I really love how school spirits addresses one of the elephants in the room about having characters from different times. The elephant of bigotry of the times they were alive in.
They choose to do it with Wally and Charlie, in a way that makes it clear that the whole point is love.
Wally, who used to be the kind of guy to put queers in lockers, and Charlie who was the kind of guy to be put in a locker, have these expectations over what their stereotypes are, but since they know each other and have been living together for decades now, a lot of change has occurred in how they behave, specially for wally.
It is change they didn't really talk about clearly, since we see that conversation in the series. And the only reason we see it happening is because the events in the story remind charlie of this dynamic, of his past and he sees the same people that would bully him in Wally.
But Wally is not that guy anymore though, he has changed, because he has gotten to know the people he used to torment, he grew empathy from his love for Charlie, because he genuinely cares for him. And we see that explained here. That they stick together and love each other for who they are.
And I think that's not only realistic but also very useful to then extrapolate to how the other characters work.
Why isn't a character like Mr. Martin racist or sexist or homophobic or whatever, even though his generation would've been a lot weirder around these topics? Well not only do we see him being very woke for his time (helping Janet with her dreams) but also, we have the Charlie and Wally example, he has gotten to know these people and cares for them (Even if he still does horrible experiments on them but at least he isn't doing them because of bigotry, he is just a bit of a freak)
This all Imo culminates on Quinn's reveal, when an experience they weren't familiar with hits them in the face at a moment of tension, where they grow suspicious and weird about it. But when Quinn explains to them that the reason they don't appear in the pictures or their name isn't there, is because they hated it, and now are trying to finally be true to themselves, and feel like ghosthood might be the opportunity to finally live as themselves, they all understand it and welcome them.
Because regardless of anything, each other is all they have, and they've been in these situations before.
Hell they even forgive Mr. Martin. Yes he did horrible stuff but they punished him for it, and he genuinely seems to want to change, he was as desperate and scared as they were, but now is taking time and giving them space so he isn't a threat.
They gave him a second opportunity, because they also care for him, and they are all stuck together, so why not just find a way to co-exist and become better at being together.
The point is love, the point is acceptance and it is acknowledging their pain and listening to each other, what will get them out of their prison. Whether it is by crossing over, or by making it into a home
ellievsbear
yousharknotpass
annaxmalina
