessed' by ariirf
www.deviantart.com/ariirf/art...
Huge thanks to these amazing artists. Credited as below.
Kaladin Stormblessed by emmgoyer7
www.deviantart.com/emmgoyer7/...
Kaladin and Syl by sean-carolin
www.deviantart.com/sean-carol...
Captain Kaladin Stormblessed by Haco1
www.deviantart.com/haco1/art/...
Kaladin and his father by sheep
lonsheep.tumblr.com/post/1510...
In a hollow in the stone by machinations
exmakina.tumblr.com/search/tien
Kaladin by zippo514
www.deviantart.com/zippo514/a...
Siege of Capustan by BlazeMalefica
www.deviantart.com/blazemalef...
The Shardbearer by ariirf
www.deviantart.com/ariirf/art...
Kaladin by VargasNi
www.deviantart.com/vargasni/a...
Meridas Amaram by BotanicaXu
botanicaxu.tumblr.com/post/12...
Kaladin, Shallan and Syl by kentstjohn
www.deviantart.com/kentstjohn...
Bridge Four Day One by The Airsick Lowlander
theairsicklowlander.tumblr.co...
Kaladin and Szeth: Two Storms by Tophloaf
www.deviantart.com/tophloaf/a...
Stormlight Archive fanart by ayhotte
www.deviantart.com/ayhotte/ar...
Kal by kiddomorph
www.deviantart.com/kiddomorph...
I came back by Parttimedragon
www.deviantart.com/parttimedr...
Kaladin and Tien by dnavenom
www.deviantart.com/dnavenom/a...
WoK - Kaladin as Surgeon Apprentice and Soldier by BotanicaXu
www.deviantart.com/botanicaxu...
Kaladin and Syl by ex-m
www.deviantart.com/ex-m/art/K...
Kaladin and Syl by CCCrystalClear
www.deviantart.com/cccrystalc...
Bridge 4 by Torren Zane Kelsch
mythsandspaceships.tumblr.com...
Kaladin by queenofeagles
www.deviantart.com/queenofeag...
Kaladin by soyabeansoldier
www.deviantart.com/soyabeanso...
Everstorm - Kaladin by endave
www.deviantart.com/endave/art...
Kaladin Meets Syl by dixon-leavitt
www.deviantart.com/dixon-leav...
The Way Of Kings Kaladin by zippo514
www.deviantart.com/zippo514/a...
Kaladin - Flight by grantmhansen
www.17thshard.com/forum/galle...
WoR Characters - Kaladin Stormblessed by BotanicaXu
www.deviantart.com/botanicaxu...
Kaladin vs Szeth by dejan-delic
www.deviantart.com/dejan-deli...
Stormblessed by RadecMai
www.deviantart.com/radecmai/a...
Parshendi Army by dnavenom
www.deviantart.com/dnavenom/a...
Kaladin and Syl by Sarctic
www.deviantart.com/sarctic/ar...
Kaladin Stormblessed by Dan322
www.deviantart.com/dan322/art...
In the chasms by greatunknown
www.deviantart.com/greatunkno...
Music:
Shattered Helium - Under The Sky
• Shattered Helium - Und...
"Cjbeards - Fire and Thunder" is under a Creative Commons license (CC BY 3.0).
Soundcloud - / cjbeards
Until the End by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@toonsy8248]

“Honor is dead. But I'll see what I can do.” - Kaladin. I know that he is my favorite character of all time.

[@legendswithjasper]

This is my favourite line in the Stormlight Achieve so far. So good!

[@strictlyfantasy]

I agree. It's a great line and one of Kaladin's most hype moments. Hopefully, he'll have more like it to come.

[@muzy1989]

What a boss line that was. Mine is "You sent him to the sky to die, assassin, but the sky and the winds are mine. I claim them, as I now claim your life."

[@spencerschubert5001]

That shard blade dual was so cool

[@tarancehill8147]

This is the king of all lines. Woo that gets me going even when it's quoted! Kal is the embodiment of badassery.

[@thedrunkprogrammer1474]

In book 1 when Dalinar noticed few bridgemen holding their ground against parshendi protecting the bridge, their only hope of escaping. Then realising "It was the single most glorious thing Dalinar has ever seen", always brings tears to my eyes.

[@animalobsessed1]

Do you remember which chapter this was? I want to reread it.

