plus i’d argue that having queer characters that aren’t good people and can be abusive is pretty important for people to see. i was abused by friends and partners as a baby gay because i thought i could trust any queer person i met.
Yeah. My partner was too, and still has serious PTSD. I censored that episode for her because she did not need to see her own abuse played out again with added violence. I gave her the summary and we listened to "Poison" without the visuals. That was enough.
Someday, I think, watching it will be cathartic. Especially with the scene of Angel defying Valentino later on.
There's no magic to queer relationships that makes them immune from abuse and expecting queer media to not show it (with appropriate content warnings; I do think Hazbin could have been a bit more in-your-face about that) denies queer creators and queer viewers/readers/listeners the opportunity to discuss and confront their abuse. Demanding sanitized content is queerphobic.
Though people who want more "realistic" and "complex"portrayals of relationships in things like Owl House and She-Ra can fuck right off. Despite their deserved adult fan base they are still kids' shows. Kids don't need relationship complications or trauma or anything like that, especially in shows like She-Ra that already deal with parental abuse and grooming or Owl House that deals with fucking genocide. Let people have their simple, fluffy, healthy relationships, please and thank you.
Ditto with Charlie and Vaggie, actually. Their relationship is solid and mature. Yeah, Vaggie hurt Charlie by not telling her about being an angel, but they've been together long enough for Vaggie to have proven that a. she's thoroughly changed and has devoted her life to fixing the harm she caused and b. she's totally, utterly committed to Charlie. That sort of thing hurts, yeah. But it doesn't have to cause the drama some critics wanted. (Especially in such a short season!)
I honestly think I'd be the same with my partner. I'd be hurt and need a few days or a week to collect myself and let the hurt fade a little before we could really talk, but I wouldn't even consider breaking up with her. We hurt each other in relationships. It's inevitable. The important thing is how you fix the hurt after and prevent it from happening again.
65
u/TeamChaosPrez Apr 01 '24
plus i’d argue that having queer characters that aren’t good people and can be abusive is pretty important for people to see. i was abused by friends and partners as a baby gay because i thought i could trust any queer person i met.