Our Love for Fictional Characters (& Toxic Fan Entitlement)

[@ariannamyrie9520]

Misery was based on Stephen King's personal life, with the fan mail he'd receive.

[@MrCordycep]

Ouch, art imitating life imitating art.

[@RachelAnnPotter]

Yep, he got some ubsurd backlash when he wrote a fantasy thriller and Misery was his response to the rabid fans.

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

@@RachelAnnPotter what was the fantasy Thriller?

[@RachelAnnPotter]

@@kittykittybangbang9367 The Eyes of the Dragon

[@Knap4501]

In terms of the parasocial relationships, I've had this exact experience in the weirdest possible setting. My dad has been seeing the same dentist and dental hygienist for almost a decade. I have also been seeing that dentist for far fewer years but have been bouncing around different hygienist's chairs because I don't really care who cleans my teeth. But one of the last times I was at the dentist, the woman who cleans my dad's teeth had me for the first time ever. And since he's told her all about my life over the years, this complete stranger is talking to me like we've been friends for years, because she feels like she knows me. She does not know me. And I requested to have a different dental hygienist next time 😂

[@lukawho8503]

lmao really funny story, stealing it >:)

[@patricknelson]

I wonder what the likelihood is of this sort of unhealthy attachment becoming more prevalent as people continue to hole up at home, more and more isolated while wait out the pandemic. I know it’s temporary but it’s interesting to think about how it affects society at large whilst we conduct this giant real world experiment. We’re socially distanced; physically and psychologically. Probably strains (or emphasizes) any existing attachment or underlying tendencies for excessive attachment, especially with all this extra free time (be it working from home, or no longer working at all, etc). EDIT: Admittedly Jim Halpert is pretty dreamy...

[@ana-isabel]

Oh, I definitely think the pandemic has exacerbated these tendencies. You put it perfectly - with most of us turning to fictional/media entertainment in quarantine, the circumstances are ripe for developing (or enhancing) parasocial relationships. Would definitely be fascinating to look into the social aftermath of these current events; I have strong hunch these attachments (and possibly the more unhealthy forms of it) will have grown more commonplace than ever. And yes, Jim is a dreamboat 😍

[@sarahstardust]

I'm chronically ill and have been bedridden for a few years. I'm very socially isolated due to this. Even trying to maintain friendships online is very difficult because of the brain fog. I say this to back up what you're saying - when left alone with nothing to do for months and years on end, these parasocial relationships become much more prevalent and important. I have managed to keep it from getting toxic in my case, at least. I wouldn't dare tell a creator how to do their job. But now most of my "friends" are fictional.

[@chowderwhillis9448]

Idk but the conspiracy theories people are coming up with these days are getting funny af

[@chowderwhillis9448]

Damn y’all gotta get out and see some friends or make some, we’re not meant to be inside all day everyday with fake human contact, we are social creatures that never evolved to live in solitary, wolves don’t even live like that, and we’re definitely not Siberian Tigers. Having low human to human contact makes you go insane and lose IQ points and brings upon dementia, even ppl who are introverts still need social interaction, I mean look what happened to the guy who made Temple OS Terry something and the Sonichu guy Chris Chandelier. You can’t get it through just viewing media there’s no reciprocation. Just don’t use the lockdown as an excuse to be stagnant, I see lots of people doing that, just be safe and use common sense. But idk who tf am I to tell y’all how to live I’m a people person I would go crazy without my friends, family, guitar and my baby girl.

[@JuliPope-blubic]

@@chowderwhillis9448 we're 20-somethings in a pandemic, Chowder.

[@matthewgoodman7588]

This channel will get much more popular.

[@eyesofthefox]

Bet. Quality thumbnails. Well scripted video essay content~ Keep at it!

[@tooruoikawa8985]

Agreed. Very good quality content here. Entertaining AND informative lol

[@collin8962]

The algorithm gave me one of her vids and i thought this is way too well done to have 14k views. I think she'll pop off

[@jimvarney511]

we NEED more youtube channels discussing pop culture

[@matthewgoodman7588]

@@jimvarney511 So I have Lindsey Ellis, Sarah Z, Jenny Nicholson, Contrapoints, and the Take. Any more suggestions?

[@nbv6975]

This reminds me so much of critical role. It’s a dnd show that’s been running for years, and due to the nature of the medium and how well you get to know the characters and how you feel as though you can influence the, (it runs in real time) people get super attached. And SUPER toxic. People go crazy about ships or characters dying or things like that and criticize the creators for tiny or nonexistent things in ways I’ve never seen before. It’s insane. Luckily, there are good parts to the fandom to and the show is wonderful

[@elisac9635]

That's so true! I've watched the show for years but I never got into the fandom much (I don't hang around twitter or reddit much) and I was shocked to slowly find out the level of vitriol and toxicity from some "fans" for a show that is not even some scripted Netflix product but improvised and completely free to watch. People losing their minds over ships and disrespecting a cast that had shown nothing but love and respect to their fandoms... it's disgusting. One of the first times I heard of all this craziness was when a cast member said in an interview that people sent them extremely graphic fanfictions, not of their characters, but of themselves. Actual human people with relationships and friendships. Why would anyone do that?

