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I'm gonna be salty.
Before you ask, it's prompted by long observation of fandom and no situation in particular, don't ask me for the tea.
I'm tired with how side characters are overlooked in stories with complex plots that reach far beyond the romance between the main couple.
Before you ask, it's prompted by long observation of fandom and no situation in particular, don't ask me for the tea.
I'm tired with how side characters are overlooked in stories with complex plots that reach far beyond the romance between the main couple.
I lost count of how many times I've heard "oh, so that's how it is, how sad ;(" when a side character's motivations, personal story and what we can infer was pointed out to someone who apparently read the book.
And I lost count of how many reading threads with "why am I forced to read about [insert side character], where is [name of main ship]". If this is how you read the book, if this is all you need from an often complex story - just romance and fluff - I'm not gonna stop you.
Engage with fiction however you want. But a lot of it often goes hand in hand with hating on side characters without making any attempt to understand their actions. To stop and think. Sometimes it doesn't even go with reading and comprehending the text at all.
I understand it's hard to remember all details from an often long story, but overlooking character building completely? Missing the whole point of the existence of said character? Can you even say you really read the book if all you do is speed-read for romance?
If that's what you want, ok, just spare us all the hot (and especially, the hateful) takes based on no critical engagement with the source at all.
Coming back to add one thing: no, this side character doesn't "get in the way of" your main ship. They're there as a part of the plot. Trust me, it's romance. Your main ship will be fine.
