The Queen vs. the Face, Heel, Hottest Thing, Rookie, Underdog Champion

As WrestleMania 41 rapidly approaches on April 19-20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, WWE faces backlash over the problematic feud between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship. The rivalry, which prematurely thrust a veteran performer against a promising but inexperienced champion, has deteriorated into disorganized storytelling. WWE’s questionable decision-making has left Stratton vulnerable, highlighting her shortcomings rather than elevating her as a credible star. Without significant corrections, this matchup risks negatively impacting Stratton’s career trajectory and diminishing Flair’s reputation, underscoring deeper issues within WWE’s creative process.

The feud began through interviews where Tiffany admitted Charlotte inspired her to wrestle. Charlotte Flair, a 14-time women’s champion and the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, returned triumphantly from a year-long injury hiatus (torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus suffered in December 2023). Her victory earned her the right to challenge for any women’s title. After considering other competitors—including Rhea Ripley and Giulia—she set her sights on Tiffany Stratton, the reigning WWE Women’s Champion. Stratton had prematurely ascended to the top by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract on Nia Jax on January 3, 2025, establishing herself ambiguously between a face and a heel—this ambiguity being the first of many missteps. While Tiffany excels as a heel, Charlotte Flair is naturally suited to that role, making Tiffany’s attempts at heel promos against Flair a complete misstep.

This matchup made little sense from the outset: Flair, the seasoned veteran with a storied legacy, versus Stratton, a cocky newcomer with only one title reign from a cash-in and no notable accomplishments to support her status. Flair’s experience and in-ring skill paired against Stratton’s flashy but inconsistent ring work created an unbalanced booking. WWE’s recent tendency to rely more on fan suggestions and recycled storylines has contributed to a feud widely regarded as a masterclass in missed opportunities, failing both to elevate Stratton and respect Flair’s legacy.

The feud’s failures are most evident in its promo segments. Flair consistently showcased her veteran savvy, leaving Stratton flailing. Problems began during a split-screen interview on the March 21, 2025, episode of SmackDown. Flair dominated, dismissing Stratton as an undeserving champion who only won via cash-in, labeling her a “pity pick” for WrestleMania. Stratton’s attempts to counter, accusing Flair of suppressing new talent, felt rehearsed and lacked impact. Tiffany’s inauthentic, repetitive delivery ultimately buried her in a critical moment.

This dynamic escalated on the April 4, 2025, episode of SmackDown in Chicago, where their face-to-face confrontation intended as a heated prelude to WrestleMania devolved into an off-script disaster. Flair struggled with the hostile, largely artificial crowd reaction, while Stratton’s improvisation emphasized her inexperience. Stratton inappropriately pivoted to personal attacks, referencing Flair’s real name (Ashley Fliehr), her father Ric Flair, and failed marriages. Flair, blindsided, retaliated by mentioning Stratton’s real-life boyfriend. WWE later edited out these controversial elements, implicitly acknowledging the segment’s failure. Attempting to elevate an unprepared Stratton at Flair’s expense reveals WWE’s misjudgment about her readiness for the spotlight.

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray summarized the dynamic on “Busted Open Radio,” warning that Stratton would be exposed if Flair dragged her into deep waters. Social media echoed this critique, labeling the feud “dreadful fiction” in storytelling terms, and noting how damaging it was for Stratton’s credibility.

The physical aspect of the feud was similarly lackluster. Highlights included Flair ambushing Stratton post-match with a Figure Eight on March 7 and a brief pull-apart brawl on March 15 in Barcelona. Although these moments briefly ignited audience interest, inconsistent momentum persisted. Stratton’s dive from the entrance ramp two weeks before WrestleMania was notable, but her routine missed targets on high-risk moves further disappointed fans.

The booking failed to generate sympathy for Stratton or genuine heat for Flair. Flair’s dominance unintentionally portrayed her as an overpowering antagonist and bully, while Stratton appeared outmatched rather than cunning. The feud’s personal jabs felt more like reality TV than wrestling storytelling, reflecting WWE’s trend towards controversy over substance.

This feud represented a crucial opportunity for Stratton to establish herself as a main-event star. Instead, it risked derailing her momentum. At 25, Stratton’s potential was evident in her title win, but facing her idol at WrestleMania has clearly overwhelmed her, revealing her inexperience. Flair, 39, thrives at WrestleMania, and her insistence on not “being less than” has further exposed Stratton’s deficiencies. Stratton’s lackluster matches and shaky confidence have painted her as a performer still developing her on-screen presence, undermining her short reign.

The storyline also failed to enhance Flair’s legacy. Her return should have been triumphant, but the feud’s one-sided nature cast her as a gatekeeper stifling new talent—something Stratton herself noted. WWE’s unclear booking confused fans about Stratton’s role as a heel, face, victim, or bully. This ambiguity harmed audience engagement and further confused the narrative. WWE could have leveraged Flair’s experience to elevate Stratton instead of exposing her limitations.

Ultimately, WWE’s reluctance to adapt creatively has exacerbated these issues. Flair’s polished skills starkly contrasted Stratton’s lack of experience, and the creative team failed to provide sufficient support or depth. Stratton needs substantial improvement across the board, while Flair requires fresh character development beyond repetitive title feuds. The decision to let Tiffany improvise in Chicago was a failed gamble, making the feud uncomfortably personal.

With WrestleMania 41 approaching rapidly, there is little time to salvage this storyline. Although the match itself could deliver in-ring, the poorly executed build-up has been a disservice to both competitors. Unless WWE corrects course, this feud risks becoming a notorious example of desperate booking, negatively reflecting on WWE and its new TKO Group partnership.

The post WWE’s Creative Crisis: The Botched Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton Rivalry appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

First off, I was interested in watching these three series, but didn’t have the time yet to check them out.

I Have a Crush at Work

I don’t think any streamers picked up this office romance series, which is pretty surprising. I thought the genre was relatively popular. I haven’t really watched an office romance anime since The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague and was hoping to watch this one, but it wasn’t meant to be!

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Crunchyroll)

I never watched the first season, but as this season was airing, I kept hearing great things about it from friends. It’s apparently really well done and I appreciate series with longer episode orders so you get lots of story. Maybe I’ll get to it another time!

Sorairo Utility (HIDIVE)

After enjoying Rising Impact and Tonbo I was looking forward to watching another golf themed series. This one sounded like a fun initial twist on how the character finds golf. Next time I’m craving a sports anime I’ll try to check this one out! 

These twelve anime series from Winter 2025 caught my attention for many reasons and I was (mostly) very glad I watched them!