[@stormblessed4643]

@@animalobsessed1 it was when sadeas and Dalinar decided to team up and strike together, it was just after one of Adolin duels i think

[@animalobsessed1]

@@stormblessed4643 I think you're getting things completely mixed up. Adolin only started dueling again after Sadeas had already betrayed Dalinar.

[@stormblessed4643]

@@animalobsessed1 yeah i realized it after i posted it

[@Skatelifefool]

And then the part right after when Dalinar's army was fighting their way to the bridge and Dalinar thought that it would not change their destination but it would change their journey. They were still likely to die on the plateau but instead of being crushed on all the sides by the parshendi they would be fighting towards one last chance at freedom. Such an epic ending.

[@jasonlockhartsr4415]

My favorite Kaladin moment is when he returns home for the first time. I loved it when he finally got totally fed up and took command of the town and set them on the correct path.

[@mistborn1136]

“If I must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” Dalinar You are a prodigy dude. May the stormfather bless you

[@ryanratchford2530]

Whenever Kal starts speaking the first words of a new oath I get goosebumps & am so thrilled. The way Sanderson integrates the magic with character arcs are done SO SO SO well in SLA with the best being Way of Kings with Kal's first oath. And Oathbringer does so many good subversions with those mini-SLA trope moments (Semi-spoliers= Kholinar's Oath & Shadesmare Oath OMG the Subversions & OMG my emotions!!)

[@geraldrowan8960]

The Shadesmar oath makes the Urithiru oath that much more powerful! (Especially after the reunion scene before)

[@mikahkilgore4972]

I love Kaladin so much! He’s my favorite Stormlight character hands down.

[@thestairguy]

Dangit, just hearing you describe the scene between Kaladin and Sylf at the casm made me tear up

[@lukeborst2751]

Almost half way through the first book on my first time reading and honestly Kaladin is better then 90% of characters I've ever read about

[@StormBlessedxo]

all the characters in Stormlight have such depth it's crazy. Even Mistborn is too good.

[@lukeborst2751]

@StormBlessedxo oh yeah I've now read stormlight around 3 times and mistborn era 1 once and got around halfway through era 2 and man the characters are amazing

[@markhau7633]

I always want to write somehting about Kaladin and the stormlight archive. I would not have thought about someone doing an analysis. Anyway, i enjoy the video.

[@StormBlessedxo]

Kaladin, Dalinar, both my favorite characters of all time. Mark my words these character study videos you are doing will blow up I think.

[@Manlyman47]

I like Kaladin, but boy is handed massive gifts in terms of overcoming his challenges. I dont think he is as much an underdog as people percieve him as. I find him relatable because of his struggle with his mental health. The way the world constantly beats him down actually gets to him almost to the point of him committing suicide, but noone would percieve Kaladin as weak despite his mental struggles. He never grows arrogants and is always caring and nurturing towards his fellow man, but his also spiteful and hateful to the point it almost destroys him several times. I like the complexity and duality of his character. Kaladin is better a man than humanity deserves, but he is also still very human.

[@windblownleaf6450]

yeah reminds me of when people call naruto an underdog lol

[@Olivia-W]

​@@windblownleaf6450 For all the war and terror, the world of Stormlight Archive seems super rewarding of the whole personal journey thing. Meanwhile in our world you don't even get a lousy T-shirt that says "hey I survived horrible trauma and spent years picking up the pieces whee."

[@windblownleaf6450]

@@Olivia-W sucks, but its true. reality is harsh

[@nicolas___4278]

Why have I not heard of this channel before? This is gold!

[@eoris12]

I never, for a second, thought of Kaladin as an underdog. Just an unlucky superman. He was physically and intellectually above his peers from the beginning, and in every way was a king without the blood and crown. But an underdog? Perhaps Renarin, a Highlord's son, would be a sort of underdog, but not a medic/warrior/leader/visionary like Kaladin. I say.

[@jayarcher3331]

Good underdog doesn't have to be somebody who has a disability or is considered to be weak at least in my opinion a good underdog is somebody who is met with odds what would seem to be insurmountable but they managed to overcome it.Kaledon might be genetically gifted but in country he lives in and because of the colour of his eyes he's considered to be less than the bright eyes and the fact that he was a slave and he has a mark on his head what will always remind people that he was a slave and violin one. if you think about it Kaledon wins most of his fights but loses most of the time when it comes to his own personal goals. I'm not saying you're wrong you're entitled to your opinion it's just I guess this is the type of feel I got when reading about Kaledon throughout the three books.

