She-Ra's Double Trouble and Nonbinary Representation

She-Ra is known for its complex relationships and likable villains. Double Trouble has become iconic figure in nonbinary representation. But is it good representation?
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[@phoebemammoser8074]

I understand but I'm always a sucker for chaotic neutral characters like DT

[@FREAKOFNATURE-mb8oo]

Same

[@lulizzz9500]

i think the main problem with dt is that their whole personality is around being nb... they dont look like a real person... no emotions, no opinions, just the nb lizard folk. and yea, ik they are a villain and etc, but i dont think thats problematic, if they were at least more deep or even redeemed i wouldnt hav a problem with them. but yeah, some things that i love in cartoons are a male gay effeminate villain, a non binary villain, soft/cinnamon roll non binary person and a sassy effeminate gay/bi guy

[@voikalternos]

Same. I can't tell if I'm jealous or am I attracted to DT. They are such a gender.

[@nicholaslandry6367]

​@@voikalternos double-trouble might needa be a new gender tbh like twospirit but chaos

[@wriggleby]

"looking inside yourself and seeing neither an F or an M stamped on your heart" is an absolutely adorable way of describing discovering a non binary identity omg I'm so using that

[@sarcasichor]

great vid! I totally agree, when a marginalized group has so little rep there's so much responsibility to be good and respectable and its so unfair. I really enjoyed Double Trouble as a character, I found them fun and an enjoyable contrast to how overly sweet everyone could sometimes be haha, but it does suck that they dont get the same redemption or story about love the way everyone else does. Hopefully we see way more nb rep in the future so as you said there's more opportunity to have lots of different kinds of characters and they dont always have to be 'good representation,' they can just be whatever!

[@elizabethratcliffe3859]

I think that DT didn't need a redemption arc, they aren't technically evil, but they aren't technically good. I think that they were a good sort of chaotic alignment

[@rakvian]

@@elizabethratcliffe3859 they are amoral, they don't care about morality. there was definetely a missing spot for a "good guy" nb person there tho, or a villain with a redemption arch.

[@elizabethratcliffe3859]

@@rakvian Yes, I fully agree, but I enjoy having them as a chaotic neutral character nonetheless

[@atomosvrial1708]

Ugh i despise irl's complete lack of lizard people in high heels, why are we even here then?

[@popeval6654]

If there are no lizard people why are we still here? Just to suffer?

[@jcl9191]

this tbh

[@halfrance7184]

I'm nonbinary and Double Trouble as a character appealed to me specifically because of their shapeshifting abilities. Ever since I was a kid I wished I could physically transform my body to match my shifting gender identity so I felt really attached to Double Trouble because I saw their shapeshifting as a symbol of gender fluidity. I also actually liked that Double Trouble was morally ambiguous and wasn't exactly evil or good, but I do wish that they had experienced a true redemption arc. Overall, I do like Double Trouble as a character quite a lot, but I think you raised a lot of good points !

[@CrumCringle]

I like DT because they represent what I wish I was as an enby. They're like my fantasy, being able to shapeshift into whatever I feel. But, in that sense its not a great representation of actual enbies, because we humans can't shapeshift and have to deal with being enby in bodies that don't represent what we are inside, and what are often read by others in a binary sense.

[@camacamaras3179]

“I don’t think it’s ~problematic~ it just sorta bummed me out.” This is really something I think we need to be more cognizant of, that stereotypical characters aren’t inherently bad, but that only ever having stereotypes of marginalized groups can get frustrating. There’s a Ted talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that really touches on this I believe

[@tamarbeker1701]

YES

[@mehobuh1003]

It's problematic if my nonbinary identity is portrayed through the only nonbinary character as a "shapeshifter alien" whose "manipulative" and "untrustworthy." It's insulting and disappointing that I and other people in the nonbinary/genderqueer community are being stereotyped and reduced to our gender identity(ies). But I do appreciate that they actually got a nonbinary person to play Double Trouble.

[@allisond1645]

Knowing now that Noelle Stevenson identifies as nonbinary/bigender, I'm reminded of the first time I (a queer person) started writing stories that had queer people in them. My characters weren't always nuanced and definitely wouldn't have been "good representation." I'm wondering if Noelle went through a similar process when they were coming to terms with their gender identity and writing for she ra. Sometimes nuanced understandings of queer identities (and therefore how writing them a certain way might not be great) don't come until a bit later in a person's development.

[@t.mutabilis2497]

glad i found this comment, had similar thoughts :)

[@kaitlyn__L]

After appreciating the treatment of gender in Nimona, and how shapeshifting is both allegorical to transition and autism-stimming in that film, it definitely makes me think he incubated his ideas and feelings in the interim

[@MistySophie]

spoiler alert: IT GETS GAY that's it, thats the show

[@midoriya_mumble]

I was really excited to hear She-Ra had a Nonbinary character, since I haven't seen NB people in TV, and I was excited by the shapeshifter angle since I am a cosplayer and it brings me joy to shapeshift into a whole different person. I am definitely sad they don't have much to them, that they don't have relationships, that they don't have any known past, but overall I do love them. Maybe not as the sole representation, but I love them regardless.

[@Avi2Nyan]

Good vid! I really like Double Trouble, I adore their design, I think their powers are super cool and hey, are those they/them pronouns? Hell yeah. But I did feel a certain discomfort with them; they're one of the truly non-human characters, a literal lizard person, seem to have no problems at all with murder and other Horde-activities, only care about money and don't really make any friends. The points you mentioned, basically. Even though I love Double Trouble to death, ya know? Thanks for this nuanced video that puts my feelings into word better than I can!

