I have to say, I quit SPN for genderfail, but it was a while ago, so I have no opinion about Ellen & Jo's deaths, other than, SAD! But I think at the time I saw some of the racefail that ita didn't consider problematic. For me, though, it was cumulative. I probably wouldn't have bristled at perceived racefail if I weren't also bristling at genderfail.

The genderfails for me were twofold: oversexualising female victims, and caving to fangirl aversion to regular female characters. But neither, obviously, enough to overcome my love for the show. And the women I like, I like a lot. Ellen and Mary and Pamela and Missouri rock. Meg, as played by Nikki Aycox was pretty cool too. Ruby, as played by Katie Cassidy, I kinda liked. But Ruby in general makes me all overprotective of Sam, so it's hard for me to appreciate her with any sort of sanity.

I still don't like Bela as written though.

Yeah, Bela was a deliberate omission for me. I can't work out how to fix her, but I damned well could suggest fixing the boys' reactions to her. SHE SHOT SAM. STOP BEING SO NOT UNNICE TO HER.

I loved Lauren Cohan, and I think she had great onscreen chemistry with JA's Dean. I wish they could have created a better character for her, or at least served her character better. Bela never actually fit into the Winchesters' world, and while that was supposed to be part of the appeal of her character for the audience--while providing girly eye candy and a bit of the glitz most if not all other CW shows have and the CW seems to require--it never felt organic to the show. The sheer clunkiness did her character in, I think. ETA: Well, along with the whole SHE SHOT SAM thing, that is.

I didn't mind Bela, although they wrote her with a lot of holes. Even her introduction made no sense -- how was she supposed to know they were eating at Biggerson's in time to grab a wig and a uniform and pretend to be a waitress?

I have no problem with her being a bitch, or doing what she did -- it's sort of surprising we haven't seen more people profiting off the supernatural instead of just being victimized by it.

And while I don't love that she apparently killed her parents because she was a victim of sexual abuse, I can't think of a lot of other reasons for a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl to want her parents dead and remain remotely sympathetic.

And while I don't love that she apparently killed her parents because she was a victim of sexual abuse, I can't think of a lot of other reasons for a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl to want her parents dead and remain remotely sympathetic.

Non-sexual abuse. I mean, Max wasn't molested.

Abuse in general is pretty cliched, though.

Not that it's not horrific, of course. And it happens, so.

I just can't get over them getting over her threatening to kill him. At least Gordon thought he was saving the world.

Totally cliched. Just doesn't have to be sexualized. Which is, like, at least 75% of chicks in comics backstory/origin story/damage. I'd rather, at this point, if they have to use the abuse trope, have it be of the non-sexual variety. I mean, does a chick HAVE to get a copy of The Courage to Heal with her cape?

(Note: actual numbers hyperbole. But the complaint is one of long standing.)