[@toffeecrisp2146]

@@jayarcher3331 I dunno. I love Kaladin and his arc, but he *does* get off lightly quite alot. Even the strongest of people would succumb to the challenges he faces. It is pretty much set up, from the get go, that there is something quintessentially unique and "special" about Kaladin. From his ability to think critically in his youth, he gets surgeon training, but he also gets a perspective on the social order his is part of, that is exceptional amongst his peers. That allows him to see the larger picture of the tapestry, his place on it and navigate those challenges better than his social peers, might otherwise do. His connections, while being both a source of difficulty, also afford him a degree of protection from direct light eyed abuse. So much so, that there is resentment for him and his family, from the other dark eyes, who don't share this privilege. He has natural skill and talent, beyond just training hard, to become a skilled warrior. It's made quite clear that Kaladin possesses something alot of other people don't, both in his talent with the spear, but also with commanding men He also has some supernatural luck (later after Syl comes along, literal, supernatural luck) He gets dealt a bad hand, for sure, but he is also dealt a hand, that arms him to overcome those challenges with relative ease, he usually ends up being his own, biggest obstacle in the overcoming over those challenges. Rather than finding himself lacking in anyway.

[@jayarcher3331]

@@toffeecrisp2146 I disagree the abilities you were born with or the ones you have earned don't change the circumstances you face or how easy they are to you as a person. The powers he has doesn't change the fact that his relationship with his family is pretty much mostly deteriorated and he's unable to save the people who are closest to him. The fact Kaladin can beat up most of the bad guys in the story doesn't change the fact that he suffers from PTSD and he has a crippling mental disorder you can't just beat those things up. And unlike the other main characters he's completely alienated when it comes to dealing with people on a personal level people just don't seem to understand him and even including Sylph. I see none of the issues I've listed as small problems what are easy to overcome including the traumatic years of being a Slave. Most of his problems are internal issues but none of them are small and most people take years if not decades to resolved or even diagnose these issues. Even in the latest book he doesn't have a solution for his issues Kaladin just changing the approach.

[@toffeecrisp2146]

@@jayarcher3331 sure, which is a great case for why he is a relatable character with relatable mental health issues, if you have suffered from such, but it doesn't make him an underdog. One can be blessed with all kinds of awesome and still have many of those internal issues and struggle with internal difficulties. Many of those issues are indeed born of his own choices (which is wonderfully honest and nuanced writing by Sanderson) and make his character yet more relatable, because for all the awesomeness Kaladin comes equipped with, doesn't mean he is any less human and as prone to making poor choices that lead to hurt, for him and those around him. But again, that doesn't make him the underdog. It makes I'm an imperfect super person. But if he were the underdog, he wouldn't defeat the light eyes so readily and with such ease. He wouldn't avoid the catastrophes his fellow dark eyes endure at every turn. He goes through things that would kill any other dark eyes character in the books, but comes out the other side, seemingly oblivious to how damn fortunate he has been to survive at all. Because for him, it isn't remarkable, it is the story of his life. He has always survived where his peers have not. But Kaladin survives, because he has special status. Not because he dealt with depression or was going through the throws of depression.

[@jayarcher3331]

@@toffeecrisp2146 in the current point of the story you're 100 percent correct, Kaladin is not Underdog any longer. The first two books kaladin's definitely Underdog most light eyes think very little of him until Oathbringer. Nobody's underdog all the time and it's usually situation being perceived as Underdog. Kaladin in the story specially in the first two books, has the odds heavily stacked against him and I would perceive him as Underdog in that sense.

[@reecenaidu6020]

Idk if Kal's the goat character, but he certainly is one of my favorites

[@jimzimmer2048]

@Arthur Pilgram you can’t help but smile when kaladin appears

[@WraithLK]

@@jimzimmer2048 ikr his chapters were my favorite parts

[@bradleymayon4342]

Kalidan, Kvothe, and Mat from WOT

[@gryphon1564]

Another great vid! Dalinar is my favorite however, Kalidin is a beast! An excellent example of character development. One of the best arcs in a story. Keep em coming.

