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I think there's also the fact that we don't know too much about the individual interests of the music club. Like we know their cliche personality types, and can make inferences. But the only hobbies we see them pursue are really music. Which ends up being the only thing to really bind them together, it feels like.

And while I do love them, I wish they expanded on their care for each other more. I want too see the club go to bat for Milly against her bullies, them comfort Sean about his home situation, help Hailey through complicated feelings about things. Same with Zander. And then I want Luke fleshed out more period.

Of course I then also want the whimsy fun hangouts. But the best way to endear people to a group is too have them connect emotionally.

And while the Dromies also sort of lack that, they make up for it with small interpersonal details being fleshed out.

We know about Henry's affinity for anime, memes, and anime games/"virtual Novels." We know about Liam's scene phase, flirty persona, and the fact that he's a little mean to his friends in a funny way.

We know Drew likes gaming, is an honors student, is rich. We have other more fleshed out personality traits and parallels to other characters.

There's also a bit of intrigue. because they're the antagonists.

We get more from the Dromies. And because of that we know they have different interest's and hobbies. That they all do like gaming but that there's stuff outside of that too. And they're so different from each in these terms that they don't feel like a friendship born of convenience. Made for survival (surviving bullies) or "safety in numbers" purposes.

That's my reading of things anyway. I'm definitely due for a rewatch so maybe I've missed or mis remembered some things. But I'm pretty sure this is accurate.

I love how the jomies are (I assume) meant to represent a strained and dishonest friend group with a bunch of lying covering up the reality of the toxicity invoked in the friend groups dynamic, and the music club is meant to represent an honest friend group that could even be considered a family and a unity between similar people who've went through similiar struggled and have banded together to be honest and truthful about who they are

And while that's all true, I've noticed some people the the opposite impressions

Some noting that the jomies feel like an actual of genuine friend group, while the music club feels more strained, or like a friendship of convenience. (I definitely remember that being a confession like 2ish years ago on here)

I'm not sure if I'd agree with such a claim myself, or if I would know anything regarding the subject either, as Im not in a friend group myself and only have 1 friend that I really know, so I'm not sure as to how it all really functions, so I don't think think I really have a say in this all, but it's interesting to note some of the fandoms reaction? Idk

I of course am not saying the music club has to be written with all perfect cookie cutter (is that the right term) bonds with no flaws but, for example, take Milly n Zander? U could say it's all just friendly teasing between the two of them, but I don't think either has ever actually had a positive interaction with the other, some might get the impression that they actually just genuinely dislike each other.. Zander in particular doesn't have notable friendships w sean or Milly. (And is only slowly warming up to Jake but that's a different thing)

While the jomies, for all their imperfections, might simply give the impression to the audience that a lot of it feels like they genuinely care Abt each other? IDKIDKDIKDIDK that's just what I've heard others say, idk how *I* actually feel about it but again I think it's interesting to note

IFK IM BULLSHITTING IM GONNA REGRET TYPING ABY OF THIS OUT aFTERWARDS ARENT I

confession #1116

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if you have OCD that moralistic post it not about you. keep scrolling. i love you

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Yellowjackets is a show all about subverting expectations. I will stand by this.

Spoilers for all of season three ahead.

Every part of this show sets us up to believe we're getting one thing. When in reality we get an entirely different one.

The opening scene of the show set's us up with an idea of how the show is going to go. The pit girl scene. Pit girl running as she's seemingly being hunted by all the other girls. Her dying. One of the girls standing over the pit looking at pit girls body. Them dragging her, eating her with the Antler Queen at the center. We're gearing up for a cult of crazy cannibals. Driven completely away from their humanity. Even Misty taking off the mask, putting on her glasses, and smiling. We think she's excited to eat Mari.

And then we get the season three finale. And it was never that. Pit girl, Mari, was never being hunted by all the girls for fun. She was being used as a decoy, for the real plan. For Natalie to go find help. She was used to distract Shauna. Not even all the girls were hunting her.

