alex: *tells kara not to get stuck in the friendzone with someone whom kara only recently met and barely even knows*
fandom: *doesn’t notice it*
kara: *literally says “take that, friendzone!” and feels kinda smug when she basically refuses to let james talk about lucy. she’s not gonna be stuck as “just” a friend. how awful. later decides she was kinda mean and listens to james anyway. totally oblivious to the feelings of her best friend*
fandom: *completely ignores it*
winn: *is in love with his best-friend whom he’s known for years. knows he doesn’t really stand a chance. apologizes to her twice for [understandably] misreading the situation when he kissed her [and doesn’t let her excuse his actions]. tells her how he honestly feels then takes some time apart to heal after the awkward pain of rejection. a few weeks later is still her supportive friend. doesn’t flinch when she talks about dating adam. puts aside his own feelings and tells james to figure out if he wants to be with kara more than lucy because he knows kara still likes james. mentions being stuck in the “friendzone” because he has accepted that he’s just her friend even if he wants to be more.*
fandom: *I CAN’T BELIEVE HE USED THE WORD FRIENDZONE, EW. WHAT A GROSS FAKE FRIEND. HOW DARE HE HAVE EMOTIONS. WHAT MANIPULATIVE SCUM*
James: *flirts with kara and lucy. decides to rekindle a long-term relationship with his ex despite whatever he might think of kara. while dating lucy, he tells winn he’s not in the way if winn likes kara. but he gets jealous when kara is actually interested in someone else despite claiming to love lucy.*
me: what is wrong with this world?