The reaction to King Reuven's design by some fans reminds me of the existence of the sexist double standard when it comes to being ✨️UGLY✨️
In just a couple of days, I've seen comment after comment praising Oda for this design. For how Oda's "don't judge a book by their cover" mentality is being utilized. A clear subversion. How kind of a man he must've been & how that means we all need to feel the most sorry for him ever.
"wow I'm so attached to him already. Poor guy who will most definitely get his heart broken."
"The people shipping BrookxCandel are so disrespectful. Stop trying to cuck this poor man. Shallow assholes."
Reuven gets to be more than ugly. He gets to be ugly AND also still be immediately likeable. His ugliness does not actually make him "ugly" in the eyes of the fans.
In fact, his ugliness is the basis for an immediate protective barrier.
But when Ida, who is literally the same type of subversion, first appeared (& is way less ugly than him imo) she did NOT receive the same type of welcome.
Once again, within the span of a couple days, comment after comment was made about her, but unlike with Reuven, many weren't very nice. She was not immediately loved & protected.
"Yeah she's nice, but lol I'd take Estrid over her any day"
"Harald is better than me I'll just say that"
"She's a sweet woman but....."
"That's why you date ugly bitches. They take care of you. You just gotta turn off the lights" (yes, I actually read this 💀)
"Butterface"
A man being ugly isn't a big deal. Surely there are other qualities about him that will make up for his appearance.
A woman being ugly? That's going to be one of the most important things about her until the day she dies. Almost THE defining aspect about her.
This isn't the first time I've noticed this double standard by the fans before either.
People didn't bat an eye when beautiful Baby 5 got with Sai, who is definitely not winning any beauty contests. They don't regularly talk about how Sai is unfortunate looking. The immediate acceptance that a beautiful woman fell for a man who is more than his appearance.
Not only do people make fun of Loki for falling in love with Lola (an ugly woman), but Lola is currently getting her own share of insults because "How could SHE reject HIM!?".
Why was this ugly woman desired? Why was she valued for more than her looks? Why was the conventionally attractive man into that!?
We even see this with how people react to Big Mom! All the time I see people whining about how Oda "ruined" Charlotte Linlin because she doesn't look like "prime Big Mom" anymore.
Even though her older design is objectively more interesting & creative. Even though it's a more believable & natural progression from her child design
But no! She needs to be attractive always!! Woman only good character when I can goon to her!
THIS is the true peak for the character.
So yes, even though it definitely seems like Oda is setting King Reuven up to be a victim, and yes he does seem like a sweet guy, it makes me roll my eyes super hard to the back of head seeing this male character being treated like a delicate flower when the same courtesy was not often extended to the female characters that came before him. When we literally just met the guy & know almost nothing about him. Especially since Queen Candel probably won't even like him either asdhfjgkl 💀.
It honestly just makes me want to be meaner about Reuven. For the principle.