12) Anyway, I’m Falling In Love With You (Crunchyroll)

Honestly, this is one of the most boring anime series I have ever watched. The story follows a girl and her looking back on her younger life, bouncing between the present and past. The past is a time when a “virus” disrupted life, but they still found ways to be kids and fall in love. The show really wanted to ignore the “virus” aspect yet kept bringing it up? The show was so forgettable, I’d forget what happened by the time the episodes ended. Everyone was in love, but no one was making moves? It was just vibes. Really strange. It also will be back for a second season. Not sure if I will though!

11) Honey Lemon Soda (Crunchyroll)

This romance series had potential and moments where I was really pulled in, but it just lacked a cohesive thread as a whole. The main characters were flawed and it’s the point that they can grow and become better people. I just didn’t buy the romance aspect. The guy was cold often, which helped the main girl grow, but it was just strange at times. The way the adults were portrayed as well was odd. They also flew through storylines when they could have used more time to really flesh out the stories.

10) The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World (Crunchyroll)

When I read the description of this series, I knew I had to check it out. A power ranger essentially ends up in another world in possession of his power ranger technology, giving him the abilities he had in the real world in the new one. It was funny, had some fun fight scenes, and I appreciated the “magic” lore that began to grow as the series went on. I found myself wondering how the physics of the power ranger magic worked in the new world and if it still existed in the real world. Tonally it bounced all over, but it was still funny and charming.

9) My Happy Marriage Season Two (Netflix)

Season two of this romance started off with a great evil stepmother storyline. It was juicy and helped our main heroine Miyo grow even stronger as a person. She was so bashful and soft spoken in the first season, this arc allowed her to become more confident and want to become stronger. The second half focused on a bigger threat, and less on her personal growth, and even the main romance aspect of the series. It was all still there, but the bigger threat took the main time of the storyline. Seeing Miyo tap into her true potential all season long was the main draw. Beautiful, poignant and a delight.

8) Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Crunchyroll)

The romantic comedy series could have easily been a one joke story that they drove into the ground quickly, instead, it became more complex and the humor helped keep it fresh all season long. I loved seeing Medaka try to resist his obvious attraction to Mona. She still tried to get his attention all season long, and eventually was able to make small chips in his armor. It was charming and I loved the way the characters’ inner thoughts were portrayed. The series will return for a second season.

7) Sakamoto Days (Netflix) 

Part one of this series was full of great fights and funny moments. A former assassin has taken a quiet life as a family man running a business. When a bounty is put on his head, he successfully and often comically avoids the attempts on his life. He’s smooth, quick and always at attention, despite his new plumper body size. The characters around him are just as deadly, and are unintentionally funny. I enjoyed the first half of the story and look forward to when it returns this summer.

6) Link Click: Bridon Arc (Crunchyroll)

This new story is pretty much a prequel series, though its placement in the main storyline is later. There’s also some hints that we’ve been on an all encompassing time traveling plot even longer than we knew. We go to the past again, this time for an extended period of time. We see younger versions of the main characters and get to know them even more. Things begin to change in the timeline that are unexpected. In the end, it left me with even more questions. I miss the case of the week way the first season told its story, but it’s another compelling season of Link Click that I want to live in for a long time.

5) Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (Crunchyroll)

If you take a medical show and mash it up with a detective series, you have Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective. A young gifted doctor helps solve unique medical cases by looking at the full pictures. She’s got her quirks and even though she is brilliant, she still questions her abilities, making her feel even more human. Some cases took multiple episodes to solve. Some stories were stronger than others, but I really enjoyed the vibes of this series. A few production issues led to delays, but I still looked forward to the next episode.

4) The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season Two (Crunchyroll)

This comedy series is seriously bonkers in the best way. Season two dials up the wacky even more, leading to even funnier episodes and jokes. We meet even more girlfriends this season, and each is quirkier than the last. It’s such a wild premise that it could easily fall flat and repetitive. My favorite arc was the baseball one. It was full of so much humor, great character development, and so many meta moments made me crack up. I’m so glad I kept up with this one! I can’t wait to see the Rentaro family grow even more.

3) Zenshu (Crunchyroll)

I almost didn’t watch this one going into the winter season. As an original story, it always runs the risk of losing its hold midway. Somehow, Zenshu gets even better as it quickly becomes self assured in the tone and story it wants to tell. It’s part isekai, part fantasy, part comedy and part drama. It is such a unique story story. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, because it’s a lot of fun seeing how it all goes down. I’m glad I went in blind. It made me appreciate the story more. The animation is on point, as it is MAPPA, and it is so confident in itself in every aspect. I hope we see more bold unique stories to come.

2) Medalist (hulu)

This one wasn’t even on my radar going into the Winter season. As I’ve said before, sports anime are some of my favorite series for a reason. I don’t think I’d normally watch a series about figure skating, yet, it is compelling and must see. The characters are precious, hopeful, and full of so much life. You can’t help but root for everyone. Inori and Tsukasa are such great characters. They’re adorable, funny and great at what they do. They also don’t shy away from their insecurities and past difficulties. Major performances are CGI animation and the transition might be a little jarring, but I grew to love it. They’re well choreographed, and the are a sight to see. I am so happy the series will be back for a second season!

1) Solo Leveling Season Two (Crunchyroll)

The first season was enjoyable, but season two takes the series to a new level. Jinwoo is exponentially growing in power, strength and ability. Episodes fly by with tons of action, sure a few slower episodes every now and then, but it is telling a lot of story in a short time. I almost wish some arcs could have been an episode or two longer just so I could have lived in the moments longer, but they were so good! The battles are intense and beautifully animated. I’m not sure how much more there is to adapt, but I hope we get more real soon! It is so intense, shocking and confident in itself. I need more!!

With the Spring 2025 season about to begin, I’m looking forward to checking out these new and returning series: Lazarus (adult swim/Toonami), Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (season two, hulu), Wind Breaker (season two, Crunchyroll), Witch Watch (Netflix/hulu/Crunchyroll), Mono (Crunchyroll), Yaiba: Samurai Legend (Netflix/hulu), To Be Hero X (Crunchyroll), Moonrise (Netflix), and Lycoris Recoil Short Movie. Hopefully I will be able to watch them all and I’m sure I’ll find even more unexpected ones to watch!

What were your favorite series of the Winter 2025 season? It’s never too late to start a new series! Here’s to more great anime in 2025!

These series and more can be streamed with English subtitles and some English dubs on various streamers including Crunchyroll, Netflix, hulu, Prime Video, Max, HIDIVE, and more.

The post Winter 2025 Anime Season Highlights appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

First off, I was looking forward to watching these series, but didn’t have the time yet to check them out.

