A message to the fandom
To those struggling with the ending and/or state of the fandom.
There’s been lots of strong feelings all around. From those that hated and felt betrayed by the ending (me) to those that liked it but don’t understand the negativity and are bummed out by it.
Let’s all remember who we should be mad at, NG. He is a disgraced abuser who is pissed that he got outed and shunned. He knew what fans wanted and why it was important to them, he knew that we all expected a certain conclusion. The saddest outcomes I saw floated in fan spaces doesn’t even begin to compare to what we got. We did not think this ending was even on the table. He deliberately did an ending he knew would upset fans and divide people. You know he is happy that so many fans are this upset after he was disowned. There’s a million ways this story could’ve gone that would’ve been symbolic and meaningful and still given the ending we all thought we were going to get.
This story meant a lot to me. I saw myself in A&C and thought we were getting something I’ve been looking for and wanting to see in media forever. I have made connections with people who get me on a deep personal level. I have read things in fics that made me feel seen, things I have always wanted to find in a piece of media but never have before. It’s been so validating and healing.
With the way my brain works, it’s hard for me to not let what I see as a tragic ending overshadow something that brings me joy. And I love horror and sci fi with some really fucked up tragic shit! But not the happy space that brought me joy. I’ve been disappointed with so many endings and finales. But this one was special and important to many, many people. And was the one time I thought I knew the outcome of the thing I really cared about and we were just getting the journey to get there.
But I am not going to let another fucking abuser ruin something I love. I don’t want to let him hurt something I care deeply about. So, I am channeling my inner BAMF Aziraphale, full of righteous divine fury, and I am hanging the fuck on. He does not get to win. I won’t let him destroy this, I’m not going to give up on this universe I am going to fight for it. I want to protect these characters and this fandom so that it keeps going. I am taking the message of the book and Terry, full of hope and optimism. He didn’t give them a happy ending, but I and others can. I’ve always been a canon purist and see fan stuff as fun or separate, so it’s taking some dismantling of how I think of media. But really, S2 and S3 are just one interpretation, Terry wasn’t involved. His name was on S2 but wasn’t even on S3. I am sad that I am never going to get the same feeling I used to get from it. But I can still find enjoyment, it’s just going to be different now.
And for those that did like the ending, you can like and interpret it however you want! Please, we’re just asking for understanding and compassion of why we are upset and acknowledgement that it sucks. But don’t let people’s reactions make you want to leave the fandom. That is also letting NG win. Don’t let him.
I see people saying we’re overreacting, but there’s so much context that goes into why this is upsetting. I spoke to my therapist about this (never thought I’d talk to my therapist about a fucking TV show but here we are) asking her what the fuck was wrong with me. She assured me that this is perfectly normal. People have a deep connection with art, especially things they see themselves in. She told me she’s had intense emotional reactions to stuff and even has a tv show she can’t watch the finale of because she knows what happens and can’t handle it. She had a book she read that had an ending that messed with her for a long time.
Let’s all be kind to each other, and also fight for the things we care about!