[@rock53355]

There are 2 possibilities for Kaladin's next two ideals. Right now he is wrestling with the idea that there are many innocents among odium's army and accepting he can't save everyone (which is repeated by Lirin time and again). Sanderson had kaladin form bonds with parshendi like khen and the others. Then there is venli who he will meet at some point and also tie into rlain speaking his first ideal (right now he can't not because it's impossible, but because he believes he will turn into a monster if he does; Venli will show him it is possible to be radiant). Personally i believe the 4th ideal will be protecting the innocent among his enemies and the 5th ideal accepting he can't save everyone. A plot twist could be that the words come to kaladin and he simply refuses to say it, or he swears a totally different ideal. We know variants of ideals are possible.

[@Haxerous]

Protecting innocents among his enemies is effectively what the third ideal is about.

[@mikahkilgore4972]

Specialist in Failure he already avoided speaking the fourth ideal ones though, and I don’t think that Sanderson Will repeat the same plot point twice. I think that Kaladin will eventually be able to speak the fourth ideal, or at least a variation on it. It’ll either be that, or he’ll be killed, and I refuse to except that possibility.

[@Masenken]

Or third possibility, he dead ass gets yeeted to another world

[@mateocanocardona5700]

Interesting theory, i really think that Kaladin is going to die, or if he does the 4th ideal it will be after that his father dies, because Lirin is the one who always told him that he cannot save them all. And like other man say it, the thing of protecting innocent people among his enemies is the 3th ideal "I will protect even those I hate as long it is right" We will see, I am really hyped about 4th book. Enjoy the journey my radiant

[@nidpaul]

Wow. Your prediction was right. Your speculation of the 5th ideal was actually the 4th in canon.

[@seagummy]

THERE HE IS! MY FAVOURITE STORM BOY!!!

[@S.D.S08]

These are thoroughly enjoyable. Please keep them coming!

[@rohitk9730]

Really nicely done video hope to see more such content from you.

[@mariaromero3488]

I absolutely loved this video

[@BeefyReefy]

Fantastic content mate!

[@cosetteb.4940]

I LOVE this!!!!!

[@fanboy59]

I think his archetype is that of a paladin from dnd a honourable soldier medic has healing powers and is a leader

[@katrinaxharhus3747]

Kaladin = Paladin How did I not see this before. Makes the name a little less magical if true. Still a good name though.

[@abdullahelnaas4473]

Spoilers: I agree with your thoughts on the fourth Ideal of the windrunners. I imagine it's something like "I cannot protect them all", however, I don't think Kaladin will ever say them. During the climax of the third book where physical, spiritual and cognitive realms overlap, Kaladin's powers are the same. This is important because the spirit realm has no concept of time, it's why the Herald was sane again (him in the past) and why Shallan could create all those illusions, because she had the potential to do it on day in the future (presumably, although it could also have something to do with her multiple personalities). it's not definitive by any means and it's speculation for the most part, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be true.

[@mikahkilgore4972]

Abdullah Elnaas I think that Kaladin will eventually be able to bring him self to speak the fourth ideal. It may be extremely difficult and bring him a lot of pain, but he’ll have Syl and the others he’s close to for support. Kaladin has a determination, stubbornness, and strength that some people overlook sometimes, and I think it’ll be those qualities that will allow him to speak the words and finally start letting go of his perceived failures in the past.

[@15nicinho]

Kaladin going two more big ass books without speaking the fourth ideal would actually be garbage storytelling. Seriously.

[@aloneinthedark99]

The prevailing theory is Shallan is already a full radiant but has compartmentalized those powers into other personalities. In times of great stress she can access them, she may even have been in shardplate at the battle of thaylen field. The truths shes spoken in the first two books unlocked the powers for her "real" personality

[@mateocanocardona5700]

In the 4th book Kaladin will do one of the next things 1 he dies trying to swear the 4th ideal 2 kaladin again saves the day doing the 4 ideal Being sincere, I think that dalinar is going to die in a really hard fight I'm not gonna lie, I hope he never dies Buuuut I know that my favorite characters are going to die, dalinar and Kaladin and that will hurt, a lot

[@dhruveshpatel1109]

RoW spoiler I'll accept that I can not save them all.

[@trueharrypotterfan]

I storming love this!

[@JHSMDH]

Idk the whole lore or how the cosmere works but i have a feeling kaladin will become honor some time in the future. Does anyone else think this?

[@noname3609]

Kaladin is my favourite stormlight character no doubt. 😄

[@rifter6176]

A lot of these artists either didn't read the book or just didn't want to portray characters clothed or equipped as they were in the book, particularly in combat. So odd.

