Miko's Corner

Let’s talk about these fine ladies.

See, Person of Interest was my first major fandom after Stargate Atlantis, Sherlock, and Criminal Minds.

Stargate Atlantis had the same problem that BBC Sherlock and Supernatural had: mainly, that the writing team could not control their misogyny long enough not to make every female character a complete dumpsterfire of contradictory motivations, damsel in distress tropes, incompetence, and sidelining.

The fandom reflected that misogyny.

And at the time, I resisted the characters and hated the characters for being emblematic of the misogyny that I had to deal with in my life (formal apology to Dr. Keller).

And then I watched Person of Interest. And these characters were not that. They had flaws, but those flaws existed within a consistent moral framework.

Control was an antagonist, but she believed herself to be the protagonist of another story, and acted in a way consistent with how she define one-who-saves. She resisted the title of “hero,” even, because she knew that her actions were not morally right, but she believed them to be morally necessary. And when the “morally necessary” thing was to work with the actual protagonists, she did so.

Sameen Shaw was largely gender non-conforming. She did not have the feminine empathy that she was supposed to have. But rather than punish her for that, the narrative celebrated her as a hero. At the same time, it also not deny her affection and loyalty and status as someone people believed “she was worth sacrificing for.”

And then there’s Joss Carter, a cop who believes in “protect and serve” existing within a corrupt police force. Having to make the moral compromises necessary to uphold justice when the laws are written by unjust people.

It was gold. It was a balm to my soul.

Since that moment, I have made the decision that I will treat women characters with all of the grace with the fandom normally gives to male characters who are played by actors they want to fuck. I grade female characters on a curve of how much of their moral “badness” is directly attributable to them….

…versus how much is morally attributable to their writers is not being able to contain their misogyny.

Because this show showed me that this is an author problem, not a character problem. It doesn’t have to be this way. People behind the scenes are making it this way, and they could unmake it.

FILM & TV YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW | DAY 3: CHARACTERS

↳ the main four characters of WandaVision: Wanda Maximoff, Vision, Agatha Harkness, and Monica Rambeau

Don’t tell them in your letters or calls that you’re not a Republican. Don’t tell them what your party affiliation is. Emphasize how much you love your region and your country and gosh darn it would be so important to me if this or that didn’t happen sir. Similar rules apply if you get the opportunity to meet them in person. No matter what you’re an everyday person totally relatable to a conservative and gosh darn sir you’re just so concerned about what it’ll do to this great city of ours so what are you planning to do about it

1. if you get the “answer my call” text, NEVER ANSWER THE CALL. 

They are calling you because they want to have the conversation verbally, and be able to lie later about what they said or didn’t say. Force them to continue via text or email- force them to continue the conversation in writing or not at all. 

2. “Lack of 2 weeks notice is unprofessional!” or the other version, “Not providing notice is illegal!”

No it isn’t. Neither is true. 

And in the US, all states except Montana are “at will” employment (though you may hear an employer refer to it as “right to work” to make it sound better, it’s the same thing). Sure, at-will employment means they can fire you without cause, BUT! It also means that you are not legally required to give a reason for quitting, or to give notice of any kind. 

Is it polite to give notice when you can? Sure. Do bosses expect it? Absolutely. But that does not make you legally required to provide it. 

3. The only thing I would change in the worker’s interaction here was their response when initially asked to come in. 

Employee: “Hey Mark. Sorry I’m unable to cover the shift tonight because I’m studying for my exam tomorrow.” 

Don’t give a reason for your lack of availability. It may be tempting to. You may feel rude if you don’t. 

DON’T DO IT.

You do not owe your boss any information about what you do off the clock, and any reason you give will only ever be used against you. 

Boss: “Hey I need you to cover Jasper’s shift tonight.”

Employee: “Sorry, I’m not available.”

And leave it at that. 

Do not elaborate. 

Do not offer additional information. 

When you boss asks you to elaborate, because they will, be polite but firm. “With respect, that’s personal. I’m sorry, but I’m unavailable to cover this shift/work late/come in early/etc.”

Be a broken record- you’re unavailable. That’s the only information they need to know, and it’s the only information they have a LEGAL RIGHT to know.