Van standing over the pit was not menacing. It was tragic. She was devastated that Mari had died. Them all sitting around eating Mari, tense because they don't truly want that. Tense because they know Natalie is calling for help. Devastating, too. Because for everyone but Shauna Mari was their friend. Misty isn't smiling because she's happy to be eating a person. Because she's fully indoctrinated into a creepy cannibal cult. She smiles because she knows their plan worked. Because she knows Natalie is calling for help and they managed to pull one over on Shauna.

The girls, bar Shauna, never lost their humanity in the way we thought they had initially. Of course there was the first winter hunt. There was coach Ben's trial. All of these things we tragic incidents. And you can argue, correctly, that the girls teetered the line of human and blood thirsty. But in the end they never were fully lost. Only Shauna, who we all expected to maintain some semblance of humanity in the end.

Even a lot of the characters subvert our expectations. But that's another post entirely.

The writing is genuinely so good. It's all like Lottie said, it never meant what we thought it meant.

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I feel like so often when people hear the word "toxic" in the context of a relationship, there's one specific image in their head.

It's two people in a relationship, where one or both are extremely un happy. There's constant scream-fighting and really nasty things said. They constantly hurt each other and revel in the harm they cause. Sometimes there's one party whose the "victim" and they're just a sad little angel who did no wrong.

And yes, those types of relationships exist in real life and in media. But that's not the sole image of a toxic relationship.

Sometimes a toxic relationship looks like two perfectly nice people, who unintentionally gaslight and invalidate each other's feelings. It's two toxically positive optimists who don't let themselves feel their sadness and then don't let the other either.

It can be two people who want to love each other purely and gently, but just can't help but be biting and passive aggressive to one another. It can be two people, who maybe one did nothing wrong, and the other is--again--perfectly nice, but that's the problem. They're two nice. They can't have boundaries and that's an issue because it allows for toxicity to grow in the relationship.

Toxic relationship don't have one look. And I think we need to think about that sometimes.

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I fear I am obligated to refute this, as someone who heavily relates to Jake and as an English Concentrator in College.

*Disclaimer - This is no hate anon or their opinion. They have not said this disrespectfully in anyway. It is simply the opinion.*

I could disprove this by listing the *several* characters in the show that are worse characters. In terms of writing, morality, and even just stand-outish-ness (not a word, don't question me).

You have Luke, who so far is a nothing sandwich.

You have Zoey who is so far just a spicier, ruder, nothing sandwich (sorry Zoey stans. but in cannon so far theirs really nothing there. I do hope there will be soon),

You have Hailey, whose writing is a bit all over the place.

There's more examples of each, because the cast of character is so large. But y'all get the point.

Jakes own character writing is so good. I think people just discount it, because it's not something that requires one million plus brain power to understand. Because he's the main character we see things from his POV. We hear his internal monologue, and we know all the important parts about his life that contribute to him as a character. It's not information we really have to work for.

Whereas with characters like Drew or Lia, they're side characters. So to really understand their writing you have to pay a bit more attention to what they say, how they act in certain situations, and even how they move and behave in certain scenes. It's more work to analyze them. So it feels like they're better written.

But honestly Jake is definitely a top three character in terms of writing (in my humble and non-important opinion).

His response too the world and his own problems as a result of his trauma and childhood is very realistic. His inability to properly communicate stems from a fear of abandonment. Which results in him bottling up his feelings and not telling people what he's actually thinking.

It's realistic, it's something victims of bullying often struggle with.

He parallels a couple of the characters, too.

Lia, in how they're both bullied and then become bully's as a result. Drew in their inabilities too communicate and very clear fear of abandonment.

He foils Hailey, in that she chose to double down on being herself in response to the bullying. Whereas Jake changed himself to fit in and find friends. She became kinder, he became crueler. Lia foils her in that way too, which is another way Jake and Lia parallel each other.

I'm sure on rewatch I could find even more parallels. And I'm sure in season two we'll see them.

All of this is too say, Jake is very well written. It's well thought-out and we can really see the evolution of his character (and Rosy's writing abilities) over the course of the episodes.