[@nevaehrose1786]

The design of the shardbarer is awesome! Btw does anyone please the music at 2:20? I would really appreciate it if someone told me

[@Lixtar_]

7:36 nice Avatar Aang quote

[@johnnycoleman75]

you had me at the first sentence

[@mateocanocardona5700]

Hey! Nice vid, can you make one about Dalinar? For me he is the greatest character ever written by Brandon

[@jimmyeatsom3375]

Kaladin has two major issues left to figure out. 1) How to choose the side of honour and what is right. 2) How to forgive himself for the people he failed. Spoilers for 3rd book: I think number 2 is his fourth ideal. Specifically because he thought of Tien during the scene, who is his biggest and first failure, and source of guilt. His fourth ideal will be. "I will forgive myself for failing those I could not protect." His 5th ideal, should he ever get there, is tied to number 1. It is the true culmination of the question he keeps asking Syl. It is not the one tied to his emotional damage. It is more a question of what is right. Until he repairs his final major hole, personal forgiveness, he cannot be a balanced enough individual to determine the answer to this question. So this 5th ideal will be all about figuring out how to aim his killing at those who deserve it, and finding a path to peace. This is all because I believe the humans will end up stealing away a large number of parshendi from Odium, with Kaladin's and Dalinar's character directions.

[@Rocksnow346]

Spoilers for RoW You were pretty close to figuring out the 4th ideal. It's actually "I accept that there will be those I cannot protect"

[@durvilemayfield5752]

Your timing gives you the win!

[@jamesmccarthy6764]

Why didn't one of the soldiers under him take the shards?

[@artoriosvii6801]

Much as I love Kaladin, and I do love his character, GOAT character imo, definitely Rand al'Thor. Sure he has that one revelation moment that you say you don't like, but that character arc is absolutely incredible.

[@LEDniac]

Im a stick.... A stick

[@joeplumley3238]

I love and hate kaladin. That's what makes him a great character.

[@frankthomson5849]

some people might say its impossible to love and and someone at the same time but with kal....it is possible

[@morebird4318]

Well, I'm reading this again lol

[@stephenroche7988]

Do Lopen eh gancho!!!

[@brittanystorm420]

I love Kaladin so much. He is my son.

[@charlestruppi7793]

Just one question. Who the f would down vote this?

[@ninjapickle773]

Someone that cant appreciate a good book

[@finalfrontier001]

@@ninjapickle773 he made a false claim at the start.

[@ninjapickle773]

@@finalfrontier001 what was it. I didn't catch it

[@finalfrontier001]

@@ninjapickle773 "greatest character ever conseved" Either he is lying, joking, or both. 0:04

[@ninjapickle773]

@@finalfrontier001 it IS an opinion, but it's not neccesarily WRONG. I feel like it's true, but others may not

[@yasino1923]

Is keladin a herald reincarnated?

[@Jonathan-ug9yu]

It's going to suck when Sanderson kills him in book 5 💀

[@capedeh8225]

i do think kaladin is one of the best if not the best character in all fiction that i ever read , that is why i hate book 4, its the first b sanderson book i hate in book 1-3 there is some pattern to the story of kaladin always started in the most horrible sad state, yet through his determinations and the help of people around him he always stand back up no matter how devastated he suffer, and that almost bring tear to my eyes, and each book he grow, not only in power but also in character strength, each book his mentality keep getting stronger but suddenly .... he became a completely broken man ... again in book 4. I know i know its very suitable for the 4th oath SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "I accept that there will be those I cannot protect" which is admittedly very very veerrryyy stick to the point of the story. But come on, to keep seeing him be a broken man over and over again, despite all his revival from all his depression in previous book just tiresome it remind me of my most hated harry prostitute book 5 order of porn, the entire book almost consist of harry being rape by delores umbridge and her follower + ministry of magic who suddenly become his mortal enemy despite being his most ardent supporter from book 1-4 . Dont get me wrong its not that i oppose an MC getting hardship, but not too much, harry already have his personal hell in the house of the dursley , that was his character building part, while hogwanker suppose to be where he shine, yet he was torture in that school too, what the fuck? the entire book its just like a torture porn, it should be called 50 shade of griffindor

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

One of the greatest fictional characters ever conceived? No Good character that's great to read about? Yes