#I didn't touch on any of her interpersonal stuff really? but I've made several posts about that before (and can expand if desired lol)

[emblazons]

You seem to view the show very differently than I do, so it made me want to ask how you perceive El and what you think are her strongest and most defining characteristics?

This has been sitting in my ask for a few days now, and I've not been avoiding it so much as I've been trying to formulate a coherent answer...so. Apologies for the delay, and the fact that this might still be a little all over the place (esp since I don't want to write a whole novel for an ask lmao).

To be completely honest, there are kind of "two sides" of El to me—there is the side of her that is processing her own identity as someone who was denied self-understanding (of her past, of her powers, etc), and the side that is processing herself as a relational and interpersonal human being. I don't think they are inherently "separate" parts her, and there are a lot of things about both sides that crossover, but...at the end of the day, there is a side of El that no one else in this show understands, because (even different than Henry) she is the only character who (before the events of the show) never knew an existence outside of the lab, and therefore came into the main narrative of our story from a place without many of the preconceived notions about what life should or shouldn't be that define most of our other characters.

Of course that is no longer true as we move into S5—El has enough experience and even wisdom to start making educated decisions about what she does and doesn't want, both in terms of relationships (familial, platonic and romantic) and how she wants to utilize her powers—but that aspect of her is something I always try to factor into my understanding of her character, and her overarching arc as well (especially considering that, from the pitch of the show, she was separated from every other description and called the outsider). If anything, the fact that El's entire journey has been about an inherent "outsider" finding home (shout out to the og pitch ET comparison) is one of the more fascinating parts of what defines her character—and what I hope to see come full circle in S5.

As for her "characteristics:" I think she is inherently curious, intuitive and insightful; she has a deep sense of justice and loyalty, as well as a ferocious protective streak for those she cares for. She is somewhat weary and a bit withdrawn, though time with people she trusts have slowly chipped away at the fears that her upbringing brought out in her and made her more courageous as a character. She is prone to being somewhat deceitful and even jealous at times, but she is also a quick learner and highly adaptable—on top of being strong mentally, emotionally and physically (even without her powers—looking at that Angela concussion & it taking several doctors to take her down at Nina when she first saw Brenner lmao).

As time has gone on, she has also grown into someone who is highly invested in her self-actualization—defining herself on her own terms, and "making her own rules." Its what makes her journey from someone completely dependent on others/used to serve other people's interests into someone self-defining & autonomous all the more powerful, imo.

I hope that answers your question! And thanks for the ask. :)