He's certainly not the worst morally, either. Not when you have characters like the Dromies (I love them, but like come on now :c ) and Zoey.

Obviously you can have your opinions and your rankings of the characters. But from an objective standpoint he's not the worst in writing or morality. So I feel quite obligated to defend him in that regard lol.

jake is the worst character in the show

confession #1010

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Yellow jackets season 3 spoiler*

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So far we’ve, at this point, seen three people become antler queen. Lottie, then Natalie, and now Shauna. So I sort of have a theory.

What if before they get rescued every survivor attempts to be the antler queen? All eight of them. And none of them are ever successful or long lasting.

Because in season one we’re told right off the bat that Jackie has a sort of gift for leading. The ability to lead. Obviously she kind of failed at it in the wilderness, but considering… everything I’d say that’s reasonable.

Then Jackie dies.

What if the point is that only Jackie is capable of being leader? Maybe that’s the only dynamic that works. And so try as they might none of the girls can live up to that. None of them can be successful antler queens.

I haven’t looked into it but maybe it has something to do with the traits Jackie complimented them for? Like I said I’d have to go back and see but that’s just my theory.

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Saw a post (gone and in the ether now, I fear) that posed a really interesting question: Why didn't Jake tell Drew about Zoey cheating?

Now a lot of people think it's because of the diary deal he made with Zoey. Milly's Diary back for his silence about Zoey's cheating. Which is true from that moment onward (until the season finale), but what about before?

Before that happened, it's clear Zoey's gold digging tendencies and cheating are an open secret in the group. Like Henry, Liam and Jake all do know. They just don't ever tell Drew, who seems to either be aware and is just deluding himself, or is genuinely clueless. Why?

For Jake specifically, I think this is perfectly in character.

The whole reason for his season one conflict is his aversion to... well conflict. Oh the irony.

But seriously, Jake HATES conflict and fighting. He doesn't like when the people he cares about are mad at him or each other. Which is actually represented in the diary episode, when he decides to help Milly to resolve tension in the group.

It's partially why he and Drew's friendship is sledge-hammered at the end of season one. Because Jake doesn't want to make the "Dromies" mad, doesn't want to rock that particular boat. So instead of communicating that he actually enjoys the music club, and their company, he avoids the conversation entirely.

He neglects to tell his original friends about the fact that as time goes on, he really is enjoying the music club outside of confessing to Daisy.

His whole arc centers around him being scared of conflict with people he cares about, because he's never had a stable group of friends before Drew and his gang. He was bullied and alone, and he doesn't want that to happen again. So he shut's his mouth, and says' what he thinks people want to hear.

Even in the recording he's not saying anything he actually believes. He's just overwhelmed and saying what he thinks his friends want to hear about the music club to prevent the rising conflict that was occurring to that point.

Until the end of season one, where he grows a spine (affectionately) and learns to be honest. This blows up in his face with Drew and friends, but works really well with the Music club and Lia. He arcs here.

Back to Zoey, I think he didn't tell Drew originally because he didn't want conflict to occur. It's clear Drew really cares about Zoey, so maybe he just was afraid Drew wouldn't believe him. Maybe he was afraid it'd start a fight and the group would crumble and Jake would be all alone again like in middle school and before.

So, to make a long story short, his brand of coping with conflict is avoidance, and so he avoids telling Drew about Zoey to avoid conflict.

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(Disclaimer: I am in no way attacking anon for their opinion or question. In fact it's on digital sight for anyone who does. They were kind and are asking a question. Be polite people).

So there's actually a lot of different reasons I think people in general like him. With different levels of validity (That's not me saying people can't just like him for beacause. When I say that I'm talking about those Drew Stans. If you catch my drif). | | V (The those in Question): Of course there's the simps. People who think he's 'fine.' So they basically don't care about anything else he's done. Those also happen to mostly be the same people that sexualize him and other minors in the cast.

