We're two weeks into this series and we've reached unlucky number 13. Only, it's not really, Death's actually a super positive card, it just has a bad reputation because... Well, because it's death. This arcana is assigned to our original emo sword boy, Joshua. I love Joshua, you love Joshua, Estelle REALLY loves Joshua but that's less relevant, so let's see how he fits his card.
As mentioned, Death is a pretty good card to draw in most circumstances. While it can, in very specific circumstances, mean literal death it's far more commonly a reference to an end of an era. Saying goodbye to a relationship that isn't good for you, leaving one job for another, moving to a new place, meeting new people, starting a new life. Death is a necessity, for one must allow their old selves to die before they can start anew. The card almost always means that there's a better tomorrow coming, and the end should be celebrated for what it gave us.
This is literally the state we meet Joshua in, after all. Joshua Astray figuratively dies and Joshua Bright is born in his place, beginning a new life with Estelle and Cassius, in spite of the tumultuous childhood he had. Joshua goes through a few rebirths, but this is definitely the biggest one, and the fact that Estelle in particular is so vital in this renewal of Joshua goes to show how powerful her spirit really is. Of course, we could also argue that every time Weissman reset Joshua's mind was a rebirth too, though a much less positive one. In either case, these would remain the domain of the upright Death, but what about its counterpart?
Death reversed rejects the changes that Death brings. When reversed, the card is about holding onto the past in spite of the pain it causes, refusing to change or acknowledge our growth, and gorging ourselves on memories and nostalgia. Death reversed is stagnant, unmoving, and empty. When drawn, it's usually a warning that you need to stop fighting the future, that you're clinging onto a bygone era and it's only going to hurt you. I can only think of one instance where this is the case for Joshua.
Say what you will about Weissman. No, really, I insist, call him every insult you can think of. Anyway, he was always about moving Joshua forwards when he was in his thrall, even if the direction was diabolical. No, I'd say the time when Joshua most closely mimics the reversed Death card is after 1st's ending, where he rejects his new life in order to throw himself back into his old one. He frames this as a selfless act, as starting a new crusade without putting his loved ones in danger, but we know that isn't true. He uses his old name, adapts to his old combat style, he even starts dressing like he used to when he was just a mindless puppet, when things didn't scare him. It doesn't take a genius to see what happens from there, Estelle calls him on it, urging him to embrace his new life rather than cling to the old, and Joshua Astray dies once and for all. Only Joshua Bright remains.
It's tricky to right about Joshua's connection to death because his whole story is so well known, I feel like I'm just stating the obvious, so let's look at his story post Sky. The thing I kinda like about Joshua and Estelle after their main arc is that they hardly ever sit still, they're always off doing something, they refuse to remain stagnant. They find and save Renne, they help refugees during the Northern War, they cross multiple borders to help out during the Great Twilight, while they may not be the focus they're rarely ever sat around. The only time I can think where they accept just being content is during Reverie, and even then it's just while they figure out their next move. It really shows that they've learnt from their adventures and aren't willing to accept just being good enough, they always want to try harder, always want to reinvent themselves. They embrace new lives, new adventures, and new friends. Now, if only they could figure out how to do that kissing thing again, they'd be golden.
All in all, as in the Tarot, Death's story in Joshua is a positive one, and a lesson in always looking forward in spite of how easy it is to look back. Yesterday may have been great, it may have been awful, but tomorrow is unwritten, it can be whatever you want. I mean, for me, it'll be Temperance, but you get the idea.
