#(((*just so we're all clear: i love season 4/the revival. this is a no revival slander space xDD)))

[laufire]

often part of my hate for a character is fueled by the reaction they awaken in the audience, and/or the perception that the writers REALLY want me to love them and think they're the best, most heroic guys ever.

other times the way a character is written is clearly meant to embody literally everything I hate, with purpose, and boy. I won't think about them while I'm not watching/reading the source material, or remember them when I make my "top most hated" lists... but once they enter my view again or get name-dropped, the homicidal rage is back on in full force!

this post has been brought to you by a conversation about veronica mars with a friend that reminded me of just how much I wanted sheriff (don) lamb to die (and he did! because sometimes, tv-land is generous like that). but I also appreciated that he was written specifically in this way, with no pulled punches. because if they'd softened him even a little? it wouldn't be the wonderfully cynic little show that it excels at being.

like, in particular, I'm remembering the moment weevil BEGGED him to let him walk up the stage at his graduation, so that his ailing grandmother could finally see him do it, before he arrested him. it would have taken less than half a minute. and lamb refused because he's a vindictive, callous little man. and because veronica mars is not about giving its audience warm fuzzy feelings by trying to convince us that people are good and understanding and really really caring, deep down! they're selfish and mean and petty; real goodness and kindness is rarer than gold and will take you (and veronica herself) aback every time you encounter it. but most of the time? it wants you to see just how shitty and unfair the world is and react to it, with nothing cushy to soften the fall. and it's a better story for it, imo.