Then there's people who have an idealized version of him in their head? If that makes sense. They took the fanon UwU soft boy version of him and made it canon in their minds. And suddenly any bad thing he did is excused because he's their 'precious baby.'

For me personally, he has a lot of good writing. Like he parallels a lot of the cast. Jake, Hailey, Lia (The beginning of my Dria shipping obsession), even Daisy in some ways (I have a post about these two here, because I know this will raise a few eyebrows). Also it's the way Drake and Droey parallel each other. Two Dynamics that Drew is apart of. And the way Halia and Drake parallel each other, Drew playing a part in that. Plus, he's written in a way where at the end of the day you're supposed to sympathize with him slightly. Like despite the massive flaws he has (being a bully /:) you feel a bit bad for him. Because everyone knows that feeling of watching the person you care about most in this world be with someone more than you. It sucks. So we're supposed to feel for Drew in those moments. Despite everything else.

Not to mention everyone he knew and trusted lied about his girlfriend cheating on him. And he did really care about her, even if it as at a different point in time (another post about them here lol).

Like it's clear there's a redemption arc being set up here. When talking about character arcs, I tend to use Azula and Zuko as examples. Because they're the two primary directions you can really take an antagonist character. It's redemption versus damnation. Most antagonists get one or the other.

But some rare cases, an antagonist gets both. They have their damnation moment, and then they start their path to redemption. Like Hunter for TOH. He had his Azula breakdown during Eclipse lake, and then post Hollow Mind he was able to have his redemption arc.

I think the season finale of TMF was Drew's little 'damnation' Azula moment. He broke down, made increasingly poor moral choices and eventually lost his dearest friend in the process. Almost a self-destructive move. So now, like Hunter from TOH, after a bit of suffering he'll probably get a redemption arc.

So that makes me personally feel more invested in his story. Modern humans are hard-wired to see the best in each other. We all love a good redemption story. So I imagine the idea of a Drew redemption could draw in a lot of potential Drew fans.

Idk all in all I just personally find him neat. And while I can't speak for everyone, I think a lot of others do too. He just has so much there, it feels like Rosy really invested in writing a realistic teenage antagonist.

I’ll be honest I do not understand why so many people like Drew so much. At first I thought it was the whole, “Oh, he’s a grumpy tsundere” thing, but then I realized Zander actually fits that description much better. But then why is Drew, at least from what I’ve experienced, one of if not the most popular character?

So uh. Can someone explain to me why so many people like him? I mean he’s a cool antagonist and all, but I get the feeling most of those who like him weren’t drawn in because they immediately started doing deep psychoanalysis on him, so what initially drew (no pun intended) people to him? Like is it just vibes or…?

(This isn’t hate towards people who like Drew, I’m not trying to call him overrated or anything, I’m genuinely curious).

confession #882

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I've always been a firm believer that if Jake had told Drew that he actually liked singing from the start (of the series, not when they first met), that Drew would've stayed friends with him. Because as is well known, Drew didn't bully the club because they liked music. That's dumb. He bullied them because he didn't like them as people and Music was just the way they happened to "put themselves out there." So he knew making fun of them for that would hurt the most.

So once Drew got to know Jake, actually like him (and many argue lowkey fell in love with him), he wouldn't have cared if Jake liked singing.

In fact a major plot of the series s that Drew is mostly jealous that Jake is spending more time with the music club. That he's sort of just discarded his old group and choose them over Drew and the others at every opportunity. Just to clarify I'm not bashing Jake for that. It's understandable why he started gravitating towards the club more.

All of that's to say though, that he never really cared that Jake was singing. Like it was maybe brought up a couple times. But it wasn't his main issue. Or I'd argue a real issue he had at all.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

I like to think of Jake and Drew as a sort of Glinda and Fiyero situation (from wicked. Specifically the movie). Where even when Fiyero isn't perfect anymore, and starts to be more introspective, she's still in love with him. Jake is more of "music freak" now, but Drew still cares about him.