[@busy_raccooon]

I feel like critical role will be big disaster one day. And i fear that day, because i love critical role. But the format is build for disaster. They are improvising live therefore audience feels like they are THERE with them. Also characters they're playing are very personal for these actors, and besides livestream there is lots of other personal content, so people feel even more like they actually know them. And i fear it'll be too much one day. Hell, it's too much now, i have no idea how they do it. (Non-native speaker, excuse my botched english 😅)

[@elisac9635]

@@busy_raccooon I think as they grow more popular, they will grow more and more distant from their fandom, for their own mental health's sake. They can't maintain the show as it is if they let the toxic elements amongst the fans be too vocal. I genuinely think they awful ones are a minority, and the cast knows it. As professional actors they know how these things work. Poor Laura received death threats after Last of Us 2, they must all be pretty aware that sometimes a healthy distance from direct interaction with audience is the way to go. It's sad, because most of the critter community loves and respects them.

[@kato6196]

yeah, when I didn't like what the show was doing, I just stopped watching, I didn't go after the cast or anything. I do think it's possible to go too far in the other direction and claim the show should be exempt from *all" criticism because "it's just friends playing a game." It's not -- it's a media company creating a product. They aren't above criticism just because they are friends and there are elements of improvisation in their story.

[@cameronhector9074]

Gotta agree big time on all of this, I was admin for the Facebook and Discord channel for a subset of the Critter community (the Mental Health support group), and even in the smaller group there was an element of incredibly potent toxicity. Worse was the fact it was difficult to call people out on that toxicity because it was so invariably linked to their mental illnesses and thus the whole reason for the group. I was admin for some time for both, and abdicated my positions one by one because between the toxicity of fandom and the stubborn refusal to listen to the basic group rules, I had just had enough of the stress of running it. Honestly got so many shitty messages, and this was a small group - I can't imagine what the actual cast must have to go through daily.

[@brentmason4338]

People actually wanted Kylo and Rey to get together? Enough to harass Adam Driver's real life wife? Really? That was the most forced and icky relationship ever.

[@AspiLeo]

Listen to this man.

[@teradul2480]

Ah yes, eloquent and deep thoughts about media. Thank you for this half hour.

[@ana-isabel]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@kaykutcher2103]

After two years working at a supermarket there's no other phrase which causes such hatred to be awakened within me quite as "the customer is always right".

[@EmilyE96]

This is such a great video - I see this so much with people online trashing on "problematic" or flawed characters as if they're expecting a story where their favourite character is perfect and nothing bad happens or no bad decisions are made. It's that classic "why didn't [character] just do [x]?" to which the answer is "...there'd be no story." It's important for characters to be relatable, but in the end, a creator is trying to tell a particular story. And more often than not, that story is really important to the creator, sharing values or journeys that they probably went through or relate to themselves. So people hating on it for not going the way they wanted is sort of like silencing or undermining the creator's own emotional attachment to their stories. Creators love their characters, too. If these hater folks were able to channel their passion healthily, that energy could be better projected in writing the stories that they want to see - as I'm pretty sure that's where the inspiration for making stories come from in the first place! It's a very interesting phenomenon and it's great that video essays are now cropping up on the topic. Seriously, awesome work!

[@ana-isabel]

Well said! I especially love your point about characters *needing* flaws or bad decisions from time to time, because when done well, they enrich the story and add to its overall themes/message. And yeah, its sad to see "entitled fans" typically dismissing a creator's own attachment to their characters/stories while demanding their vision for the story. Of course, I think quality writing and an overall unproblematic message factors into this. I've also seen audiences use the "well, the creator was simply telling their story" as an... arguably weak excuse for a poor story/themes/moral message. I've actually got a new video in the works where I review (or rather rant about 😂) a movie that specifically dealt with this haha! P.S. Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoyed my take in the vid! 😊

[@EmilyE96]

@@ana-isabel Thanks so much! And yeah you're right, there's the total opposite extreme of course of fans who will hold creators and their content to such high regard that they dismiss the "yikes". Constructive criticism is never a bad thing if it comes from a place of respect or decency, absolutely! OH great, really looking forward to that video! Thanks for taking the time to reply!

[@hypercortical7772]

Attachment to fictional characters can in most cases be perfectly healthy. Just read fanfiction instead of sending death threats to creators. Past that hurdle, I think instances of unhealthy levels of obsession wouldn't be any more likely than unhealthy levels of obsession towards real people.

[@mauricewalshe8339]

Its not that this hasn't been going on forever eg Dirty Den in EastEnders in the UK and before that Corrie and the Archers

[@johnathanmartin1504]

Captain America was not created by any of the people who tried to turn him into a Nazi. It was a fucked up thing to do.

[@rarazalproductions519]

@@johnathanmartin1504 That's absolutely true. The whole thing was a shitshow, but it still didn't warrant real life harassment and death threats.

[@optiquemusic6204]

But what happens when you "like" a character so much that you can't read a comic or watch a TV show featuring them without it getting awkward and you getting flustered?

[@Homodemon]

@@optiquemusic6204 then you need psychological help. That simple...

[@ianmininger]

Your video essays are really thought-out, well-scripted, and cleanly edited. I know it's kinda a meme to say but I honestly think we're here before 100k.

