You know, life really is fun when you remember canon is merely a suggestion.
I recently got into Death Note and found out there is no afterlife, just nothingness, which kind of sucks for me since my specific and moderately severe phobia (though I PERSONALLY think my fear is very rational, thank you very much---everyone else could stand to be more scared) means that settings with no afterlife are kinda a no bueno for me.
I was sad and worried it might trigger ruminating, but I didn’t want to stop watching the show, and then I realized--I can just make up an afterlife for them in my brain. I have a choice about what in the canon goes into my brain, and I can simply choose for it not to go into my brain.
Now, canon IS important. It is important when discussing the work with other fans and analyzing it critically. I, however, am doing neither of those. I am consuming it entirely for my own enjoyment, and then trapping the characters in my head to rattle around. I don’t have to think about, engage with, or imagine canon if I think it will be harmful for me. I can make my own stuff up. I can just DO that.
I mean, I always knew that was allowed, but I only recently remembered because I haven’t consumed media where I had to NOPE! part of the canon in a while.
