I think I may have walked away already. I started reading Chapter 1, and haven't finished it, because I couldn't stand her John by the time I got to page 4.

Hee, I just looked at your tagline again. Big Pink's blockin my boing, man!

See, I don't think she hates John. I think she's highly critical of him, but I don't think she hates him, and I think she's trying for a sympathetic view of a John who's in a very dark place (and, interestingly, one of the first comments on chapter two was something like, "Stop making me like John! Argh!"), but has a different/harsher reading of John than some of us do.

Well, in one of her fics he was not as harsh as he's seemed in the rest of them. I can't recall now which one, but I was surprised she portrayed him as tough, but caring and as fair as he could be, under the circumstances. I haven't given up on this one, but it is a little tooth-grindy, for me, on John's behalf.

I don't think John is in any way perfect, but I had enough issues with the John Pink wrote in Dazzleland that I'm really questioning whether I want to read the new one. Even though I maintain that Pink is the best writer in the fandom.

But the characterization of John, for whatever reason, really throws me out of the story, and no, I don't think it's entirely justified by canon. It's an interpretation that I don't agree with. Which is her prerogative, but again with the kicking me out of the story--it puts my back up.

I don't think it's justified fanon at all. I've read it before and not been put off, but it's not like John's some abusive alcoholic father, you know? He's a guy who made a tough choice and actually managed to survive the life he laid out for himself, and raise two generally functional sons in the midst of that. I think that's more positive characterization than shitty dad characterization. At least, no more shitty than any other father.

Her new fic is also set JUST after Sam left. And given what happened in Dazzleland, I'm willing to give it time to see what happens.

But I could be saying that because she owns my soul. Good lord, can that woman write.

She really, really can.

non-canonical heavy drinking

I haven't read any of Pink's fic, or indeed seen the latter half of Season 3, but in the pilot Sam certainly implies that John goes on drink binges. My impression was that this was perfectly sincere, and not just put on for Jessica's benefit.

Sam certainly implies that John goes on drink binges. My impression was that this was perfectly sincere, and not just put on for Jessica's benefit.

True, but Sam at that point had reason to interpret any and all of John's actions in the worst possible light.