Blue Box (Netflix)

This sports, romance series was on my list to check out due to the fact that I love a good sports themed anime series. I have only heard great things about it and plan to watch it in the new year. The series will continue with its second cour into the Winter 2025 season as the first season contains 25 episodes.

Negative Positive Angler (Crunchyroll)

One of my favorite things about anime are series which focus on subject I normally wouldn’t watch. This series has a focus on fishing, something I wouldn’t normally find myself drawn to. A down on his luck guy finds himself close to a group of fishermen and his outlook on life may change for the better. I will still try to watch this one!

Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (Netflix)

I’ve heard rave things about this drama series focusing on astronomy. A young kid tries to prove heliocentrism, going against the church and the going theory of geocentrism. Such a fascinating concept and I will have to check it out at some point.

These ten anime series caught my attention for many reasons and I was very glad I watched them!

10) Tonbo! season two (Prime Video)

The second season saw Tonbo exploring a new life of golf outside of the island she has known her whole life. There’s something comforting watching the young amateur golfer Tonbo unlock her potential as a golf player. Her constant optimism is refreshing and the way she impacts those around her to become better players as well is fun. The stakes are low and it makes Golf interesting, seeing the inner thought process of Tonbo and the other players she encounters.

9) I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History (Crunchyroll)

I’m not usually one to watch Villainess series, but after thoroughly enjoying I’m in Love with the Villainess I figured I’d try this one out as well. While I didn’t find it as entertaining, it has a strong lead and the potential to grow into something even better. The Isekai aspect of the series is minimal and only informs the main characters intentions and actions.

8) You Are Ms. Servant (Crunchyroll)

This one has a sort of similar premise to The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious but with more depth as a mysterious woman shows up and becomes a maid/servant for the young main character. It grew on me more as the series continued. The story grows with each episode creating more connections to each character, leaving you wanting to know more.

7) Uzumaki (adult swim/Toonami, Max)

Look, I know there was a lot of criticism about the drop off in animation quality after the first episode, but I still really enjoyed the series. The series animation recovered a bit in the final episodes but never hit the perfection of the first episode. I never read the manga, but the story was perfectly scheduled to air around Halloween. With a good mix of suspense and creepiness, I was very entertained.

6) Dragon Ball DAIMA (Crunchyroll, hulu, Netflix)

I watched Dragon Ball Z after school growing up so I have been a long time fan. I never got around to watching Dragon Ball Super, but I was really excited to check out this new series. Anyone looking for constant Super Saiyan powering up will be disappointed, but it is more similar to the original Dragon Ball in its more slice of life storytelling. You get a good mix of low key stories and action fighting. I will never say no to more Dragon Ball content!

5) Ranma 1/2 (Netflix)

Super silly and entertaining, it has a similar vibe to the always hilarious Urusei Yatsura. I never watched the original series, but the premise of Ranma changing from a boy to a girl based on getting wet is hilarious on top of the scenarios the characters find themselves in. Ranma and Akane can be at each others throats at one second, then finding themselves unintentionally bonding the next. I cannot wait to see what other crazy hijinks these characters find themselves in when the second season premieres.

4) Blue Lock season two (Crunchyroll)

This is another series which saw much criticism due to its step down in animation quality from the first season, but I am completely engrossed in the story about a group of kids vying to become the best striker in Japan. Great characters all around that will keep me tuning in as long as the series goes. Sure it didn’t feel as powerful as the first season, but I’m fully invested in finding out who makes it through the end of the Blue Lock program.

3) Demon Lord 2099 (Crunchyroll)

This one really surprised me. A demon lord from the past returns in the future and has to adjust to the new way of life. He must find former allies who are also still alive, new ones, and comes to blows with heroes and villains from his past. I love the way if feels current yet also a take on what a potential future could look like. It has more humor than I expected with lots of angst and fights. What I thought was the season long villain arc gets resolved sooner than I expected and it goes in another interesting direction.

2) DAN DA DAN (Netflix, hulu, Crunchyroll)

A unique premise involving aliens and the supernatural will have you laughing one second and then wondering why your face is suddenly leaking. It’s surprisingly deeper than how it presents itself at times. I loved the look of the animation and it had great characters with a fun story that constantly goes in unexpected directions. It feels unique and stands out in a crowded field of entertaining series. The cliffhanger ending has me dying to see what comes next when it returns for its second season.

1) MF Ghost season two (Crunchyroll)

I’m completely in love with this series. A followup to the incredible Initial D series, this one sees a new generation of car racers attempt to be the best, this time in an organized competition. The eurobeats still go hard, and the animation is even better, all while retaining the heart of the original series. Engaging and intense at times, it’s hard to look away and the episodes fly by. With a third season confirmed, hopefully some streamer will pick up Initial D again so I can do a rewatch. Last I saw hulu had a couple seasons but no one has them right now! Hopefully more people find this one as it deserves to be a huge hit.

With the Winter 2025 season about to begin, I’m looking forward to checking out these series: Solo Leveling season two (Crunchyroll), My Happy Marriage season two (Netflix), The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You season two (Crunchyroll), Sakamoto Days (Netflix), Honey Lemon Soda (Crunchyroll), Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (Crunchyroll), Medalist (hulu), The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World (Crunchyroll), and the SK8 the Infinity OVA (FINALLY!!!). Hopefully I will be able to watch them all and I’m sure I’ll find even more unexpected ones to watch!

What were your favorite series of the Fall 2024 season? It’s never to late to start a new series! Here’s to more great anime in 2025!

These series and more can be streamed with English subtitles and some English dubs on various streamers including Crunchyroll, Netflix, hulu, Prime Video, Max, HIDIVE, and more.

The post Fall 2024 Anime Season Highlights appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Escapism is awesome. However, it loses its charm when the thing you’re escaping from follows you into the place you’re escaping to. Black women who seek refuge from real-world misogynoir in soap operas can find themselves enduring it in the very spaces they sought solace.

Misogynoir, a term defined by Dr. Moya Bailey and expanded on by Trudy, aka TheTrudz, and the Crunk Feminist Collective, refers to the specific combination of misogyny, sexism, and anti-Black racism experienced by and directed towards Black women in pop culture, institutional environments, and social settings.

Some of you may feel uncomfortable now. But if merely acknowledging the existence of misogynoir elicits discomfort, imagine how it feels to experience it.

