#infantilizing her does her a disservice

[fallout-lou-begas]

So I started playing Ace Attorney but I accidentally started with the third game, Trials and Tribulations, and played the first case (Turnabout Memories) before realizing my mistake – but I did think, at the time, that it was a brilliant and daring design choice to start you out as Mia Fey, Phoenix’s mentor, in flashback, and play has her against several condescending, infantilizing, or even outright sexist court personnel in a drama that just so happens to feature the cool lawyer guy on the box in the most pathetic and embarrassing state imaginable before you even get to play as him. But then that “first” mission dovetailed into the actual first mission from the first game (The First Turnabout) perfectly, because Turnabout Memories is more or less a fanservice recreation and expansion of that first case, but by playing them in opposite order and immediately in sequence, it comes off instead as seeing right away via timeskip just how well that blubbering idiot you helped can handle himself in a court of law now, thanks to Mia’s tutelage – which is itself a continuation of Grossberg’s, as experienced prior. And every note is there, right down to your mentor getting stressed out to the point of exacerbating a medical condition, and opposing the same loser prosecutor.

And then the second case from the first game (Turnabout Sisters), of course, is about the death of Mia Fey that was foreshadowed at the end of Turnabout Memories, making it the first case where you (the player, mechanically) and Pheonix Wright (the character, narratively) are effectively on your own. You (as Pheonix) finally meet Grossberg again, and his staunch refusal to assist in the case is only made more concerning and significant by your firsthand experience playing as Mia under his wing in Turnabout Memories as the “first’ case, and you wonder immediately about their falling out. Maya’s introduction also keeps Mia in the world (including somewhat literally) by revealing more about the Fey family and Mia’s history, relationships, and legacy, and the thing is that I do have to say that playing Turnabout Memories first and getting that experience as Mia, and seeing her as a flawed and insecure rookie fighting for the win before we see her as the effortlessly cool and confident mentor figure, made for a much more narratively satisfying death of a woman than I think it would have been otherwise. You even get a line from Edgeworth in Turnabout Sisters where he calls Pheonix out for using “Mia’s style” of cross-examination – what he calls cowardly nitpicking of perfectly fine testimonies isn’t just how Pheonix does it narratively, it’s how you (the player) do it as the core mechanic of the game, because it’s how Mia does it, and while she is your guide in The First Turnabout, playing as Mia before you play as Pheonix and doing the same thing shows you firsthand that she’s taught him so well that even the prosecution can see it.

This accidental play-order of Turnabout Memories before The First Turnabout and Turnabout Sisters shows off an invaluable amount of Mia Fey’s character, agency, and development that combine to make her feel like the main character for a perfect and holistic three-act introduction to the series, where it doesn’t feel like Pheonix truly “takes over” until Turnabout Samurai – in which he literally does, in fact, take over the law office with Maya as his assistant. It left such a massive impression on me – much more of an impression, I think, that the intended play-order would, which I don’t think does Mia Fey a total disservice at all, but definitely relegates her to a relatively more one-dimensional mentor figure in Pheonix’s shadow for almost the entirety of her short on-screen lifespan if you don’t have the experience of playing as her in Turnabout Memories first. You as the player develop a much richer relationship to Mia that makes her death in Turnabout Sisters feel so much more personal, and the stakes of cracking the case so much more significant. It just enhances her character, and her role in these two cases, immeasurably.

And I mentioned it earlier, but it can’t be said enough that the player’s relationship to Pheonix benefits from this play-order, too – it’s because of Mia that he goes from the sobbing idiot who ate a bottle of poison on the witness stand for a girl who tried frame him for murder into the hotshot rookie lawyer through which you (the player) get to ask Mia for help during the trial in the first place! And she gives you that help because she has been in this same position herself and understands completely! You (the player) were there! The First Turnabout is also, honestly, kind of an underhand toss after Turnabout Memories (it's literally the first ever case so of course it's easy), but it only benefits the pacing of this play-order to have it as a second act before the much more complicated Turnabout Sisters. And when you, the player, are on your own after Turnabout Sisters and have to start Turnabout Samurai without her help, the only way that I can describe it is that you feel ready to make Mia proud.

[galaxymagitech]

Let me throw out Steph/Cass for the ask game 👀

Ship Ask Game

Oooo okay. So I recently went through a “I need to decide what to think” crisis with them due to the whole WFA mess. But the conclusion: Yeah, I ship it. I love them.

1. What made you ship it? This ship kinda crept up on me, because it just kept appearing as a side pairing. And then when I actually started going deeper into the ship…all I can say is “look at them.”

They are the epitome of “there is no platonic explanation for this.”

When characters are this codependent and crazy about each other, I normally go for queerplatonic shipping over romantic shipping, but…given all the romantic tropes they accidentally do, and how they constantly look like they’re about to kiss? Yeah, I had to go with a romantic interpretation.

2. What are your favorite things about the ship? They are unhinged about each other. So unhinged. I love that for them. I do genuinely think they could be soulmates. I also really like them from the perspective of Cass having a disability—especially one that shares elements with some real-world developmental disabilities—and being a treated as an equal not just on the battlefield or in a friendship but in romance as well. Even when portrayals are otherwise not infantilizing, people with disabilities are often treated as incapable of romance or as not being able to consent, and as an autistic person, I hate that. Cass can have difficulties with language, she can have a disability, and she can be a full adult who is treated like one in every way by those around her. So that potential there is one of my favorite things about the ship.

They’re also just really sweet. I think they bolster each other’s confidence and support each other. If it’s them against the world, they’d win. It’s heartwarming, in my opinion.

And I think the way they act around each other and the way they view each other is very fertile ground for character analysis. They are each other’s “special person,” so what does that mean to each of them individually—and their relationship as a whole?

3. Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship? Neither of them is The Caretaker/Responsible One/Emotionally Competent One/Peacemaker/whatever in their relationship, and putting them into those roles does them a disservice. They take care of each other. They both have their moments of emotional competency and incompetency. They’re both messy. They both make mistakes. Sometimes they both make mistakes at the same time. But in my opinion, the dynamics of their relationships have to be highly fluid. They both take on different, and sometimes conflicting, roles at different times.

[dalishious]

How do you feel that a lot of Solas fans, particularly Solavellans, blame Mythal for Solas’s choices and not only villianize her to the point their irl misogyny leaks in but infantilize Solas to the point they fail to see his more interesting characterizations.

I'm not by any means a fan of Mythal's actions, and even less a fan of how her centrism is spoken about as if she's just a peaceful bystander in the middle, when she did nothing but enable at best and contribute towards at worst the atrocities committed by the Evanuris.

