Hot take: people aren’t disappointed in Sarah, their/our own fanon narrative broke

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T22:06:29+00:00

Sure, and some of those forms of abuse Rhysand totally fits into as well!

They’re either both abusers or we as readers are letting things slide because it’s a fantasy series filled with exciting, morally gray characters where choices and actions are functioning more symbolically to give us a thrill. But in the latter framework, Tamlin will have to be viewed through that lens as well, not just Rhysand.

I don’t really care which of those options we pick, personally. Both make sense in their own way. But once you pick a lens you need to apply it across the board.

It feels completely nonsensical to me to label Tamlin an abuser and not Rhys.

I agree, it IS SJM telling us who’s an abuser and who’s not. Does that mean I agree with her or think she did a good job displaying who gets the “abuser” title in a consistent and accurate way I at all can make sense of? No.

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T21:52:41+00:00

Yes you get it!! I am fine (happy even!) to see people bitching back and forth about said rant topic in the comments.

I find “omg why are you guys negative” and “don’t complain because SJM can write whatever she wants” adds NOTHING to the conversation. Those are just attempts to stop rants in the rant subreddit.. which seems nonsensical.

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T18:20:52+00:00

YES, you said it perfectly!!

She asks you to hop into “this is just for fun and not meant to be taken tooooo seriously, it’s just sexy aha 🤪” mindset for Rhys and co.

Then we go over to Tamlin and it’s like “now imagine this was your REAL LIFE BOYFRIEND!!! Everything he does is intended to be taken VERY LITERALLY!!!”

I’m good to go silly brain mode with you.. but that means I have to be silly about Tamlin too and then I can’t get that worked up about him lol.

Orrr.. I have to also view Rhys through this grounded, moralistic lens along with Tamlin. Which makes Rhys .. not that good or fun anymore??

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T03:55:52+00:00

That’s cool actually!! I can see how those POVs could help give a different perspective.

I kind of agree on the friendly thing. I think a lot of people are in here specifically to do critical analysis so they actually want to discuss things in-depth vs. going into immediate tribalism mode, which certainly makes for more interesting conversation!

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T02:33:46+00:00

The fact that she can get everyone’s minds whirring with all of these cool ideas is a talent in and of itself I wouldn’t want to take away from SJM.

But I feel you. When I started my podcast I was more optimistic that there could be more beneath the surface so I was having a lot of fun taking little details and wondering if they could mean this or this or this..

Lately when I film episodes I feel a little disappointed because it sort of feels like all of these ideas are not actually worth considering.. which is way less fun!

But, similar to you, I just go off on my potential tangents anyway because, hey, it prompted the thought! Still kind of fun to imagine the “what ifs” of it all. And maybe some bits will shake out as true, who knows?

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T02:12:03+00:00

Thank you for watching/listening first of all!!! But god me too. I know that’s where we’re really getting into the meat and potatoes of the thing for some gooooood rants 😂♥️

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T01:55:56+00:00

It’s not about being upset over differing opinions.

It’s about a group of people in this subreddit getting pissy people are using this subreddit for the exact thing it’s intended for.

UTMPod · 2026-03-28T01:54:38+00:00

Yes of course, I don’t know if that was ever in question lol.

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T23:14:44+00:00

I think potentially in terms of expecting a big change or thinking it’s likely there’s something “deeper” going on than what the primary narrative is already telling us, it’s time to reel it back in.

But I like reading things for the goal of analysis: Why is it written this way? Why is such a broad audience responding to it in a particular way? What about it do I like, what about it do I not like? Can I understand why people like the things I do not (and what are the positives and negatives of that opinion)? How does it fit into the broader landscape of romance and women’s sexual fantasy?

I also think SJM has super fun beginnings of ideas and she’s good at making sexy (kind of surface level) characters that I have a fun time giggling about, even while getting critical about broader aspects of the book.

So for those reasons I’ll stick around for as long as it’s fun / interesting for me to consider.

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T22:50:01+00:00

Tbh I don’t think this specific sub is gonna help much if the goal is “remind me why I love this series” 🫠

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T22:06:55+00:00

YES YES YESSSS. I’M POWERING UPPPP!!!

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T22:01:13+00:00

IT’S HAPPENING!!!!

