#mshd3

Back at it with MSHD. Rewatched just Ana and Mariana's scenes of season 3, and part of me thinks that Mariana really didn't deserve or was ready for a relationship with Ana. Which was the talk of the fandom while it aired, how it felt so underwhelming. We got what we wanted (canon femslash ship!) but we got it in the least interesting way possible. Or, that's not quite right. Ana's development was beautiful (save the silly telenovela comedy scenes such as speaking through Elena instead of to Mariana) and Ludwika killed it. But what the fuck was up with Mariana?

And what was up with that confession scene? The bikes and pizza were indeed very public, and although it was funny that Ana just had the most classical romantic ideas on how to do it, it goes against the thing Mariana said to Ceci about how a proposal should show how well you know the person.

I do think that Mariana is supposed to feel romantic things in the bike confession, she does look like she has tears in her eyes and she looks kind of like she can't believe what's happening, as if her dreams are coming true. And she does move in to Ana.

But then that kiss/peck. And the hug. Why make it so unromantic??? Was it to keep some plausible deniability for some conservative investors??? Did they have a limit on how many queer kisses they were allowed to show? The kiss from season 2 is a lot more romantic and intense than this one. So is their Santa Perpetua kiss, and Ana's kiss with the other woman.

And then hugging with the bike between them as if they needed to keep as much of their bodies apart as possible. Mariana goes the whole season saying that she is proud of who she is but then she kisses Ferrán like she is into him, and Ana like she really doesn't want to.

And then also the last scene. The ceremony. What kind of ceremony??? It's not a marriage. Or... anything? They are both wearing the straightest outfits possible (imo) and then only peck each other on the cheek, stand "six feet apart cuz we're not gay". I did like the lock and key necklaces. Interesting how Ana has the key and Mariana the lock, I would have assumed it would be the opposite.

And how they finally in the last scene stood next to each other. But Mariana holds Ana around the shoulders like a friend instead of around the waist like a lover. Why??? I just don't get it. On the rewatch I even found it kind of ambiguous, it almost doesn't seem like they actually end up together. Which fucking sucks. Why a whole big love confession if all it means is that they go back to their previous normal? I have so many questions.

The forehead/eye contact as the very last frames is nice though.

I would really like to write a canon-compliant fix-it of season 3 but when I try to put myself in Mariana's headspace throughout the season I just think that she is neither mature enough nor deserving of that relationship with Ana. And then in the final scenes it doesn't seem like she even wants it. Which sucks. How could one make it work???