I’ve read a lot of Chenford fanfiction over the past two years — especially stories where they have kids — and I’ve started noticing a pattern that honestly feels hard to ignore.
In about 99.9% of these stories, Tim is written as the perfect husband and father, no matter whose perspective the story is told from. He’s endlessly patient, endlessly supportive, always emotionally evolved despite a lot of these were before his therapy sessions… and somehow making breakfast seems to be the ultimate proof of this perfection.
He’s also almost always completely comfortable with Lucy going undercover, portrayed as totally understanding and never struggling with fear or conflict about it — even when they have children.
What stands out even more is how Lucy is treated in comparison. She’s usually only described as “amazing” or exceptional right after giving birth, but there’s rarely the same emphasis on her being a perfect partner or mother in everyday life.
The handling of the break up in fanfic was worse the shows handling of it and once again Lucy forgave quicker in the show.
You know if the roles were reversed Lucy would not get the same empathy.
I’ve been part of multiple fandoms over the years, and I’ve honestly never seen a fanbase place a male character on such a consistently high pedestal.
Curious if anyone else has noticed this trend or has thoughts on why it happens.
