CW: sex, non-con
Beastars makes me feel so damned conflicted. I’m in love with the world even though the dialogue is a bit on the nose, and I would BE Haru in a heartbeat if I could.
But there’s no escaping that predation is staged to look a hell of a lot like sexual assault and that’s an undeniable problem. The fact that it’s central to the show’s plot means I couldn’t overlook it if I want it to. I shouldn’t.
It’s a really fascinating concept, maybe *because* it makes me so uncomfortable.
CW: sex, non-con
It feels like acknowledging a shadow, which is useful work. But at the same time, exploring fiction that acknowledges dark impulses can look a lot like approving of those impulses, excusing them or diminishing the harm they cause.
I think it’s frustrating that we can’t be in a climate where we talk through this stuff. I think it could do a lot of good if we could have difficult conversations.