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There’s nothing inherently wrong with dispatching your favorite characters together, but the act of doing so is often a double-edged sword. In the modern animation world, fandoms form around the majority of shows where viewers will passionately write fanfictions, draw fanarts, and develop headcanons where their favorite characters fall in love and go against the conventional narrative. .
In some cases – like She-Ra and The Owl House – those relationships come true, but in others, fans have to draw their own conclusions and live out the dreams of fictional couples who will always be just that: a possibility. Following its premiere earlier this month, Disney’s The Ghost and Molly McGee have garnered critical acclaim, attracting a large number of followers of similar shows like Amphibia with its gorgeous aesthetic, fun characters, and infectious musical tone.
After the first duet of episodes aired, showrunner Bob Roth and other members of the production crew were inundated with well-meaning questions, some of which raised the possibility of LGBTQ + and neurodivergent portrayal, both of which are confirmed on the way, but will take some time to develop and manifest.
One particular tweet from Roth angered fans for all the wrong reasons. You can check it out for yourself below, but it essentially features a screenshot of the main character Molly with her new friend Libby as they engage in a playful embrace. It’s an innocent moment of friendship, but a blush from one of the characters has fans wondering if it could mean something more, maybe even romance to develop in episodes and seasons at to come. When asked if that meant anything, Roth replied “Maybe”.
The “maybe†is relatively ambiguous and could hint at all kinds of different developments, but I can’t fault the fans for assuming some form of romantic connection here. Molly and Libby quickly become friends in the first few episodes, the main character’s charismatic attitude to life juxtaposing beautifully with Libby’s anxious approach. It’s a lovingly crafted dynamic, and one that just might lend itself to some puppy love romance, but it’s really not necessary, and it’s not the responsibility of showrunners to make such things happen. if it’s just beyond their control.
As you can imagine, it exploded. The tweet referenced on social media as fans geared up for yet another potential romance that would be more than just a couple who never got hot. However, that apparently won’t be the case, and Roth has come under fire when he tried to correct the situation and cool fans’ expectations for something that won’t happen. This anticipation didn’t go unnoticed, so Roth tried to manage the expectations by claiming that their relationship won’t be a canon aspect of the series, but other main characters will be flying the weird flag later.
I think that honesty is vital, especially in sprawling fandoms where words and comments can be taken out of context or prescribed a sense of weight that was never intended. You can’t impose what you want on people who have no control over such things, especially if it borders on harassment or portrays other followers of the show in a negative light. A ship that isn’t canon or valid doesn’t always constitute homophobia or queerbaiting, and blaming the talented people working on shows like this for their lack of representation is a bad look, and if you contribute to that atmosphere. toxic, maybe it’s time to check it yourself.
I’m a queer trans woman and I eat portrayal like nobody’s business, but I also understand when the characters and storylines aren’t exactly right for me. If creators are unable to deliver the relationships and development they so desire due to immutable constraints. The Ghost and Molly McGee is still in its infancy, and we’ve seen virtually nothing of what her world and her characters have to offer, so maybe we should settle in a bit before we jump on the bandwagon. expeditions and to demand that the show aims to meet our internal expectations. Even if it isn’t, it’s still special in a lot of ways.
To claim that the creators are fanatical for denying the existence of queer portrayal on a show like The Ghost and Molly McGee is detrimental to overall progress. I want more representation, I want more characters who think, feel and act the way I do in the media, but it’s not a linear path. We have to accept that not all works of art will satisfy us and always support them whenever we can, especially when people like Bob Roth are still fighting for the inclusion of gays wherever it matters.
Disney Channel animation has seen some kind of renaissance in recent years with female-led shows like The Owl House, Amphibia, and now The Ghost and Molly McGee leading to the billing of a content roster that advocates for inclusiveness. at every turn. I could never have imagined shows like this when I was a kid, which is exactly why I defend them so much today, and we can’t let immature shipping denial ruin everything because it does not respect our own selfish needs. Also, with two seasons on the way, Molly and the company might still be ready to provide LGBTQ + representatives in ways we’ve never seen before.
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