#they all fascinate me and need more fan love so i couldn't possibly ignore any of them

[vindieselsfacebook-blog]

okay after seeing your poll on the unpopular GG opinions I need to hear your thoughts on lane!!! please please elaborate because on first seeing your take I don't agree but I've also never thought about it so I would love to hear your opinion if you feel like it! :))

Ahhh first of all, omg thank you for caring to hear any of my rambling. :') Second of all, pheewwww boy do I have some unpopular Lane opinions lol.

My disclaimer at the top is that I like Lane! She gets so much interesting, flawed characterization that a lot of sidekicks in fiction don't. I can sound like a hater but I think there's this fascinating effect where fans either relate so closely with Lane, they project a lot onto her - to the point of pretending her flaws and mistakes just don't exist - or they flatly reduce her to her endearing strengths and root for her so much as an underdog, they don't engage with any deeper critique and honestly kind of infantilize her and don't hold her accountable for her choices.

Lane is so relatable because her experience speaks to folks growing up in similarly religious, oppressive, and/or culturally specific family units that maybe feel more authoritarian. This is where I must acknowledge that I'm an only child in a white (eastern European mostly) household where I never really clicked with my parents in most ways and was always kind of at peace with that fact. I've always struggled with fully understanding and empathizing with people (both irl and in fiction) who clearly feel so unhappy and/or oppressed by situations, but lack the courage to really do anything about it when it would be fully possible for them.

Lane's mom is cartoonishly restrictive of her and often downright cruel, but at the end of the day, Lane still cares too much what her mother thinks. She still wants to make her happy and internalizes those teachings instead of really pushing beyond them and rebelling like she acts like she wants to. She folds in on herself with a victim mentality constantly that frustrates me. As a kid, I totally get it, but once adulthood looms and she goes along with her mom's college choices for her, tries to make every friend and romantic interest delight in ridiculous charades to keep peace, and doesn't want to have sex before marriage, I get less sympathetic. Grow up, girl! Maybe it's because Lorelai's story is the 180 degree opposite of Lane's. I have so much love and admiration for Lorelai's bold choices, perhaps that's the root of my disconnect with Lane. Again - I totally get that this is shaped by my personal cultural upbringing.

Besides finding it hard to respect this desire to still be mommy's little girl when I don't think her mother has earned that OR that it's a personally satisfying pursuit for Lane, I find her boy-crazy obsessions dull and shallow. In she and Rory's brief S1 conflict where Lane feels ignored by Rory, I kind of can't help but take Rory's side because girl, I'm sorry, I'd be bored as shit hearing you ramble on and on about some dumb dude you don't even know because his hair is cute.

Although I resent the term so much these days, Lane fits the stereotype of "I'm not like other girls" MUCH more than either Rory or Lorelai in my opinion. She's always talking about dumb girls she doesn't like, girls in bands being her competition, etc. I get that's an easy coping mechanism for a girl like her who only has her taste as something she can feel superior to others about because her life is otherwise small, but still. The main characters get that critique but she's always exempt.

So many fans paint with a broad brush claiming Lane's a better friend to Rory than Rory is to her when I feel it's the reverse - Lane requires A LOT of emotional labor. I've heard folks claim she's just as smart - why couldn't she get into an Ivy, too? Well, to start, Lane wouldn't even go if she had the chance because she's too scared to be truly ambitious, she's not the main character of the show, and honestly, why do people think she's so smart? She's no dummy, but she's never portrayed as being especially good at school or interested in academics. That's where I see the projection creep in. People who relate to Lane are angry on behalf of her perceived wasted potential because they feel it about themselves or others they love.

Then of course, we all get mad about her quick marriage and pregnancy, but those are both fully Lane's choices. She's allegedly disagreed with her mom her entire life, but again chooses victimhood in refusing to have sex until marriage and still valuing the oppressive heteronormative life she's always been obsessed with. She was already making progress choosing her independent starving artist life at that point so she can't blame that choice on mommy. You're an adult - learn about contraception if you don't want to get pregnant! Or get an abortion! But no - Lane is a career self-saboteur. Like pushing Henry Cho away, Lane is addicted to struggling and hiding and keeps creating these circumstances for herself long after her childhood under her mom's thumb. She even needed her mom to plan a tour for her and her band.