[@Noahdaz]

I totally agree from this perspective Double Trouble is frustrating as representation. But I was thinking about one of the points that you made about how they didn't end up with anyone. Have you considered a nonbinary AND ace/aro reading of Double Trouble?

[@verilybitchie]

I think thats a totally valid possibility, but I would still hope they might have a friend somewhere! Even Shadow Weaver loved Catra and Adora at the end.

[@Noahdaz]

@@verilybitchie I honestly felt like if Double Trouble was close to anyone, it was Catra. They tried to make her laugh, saved her from the wreckage she was trapped under, I think generally had more scenes with her than they did with anyone else. At one point flat out saying "I knew there was a reason I liked you". While there's no question that some of this was simply their employer/employee dynamic, I feel like this could also be read as a type of friendship (even if it didn't last to the end of the series).

[@sylviesuccubus8503]

@@verilybitchie To be entirely honest I personally found Shadow Weaver’s entire arc just solidified my disgust with her-I don’t think she demonstrated care for Catra and Adora beyond the same self-serving machinations she’d had throughout the rest of the show. I think the only genuine relationship she had was with Glimmer’s father. I think I’m just critiquing your evidence more than the point itself because wow I just dislike Shadow Weaver that much.

[@Nick-eu5lb]

I know this isn't the point of the video, but...You're right about Jewelstar, he's played by a trans actor, and there's a line in the Princess Prom episode about the "Star sisters" and Jewelstar is a man. However, with Perfuma, a fan had a headcanon I think and the creator retweeted it but she said if she actually planned for Perfuma to be trans she would've casted a trans actress.

[@verilybitchie]

Rae Geiger who designed Perfuma for the new show said on Tumblr that they had intended for the character to be read as a trans woman, but they didn't tell Noelle because they didn't think anything would come of it, and later wished they'd said something. :) web.archive.org/web/20200612013713/raegeii.tumblr.com/post/618934327237099521/heya-i-was-just-curious-and-feel-free-to-ignore

[@lolzor96]

I always got the feeling that Double was intended to be a bigger part of season 5 but they simply had to write out most of it due to so much time being dedicated to Catra's redemption arc. And assuming that's true, they would have likely gotten some more development. I feel like their explaination for why they betrayed Catra was intentionally left somewhat ambiguous so that they could expand on it in season 5. Maybe they even had an arc planned where Double tries to regain Catra's trust again. Not to betray her this time but because they enjoyed their friendship with Catra and they want to restore it. I feel like that would have added a lot of context to their actions and given us more reason to believe the line they mentioned about self preservation through joining the winning side. Regardless, I love them. They are still the reason I realized I'm nonbinary and I've begun to strive towards becoming more like them both in appearance and behavior. Except you know, without the whole being complicit in war crimes thing

[@jazzpear8877]

Honestly Double Trouble finally cracked my enby egg. I'd been in denial for a long time, it wasn't until my very sudden and very intense attachment to this character I realized I *really* needed to explore my weird gender feels further. I've created a variety of personas and fursonas for myself, most of which have been genderfuck shapeshifters, it's something I identify with strongly. DT may not be what I *am* but they are, the purest representation of my own fantasies about what I wish I could be. (not like, being a double agent and having no friends tho lol) I think they worked with what they were able to in the confines of making this show happen THROUGH a corporation wanting to make money. I think DT is like Bubbline and Korrasami and all the other sapphic couples that came before this monumental and very explicit sapphic representation (Catradora specifically) possible. They were still "playing it safe" because the creators had to, Noelle has talked a lot about how they had to "play the long game" for Catradora. Creators are still having to fight tooth and nail and having to deal with what's "palatable" to larger audiences. I think that the popularity of She Ra and DT specifically is going to make way for a lot more and a lot better representation in the future, now that companies KNOW it's a little safer to depict these kinds of characters than it used to be. PLUS my mom watched She Ra!! My conversation with her about my gender identity will be helped BY the fact that she's aware of DT's existence. And she seems to be more open to nonbinary identities since seeing She Ra. They're her favorite character in the whole show, she loves them. And, in my opinion, a LIKABLE character in and of itself is good representation. But, overall I do agree with your points, and I *am* tired of companies patting themselves on the back for like, making a nonbinary alien lol. It IS a good way to introduce the concept to wider audiences, imo. But, overall, I do think DT is a net positive on the community, which I know you agree there! Just wanted to share my thoughts about them.

[@michaelhartinger9130]

Mate if the planets align and we get a She Ra movie I hope Double Trouble gets the personal touch most every other character got. I want to see who they love and why!!

[@babfridkrien]

Yes!!! I'd love to see where their story goes! Maybe see their personality grow more supportive, more hobbies, maybe even a love interest!

[@michaelhartinger9130]

@@babfridkrien only if that love interest is me *fans self* they are just too darn cute 😍😍😍

[@meralmaray2795]

I see them being shipped in the fandom with Wrong Hordak for some reason... and I gotta admit, not being a shipper, that one does sound nice.

[@thedottinator4383]

@@babfridkrien Not the last part.

[@thedottinator4383]

@@babfridkrien Not the last part.

[@blandedgear9704]

I think the 'snake thing in the visual design could be like a 'shedding their skin' thing more than an 'evil snake' thing.

