(this is better as a stand-alone post)
So, there's this post going around, saying that everyone currently feeling iffy about the 'Hannibal' writing is just looking for reasons to be angry - and that apparently our issue with the writing of Margot is that Bryan Fuller took out her backstory of abuse.
I felt the need to address this because that post continues to gain notes of support - and what the person is saying isn't even accurate as to why some of us are upset. So. This was my response, which I have now decided to post on its own as opposed to a reblog:
People think we're upset that they took out the rape backstory? I haven't once I seen that complaint on my dash, personally speaking. I know I (personally) have ZERO issues with him removing that aspect of her story because it truly IS wrong to perpetuate the belief of Harris' that those experiences determine a person's sexuality. So, I completely understand Fuller's decision to remove that, and it doesn't upset me in any way. I also appreciate and admire that his public stance (even back last season) has always been that he will never subjugate a female character to rape on 'Hannibal' - that it's where he draws the line.
The main complaints I've seen (and that I share) are the following:
First and foremost, there are plenty of other ways for a lesbian to get pregnant - and the problem people have with the writers making the choice they did in terms of how she went about it is not the belief that no lesbian would be capable of this action or that it isn't possible or believable or even the best option (though these are also arguable points) - it's that it's actually a huge trope for lesbian characters on television to wind up sleeping with a main male for one reason or another. This is problematic because it furthers the stereotype that all lesbians are able to do this if push comes to shove, or the circumstances "call for it".
(Not to mention, the real point behind that scene was to showcase the Will/Alana/Hannibal hallucination, not empower Margot or showcase her strengths in any way - which is pretty obvious in both the way it was shot, and by Bryan's answers in this interview {x} because when asked about the scene - twice, one question literally being "What did you want it to mean for the characters?" - he did not mention Margot once, it was entirely about Will and Hannibal, with mentions of Alana but only as the thing they're having sex via because they're straight men so they can't actually have sex with one another [but, you know, a lesbian can have sex with a man for reasons]. The beginning of his response was literally: "I wanted to have a 'Dead Ringers' moment where you have two Jeremy Irons flanking Geneviève Bujold. And I wanted to have this triangle between two heterosexual men who are getting so intimate with each other, but because they're heterosexual, they have to make love via proxy." I strongly suggest reading that interview in its entirety because it's one of the things that has sparked my decision to speak openly about how I feel in regards to the entire situation.)
I am in no way saying it was Bryan Fuller's intention to promote this trope, in fact I believe it would be his wish /not/ to! I just don't think he realized it was something that bothered the community so much when he wrote it. I think he really believes he is doing his best and doesn't see an issue with it - and that's his opinion and it's his show and obviously it's not going to change. All I'm trying to do by pointing this out to you is show you where some people are coming from with this particular issue, and show you that not everyone who has a problem with certain things is just 'looking for reasons to be angry'.
If that were the case, this kind of fandom divide would have come up for far less important things because it would mean that the entirety of fannibals questioning the writing are just mindless, angry people - which is hardly the case at all. The points some people are making are extremely valid, they're just being overshadowed by louder, ruder individuals (those horrid 'cancel hannibal' fools and anyone akin to them, for example; they are destroying any platform for actual discussion because they have brought it down to a level of nothing but insults being thrown about - which helps no one).
Also it's worth noting that the Margot debacle is just one issue when it comes to the females on the show - others being the reducing of Alana to a sexual/psychological pawn, the death of Beverly, the predetermined death of Bella, and the suggestive words of Bryan's in that same interview {x} regarding Freddie's current state of being. It's the piling up of these concerns that troubles some of us - not just one issue with one character alone.
Considering how thoroughly progressive the writing was throughout Season One, we all had very high hopes for the continuation of that in the second season. However, it has not continued in a equally progressive way (at least, not in my opinion), which I think is why you see so many of us reacting the way that we are. We thought there was finally a show that was going to do its best to remain progressive and keep writing each character as a character - not a plot device.
In regards to people bringing up "sexual fluidity" when discussing Margot: Bryan Fuller never said Margot's sexuality is/was fluid - he said she is/was/remains a lesbian.
The 'currently still progressive' argument is interesting to me, considering he killed off Beverly, writes Jack as clearly not up to par with the oh-so-special Hannibal and Will, is killing off Bella sometime in the indeterminable future, announced off-show that Jimmy Price is "openly gay" though it was never stated anywhere in the show (which means it's not been made clear to the audience while watching, and those not in fandom or not on twitter would have no way of knowing), and has essentially written Chilton out for the time being by putting him in jail. But, yes, good, ~progressive~ ? (There are also the Margot, Alana - and possibly Freddie - issues as well, of course.)
Please keep in mind that I don't say any of this to antagonize - that is the absolute last thing I want to come from writing this. I say it simply to show where some of us are coming from right now. I do not hate the show or Bryan Fuller, and I certainly don't approve of/agree with anyone sending him hate in any form; I think the behavior is entirely vile - I think being hateful towards anyone in this situation is vile, to be frank. That is why I've taken the time to calmly list these concerns; and I hope you all can see them for what they are. Which, to be clear, is: not an attack on Bryan, the show, or anyone's opinion - just a display of my own at this juncture. It's my belief that this type of open, actual discussion is what helps bring different sides of a situation to light, and is how real change begins - because it means that these things are not going unnoticed, and are being talked about as things that concern people. That alone is hugely important - if not for the direction 'Hannibal' is going, then for the direction the next great show goes because these issues will have been raised as things that still rub people the wrong way. (That is, of course, under the hopeful assumption that the creators of tomorrow are actually keeping an eye on and listening to the fans of today, to see what changes they'd like to see in regards to representation.)
I completely respect anyone's opinion to view the situation however they please, I simply hope this helped show a different side of it even if some of you disagree. Thank you.
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