#im saying not-examining masculinity and femininity in a text often leaves a big question-mark especially a text like this

[variousqueerthings]

the thing is there’s bad shows that have fascinating characters and arcs and set-ups and inbuilt lore from the start and interesting good accidents all the way through due to Tensions in gender and sexuality and intersectional politics that naturally occur when the writing challenges the belief systems of the writers (whether or not they allow it to change them is immaterial, the writing is what it is and its potential always supersedes the limitations of those writing it) and even the fact that the writer isn’t really up to the task to be honest about what the writing is asking of them, even the fact that they back down and take the story to incomprehensible places due to not knowing how to react when challenged and so the answer is reactionary and clumsy and even ignorant-

even that is interesting, because seeing the threads that make up the story, seeing how they pull -- sometimes with deliberation and sometimes with fumbling fear of unknown territory -- relates right back to all those things that were put in there, accidentally or on purpose

which brings us, of course, to cobra kai

taking out all the boring stuff about why this or that happened (we know why, the writers are three middle-aged straight white cis dudes who have large blindspots about what they’re delving into and accidentally made the most interesting dynamics same-sex because they believe martial arts should be segregated and don’t know how to write characters who aren’t using their fists to progress their story and they’re afraid of Politics) and then think about why does it happen in the story?

(the alternative of course is to go “I simply erase it from the story,” which is a strong choice, and it also asks the question: what do these key changes do to the trajectory of everything)

why does it happen in the story? Not “why do some other (paid, flipping paid) writers want it to happen,” but what would it take for it to make sense for you?

what gods of that universe, or longform stories, or subversions, or tricks, or missing scenes, or, or, or, do you need to make it work?

the story is still there, the writing is still interesting for knowing concretely what the flaws of the writers are (some people picked up on that early, I’m an optimistic soul I’ve been told) -- so what loose threads need to be picked up on, what questions have gone unanswered or hurried through or answered incorrectly?

what do you need to do to make it work?

#ck #cobra kai #what do you need to do to make it work - me asking johnny this question is EXACTLY one of the unanswered questions that interests me #what is the function of an ouroboros in a story -- that's another one #where did miyagi's ghost go? and another one #how does daniel feel about violence after that violence is enacted? #why did sam return to miguel and did she actually find out what she wanted? #does carmen want a baby? is the baby REAL? #what makes terry silver tragic? #has robby recovered from his past? #what is miguel's function in the story? (is he aware of this?) #a SLEW of questions relating to tory of course and to tory in relation to sam (we know this) #and of course -- what themes are of interest to you the potential writer of fanfic or fanartist or edit-maker or meta-writer etc. #also to be clear when I say 'gender and sexuality' im not necessarily saying trans and not-straight #im saying not-examining masculinity and femininity in a text often leaves a big question-mark especially a text like this #'politics' here encompasses everything from how the show handles vietnam korea japan and okinawa #to how it writes its scant characters of colour #to its (lack of) acknowledgement of the ways that racism impacted miyagi's character #to its unexamined sexism and misogyny and throwaway 'politically incorrect' jokes put in the mouth of johnny #to its examination of violence (when is violence good and when is it bad) #to its stories about addiction and mental health and physical disability #to the way it writes police and law enforcement and criminal punishment and poverty #to of course... its creepy pro-life sentiments #im sure ive missed some there -- but for a show that attempts desperately to avoid any politics it sure decided to write politics #cks5 #cobra kai spoilers #cobra kai s5 #cobra kai season 5