Imagine how it feels for a Black actress to learn her character will be begging for the life of a character who routinely made racist comments and committed microaggressions. Imagine how it feels for a Black actress to log onto her Twitter account, check her notifications, and discover she’s been sent monkey and banana emojis, compared to a gorilla, and called slurs by fans of her show. Imagine how it feels to be a Black woman and consistently encounter posts on a popular message board that freely and frequently employ coded language and dog whistles such as “aggressive,” “loud,” and “argumentative” when discussing Black female characters. Imagine how it feels to be a Black woman and go into the hashtag of your favorite soap and see accounts donning digital blackface for no other reason than to degrade a Black actress, the character she portrays, and antagonize her Black fans.

With that in mind, I hope those of you who feel uneasy understand why I am not catering to your comfort.

Western media and its associated fandoms tend to prioritize and elevate whiteness. Whiteness is considered the default norm and the perspective used to depict both “universal” experiences like coming of age, as well as unique experiences like coming out. The assumption is that the audience, including people of color (POC), will effortlessly relate to white characters and find them worthy of support, deserving of protection, or otherwise rootable. In contrast, characters of color in general, Black characters particularly, and Black female characters specifically often receive less care and consideration both onscreen and from audiences. Even if they are the main character or play a central role in the story, they are viewed as less sympathetic, relatable, or deserving of support and protection, even if they experience injury, trauma, terror, or death.

I understand accepting this might be challenging, and some of you may instinctively disagree. However, I will provide specific examples to illustrate how this occurs in respect to soaps, both onscreen and in fandom spaces:

1. Fully exploring the point of view and centering the feelings, motivations, and desires of white characters while disregarding or diminishing the role of a Black woman in the same story or their own story (e.g., Days of Our Lives making Jada Hunter’s decision to have an abortion all about Eric Brady’s disappointment, Nicole Walker’s feelings, and the implosion of their relationship while giving Jada minimal focus and dramatically reducing her airtime but keeping ‘Ericole’ front and center or General Hospital consistently sidelining Trina Robinson in her storylines and prioritizing the feelings, character development, and POV of others, including the racist who tormented her, over hers).

2. Minimizing the actions of or making allowances for the misdeeds or “mistakes” made by white characters while refusing to grant the same grace and understanding to Black women (e.g., General Hospital’s Curtis Ashford having no issues with walking out on both Jordan and Portia over their dishonesty, while being a staunch defender of Hayden and Nina, despite their numerous lies and manipulations).

3. Advocating for or easily accepting the redemption of white villains or allowing them to escape severe punishment while simultaneously having Black female characters harshly punished or made to suffer for their wrongdoings, whether their character is villainous or not (e.g., Days of our Lives crafting a storyline where every white villain on the canvas, including a murderer, a rapist, and a domestic terrorist, were granted pardons and released from prison but Lani Price-Grant was left behind bars to serve her sentence or The Bold and the Beautiful having both Zoe and Flo initially suffer consequences for their parts in keeping Hope Logan separated from her daughter but Zoe’s story ending with her leaving town heartbroken and humiliated, while Flo’s has seemingly ended with her engagement to the love of her life, forgiveness from her newfound family, and a cushy position in the family business).

4. A show’s fandom singling out and treating a Black female character as if she is the sole reason their white favorite isn’t getting ___ or audiences uncritically accepting stereotypical tropes that paint Black women in a negative light for the benefit of white characters (e.g., General Hospital fans advocating for more airtime for Kristina or Elizabeth by specifically asking that Portia or Jordan be written out as opposed to one of the MANY white characters on the show, or The Young and the Restless fans having no issues with Elena being characterized as a nagging, unsupportive, constantly critical bore who only wanted to take a nap to facilitate Nate and Victoria’s affair).

5. Understanding that love, romance, and passion are a huge part of what viewers tune in to see…until it’s time for a Black woman to experience those things. Then suddenly it’s, “Why can’t people just be friends” or “Not everyone needs to be in a relationship” or the pointedly specific non-specific complaints regarding “a lack of chemistry” from fans or the show putting a Black woman in a relationship but having it take part largely offscreen or rarely be featured (e.g., Days of our Lives putting Allie and Chanel together and then writing absolutely nothing for them until it was time for them to break up, General Hospital managing to find a love interest for everyone from a newly divorced Carly to the diabolical Dr. Obrecht while being unwilling to so much as chemistry test Jordan Ashford with a new man or The Bold and the Beautiful deciding to derail Paris and Zende’s relationship to reduce her to nothing more than an obstacle for Quinn and Carter).

I know that despite the examples I just gave, some of you are still in pushback mode. I can hear all the various reasons why I’m wrong. Let’s address these hypothetical points one by one.

It must be understood that misogynoir does not depend on whether a character is beloved or if an actress is talented. Jackée Harry is a cultural icon. From her roles on ‘227’, ‘The Women of Brewster Place’, and ‘Sister, Sister’, to her guest appearances on ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ and ‘Pose’, she has demonstrated talent that has kept her consistently employed and has resulted in multiple NAACP awards and an Emmy award. Despite the active and vocal fanbase for Paulina Price, the character she portrays on ‘Days of Our Lives’, and the evident talent and love for Jackée, microaggressions and misogynoir persist when Paulina becomes a topic of discussion.

As a dedicated fan of Elizabeth Webber since day one, I empathize and agree with these sentiments. However, it’s crucial to note that Elizabeth’s lack of focus in her stories isn’t related to her race. Conversely, Trina’s lack of centralization in her stories is directly linked to her being Black. While both characters are underserved, the underlying reasons for their treatment are distinct. Thus, while the outcomes may seem similar, it’s crucial to recognize that these situations are not equivalent.

Your ship preference is irrelevant because, interestingly, they didn’t write for Janel either. Both ships had vocal, passionate, supportive fanbases, and both ships were abruptly discontinued. Ultimately, Chanel remains alone.

Indeed, stating the obvious – water is wet. Returning to the discussion, it is essential to emphasize that we are addressing the targeted harassment of an actress because she is Black, with no other justification. It is crucial to acknowledge that these situations are fundamentally distinct and cannot be equated.

Like all media, soaps are both a mirror that reflects our current cultural attitudes and values and a tool that helps shape them. They do not exist in a vacuum, and, like all art, there is a political element to them. Respectfully, the issue is that profound.

No one insists that you must be a fan of anyone or support any ship. Nobody is saying you’re not allowed to dislike any Black female characters or not be a fan of a specific Black actress. However, I am declaring emphatically that it reflects poorly on you if you hold Black actresses and their characters to standards that you never impose on your non-Black favorites, or if the common denominator in every ship you disapprove of includes a Black woman.

This is not just my opinion. I asked other Black soap opera fans for their opinion on the prevalence of misogynoir in the genre and received permission to share their responses. The responses I received were insightful and brutally honest.

