I wonder if Felix was too good a character. He was made to be perfect up to being top of the graduating class and the point was to teach Kim and the audience a lesson about diversity and inclusivty and not assuming things about people who use wheelchairs. But with him being perfect does it also devalue people who use wheelchairs or have other adaptations?
there's a lot to cover, here, Anon... and most of it not about KP at all. i'm not entirely sure where to start.
to paraphrase the late Zig Ziglar, your attitude determines your altitude. i think the full quote also mentions that it's not aptitude that determines whether or not you succeed. i'll use myself as an example.
i'm a musician and i'm a good one. i'm primarily a timpanist. and i've received compliments from the likes of Jack Stamp(!!!!!!), Mark Camphouse, and others, worldwide, about my playing. even just thinking about those comments right now gives me a rush because...i'm SO far from the best it's not even worth comparing. i'll watch timpanists in world-class symphonies and their skill compared to mine is like, why do i bother? i'm nothing compared to them at least in my own eyes. i'm not beating myself down, i'm simply aware that i have limitations. some people have physical advantages, like Michael Jordan in basketball. but there are also short statured folk who practice, work hard, and can succeed in an area where usually to be successful one is very tall in stature. those shorter folk can never grow tall, but they succeed despite that perceived "limitation." my own body, my hands and fingers, are trained through four and six hours of daily practice of timpani alone to move in a certain way that apparently creates a wonderful and enjoyable sound when i play the instrument. but other timpanists still surpass me.
to acknowledge limits beyond one's control is okay. and for me at least it's healthy. i don't define myself by the fact that my hands will never move like some other ppl's. but through hard work, and with my attitude, i am still successful in something i am passionate about.
let's get to Felix now... his attitude has determined his altitude. he hasn't let the perceived and in some cases actual physical limitation of a wheelchair stop him from being successful. and before anyone says "it's not a limitation" let me give you the real life example of Nick Vujicic:
Nick was born without arms and legs. but! it most definitely has not stopped him! Nick is married with four children. he is motivational speaker and most of the time is not using his wheelchair, but is hopping around under his own power. i think he even has a special car he drives with that partial foot he has.
your attitude, not aptitude, determines your altitude.
so, back to KP. while i think that yes Felix was created as a "perfect" character to make Kim and anyone else feel bad perhaps about automatically judging someone in a wheelchair... this doesn't bother me. i love that it is demonstrating to people that perceived limitations don't have to be limitations! yes, there comes a point to be realistic. my hands will never play timpani like some of those professionals, they physically don't move that way just as Nick and Felix won't walk in the same way most people do. but that limit doesn't define me, and didn't stop me from working hard enough to reach a skill that earned me compliments from ppl whose words carry a lot of weight.
i don't think Felix being perfect devalues anyone. i think more people, all people, should strive for attitudes like Felix and Nick, should work hard, and achieve whatever it is they want to achieve. it may look different than someone else's achievement, but...does it matter? in my opinion no, not if they are happy.
sorry there wasn't much KP in this ask answer... Felix is an awesome character who deserved more screen time. had the writers given him a tiny flaw he would have been interesting and more realistic. but his purpose was to primarily show people not to judge on appearance and stereotypes, and i think the secondary goal of showing ppl that your attitude determines your altitude. he fulfilled his character role and i don't think he devalues others who have different circumstances. the problem would be if we try to say that everyone can do the exact same things as Felix, or Nick. each person has different circumstances and that can't be ignored. but no i don't think Felix devalued anyone.
a VERY thought-provoking question, Anon!
