Mel Medarda was NOT the User in their Relationship. Jayce Was [CC]

[@efghd2624]

People say they want "complex female characters with realistic flaws" but one trait a female character always gets crucified for is being self serving. Its so weird, because in real life everyone is some degree of self serving, but if a woman on screen isn't willing to sacrifice everything for everyone else and doesn't put her desires on the back burner there's always a bunch of people talking about how she was "the real villain" of whatever they're in.

[@Knight1029]

So, many issues people have with her is just disliking women. Whether it is intentionally or not it has the same outcome.

[@moustik31]

The mainstream fandom and staff's rabid misogynoir against Mel was painful and exhausting to witness! 💔

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

And it’s even more painful because they like to deny it. But the writing is on the wall, and like you said, it’s exhausting to witness, even their denials

[@sugarandscenes1931]

When I saw Mel, I both instantly loved her and also knew right away that the girlypops would hate her, any woman that particularly gets in the way of a mlm ship is going to get crucified by fandom no matter what, they could be the kindest, nicest person and it's "well they're boring" they have even any flaws it's "well they're actually a bad person" Fem characters cannot win in general with some people, much less woc characters. I think there's also a lot of people looking at someone merely convincing someone to do something and calling it manipulation, as if they have never tried to change someone's mind before in their life. "I want to restore my family's honour" is not an evil aspiration to have especially from a woman growing up under the foot of a woman like Ambessa.

[@kport6219]

@@sugarandscenes1931 it is infuriating because Mel always seems to affirm everyone else's agency in all matters, but some people really are dedicated to casting her as a manipulator when she has told no lies and only sought to bring in new perspectives to the people she interacts with.

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

Ah but you see, she’s a bad person because she tries to help Jayce navigate the politics of Piltover in a way that would help him achieve his goals. I swear every damn time I see one of those statements I want to yank my hair out. Because like you said, what she’s doing is trying to convince him on the path to take, and not manipulate him into making mistakes that are antithetical to what he believes. Jayce does that all on his own, but they refuse to see it. I even saw the tweet where one of the writers said she wrote Mel’s romance with Jayce to be boring and I just about screamed. Urgh!!!

[@HuntingViolets]

@@ChroniclesofNoria I was trying to figure out if she was being sarcastic since she was answering a fan who made a video of Jayce and Mel kissing with "boring" voiceover on it. I haven't seen this show, by the way, but the character looks gorgeous, so I was hoping not to have another situation like Martha Jones, where people hate her because of her getting in the way of their ship and/or, let's be honest, racism.

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

I hope she was joking. But unfortunately, her saying that everything was done intentionally and not giving any further clarity just makes that joke not land well for me. Unfortunately. But yeah. I too didn’t want another situation like Martha 😭😭. Freema deserved better than what some of the fandom turned her character into, dammit!

[@HuntingViolets]

@@ChroniclesofNoria I agree! And Martha is still the best!

[@unsung_shrew]

I'll be a fan of Mel no matter what she does 😤

[@kport6219]

Ran here so fast. Will update by end of video

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

Yay!!! Please let me know your thoughts when you’re done watching. Would love to see if you agree or disagree with me. Either one is okay by me actually 🥹🥹

[@kport6219]

@@ChroniclesofNoria So after watching the video, I do agree with your claims. Mel doesn't really read as a user to me in most cases. I always interpreted her character as someone who wanted to use diplomacy as a means of amassing power in juxtaposition to her mother's philosophy of domination and shows of strength. Mel's action rarely results in someone else losing something, the only person her actions negatively affected were Heimerdinger and you could argue he was presenting opposition where no deal could be struck. Mel and Jayce's relationship has been mutually beneficial, they both got a lot out of it, if anything Mel risked quite a bit trying to elevate Jayce to a higher position and giving him the tools to be successful in that position. It is not manipulative to tell someone how to play the game of politics to get what you want, Jayce didn't have to follow her advice and compromise, but he recognized that his approach was going nowhere and he wanted results so he went with Mel's guidance. Mel's entire motivation, especially throughout the first season, is antithetical to being a user in any relationship, whatever she gets, she is always sure to give or ensure that the other party is taken care of.

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

@ thank you so much. I’m glad we saw eye to eye on that and you gave further clarity to how her diplomacy has always been her strongest trait, and a diplomat well versed in navigating the intricacies of their position would always be aware that it is much better that all sides leave the negotiation table with something they would all benefit from. Thank you so much for your comment ❤️❤️

[@kport6219]

@@ChroniclesofNoria OMG thank you for reading. I've been following for a while now and I'm glad you finally covered a topic I could provide a perspective on. Love your videos

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

@ omg!! Thank you so much for the support and the watch time 🥹🥹. Happy to make more Arcane videos so we can talk more about the show in the comments

[@moustik31]

I LOVE, that you watch popular Netflix's shows: first Bridgerton, now Arcane. Please cover more, your commentary is always well-thought out and "provocative"!

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

Omg. Thank you so much. Glad my content gives you such food for thought 😊😊❤️

[@Knight1029]

An Arcane video? What a treat! I can see what you mean. While Mel was the one who started the relationship and used it to get her way Jayce was the one who ultimately took it further. He is the one who used Mel more. Thank you for the video. I absolutely love Arcane and I am happy you talked about it.

[@nisilva3951]

This story always repeat with black women on media/games, sadly... If she have no flaws they calls her boring, if she shows her flaws people make her a villain and like her flaws makes her the worst person... Some say now in second season her story had too many holes but now that the company releases a book about her mom and her and with theories about she being the protagonist of the next series they call it "woke", because they cant accept a black woman as the protagonist. In the end theyre never satisfied and will criticize no matter what, misogynoir indeed

[@CaughtBetweenPages]

Ugh fine, finally play DAVG and watch Arcane so I can engage meaningfully with my favorite creator’s content again 😤

[@ChroniclesofNoria]

Omg!!! You’re going to play DAV AND watch Arcane???? Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy