Maybe I'm a bit reaching here, but I feel like the whole Odyssey casting outrage shows just how much more people care about looks than the message. They compare it to Troy, all while crying about "wokeness", completely ignoring that Troy was like 3h of "men=bad". Either they haven't watched it, or just didn't care because there's so many beautiful people there.
There is a girl I was fortunate enough to meet in my teenage years. I have fallen for her. Hard. We hung out as friends, or maybe a little more, but it was never clear, and I never dared to think I could be liked, let alone by someone like her. She was on my mind ever since I met her (as 16 yo) and till today (26 years) If I was to die tomorrow she would be the love of my live. We haven't talked for a long time, but 2 days ago, I learned that she liked me back all those years ago and even thinks about me sometimes, or so she told me. She has a fiance now, who even looks similar to me, and darkest parts of my mind want for them to not work out.
I know for a fact that many of you here are teenagers who think they are unlikable. Don't be like me. It's better to try and clear things up early on and be done with it than live with doubt and later with regret. More than ever now, I fantasize about time travel. Fml. I almost wish she didn't like me, because the regret is going to kill me.