*Someone please make an edit with that audio for drake, I don't wanna resurrect my long dead editing skills for this*

I'll always die on this hill though. Because Drew did really care about Jake as a person. Even when we see that flashback, he defends Jake against his bullies. People who Drew himself was hinted to be friends with. But Drew didn't care that Jake was considered uncool. Because he cared about Jake more.

Drew has always been shown to be loyal to his friends, and to be a leader not a follower. Two of his more admirable qualities.

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A List of things I want for Season Fifty

Thirty-Nine days back

No more ways for players too lose their votes (Including the beware advantages and steal a votes)

Two tribes of twenty (realistically I know it won't happen, but it would allow you to pick players from all non returnee seasons and it'd be funny)

A final two (final three can burn)

A tradition FTC jury structure

The auction but no bullshit

Family letters at the auction

The family visit (where has she been? bring her home)

No more pre-merge purgatory (I want it too perish)

The Beg, Barter, steal start from Survivor Pearl Islands

Having only one Super Idol (the idol that can be played after the votes) in the post merge. As in, it's the only one of it's kind and can only be used once.

Reward Challenges being separate from Immunity challenges (all the time).

Giving the contestants the option to sit out of or quit individual immunity challenges for food (its great for information gathering and stirs the pot in a way that isn't to much of production influence)

Rewards that let one tribe sit in on the other tribes tribal council pre merge

Anyone who makes merge makes the jury (none of that, the first person voted out post merge isn't on the jury bs)

Organic emotional moments

Safety Without power advantage that has to be played before tribal council discussion (the added weight of not being able to here any tc talk and losing valuable information nerfs the advantage more)

No shot in the dark (that goes with not stealing players votes, but it deserves it's own bullet)

Somewhere that's not just Fiji. It doesn't even have to look different from Fiji. it can another random beach somewhere, just please... I beg... not Fiji

That's all I've got for now. This list was just my "production/Game Mechanics" wants/not wants for season 50. Essentially, just get rid of all the bullshit no one likes. Especially Non Traditional idol advantages, with some exceptions I've listed. Most advantages are so over played and there's just too many.

It's a way to make up for any potential lazy and non interesting casting on productions part. And allows Jeff and Production to say things like, "We don't want to cast any villains. We want this season to be joyful" :/

They can get away with it and excuse it more, because they rely on advantages to make their seasons interesting (they don't, most people just eye roll). The reason there's been a better attitude about the past three seasons, that had the same dumb and tiring advantages as the other previous seasons, is because the casting was good.

We have a very Gabon-Esque cast in season 46, iconic players in season 45, and a cast with good chemistry and big personalities in season 47. These past three seasons have been, in my opinion, some of the best in the budget era solely because of the casting. And Jeff should be noting this.

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I love how in the Jurassic World Trilogy, Claire’s Hair symbolizes her growth as a character.

In Movie 1, it’s the straight bob. In movie two, it’s a slightly longer wavy style. In movie three it’s down a little past her shoulders and completely wavy venturing into curly territory.

It’s a neat detail. And I love when character growth is represented visibly I. Character design.

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I'm not some people understand how important it is to her character that Lia actually did have a crush on Jake. Like she was a little in love with him.

Because the point is that the two of them are alike, parallel each other heavily. And she clocks that immediately. She knows what he's gone through, and knows it's like what she did.

And because of that she falls for him a bit. The one person in the world that understands why she did what she did. Why she became a Jerk just to please others. Because he did it too.

She crushes initially because of that. But it's also why she realizes that her crush was more surface level. That their entire relationship is surface level. Because she thinks she knows him, and never bothered to actually get to know him. And that maybe, if she'd not allowed her initial crush to be the center of their dynamic, they could've grown closer. That she should've prioritized being friends, first.

Like she does care about Jake. Her idea of Jake. And, who he actually is. It's important to me that people know that.

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It's thinking about Drake and Halia parallels time. Because they literally consume my entire thoughts.

They're both a singer x person who they used to be friends with turned bully ship. Accept Drew was always a bully, and is now just also bullying Jake.