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you so much, I seriously appreciate it! 🔥

[@jesrauma]

Agreed. This is gonna be big

[@IIWelshyII]

The fact you called my native Brummie gangsters "Irish" and how riled up that got me just got me thinking how deep I am into these Parasocial Relationships. Enjoyed this alot 👌

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

I'm actually surprised you didnt bring up one of the most toxic fandoms, and I say this as a person who has been a part of it for almost fifteen years; Supernatural. It's one giant shitshow of toxicity. Especially since the series finale and how the fans reacted. I remember, many years ago, I had a friend that actively and openly HATED Jensen Ackles then girlfriend (now wife) because she once, supposedly called fan girls "pathetic". Like the things she would say about this human she had never met was just awful. Personally I definitely had parasocial to mainly Harry Potter and company because I was a lonely as fuck teenager and their books brought me comfort. In one summer I read the first five dozens of times (the others weren't out yet). It's still a comfort now. I really appreciated and enjoyed this video. Thank you for all of the time, effort and research you did for it. :)

[@natoceansoul]

Oh goodness, I absolutely adore Supernatural but the fandom is impossible to deal with. I wasn't satisfied with the finale either but the amount of hate and threats everyone involved has gotten is insane. I just feel sorry for the cast and crew that have to log on to their platforms and get greeted with this shitstorm.

[@emmez93]

I fell off the Supernatural train, what happened?

[@LittleRedTeaCake]

@@emmez93 Well there was the massive queerbaiting, and then having Castiel confess his love for Dean only to die literally seconds later. But like I said, the fandom is, pretty toxic. I mean, a quick google can list all the things I didn't already touch on.

[@emmez93]

@@LittleRedTeaCake Ooof, yeah, I remember the queerbaiting. Makes sense people was angry, though I hope the actors and people involved are ok.

[@Elly-z7q]

the CW brings out the worst in people it seems (hi the 100 fandom)

[@bb-ih9hg]

As being part of the Star Wars and DC fandoms, I cringe every single day. A lot of people cannot separate fiction from reality once the wash of it has faded. It's insane.

[@RatelHBadger]

That opening collection of clips has one clip coming to mind. "The Nerd Crew" saying Very Cool over and over again.

[@TheGMac316]

Oh Yes I cried big time when chadwick boseman died

[@ana-isabel]

Such a huge (and shocking) loss. 😟

[@magnumbeefus]

Well, human loss is sad

[@leiliabug5240]

I cried for like an hour when Riggs died in Lethal Weapon's tv show

[@mudrummer99]

Robin Williams in the one that got me

[@Labinzel]

Fuck I forgot about that:(

[@deburke321]

Great video! Your editing is top notch :)

[@carlisle6831]

Yooooo deburke

[@ana-isabel]

Aw thank you - I really appreciate it! 😄

[@boblester8641]

Your family to these influencers until you quit sending them money

[@boblester8641]

Adam Driver talked about attacks by Reylos

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

Didn't expect to see you here

[@wenting2457]

I feel like parasocial relationships are just getting more and more intimate on personality-based content websites (twitch, youtube), what with how much of people's lives are played out online, and with how profitable it can be to live online. It's definitely been exacerbated by quarantine, but I feel like twitch is a breeding ground for these fake attachments. You see people's lives being lived out on stream, and when your own life hardly feels real, it becomes far too easy to seek to superimpose your life onto their's.

[@ScampiTheSighted]

Parasocial relationships scare the crap out of me for some reason. Reading that reddit post example you provided of the woman who despaired her favourite fictional character wasn't real filled me with a little sympathetic despair of my own, and a lot of dread. Whenever I watch a show, read a book, play a game, etc., there's always a voice in the back of my head telling me that these characters aren't real, they can't reciprocate anything you feel for them, and you cannot influence them in any way, so BE CAREFUL and DO NOT get attached to them! Reading 'Misery', and watching this video really made thankful that I have this safety net in my brain, and that I have real and treasured social connections. This was a fascinating listen! Oh, and how does my goofy Half Life 1 SFX meme video have more views than this, it's criminal. Not for long, I hope...

[@hrishiv27]

I only found and subscribed to this channel earlier today, and I’m already getting new content. Awesome.

[@ana-isabel]

Aww haha good timing! Hope you enjoy your stay 😊

[@wwanimalsavers]

I forgot who it was (probably wisecrack) but I saw a video about how Sterling Archer was raised by television. The thesis was something like Sterling's personality flaws and idiosyncrasies can be explained by the media he grew up with because it was the only "social interaction" he ever had. Also your outfit is sooo on point. Looking cute as hell!

[@ace_of_cakes]

Yeah, I once threw a book across my room because one of my favorite characters died... not proud of that. But although I did consider writing a letter to the author expressing my disappointment, I never would have issued any threats and I didn't actually end up writing the letter. The only actors I feel like I conflate with their characters are Mark Hamill with Luke and Chris Evans with Cap. But it's more along the vein of I'll see something the actor posts and be like "Captain America has spoken" haha.

[@KuchikiRukia124]

You may not have many videos yet, but each and every one are super interesting and well researched topics!! :D It's a delight to watch them 😄

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you so much! 😭 That means a ton ❤️

[@matcha9512]

I’m a giant anime and literature fan but honestly when characters I am attached to die or have bad things happen to them I usually say “that was an amazing show/book because it was written well enough to make me attached to the character and was so vividly tragic it was able to make my heart break simply by reading letters on a page or watching drawings move” cuz tbh the pain is what means the writer was awesome if they’re able to cause sm emotion in a reader

[@abraham9305]

The algorithm keeps blessing me with wonderful small channels... this is a superb and criminally underrated

[@maniespi4245]

I found your channel recently because I really enjoyed your thoughts on how toxic the cosplay community can be. I’ve seen more and more of your videos and they’re so well made and well researched I’m glad I found this channel!