[@actuallyAtlas1989]

"One little nonbinary lizard" AKA my new favorite way to refer to DT.

[@CrumCringle]

My new favorite way to refer to myself

[@actuallyAtlas1989]

@@CrumCringle I mean, that too.

[@cosmomoon7419]

I think DT isn't bad representation at all on their own, but as the only mainstream nonbinary representation I've seen, its disappointing. I don't think this is She-Ra's fault though, there just needs to be more nonbinary representation all around. It's harmful to have the only nonbinary representation in the main media be a shape-shifting lizard person, but DT on their own is a really fun, likable character, and I liked how normalized their identity felt in the show, how no one questioned it. I would have loved, though, to see someone as positive and undoubtedly good as Perfuma (who also gets her own full arch and relationships) be more explicitly trans, so that DT doesn't have to carry the weight of being the only trans representation in She-ra, which would give them more freedom to be morally ambiguous, or just a small character etc.

[@alexrose20]

i agree we just need more nonbinary characters across the board!

[@KatzePiano]

Thank you for putting this into words! I have complicated feelings about Double Trouble for basically all the reasons you listed. I think it's so cool there's a non-binary character on a kid's show, and they are often really fun to watch, but it's always bothered me that they seem to be essentially devoid of any morals or loyalty, and that that is tied to their non-binariness via shape shifting.

[@N3RDYG0GGLES]

This was a really interesting analysis of the character overall and your little moments like “No bitch!” and “I’m not a lizard” made me crack up 😂 I feel like some of what made the creators choose to have the shapeshifter character be reptilian is likely inspired by chameleons and the connotations that come with them in simple character design, since there’s a lot of characters in the show where certain aspects of their aesthetic and stuff are kind of kept to certain themes - Perfuma comes to mind with her “sweet hippy flower child” thing going on. That’s definitely not to say it was all a perfect idea, but I at least take some comfort in being able to figure out what was a likely part of the thought process. I bloody adore Double Trouble in all honesty, and feel like hopefully they’re a significant step on the way to more widespread and varied trans/nonbinary representation on shows, especially kids’ shows. Maybe one day it’ll become such a normalised thing that people will be criticising the characters on the same level as “majority” character types rather than representation being so sadly make-or-break.

[@elaimaro122]

I'm an asocial ace-aro agender person and resonated with DT quite strongly, but I do think they're underdeveloped and its such a shame tbh

[@shoepixie]

I personally find Double Trouble MOST EXCELLENT representation. They're fearless, savvy, a survivor, crazy smart and insightful, and most importantly: they're living exactly the life they want, all the time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's definintly a personality there. They just happen to be a bastard. :D

[@magnysvoss]

I think that no matter what there will be kids that will appreciate the representation once they’re older. I still remember being pretty young when the 2003 Wrinkle in Time came out. Very bizarre film with terrible CGI but what always stuck out to me was when they go to see the Happy Medium. Seán Cullen portrayed the Happy Medium in that version and in the book the Happy Medium was seen as a woman. In the film I swear I remember one of the characters asks if the Happy Medium was a man or woman and they jovially reply they’re neither or both but they’re in the middle. I’m paraphrasing and so I don’t remember it word for word but what I took from seeing that was a whole new option. I grew up in a very religiously binary world and seeing just the tiniest bit of a nonbinary representation even if it might have been portrayed poorly meant a lot to me. Characters like Jareth the Goblin King, Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, and countless anime characters helped me realize that I wasn’t alone. Many of those characters had flaws or were villains but I still emphasized with them regardless. So I just hope some kid out there feels inspired by Double Trouble in some way.

[@savageunitato100]

"if one rock loves another rock, are those rocks gay or are those rock just in love?" Love that

[@elliotsmith2701]

This video is great, I have similar feelings about double trouble, although maybe come down more on the side of "is a good representation" than you in the end, but that might be cos I kinda have a crush on them haha. I think you nailed it when you said "maybe there are no sides". I feel like double trouble's lack of allegiance is foreshadowing of the thematic arc in later seasons where it becomes increasingly difficult to figure out which is the right side - are Shadow Weaver's plans right? Is Hordak redeemable? Is it sometimes necessary to abandon friends, peace, even love for the greater good? For me, I read this as an allegory for how, as you get older, simple notions of good vs evil, hate vs love, right vs wrong become more difficult to hold on to, as life becomes more complicated and the struggle simply to survive gets harder. Double trouble is clearly meant to be older than the main characters - perhaps they have already been through this process of deciding their side based on friendship or loyalty or morality, and found that it only ever brought them pain or difficulty, or that it was simply impossible to figure out which path to take? So they go for a simpler code to live by - what's best for me? At the end of the day, this is how huge swathes of people live under capitalism, to a greater or lesser extent. Not because they're inherently selfish, but because the socio-economic environment leaves them with little alternative. There is no such thing as ethical consumption, and ethical work is only possible if you have the right skills for it (and even then, it is usually inadequately compensated); cultural norms and advertising/propaganda muddy the waters further. The fact that double trouble is immensely powerful due to their shape shifting abilities only serves to show that nobody is immune to this pressure. Of course, in the end, She Ra and co prevail, figuring out that the only way to succeed against evil (fascism, colonialism, nuclear armorment??) is with peace and love, and only then, when the horde starts to crumble, can ordinary people, double trouble included, see clearly what the right thing to do is. So yeah, I liked the fact that they are a mercenary, because at the end of the day, in the society we live in, that is the most normal thing to be, at least to some degree. The fact that double trouble has no real friends is perhaps emblematic of how lonely life can be because of this, although like you, I definitely would have liked to see them make more meaningful connections with other characters. Idk maybe I'm reading too much into things I possibly have too many feelings about how this kids' cartoon is definitely a deep and complex allegorical tale, which it quite possibly isn't haha. (Also just wanna say it is so awesome to see a fellow Brit and nb on KZbin!! Definitely gonna go watch all your videos now! Thanks for doing this!)