*Names have been changed to prevent harassment and answers have been edited for clarity.*

I feel like Black actresses/characters are not always given the opportunity to fully display their talent. They are not showcased as frequently and have to make do with the limited airtime they receive. On Y&R, Hilary was killed off (along with her unborn baby), and the former head writer, Mal Young, referred to it as a gift. While the misogynoir in the stories may not always be overt, there have been instances that have made me take a second look.

A notable example is how General Hospital’s Dr. Portia Robinson has been grappling with the consequences of her mistake/secret for over three months, which is a significant portion of a year. She has come close to losing her husband (who cheated on her), and her daughter, who holds great importance in her life, refuses to speak to her.

Non-Black characters have kept secrets and, when exposed, have barely faced any consequences. Black female characters sometimes lack meaningful character development unless it revolves around trauma, and even then, it may not be depicted on screen. Y&R introduced Naya’s cancer storyline for Amanda and Imani’s mother, which predominantly played out off-screen. Many fans remain dissatisfied with B&B completely eliminating its only Black family, The Avants.

I feel like Black actresses/characters are caught in a lose-lose situation. If the character is morally upright, they cannot make even minor mistakes, and when they do, it often triggers an unnecessary backlash from the fandom. And when they are portrayed as flawless (making little to no mistakes), they are labeled as ‘boring’ or ‘annoying.’ Every action they take is scrutinized, often with negative judgment. If a Black female character is paired with a desirable male character, it is frequently dismissed as ‘more like a brother and sister’ or suggested that they should remain friends.

I have called out misogynoir in fandom spaces, not limited to soap opera fandom, and have faced resistance. People have accused me of ‘playing the race card’ because they refuse to acknowledge why their comments are offensive. My concerns have been trivialized and disregarded. Whenever I observe it, I will always speak up. I have yet to witness internalized misogynoir within soap fandom, but it is prevalent in other communities. Some individuals allow themselves to be used as props for others’ racist beliefs.

Kendra

Without much thought, it’s evident that Black female characters lack complete development. Their stories often serve only to advance the plot of a white or white-adjacent character. The narratives surrounding Black female characters rarely receive thorough exploration. I began watching soaps when I was around 14 or 15, starting with General Hospital. I was drawn to Gia, but she never received the investment and development she deserved. Black female characters were treated as temporary fixtures, and their relationships were never taken seriously. If they were in an interracial pairing and got married, their relationship wasn’t portrayed with the same depth as their white counterparts. If they were married to another Black person, they received minimal focus in storylines or were abruptly written off.

I have witnessed racism from white fans directed towards Black female characters. I wouldn’t say it’s more prevalent now, but rather more visible. Days of our Lives’ Lani Price and GH’s Trina Robinson face the harshest criticisms. I believe Amanda Sinclair/Hilary Curtis on Y&R also encountered some. Trina and Lani are deemed “not good enough” for Eli and Spencer, with no valid justification given. And when those making these claims are pressed to name who they would prefer to see these men with, it’s usually someone white or non-Black who has committed similar or even worse actions than Trina or Lani. Yet, the treatment is different for non-Black characters.

Suddenly, it’s argued that “not all characters have to be good; they can be morally ambiguous, or they’ve faced consequences for their actions.” This leniency is not extended to Black female characters. The show completely disregarded the troubling optics of Lani having to kneel before another woman of color for the sake of a racist storyline, and when we voiced our concerns, we were told to accept it if we wanted Lani to have a story.

I do notice that more fans came forward to defend Trina when she debuted, which is encouraging, but there is still an abundance of poor writing and characterization for Black female characters. It’s like taking one-quarter step forward and then stumbling eighty steps back.

Latoya

I have witnessed misogynoir within fandom spaces, and I believe it reflects the attitudes presented in the show itself. When a show fails to create room for a diverse range of experiences for Black women and girls, it sets a particular tone. Let’s take General Hospital as an example. The two most prominent Black women characters on the show were introduced through paternity drama. While Trina receives significant attention for her popular pairing, her character development has been halted in favor of prioritizing the growth of her white male love interest.

In my personal experience within fandom, I have seen the voices of Black women silenced or ridiculed if they deviate from the mainstream opinion. It seems that “mainstream” GH Twitter only cares about protecting Trina, while the same level of nuance isn’t extended to Jordan, Portia, Stella, and others. Black women viewers have made a deliberate effort to uplift the Black women we see on our screens, but this responsibility should not rest solely on our shoulders.

Shows need to address race, emphasize the necessity of these stories, and stop catering to those who resist the idea of Black women being fully developed characters. To avoid being targeted and gaslit, I decided to distance myself from soap Twitter. Additionally, since my Twitter is also connected to my professional work, I can’t afford to have people look me up and see me involved in fandom conflicts, so I chose to stop tweeting about the show altogether.

Tiana

I have been watching soaps since I was a little girl. I took a break during college around 2005 or 2006 and then returned in 2019. While I have always been involved in social media, I am sometimes taken aback by the fact that people say things online that they wouldn’t say to your face. However, I have become adept at muting and blocking individuals who exhibit hateful behavior.

It is disheartening when negative comments are made about an actress’s hair or appearance. Black women are often expected to conform to certain standards of beauty and behavior, and if they deviate from those expectations, they are called out for it. Black actresses have to fight for meaningful storylines, particularly lead roles. And if they appear on-screen for 2 or 3 days a week, there are often complaints online about their character being overexposed, even if they hadn’t been seen for weeks prior. Personally, I love seeing women who look like me represented on my screen. Our stories deserve to be told too.

Alicia

My experience in the Sprina fandom has been a mix of positive and negative. I am grateful for everything we have achieved, but it is frustrating to think about why fans have to fight so hard to have this particular story told. All we want is for Trina and Spencer’s love story to be given attention. Trina is not afforded the same opportunities as others, especially her white female co-stars. I want Trina to have the same freedom of expression that Joss has and be allowed to assert herself against others, just like her best friend does. I don’t want her to be relegated to a mere talking character.

Carmen

My journey in the soap world has been enlightening. In the Days fandom, whenever we discussed Black characters facing hate due to their Blackness, there was always someone who would bring up a white character receiving hate to dismiss our concerns. When Chanel was introduced, she often seemed like an afterthought in conversations. Tweets would mention Ciara, Allie, and Chanel, with Chanel being mentioned last, as if she was added to make it appear that they cared about her as much as her white peers. I’ve also noticed that fans of white characters are less bothered when a white character they love is paired with a Black man, but if it’s a white male character they adore paired with a Black woman, it becomes a big problem. They find ways to criticize her.

