#The scene where Monroe was presented with Felix killed me

[green5quirrel]

Just watched Grimm: "Map of the Seven Knights" and I continue to be impressed with just how much this show let Monroe be emotional.

I don't know if people appreciate just how incredibly important it is to see a male identified character emote. It is so necessary to show not only a dude be demonstratively upset with grief and sadness but that Grimm gives absolutely no judgement from any of the other characters toward Monroe for expressing those feelings.

Even when Monroe apologizes, the other characters in the scene are quick to express that it's fine. Because it IS fine. It's absolutely and incredibly fine to sob when seeing your beloved family member murdered in front of you. It's fine to have an emotional reaction to your ex girlfriend giving her life for yours. It's fine to have an emotional reaction to your friend being killed in your house while you were distracted by impulsivity. It's fine to have an emotional reaction to being kidnapped and tortured and threatened with violent death for simply loving your partner. And it's fine to get choked up when trying to express gratitude for being saved from said experience. AND it's fine to have the same reaction to having a flashback that your partner talks you back from.

I hold true that Monroe was and is such an important character for people who society identifies as guys to see. The expectation of being stoic or emotionally constipated or angry over sad is such a powerful thread in the fabric of how a lot of culture views masculinity. Having permission to express emotions is so important. And seeing a character that is incredibly strong and intelligent be validated to express emotions is super heckin' important.

And, as always, Silas delivered those performances in truth and realness. Nothing seemed forced or posed. I truly miss seeing acting like that and wish I could see more of it in genre shows. Or perhaps I'm just currently enamored by my fixation too much to notice it in other media.

At any rate, dudes deserve fuller representation.

Ladies deserve that too but for completely different reasons that I'd need a whole other entry to delve into.

And us nonbinary people? Well, we're getting along with what we've got. Like...3 people. But, you know what, I'll take it.

Bottom line, showing guys that are allowed to have a full range of emotions on screen and in media allows guys in the real world to (hopefully) feel permission to express those emotions in a healthier way. We need healthy emotions to be healthy and safe people. And we need validation and to feel safe expressing them.

So, there.