[@blimey9619]

I'm an enby Every relationship im in depending on man, woman, enby or whatever else It will always be gay

[@marlowmorbid8531]

i legit wrote out and tried to record this exact video essay right after she ra ended and im so glad i didnt have to expend all the effort actually editing and publishing it only for it to not get any views bc i'm not a Visible enby lmao. thank you so much for putting all of the delights and problems i have with dt into words ;___;

[@toyloliSpare]

I just learned that we see Double Trouble at the princess prom, twice! As a background character, their default form with dress and fur robe. Which would imply they are either a princess, or maybe came in disguised as a princess. But the fact they were wondering around in their true form suggests to me they ARE a princess! ( Look up the fandom page: princess prom cameos you might have missed )

[@jacksparrowismydaddy]

I think Double trouble didn't get much of a redemption arch because the story ended too soon. but I look at Double Trouble as an agent of chaos. they love to cause havoc. they only answer questions as needed. they are a forever mystery that fuels a thousand fanfics and fan art. there are a lot of unanswered questions sadly, is Adora truly the last first one? who is the cat princess? did DT make these people up or are they real people whose identities they are playing with? did Huntara ever hook up with that cute barmaid? who were those Princesses in that freaking circle? one looked like Catra, and one looked like that hot minotaur lady that never got a speaking role or her own section in the She-ra fan wiki. (believe I checked) we freaking need a movie and we need questions answered.

[@WindupCrow]

I personally think DT's side swapping and stuff is down to them being THAT drama club kid, not because they're enby

[@jacksparrowismydaddy]

Double Trouble is full on honey badger, lol they'd love that reference.

[@ghosteyhi8954]

I have to disagree with you on weather dt is a bad character. I’m non-binary, and I have to be honest. I loved them, I truly enjoyed them. I really connected with them, I loved that they weren’t shy. Double trouble is truly their own character. They are a person with true personality and they were truly proving that ANYONE can be non-binary AND they were a kick ass confidant being that couldn’t care less. Double trouble is human and I loved it. They were there and they weren’t going to be silent.

[@verilybitchie]

But I didn't say DT is a bad character!

[@thedottinator4383]

Technically, they are lizard. But still.

[@mauriced3277]

Thank you. It was important for me to see what a Nonbinary person thinks of double trouble and i fully agree with you. A saw both people hating and loving them and I didn't know what to think so this video was very useful. :)

[@Kalooeh]

I love Double trouble. I'm nb also and also have a shapeshifter character. Literally they're spooky polymorph that yeah has a look they prefer but can change how they look with how they feel. I know other people that are similar to DT and have characters similar to them and we were excited about DT because holy shit look there's a character now that's like yours, this is awesome! They're even a preformer! They have the neutral, pick the winning side, not that interested in good/evil side that much. That's awesome. There's nothing wrong with characters that are fluid. There's people that are more interested in themself more than good or bad and will go with what will help them but may eventually start to question themselves. It's not an attack on us. People are complicated, including NBs/genderfluid people

[@imkuelllgremlin]

double trouble is so cool tho! i think enby people often just don't want to be human sometimes... so its like, i get to live that through double trouble. And through that double trouble doesn't pick a side, its kind of nice to pick their own side, their own happiness, they're not trying to make everyone else comfortable, because as a nonbinary, i feel i get a break and get to feel like its okay for me to care about my wellbeing and being able to tell others to screw off about their gender politics lol.

[@popeval6654]

They're one of my favorite characters in fiction in no small part because the masters of the universe wiki lists "Causing chaos" as one of their likes and "failure to cause chaos" as one of their dislikes

[@thomasfrancis3029]

Double Trouble was easily my favorite character in so many ways, though I lack the NB experience to really understand the struggle for representation. I think I understand a bit better now. Also, your voice is incredibly soothing, and your content is both entertaining, and interesting. Thank you for doing what you do!

[@everforward5561]

Personally, I enjoy that DT is a mysterious character in the end. Even if they told you about their origins/people, could you even trust the story? DT is a character who loves to spin lies.

[@Solipsisticdaydreams]

“The new sequel to the Bible, Harry Potter” 😂😂😂 fuckin lost it.

[@capricorn4607]

Tbh when I first saw Double Trouble I assumed they were a guy. Really nice to know that they are NB, as myself am a Nonbinary. Also, you are correct: Lizards wth High-Heels is a fabulous look

[@br34dyt]

Ok this is really off topic but I love your voice-

[@NorthMountainFairy]

This is the first video I’ve seen of yours. Subscribed. Also, last night when I was textibg my friend, i decided I’m gonna get a custom ring that says “truthy bitch” on it, so when I saw your name I knew I’d like this channel.