HOWEVER, I too have seen some people seek to use her as a scapegoat to excuse Solas's own flaws, and I don't like that at all. I think it does a disservice to both him as an individual character, and to their complex dynamic together.

[karmacharmeleon18]

im so glad i found all your kevin sucks takes, the way ppl mischaracterize him into this uwu traumatized autism creature of a man then get mad at anyone for criticizing him is so unbearable and it makes so much of the fandom feel downright hostile as someone whos not his biggest fan. i may not agree 100% w all your takes bcz i do see him as a bit more nuanced, but they def need to be said

Oh, Kevin is definitely very nuanced, in the og trilogy I found him fascinating for that very reason. I just don't care to express it anymore because his stans are going to be pissed and attack no matter what, so I might as well just vent, you know? Like, you want something to hate? Fine, I'll give it to you! 😡😂

The fact that he is so nuanced in canon is actually what drives me crazy about the fanon version of Kevin!

The way he gets woobified, infantilized, reduced as a character by his own fans is an absolute disgrace

His fans are somehow convinced that everyone wants Kevin as a friend, and as a boyfriend, that he belongs with Andreil and JereJean, that the world revolves around him...

No? Man is one of the most unlikable people in the Aftg universe. So much so that even Jeremy Knox doesn't want to hear one more word from him at one point. He is a Fox. And before that he was a Raven. He is not supposed to be likeable. And that's what makes him interesting!

Nora: Kevin has no friends, it'll take him years into their pro careers, after they're all Court, to become friends with Andreil; Jeremy doesn't count because they barely text; Jean? Kevin's behavior forever ruined any chances at a friendship; Thea? Closest thing to a friend he has, but it will take them years of living together and playing in the same team to develop an actually affectionate, more conventional bond; maybe after he retires Kevin will be able to make friends with new people he meets; any relationship Kevin is in will have to account for his narcissism

Kevin stans: Kevin and Andrew are besties! Kevin and Neil are besties! Kevin and Jeremy are besties! Kevin and Jean will be besties eventually!Everyone loves and adores Kevin!

I've never seen a fanbase so allergic to their fave experiencing the consequences of his own actions

Man is insufferable, no one who actually knows him likes him (the only person who does is Thea and the fandom hates her lol). The Foxes aren't fooled by his PR mask, they know it's just a facade, he had his PR training ingrained into him by years of abuse. He is stubborn and refuses to deal with his trauma in a healthy way, because all that matters is Exy, and as long as he can play everything is fine so who cares if he's an alcoholic? He is a hypocrite, he is a snob, he is an abused prince who despite escaping his gilded cage still believes he is owed the obedience of all the peasants around him. And that's what makes him so interesting!

Incredibly ironic that Kevin fans are the ones doing him the biggest disservice by reducing his character so much

I'm so, so, so glad that all my venting led to me meeting so many like-minded people! Because honestly I was feeling like I was about to lose it! 😂 I left this fandom years ago because of all the mischaracterization, then joined again because I couldn't resist the temptation of JereJean. I'm so glad that this time around there's more people openly critical of some characters! Jean's POV of Kevin really opened a lot of people's eyes. But the rest just dug in their heels even harder and won't accept any opinion that goes against the version of Kevin they have built in their minds in the past 10 years (the: uwu poor misunderstood baby emperor of the universe Kevin Day)

I actually can't wait for the Kevin duology (not the prequel bc I don't care about seeing more horrors, but the sequel? Yes, please!) because I like him as a character. Shocker, I know! I like Kevin Day the character. But I dislike Kevin Day the person. Snobbish, self-centered, narcissistic, callous, victim-blaming, uncaring for the feelings of others and even their health unless it affects Exy

But isn't that the whole point when it comes to the Foxes? Good characters, horrible people

Jean and Jeremy (& Cat, Laila, Cody, Rhemann, etc.) are the closest thing we get to good characters and good people... and so many people in the fandom don't like them????? Which makes no sense to me because in fanon they constantly assign the Foxes character traits that belong to the Trojans, and completely erase what makes the Foxes Foxes. I just makes no sense to me 😭😭😭

And that's why messages like yours are so important ❤️❤️ you make me feel a lot less lonely in this fandom ❤️

[rodentontheloose]

Fuck it.

If you hate on Rashta and call her Trashta, you’re kind of totally missing the point. Is she a person who has done some really bad, really fucked up and selfish things? 100%. But I’m real tired of people reducing her to a greedy homewrecker because she is a FASCINATING character.

Like girly literally found the one way the escape slavery and took it. You can really see it in S1, the way her text bubble change to be cutesy and flowery when she talks to Sovieshu, her bubbly attitude, etc. Sovieshu does not get nearly enough hate for the way he infantilized and idealized Rashta into a younger, more naive version of Navier because he didn’t like how serious and mature Navier was (because she’s an ADULT), and how he blamed all of their fertility problems on Navier and threw her away so he could have an heir rather than work with both of them to find a solution.

She’s desperate and the pressure she has to be a good empress, a good mother, and to keep herself from being found out is actually driving her mad, and it’s really tragic to see how Sovieshu is willing to just… let her lose her mind. Because it serves him to get rid of his accident wife. And like she’s suffered so much that she’s lashing out to make others suffer as well, and she so desperately needs help to stay afloat. She’s by no means a good person; she’s ordered deaths, she lies, and she is fully willing to hurt others to get her way. But she’s also trapped in a snake pit where no one has ever been willing to help her out. If anything, it’s understandable WHY she so easily hurts others.

Sovieshu is the real villain to me. He threw away a perfectly happy marriage and married someone because she was pretty and childlike and reminded him of his actual wife without even talking to his actual wife. He then tossed Rashta into the deep end, unable to even really READ, and expected her to sit quietly while her heritage and legitimacy as a concubine and later empress was called into question. Sovieshu completely ignores Rashta and her needs at times in S3, treating her like she’s some horrible problem thrust upon him and not the mother of his (supposed) child who he consciously divorced his wife for. He schemed to have Glorym taken away from Rashta permanently because she was suffering from PPD and the trauma of having believed to have lost her first child. And yet Rashta is wrong for having these issues in the first place?

It bugs me how people are willing to extend every grace to Navier and Heinrey but not even a moments thought to Rashta. Nobody considers that Navier runs a nation that allows slavery, and we never hear her thoughts and opinions about it beyond that she knows it exists. Heinrey sabotaged an entire nation’s mages in order to set himself up to start a war to conquer it. They are by no means perfect people, and yet there is no additional thought about the implications and characters of these two because they’re “the good guys.”