Being part of the soap fandom made me reconsider how I approach tweeting about Black characters, especially when the fandom is predominantly non-Black. I observed how some Black fans would support white characters involved in rivalries with Black characters, even when their non-Black mutuals spoke about them disrespectfully. It was a major turn-off. Microaggressions were already enough to warrant a response, but seeing mutuals being racist as well? After witnessing that, there are Black characters and certain topics I avoid tweeting about because it only adds to the pile of hate that they already receive, and it opens the door for ignorant white fans to feel entitled to comment on her and make remarks about her hair or appearance.

Hillary

I believe soap Twitter is on par with reality Twitter when it comes to their disdain for Black women. Soap Twitter doesn’t hide it, and I doubt it will improve. I also think that the writers and those in charge contribute to the perpetuation of misogynoir, particularly by white women. They don’t consistently write for Black women, and when they do, they often rely on negative tropes. When that happens, these white women can defend themselves by saying, “I’m not being misogynistic or racist towards Black women because this is what we saw, it was written, and it wasn’t overtly racist (to me).”

I also think those in charge enable the mistreatment of Black actresses by fandoms because they don’t step up to defend them. Even some of their co-stars seem to endorse the harassment and abuse by not supporting them. In my experience, the fandom where I have seen the most internalized misogynoir and misogyny in general within the soap world is DAYS. Just look at the aftermath of Lani shooting TR and how it was handled. Look at Jada and the way her abortion story was portrayed.

With Trina on GH, I believe it’s more subtle due to her age. Discussions about her are often filled with comments like, “They should try Spencer and Joss,” as if Trina doesn’t deserve a love interest who genuinely wants her. Racist individuals respond to Trina and Spencer’s relationship by saying, “Oh, he can’t possibly like her,” which is also prevalent in reality TV, which can be considered a form of soap opera. I have faced pushback when I’ve spoken up, with people telling me, “Don’t make it about race.” However, I have mostly stayed silent to avoid harassment and also because I don’t want to argue with people who refuse to acknowledge what is clearly present.

Serena

I have witnessed misogynoir, although I haven’t always used that term to describe it. I can recognize the behavior, though. The disparity in how fans treat Black women and their characters is as blatant as a brick to the face.

For instance, Hilary Curtis was deemed the worst person on Earth, while a character like Mariah Copeland, who had a similar introduction, was quickly forgiven because of the actress who portrayed her and her connections. Lani Price has been accused of things that directly contradict the show’s narrative, like her “lying” to Eli about what she witnessed when she caught Gabi and JJ together, as if it was normal for Gabi to put on JJ’s t-shirt and get into bed with him. Recently, some viewers were convinced that Jada Hunter lied about terminating her pregnancy on Days, despite no evidence within the storyline pointing in that direction. On the other hand, Nicole, who has conspired to commit murder and engaged in various crimes, even manipulating Jada into having an abortion, is perceived as “misguided” or “misunderstood” and given the benefit of the doubt.

I believe misogynoir limits the types of stories writers are willing to tell with Black characters. And even when a story is told, there is often little to no consideration given to the character being Black. The narratives are frequently cut short because the writers cannot envision going beyond the original plot and exploring the depth of the character. A Black woman can’t be the focal point of any story, so they don’t bother treating her as a fully developed person.

It also affects casting decisions, with some characters becoming more ethnically ambiguous or lighter in complexion when recast, like Destiny Evans on OLTL or Simone Russell on Passions. Misogynoir literally dictates the types of Black women we are even allowed to see on screen. Tabyana Ali as Trina Robinson is significant for multiple reasons, including her appearance and how the show has positioned her to potentially drive the story. By the time I speak up about something, I have reached the point of not caring who agrees or disagrees. And I think people just block me right away, but that could be because I’m a man.

Trey

Misogynoir is not just my opinion or an exaggeration; it exists in both real life and reel life and causes real harm. Misogynoir is evident in General Hospital when Portia’s character transitions from being a protective mother to a meddlesome mom by engaging with a racist character who jeopardized her daughter’s life and freedom. Moreover, it is reflected in the way their interactions are written, which protects Esme while leaving Portia vulnerable and unsupported.

Misogynoir is seen in Bold and Beautiful fans’ responses, such as using derogatory comments like “slut alert” and perpetuating harmful stereotypes when discussing Paris and speculating about a potential RJ/Paris pairing. These comments diminish Paris’s character, despite her having had only two relationships on the show, one of which she intended to pursue marriage.

Misogynoir is witnessed in The Young and The Restless, where Mishael Morgan is treated as an afterthought, disregarding her significant, historic Emmy win.

Misogynoir is when Black women are silenced, harassed, gaslit, or accused of being “the real racists” by fellow fans when we speak out against the anti-Black harassment, abuse, and racism faced by our favorite actresses and the characters they portray.

Misogynoir is observing fans, soap press, and co-stars uniting to protect and defend white actresses from online hate or inappropriate comments, while not providing the same level of support when it’s Black actresses in need of protection.

If you are active in any soap fandom and witness misogynoir, push back against it as strongly as you challenge the denial of its existence. When Black women critique a story for perpetuating misogynoir, don’t be too quick to dismiss their valid concerns or condescendingly remind everyone that “it’s just a soap.”

If you are a moderator on a message board and notice dog whistles (such as loud, uppity, aggressive) being used when discussing Black women, issue warnings, enforce bans, or shut down problematic threads.

If you come across a racist meme or post targeting a Black actress or her character while scrolling social media, report it. If you see your Facebook friends or Twitter mutuals being disrespectful towards a Black actress’s appearance or abilities, call them out or engage in a constructive conversation, but don’t simply let it slide.

Escapism is a pleasure that everyone should be able to enjoy. The fandom communities we have created around the soaps we love should be spaces where Black women, both real and fictional, are celebrated and appreciated rather than denigrated and put on the defensive. Black women are not asking for special treatment; we are simply asking for equal and fair treatment. We are asking for the opportunity to escape too.

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So, when he was angrily possessive over Brenda dancing with Miguel at the Quartermaine mansion, we reasoned that he wasn’t given the tools to handle his anger. And when he shook Brenda violently, nearly throwing her to the floor, screaming in her face that she was making him turn into Deke, we grimaced but shrugged it off as a heat of the moment loss of control. And we did the same when he gaslit Brenda about his mob activities, dragged her from her chair at Luke’s, repeatedly called her a whore, and degraded her while shrouding himself in a cloud of pain to cover the awfulness of his actions. 

