Widening the Scope Pt. 1: The Strength in Our Characters.

"The problem with strong women is..."

There isn't one. Obviously.

And yet, isn't it strange that this keeps on being something that people ask? Why do people write such strong female characters. You don't hear a lot of people wandering around asking themselves why do people write strong men. Or just... strong "characters".

I can't even believe that it was seven years ago that Joss Whedon got up to accept an award from Equality Now (but YouTube assures me it is so) wherein he made one of his most famous, and one of my favourite, speeches on why he keeps on writing strong women characters.

(You have to skip to about 2 minutes in to get to Joss' appearance.)

It's still a subject that's raised today. From online polls on the "Best Strong Female Fantasy Novels" to writer's panels in the Melbourne Writer's Festival that analyse the same subject. It's pervasive. 

I was going to write up a blog post that listed my favourite books with strong women from the titles I have read this year, but I decided... no. Instead, I want to dedicate a quick post on the top bunch of novels I've read recently with strong characters of both genders.

Strength comes in a lot of different forms. Physical strength, of course, is often given over to men, but there are a couple of books I would like to point out where mental aptitude is shown to be as important. 

In these three novels, we see characters Harry Dresden, Atticus O'Sullivan and Emma Brannon tested with magical skills and mental fortitude that often taxes them. These are the heroes of fantasy novels, the good that fights against evil. 

But not all novels are fantasy. 

Both main characters in The Fault in Our Stars show remarkable strengths of characters against the hands that were dealt to them. Both dealing with cancer and also dealing with a loved one who has cancer, these characters are strong, often humorous and continually in search of their dreams. 

I read the conclusion to Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices a couple of months ago and what struck me and stayed with me was the strength of integrity and love that the two main male characters of this series showed not only towards the female love interest, but to each other. A lot of the time, women in teen fiction get slammed for their doe eyed responses to the men in their lives, but what I think made the love triangle in these novels so compelling was the fact that Jem and Will loved each other. They had a pre-existing bond that they would not lightly place anyone else above, for all that they came to esteem and love Tessa highly. 

S.H.I.E.L.D.: First thoughts, without (many) spoilers.

I've just watched S.H.I.E.L.D. for the second time. I know a lot of people are worried about spoilers still, so I'll try to keep my commentary suitably vague.

Unlike with Dollhouse, I found myself comparing this first episode to the first episode of Buffy from, jeez, so many years ago now. Does that make me old? If so, can't imagine any better reason than being nostalgic over the original Buffy release. But for people going in and expecting something A. Kitsch, B. Cheap looking or C. Mildly setting up what is to come, they are going to find their expectations... outdone.

When Joss first made Buffy the Vampire Slayer, they were running out of one corridor for the entire set of a school, actual graveyards that the vampires were rising out of. He had not just made more than a million dollars on a hit movie in the same basic franchise. And, of course, while Buffy did have a message to share, largely it didn't take itself all that seriously, and that silliness was part of what made especially season one so great.

S.H.I.E.L.D. has a budget. Boy, does S.H.I.E.L.D. ave a budget! From the opening scene, you feel like you are watching a movie on a TV screen. This series is also not your mild mannered anything. It has a pacing that will knock you flat on your ass if you aren't watching. Like the forty minute fight sequence in The Avengers, it doesn't seem to drag. Joss' expected witticisms drive the story and the character interactions, from Agent Coulson's miraculous return all the way to the end credits.

Highlights for me:

- J. August Richards reprised his place as a recurring Joss actor and was fantastic.
- Cobie Smulders made a guest appearance at the same time as juggling her new season of How I Met Your Mother.
- Lola.
- Some people complained about the cop out that was Coulson's death in The Avengers only for him to be pulled back out for this series. I think they will find a competent explanation in this episode. I also don't think it will be the last we hear of it.
- The members of the new team are all striking and individual, though I will admit a certain bias to Sky already.

In conclusion, S.H.I.E.L.D. was well worth the wait. Now, in addition to each weeks' new episodes, we only have Thor: 2 to look forward to!