AND ANOTHER THING (lol sorry, full drunk-uncle-ing now) but I don't think Dave Rygalski's willingness to lie, hide, and change himself for a girl's attention is healthy and gets waayyy too romanticized. Lane would be a nightmare girlfriend.

When fans share dreams of Lane moving to a bigger city, starting an all-girl band, or being successful in the music industry, I can't help but think those aspirations are far more out-of-character than people seem to think. She's just not that girl - and that's ok! Not everyone is. She ends up seemingly happy with her community and family and walks that line having a good relationship with her mom. We maybe hoped for more, but unfortunately she didn't. And just as with so many other things in Gilmore Girls, that rings so bittersweetly true to real life.

[fictionadventurer]

I love your imaginary book rec idea! Pick any or all that spark your interest - no pressure, and skip if none stand out to you.

"Mercator Must Walk the Plank" (Nautical comedy)

"The Wings of Hermes" - (1930's literary mystery)

"Cardinal's Map" (Literary fiction that people argue about whether it should be classed as fantasy)

"The Fourth Postscript" (Epistolatory fantasy)

"The Most Fascinating Lady of the Season" (Coming-of-Age)

Mercator Must Walk the Plank by E.G. Delaford

After reading a few too many tales of high seas adventure, Victorian gentleman John Quackenbush is inspired to purchase a ship and go in search of treasure. His ship is a wreck, his crew is inept, and he's not exactly sure how one reads a map, but the intrepid traveler remains undaunted, even as they battle storms, shipwrecks, and pirates, and often find themselves sailing in entirely the wrong ocean. After they rescue a sensible young woman from a shipwreck, she takes it upon herself to rein in the captain's flights of fancy and get them all safely home, but the Quack is not so easily controlled. He will have his adventure, and those on the ship can either join in the quest--or walk the plank.

The Wings of Hermes by Elizabeth Tern

Oxford don Joseph Quill prefers to remain safely ensconced in his books, but when he is called upon to authenticate a supposed piece of ancient Greek statuary, he suddenly finds himself at the center of a deadly web of intrigue that involves murder, theft, and letters that threaten vengeance from the gods of Greece themselves. Multiple shadowy parties are willing to kill for this statue, and if Quill doesn't uncover them soon, he may just be the next victim ushered into the afterlife.

Cardinal's Map by Dorothy Cannes

Miranda Zimmer, a nihilistic grad student, gets a summer job serving as secretary for John Cardinal, a reclusive old man who has not left his New York estate in decades. Miranda helps Cardinal to compile his magnum opus, an intricate portal fantasy about a man's quest to save a kingdom and find his long-lost love. Miranda becomes enchanted by the story--especially the intricate map of the world that Cardinal has been drawing for years-- and the man, whose zeal for the world gives her a new appreciation for life. Yet Miranda starts to suspect that for Cardinal, this book is not fiction--it's memory. Whether it's madness or metaphor, Cardinal is writing this tale as the chronicle of his life, the map meant to help him reconnect with the woman he once lost. Is Cardinal mourning his wife or planning a rescue? Can Miranda keep him grounded in the here-and-now, or is he doomed to be lost in the wilderness of his past?

The Fourth Postscript by A.B. Wright

Tellor, a young man seeking his fortune, dreams of finding the mythical city in the sky. Amnesh, an elven king, agrees to fund his journey, so long as Tellor sends back regular letters chronicling the adventure. As the journey progresses, Tellor sends updates about the wonders and terrors of his quest, while the king sends advice meant to help him get back home in one piece. Soon, a strong friendship binds the two men, and when Tellor's letters suddenly cease, Amnesh is driven to undertake a quest of his own.