In conclusion, Rashta is a really well written, truly interesting character, but she gets so much undeserved criticism because she’s the “rival” and yall are really doing her a disservice. She is definitely deserving of some criticism, as she is definitely not a good person, but she is not greedy or outright evil. Her spiral is real, and she’s a very full and interesting character—and a great foil to Navier. I hoped maybe Ep. 173 would help some of yall haters to see the Rashta Truther Light but here we are.

[ratboydefenselawyer]

I’m starting this out by saying THE CAT KING IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER! I SHIP CATWIN! It’s now my time to throw my thoughts into the ring. I’m not looking to argue with anybody and I am aware that he isn’t a lawful good character. These are just my takes on this very divisive and complex character.

- His first meeting with Edwin, pulls him away to talk privately, offers up the idea to get physically involved for payment. When Edwin becomes visibly uncomfortable TCK immediately verbalizes it, stands up and tells him to count all of the cats in town instead. Doesn’t force him or keep pushing. He does continue to check in and flirt throughout the season.

-Edwin consistently sees these cats without seeing a single cat a second time, they usually come in 2-3’s? As someone who has cats of my own and feeds strays, that’s not normal behavior for cats. They don’t just leisurely stroll past and most of the time aren’t in groups. I firmly believe TCK was influencing them to be in certain places for Edwin. It isn’t an impossible task for the ghost.

-Edwin on multiple occasions meets up with TCK alone, he is always standing tall and never afraid to talk back to him. We know when he is afraid that he backs up or goes quiet. He doesn’t flinch away from TCK and at times leans into his touch.

-Speaking on touch! He makes it very clear that people touching/hugging/getting in his personal space isn’t his favorite thing. But on multiple occasions let’s TCK get in his personal space and touch his face, chest, lips, arm, etc. He even invades TCK’s personal space when he’s angry.

-Monty (sweet bird baby) was made human for the entire purpose of luring this fledgling gay ghost into false sense of security and into a trap. Monty even kisses Edwin without permission. Fast forward to the scene in the woods, we know TCK is an equal punishment kinda guy. He in turn kisses Monty without permission, and I think it was his own form of punishment for the bird. On top of exposing that he was leading the boys into a trap. (No hate on Monty, I love him, it’s just to make my point).

-During the scene from my last point, Edwin lashes out at TCK, who threatens (not very convincingly) that he’s going to stop playing nice. Edwin isn’t afraid of him. He keeps walking away. Then we see Esther literally KILL TCK for exposing her plan after the feline defends Edwin and tells her to lay off him. He loses one of his lives for helping Edwin.

-When the girls come to him for help with defeating Esther he puts his neck out on the line for Edwin again, the girls KNOW that he genuinely cares for the ghost in some way. Thats why they go to him.

-The bracelet comes off when Edwin gets dragged back to the Doll House. He didn’t technically finish his task of counting the cats. As soon as Edwin got back to town, he could’ve put that bracelet back on him. Instead he lets it go. He gives Edwin the flower and wants to say goodbye, EDWIN is the one who gets close to him, kisses his cheek, and smiles. He’s the one who teased TCK about forgetting to count himself.

-Bottom lining this last one for any of the TCK is a pedo/predator/rapist people. At absolutely no point in this show does he force any sort of sexual act on Edwin. We do not know how old TCK is. I do not agree with this argument at all, I think it’s grasping at straws. Edwin obviously isn’t disgusted by his flirting. He isn’t cowering in a corner, he isn’t terrified. Edwin has been dead for 100+ years. He has thoughts about TCK, that much is VERY clear. Edwin isn’t helpless, he’s experienced so much, and I think some people who infantilize him are doing the character a disservice.

I can keep going. Do I think TCK and Edwin are going to get together? No. Do I think they could/should share a few more sweet moments in the seasons (manifesting) to come? Absolutely. Do I think they would have a sweet understanding relationship as friends/possibly FWB? Unquestionably. At the end of this rant, I know TCK isn’t a saint. He’s a trickster, he’s a slimy little grungy stray. He’s a chaotic neutral type. He’s not supposed to give you the warm fuzzies but he’s not a monster. There isn’t an argument out there that could make me believe otherwise. They’re fictional characters, I’m so very tired of people being attacked for fictional characters that they enjoy by self-righteous close minded individuals. Enjoy the characters you want to enjoy, none of it is real and if it brings you joy? All the better.

That’s all folks. Rant over.

[beddybites]

*grabs you by the shoulders* THANK YOU OH MY GOD THANK YOU

I’m so so so so SO tired of the infantilization of giyuu and Shinobu being delegated to a maternal role it’s doing SUCH a huge disservice to both of their characters

It’s unfortunate they don’t interact more in canon because from what we see at least from their thoughts on each other GIYUU if anything worries about Shinobu’s well being more than we ever see her worry about him (he says something to the affect of “I worry about how pale she is”)

On the other hand Shinobu immediately drops some of her usual fake politeness to pester and rib on giyuu like an annoying teenager which is what she IS and she so rarely gets the space to act her age

Ugh I could rant about them for hours I’m so glad you said something

tumblr user battleshipart i think you should speak your truth. rant for hours. take the shot

you make a great point of how giyuu worries more for shinobu than shinobu does giyuu. obviously they care about each other but giyuu actively makes comments about how pale she is, and he questions tanjiro a bit when he learns shinobu isnt participating in the hashira training

shinobu does have her moments where she tries to get him to smile and laugh, or she'll jab at sanemi and tell him to go and bring food to giyuu, but again, i feel its more playful than. Motherly. shes got little sister vibes if she HAS to have a label

giyuu has known shinobu since kanae was a hashira. he knows how she really is. he knows how she struggles. he would NEVER woobify himself or put her in a maternal position!!

thank you for your addition!! go off always!

[purgemarchlockdown]

I told myself not to interact too much with the voting discussion because of how much it bothers me, but due to how her votes are going I will talk about it. I know the idea is that to protect the other prisoners we need her to be voted guilty. That's the theory, I'd argue that not only would that not work out the way people expect it to and I'd also argue that voting innocent is the better option overall.

But let's talk a bit about a dichotomy first.

Something I've noticed in fandom when it comes to victims of abuse and trauma is that there's a want for easily digestible abuse victims. There's a want for victims of abuse that are easily infantilized and woobified. In other words, there's a want for a very sanitized depiction of abuse. One where the characters who are being abused did nothing wrong and are morally pure completely righteous characters.