Also breaking down parallels between each individual character in this foursome.

Hailey and Jake

Both were singers who were bullied for their passion. Both are terrible at communication (though Hailey is much better at it than Jake). And then they foil each other becasue while Hailey stayed stedfast in her beliefs and didn't let the bullying change her, Jake did. He choose to become a bully to be accepted and to make the bullying stop. A survival tactic.

Which brings me to the next parallels:

Jake and Lia

Both characters were people who were bullied and then changed themselves as a result. They weren't able to stay true to themseleves and their passions. They wanted to be accepted, adn wanted the bullying to stop. So they did just about anything to make it stop. Lia and Drew

They have the most parallels lowkey in my opinion.

Both had friends who they really cared about (beyond platonic feelings, I'd argue), but ended up betraying in the end. Both characters were Jealous of the Music Club and how clsoe Jake was to them + missed Jake hanging out with them all the time and hurt him as a result. Lia with the leaking of the audio to the club and Drew during the whole Drake up debacle. Both deal with Zoey, and have a relationship with her in some capacity. And Both ended up leaving her because of her actions. Drew and Jake

Both have terrible communication skills. Obviously. But they way they're bad at communication is the same too. They both don't speak up about how they're feeling. With Drew I just think he's emotionally constipated. And wouldn't know how to express his feelings if his life depended on it. And with Jake I think he's just used to hiding himself for group acceptance. So it's partly people pleasing, and partly force of habit. But by hiding how they're feeling and not talking about it, they both let those feelings simmer. And eventually they get angrier and angrier at each other, over things the other had no idea about, and explode. Ta da! Drakeup.

Drew and Hailey

Both are stubborn, and surprisingly "Loyal." Like say what you will about Drew (There's a lot too say) but he cares about his friends.

They both are also wildly insecure. Obviously with Hailey we see that presented in her stage fright as a result of years of bullying. And while we don't have a reason for Drew yet, it's obvious he is insecure. Hailey clocked it so fast.

Also their own anger issues (not issues, but they're both hot heads). We don't see that in Hailey's characterization as much in later episodes, but in the early days she's a loveable hot head. Drew is a (not so loveable) hot head to. We see that when he snaps at everyone throughout the series, and also during his and Jake's fight. Lia and Hailey

Both Hailey and Lia were bullied. But while Lia decided to change herself to be more liked and to stop the bullying, Hailey remained how she was in spite of it. Halia is honestly just basically Sapphic Jailey. I will NOT take criticisms. All four of them parallel each other a lot. And that's what makes every possible dynamic in this foursome so appealing and interesting. They play off of each other really well, and the writing potential is INSANE.

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There's a reason why BakuDeku and Togachako have better writing in My Hero Academia than Izuocha. Spoilers ahead.

As I said last post, My Hero was never a romance anime. It was A Shonen Anime, with action at the forefront. It had social commentary on government flaws and Discriminatory Social systems. Everything is second to that, prioritized after all of that and Deku's personal journey as the protagonist.

Romance was never going to be the forefront of this series. It's prioritized in fandom spaces, because shipping usually is. It always will be. So people who think it's weird or cringe should get used to it if they want to interact with fandom spaces.

All of that said, Izuocha was never going to be as well written as the other ships as a result. Because while it only serves to flesh out both characters, the other two dynamics help bring forth one of My Hero's main themes: It's discriminatory social system.

The way quirks are used to determine a persons worth is always going to be inherently discriminatory. BakuDeku gives us a surface level look at that. Deku doesn't have a quirk, period. So on a "social hierarchy" based on quirks, he'd be at the bottom. With someone like Bakugou, a flashy and strong quirk, would be at the top.

We see Bakugou bully Deku seemingly because he has no quirk. I know there's more nuance added to their dynamic and why Bakugou was a bully later in the series, but in beginning this dynamic helps the audience grasp the social system of this world. Quirks good, no quirks bad.

