jazzydonald-90958 Reviews

Brothers Conflict (2013– )

This Anime Needs A Script Doctor

[1/10 · 23 March 2023]

Here's how I'd "fix" the anime. The first thing I'd do is give a good reason for why all the boys are obsessed with Ema. I'd have their biological father die horribly in an accident. Then Miwa, being so stricken with grief, goes into overprotective mode and isolates her and her sons in a mansion in the middle of the forest. They would have all of their food and supplies delivered to their house, be homeschooled, and have all of the staff be men to give the sons some semblance of a male role model. Then, once Miwa meets Rintarou, and allows her heart to love again, she allows her sons to have more freedom. Little did she know, the damage had already been done. Since Ema would be the first girl that the boys meet that's their own age and isn't their mom, they'd all go feral over her since they've never been socialized around other girls. I'd also have all the boys be teenagers. Like 2 sets of quintuplets and 1 set of triplets. That way, at the very least, their age ranges would be 14 - 17. Isolation plus raging hormones that they don't understand would also explain all of their irrationally horny behavior. I'd also have them only know love and romance through anime and manga. I'd also explore the ramifications of having so many siblings, such as parentification. That's sadly a common thing with large families, especially if the oldest sibling is a girl. There's no way a family that large, with no visible nannies, wouldn't have the oldest siblings be parentified to hell and back. So exploring how their conflicted emotions coupled with the burdens of being the oldest males in the family would make for interesting storytelling as well as further justify their irrational behavior. Most of all, I'd have the finale be that Ema helps all of the brothers get their own girlfriends by teaching them how to behave around girls. That would give them all a reason to bond by having Ema get to know all of the boys and their wants and personalities. Then it all ends with everyone in separate relationships, and Ema is happy staying single and surrounded by people who love her as family.

The Last Horror Movie (2003)

One of the best found footage horror movies ever made

[10/10 · 29 January 2022]

This, in my opinion, is one of the best and scariest-found footage horror movies I've ever seen. Max is one of my favorite (and, in my opinion, the best-written) horror movie villains. First of all, it's rare to see any movie where the villain is the main character. Throughout the movie, we get an in-depth view of Max's life and how he's managed to essentially get away with murder. The most horrifying thing about Max is literally no one, not even his own sister, suspects him of anything. The fact that he's so confident in his ability never to get caught that he rented a tape and put all the evidence anyone needs to indicate him really shows how deep his levels of narcissism and psychopathy are. What I liked the most about Max is how he's just an average-looking middle-class man, yet still commits the most heinous and taboo crimes imaginable just because he can. When horror movies have villains who are humans, they're usually either love-sick stalkers like Alex Forrest (Fatal Attraction), institutionalized people with congenital disabilities like Michael Myers (Halloween), or are so insanely wealthy that they can pay their way out of criminality like Patrick Bateman (American Psycho). Max, however, is someone you'd bump into at the grocery store, meet at a PTA conference, or even go on a blind date with. He even has a stable relationship with his sister and regularly hosts dinner parties. The last thing about this movie that cemented itself as being one of my favorites is how it's a slow-burn movie that I didn't find boring. I usually don't care for horror movies that don't get scary until the end like "The VVitch" or "The Blair Witch Project." Still, "The Last Horror Movie" managed to keep me engaged by the sheer fact that we're watching a villain monologue about his personal philosophy while casually committing crimes. The types of horror movies that scare me are the ones that could happen in the real world. This movie is a prime example of why I love non-supernatural found footage movies; and others similar to it like Creep and Hangman.

Phoenix Forgotten (2017)

If you like found footage and documentaries, you'll like this

[7/10 · 26 January 2022]

I'm a sucker for found footage films and documentaries, so this movie was perfect for me. Even though I don't believe in the supernatural, it's still interesting to suspend my disbelief and watch found footage movies. I also appreciated the director hiring 18-19-year-olds to play the teens. 25-30+ adults playing kids has always been a pet peeve of mine. This movie also reminded me why I'd never go camping or stay in the middle of nowhere for an extended period of time. My one gripe is it doesn't get scary until the last 30 minutes. However, once it picks up, it really picks up.

Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015)

If Misery were a found footage film

[8/10 · 26 January 2022]

I won't spoil anything, but I think this film is in the same vein as "Misery." Both films are about the dangers of parasocial relationships. I think "Be My Cat" is scarier. The first reason is because Adrian's obsession causes him to do a lot more horrendous stuff. The second is because the film is found footage, so it adds to the realism. There are people out there who are just like Adrian. People who think they're entitled to a celebrity's love and attention, even though the celebrity doesn't even know they exist. There could be an Adrian in my own neighborhood, and I wouldn't know it until it's too late.

Midsommar (2019)

A Perfect Example Of How And Why People Get Indoctrinated Into Cults

[10/10 · 9 July 2021]

What's scary about Midsummer is how many people saw it as a happy movie. They were happy that Dani finally got what she wanted, a family. In reality, the Hårga are a cult. Pelle chose Dani to be the new member because he knew that she had no family or friends who would investigate her disappearance and was desperate for a sense of belonging.

It's funny how people are confident that they'd never get indoctrinated into a cult, yet these same people didn't see the Hårga as a cult. I'm like, "of course you wouldn't get indoctrinated into a cult. You're not desperate enough." People join cults when, like Dani, their lives are in shambles. They're poor/homeless, their family abandoned them, their family is dead, they don't have friends, they're sick, or they're having an existential crisis and are seeking guidance.

