Bramblestar is Worse
| Video Essay | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Bramblestar is Worse |
| Creator: | Moonkitti |
| Date(s): | Oct 15, 2020 |
| Medium: | Posted to YouTube |
| Length: | 1:06:45 |
| Footage: | |
| Fandom: | Warrior Cats |
| Topic: | Warrior Cats, Bramblestar/Squirrelflight |
| External Links: | Bramblestar is Worse on YouTube |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Bramblestar is Worse is a 2020 video essay by Moonkitti. The video discusses the relationship between the characters Bramblestar and Squirrelflight throughout the Warrior Cats series, and in particular how Bramblestar can be read as abusive towards Squirrelflight.
Summary
The video explores the relationship between Brambleclaw (later Bramblestar) and Squirrelflight, going through every major interaction the two have between the beginning of the relationship in The New Prophecy and the super edition Squirrelflight's Hope. Of note is the focus on how Bramblestar's actions towards Squirrelflight can be seen as abusive, despite the authors presumably not intending the relationship to be abusive. Excerpts from the books are included in the video to back up Moonkitti's stance on the relationship.
Excerpts
"But... can we trust Brambleclaw? Brambleclaw, who never told Squirrelflight he was training in the Dark Forest? Brambleclaw, who held a grudge over Squirrelflight holding a suspicion for months? Brambleclaw, who StarClan themselves seemingly wanted to keep [Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze not being his kits] a secret from? Brambleclaw, who she had only been together with after a huge fight for a month?"[1]
"...Let's start at the beginning, and by beginning I mean the beginning of their relationship, because Bramblestar and Squirrelflight have always had a bad relationship. It didn't start good and get worse, it didn't have any sort of inconsistency even, it follows a pattern. I believe, completely, that Bramblestar is abusive and Squirrelflight is a victim. I should clarify that neither "Brambleclaw is abusive", nor "they both were bad for each other" is the intention of the author. What is the intention of the author? Heck if I know."[1]
"...But what was written down are behaviors that are used to abuse and control people in real life. And it might seem like it's nothing, like "oh, the cold shoulder isn't so bad". Can you imagine, glaring at someone who wants to make up with you?...Not to mention, the cold shoulder alone is a control tactic. It's not something used to simply avoid someone, it makes the other party anxious and desperate, and we can see that in Squirrelflight's uncharacteristically submissive and appeasing behaviour."[1]
Reception
As of April 17, 2021, Bramblestar is Worse has 472,924 views on YouTube. While prior to the release of the video there had been people who viewed the relationship between Bramblestar and Squirrelflight as abusive, the release of the video caused the topic of Bramblestar/Squirrelflight to gain more discussion in fandom, along with an increase of support towards Squirrelflight.
"How the actual hell did the Erins accidentally write about domestic abuse so realistically?"[2]
"god, the fact people expect squirrelflight to be passive and forgiving screams of internalized sexism.women don't have to be forgiving when wronged. women don't have to just take mistreatment quietly or calmly, they have the same right to get loud and aggressive as men do.
women don't owe anything to men"[3]
"The fact that he’s “punishing” her makes me beyond angry. She’s just his little object who stepped out of line and needs to be taught to never NEVER do it again."[4]
Some people pointed out the potential harm in portraying this kind of relationship as okay and normal in a series aimed at children and preteens:
"I think when I was a kid these books made me internalize the ideal that it was okay to be treated poorly because the person responsible would feel bad when something bad happened to me. That is INSANELY dangerous to teach young readers."[5]
"...As the video progressed I felt a sort of uncomfortable twisting feeling in my stomach because I read most of these books when I was, like what, 12? 13? I never picked up on the abuse, although I loved Squirrelflight as one of my favorite characters in the series, I mainly took her relationship with Brambleclaw as unfair or flawed but still worth something in the end. But it's outlined so clearly, the abusive cycle is so present in their relationship yet I think the worst part is that although the book presents what Brambleclaw was doing to her was wrong, it does it in a way that glosses over the fact he was point blank abusing her and the writers likely didn't even realize they were even writing an abusive relationship at all. This is really scary, because imagine how many preteens or young kids walked away thinking that the kind of relationship they had was okay, I know I definitely did..."[6]
Links
- Bramblestar is Worse on YouTube, Wayback link. Accessed April 16, 2021.
References
- ^ a b c Text transcribed by User:Darkest absol
- ^ A comment made by Phantom Cat roughly around November-December 2020
- ^ A comment made by psychotic OPERA roughly around November-December 2020
- ^ A comment made by Amber Larch roughly around October-November 2020
- ^ A comment made by J roughly around November-December 2020
- ^ A comment made by confused and afraid roughly around November-December 2020