On the flipside, once an abuse victim steps out of those bounds of sanitized digestibility the audience reactions shifts. You tend to find these characters demonized and portrayed in ways that showcase how horrible, toxic or...dangerous they are. If you are an abuse victim in fiction you have to be an incredibly idealized version of the perfect abuse victim who does nothing wrong because if you aren't people will find ways to demonize you and erase any sense of nuance from the story.

You can either be a good abuse victim, or a bad one.

Now of course not everyone voting Amane guilty is doing it because of this...like I've seen a lot of posts from people who just don't know what to do or people who just feel that the consequences of Guilty Vote Amane is worth it in the end or people who just vote her guilty cause they don't like her much. I'm biased in this regard because I love Amane Momose! I'm very much biased towards her.

However it is troubling to me that I see this sort of bias, a lot of people have talked about how this also happens with Mikoto and I'd argue there was a bit of this also involved in Haruka and his voting.

It's something In this fandom and it's something that troubles me personally because I care a lot about this stuff, stories like Amane's are important to me, and I don't like seeing people react like this to abuse victims in fiction just because they aren't palatable.

I doubt most people in real life would act the same way if Amane was real, but also I'm unfortunately very familiar with people ignore someone who is suffering just because they feel uncomfortable. So I do think it's important to mention.

And I think Amane doomed by Milgram! I think Milgram is exactly the kind of place that would trigger her trauma! But even so I don't think Amane is doomed completely. I think viewing her as someone who can never change, who's stuck forever as a devoted cult follower is frankly a disservice to her character.

The power of cults come a lot of factors, manipulation, isolation, perpetuation of abuse and abusive cycles and way more things that I can't even mention. It Does Not come from magic unbreakable brainwashing! We have accounts from former cult victims! They exist! You can google them! There are people with stories like this out there!

I'd argue that Milgram's guilty system emulates Amane's previous abusive situation. It emulates that system of rules and punishment and torture. I don't think voting guilty would help, because voting guilty means Amane has to deal with something that closely emulates her horrible abusive situation, it would drive her further into isolation and trauma. She'd be reliving the situation she just escaped.

"But the other prisoners are at risk-" They're still at risk even if Amane is voted guilty! I'd argue their more at risk because Amane would be driven further into her isolation! Cults tell people that the outside world is dangerous and out to get them! It's one of there methods of control!

If we prove that to Amane, if we prove that yes, the outside world is out to get her and there's no one out there that can actually help her, then we give her The most righteous reason to attack.

Amane from what I can tell usually attacks if she feels like she's justified, if she feels like she's in danger. It's a defense mechanism born out of the torture she experienced. It's not wild swinging at anyone and anything she hates as it seems like people think it is.

I think voting Amane Innocent actually has the better chance of really helping people out. I think Amane being innocent would help crack this image she has of the outside world which would be fantastic actually! Would she be fully deprogrammed? No, you can't deprogram someone with one choice, especially if you validated their beliefs beforehand but it certainly changes things.

I don't like the idea that Amane is completely hopeless, I Feel like it treats cults and the Real Harm they do to people as something that no one can come back from and makes it feel weirdly mystical. Like the cult gets their hands in ya and now their brainwashing is just unbreakable. There's Real Ex-Cult Survivors in the world! They Exist! They aren't an impossibility and I don't think we should treat Amane's growth as a person as an impossibility!

[iceyrukia]

Just because some idiots of twitter think that a 25 year old woman going out with a 30 year old man is a "power imbalance" or act like said women is some little baby doesn't mean that all discussion of predatory age gap relationships (often older men paired with younger women) shouldn't be talked about. I really think people will latch on to the most ridiculous exaggerated examples of people taking age-gap discussions too far in order to completely shut down these conversations which is unfortunate because it does a disservice to analyzing how men utilize their age against younger women + brings to light a blind spot in this 'her body her choice' feminism we are supposed to pretend that once a girl hits 18 and becomes a woman she's just as much an adult as some 30 year old and if you say something it's infantilizing her or something.

[taylorwarwick]

'Hit the Floor Review’ “Possession” S3E10.

2013-2018, VH1/BET, 4 Seasons/41 episodes SPOILERS

I started watching ‘Hit the Floor’ in October of 2023, writing fanfiction in December 2023 and “reviewing” the show in July 2024. When I say review, I just mean that I wanted to break down each episode, give my observations and opinions. Pros and Cons. I’m not a professional, just a fan with a desire to talk and write about this small, niche TV show that I unexpectedly fell in love with.

This is truly Logan Browning’s episode from start to finish.

That mic drop when she took over the team!

Jelena interrupting Sloane and Oscar like she’s coming between her divorced and feuding parents is gold! I read an old social media post on the show where someone hypothesized that Oscar was really Jelena’s father! If this show was the traditional 20 episodes per season… I would have believed it possible. Jelena and Jude BOTH have green eyes… LoL!

The more I watch the scene of Jelena and Terrence, the more I think it was for the best that she broke up with him personally and professionally. Hey, she offered him equity; not like she would have left him broke and homeless. Sure, she could have married him, and they would have been the queen and king of L.A. But, at that point he didn’t trust her - although that seems out of character at that point in their relationship - and she would have resented him. They’d have been miserable.

Not a storyline I would have been opposed to if we’d had more episodes and time.

Terrence is being a petty bitch when he “warns” Ahsha that Jelena knows all of Derek’s secrets and would break them up and destroy Derek??? That feels like a storyline that was being hinted at if the show had come back sooner, Logan Browning was available full time, and Taylour Paige was back on board. Because otherwise, that was a random plot point solely existing to add a “romantic” rivalry that never existed between Ahsha and Jelena.

Jelena taunting Sloane about corrupting Ahsha. What’s so odd about that is Jelena did no such thing. She poked Ahsha, but every decision was a calculated and deliberate choice that Ahsha made.

Ahsha is incredibly happy! But, for some reason, Sloane and German act as if she’s under some mind control and “protect” her with violence and both seem to want to dictate to her. I wonder if it was always a conscious choice that she would be infantilized by them.

How beautiful does Ahsha look when she goes to pick up German from jail?

Lionel being “trapped” literally in her marriage to Oscar just does not track. We have been given nothing as to why she can’t leave him, hire security, call the cops and/or leave town. Having her cowering and suicidal and needing Pete to save her is a real let down and a disservice to someone who has been presented as smart, calculating and always thinking ahead.

