A Keefe/ Sokeefe Discussion And Why Sokeefe Is Important.

A Keefe/ Sokeefe discussion— and why Sokeefe is important.

So, as many of you know I am reading through Keeper of the Lost Cities. I just finished Lodestar, and I have a lot of thoughts regarding Keefe, especially in relation to Sophie.

Despite them being apart, Lodestar proves just what great foils Keefe and Sophie are. Not only do they continue to have a deep and innate understanding of one another, but Sophie in particular is the only one to have full faith in Keefe and understand what he is doing. While arguably being the one with the most right to be upset with him.

She never lost faith in him. Even before she saw his worst memory, she saw his reasonings and the guilt he was harboring better than anyone.

Generally speaking, while understandable, the skepticism towards Keefe by characters throughout this book was so frustrating. This boy is risking his life, putting himself in the heart of enemy territory FOR THEM, overwhelmed with guilty for what his mother did to his loved ones, and so often his job is made harder with questioning of his loyalties.

Once it was confirmed Keefe was indeed a double agent and still good, which was pretty clear already given his parting comments and want to get Sophie to safety, couldn’t we maybe, I don’t know, not second guess his intentions constantly and potentially jeopardize his safety?

All it does is make Keefe’s plans run less smoothly, and higher the probability that he is going to get in trouble and into a situation where he has to do something bad just to stay alive.

I am so glad to see him back for ‘Nightfall’, and Fitz begin to underhand him more deeply. Yet it is so very telling how strong he and Sophie’s relationship stayed despite being apart, and how Sophie treated him in comparison to the others.

They have, as I stated before, a deep connection and innate understanding of one another. Unparalleled by any other relationship.

The fact Sophie was thinking for a moment they were fated to be opposites is interesting, because they very much are fated as foils and soulmates. Further, the very reason Keefe left is why Sokeefe works, especially in comparison to Sofitz.

You see, for a classic ESTP type character Keefe’s empath abilities, empathy for others (obviously connected to his abilities), disregard for his own well being, and constant putting others before himself is classic INFJ. It’s an incredibly interesting ability to put with his personality, and makes him a remarkably complex and unique character even outside of his history and traumas.

Keefe takes what his mother did personally. He owns it and puts it on his shoulders. He is riddled with guilt, and has very little regard for his own life. This is why he makes the sacrifice to join the Neverseen and put himself in danger. He could quite literally feel the pain and impact his mother caused on his friends. It would be next to impossible not to internalize that.

But you know who else has a relative who hurt people and joined the Neverseen? Fitz. Yet his reaction is entirely hard and logical, compatible with his telepathic mind abilities. He doesn’t take it personally like Keefe does, he doesn’t put that responsibility on his shoulders. 

He is the head, while Keefe is the heart.

And this is where we get into the heart of why I think Sokeefe works while Sofitz doesn’t. As a romantic partner and foil, Sophie needs a heart to contrast and support her head, not another head (if that makes sense). They balance each other. Keefe helps make sense of all of the feelings and thoughts in her head, while Sophie helps him make sense of and reason our all of his overwhelming emotions.

This is seen in their interactions all throughout the series. Each one is so tender, genuine and raw. There is that deep connection I’ve mentioned, that leads them to get one another in ways nobody else can.

Nobody else understands Keefe the way Sophie does, and vice versa. Nobody. In ways tied to both Keefe opening up to her, and them being on the same communicative emotional wavelength. It honestly reminds me of all the reasons I love Zutara and mourn it’s lost potential.

There is no way to do it justice when trying to describe characters who just have that bond, that perfect understanding and balance, that mutually supportive love. Those characters that are perfect foils.

Sofitz is cute, but more of a crush, and I truly think they are compatible better as besties and telepath battle partners. It’s not problematic and I don’t hate them as a pair, but it is simply not meant to be as Sokeefe, nor does it have the depth. I like the idea of their relationship being like Claire and Douxie in Tales of Arcadia. I know Sofitz tries things out for a little while in books 7-8 ish, and while I probably will be frustrated screaming for Keefe I actually don’t mind.

