Fitz Vacker
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Fitzroy Avery Vacker |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Relationships: | Sophitz |
| Fandom: | Keeper of the Lost Cities |
| Other: | Wiki page |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
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Fitz Vacker is a major character in Keeper of the Lost Cities. He is a controversial figure within the fandom, typically based on his relationship with the protagonist, Sophie Foster.
Canon
Controversy
Within the series, he often responds to traumatic or difficult situations with anger, even lashing out at his friends and family (or in the case of Sophie Foster, temporarily, girlfriend). Some fans view his anger responses as excessively harmful, even going as far as to call them abusive. Other fans view them as normal for a teenage boy acting under stressful circumstances and defend him as learning from his actions. This debate is often colored by the ship war between Sokeefe and Sophitz, with fans who exclusively support Sokeefe often arguing why Fitz is harmful or bad for Sophie, while fans who support Sophitz often arguing in his defense.
"Anger Issues"
A related debate that often arises is whether it is appropriate to describe Fitz as having "anger issues." It is very common to do so within the fandom, especially as an argument for why he should not be in a relationship with Sophie. Some fans push back against this descriptor and/or call it ableist:
I just joined the wiki, but I am this close to leaving right now. I am absolutely disgusted after joining less than an hour ago. That's less than 0.0000077% of my life. And I am already ready to leave. I have actual anger issues and have as a result researched them very intensively and this is so insensitive and prejudiced! Fitz does not have anger issues. I have read these books many times, and not once did I think he had anger issues. Being diagnosed with anger issues requires you to have constantly gotten overly angry many times for reasons that don't justify that level of anger. Fitz doesn't at all fit this. He got angry in Exile, but that was when his father literally was in a coma and DYING. How would you feel if your parents were DYING? Not too good, huh? Anyways, no psychologist counts anger during a period of grieving as being unreasonably angry. Especially since Fitz just smashed some stuff and told Sophie to leave. That's not unreasonable at all! And in Flashback? Alvar tortured Sophie! Believe me, Fitz could not get diagnosed with anger issues if he tried.SophitzMallowmelt, KotLC Wiki[1]
Other fans think he does have anger issues, but that should be viewed as fine:
clothesfromthesoupstore: I get so fricking annoyed when people say Fitz doesn’t have anger issues. Yes he does! And that’s fine! I’m honestly glad that there’s a character in a children’s series that has anger issues and isn’t a villain. Anger issues are a thing real people have! Anger issues do not make you a bad person! Let Fitz have anger issues!the-way-astray: but he doesn't have anger issues. that's the thing. he doesn't. obviously there isn't anything wrong with having anger issues, but saying fitz does is a huge misinterpretation of what having anger issues actually means. which harms people that actually have anger issues even more.anger issues has a very specific definition. it's where you get angry at the smallest, slightest things and explode at them, like water spilling on your papers or the clock ticking too loud. these things can make people with anger issues get incredibly explosive. it's important to understand that they have an issue and it isn't their fault. and there are many people in healthy relationships with anger issues because there are ways to manage it. but calling any character that yells sometimes a character with anger issues does a huge disservice to both the character and real people with anger issues.
fitz doesn't have anger issues, he has a short temper. he doesn't get mad at small events, he's only ever gotten seriously angry when he's going through world-shaking events. those aren't the same thing.
fitz does not have anger issues, but that doesn't mean people with anger issues don't see themselves in fitz or don't relate to him. but canonically speaking, he does not fit the criteria.[2]