[@ana-isabel]

Aw thank you so much! ❤ So glad you've been enjoying the content so far!

[@sause3526]

parasocial relationships are the weirdest part of the modern world man. I know more about Jesse Pinkman than my own best friend irl. We literally get the ultimate explanation of who a person is through stories and writing by seeing how they really feel, whereas in real relationships your view on their life is strictly limited to when you two interact.

[@EphemeralTao]

"I thought I'd take this to a niche and hardly talked about angle, and explore parasocial relationships with fictional characters..." Immediate reaction: Waifus. She's talking about waifus.

[@怠惰な耳の長いフクロウ]

Don't forget husbandos. The exist too.

[@MarcelGomesPan]

Great video. You dont have to Cruise KZbin for long before you see the ”Misery” behaviour. To make it worse, it is often in more than one direction.

[@landonbeachy6149]

Vvvery articulate! In my own life, I’ve seen people form unhealthy parasocial relationships with musicians (specifically with groups like twenty one pilots and my chemical romance). Great video!! I can’t wait for the next one

[@ana-isabel]

Oof, I've witnessed these too (and may have experienced one or two in my much younger days haha). But thank you so much - glad you enjoyed my take! 😊

[@nsg_kuunda4786]

When I read "toxic fan entitlement" I expected less "Maureen kidnapping Frank Gallagher's neighbor and keeping him captive, drug addicted, and tied to a bed". And more "fans wanting a 3some with Sonic and Amy the hedgehogs."

[@moeezS]

Just another lesson to not form your identity and worldviews based on media on such a level that you end up resorting to toxic behaviour. Great video as always!

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you - and well said! As always, moderation is key - even with something as innocent as fiction/pop culture.

[@Shan-si2kq]

A lot of this is starting to go way too far in online communities, especially since most of us can’t go out. I’m a little worried for how this will effect people in the future, as many young people who participate in ‘fandom culture’ are beginning to pour their own identities into fiction. You eventually grow out of things, so it’s going to be very interesting to see where these phenomena go from here.

[@RisingSunfish]

Kids grow out of things, but it’s just as common for people to maintain interests they discovered as children or teens their whole lives. The particular fandom is irrelevant: what may prove damaging is how these tenuously-connected groups of people use toxic tactics and behaviors to gain and exercise (perceived) power and control over others. A fandom is not a community. There is no social contract, no sense of mutual responsibility. I think that’s important to remember.

[@Shan-si2kq]

Rising Sunfish Totally agree with you. That last paragraph is a viewpoint I never thought of before.

[@NeoKingGhidorah]

Thank you for this video! You have articulated a fair amount of the messy feelings I've had on this topic for a while now. As someone who hangs around a lot of anime and anime-adjacent communities, I've seen these blurred lines between healthy and unhealthy parasocial relationships play out time and time again in the form of waifus and comfort characters. People form real and valid emotional connections that can help them cope with the anxieties of every day life, but they can just as easily slip into projecting onto characters and tying their sense of worth and identity to them. As we grow more connected and technology improves, it becomes easier for all of this manifest in ugly ways. Whole communities form bases entirely on shared parasocial feelings, which can be good for those people, but more often than not becomes concerned with "stanning" fictional characters or internet personalities which never ends well. It's like a weird form of puritanism in some cases, where reality AND fiction are blurred and then warped to create a world where your favorite personalities are morally pure and everything that could conflict with that must be quashed with harassment. Shipping discourse and youtuber stans on twitter play this out all the time. Honestly, I find it all so fascinating and a little scary. There's worth to be found in escapism, but unchecked it can be a kind of drug. In large doses it becomes very unhealthy. Yet at the same time, I almost feel like if you're going to have a parasocial obsession it's better to have it with a fictional character because at least a fictional character won't abuse your trust for personal gain (youtubers ugghh). God, I just realized how much I typed lmao. Can you tell I've thought about this a lot? Again, fantastic video. It's given me a lot to chew on and I think it'll help me figure out my own complete thoughts on the subject. This channel is going in great directions.

[@TacticusPrime]

I think the big point that needs to be hammered home is that these parasocial relationships are PR. They are intentional on the part of creators. They don't film themselves walking their dog and post it on their public facing social media on accident. It's ultimately a way to sculp the narrative around themselves and be their own paparazzi. That applies to the creators of these fictional characters as well.

[@feliciaferucci225]

Just discovered your channel because of your Manic Pixie Dream Girl Trope video that suddenly popped up in my recommended. You are incredibly likebale and charming and I truly admire your style of editing. Your channel is a hidden gem and I really hope you will get the attention for your content that you deserve. Sending you lots of love!

[@KarlKristofferJohnsson]

Same. I watched this video right after the Manic Pixie Dream Girl video. I agree completely.

[@excalibur183]

I hope this channel becomes so much popular. It's got everything: the editing, the snappy commentary, and the costumes. Here's hoping to coming back in a month and finding out Ana has a million billion subscribers.

