The idea that relationships in fiction have to portrayed as “good and moral” is so absurd. I don’t think Dick and Barbara are toxic, but I do think that they are a match that I don’t care too much about reading. Their relationship conflicts are less interesting than other conflicts between other relationships and their confessions for one another are just bland. Because this is comics and characters are not making their own choices, it is up to writers to be the ones who are making creative decisions and when it comes to these two you can tell the well is dry. I’ve come to be more open about the Jason and Barbara pairing, but not really as a last resort pairing or “well I guess if she has to date someone then make it Jason” way. I would be open to seeing them having a relationship where they can love each other enough while bearing witness to what the other has become. Both these character being prickly and honest with each other but also not feeling as judged because they both make messed up decisions. But DC fandoms and especially Batfamily fandoms are so against change that it is no wonder that there continues to be so much racism and other problems that DC continues to have when so many writers and fans are still clinging to writing and dynamics that no longer exist or are outdated.
I AM SO SORRY I AM JUST NOW SEEING THIS! Please forgive ♥♥ If you want to come off anon so I can apologise properly you can xD
I do agree that relationships in fiction don't have to always be portrayed as "good and moral," however you don't put oil and water together and call it a match. If a relationship is supposed to be good and moral, it should be portrayed as such. If a relationship is supposed to be a rollercoaster with negative energy, it should be portrayed as such. You don't portray a good and moral relationship as one that is a rollercoaster with negative energy and vice versa. For me, this part is about context.
I don't read their content because I am not fond of them, but lately I do find myself speaking up more about it largely because it's the current plot in Nightwing and it keeps popping up. I dont think there is really anything else worth talking about with Nightwing right now. And I do blame TT for that because he specifically forced a Batgirl and Nightwing run on us lol. The well is dry AF for Nightwing in general. Imma need him to get some new and interesting content ASAP.
I love how you interpret Jason and Babs. I understand Nightwing and Red Hood fans are destined to be at war for all eternity, but we do need to start putting more respect on Jason's name. lol he is not taking Dick's sloppy seconds nor he is a last resort. He has just as much right as Dick to date around. If a genuine connection happens with Jason, what is the issue with that? Don't we want Dick, Babs, Jason, Bruce, ect ect to be happy? If Jason and Babs are happy, why ruin it? And before someone says 'Dick and Babs are happy," yes Dick and Babs are happy. But the difference is that there are more times Dick and Babs were not happy together vs times that they were. And Dick and Babs were both perfectly happy with other people before being torn apart from them and pushed together. The difference is that Jason and Babs don't have that history. Writers literally have a clean slate with Jason Babs as a couple to work with.
I think fans are more open to change than most realise. I think it just depends on how the type of change is and how it's implemented. I think the onus here is more on the writers refusing to live outside their nostalgia and forcing everyone to relive their favorite periods over and over again. Tom Taylor really had a chance to do something unique and different with Dick, but what does he do? He did the same thing that Dixon, Grayson and Seeley did with Dick. DC is going downhill fast and the only thing that will save it is likely a hard reboot with A LOT of new original content.
And lastly, Dick should be with someone outside the Batfam not in it. Same for Babs and Jason.