The Most Fascinating Lady of the Season by Charlotte Irvin

Julia Blythe, a sheltered rector's daughter, is invited to stay with her uncle--a baronet--as a companion to her cousin Eliza, newly orphaned and returned from years living abroad. Eliza's life on the continent has given her wild habits, as well as beauty and charm that enchant the men around them. As Julia is dragged along in Eliza's orbit, the girls develop a friendship, even as Julia struggles to reconcile Eliza's wild ways with the more sedate morals of her childhood. But when scandal strikes, Julia and Eliza may both lose everything, including the men they were beginning to love.

[elvearryn]

This is where I stop being civil, you have been warned.

Ah yes, dragons, one of the three things keeping me alive right now.

I've been.. obsessed with dragons ever since I was a little kid. It started when I first watched How To Train Your Dragon.

I just find it fascinating; dragons, big beasts with wings and fury, capable of consciousness and morals.

That they could fly; their tails being such a crucial part of the process, and I don't think any other media focuses on the fact that tails are just as important as wings.

I no longer obsess over HTTYD, though it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Next came 4th grade.

Here, I was mostly out of the dragon-phase. Sure, they're cool, but like, I don't spend any brainpower on it.

I saw The Dark Secret (a book, the fourth one in the Wings Of Fire series. At this point, I've basically spelled my name out in big bold letters but let's ignore that yeah :D)

I think, "Hmm, that looks interesting."

AND THEN IT TAKES OVER MY LIFE.

The only word I can use is.. devoured. It devoured me. That series lives rent-free in my head.

My family was not great with me being a dragon-nerd all the time, though they never stopped me, so thanks :)

I talked about it every second, everywhere with anyone who was willing to listen. Eventually it hits you that no, people would not like to listen to a 10-year-old blabber about mythological creatures.

A year later, after mostly keeping to myself about the topic. I find my lord, my saviour, let's call them... Sia.

Sia's quiet, shy, and it took a while for me to get to know them, but we were pretty good friends after a while.

AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENS.

"Hey, what's your favourite book series?"

"Oh, WIngs of Fire."

"wAIT WHAT I LOVE THAT TOO"

"Really?! There's a game I really like too, it's called-"

"Dragon Mania Legends??"

"YES???"

And I had finally found someone to talk to, someone who would listen (and understand!!!) what I was talking about not only one, but two of my favourite things.

Life couldn't be better. :D

..uNTIL THEY HAD TO MOVE TO ANOTHER FUCKING CONTINENT BECAUSE VISAS- *starts sobbing*

I never really left the dragon phase after that. WoF isn't the best, I will admit, but it's my comfort series so <3

After 5th grade, I got into other branches. Fanfic, fanart, YouTube channels. I started too, it took a while, but now I can draw and write about dragons all I want :D (I sound like a 5 year old please-)

Cut to me now, hyperfixated on this wonderfully flawed world. It̀s been 5 years since I'd first seen a dragon, and it's a huge part of who I am today. It's changed my life, probably for the worse - *cut to my grades dropping by 10% after 4th*- but DO I GIVE A FUCK. N O.

No one asked but I have, like, every single mutual on here as a tiny dragon headshot, will they ever see the light of day, probably not, but oh well.

So, uhm, that's how I became possibly the biggest dragon fan to ever exist.

(People really need to remember that just because something has dragons, doesn't mean I think it's aMaZiNg *cough* Raya And The Last Dragon *cough*)

This was less about dragons and more about,,,, me, I'm sorry for putting you through this, and thank you for listening to me.

*hugs you*

My little sister is a huge Dragon nerd, she never stops talking about the new dragons she's hatched on Dragon Mania, and my Lord I've spent so much money buying her the WoF books, she blabbers about the different types and the humans (scavengers?) All the time too, she has shirts and books and toys and she's going into 6th grade next year, and recently she's gotten into Roblox with her best friend and even then it's all dragons

No need to thank me, I'm always happy to listen *hugs you back*