[@ChrisBrown-fn5hw]

Been binge watching your channel since it popped into my recommendations yesterday. This was my favorite video essay so far. The topic is particularly relevant these days, and you maintained your high standards for impeccable research, sharp and witty analysis and engaging editing. 10/10 would watch again.

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

Fiction can be wonderful for processing emotions and investing emotionally can actually be healthy in learning how other people might think or feel, but only to a point. There has to be the ability to distinguish between fiction and reality.

[@ugadugaga4972]

"You got the wrong paper ANNIE" My mum loved this movie so much it was on daily. I think I can nearly quote the whole damn movie. Good vid

[@blainelaird8493]

I just found this channel and I'm so surprised that it's not more popular than it is: it's well researched and extremely interesting. Plus, I love the outfit changes in every video. Personal anecdote: I recently finished Netflix's "She-Ra" and was thrown into a depressive funk when it was over. I loved the characters so much, and became so invested in their relationships, that I let it affect my own a bit. It took some "talking it out" to work on that. Still love that show, though.

[@alwaysapirateroninace443]

Wow this was amazingly Fantastic! Good to know my in depth caring about fictional characters who don't actually exist is normal. I'd add it's extremely helpful to read about characters who go through various feelings & emotions & become better for it. It helps you understand & work through your own thoughts, reactions, & emotions.

[@adsstories4911]

Omg when you showed how game of thrones ruined Jamie arc. I felt that one

[@Justmyhandle]

21:19- I would personally amend that statement to "You can't create by committee ALONE." Yes, it's generally detrimental to let the audience dictate a story in every aspect because different people will always have differing ideas & preferences. As the old saying goes, "The more you try to please everyone, the less likely you are to please anyone." At the same time, however, there are instances when fandoms (in spite of their individual differences) do express a collective desire for certain things. As divisive as fandom in general can feel today with the depths of division and at times seemingly irreconcilable differences of opinion, believe it are not, there are numerous things the majority can agree on when you take the time to listen. Obviously, no creator can realistically sit down and talk to every fan, nor can he/she read every comment, fan-fiction, forum, petition, etc. That's an impossible standard which would realistically be far more likely to hinder the author's creative process. Even if you only pay attention a minority of the time though, there are clear patterns that can be discerned regarding fans' reception or desires on specific aspects of your work (how it should end, character arcs, shipping, etc). It's not a bottomless pit. These distinctions CAN be drawn if/when one makes the effort, at least some of the time for popular topics. While your story is still ultimately yours to do with as you decide, there is a case to be made for allowing fans' opinions & desires to influence it. Basically, never create by committee alone but always be open to the committee's input. You never know when they might surprise you or when ideas from just one fan could help you improve your work in ways you'd never have thought of on your own. In an ideal world, storytelling should be a relationship between the storyteller and the audience (within reason). Historically, the most successful/influential stories are often born out of this dynamic. Ex- George Lucas didn't create Star Wars alone. He may have laid the foundations for the original trilogy, and the core of his vision did carry through from start to finish. He made numerous changes along the way, but refused to compromise on specific aspects of what he'd originally envisioned. Much like the Force itself, making this trilogy demanded a balance of push and pull between what George wanted vs what the people working with & under him suggested. He always spoke up if needed, and it was still his story, but he also listened. ANH would have 100% bombed if every single solitary thing had been done Lucas' way. If you look up the unused footage (Ex- How Star Wars was Saved in the Edit), that first film was a total train-wreck before George's team and his wife polished it. Likewise, his original ending for the trilogy was much darker and a polar opposite finale to Luke Skywalker's arc. Without his crew's input on how fans would likely react to such a downer ending, Lucas wouldn't have changed RotJ's ending to what we got. Did this dynamic make the OT perfect? Of course not, but it stands as a testament to the power of listening to the people that help bring your story to life as well as the audience that's invested in it. Lucas made mistakes, but he cared about the fans. He cared so much that the prequels' backlash (not to mention, the lack of anyone challenging Lucas as he directed that trilogy with essentially an army of "yes" men) affected his love for Star Wars, which contributed to his decision to sell the license. And we've all seen how THAT turned out. Unfortunately, several creators today prefer to ignore and/or actively insult fans for their criticisms & preferences, going so far as to use their influence to shame anybody that disagrees with them. With the support of the studio, media, and merciless passion of die-hard fans who enjoy their work, these creators unleash hell on any fans unlucky enough to diverge from their desired response, treating everyone who doesn't fit their agenda as a threat. They lump any/all critics into one demographic of "ists" and "phobes" blinded by "nostalgia", even outright telling them that their theories "suck". They claim to be fans themselves while openly bashing the fandom and at times even the source material. They admit that they intended to create something that divides fans and that THEY were the problem all along (I could go on, but you get the point). This not only perpetuates the already growing "Us vs. them" mentality in the pop-culture community. It also outright encourages the exact same kind of bullying and toxicity that was aimed at Lucas and several actors from the prequels. But of course, when these tactics are aimed at those labeled "ists" and "phobes", then THAT makes it okay. Thus, the cycle continues, only distinguished by its context & targets. And the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round while the creators profit off the debate/free publicity. To quote Shutter Island's Rachel Solando, "That's the Kafkaesque genius of it." These creators prove through their actions that they truthfully don't desire a relationship with the audience. They are self-interested narcissists who write off their own consumers as over-entitled while ironically showing their own entitlement in return. They do not seek feedback. They only seek to tell their personal story and receive validation for it, characterizing dissenters as the enemy of the community, exacerbating a war their own fans will fight for them like good little indoctrinated soldiers. So, to end this rant, what IS the "right" way to be a creator? I'd answer "There isn't one". My best advice: Don't lean too far toward EITHER extreme, as both approaches can be equally harmful & toxic in their own right. It's a balancing act, just like storytelling. Respect your fans, recognize that THEY are what keeps your brand alive, and make an effort to consider their input. But don't be beholden to them. Follow your vision, but know when to compromise. Stand up for your work, but be open to criticism. If we could learn to rediscover that balance, to appreciate how it is necessary to a healthy artistic environment, to accept how it can help both creators and fans alike to better ourselves & each other, then it is future generations who will benefit the most.