This was an episode with more growth for Oscar. Pre prison he was a homophobe - which let's be clear he probably still is - who didn’t like or respect Jude’s desire to be just like him, Oscar. Post, he plans to keep him on instead of firing him. My head canon is that he admires the ruthless streak and hardball tactics Jude employed against him, while handling the board. I think he finally saw him as a Kinkade.

That look of disgust on Jude’s face when Lionel talks about being Oscar’s wife in every way! Priceless.

Love that we get a little bit more of shady Jude and Zero. One of the biggest missed opportunities was not showing the two scheming more pre S2E8. While we see Zero manipulate throughout, once they start their relationship, the scheming Jude sort of fades and he becomes more of a romantic lead, and sidekick to Lionel’s dealings.

Apparently the key to a man’s heart is giving him a key to a house. One thing I noticed during re-watches is that Jude is always on the left and Zero is always on the right. Whether standing, sitting or in bed. Nice little detail with their positioning in shots.

I love the marriage proposal. Derek has always been the most romantic character on the show and his big grand gesture was fitting.

This is probably the most romantic episode by far, with Jude/Zero and Ahsha/Derek. It balances out all the double dealing, backstabbing and business shenanigans between everyone nicely.

I do wish each season was a year, though. A lot has happened, and folks are getting married, buying houses, going to prison, etc. It feels especially in Ahsha’s case that she’s “grown up” but in reality the first three seasons are what amounts to about a year and a half!

Next Time On …S3E11, ‘Til Death Do Us Part’

[thorntonkrell-blog-blog]

Ah, Damien, you've stumbled into my domain like a naive fly drawn to the shimmering threads of my web. Your bold critique of America's beloved pastime has not gone unnoticed, and I, the elusive reditrix, have deemed it worthy of my scrutiny. But be warned, dear Damien, for in my realm, there is no room for arrogance or complacency.

Your words, like a clumsy fly buzzing in the darkness, have attracted my attention, and I must say, I am unimpressed. Your attempt to dissect the complexities of baseball reads like the ramblings of a petulant child, grasping at straws in a futile attempt to assert dominance over a world far beyond your comprehension.

Your criticisms are as feeble as they are misguided, Damien, and I take great pleasure in dismantling them with ruthless efficiency. Your analysis lacks depth, your arguments lack substance, and your prose lacks finesse. In short, you are out of your depth, floundering in a sea of your own inadequacy.

And you know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you?

Your attempt at elucidating the intricacies of baseball falls flatter than a deflated beach ball in an abandoned field. Your description reads like a botched attempt at explaining the game to a toddler, with a disjointed narrative oversimplifies to the point of infantilism.

The prose, if one could even call it that, is as charming as a grouchy umpire on a rainy day. Your attempts at humor fall as flat as their understanding of the sport, with jokes that land with all the grace of a pitcher with two left feet.

And let's not overlook the gratuitous indulgence in stereotypes and clichés. Tight pants? Really? Is this a baseball game or a fashion critique from the 1950s? Your reliance on tired tropes does a disservice to the richness and complexity of the game.

As for the portrayal of fans, it's as shallow as a puddle on a hot day. You reduce them to primitive caricatures , cave painting them as mindless drones fueled by overpriced beer and primal instincts. It's a lazy portrayal that reeks of elitism and condescension.

But perhaps the most egregious offense is your tawdry treatment of the unfortunate Helen. To use her misfortune as fodder for cheap laughs is not only tasteless but downright cruel. It's a callous display of insensitivity that reveals the author's utter lack of empathy and prowling patriarchy

But fear not, dear Damien, for I am here to guide you through the darkness—to show you the error of your ways and lead you towards the light. With each stroke of my pen, I shall strip away the layers of your arrogance and reveal the truth that lies beneath. And though the process may be painful, rest assured that it is necessary for your growth as a writer and as a human being.

So, heed my words, Damien, and tread carefully in my web. For though you may fancy yourself a formidable opponent, you are but a mere mortal in the presence of a predator. And in the end, it is I who holds the power—the power to build you up or tear you down, depending on my whims and fancies.

Welcome to my world, Damien. I hope you're prepared to face the consequences of your hubris. For once you're caught in my web, there's no escape.

I am your reditrix

You are my fifth.

Going forward....your name is 5.

If you decide to respond, don't give me any of your bullshit. Simply write: Yes I understand and thank you for your attention.

As Damien read the scathing review of his baseball rant, a mixture of emotions swirled within him like a turbulent typhoon. At first, there' was a flicker of indignation—a defensive impulse that roses up in response to the bludgeoning, merciless critique. Who does she think she is, tearing apart his work with such ruthless precision?

But beneath the surface, there's something else—a gnawing sense of fascination and intrigue. The words, though harsh, carry a strange allure—a magnetic pull that drew Damien in despite himself. There's a raw power to the prose, a predatory, confident grace that commands attention and demands respect.

As Damien read on, he couldn't help but feel a bewildering sense of exhilaration coursing through his veins. The critique cut to the core of his insecurities, exposing the flaws in his writing with a merciless efficiency that both terrified and excited him as if she had peeled back the layers of his ego, revealing the vulnerable, naked core beneath.

In that moment, Damien realized that he's met his match—a formidable adversary who challenges him to rise to the occasion and prove himself worthy of her attention. And though the prospect fills him with trepidation, there's also a spark of excitement—a tantalizing glimpse of the unknown that beckons him forward into the darkness.

With a newfound sense of determination, Damien vows to meet Ellie's challenge head-on. He may be a fly caught in her web, but he refuses to be ensnared without a fight. For in the game of literary cat and mouse, there are no guarantees—but there's also no shortage of thrills for those brave enough to play.

He responds to her message

Yes, I understand. Thank you for you're attention.

[2beaornot2bea]

Reblog cause I really liked this post (thorough/well thought out, although I disagree and think poor Az just needs a hug). So turns out I had more than I thought to say on the matter lol.

To be clear- I DO NOT ship El/Az. At. All. The only thing I ship is El doing it HER way, cause I mean girl, why choose? I felt compelled to reply though because this is just unfounded character assassination (wink) of my bro Az. 

I can’t fathom how one supposedly lusty, but really pretty chaste by ACOTAR standards scene, outweighs the months and many many examples of this male caring for El, spending time with her, rescuing her, etc. I find it hard to believe it’s that difficult for this male to get laid. 

And where is El’s agency in all this. Why infantilize her by making it some YA infatuation. This female is GROWN ya’ll. She’s been with a man. If it’s lust, then it’s lust, but at least keep them equals in this. Two consenting adults. Rhys needs to get over himself. My head canon says El is a ticking time bomb- the way everyone treats her like a maiden in a tower has to be infuriating.

