#stella kelly + stellaride meta coming up soon but i needed to say this first

[kim-ruzek]

I'm SO in my Stella Kidd feels today so I'm just gonna scream in appreciation about her, and about how amazing the evolution of stellaride and Kelly has been, but before I make a different post on that, I really need to express just how brilliant this whole storyline has been and that even if it's made her a "bad friend", it's so good it's NECESSARY and WORTH being a "bad friend"

First, this fandom is so amazing and lovely and it's such a breathe of fresh air and I LOVE how that one anon in Sky's ask just immediately got everyone screaming in Stella Kidd appreciation, like I truly love that for us.

Second, I do have issues with how Chicago Fire-- and one chicago in general-- handles their poc. I mean CF does it much better than the other two, but there's still issues I have, but I'm not going to touch upon them, bc this is an appreciation post and because I TRULY adore how they've given this storyline to Stella this season and how they did it.

Like, some people may hate that they're not just focusing on her, as a good firefighter, going into the journey to becoming a Lieutenant, but that they're making it about a woc becoming one, but I seriously adore that. Because as a woc, we don't have the luxury to be just a person, we'll always be seen as a woc. And as much in some circumstances that truly sucks, in others it's needed, because everything we do, everything that made us us was through those lenses, and it makes us more heightened to stuff, that we see and notice things others just don't.

So Stella will always make choices and decisions as a Lieutenant through those lenses. And to make the storyline not just about someone becoming an officer who just happens to be a woc, but instead making that a center focus is something SO amazing bc I think sometimes people get caught up in that we don't want to be defined as just woc that they ignore that it's still such a huge part of us and the way we exist in this world.

Third, and onto the main point of this post: I LOVE how they evolved this storyline. Like how Boden's been such a big part of it, especially because Stella never was someone who's ever believed she's the kind of person who should be aiming high, never had anyone tell her she should. And I love how it wasn't someone like Matt or Kelly, someone white, but Boden. Especially that scene when he showed her the photo of the first black firefighter station, that he appealed to her to be a lieutenant not just because of her amazing skills, but because the CFD needs more woc with those skills.

And I love how much girls on fire has been part of this journey for her. Like I've seen people criticise that we haven't seen her do much incredible things out in the field (which, uh, I don't buy into bc we absolutely have) but like... being an officer, especially in this day, isn't just about how you operate in the field but how you guide. Being a lieutenant means you need to be able to lead, and girls on fire shows she can, alongside all her field work.

Plus, season eight was all about showing her off in field, this season is showing exactly how incredible she's going to be in all areas of being a lieutenant. The fact that you have to have the right demeanour, that you need to make the people under you feel comfortable confiding in you, that they trust you, that you will be their guide. That you have to be comfortable talking to the people above you, arguing for what you think will help your team.

And they've shown that Stella can ABSOLUTELY do this.

I also really love how they've shown what she needs from Kelly. That she just needs him to support her from the sides, because she doesn't need him to hold her hand, guide her, just needs to know he's standing there, proudly, watching her shine. Because she doesn't need help, but she's perfectly qualified and able in her own right, without him. But she's still human, so she still needs her partner to be her cheerleader, to help get keep her self doubts at bay, because that's the one thing she can't do herself.

And I love how they've used Boden. Especially because when as a poc you're finally realising your worth, all that encouragement and appreciation for who you are, it means SO much more coming from a role model who's also a poc.

And I love how they've shown when he encouraged her, when he stood back and let her process things, how that when he's complimented her efforts it's not just out of no where, not just making her feel happy, it's when he truly thinks she deserves it.

Also. I know some people didn't exactly like her meeting her CFD role model, but I LOVE that they did that because yet again, that would mean so much. Especially bc that does something Boden's encouragement can't, bc they'll always be a voice that says Boden knows her, he's bias, but she didn't. And of course, Boden may be a poc, but he's still a man so having a fellow woc recognise her as great? So, so necessary.

Plus, as woc we're constantly told, maybe not directly but definitely indirectly, that we shouldn't aim high, that we should be content, that if we do aim high we should be meek about it, apologetic. And that's wrong, so seeing Stella appreciate her own worth? NEEDED.

Finally, I know a whole lot of other people besides woc can relate to Stella, and her storyline. It's the great thing about stuff like this, it's layered and everyone can find something in it that they relate to.

But I'll never be able to overstate how refreshing and healing this storyline has been for me, a woc, and my fellow woc. Like Stella has been kickass, has been recognised as such, has had goals and been unapologetic about it, has had a supportive partner just letting her shine, like all that? It can be a struggle to find stuff that explores all that, and it's so needed.

Like me, for example. I'm comfortable in my skin, I'm passionate about this, I'm so much more validated and self accepting and so unapologetic about it than I was in my younger years but I still have this need, this craving, to be validated in my shows and over mediums. Because I grew up without it, with it barely being there.

I can count on one hand my woc role models in shows I had growing up, with fingers left over. Even now, it doesn't take long to list. And while I'm fully unapologetic with who I am and how I experience the world, I still need these storylines, these characters.

And a little part of me would die inside if I saw such a kickass character be reduced to a plot device for petty white people drama, because Stella and all of us woc are so much more worth that. We exist. We are people. We have feelings. And I'm so happy that the show is giving us kickass Stella Kidd, and that most of the fans respect that.

And yeah, that anon or anyone else who had that opinion, may not have meant it as Stella doesn't deserve this focus or she's pointless if not fixing white adult drama, but sorry, woc can't exist in this world without being seen as that, and that means when you say stupid stuff like that? You can't ignore that she's a woc, can't just remove that from the equation. Because this isn't just Stella, firefighter and Brettsey's friend becoming a lieutenant, this is Stella Kidd, woc becoming a lieutenant and that makes all the fucking difference.

This may be incoherent but I don't care because I love Stella Kidd, I love her storyline and it is Needed to be said.

#ree has thoughts #that no one asked for #stella kidd #chicago fire #stella kelly + stellaride meta coming up soon but i needed to say this first #i mean most of the fandom gets this but it still needs to be expressed