shipperx: (gas)
[personal profile] shipperx
Boy, reading this TVGuide "Ask Matt" question brought on a sense of deja vu:

Question: I had a question about the concept of the bad boy. I watch The Vampire Diaries religiously, and I enjoy the character of Damon. I understand that he is a vampire and his very nature is evil, and I also understand that he longs to be more caring and loving, especially with Elena. However, I remain convinced that Elena's best love interest is Stefan. Even though Damon has shown some redeeming qualities, he mostly has tried to kill everyone Elena loves (sometimes accomplishing it), used her friend for blood and sex and forced her to drink his blood so she would turn into a vampire if she died. I am not sure how anyone could root for them as a couple. This trend of wanting the heroine of a show to be with the bad boy instead of the decent guy is upsetting. We see it on True Blood and that show from last year, Life Unexpected. I think it shows young girls that you should strive to be with the bad boy because he is more exciting and overlook all the horrible things he has done to you and others. People may think Stefan is boring, but he respects Elena and would never do anything to intentionally hurt her despite his vampire nature. — Rachel


Okay, here's the thing. I don't have a horse in the "Who wins Sookie" or the "Who wins Elena" debate. Either way, eh. Whatever as far as I'm concerned. And the truth is I seem to like Bill more than most of fandom does... and I've gotten the impression that I like Stefan better than most of fandom does as well.

But, doing a compare and contrast of "my vampire is better than your vampire" contest is always ridiculous be it Stefan/Damon, Bill/Eric, or Angel/Spike. If you want to compare crimes... they're both awful! They have both done terrible things. A whole hell of a lot of them. Just go ahead and admit that you have a preference. The opinion, is based on preference. It just is. Neither are going to win the "perfect boyfriend" award... nor should they because these shows are based on conflict. So no, the one who broods artistically over his sins and cast as hero isn't 'better' than the one who quips sarcastic and hides a woobie heart and is cast as anti-hero. They're both pretty traditional character archetypes and in these cases -- they're both vampires! Okay? Pick the one you like, but a complimentary 'mine-is-the-bestest-and-most-moral vampire' gift with purchase soap box doesn't come with it.

Just sayin'

Or, to quote Roush's reply: "...if you're looking at these characters to be role models for the young audience, you're barking up the wrong genre."

(I also kind of laugh at what qualified as a 'bad boy' for the questioner if it's including Life Unexpected's Baz... whose great sin as far, as I can tell, was to be a self-absorbed jock in high school and lackadaisical bar owner as an adult... one who willingly took on co-parenting responsibility for a 16 year old child that he before never knew that he had. So... not all that 'bad' is what I'm sayin', not when it's placed alongside a couple hundred years of wanton murder...)
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