#marambling

I recognize this show has some serious issues tonally, which I gotta say when the show was coming out/starting I didnt think its biggest controversy would be “Yo this show is wayyyy too dark for its age rating and its NOT handled well”

But I also cannot get on board with people completely deriding it for this because holy shit this is a mainstream kids show on a major(???) platform with actual, no frills, no allegories, queer representation of all varieties. Seeing characters on screen introduce themselves with their pronouns, seeing pride pins galore, having Non-Binary explained in such a gentle and thoughtful way—

And even when it IS subtextual, scenes like Nightshade and Tarantulas discussing identity and what an alt mode MEANS got me legitimately teary eyed! This absolutely without QUESTION reads as an older queer person talking to the younger generation of queer people, seeing and noting how much quicker they’re finding out about themselves and how important that is, “to know yourself so well so young is a gift, be proud of that”. My god.

The show can be incredibly grim and tonally a fuckin mess but also.. like man the Malto family all love each other so much and it shows so often, they are always trying to do right by each other and love is just so easy and implicit its so sweet.