Because I want Sophie to try out that relationship, see why it’s not meant to be that kind of love, and move on to find a true, mature romantic love with Keefe. Fitz is a cute boy, and they share a lot in common. It’s perfectly natural for Sophie to have a crush on him and even try dating.

But a message of Sophie realizing what true love is/ what different kinds of love look like, and finding a mature relationship with Keefe while also being able to have a strong non romantic bond with Fitz? Is so important and would be so beautiful. Not to mention having this in the hindsight of Keefe being SO mature and supportive of Sophie and Fitz’s relationship.

It seems to be leaning that direction based on what I’ve heard about the end of book 8 (because yes I looked up the Sokeefe page on the wiki spoilers be damned because I am trash), and I am crossing my fingers that is the arc we get for the last books.

Keefe and Sophie’s love is so deep, unconditional, and pure. They understand and support each other in so many ways and bring out each other’s best selves. They help each other heal, and are connected in a way unparalleled by any other characters.

The head and the heart. The telepath and the empath.

Sokeefe forever.

isn’t it funny how i can go from absolute certainty that sokeefe will be endgame bc there’s just too much build up, to questioning/worrying if sophie’s inner feelings will ever even be acknowledged by herself and lead to anything at all because there’s no way keefe leaving for the forbidden cities won’t do serious damage to their relationship/dynamic 😕

went off on this persons video bc everyhting abt it is wrong and infuriates me and then they went and turned off the mf comments🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 i literally despise sore losers

also what I said in my comments is how she never once said she was oppressed, she was just insecure bc of real stereotypes in society that paint blondes as dumb. not only that but she never even actually said it out loud!! it was i her head and only mentioned in her inner monologue twice (?) in the entire hoo series. it shouldn’t be compared to the struggles of poc bc it’s so different!!

then i also said how her neglectful parents WAS a part of her character, an example being the literal caption. She was jealous of Percy and Rachel because she was afraid percy would abandon her! on top of that, she was 14 and had a crush, so it was very realistic for her to be jealous?!??

UPDATE: THEY BLOCKED ME

taylor swift songs as sokeefe (if they realized their feelings ahem sophie)

closure

- the letter. i rest my case.

the 1

- keefe pov after unlocked

right where you left me

- sophie, after unlocked (not canon bc technically we don’t know she might be fine but none of this is technically canon)

paper rings

- reminds me of keefe not caring abt her matchmaking status but it’s not necessarily his pov

the last great american dynasty

- feel this is more a sophie foster song but i love it too much to not include. keefe could be the dead husband tho LMAO

jump then fall (tv)

- sophie pov after realizing how in love she is with keefe🙄

cardigan

- sophie pov

it’s nice to have a friend

- friends to lovers yaaa

lover

- sophie pov but i feel more in future after they’ve been dating for a while

fitzphies get gold rush rip😔

i’m so curious as to where keefe is going to stay in the forbidden cities. i feel like shannon will put him in some obscure town in america maybe in like masschussettts?? oregon?? georgia?. IDK but also if he rly wants to go on the run he’d have to create a whole new life for himself (and an alias😯) without ever pulling from his birth fund bc the elves could track it down i’m assuming. does he have any human connections lined up to help him? or is planning on j being homeless or going into the foster system. or will he get adopted and have like a actual loving family for once? And he’s also gonna have to go to high school since he’s only like 16. imagine keefe at american high school. and elves are super hot so everyone would be in love with him. i wonder what sport he would play bc i j feel like he would play basketball or smth. WHAT IF HE GETS A GIRLFRIEND. what if he ends up liking it better and doesn’t want to come back. idk but i hope we get a keefe short story of it LMAO.

also since sophie has a spyball can’t she watch him🤨 (or maybe the alias would throw it off?)

LOL I HOPE THIS IS PART OF THE PLOT.

i cannot believe we won’t find out until 2022😩

day 3567438839123563743 (actually more like 40 since i only started reading this series a month ago) of not understanding why “fitz was the one to find her and bring her to the lost cities!” is a good argument for why sophitz should be together💀

like that could’ve been literally anyone else y’all. even the mf neverseen almost beat him to it😭