Talked about this a lot before, but the short end of it is–it’d be a huge setback and really detract from his character development. When he sits in the Black Lion for “like half a varga” Lance’s main motivation here is seeking his own glory. His character arc is about learning to grow past that and see the bigger picture and realize everyone in Voltron is part of a whole and you’re not better because you’re the leader.
The way he treated Keith earlier in that episode was also incredibly malicious considering the guy was grieving the loss of the person he loved most. And Lance still has the audacity to spit on Shiro’s last “dying” will and continually provoke Keith until he lashes out or leaves. Learning to see the wrong in that and instead supporting Keith was a huge step for him, and I don’t see why he’d ever still take Black after that.
It also makes no sense thematically. When Keith steps into Black again, he says, “I know this is what you wanted for me, Shiro. But I’m not you. I can’t lead them like you.” And Lance just goes, “This is your moment.” Keith’s concern first and foremost is with what Shiro wanted and what’s best for the team. Lance just wants to steal the spotlight. He has no intrinsic connection to the Black lion through his bond with Shiro the way Keith does. He also doesn’t have those thematic parallels to Zarkon the way Keith does–instead, he’s recognized as being very similar to Alfor.
So, yeah. It’d be really weird to me to just up and give Lance Black when he was never set up as having any parallels or notable connection to either Shiro or Zarkon. Like, you just don’t do that. It strikes me as bad writing. And anyway, I’m confused as to why Lance is even “in the running,” because Shiro himself never considered it–he knew right away it was Keith he wanted to take over. This back and forth with Black has always been a thing between just Keith and Shiro(and Kuron). No one else.
