Now, I've only watched the show once, so this may not be the most in-depth character analysis I've ever done, but I have complaints nonetheless.
Somehow, 80% of the fandom seems to be mischaracterizing both Arion and Dunk, in the context of dunkaerion and their dynamics, as well as characters.
For Aerion, the root of the problem is, as often happens in fandom, sexual positions getting too closely associated with the character and fans falling down a rabbit hole of always making the bottom a blushing, inexperienced virgin twink smol bean pocket-sized femboy. There are a couple main issues, the first and most obnoxious being the way people address his height—he is not 3 apples tall. Is he horrendously shorter than dunk? Absolutely, but so is everybody. That man is like 190cm. Compared to the rest of the cast, he's a regular height, not too tall, not too short (prime example—going off pictures of the full cast together, he's the same height as Raymund, but you don't see anyone ever commenting on how especially short he is) like I can understand and respect a size kink, but I can never get over the genuine bastardizing of "bottoms" by fandoms, turning actual characters into ever the feminine, petite weaklings just to entertain a fetish. There's a LOT to be said about the fetishization of gay men in fandom in general, but that's a conversation for another time. But of course, the main problem is how people absolutely butcher his personality. He is batshit crazy, extremely sadistic, egotistical, manipulative and arrogant, but he isn't stupid, he's sharp-tongued and has the balls and wit to back up his violence and avoid the consequences. That man fully believes he's a dragon, he will not blush like a maiden and twirl his hair. He would genuinely laugh at people who experience anxiety/panic attacks or those who suffer from ED.
His bravado doesn't make him fuck up. If you really think about it, the whole trial of seven is a genius idea because he's proud, but he knows he's not beating that behemoth on his own, and besides just physically subduing him, he wanted it to be a humiliation ritual for Duncan, some absolute rando with no titles or even a proper name dared to touch the dragon??? A prince of house Targarien?? And if Baelor didn't step in, in what world would a hedge knight genuinely have enough friends/comrades who would be willing to step in and risk their lives but also reputation for him? He is hot-tempered but also cunning. Now, people do one of two things—either completely disregard his characteristics and genuinely come up with their own OC and put him in Aerion’s skin, or make him so non-crazy that it stops being him. First usually happens in modern AUs, where he can't be so outrageously cruel cz laws, yk? So they put him in roles like a stereotypical omega, or a single parent, or some other weak submissive role that he would either never let himself fall into or just kill himself out of pride if he ever did. Second also applies to modern AU but can also be in canonverse fics or any other AU. They make him less evil, non-confrontational, NICE TO HIS SIBLINGS?? Etc. I understand wanting a character you genuinely like to be a nicer person but either accept him, warts and all, or just admit that you don't like him—you like the idea of him bottoming, so you have to make him a better person somehow to justify it in your head. Petition to stop taking away Aerion’s crazy!!!!
Main takeaway is— some render Aerion into just a fussy, feisty brat who whines and complains and spews poison with no actual damage instead of a prince, a sadist, who has all the power, social ORR physical.
As for dunk, the oaf, the buffoon, the soft-hearted mammoth with a heart of gold... you guessed it people also just make him your stereotypical alpha big bad wolf woof woof sigma chad🐺🐺🐺 in what world is this bumbling idiot ever dirty talking anybody? Or coming back with a smart and witty remark in a conversation?? He is the walking embodiment of embarrassment and awkwardness, taking up too much space, sticking out like a sore thumb. He is functionally a guard dog who only gets aggressive when his loved ones are threatened. Protector of the weak and distressed. In what world is this guy a Casanova and Aerion a virgin?
He is in no way confident, but also not drowning in insecurities. A bit self-deprecating at times, but who isn't?(Aerion😸) He's the prime example of a gentle giant, and I'm tired of people turning him into this sex machine dream top js because it's hot.
He is also sometimes mischaracterized in regards to his relationships/intercatrions with other characters, namely Egg—what advice he would give him, how he would talk to him, Etc. But this is a less glaring issue so I don't feel the need to dwell on it.
Your fics your rules I guess, the world's your oyster. Anyone can do whatever they want. That's the whole point of fandom, but at this point, I've run out of any actually good material and fan content, so I need to let out this exasperation somehow.
Thank you for coming to my tedtalk
edit:: any fic recs where they behave as themselves are very welcome🌞