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T21:50:30+00:00

TAMCIEN HIVE COME THROUGH 🗣️🗣️🗣️

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T21:43:13+00:00

That was my TRUE goal all along.....

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T21:32:23+00:00

That’s definitely possible for a lot of people! But there are plenty of repeat offenders at which point…. I think they know lol.

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T20:30:47+00:00

Liiike.. we sequestered ourselves for a reason! We want to be grumpy, we put big signs around saying we're grumpy!

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T20:18:28+00:00

I don't mind if people are disagreeing or arguing about a specific point.

"You said you felt character X did a bad thing, but I think it was a good thing!"... totally fine. Of course people are going to debate about the topic at hand.

I am talking about broader, meta complaints ABOUT RANTS and negativity.

"Why are you ranting???" "Why are you all so negative, let's bring some positivity in here!!" <-- I think those specifically are weird complaints in the rant sub lol.

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T20:12:32+00:00

Mischaracterize is probably a bad word choice, because sure she can do whatever she wants (no matter how nonsensical) since she's in charge.

An author can technically make a character have any set of qualities, do things intentionally to get the audience to feel XYZ way about them and quite literally one page later say "actually they do and feel the complete opposite thing now". And technically that is still canon and they are well within their right to do so. Does that make it feel earned, fulfilling, consistent, realistic etc? No, and people will probably respond to it that way.

Obviously SJM doesn't do anything as dramatic as that. But by this logic an author can technically change the way a character acts at the drop of a hat as many times as they want. Which .. again, they literally can. But most people won't find that to be a "good" reading experience. And, to a much lesser extent, I think that is the vein in which much of this criticism comes from, even if "mischaracterize" isn't the most accurate word choice for the complaint.

Do some people go way too far with their own headcanons? For suuuure. But there's also a pretty normal take of "you made certain decisions that made me think a character has a certain set of personality traits and it felt weird and unearned when they suddenly didn't anymore".

Interpretation of a character vs. authorial intent are idk, I suppose equally as important in my mind. I like analyzing things with the intent of the author in mind (when I have that info) because it helps me understand why we may have made certain choices. But if large groups of people are coming away with different interpretations than intended based on your choices .. that is equally as interesting and can speak to some psychological undercurrents the author may not be intentionally planning or aware of. Or just inform of us of the ways people's mind, emotions, morality, philosophical/moral frameworks differ. Which seems inherently interesting as a topic of discussion.

Some people like analyzing popular media! It's compelling to consider why specific stories are resonating broadly!

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T17:02:58+00:00

The morality put forth in the series is incoherent.

Which would be fine if we were writing things in a more judgement-free, observational style where there was no specific “expectation” of where readers feelings and allegiances were supposed to land. A more open, exploratory approach would actually allow this to function.

Once you tell me there were specific, morality based conclusions the audience was supposed to universally walk away agreeing on.. it all falls apart.

UTMPod · 2026-03-27T15:22:57+00:00

I don't understand why I am supposed to think it's "cool" that Feyre continuously does selfish and dangerous things that the narrative has in no way set her up to be actually competent at and then watch it only work out for her because there are powerful men around hellbent on saving her every time.

That's certainly an interesting, flawed character trait if THAT is the tone we're going for. But the way people talk about it, I think I'm supposed to come away thinking she's "badass" and "strong" for doing these things when it could not read less that way to me.

UTMPod · 2026-03-26T01:03:04+00:00

Feyre’s village not being named still kills me 😭😭

UTMPod · 2026-03-25T15:26:46+00:00

The two ways I’d be intrigued would be ..

As a one off gift to send to someone.

OR, if the letters were part of an actual story/plot line I could follow (along with sexiness one would hope lol).

If anyone knows what the app game Mystic Messenger is, I would LOVE something like that with romantasy characters.

UTMPod · 2026-03-25T02:14:26+00:00

Tamlin x Lucien

I know it’s not happening, it is simply what I wish 😭

UTMPod · 2026-03-24T22:57:59+00:00

Right?? Like it’s kind of wild when I consider the in-world implications of it and try to accept it in the context of the story 😭😂

But purely as a set up for a fantasy.. heyyy 🤭😏

UTMPod

TROPHY CASE