Shelby is naive but they are absolutely an adult that can take responsability for her own actions!
They aren't some sweet summer child that did no wrong, she did wrong, allot of things wrong, they were complicit in the coven's abuse, she was Scott's biggest enabler, yes you can say it was because they believed in him and were his friend, but people... thats not what a good friend should do! A friend tells you when you make mistakes and encourages you to be better, they shouldn't forgive you/deny you did anything wrong. As much as sometimes people might say, Shelby did not fix Scott, it wasn't her actions that made him want to change, but the realisation of the depth of his feelings for his coven and the danger of the situation (if you do believe he changed).
Yes she was also a victim, but they were put in a position of priveledge in the coven, her dismissal of Pyro, Apo, Drift and even Avid's strugles with the coven is part of what led to this people's tragedys (except Drift cus she is built different), Shelby KILLED someone, yes that someone killed her fledgeling and was the one to turn them, but was also a victim of the coven that tried to reach out for her help multiple times, it was her sire and brother and someone that could have gotten better had she given them a chance, wether you believe it is justyfied or not they are as much of a murderer as the person they killed.
Not to mention how she was trying to kill Apo, although you could explain that by them being on opposing sides, but even when she realised how unfixable the coven was and Apo gave her a chance to get help, she refused it, they would rather stay with Scott, they never even question Scott's role in the coven's end.
They were planning to kill Avid themself! Because he was going manic, sure she didn't do it but for that to be something she was planning so early into Avid's stay with the coven... she was his friend, the only person he trusted enough to turn him... Makes you think Scott's coldness rubed of off her maybe... It also puts into perspective Pyro's death, because he just did what she was already planning on doing. Ofcourse that doesn't mean she wasn't mourning Avid but it does add a layer of being mad at Pyro and Owen not because of what they did to Avid but because they didn't have her permission to do it... like she should always have a say when it comes to her friends/fledgeling's lives... not them... 🫤
Again this is not to say Shelby isn't a victim of the situation she is in! She is a victim and being the golden child doesn't make her any less of a victim! I also really believe that the biggest diference when it cames to her and Pyro is the way she was treated, maybe I should make a post about it 👀...
But seriously, Shelby is such an interesting character! Taking away their flaws is taking away part of why people relate to her and why their role on her and others stories is so well donne! Please let the cute female characters have flaws! Just cause they look and act cute, it doesn't make them a child!