[@danielladahoui888]

Awesome video! You just earned a subscriber! LOVED She-Ra and the Princesses of Power! Great analysis on Double Trouble. I also like how you addressed that more often nonbinary representation is reserved for fantasy and sci fi beings, because it's more accepted as an "alien" or "other-worldly" concept rather than something that people can adopt in real life. I would love to hear you talk about Land of the Lustrous (Houseki no Kuni). Unlike the Crystal Gems in Steven Universe who identify as female, the humanoid gems in Land of the Lustrous are more explicitly nonbinary. Again, the representation leans towards the sci-fi/fantasy angle, but it'd still be interesting to look into!

[@dseray9494]

I really like this video Though part of me always feels attacked when someone criticises she-ra, it can be frustrating. Also this video makes me want a Double Trouble spin off

[@toyloliSpare]

We actually first 'see' double trouble in the waste, where all the other reptilians and cut-throats and stuff. You know - the one place where being soft, liking things like acting and poetry would be seen as weakness? So I take it implied he was born there and followed Catra home because she 'Clearly loves DRAMA as much as I do!" Basically - Catra lead the queen to their people!

[@Llamanescent]

I am kind of conflicted about this one. I really love Double Trouble as a character; I love a good chaotic neutral. However, I do agree that having another non-binary character would have helped.

[@EnordAreven]

My argument for representation in mainstream work has recently been: "you're probably gonna screw it up if there's only one, so make two or three, minimum." . One character shouldnt have to bare the weight of "this is how the author and the work represents a group of people."

[@aliceche714]

Yeah, being a NB jewish person sure gave me a hard time watching this semi-evil imposter lizard character... But they're cool anyway :D Thank you for the vid! Now I go breake some computer mouses

[@det.bullock4461]

I've read their graphic novel Nimona and occasionally glance at Noelle Stevenson's twitter: Double Trouble is basically the kind of awesome amoral shapeshifter they seem to like since they were making up stories about Zam Wesell (bit character in Star Wars Episode II that dies in like 5 minutes and is also a gender-undetermined shapeshifter).

[@katwim9169]

Listen, Double Trouble is absolutely amazing.

[@alexrose20]

I don't think it's bad that characters like Double Trouble exist. It's just that we need to also show human nonbinary characters and move away from the token nonbinary character. Making any community a token character is bad bc we erase the diversity within that community.

[@martynawasiluk1405]

Hey, thanks for pointing out the missteps in NB representation. Didn't jump out to me before, esp. the magical NBs. Still good that they're there imo, but thank you for showing me there's much more to be done on that front.

[@BrianBrecker]

im nb and i love double trouble

[@missfortune9680]

Being a non-binary person is really hard like I’m agender but I’m really cool with my body and I do enjoy somethings that are considered feminine which I think is kinda dumb like knitting is considered feminine or make up (even a lot of cis men wear make up nowadays) and every time I say I’m agender they say: “but you don’t look like one” honey what am I supposed too look like??? There is literally no gender, I have none I just never felt like being a girl or boy....I’m just me. I’m ok if someone calls me either they or she I don’t mind it but when they try to force me to be a girl...I don’t know it feels weird

[@tinymxnticore]

I just found your content and I'm now a subscriber! This really articulated what my gut reaction was to Double Trouble. Why is it that gay/bi/pan characters are allowed to simply exist in Etheria without qualifier or explanation, but the only nonbinary character has to be a literal shapeshifter? I'm glad that there doesn't seem to be any ill intent on the part of the writers, but it set off some alarms in my head. I'm writing a fantasy YA romance with two gay leads. Unlike Etheria, the setting has a lot of period-typical sexism and homophobia (it's kind of the whole point of the story). There's a badass water sprite in the story who envision as genderfluid, but I'm concerned about it feeding into the trope of non-binary characters not being portrayed as human.

[@embodyingmysticalmac]

Hi, your channel helps me remember that eye am not alone (Bi afab girl here). That we aren’t. Thank you❤

[@CrumCringle]

Nonbinary amab representation is rare in general, not just in artistic media, but even online in general. I'm very happy I found your channel. I feel I can relate a lot, as an amab enby who was previously MtF trans woman, so thank you for the content!

[@hannah18958]

this video is so interesting! thank you for sharing, i didn't consider some of the harm that the character Double Trouble could be causing. an interesting grey area!

[@dfunkt2291]

How did I miss this vid until now? It's very cool. Fun fact - as a kid in the 80s, and fan of HM and SR, I used to go around saying (yelling) "By the power of Greyskull, I am She-Man!" 😊 I've always been NB. 🙂

[@infinityseagull3752]

aaaah you make really good points and I hadn't fully considered that this is a kids show and the first type of nonbinary representation kids might see =/. I love double trouble so much (character design, actions, etc) but yeah maybe it was a little too soon into nb representation for a full out sharp toothed lizard villian lmao. A redemption arc/more backstory on the character would be so nice. Or even just a single good lovable protagonist on tv who isn't just "technically" or "envisioned to be" nb. idk if we just had more representation this character wouldn't be a problem at all.

[@mangomations4160]

as a nonbinary person myself, i LOVE double trouble, they're chaotic and a shapeshifter and *l i z a r d* and they're so fun to watch and i want to be them

[@chaseashley6775]

Yeah but Double Trouble is sexy as hell

[@KennShin_]

This is a great video, and it really does explain the problems with representation in the media for me. My friend was saying dt was bad representation of nb ppl because of the fact that they were a lizard?? so this really is just a great video going over the character.

[@beeschurger8003]

damn, we really need a movie so DT could get their redemption

[@annachan8151]

Double Trouble won't be the only character nonbinary kids will be able to relate to. Hopefully there will be more diverse ones. She-Ra may be the first one to make such big noise but it's not a bible for lgbt+ kids to relate to exactly or model themselves as a character they vaguely relate to. Representation doesn't have to fit a specific mold, the whole goal here is to break boxes and molds and discover and express ourselves. Hopefully in more diverse ways.

