As usual I'm late af but I'm so mad they killed off Melendez for apparently no reason?? Especially since half way through season 3 the writers were very clearly on the Melendaire ship, and it was sailing beautifully. Claire and Melendez's relationship was written so beautifully since, literally, the first episode. We thought they would butt heads but they turned into this healthy mentorship to friendship with the highest respect for each other. And then their chemistry was undeniable, way better than any other relationship on the show. Melendez had better chemistry with Claire despite being with other women throughout the show. So when they were finally going on their runs and comforting each other and crossing into this beautiful space of romance, and they decide to just take him out???? It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense story wise or just financially considering the fact tht Antonia and Nicholas were two of the fan favorites aside from Freddie. So like wtf.
To make matters worse you're going to give us a moment where they say 'i love you' just as a way to make them canon but leave it at that. The fans stayed with these two for 3 seasons, we deserved a kiss. We deserved a relationship. Hell, THEY deserved a relationship. Claire and Melendez went through so much shit only for them to have such a shitty half assed ending. They both deserved happiness.
And it's obvious the writers knew they messed up with their ghost Melendez in season 4, which was their attempt to put a bandaid over a wound that's bleeding profusely. I just don't understand what the reasoning was for all of this? I don't think it was because the actors wanted to leave? Even if they did, you could've let us have this win and then deal with it later. They just couldn't handle another couple having the attention over the shitshow that is Shaun and Lea. Hell, Park and Reznick are better than Shea.
I'm late, but I'm mad because the writers chose to destroy one of the best characters on the show, and as a result the best relationship on the show.
The way I relate to each and every single word. My heart is never recovering or moving on. They are the definition of deserved better. It is insulting and disrespectful especially when you consider the fact that Nicholas was confirmed for s4 and he had no plans of even leaving the show and yet the writers did this for shock value, not to mention the huge fandom Melendaire had garnered over the seasons. They should have waited for one more season and have Neil and Claire leave together. My heart will always hurt.