With Togachako, we get a more deep dive of quirk discrimination. We see it isn't as simple as No quirk bad. It's some quirks are good, some quirks are evil and villainous, and no quirk bad. With a lot of discrimination towards the physically different quirk users. It's displayed to us throughout the series, but Toga's storyline puts it front and center too the audience. And Through Ochako's own understanding, the audience can also begin to see the deep rooted problems with quirk discrimination.

Both of these ships play an important role in portraying, explaining, and exploring quirk discrimination in the My Hero society. Which, as I've said over and over is a main theme of My Hero. So naturally they're much more fleshed out than the canon romantic ship Izuocha. This isn't to diminish that ship. It plays an important role in both characters stories and is just as valid as the others. But Horikoshi is always going to prioritize the themes of the story above all else, as most writers tend to do.

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With the recent potential developments in the My Hero Cannon lately, shipping discourse is at an all time high. Spoilers, by the way.

Izuocha is allegedly made canon in some sort of final chapter of My Hero. And the Togachako and Bakudeku shippers are screaming, crying, throwing up. The Izuocha shippers are ecstatic, and everyone else is watching this absolute dumpster fire of a situation develop. And with this all, some feelings have been spun up. So I'm gonna talk about it.

First and foremost, Izuocha was always going to be canon. Sorry, not sorry. It was implied from the get go. Right off the bat a mutual crush was confirmed. While it focused more on Ochako's feelings, Deku definitely felt the same as the series progressed. All the blushing and awkward tension was there. And I say this not to invalidate the other ships, we'll get too that. But because this is pure fact I want established.

Now, it being well written, is another story. Obviously My Hero was never intended to be a romance. It is a Shonen anime, mainly action. While also making social commentary on corrupt governments, and discriminatory social systems. Those were always the main themes and points of the series. With Bakugou and Deku's complicated dynamic being second to that, and everything else prioritized after this. so naturally Izuku and Ochako's romantic relationship would not be as focused on. Hence why it's writing is not as good. It's just important to clarify this.

Which brings us to my actual main gripe with the whole situation. The way this fandom is invalidating not only just shipping, but relationship dynamics as a whole. And I've seen this with a LOT of fandoms. People tend to find they're OTP and stick to it. Buying their heads in the sand like Ostrich's when it comes to any other dynamics those two characters may have. People will say "My ship makes the most sense, and all the other ships are ridiculous," or, "I can't see them being anything more than platonic. My ship however, is meaningful and romantic."

That all lowkey pisses me off. Because when pushing that we forget a key detail of the human experience. As we go through our lives we meet hundreds of people. Form hundreds of group and individual dynamics, forge relationships with these different people we meet.

It's the beauty of being creatures with consciousness. Because we don't just meet someone, breed and die. We meet so many people who are all unique in their wants and desires. Different life goals and motivations. Different experiences that've shaped them.

Toga met Ochako. A girl who understood her more than anyone she'd met before. Who didn't see her just as the villain she'd become, but the girl she'd been and was still. A connection that meant something. But she also had the League of Villains, and Twice. People she'd found home and family in. As twisted as it was. Another meaningful connection in her life.

Bakugou Deku's dynamic is a huge section of conflict throughout the story. Despite that though, through all their ups and downs, they help each other grow. Become better Hero's and, in Bakugous case specifically, better people. It's meaningful. But Bakugou also meets Kirishima. One of the first people to ignore his threats and anger, her shouting. To put himself next to Bakugou and say "I want to be your equal. Your friend." And Kirishima plays a big role in softening Bakugou. And Bakugou helps Kirishima with his confidence. It's meaningful.

Just like how Deku and Todoroki's dynamic is important for both. Deku helps Todoroki to understand he does not have to hide parts of himself to spite his father. "It's yours! Your quirk, not his!" It's a huge break through for Todoroki. And in turn Todoroki is one of the people that helps Deku realize he can ask for help, he can lean on his friends. That needing support isn't weak (a lesson Deku also helped him learn), and that it doesn't make you a bad hero.

