#I don't understand the urge to—when we see our fave fictional characters doing a bad thing—say “actually no they're an innocent victim.”

[bardly-working]

I never really engage in disc horse, but I am so baffled by some of the CR takes about Bells Hells ep 95.

Lemme preface this by saying that I thought this scene was FASCINATING and brilliantly played by Marisha and Liam. Especially after watching CR Cooldown, it's brilliant and heartbreaking and I am that sicko meme grinning as I watch it unfold.

But I have seen multiple people say that...

Orym defending himself against an unknown assailant who attacked him in his sleep (after casting darkness so he couldn't see who it was) means he's toxic and and lashing out because of his grief.

Laudna is a bad person for clinging to the only source of stability and company that she had consistently for 30 years, and her being essentially addicted and trapped in an abusive relationship makes her weak and evil.

it's Orym's fault Delilah is back because he actively encouraged Laudna to give her power... by nodding to agree that they needed to kill Bor'dor? As if he had any reason to know she was gonna suck out his soul and bring back Delilah?

Laudna/Orym should get over their trauma because what Orym/Laudna have dealt with is worse.

And holy shit. It's just... all of this is bonkers.

I know fandom is allergic to nuance, but can we like... try a little allergy exposure therapy?

Can we acknowledge that Laudna has a ton of trauma and is being manipulated by her abuser, but that it is still her responsibility to stop doing bad things? Can we acknowledge that Orym sucks at setting boundaries or expressing his feelings and it's damaging his relationships with the group, but that the solution is NOT to repress his feelings even more? Can we let characters be complicated?