[@kellharris2491]

To be fair it has taken so long to get any representation. It is going to take awhile before they get it right. At the very least DT wasn't boring. Since they are not too problematic I believe DT will open some barriers. And also DT also doesn't actually have a lot of screen time when you think of it. They made a big impact for their short run time.

[@acornsoundsquirrel]

I loved your thoughts on this! I just finished the show (I stan) and I adored Double Trouble while also being so confused by them. Every other character had so much backstory, detail, and emotional depth. DT just... didn't?? I thought at first they were a character foil to Entrapta, who, at first, went to any side who had the best technology so she felt stimulated intellectually. Eventually, Entrapta's story deepened into one of relationship through Hordak and feeling connected the princesses and the best friend squad. All of this to say: DT was done a bit dirty as far as depth goes. I was just waiting for them to have one moment where we saw why they love the theater, why they pick the winning side, etc... there was a lot of opportunity and substance to dive into, and we never got it. Especially with the power that DT has... they could have manipulated and taken over Etheria.... like... easily. So why didn't they? In summation: I stan Double Trouble. They're one of my favorite characters on the show. And this kind of representation for enbies feels in its infancy! I hope future characters are given depth and integration. And, to compliment She-Ra, I hope future NB characters are as alluring as Double Trouble.

[@kinuuni]

It may be that I am very old, but I am seeing Double Trouble as a bit of a stepping stone. I did not grow up with any type of representation, I got it in my own country during my teen years and then later it made it to the US as well and now mainstream. But the road as been very long and while things are moving fast now that the "gates have been opened", the many different aspects that exist outside of the generic lesbian and gay and even bi at this point, still needs to find footing in the same way.

[@mauraharms8315]

(This is in no way to that your opinion is wrong) See, I don't think Double Trouble was made to be good nonbinary representation. I think their character was meant to be a trouble maker who happens to be nonbinary. I feel like the only reason that DT might be considered bad representation is because we haven't seen that many hero nb people, or rather that many nb people in general. And, I really don't think there character is doing any harm to the reputation of nb people. When my little sister watched it DT was one of her favorite characters.

[@LucentMembrane]

Thank you for making videos, I always love to watch them. Concerning (in this case trans) shapeshifters: Have you read „Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl“ and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

[@verilybitchie]

I have not, but its on my reading list! And thank you =D

[@partymantis3421]

I do love Double Trouble, chaotic confident infiltrator types are an archetype i fall for evry time. Them being an NB rep is a cool extra layer ,but i can see the issue people take with having that said rep being a shapshifting, manipulative alien. Probably not intentional but its there

[@queersnakelady9590]

I love Double Trouble. They are so free and selfpowered, but I also hope it don't make children see nonbinary as not trustworthy or evil or selfish.

[@qwertyqwerty-jy9fc]

12:24 omg that snake looks iconic slay queen

[@wiesejay]

Verilybitchie: makes a well-reasoned argument about (possibility) problematic non-binary representation Me: omg, she’s so f*cking cute

[@Just_One_Tree]

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@JadyLester]

I believe all nonbinaries are magical.... but DT's whole Thing didn't sit great with me, either, because the seeming take-away is that NBs exist because they can't pick a side! A very bisexual dilemma. Though I read their coldness as guardedness, it just never got explored and we were left with someone neutral in every aspect.

[@LDRtheRaptorJesus]

Great video and honestly just nice to see people reflect my conflicted feelings over Double Trouble in general. I genuinely loved the show and DT but it definitely sucked having all these thoughts stewing in my head this whole time. It especially stands out to me cause as a child I was diagnosed with ASD and spent most of my childhood being othered and treated as fundamentally emotionally unrelatable, like someone who could never hope to be seen as a human, even in adulthood. I grew this deep love for reptilians at the time cause I felt this weird relation to them. All these ultimately arbitrary characteristics that make people uncomfortable that they can't help felt weirdly relatable... it made me really wanna see more of DT but at the same time knowing they characterized them as ultimately self serving and amoral felt even more like a lean in on the whole reptile aesthetic then even the non-binary bit. It didn't ruin the character but it does make me want to see something different in the future and at the end of the day, that's all we can hope for...

[@redpandamaniacal]

Double Trouble's a funny mix of "I wish I was them" but also in context kind of disappointing due in part to what makes me envious of them in the first place. Like, I'd love to be a shapeshifting lizard that can look however I feel like looking and sound however I feel like sounding whenever, but I don't want to have to be those things for people to recognize me or others as NB since I am not a magical lizard that can shape shift. There is also, like you've stated, the issue of the one NB representative in the show being introduced functionally as a villain. Really do wish there was some other example of a character that's just NB because they are. Double Trouble's kinda like hot sauce for me. Great stuff, but I want it on food, I don't want to be stuck drinking hot sauce, lol.

[@barninghurtsalot3054]

i hate to say this but double trouble was aside from a call-back just a nifty plot device first, a character second and nb as that characters gimmick. pretty sure thats also why they never really choose sides; when the narrative needs them somewhere, it needs to be able to put DT there without too much question.