And Deku and Ochako. She's one of the first people to truly believe in him. To look at him and say he will make a good hero. One of his first friends. And Deku helps Ochako in that same way. He also inspires her to work harder and eventually she realizes she wants to be a rescue based Hero.

But Ochako also meets Toga. A girl cast out by society for her quirk, which she uses unashamedly. It helps Ochako see villains in a different light. One of empathy and understanding. While she still wishes to hold them accountable, she now sees the circumstances for how villain's are made. And she makes it her life to help other Children with quirks like Toga's to not become villains through quirk counseling. It's meaningful. All of these different dynamics shape the characters in different aspects of their lives and personality. Each dynamic is important, just as much so as the next. Whether platonic, romantic, or otherwise. They mattered. To invalidate that because it's not a ship you like is asinine.

Also, people can fall in love with more than one person. Toga fell in love for both Deku and Ochako, on different levels. And I argue Ochako did the same. Deku can love Ochako, Bakugou and Todoroki too. Bakugou can love Deku and Kirishima. People can fall in love more than once, regardless of who ends up with who.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what's canon. It never has. Fandom has never cared or let it hinder the way it operates on tumblr, ao3, etc. You still get meaningful dynamics in the source material. Relationships that shaped the characters and their story.

[dust-jacket-analysis]

No because this is so true.

There's an EPIDEMIC of "reaction youtubers" who just sit there and go "Huh... Yeah... okay" at every small things and only barely manage a ":0" at SHOCKING AND JAWDROPPING AND SHOWSTOPPING events.

Meanwhile we get Danny FUCKING Motta, whose flying back in his chair. Do spit take bits that end disastrously for him, grabbing stuffed animals to lay on his head when he's sad in a video for a bit, having actual REACTIONS LIKE "OvO" and ":OOO" to genuinely SHOCKING AND JAWDROPPING AND SHOWSTOPPING events. He gives us witty jokes, makes the occasional (but absolutely spot on, correct, and genius) analysis, and just genuinely actually reacts to things.

He's doing real transformative and hilarious content. Stuff that has me watching shows I never would, just to react alongside Danny FUCKING Motta. He's a gem in the youtube community, and a diamond amongst the coal that is modern reactiontubers.

-Sincerely, someone from the Sk8 the infinity on tiktok days.

God I never knew how good a reaction channel could be until I started watching Danny Motta like goddamn this man shows how to make reaction content into a genuinely hilarious piece of inspired art, like he's so witty and charming that he makes me watch his reactions to other series i never heard about or overly cared about before just to get more of his reactions, he's the gold standard every reaction youtuber should strive for

[dust-jacket-analysis]

This, this, all this!!!

Like I love a good same-sex ship, I've shipped many a ship that was such. I myself am in a same-sex relationship with my girlfriend.

Queer ships are often compelling in a lot of pieces of media, because the writers sucked at writing the main romantic relationship, but the chemistry between a lead and their same-sex counterpart was of the CHAIN.

BakuDeku for example. I don't particularly ship this one (I was more of a KrBk girlie back in the day), but there's no denying how compelling their dynamic and development is. Especially contrasted with Ochako and Deku's relationship.

But then there's relationships in other media, like Marinette and Adrien, where the M/F ship is MUCH more compelling than any of it's same sex counterparts (Marinette/Chloe, Adrien/Nino, Alya/Marinette, Zoey/Marinette). And while I love those ships, the entire show is built around the complexities of their dynamic, their love square. It's one of the few well done things in the show (Albeit dragged out for ages).

I find sometimes people reach for same-sex pairings, anything to avoid the *HORROR* of shipping and m/f relationship. Which isn't inherently terrible. Everyones allowed to ship what they ship, that's the fun in Fandom culture. But the issue arises when a multidude of things happens. Like when a female character is MASS HATED for "getting in the way of gay relationship." And it's just a girl with a (MOSTLY RECIPROCATED) crush. Or when people discount the writing that goes into some m/f relationships in Media.

Sometimes. The "het" ship is more compelling than the yaoi. I know. It's crazy. But it's true.