Klueless's Library

Like can they stop.

I'M IN THIS FANDOM NOW! I GO HERE NOW!

I miss them

Because I have not seen 1 criticism of it not rooted in homophobia and misogyny. Everything I’ve seen from people upset abt it seems to stem from the fact that Micheal being Michaela somehow ruins the character without explaining how the gender change actually affects the personality, morals, or situation at hand. From what I’ve seen she just seems to be a genderbent version of the character from the books and the fact it’s queer is just extra bonus rep. And don’t give me that crap abt it obviously changing things bc of the time period bc none of that shit came up in casting or other queer storylines in the show.

Everyone in the comments is like “Bring back Michael” and “Michaela better have a twin brother” and “Michael is integral to her story” without realizing that not only can stories can change and evolve and grow with new adaptations, but also: HER BEING GENDERBENT DOESN’T CHANGE SHIT. I saw someone arguing abt how Michael’s guilt and character is integral to the Stirling plot, and I agree, there’s just no reason why Michaela can’t also have those feelings and that arc with Francesca. Until you come at me with proof as to why Micheal being a boy is important, then I will maintain that it is an unimportant change, that genuinely only gives more queer rep into a mainstream show. (And let’s be clear, with the popularity of Bridgerton and the current state of at least the US rn, rep like this is very important and influential, and yes, it matters, and it sucks so many people are advocating against it BECAUSE it’s LGBTQ rep)

Let’s also talk abt how in a lot of book to show adaptations, things are changed and expanded on in a lot of different ways. Let’s talk abt how from what I hear Penelope’s storyline has been moved up drastically, or how the cast is full of poc even though that was 100% not in the og books. If you’re cool with Sophie being Asian ending up with a white man, then you can be cool with Michael being Michaela and ending up with another girl. Adaptations are also used to fix and retcon book mistakes, like how PJO series, and as long as those changes are being made to enhance the story being told, then I am all for them, no matter how less book accurate it makes it.

If you’re someone who is so upset that Francesca is living out her story with a girl instead of a boy and genuinely thinks that that change somehow detracts from her arc and plot, then you are genuinely just coming at it from a homophobic perspective, there’s no reason why you should think this that isn’t rooted in the ideas that a queer relationship cannot be as good as a straight one and that a character being queer ruins their character and arc. Which is asinine, specifically in this show and context.