[@KH0LRA]

💯 Agree with you on this! I really dislike it when the people behind a brand/ip invalidate or infuriate the fans by not listening to feedback they have too and just call them something like haters

[@dingusstuff5864]

This channel started getting recommended to me, thank you, KZbin algorithm

[@emilye.9059]

This is so professionally made I had to check your channel literally 5 times during the course of this video just to make sure I wasn't actually watching a BBC documentary! Not only that this is so informed and well collected, great work! Edit: I just also wanted to point out that the KZbin channel Super Eyepatch Wolf posted a fascinating video titled 'Why _Perfect Blue_ is Terrifying' that covers many of the same topics featured in this video. It's pretty short and you don't have to see the content being discussed in order to understand what he's getting at, I highly recommend it.

[@odolowa1]

Really glad this turned up in my recommendations. I think, like you say, parasocial relationships with fictional characters do not have to be a bad thing. It's a matter of reminding yourself what they are and what to realistically take and expect from them. Totally unrelated, but I always liked the interpretation of Misery as a metaphor for the creative process, with Annie more as internal critic than loony fan.

[@angelic_mp4]

For me, I usually think of my favorite character(s) as "comfort characters" in which I feel mostly attached (in a way that is like a hyperfixation) to each one of those characters, especially when it comes to their personality, their voice and appearance, and/or how they mostly relate to me and my actual personality. Although with this in mind, most of those characters that I like or love are from cartoons, anime, and animated video game franchises. Therefore, there is also some sorts of entitlement and problems within these types of fandoms, such as with Steven Universe and the Crewniverse, the 2016 reboot of Voltron and its crew, and with My Little Pony and the Brony fandom. A lot of things that fans will do in terms of these characters are as follows: venting and escapism, fanfiction and fanart, and even similar parasocial relationships, such as having "comfort characters," kinning or imagining yourself as that character, or creating headcanons for said characters. I don't know, that's just how I think, in regards to this topic of the attachment to fictional characters.

[@skafiend167]

There is a huge deal with parasocial relationships for content creators, as well. I know I've had to remind myself I don't know this person, I can't get upset about this woman being in a relationship, or angry that I didn't get a reply from this creator who, if they just would start talking to me, we would be best friends! These "connections", for me, seem to form when I'm in a low point, after a breakup or during a bout of depression. But I know content creators have been getting it real bad, especially as most fill a niche interest that creates a feeling of "This person GETS me" that can cause unhealthy reactions towards people you don't know in real life

[@alexoceanmeow]

I'm really glad you hit on the point of the individual experiencing extreme parasocial relationships to fictional characters then taking that and putting those kinds of expectations on others.. And nobody really talks about it happening?? Anyway, it was just nice to hear it being pointed out. This was a nice video that I wasn't looking for but sorta answered a "why" I was asking lol

[@christhomson4008]

Thank you for citing your source for parasocial relationships 🙌🏽

[@dylandarity8694]

I’ve never stumbled upon a channel like this before. So early in its creation yet seems like she should have over 1 million subscribers. The editing, the research, the topics. All top notch

[@TrixTasha]

Been binging your videos for the past 2 hours and they’re all very well thought out and informative. Keep up the great work!

[@underthemayo]

Good video, Ana. Looking forward to more. As a recently "successful" content creator I've seen how ugly things can get.

[@panzerveps]

I usually just cry when the pair I ship, confirms their relationship. The only times I get frustrated or angry, is when the creators leaves the relationship as a question and ends the series. The only time I really cried as a character died on the screen, was when Boromir died in Fellowship.

[@Homodemon]

But why? Honestly, as long as fan art and fanfiction exist, is there really a reason to get frustrated because ships don't "consolidate" beside the voyeuristic need to see them cuddle and kiss on camera? I truly don't understand people in this aspect. I've never felt like this and damn if I ship pairings of all types too, there's no series in which I dont have a ship I like to look on fanart or read fanfics about. But why do people get attached to shipping in that way? Isn't the crack-y aspect thrilling enough?

[@cmbara102]

Sometimes the KZbin algorithm works and sends you to a channel like this. I got here after a RedLetterMedia video.

[@Kyrmana]

I was watching sth about JoJo 😂

[@beautyandtheoffbeats]

Bruh one minute I’m looking at Mila Tequila’s video on the bling ring robberies now I’m here. I’m convinced this is the best way to find content this method hasn’t failed me yet.

