#he's intuitive empathetic and emotionally open- and the film doesn't think you should have a problem with that

[frumfrumfroo]

I always think it’s interesting how many people who align themselves with queerness/wokeness in fandom end up exclusively stanning the most conventional heroes. They prefer altering characters like Thor or Poe as representation, “lesbian icon Thor” or “gay Poe” when those characters are some of the most ideally masculine in their respective stories. And they shame the fans of characters who are *minimally* non-masc, usually in ways that reinforce patriarchal ideas like male emotionality=weakness

It does seem that way, doesn’t it. All the ‘why stan Kyle when P0e is right there’ type anti bullshit, and their constant bizarre insistence that he’s always been a super important lead character on par with Rey and F/nn so you’re ‘erasing’ him by not treating him that way. Which is clearly *ist.

Meanwhile, P0e was a cardboard cut out of ‘The Ace Pilot’, which is definitely one of the most cliché, most conventionally masculine hero archetypes in film history. It was a Dead Horse Trope in the eighties (Flasheart from Blackadder is a parody). In TFA he was a plot device, which is why he is an instantly recognisable stock character- that’s all that was needed.Rian did a little self-aware comment on it in TLJ, which gives him a bit of edge, but it’s not a deconstruction and he remains fairly flat. He’s now a supporting character, developed just enough for that role.

SW is super old fashioned and these old fashioned serial tropes are totally fine but he’s not a character with depth and he was never intended to carry a major plotline, so the treatment of him in the fandom (and the press) as ‘beloved leading man who could totally end up with Rey’ is pretty transparent.

#tropes #writing #Thor in the original film was actually super refreshing #because he's absolutely a macho jock asshole type at the beginning #but he's allowed to look silly and he's allowed to cry and film never suggests for a moment that this is a problem or harms his dignity #he's intuitive empathetic and emotionally open- and the film doesn't think you should have a problem with that #it's not something he needs to grow out of #Loki's weeping is not shameful or weak either #his pain and vulnerability are treated with gravitas #the Asgard stuff is all very manly men daddy issues male problems #but all three of the dudes cry and even cry while they're hitting each other #have I mentioned lately that I love Sir Kenneth Branagh and his secure masculinity #because let me inform you with absolutely certainty this was because of him #as were Jane and Darcy's sensible wardrobe and Real Human Persons treatment #compare/contrast the sequels if you doubt it #But yeah literally the problem they have with Ben is his vulnerability #like I have that whole post about this but that's what it comes down to #he's a romantic figure and that's why he's so vulnerable but that's not allowed in their pew pew 'splosions power fantasy #because Adam is super duper manly and yet through the power of Ben showing embarrassing human emotions he becomes a whole bunch of insults #which boil down to 'effeminate weakling'