In 2000 when he told Alexis about his childhood abuse, we felt his fear at the thought it could be used against him when it came to his own child’s welfare. We saw his desperation to not be held accountable for what had been done to him, for Deke to not be able to hurt him yet again and we applauded his determination to break the cycle of abuse and protect his child after his mother was unable to protect him. We rooted for him to be a father and for it to be part of what healed him.

Through all of our early feelings for Sonny and his trauma and his pain, something got lost, and that something was the women he was victimizing even as he relayed the story of his abusive childhood.

As the years have passed Sonny has related the tale of Deke Woods to many women…Brenda…Carly…Alexis…Emily…the list goes on and on. Long time General Hospital viewers know very well how Sonny was beaten and locked in a closet repeatedly by his stepfather. Just like we know that he has also told every woman he opened up to that he vowed to never be like Deke, to never abuse a woman, and while he may have never physically smacked or punched a woman, Sonny Corinthos IS physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive to women and has been for 30 years.

Sonny violently grabs women and shakes them and pushes them around. He throws things at them and in their directions and yells and breaks glass. Most of the women Sonny has had intimate relationships with have at one time or another, sometimes many times, cowered from him during one of his violent outbursts. They jump when he yells and close their eyes when the glass starts to shatter in their direction, and they cry and beg and plead with him to calm down and let them help him. He yells terrible things at them, calls them whores and tells them they are worthless. He beats them down verbally in more damaging ways than his fists ever could. He is frightening and they are scared of him.

He screamed and threw things at Carly before they were even a couple. Called her horrible names and treated her like dirt just because he could. Told her she was worthless and just like him. He put his hands on her violently and had to be pushed away by Jason. When they paired them, it not only continued but got worse.

In 2006 Sonny was diagnosed as bi-polar and supposedly began medication and therapy to treat it but his mistreatment of women continued.

When he was married to Claudia Zacharra in 2008, she received some of the worst venom he ever spewed toward a woman, and it was shrugged off because of her part in the attempted hit on him that resulted in his son being shot but her actions did not make the abuse she received from her husband any less real especially considering he didn’t even know about her involvement in the shooting until well after his abuse of her began. He was eventually called out for it by her son and his daughter, but he blew it off because he felt she deserved everything she got. As always, Sonny could justify his abuse of a woman and he was allowed to do so.

When his daughter, Kristina, was abused by her boyfriend in 2010, Sonny’s abusive nature was given the brightest spotlight it had ever received and the fact that he was abusive was said to his face by multiple people he loved and the therapist his daughter was seeing to deal with her own trauma. What could have been and should have been a moment of real growth and healing for Sonny was wasted and resulted, yet again, in no change. He continued to insist he was not abusive because he did not actually hit and continued to be abusive in all the ways he always had been before. Even Carly asking him if there was anything Kristina could do to deserve to be treated by a man the way Carly had been treated by Sonny had no effect on how Sonny saw his own behavior. He just ignored the question, maybe because he didn’t like the actual answer.

He asked Carly if she thought he had abused her, and she was painfully honest with him in as gentle a way as she could be. He repaid her honesty by turning it around on her and placing the blame for his actions on her “pushing his buttons” and making him do the things he did which is classic abuser behavior. Abusers always blame their victims for making them act the way they do. Sonny blamed Brenda, he blamed Claudia, he blamed Carly. He seems to have blame for everyone but himself.

Now, here we are almost 30 years later and recently on General Hospital, Sonny Corinthos had another violent outburst that terrified another woman he is romantically involved with, and he relayed to her, almost by rote, the tale of his stepfather’s abuse of him and his mother and repeated his fears of being like him, even saying he saw him reflected in her eyes, only to be reassured, once again, that he was nothing like that and none of it was his fault, but this time one thing was very different and that was the reaction of a fair amount of the online fanbase.

This time we didn’t feel his pain, our hearts didn’t break, and we certainly didn’t cry for him. His cracking voice and eyes filled with tears about to spill did not move us. This time many of us rolled our eyes and shook our heads in disgust at him. Some even asked if this story was some sort of pickup line for Sonny. It just didn’t hit the same. Which begs the question: What has changed?

Have we become so jaded or cold-hearted that the plight of an abused child left us completely unaffected… or are we just sick of seeing a grown man who has supposedly been in therapy for almost a decade and a half, still refusing to see the abusiveness in his behaviors and even more importantly, refusing to do anything to correct it… all while still expecting some sort of pass because he too had once been the abused?

When he has told women about Deke, he has said he hit him and his mother but also that he would grab his mother and shake her and pushed her and call her nasty names. Did he not see that as part of the abuse she endured or is it only abuse when Deke did it?

Abuse is ultimately about power and control, the two things that Sonny craves the most. He has found a way to exert that power and control over the women in his life without actually hitting them which he uses to convince himself that he is not like Deke. By his own repeated retelling the only difference in their behaviors is that actual act of hitting. Sonny clings to this singular difference like a lifeline and perhaps it is.

He insists on claiming that the only type of abuse is the type of abuse he endured and nothing else qualifies, which furthers his goal of painting himself as the ultimate victim, another classic abuser trait. To Sonny no one has suffered the way he has suffered, no one’s pain matters but his own and the pain he inflicts could never compare to the pain that has been inflicted upon him and therefore doesn’t matter to him. Very rarely has Sonny even expressed feigned remorse for what he has done to a woman he abuses and when he does it is usually framed in a way that ultimately benefits only him or is really him just blaming them for ‘making him’ do it.

What Sonny continues to fail to understand is that no one is any more to blame for the abuse he inflicts on them than he was to blame for abuse Deke inflicted on him. As a child he did nothing to deserve being locked in a closet or beaten. In the same vein Brenda did nothing to deserve being grabbed and dragged around by him. Carly did nothing to deserve to have glass thrown at her while she was pregnant with his child. Claudia did nothing to deserve being called a faithless bitch, a lying whore, or a psychotic piece of trash in a roomful of people on her birthday. Not one of these women made Sonny say or do these things. Not one of these women could have ever done anything to deserve him saying or doing these things to them. If he did not want to be with them, then he always had the option to leave them. The fact that they remained in these relationships with him does not give him a pass.

Knowing what we know now, one has to wonder… when we watched all those years ago, did we feel so deeply for Sonny because he actually deserved it back then or did we just not know any better because we were younger and the world was a different place? Much more is known and spoken about when it comes to intimate partner abuse than was known or spoken about 30 years ago so there is that. General Hospital did a Public Service Announcement about the issue in 2010 when Kristina was abused by her boyfriend, Kieffer. Yet even after their PSA, Sonny’s abuse of women has continued. He continues to grab them and shake them. He continues to break glass and terrify them. He continues to degrade and demean them. His continued abusive behavior after all these years has even tainted how we view the old scenes we once felt so much empathy while watching.

