Flutiebear: Rambling My Way Through Thedas

myjusticecake:

Supernatural Meme: Six Side Characters
4- Andy Gallagher

Yeah, except that he’s a rapist.

One of Supernatural’s larger fuck-ups was trying to make this guy sympathetic.

I don’t know if I agree, because not all rapists are mustache-twirling villains, you know?  Some — many — are otherwise likable people with no concept of consent. That’s why they get away with rape, because nobody believes them capable of doing what they did. “Oh, that Andy, he couldn’t have really raped that girl. He’s too nice!”

Even though you and I were both pretty grossed out by Andy, on further reflection, I really think this episode wouldn’t have worked without Andy’s overwhelming charisma. The story depends on it to work.

What happens when a so-called “Nice Guy(TM)” gets superpowers? He doesn’t suddenly become an alpha male, all aggressive posturing and obvious exploitation. No, he becomes a viper in the grass: taking whatever objects he wants, compelling sex from women who can’t say no, tormenting those who can’t defend themselves just for the sheer humor of it, all while maintaining as unthreatening a demeanor as possible, simply out of habit.

I found this episode bone-chilling, and it was specifically because Andy Gallagher is so charismatic. He’s almost Nabokovian; you want to like him, you like him despite yourself. And it doesn’t hurt that in today’s patriarchal society (which perpetuates the myth of the Nice Guy, He Who Is Forever Friendzoned by those Evil Sluts And Their Mindgames) we’re conditioned to respond to men like Andy in a mostly favorable light. In that case, it’s probably only when you stop to think about it that you can see Andy’s actions for the exploitations they are.

Andy is the creepiest villain on this show by a mile, specifically because everyone in the universe thinks he’s so good. I love that. It’s fucking brilliant.