[@jasonbungard7484]

Please produce a video exploring the other side as well, in which film or TV creators show an open contempt for legacy fans and intentionally subvert everything the fans like or want because they have arbitrarily decided the fanbase is made up entirely of 'bad' people and deserves to be replaced with an entirely new fanbase. I would love to see that described in clinical detail. Great video, BTW.

[@doitbettermakeitfaster]

You're material is really balanced and it's refreshing, thank you

[@candypeeps909]

I have a lot of bad dreams, and this helped me feel less weird about how extremely they affect me. I know that wasn't the point, but I figured I'd share, hahaha.

[@LezCharming]

Great vid! In modernity, there's a wide variance in how social intimacy is contextualized. Almost as if each social contract is a custom write up. There's not many external rules that we all agree on,so having that understood,multi-sided custom contract is a vital aspect of modern bonds. Some people get married on a spontaneous Vegas trip. Others refuse to memorize the names of their decade long co-workers. Still, a simple way to deal with shifting paradigms and rules is just to ask for terms.

[@KillerFaceification]

At around the 10 minute mark you talk about catharsis. I noticed that this year strongly when I was going through a very difficult time in my life and I watched a Japanese drama about a young woman who developed Alzheimer's. It was very sad, but watching it really made me feel better.

[@LivingDeadward]

So there is scientific data to support me bringing my waifu pillow to a test? You have just changed my life forever.

[@jonathangriffin8060]

I think the reason we have feelings for our favorite character when they have or show emotions or when our favorite character dies is the writing of the material, whether in a novel, a movie, a play or a TV show, is mostly because the writing is really well and that's why we "fanboy" or "fangirl" over the character we love so much. Maybe we are relating to the emotional aspects as well as the lives of the characters and sometimes, we forget the fact that these are characters.

[@rollperception]

Only 15k views with this great editing? I really hope your channel grows. I don't even watch movies and I am entertained by the information.

[@lanagievski1540]

This tall of parasocial relationships remind me of something in recent memory. Hana Kimura, a young Japanese professional wrestler was featured on the reality TV show Terrace House. Like other reality tv shows it shows the characters going about their day and engaging socially with the people they live with, albeit in a more scripted and controlled way. In one episode of Terrace House Hana got very upset at another person on the show for accidentally ruining her prized wrestling gear. Fans did not take kindly to her reaction despite knowing that she was told to react this way by the people running the show. Many fans were appalled and felt she deserves to suffer for her reaction on the show. She received countless death threats upon death threats, taking such a toll on her mental health that she eventually and sadly took her own life. This to me epitomises how dark the parasocial relationship can really become.

[@heylookitscesco8698]

I love how you incorporate research into your videos about nerdy, but important topics. You put a lot of work into these and it clearly shows, can't wait to watch more!

[@vishalgoradia8019]

Aye.... Look at that. Awesome content from an up and coming youtuber. Claiming my ticket of "here before the blew up". Great content 🔥

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you so much! 🙏 Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@johnnycvt]

I just discovered this channel this morning. Please keep making content, your analysis is so dead on, and you have an absolute knack for making these videos. Can't wait to see what you create in the future!

[@halflucan]

You are killing it with these Video Essays!

[@palacsintakat]

Character deaths hit me hardest in Avatar the movie. Like EVERY other good guy dies.

[@rockyetsx70]

Thoughtful, insightful and well considered commentary. Thank you for making it time well spent.

[@hypercortical7772]

people sort of talk about parasocial relationships like it's a new unique modern thing. But actually, I think anyone who had a crush in middle or highschool on a classmate that they rarely ever spoke to, has experiences a parasocial relationship to an extent.

[@KariTalks]

This channel needs more attention!! Great analysis. I got into tumblr in 2012 at the height of fandom obsession, and being a freshman in high school with no friends, I let myself go down the rabbit and let shows/movies/books replace my relationships with other people. I never harassed actors or writers, but I did become obsessed. Thankfully I’ve moved on and found a balance in my life. Btw I love your makeup!!

[@ItsKingNando]

Binged all your videos since stumbling across them last night. Very good stuff, massively underrated channel. Can't wait to see what you come out with next! :)

[@TryMyMartini]

I love love love your videos. I stumbled on one randomly, and then spent several hours on a binge watch right off the bat. Your topics are so well researched, and you have a real talent for presenting a lot of information quickly, while somehow managing to make it easily digestible. I'll be recommending this channel to others for sure, and I hope to see your channel continue to grow. You deserve it! On an unrelated note, I would be surprised if no one has said this to you before, but you remind me of Kristen Kreuk. My boyfriend and I always pick a show to binge an episode or two of before bed, something light that we can fall asleep to. For the last couple weeks that show has been Smallville. Some of your facial expressions are very similar. The first couple videos of yours that I watched were driving me crazy because I couldn't figure out who you were reminding me of! Edit: I watched season 7 episode 5 of Smallville the other night, and it deals with the topic of this video. Small world, Smallville.

[@ashutoshmishra8423]

Just stumbled upon this channel. The MPDG video was absolutely amazing and now I'm bringing all the videos

[@KatherinaBathory]

Thanks for using Misery. One of my favourite books and movies

[@romanmaster51]

Renegade cut!! Good channel, good KZbin company

[@donovanmedieval]

Of course it's wrong to threaten an actor's life or family when they make a movie one doesn't like. But I think there is a very real phenomenon of studios exploiting the fans of something coming from another source. 'The fans are already there, so let's make as much money as we can from these idiots,' seems to be their credo. Fans complaints simply generate more, and free, publicity. There is no such thing as bad publicity.

