PSA

PSA

It is entirely possible to feel sympathy for someone, and still recognize that they’re an absolute piece of shit.

- Catra from “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” has spent her entire life being abused, gaslit, and being looked down on for being a cat person, and as a result has abandonment issues and a severe inferiority complex. She’s also a complete bitch who treats everyone around her like shit, refuses to take responsibility for her own actions, and even once tried to erase the fabric of reality out of spite.

- Bojack Horseman from “Bojack Horseman” suffers from severe depression, struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, and had a horrendously abusive childhood. He’s also a total asshole who treats everyone around him like shit, refuses to take responsibility for his own actions, and has even ruined people’s lives with his toxic behavior.

- Dracula from “Castlevania”. His wife was murdered, and he has to deal with the fact that he wasn’t there to stop it. He’s also a complete monster who has a huge ass body count, and is willing to wipe out the entire human race as part of, has his son puts it, “the word’s longest suicide note.”

- Rick Sanchez from “Rick and Morty.” He’s clearly seen a lot of shit throughout his travels across the multiverse, and he drinks and takes drugs to cope with that knowledge, as well as dealing with suicidal tendencies. He’s also a terrible human being who has committed countless atrocities across the multiverse and has hurt many people, even his own family, with his toxic behavior.

- The Diamonds (Yellow and Blue, specifically) from “Steven Universe”. It’s clear after thousands of years, they’re still grieving the loss of their sister, Pink Diamond, and are struggling to live up to the rigid expectations of White Diamond. They’re also abusive space fascists who have committed genocide against thousands, if not millions, of planets, view their own people as expendable, and are part of the reason that Pink “died” (fake her death) in the first place.

- Varian and Cassandra from “Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure” Varian is trying to save his father, and was turned away when he tried to get help. In the middle of a blizzard. And not once did any of his friends go to check on him. And Cassandra has a superiority/inferiority complex as a result of being abandoned by her mother and being stuck in Rapunzel’s shadow. Varian is also the reason his father needs to be saved in the first place, and Cassandra stabbed her best friend in the back, stole the Moonstone, and has spent the entire 3rd season victim-blaming Rapunzel for being kidnapped and held prisoner by a woman who gaslit, emotionally abused her, and used her for her own personal gain. Both committed treason, hurt innocent people, and have actively tried to murder Rapunzel and her friends. 

Feeling sorry for these characters is not the same as being on their side. I am perfectly capable of recognizing that these characters have done terrible things that they need to be held accountable for, and that any repercussion they face they brought on themselves.