[@LovelyLori193]

I think the clear solution is a Double Trouble spinoff. i looooooooved seeing them doing what they do but yeah, it was a bit one note. But I still loved their character! Their voice is like mine, they're tall like me, it's crazy to see someone like me in media but also a little rough to see them just be their one character trait. very nuanced very cool to think about :)

[@VestigialLung]

So I picked up on something watching the show a few weeks back. You mentioned that Perfuma had been intended to be trans but lacked any visual representation. At a certain point I began to notice a sex-based difference in character models. Specifically nearly every character presumably AMAB has a flat chin; whereas, the characters presumably AFAB have rounded chins. Perfuma's chin is flat. Any idea if this is a subtle visual nod to what they intended, or if I was maybe just reading too far into things at "up way too late at night watching cartoons like a responsible adult" o'clock?

[@johannafischer7536]

Thank you for this perspective, I honestly hadn't thought about it like that before. I thought DT was simply fabulous and probably my favorite character in the show, they stole every scene they were in. At the same time I must agree with you that there were a lot of harmful implications to the character that might have been avoided if there had simply been more than just one explicit nb character on the show. I guess it's OK to love something and be critical of it at the same time.

[@anzaia2164]

I'm not gonna say that Double Trouble is super great nb representation. But I am gonna say that I love them a lot. Here's some of my thoughts. Is DT even trans? I immediately assumed that they were part of a shapeshifting non-binary species. And they wouldn't be the only person whose species we only see once. If they were... anbab, they wouldn't be trans, technically. Does that make the representation better or worse? I play "Who am I" with my 2 younger cousins a lot. Watching She-Ra with one of them gave me the opportunity and an example to roughly explain nonbinarism to them. If we ask for one gender, and the answer's no, we now ask for another gender instead of immediately assuming it's the opposite one. It's a very small thing, but I'm proud of them :)

[@finchythepirate]

I agree with everything in this video, event though I adore Double Trouble with my whole heart. I daydream about cosplaying them, and they heavily inspired one of my favorite DnD character, who is a nonbinary "femme fatale" tiefling rogue who uses disguises and fictional alter egos a lot, so much so that they sometimes have a hard time knowing what they're really feeling and what they're pretending to be to make sure people appreciate them/to get stuff from others. I just thought of how we could solve this though : we need a spin off series on Double Trouble and their backstory. Seriously, how cool would that be ? ... Also, in the romance department, I learned people started shipping them with Sea Hawk because of how flamboyant and dramatic they both are, and honestly, I could see it x) (even though I love the ship between Sea Hawk and Mermista as well. But hey, some non-monogamous representation could hurt either, right ?)

[@singingway]

I saw DT as the mythic trickster.

[@faithquist6635]

Seems like the same take would apply to Desire in Sandman where it's a great character who doesn't have to be good but also doesn't provide an example of a regular human NB

[@alirwin4956]

On the one hand there ABSOLUTELY needs to be more explicit trans representation and it isn’t fair for creators to sprinkle in the fact that characters are actually trans in like, an interview or something to get “progressive points”. However, on the other hand, I do kind of like having a few characters in shows who are confirmed to be canonically trans, yet their trans identity isn’t discussed. I think that kind of representation also has merit in that it reinforces that 1. The aren’t a “trans man” they are a man. Or, they aren’t a “trans woman” they are a woman. The audience is introduced to them as such and their validity as their gender is never even imagined to be brought to question because in the eyes of the audience, there is no reason to. 2. It pushes back against the narrative that members of the LGBTQ+ community’s personality revolves around that aspect of their lives. This is a stereotype which you can see all throughout media and it makes me so angry. In the same vein it also forces creators to create well developed characters with personality and struggles and background. They have to actually create good characters rather than just a 2D vessel to ascribe representation to. Now. That being said, i am not trying to sign the praises of creators who throw out this information seemingly as an after thought to stir up media attention and get points on Twitter. We DO need a lot more explicit representation of trans characters in media. However, I think there can be a silver lining and representation of this nature isn’t TOTALLY worthless.

[@EmelieWaldken]

14:47 That's pretty much my interpretation of Double Trouble as a character. They're not exactly non-binary to me : they're Not Binary. They're of a species (or a single individual) which does NOT function in a binary way. Not even about sides in a war. They function in a different pattern (one of very adamant freedom). And they're non-binary (in their presentation, pronouns, etc.) only TO US and to the other characters who are used to genders existing. Yet gender doesn't exist for Double Trouble, they're outside of it. In that sense, I would actually more label them as agender, I guess.

[@ThatOneIrishFurry]

I feel like double trouble is written from the perspective of NB wish fulfillment more than representation for better or worse like who wouldn't want to look like double trouble and have the powers that that they have like 🥺 But i feel like you made your points well I have been watching a couple of your videos and have been really related to your point about how little AMAB non-binary representation there is out there It's a complicated subject because yes i love seeing non-binarys out there in the world And i would like to get to a place in society when we don't care about what you were assigned at birth (Not to get into the discourse on the AMAB AFAB binary) But there is definitely a lot more visible AFAB non binarys out there i feel than AMAB and it does leave me longing for representation at times and i do feel like Double Trouble fulfils that in a sense

[@redkakapo277]

I appreciate hearing this from someone and I pretty such agree. I also think double trouble slays so fucking hard I cannot help but stan. I guess I'm just a sucker for camp characters.

[@Lukasonthefloor]

I really wish there could come a spin-off of the show where DT is more heavily featured. Through out all of season 5 it felt so weird that they were barely there (Can't remember if they were even in the last episode) bc it feels like there was so much to learn about them. Maybe they were meant to be mysterious??? and that's why we got nothing on them??? I still can't help but love their character mostly bc they were the first time I saw a character use they/them pronouns in any media. great video!

