Yeah, but I actually really like Michelle as a character. She's a
great villainess of the "bad girlfriend" variety. She's
supposed to be unsympathetic, which is why I enjoy getting all riled up at her.
Ranting about the heavies - Michelle, or Mom, or Alkazar, or even Zapp - isn't quite the same thing as demonizing one of the show's heroes. What stumps me is seeing two equally flawed, but equally sympathetic, major characters - and whitewashing one while condemning the other. I don't quite get it.
Fry gets some flak for being stupid, it's true, but usually numerous people pop up to defend him. I joined Venus in defending Leela 'cause it seemed like only a few others would. I also defend Amy from the charges of "slut" and "bitch," and argue fiercely with anyone who says she's just toying with Kif, is only using him to tick off her parents, and is sleeping around behind his back (how anyone could watch "300 Big Boys" and think
that is beyond my ability to fathom).
On the bright side, at least Bender escapes this trap. I don't know of anyone who hates him or resents him for being a dirty doublecrossing alchokleptoegomaniac. The closest he gets to criticism is that some people hate his occasional sensitive or sweet moment but it's hard to really
hate someone for being nice without looking pretty silly.
Anyway (she said desperately)...we've hijacked this thread far enough. I guess we should find another place this debate would suit more, though I'm nearly talked out (course, that's what I thought last time....
)