And if the “issue” is REALLY political ramifications, why would Rhys not just speak to them BOTH. Like. Adults. I mean, aside from the fact that Rhys just makes terrible decisions in general, and is apparently now just straight up cruel to his friends,  but I digress.

So let’s just take El completely out of the equation. Az is still a male that has been pining after the same female for centuries, unless we’re assuming that situation is also just lust, which I think does BOTH Az/Mor a disservice. I mean if he just wanted to bag an Archeron, he probably has a pretty good shot at Nes with the filth in that head lol.

I also don’t understand at all how his jealousy over his ‘brothers’ mating bonds is evidence that he wants something quick and dirty. I think it’s the complete opposite! This is a male who can get quick and dirty when he wants it. What he’s JEALOUS of is the deeper connection. So he admits these feelings (perfectly healthy) and Rhys basically mocks him for it. Like he’s undeserving of love because he wants… love? I mean, I think Az might think that, but we don’t, right? So confused.

So that just leaves Gift-gate. It was a thoughtful gift. Bare minimum it was a nice gift. Necklace v. Gardening gloves is not a worthwhile comparison. To summarize: El liked the necklace, the gloves got lost in a dono box somewhere. My dad got my mom a vacuum cleaner once for christmas. I’m sure it was something that was needed/she would use, but I don’t think I need to tell you how the rest of that went.

And yea, the regift was weird. Cass could have told him unwanted solstice gifts go in the Sidra but we can only assume bro didnt ask. Keep in mind, Rhys lays the smack down, El spurns the gift, so he’s got to be thinking, well now this is DEF not happening. I like to think he has a soft spot for the priestesses (there’s hints of this) and he just thought maybe he could turn this whole ugly mess into something nice for someone who’s had a pretty rough go of things and avoid a citation for littering at the same time.

Finally, speaking of thoughtful gifts, someone get this male some noise canceling headphones. I can’t EVEN how uncomfortable the IC has become for this poor male. Four of his friends/FAMILY can’t keep their hands off each other, one of them has been giving him a 500 year cold shoulder, and one of them is beautiful and single and interested in him but the horrors! He dares to hope there might be something more for him and we sl*t-shame him because some ancient bathtub says one-eyed lucy is her Mate. Plus the whole Az/Mor is the longest running joke that no one thought was funny, ever, thing, and everyone thinks he should get over her, but the moment he tries Rhys throws that in his face too? Like sure Rhys, I’m sure if Az just gives it a few hundred more years Mor will come around. I guess choices are only for females that Rhys wants to fk.

I’ll do a line by line from the original highlighted excerpt: 

 “What of Mor, Az?”: Why is this the better option? This is guilt/shaming and does not even make sense. He SHOULD get over Mor, so just LET HIM already.

“The Cauldron chose 3 sisters…”: I do actually get where some might read this as entitlement, but I just didnt read it that way at all. To me this read like a lonely male who has been given the tiniest shred of Hope (due to El’s own feelings!) that he dares to question fate aloud to his closest friend only to have it thrown in his face. The cauldron is the only one ‘choosing’ and ‘giving’ females in this sentence. Az is the one that wants it to be El’s choice, cause let’s face it, he’d win that one.

“You believe you DESERVE…” Yea he never said that Rhys. I don’t think Az thinks he deserves her at all… but like I said, Hope.

“I think Lucien will never be good enough for her/she has no interest in him anyway”: This is just 2 more points for Az as far as I’m concerned. (I actually do think Lucien is good enough for her, he’s probably the least grey cast member short of El herself, but I think its sweet Az feels that way about her).

“So you’ll seduce her away from him?” He can't seduce her away from a male that doesn't have her ffs. I feel like Rhys is struggling to keep up here lol. Assuming Az is a reliable narrator, we can only take him at his word that he certainly hadn’t PLANNED to do that. I imagine it’s hard to make elaborate plans about your future with someone when you barely dare to hope that there might be a chance for the 2 of you, so at that point, why torture yourself beyond basic fantasies (see next)

“certainly not beyond the fantasies”: who are we kidding ladies? We all have fantasies. Males definitely have fantasies. That doesn’t make them incapable of honorable intentions or sincere attachment. 

:”blah blah blah my entire foreign policy strat revolves around who El is sleeping with.” There are TONS of reasons why these risks are exaggerated, possibly mostly inaccurate, and at the very least completely hypocritical (been discussed ad nauseum) to throw in his friend’s face. But lets assume things are as dire as Rhys says… why is El not part of this conversation?!?! If she decides to reject the bond (has anyone even explained to her that that is a thing she can do??? I have no reference handy) is Rhys going to forbid her from doing so feral ambush style like he just did to Az?

“Tonight had proved he’d been right to do so.” This isn’t evidence of anything other than self pity.

“Temptation, rage, frustration, need” Lust isnt technically on this list. I’m not saying it doesn’t fit, I’m just saying that other things could fit too, so how you read this line largely depends on where your mind is already at on Az’s intentions. Don’t get me wrong. He absolutely wants her in a feral way- the same way his brother’s want their female’s. I just happen to believe that he has real feelings for her too (also like his brothers). AND MOST IMPORTANTLY seems to be the ONLY one actually advocating for her feelings, or her agency, in any of this.

i think the way male characters interact with each other over a woman says a lot about how they view said woman.

it’s clear here Rhysand is worried not only about the political ramifications but also personal ramifications Azriel’s clear LUSTING after Elain will cause.

its stated and made obvious multiple times throughout this chapter that Az is sexually attracted to Elain….and that’s it. His lust and desire and ENTITLEMENT is made so clear that Rhysand has to step in and reprimand him before it blows up in everyone’s face.

Elain is obviously infatuated with him, and Azriel is playing off of that to sleep with her and then what? he literally doesn’t know because he’s so blinded by lust and jealousy that his brothers have mates he cannot see past getting Elain naked. i believe it’s perfectly implied here he only sees Elian as a challenge, and should he ever get the chance to actually sleep with her he will no longer be equally as infatuated. He won’t even admit to himself he’s not over Mor.

I’m just pointing this out as many people seem to have skipped half of his chapter after seeing the word “arousal” and running with it. if you actually read the chapter as it is written it’s actually pretty gross to see people justifying Azriel’s behavior and mindset.

