Women and the Fans...

[gen-is-gone.livejournal.com]

So, it isn't Monday, but who's up for a little discussion anyway? Namely, about some of the women on our show. Now, I've been following recent ep discussion posts and I'm noticing a few strange similarities between fan reaction to Hotch's new jogging partner,(and now girlfriend) Beth and former co-star Ashley Seaver, played by Rachel Nichols. Now, before you get into the long rants about her physical similarities to JJ or her supposedly bland acting, hear me out: the abject hatred some fans felt toward her was disconcerting to say the least, and so I am upset (though not really surprised) to hear that new character Beth is getting the same treatment.

I'm honestly indifferent towards Beth because there isn't much to her character yet, but character development happens over time. Frankly, I'm tired of the witch hunts Criminal Minds' fanbase goes on every time a new (or not so new) female character gets introduced. I remember the discussion posts leading up to 100 and at least 50% of all of the Haley related comments saying that they hoped she'd die. And then she did, and the few who actually lacked the shame to cheer for a violent murder were subsequently shouted down. Now that it's been two years, people seem to like her more. And let us not forget Ashley and Jordan Todd, neither of whom got the chance to develop as characters because the (mostly female) fans pitched a dozen fits. And to rewind even farther, remember all the Elle fans (where have they gone I wonder...) complaining after her first introduction in 'The Last Word' that Emily was an Ice Bitch and a robot? You certainly won't see them around anymore. I wish that for once criminalxminds would shut up about female characters long enough to get to know them. Much though I adore Reid and all of the male cast, I'm noticing that the double standard we've all been accusing CBS of in regards to their not valuing women is surprisingly (and hypocritically) apparent within our own fanbase. Now, I know Will and Kevin still have quite the hatedom of their own, but they're mostly getting flack from over-the-top shippers, while Haley, Elle, Emily, Jordan, Ashley and Beth were at varying points treated with an appalling amount of suspicion and out right hatred. So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Want to rip my throat out? I'm not trying to come off as rude, I would love to better understand why so many people find fault with such seemingly innocuous women.

Comments

[nytekit.livejournal.com]

This post is very interesting to me (I even read most of the comments before responding), mainly because I've kind of been out of the fandom for the past months, so I didn't even know there was Beth!hate going on. And I'm still not sure why there would be (unless it's the extreme shippers that many mentioned below). Her character doesn't even have a big enough role to hate! Her entire purpose is to show that Hotch is healing and moving on, and I appreciate her for that. She's doing her part.

As for the other characters, I'll come right out and say A LOT of them had to grow on me. Seaver's character I hated and I doubt would have improved. The writing for her was just awful and I think it was kind of a low blow of CBS to even bring her on after getting rid of JJ and Prentiss for "money/creative reasons". But on the other hand, I liked Jordan Todd. She did have some friction in the beginning but that didn't even last long. She was just trying to feel her way, as far as I'm concerned, and she did a good job. Hayley I always liked. I will admit to getting angry with her when she left Hotch but at the same time I understood her reasoning. She wasn't wrong and I cried a flood when she died. I was even opposite with the main characters because I loved JJ best when she was media liaison. I still like her now, but I miss her as her other role because she was more distinctive there than as another profiler. Prentiss had to grow on me but I always found her character interesting. Rossi I disliked from jump but felt better about once he became a team player. And I thought I liked Gideon until I watched the reruns a few seasons after he left. Then I realized I hated him and preferred the new team dynamic.

For me, at least, the biggest thing about a new character is how well they get along with the other characters. The relationship factor is how I decide who I like best (although as a severe lover of Morgan-Reid scenes, I did get upset when they started putting Prentiss between that). However, I do see what you mean about the female characters even in other fandoms. And I'd hate to say it, but it really just mirrors real life. Men initially accept new men and women easily accept new attractive men, while both men and women initially question new women. I guess this even applies to fictional characters and fandom adoration.