[@Dimetropteryx]

You can exploit fans, or you can outrage them, you can't do both. The problem is that the fans have certain expectations they want met, and any deviation from that is going to outrage some of them. A prime example of how petty fans can be, take the outrage over Ahsoka Tano's "head tails" on The Mandalorian. People were seriously angry that they were marginally shorter in the only live-action depiction than in one of the earlier animated ones. Not all fans are sane, and not all outrage is valid. And speaking of entitlement, some fans basically just want 2 hours of exactly the same stuff they saw in the last movie, and get furious when they're not catered to. More publicity and more viewers does mean more fans. Person A might not like a new direction, but Persons B and C might. The Star Wars franchise proved that TWICE, first with the prequel trilogy and then again with the sequel trilogy. The Alien franchise did it, too, with Aliens. Both franchises have huge fan bases, not in spite of the changes, but because of them. "The fans" aren't already there. *Some* of the potential fans are.

[@donovanmedieval]

@@Dimetropteryx I think you can do both. Again, I'm not defending performing acts of violence or threatening acts of violence against anyone for making a movie they didn't like, but fans can be outraged at having been exploited. Just because the fans no they have been exploited, doesn't mean they can't be legitimately outraged.

[@anjetto1]

I'm glad I found this video. I've never attached to a character or a celebrity. Never really cared that much as long as the product was good so I dont understand this kind of fan culture. I fundamentally dont understand why someone would do something like this. So, I'm gonna watch and see if this helps. I'll be back later. Edit: alright, thanks. This all seems like a real bummer.

[@alienatedlibrarian5017]

It makes perfect sense to me that some people would feel more when a favorite character dies than a real person. The grief I experience irl is so overwhelming, I'm still working through deaths from 10 years ago, you put it off, you numb yourself, you absent your spirit from it. I don't have that same emotional caution with fiction. I can allow myself to fully experience the weight of the loss in that moment, because I can trust that it won't consume me. I wonder if that kind of emotional regulation problem is the reason so many other autistic people become fixated on a particular work of fiction.

[@fearless_cloud]

I wish I had found your channel earlier. These videos really help put a label on concepts I've thought about a lot before

[@mikedunlock]

Ana Isabel: We are in a Parasocial relationship. Me: So you're saying I have a chance!

[@Nico-uo2lx]

Pure Gold! Just finished Tlou2 a couple days ago and just now found out about all this irrational hate towards the writers and especially Laura Bailey. It shocked me honestly, I thought we grow more expierenced or wiser in a consume filled society and could appreciate bold or more creative approaches (which sometimes comes at the cost of killing of characters or messing up character arcs unfortunately). Anyway, great video at the right moment, gonna reflect more on my parasocial relationships from now on

[@alienatedlibrarian5017]

I realize your numbers are nothing to sneeze at but I was floored you don't have AT LEAST 500k subs, you are exceptional

[@pangetpampam8272]

Hi Ana! I just discovered the channel today and I’m currently binging the whole channel these are amazing. This one particularly made me understand why I feel strong emotions towards Steven from Steven Universe. I recently felt so distant towards Steven since I watched and stopped watching Steven Universe Future because I felt that I don’t know him anymore after a time skip. And I realized that I’m watching the show throughout high school, I felt like I grew up with and coming to terms that he’s maturing and growing up is such a departure from the majority of his life I’ve known him that I felt like don’t want him to change just yet!! That’s weird sentiment but yeah, thank you for the good work and keep it up!

[@DaveMuller]

tbh I cried a little when Ahsoka appeared in the Mandalorian S2. Guilty as charged.

[@ajshim]

It's videos like this that make me glad I don't obsess over media anymore.

[@vae_victis]

YT just suggested your channel and I couldn't be more delighted! Solid commentary :) Keep up the great work

[@hayeslundry]

Buffy the vampire slayer when I was a teenager was something I strongly identified with. It really influenced a lot of who I am and my want to always help people around me and be as kind as possible.

[@jjarts6809]

Off topic but your bangs align perfectly with your hate and I love that

[@HLWFlanker]

Your section around 9:31 is spot on, difference for me is instead of reading mopey fiction at uni (college) I just binge listened to The Smiths. Good times.

[@ibelongtothesea]

i'm so happy you popped up in my recommended!! love your videos so far 🤍

[@MarMarBings]

can't even tell you how happy i am i found your channel!

[@joshparish3227]

watching this felt meta

[@elisaas9191]

underrated comment

[@scabbedcinnamonroll6353]

Help im addicted to your videos after your MPDG video popped up in my recommended section. You're doing such an amazing job researching and talking about these topics 🐸

[@tremolo2109]

The algorithm sent me something good today. Subbed!

[@ProfessorSneaky]

This is brilliant content.I wish i was half this eloquent.

[@TheBeardyPenguin]

Just discovered your channel through the Manic Pixie Dream Girl video and I absolutely love your content, keep up the great work! :D

[@KingKafei]

TLOUS2 hate was so fucking bad I had to mute the terms on my twitter despite how much I liked the game. The amount of toxicity over that game was fucking insane.