It Seems That Most Media Both Minimize Jonathan's Horrific Trauma (the Fact That He Was Tortured, Abused,

It seems that most media both minimize Jonathan's horrific trauma (the fact that he was tortured, abused, used, starved, disabled, and plagued by sleepless nights is all watered down) and his badassery (down to the fact that they refuse to let him scar, chase, and kill Dracula) and his love and canonical attraction to Mina. It feels like they are not interested in male victims who are capable of surviving and winning and ending up having a healthy love life (something the Victorians believed was not possible after being "tainted", so congrats on agreeing with them!).

Here's the thing. Jonathan Harker the Character is always, always, always shafted by academic reads and adaptations. The critics and writers and directors behind them are almost universally of the mindset that says his combination of damsel (preyed on by a man and three women he actively runs from rather than give into them, thinking only of Mina), hero (guy who turns the tables when his beloved is endangered, hunting and slaying the monster), and Guy Who Loves His Wife and Wants to Be Equals with Her/Follow Her Lead, is poison to them.

It's a threat. He can't be a protagonist! He can't be attractive or appealing or what women/readers actually want in a male lead! What would that make them?*

*Part of the "'I hate my wife!' humor/all men want to cheat/men are never weak or preyed upon/gross that looks too LGBT" niche.

On the other hand, Jonathan Harker's individual character traits would look so great on someone else! --Every Adaptation Director.

They give his extremely long and uncomfortably intimate time being preyed on to Mina, Lucy, or some stand-in chick.

They give his acts of badassery and Dracula Archenemy arc to Van Helsing or some stand-in vampire hunter.

They give his love and loyalty to the point of blasphemy to fucking Dracula so there's an excuse to make him sexy and redeemable for going after Mina, the Designated Love Interest because She's the One Girl Who Doesn't Get Killed Off.

Jonathan Harker is only appreciated when he's broken into pieces and scavenged for parts.

we need more themed events we need more costumes and rituals and parades like whatever happened to costumes and rituals

the premise of the green knight is so fucking wild. dude was literally like "whosoever strikes me, even the teeniest little hit, will win the game - but they have to come back to me in a year and ill return the exact same blow to them" and gawain was like "radical." and chopped his whole fuckin head off

‪new reality tv show that’s the opposite of queer eye where 5 gay dudes come and ruin someone’s life and then leave‬

i love video game villains that constantly call the player character on the phone to be like “heyyyy just wanted to call to tell you i’m still evil btw” i think we should all start doing this irl