Hearthside Sins

the phasmid in disco elysium has to be in the 99.99th percentile of effectiveness for characters that, when i actually interacted with them first, changed my perception of the entire world a piece of media had built up. like DE, pre-phasmid, has some wondrous magical realism kind of elements that appear more as you progress (the existence of the pale and its whole deal, harry’s skills allowing him insight he should not have, etc) that juxtapose some of the more gritty and real aspects (we’re investigating a murder here. and an extremely politically and emotionally charged one at that) but i just feel like the phasmid’s appearance really solidifies that yes, this game does feature serious topics and interactions that are desperate and sad and violent, but oh my god we have to keep going. like oh my GOD we have to keep living so bad. there’s hope and here is wonder still undiscovered by the rest of the world. there’s more to see out there and while we have that we have to continue seeking it out. things can be strange and impossible and beautiful and so sad at the same time and i want to see it all. all bc this big fuck-off insect that looks like a clump of reeds told me to do it for the working class. nods. okay phasmid. okay

Putting the term "Catholic guilt" on a high shelf where fandom can't reach it until everyone learns how to identify characters who are very very clearly coded as Protestant.

Fandom will see a female character going through turmoil and trauma and think “How can we make this about how a man feels?”

really difficult to convey to some people that you are absolutely allowed to dislike a character, but you should also pay attention to and understand why the POC character or woman is disproportionately targeted by fandom (for, often, innocuous reasons)

not now sweetie, mommy is watching how the massive girlbossification of female characters has led to the belief that weak and vulnerable female characters are badly written characters because apparently every woman needs to be outspoken and witty and snarky and brave in order to be considered “complex” and have any value in a piece of media!!