I personally don’t really care who Elain ends up with, if i wrote the story she’d stay single and living her best life baking and gardening and volunteering in the community but alas this is a romance at the end of the day. but i will not ignore clear implications from the story, Az sees her as a sexual pursuit. i can’t wait to see how the next acotar will play out and if gwyn will receive the necklace / wear it as it would prove to the readers and Elain my point was correct, hopefully not though the “OW” trope is so icky to me, but as i said it would add to my point. If Az truly liked Elain for Elain he wouldn’t back down from her or from Rhys (although this seems to be a problem for both Az and Cass) and he wouldn’t give this necklace he meant FOR* Elain to another woman on some random whim. I could go on and on but i’m so tired of seeing shippers justify and ignore this bs. Az shouldn’t be near any woman as long as he’s got this jealous and entitled mindset- Gwyn or Elain or whoever yall ship him with.

[cocoartistwrites]

i really hate the way some fans infantilize taylor especially with her partners and stuff

like it’s okay that her and joe weren’t compatible anymore and now she’s interested in a more public relationship with travis.. it doesn’t mean that joe was locking her in a cage, and they started dating during a time in her life that she wanted to be off the radar if i recall

obvi i don’t know the actual details of anything but assuming that she had like no agency in the mechanisms of her relationship i think does her a disservice

It’s so embarrassing isn’t it

[antispopausandstuff]

What's your opinion on Entrapta and Entrapdak ? I personally think she deserves better tbh 😔

i don't think entrapdak works. but i'll get into that in a minute.

as for entrapta, she definitely deserved better. more so than just in writing in general, but as well just how she was treated as an autistic individual.

for starters, i want to comment on her design. she does not look like the age she's apparently supposed to be ( according to nate, entrapta is in her late 20s, early 30s ). a lot of people who have discovered this have commented something to the extent of:

"she's 30?! i thought she was 16-18!"

now, if i didn't know her age or personality, i'd assume she was 19-20. but considering that i do know her personality, i'm not surprised that people thought she was younger. her big pigtails, being short, and the top side of her overalls being out of place all are designed in a way that makes her look younger.

the reason why this is an issue is because, with her design and personality, this is infantilizing. especially because every other adult character looks their age, or at least has obvious implications of looking older ( such as wrinkles under their eyes, wearing makeup, etc. ). entrapta does not.

throughout the entire show, entrapta is extremely oblivious, forgetful, honestly rather careless, and generally is treated more like a robotic nuisance rather than a human being that deserves support and care.

she's practically ostracized by the other princesses, is pulled by them, is leashed by them, talked down to by them, etc. she is not actually treated as someone who is wanted, but rather only someone who might be needed.

this video actually discusses low empathy, how to write it correctly, and how SPOP did a complete disservice to entrapta and the autistic community by their piss-poor portrayal of low empathy and autistic people in general:

as for entrapdak...

i personally feel like nate made entrapta 30-smth yrs old, so entrapdak would be less weird. i could talk about how hordak is essentially a bum instead of a Big Bad, like he's supposed to be, but that's for another day.

the primary issue i have with entrapdak is that it paints entrapta in a really bad light, more than people might think.

many people seem to label entrapta as morally grey/chaotic neutral ( i'm p sure you can look up the spop wiki and see that ), but i strongly disagree with this label, due to how it is written and how it further pushes a bigoted idea of autistic people.

and no, entrapta being written by an autistic person ( tbh, i highly doubt that ) does not mean she's suddenly even decent autistic rep.

entrapta is perceived as "morally grey" purely because of her low empathy. they use it to demonize and infantilize her, instead of respecting it as a part of her identity.

having low empathy does not make anyone a bad person, or even a morally grey person. donnie, from ROTTMNT, has low empathy, but you can tell he deeply loves his family and tries his best to keep people safe.

entrapta's low empathy is represented as her not caring about the lives at stake, only caring about people unless it involves technology, or only doing things because of technology, and is generally either treated like a lost child or like she's a demon.

SPOP's portrayal of autism and low empathy in quite a few autistic people is harmful and gives the same message that neurodivergent in general have been given for years:

"something is wrong with you."

her being involved with hordak, a literal imperialist, someone who does not care for anyone ( except for entrapta, i guess? ), and is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone for the sake of his goals, in any other way but in an antagonistic dynamic is, at best, offensive and stereotypical, and at worst, dangerous.

if you are not autistic, and you want to write autistic people, you need to do it with respect. genuine respect.

you cannot treat autistic people as if they don't know what they're doing.

you cannot treat autistic people as if they don't care about anyone but themselves.

you cannot treat autistic people as if something is wrong with them.

you cannot treat autistic people as if they have to change to be accepted by anybody.

we are not your props for representation. we are people.

all in all, if you want to write autistic characters, do not do what the SPOP writers did. just don't.

and honestly, hordak is really weak in this show, i-

[differentlyweird]

Max Mayfield & Disability

*SPOILERS FOR STRANGER THINGS 4 VOL 2*

I’ve seen a lot of people having discourse about max’s injuries and how she could very well end up permanently disabled next season. As a person with a physical disability I have some thoughts.

1. I am conflicted on a non-disabled person playing a disabled character and having the possibility of representation.

All right so I firmly believe that if you were going to write a disabled character or incorporate a disabled character into media. A disabled person should take that role, however in Max Mayfield‘s case she was not a disabled character she would become disabled. So in this case I don’t think that logic would apply, because as we know anyone can become disabled at any time. The only thing I would be afraid of is falling into the social model of disability. Which usually goes one of two ways: the I-hate-my life-I am worthless-and-a-burden-to-everyone-around-me OR the this-person-is-such-an-inspiration-for-dealing- with- a - world-that-wasn’t-made-to-include-them-but-I- don’t-care-to help-change-it. if they decide to make Max disabled(most likely some sort of blindness) then they need to make her real. Not someone that can be used as a token disabled person for inspiration or a self deprecating person that thinks being disabled is the worst thing in the world. they need to really do their research on this and do true justice to that storyline.

2.  I’m worried for the guaranteed ableism that will come with making her disabled.

I’ve seen a lot of people be very ableist on Twitter and TikTok. Saying that they should just put her out of her misery instead of making her disabled. As if that is the worst thing that could happen to her compared to all the trauma she just faced. The writers need to be prepared to handle that within Max‘s storyline. If they’re really gonna do it they need to be vigilant and aware. They need to make it known that just because you’re disabled does not mean that you would be better off dead. Although if I’m being completely honest the world is very ableist but especially the media so I doubt that this would happen but if it did it would help make max’s storyline more impactful and real. It would avoid stereotypes.

