Stalking is NOT romantic
Stalking is NOT romantic. It is abusive. Romanticising it because it serves the plot, because it is really 'about the book of life,' because he is a sad, tortured soul, because she is apparently secretly attracted to him, is harmful. Done by a more powerful male character is problematic. Done by a law enforcement officer is scary af!
His turning out to be the 'good guy' is irrelevant. His turning out to be a 'mystical stars-approved prophesied by ancient oracles' eternal mate is irrelevant.
How is it different from a real-life situation? What makes it seem acceptable? The lighting? The pretty famous faces covered in make-up? The character arc? There is nothing romantic about obsessed control freaks.
Ladies, build a strong female community, let your girlfriends know where you are, be careful, and stay safe.
PS1 I am not specifically picking on these two shows because I find them more problematic than others. I am sure they are not. And I like both of them for many reasons. These are just the last two I have seen, so I had the examples at hand. Also, because I did like them, I feel more disappointed that they used that trope. I would care less about a shitty movie.
PS2 Of course, women can be stalkers, too. And it is not okay either. However, the problem with films/TV is that, more often than not, female stalkers are portrayed as crazy, whereas male stalkers are portrayed as romantic, often with a tragic backstory.