Sonny Corinthos is the undisputed lead character of General Hospital. The fact that he can continue to act this way after almost 3 decades and still be considered a viable romantic leading man is an embarrassment to the entire genre. It is way past time for him to either actually address his abusiveness of women honestly or to be treated and called out as the abuser he chooses to continue to be onscreen by other characters. Soap operas have a reputation for being dramatic and over the top and there are many things that are ok on soaps that would never be ok in real life, intimate partner abuse is not one of them. Soaps may be campy and fun escapism, but they have also always been on the forefront in representing real life issues in a way that can make a difference and with women being the overwhelming majority of their viewership this should be an issue they always strive to get right, to make sure that not one viewer thinks that how Sonny treats so many of the women he is involved with is admirable, desirable or even acceptable. Maya Angelou told us “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” General Hospital, you have known better for a long time now, the time has come for you to do better.

If you or anyone you know either are, or think you are, involved in a situation that involves intimate partner abuse, please know that help and resources are available. The National Domestic Violence hotline is confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.

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Click play below to listen as Allie and Heather recap and review Riverdale 6×02, Ghost Stories

Watch Riverdale Tuesday’s 9/8c on The CW

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With all the negativity surrounding the sport, and the constant attempt to regard women’s wrestling as less than compared to the men, the assumption would be that women in the industry would band together, but this is not always the case. Letting the insecurities you have for yourself be used as satire for your character is one thing, but taking the insecurities someone has for themselves and weaponizing it to assert dominance is something that has been used far too many times. And in the passing years, there has been one particular wrestler with her own crosses to bear, using the body image of others as a negative way to respond to Kayfabe insults.

“I just feel like I appreciate my body more. I go ‘well, you know what? I’ve created a life. This is great, this is great.’ I don’t really care how it looks any more, you know what I mean? If that makes sense? I’ve always had body issues, and I was always self-conscious about showing my stomach off. And now, I’m just real proud of the function of it, of everything it can do. So I don’t know if it’s a mental thing that just turns into a physical thing. If that makes any sense?” – Becky Lynch, (Muscle and Fitness 2021)

Becky Lynch, a self-proclaimed locker room hero, has been known for many things over the years. Her inclusion as being one of the WWE’s own versions of the Four Horsewomen, being the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion, her rise to the top as the Man, and no one could ever forget her being one of the first women to main event WrestleMania. Her resume has been impressive thus far, no one can deny that, but with great power comes great responsibility.

As a role model to children, to women, and to some men, there are certain standards that need to be maintained even when the cameras are no longer rolling. Especially when the cameras are no longer rolling. Insults in Kayfabe that attack the opponents’ abilities, their character, and dismantle them mentally and sometimes even physically if things escalate are exciting, they’re expected, but what you do when you log into your social media sometimes leaves more of a lasting impression. And when you use social media as a form of negative reinforcement, it takes on a life of its own.

From body shaming, to injury, and slut shaming, Becky Lynch has taken social media beyond the guise of Kayfabe and feud promotion into bullying and organized targeting of her peers. What’s more disturbing than taking social media feuds too far, it the fact that a woman who has admitted body issues of her own would subject others to the scrutiny she herself was plagued with.

“I post pictures when I think my abs look good and whatever, and I’m standing in a way to where the lighting is whatever— I mean if I move that thing is going to jiggle. That’s why I don’t have my stomach on show. You know what I mean? It doesn’t matter how lean I am, I’m predisposed to being a little doughier.” – Becky Lynch, (Making Their Way to The Ring 2017)

So how does one go from victim to victimizer? It is very unclear where the shift in attitude came from. Possibly the weight of trying to maintain a position on top. It could also be the constant need to outlast her predecessors, but there has clearly been a shift. Or was it already there and because of her lack of popularity it was buried under more important headlines. The lineage of body shaming exhibited by Becky Lynch dates back as far as 2016. This is strange, considering her own interview about body issues only came out in 2017.

While this is one of the first tweets unearthed detailing the particularly unscrupulous behavior of Becky Lynch on social media, it certainly is not the last. In each feud, and sometimes just out of the blue, she hurls below the belt insults that are apparently intended to be satirical but come off as rude and insensitive.

While it is unclear what the motivation is behind the vicious cyber-attacks on her coworkers, one thing became apparent after her latest questionable twitter moment: The fans are not amused. Unlike most of her other “moments of glory” legions of fans were very vocal about Becky’s comments.

While Charlotte Flair is the latest on Becky’s list of people to personally attack on social media, many fans don’t expect her to be the last. If history has shown us anything it is that Becky’s main go to in a feud is a personal comment that has nothing to do with Kayfabe. I find it very intriguing that with all the comments and negativity surrounding the way she conducts feuds that she’s “seen” as a hero.

“… I never use cheap insults to discredit someone, make fun of someone’s appearance, or body-shame. That’s a huge, no, no to me. Even though I am the bad guy, it’s more of, I’m better than you. I never use other things to put others down.” —Charlotte Flair

While there may be more than one definition of what a hero is, there are many examples of how to create a positive Social Media environment, even in the face of a feud. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks exchanged many blows during their feud and managed to stay on track, as did Rhea/Charlotte/Nikki A.S.H. While it is understood that tensions could run high in feuds and hurtful things could be said, it’s a common occurrence in Becky Lynch feuds. And that is something worth addressing.

“So all I’ll say is the locker room needs a hero sometimes. And sometimes somebody’s gotta be a hero. I’m all right being that hero. That’s what I’ll say on that matter.” —Becky Lynch (Sports Illustrated 2021)

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In all seriousness, the wait wasn’t brutal but the theorizing and anticipation were. And frankly, Welcome To Rivervale is nothing like we could have predicted, at all. Like…babies! Yay! A little sacrificial murder? Yay?

The question this episode really makes everyone ponder on is, “What would you be willing to sacrifice for your own selfish gain?”

An all-American boy is apparently the answer. One pure of heart and strong! One willing to die for his Queen.

This episode in two words is: weird and fun. Leave all expectations at the door and allow yourself to be swept away and truly mindfucked. Don’t try and analyze or make sense of it, just enjoy the ride.

Listen as Allie and I recap, review, and revel in Riverdale (Rivervale?) season six episode one.

What are your thoughts on this truly insane season premiere? We want to know! Let us know in the comments below or on twitter at@TVSource or @TVS__WW.

Watch Riverdale/Rivervale on The CW Tuesday’s at 9/8c.

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