Oh man, don’t even get me started, lol.
I honestly HATE the way the show has essentially pit two female characters against each other over a man (how the fuck is THAT feminist?). In the books, Alina is pushing for Nikolai to move on with Zoya, and even agrees that she’d be a fitting queen.
The show upended that and we all know that a potential S3 is going to incorporate a love triangle of some sort between Alina/Nikolai/Zoya, which never existed and is honestly super demeaning to every character involved.
I’m of the few that thinks Alina’s ending in the books was fine, if a little underwhelming - she never wanted to marry for power, she always wanted to be loved and to love in return, it is why she rejects Nikolai (multiple times). Their relationship was never based on marrying for love or by choice, but because of the expectations placed on them by Ravkans.
I know this is a hard truth to hear, but I’m going to say it anyways because I think even JML said it and they were right on the money - Alina is a bit of a Mary-Sue in that every fan sees themselves in her and often project onto her. Therefore, her ending is VERY polarizing, and her fans want different things for her - some like her with Mal, some want her with the Darkling, and others accept Nikolai as the consolation prize she deserves if she can’t have the Darkling. (Notice how every potential ending for Alina is somehow about a love interest, too? Feminism my foot.)
I agree that Zoya and Alina are completely contrasting characters, ergo, wanting the same narrative for Alina that Zoya got is a fundamental misunderstanding of each - where Zoya has always been ambitious and unforgiving in her search for power and recognition, Alina has not - she’s torn with wanting the attention but also disliking being worshipped like an idol. I won’t lie and say it ISN’T interesting to see Alina finally maybe seek out more power and having that potentially consume her, but ultimately, she will overcome that and obviously that is where the show is headed.
I still think the people celebrating Alina taking narrative points that Zoya had should reflect on the fact that:
1. Alina was white in the books and Zoya has always been Suli. Therefore, a woman of color is literally being overwritten here and downplayed for Alina’s favor.
2. You are quite literally celebrating the notion that another female character has to be brought down in order to uplift Alina which is NOT the feminist win you think it is.
I’ve seen so much Zoya hate, and when it comes from Alina fans, it’s very fascinating to me because they claim that the story they want for Alina is based on feminism and equality, and yet they have no qualms with shitting on another female character for the simple fact that she was fleshed out in later books.
I wish I was exaggerating, but alas. This is the reality.
The only consolation we have is that if a S3 is greenlit, they give Zoya the story with Juris (if nothing else) and let her have her moment to shine. It’ll probably be bad, knowing these writers, but maybe it’ll at least change some minds and hopefully inspire folks to read the books.