[@Lilian040210]

"Prequel, the Old Testiment, or a sequel, Harry Potter" I'm losing my shit🤣🤣

[@novahansen1962]

Nice vid! I'm non-binary as well and definitely found Double Trouble to be an interesting character. I definitely though share your concerns and have my own mixed reactions to them. I think perhaps what we're also missing is their backgroud. Are there others like them? Are they all non-binary? Or was Double Trouble the only perhaps openly one? What was their family life like? Did they make friends easily or was it a struggle? Have they been ostracised by others? Because perhaps that could be a possiblity. And if they've been hurt and ostracised all their life, perhaps this is their coping mechanism which also involves avoiding attachment. Because getting attached has perhaps ended in pain and hurt in the past. So yeah I think we're missing a lot of background info on them to be able to perhaps better understand and empathise with them.

[@Sara_Feingold]

I watched She-Ra recently, and I really loved Double Trouble because, not only am I nonbinary, but I also have a personality disorder that makes my sense of morality very different from most people. I do most of what I do out of self-interest (which includes a lot of "good" things like mutual aid and supporting equality, for reasons too long to get into in a KZbin comment), and while I do have a few friends, conversation with them often makes it very clear that we're operating on vastly different mental frameworks. Double Trouble was someone like me done well. You do raise fair and valid concerns, certainly, but even within just the scope of season 4, I think reading Double Trouble as a villain is a mistake because they never had loyalty for the Horde. Double Trouble was an outsider to the conflict between the Horde and the Princesses, and they were driven by their personal interests rather than any higher ideals. They presented a stark contrast to the indoctrination of both sides (and between the portrayals of Queen Angella in season 1 and Light Hope in season 4, I believe the show was making a point that indoctrination is bad even in the service of the ostensible forces of good). Their decision to end up resisting Horde Prime because of boredom was much more sensible to me than if they'd suddenly developed neurotypical morality. They didn't need a redemption arc because, while they did "bad" things, those actions weren't done out of malice or misplaced/thoughtless devotion to a harmful cause. Treating them like Scorpia or Catra would've been mishandling their character just as much as doing the same for Entrapta would've been.

[@edgarallanhoe666]

I'm nonbinary man and I'll admit my first impression of DT was extreme discomfort which I found odd because I usually tend to like mischievous chaotic neutral characters that read as queer and nonbinary. Now after watching your vid I think I've really put together why. There are a lot of shapeshifting non binary superhuman characters that I like (comic book loki and mystique among others) despite it being a very common trope. Both those characters, despite them being mischievous, non binary, and morally grey they had aspirations, goals, personalities, and story lines apart from their devious shapeshifting fluidity; that was just a tiny piece of who they were as people. So in that regard I do think that representation can be messy and still be a validating experience for the viewer. But Double Trouble was not a dynamic character and so the stereotypes were laid bare in a very jarring way and I was left feeling frustrated and disturbed because well that is quite literally how I and many other nonbinary people out there are seen. It disappointed me because without any humanizing qualities DT was entirely a stereotype.

[@nusuth24]

A year later and I am very curious to hear your thoughts about Raine Whispers from The Owl House. Yeah, they're magic but in the same way that every other character is. They seem to be doing pretty well for representation...

[@katszulga1888]

I had the 80s Double Trouble doll as a kid, and the gimmick of that toy was that when you pressed a button on her back her head spun around inside her helmet to show her other face, so when you said the eyebrow transformation thing wow, did that hit home for me. And I didn't watch much of the show as a kid, as I didn't have cable, but my friends and I played out our stories with the characters largely within the framework of show's basic relationships (Shera good, Catra evil, etc.) and I loved playing the double agent who got to be involved in both storylines. So maybe the value is for the very niche group of children who love playing double agents and also could use some validation that they don't need to be either gender. But then again, I'm also an adult who doesn't have any true friends, so maybe I'm not a great person to ask.

[@tilly5944]

Slightly off-topic but I love your humour so much

[@summer-roseknight]

I like that the show writers didn’t demonise then though. Most shows and/movies with non-binary characters are often demonised, and the fact that Double Trouble doesn’t conform to either male or female traits, that’s also incorporated into his moral standpoint; in that he doesn’t take sides. He’s quite a neutral (fucking hilariously savage) person and we STAN the ✨icon✨ that they are ❤️✨

[@dumisadumisa9195]

I agree with you that there perhaps should be more nonbinary representation on screen, because Double Trouble as a character was pretty fair imo. I enjoyed the fact that they didn't really have any desires to belong anywhere, and therefore had no real stakes. The fact that they didn't want anything, to me, made them perhaps the most menacing and most powerful character because they were the least vulnerable. They didn't have any real point of destination that they were trying to reach; they were not trying to be anywhere, which I think only complimented their ability to become anything that they wanted to be depending on what they were feeling that day. It makes it all the more impressive the kind of impact that they were able to have on the fate of events given how much they had nothing to gain or nothing lose. In summary I enjoyed how non human they were so as to make that more mystical and illusory. Not fair for that to be one of the only representation of a nonbinary character, however, as it starts to insinuate perhaps that nonbinary people are void of any real identity or sense of belonging outside of entirely being in servitude of the people who are around them. It'd be nice to see more queer characters in general who recognize how deserving they are of wanting things.