Icon from a picrew by grgikau. Call me Tir or Julian. 37. He/They. Queer. Twitter: @tirlaeyn. ao3: tirlaeyn. 18+ Only. Star Trek. Sandman. IwtV. OMFD. Definitionless in this Strict Atmosphere.
I love how David Jenkins handled Mary’s character and story in the season 1 finale. How many other shows have framed characters like hers as unreasonable, as emotionally in the wrong, as bitchy, for their reactions to a protagonist who has given them every reason to be angry or hurt or mistrustful? How many other shows would expect the audience to handwave the (often male) protagonist’s shitty choices and behavior and side with them in the face of the supporting character’s justified unhappiness?
Not here. We know Stede, we love Stede. We know him far better than we do Mary at this point, but the show doesn’t excuse his behavior towards Mary or its disruption of her life for one. Single. Second. There is NEVER a moment where we are expected to side with him against her just because he’s the main character, and I love them for that. He did her dirty by sneaking out (not by leaving, but by how he handled it), and then came back and inserted himself somewhere he had given up his right to, and the show drives that point home with every scene they share. Mary’s monologue at the breakfast table when she’s trying to read the paper is some of the best dialogue in the show. She lays it out, and we’re with her every step of the way.
AND THEN, the show goes further yet, and has STEDE recognize and acknowledge the validity of Mary’s feelings (and their children’s. ) His development isn’t just a series of plot points getting him in position to go back to the life he belongs in, it’s him recognizing how he wronged and is continuing to wrong her FOR MARY’S SAKE.
This show, man. Like I have dropped shows (and movie series) over this very thing being done badly. The expectation that I will side with the hero over someone they’ve wronged simply because they are the hero. That their bad choices get a pass.