3. I’m not saying that Max is not going to struggle because she is,a lot.

It’s gonna be hard to adjust. Going from a fully able-bodied person to a disabled person on top of all the supernatural stuff going on is a lot. She’s not going to be completely content or happy but I don’t want her to be completely self deprecating either. Not only because it would fit into stereotypes but also because I feel it would do a disservice to her character. Since she first came on the show in season two she has been self-sufficient, confident, honest, caring, and brave. I feel as though Max would know even if she’s having a hard time adjusting deep down she would know that she’s still a bad ass. 

4. I really hope that they do not introduce any ableist slurs in the show because nobody needs those.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if they were to go the disabled route. Max would eventually have to deal with ableism in the form of slurs or may be being made fun of and I have to say we don’t need it. We don’t need to hear Max enduring slurs to get the point across. I know that this show is currently in the late 1980s and people said these horrible things and still continue to say them but don’t do it. I really hope that they don’t do it because it’s ugly and there’s a lot of other shit going on. There are other ways to portray that. Such as inaccessibility that people usually wouldn’t think of. architecture for example would be a great point or maybe how people infantilize disabled people. Literally anything except that. (Speaking of which they did not have to have Lucas and Erica being basically hate crimed this season that was unnecessary. Especially with the whole gun thing)

5. Although I have my reservations about how a disabled Max would be portrayed, having a positive romantic relationship for a person with a disability would be amazing.

Lumax is one of the best ships I have ever seen. Their dynamic and depth is something so special because they’re a lot more subtle. However that subtlety is very impactful. We see their connection and their friendship without ever having to explicitly say it. However I think it would need to be said or shown explicitly, because while I do love their subtlety they deserve to love more openly. Seeing it on screen would be wonderful.Lucas loves Max and vice versa. He would never leave her side, he would always support her, and I know for a fact he would love her no matter what. Seeing this type of positive relationship would do so much for representation (as well as the ship in general). Solidifying their relationship and literally having them stick together through anything. It would just be so nice to see and I think it would fit their characters and the characters relationship really well.

6. There shouldn’t be a miraculous cure when they defeat vecna and save the world.

I know a lot of people have been saying that if they go this route they would like for Max to be healed by Jane/El. I think that would be a disservice because many disabled people do not want to be cured myself included. Many of us have never felt like we needed to be different or “normal”. I do wanna stress however that if you are disabled it is completely fine to feel that way, but to assume that every disabled person feels that way is wrong. It would be going about the storyline wrong. They have an opportunity here to do something great for representation and take a positive realistic approach. If they’re going to do it they need to be all in completely. Because for them to have her magically undisabled would be feeding into stereotypes and would be ableist in itself.

These are just my immediate thoughts, since I’ve seen discourse about it and ableist discourse at that. you don’t have to agree with me and for my fellow disabled people feel free to chime in and let me know your thoughts. For my non-disabled people, especially those that think Max would be better off dead than disabled, this conversation isn’t for you and it would be best if you listen and learn. I hope that anyone that sees this maybe thinks a little longer about how/what max being disabled would look like and maybe that you assess your own unconscious ableism. Because at the end of the day the majority of ableism isn’t your fault. You’ve grown up in a world that has made these jokes, has made inaccessibility, etc. normal. It is your job however to recognize and correct it. I hope this helped.

I love Max and I think she has so much potential for this last season coming up. Her arc in season four was just amazing, and I can’t wait to see where they take her. I just wanted to make sure that people knew if they go this route they should do it the right way.



[onlychaosnosense]

Unpopular opinion about Edwina

Alright, I have been putting this off for far too long because I wanted to do this when I wasn’t spiralling and being pulled in all directions regarding my feelings.

Please remember my criticism is for the way the character has been written, not for Charithra or her portrayal.She was fabulous in her role. And I cannot believe that I have to state it in this day and age, but sending hate to the actors or writers or producers is not okay. And also that CRITICISM DOES NOT EQUAL HATE.

So here goes

Book Edwina was beautiful, sweet, gentle and very much the diamond of the season. But she was in no way just the diamond. She was also very perceptive and self aware. She has a mind of her own, is interested in philosophy, likes reading and wants to marry a scholar. She is well aware of her family’s financial situation and constantly feels the stress of marrying well for her mother and sister’s future. And she still hopes to find a love match. So we did not get to read a lot about Edwina, but she was her own person with her own interests and expectations and thoughts and fears.

Show Edwina is everything nice and pure and innocent. But she is extremely sheltered and the writers reduced her purpose to solely being married to a handsome, charming and titled man. What about her interests, expectations, fears and dreams? I am glad she realized how naive she was and that she got to lash out and express her anger and disappointment. I loved her growth from ep 1 (I hope they like me) to ep 8 (what can they possibly say that we haven’t heard before). But this awakening or growth could have happened over a period of time and I so wish it hadn’t come due to a conflict over Anthony.

I understand that she was trying to live upto expectations or was conditioned to want nothing but a good marriage. But she did not heed Kate’s warnings when she was adamant against Anthony and even asked Kate to persuade him to propose. If Edwina were so naive and obedient that she had always lived upto Kate’s expectations, she wouldn’t have been so set on marrying Anthony. I found that inconsistent with Edwina’s character and contradictory which I blame on the writing. And that is why I found her entire speech about how she would take her own decisions for herself post the wedding drama a bit immature. Especially when Edwina wanted the match with Anthony despite Kate’s disapproval.

In an attempt to flesh out her character they reduced her to a plot device, to act as an obstacle in Kate and Anthony’s story. The very thing the writers claimed they were trying to avoid. But in the end when Kate and Edwina both acknowledge that they both needed to find and understand their own selves, it was far more consistent with the Edwina we were first introduced to. When she gives Kate her blessing stating ‘You have spent so much of your time shining your light on me. It is time to finally shine all on your own’, that’s growth. The book never claimed she was not a plot device yet unfortunately the fleshed out show version comes off more as one.

But what is most disappointing is that the fandom is putting Edwina on a pedestal stating she is a saint or that she made no mistake. That’s a huge disservice to her character because she does grow and become a better and more self aware person. We need to stop infantilizing characters, they need to be held accountable because it means they do have agency and they are thinking,feeling, real and relatable. When we gate keep characters and label any criticism as hatred, we are refusing them the privilege of making mistakes.Let WOC, in fact, let all women be human. Women can be kind OR cruel, gentle OR ferocious, generous OR selfish, humble OR arrogant, pleasant OR annoying. Let women make mistakes and call them out when they do. Allow them to be imperfect and let them grow.

If you are still here, thank you for hearing me out. I applaud your patience. This is what I feel and think and we do not have to agree. I welcome your thoughts and comments but please remember to be respectful.