Flash fiction: The Avengers (part 4)

Oh my god, is anyone else excited about tonight's premiere of S.H.I.E.L.D, because I am!!

This month's flash fiction works doubly well, as it acts as a precuser to a movie I'm also very excited about: Thor 2!!! (October 30 :D :D)


The Avengers Headcanons: Submission #297

There is much amazement that Thor is not the only Avenger to advocate leniency for Loki, hoping that he can change. All of them do. All of them have their reasons, after hearing his story from Thor.

 Bruce knows what it’s like to feel like a monster.

Tony knows how it feels to never measure up.

Steve knows the pain of losing your whole world.

Clint and Natasha both know the feeling of No Going Back.

All of them want to believe in redemption for Loki, because they want to believe that it’s not out of their reach either. 

Submitted by Mangaluva 

Thor gets away with sneaking out of Stark Towers to visit Loki in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s holding cells only three times. 

The first time, Thor decides that night time is the best time for covert actions. Sadly, not being completely acquainted with the layout of the building—or rather not allowing for Tony’s habit of leaving objects lying around like a child—Thor runs into some piece of foreign machinery and stubs his toe. It doesn’t hurt the god of thunder, but the surprise of impact plus the clattering sound of falling machinery brings Bruce out of the lab. 

His habitual mussed up hair is compounded by weary eyes as he first looks to Thor, then to the mess on the floor. 

“What are you… doing?” he asks. 

Thor’s first thought is to wonder how long Bruce has been down in the labs with Tony this time, as the slight man seems to have slipped back into being distinctly unused to human interactions. 

His second thought is, “…. Poptarts?” He clears his throat. “I was going to make a midnight snack. Do you wish to join me?”

Bruce blinks, then shakes his head. He moves forward and Thor steps aside from the machinery that Bruce is obviously going for.

“I should get this back to the labs,” he says, and Thor knows that he’s safe because his fellow Avenger’s mind has returned back to the research he and Tony do together.

The second time, Jane starts to wake up as he slips back into the bed they share. She’s only just gotten used to being in bed with him, and the dipping of the mattress is enough to pull her from her light sleep. 

“Thor?” she murmurs sleepily.

“Hush love,” he says as he pulls her close. “I am here now.”

Jane doesn’t resist his embrace, but her waking mind momentarily resists the comfort he offers. “I dreamed…” she started. “I dreamed that you went back to Asgard and never came back again.”

Thor doesn’t tell her that that will never happen, or not to worry about it. Instead, his lips lightly touch her forehead and he lies awake next to her for the next several hours. 

The third time, Thor goes to visiting his brother by light of day, thinking that hiding his plans in plain sight may be the better way to go. This is completely undone when he finds Bruce, Jane, Tony, Steve, Clint and Natasha waiting for him.

“I… um…” Thor looks away, ashamed to be found sneaking around to see his brother; ashamed to feel ashamed over seeing his brother.

Bruce is the first one to step forward, and clasp a hand on Thor’s shoulder. In the shorter man’s eyes, he sees that Bruce already understands how it is to feel like a monster.

As he looks at the rest of the Avengers, Thor realises one by one that none of them are there to judge or offer censure. They are here so that he knows she doesn’t need to sneak around anymore. 

Jane simply offers her support with a quick smile and her love shining from her eyes.
Tony gives the quick, manly nod of someone who knows what it’s like never to quite measure up.

Steve’s eyes have more sorrow in them as he identifies with the feeling of losing one’s whole world.

Both Clint and Natasha are there, sharing in the feeling of knowing there’s No Going Back.
Thor meets the eyes of each one of the Avengers—his fellow heroes—before passing them all and heading forward to see his brother.

Thor gets away with sneaking out of Stark Towers only three times. He knows what else went unsaid that day. If there can be redemption for Loki, they can believe that it’s not out of their reach either. 

After that, Thor doesn’t need to sneak around anymore.