Some people claim that the Hårga wasn't that bad because they showed Dani she'd be getting into. But, does she though? For example, of the Hårga's traditions is when their members reach the age of 72, they're no longer seen as being of use to the village and commit suicide by falling off a mountain. So, what happens when a member reaches 72, is perfectly healthy, and doesn't want to die? Do you think the cult is just gonna let them live and die of natural causes? No. They're either gonna force them off the mountain, sacrifices them, or exile them to the forest to fend for themselves. Since the Hårga live miles away from civilization and don't have phones or cell reception, no one can call for help.

The Hårga, like all rural villages, believe in traditional gender roles. What happens when a female member is infertile or doesn't want to get pregnant? Or a male member doesn't want to work or becomes disabled? Cults are notorious for being ruthless to members who step out of line or can't contribute. We never see Hårga members getting punished or tortured for insubordination in the movie because they wanted to show Dani all their good sides. Do you think Pelle would've taken Dani to the village if it was raining or there wasn't a festival? No. He specially chose the perfect day to make the Hårga as appealing as possible. Dani is still trapped and will be forced to conform to their way of life, or else.

People also say the Hårga is like paradise compared to mainstream American society because they could give Dani what she needed without technology. However, it wasn't modern society that caused Dani to be miserable, it was a combination of Christian's apathy and Dani's sister murdering her parents. We never know why she murdered her parents and killed herself. Was she mentally ill? We're Dani's parents abusing her? We don't know. Society also didn't make Dani introverted; that's just the way she is. If Christian were a better boyfriend, and Dani had better friends, Pelle wouldn't have targeted her for indoctrination.

There's also been debate on whether or not the Hårga are a cult. They are, but not in the way we think of cults. They're similar to the Amish. They can claim to not be a cult since the members are allowed to leave. There's even a tradition called Rumspringa where Amish teens can choose to either stay or leave the village.

The problem is both the Hårga and Amish's way of life is completely incompatible with the outside world. If any of them did leave, where could they go? They don't have driver's licenses, passports, dental records, social security codes, birth certificates, education records, or any form of official identification. As for work, the only thing they could do is low-skill factory work, be a maid/housekeeper, or a farmhand.

People who were born and raised there are unlikely to leave because that would mean abandoning all their friends, family, and the only life they've ever known. Even though they're not technically hostages, their culture makes assimilation with the outside world is almost impossible. That's why a lot of them say, "Why would I leave? I have everything I need." This is why we see none of the Hårga leave, even though they could. That's why self-sustaining cults are dangerous.

Man of Steel (2013)

This Would Be The Perfect Supergirl Movie

[5/10 · 5 July 2021]

The biggest criticism I hear about Zach Snyder's Superman is how his Randian objectivist philosophy made Superman come off as more selfish and borderline unrecognizable. This is why I think Zach Snyder should've directed a Supergirl movie. She's the objective superhero, and her reasons are fairly justifiable. Unlike Superman, Supergirl wasn't raised on Earth. She didn't grow up with humans and didn't learn Earth's social skills, so she comes off as more alien and has trouble making friends. She was forced to learn pretty quickly how to control her powers and speak English rather than learn as she grew because she was already an adult when she arrived on Earth. The only person in the whole world who she can relate to and sympathize with is Superman. She didn't choose to become a superhero because she cared about humanity; she did it because Superman (and Wonder Woman kinda) told her to. She cared more about Krypton and mourns for it more than Superman because it was all she knew for the majority of her life. In multiple comics, she leaves Earth to find somewhere else to live because she's tired of having to constantly save humans despite not understanding why they're deserving of salvation. She's not a monster. She just didn't have a Ma and Pa Kent to teach her how to be humble and love Earth. It's only natural that she'd be selfish. Snyder would've done a way better job with Supergirl than whatever it is the CW is doing.

The Sopranos (1999–2007)

The Perfect Anti Hero

[10/10 · 5 July 2021]

What separates Tony Soprano from other popular "anti-heroes" like Walter White and Rick Sanchez is how it's impossible to idolize or want to be him. The problem I have with a lot of modern anti-hero characters is that writers never go far enough with their "anti" side, which leads the audience to focus more on their "hero" side. Walter White is a drug dealer who was directly responsible for many people's deaths and constantly puts his family in danger, yet fans praise him and even call him a hero. Meanwhile, his wife Skyler is considered one of the most hated characters in television history. All because she constantly calls Walter out on his screw-ups and has seen firsthand how his actions make her and their son's life worse. Rick Sanchez is a sociopathic nihilist who has destroyed entire civilizations and also puts his family in constant danger, yet people still consider him realistic and relatable. A section of the fanbase likes to claim that anyone who criticizes Rick and Morty isn't smart enough to understand it. Coincidentally, that's the exact same excuse Rick himself uses whenever he says something rude and destroys something. Tony Soprano, on the other hand, is completely repugnant. While the audience may sympathize with him during his darkest hours, he's still not someone anyone would want to be or even be associated with. Quite frankly, ending the series with an unsatisfying and abrupt cut to black is exactly what Tony Soprano deserves.

Malcolm & Marie (2021)

The Problem With Age Gaps

[5/10 · 30 June 2021]

I personally found this movie very uncomfortable and unpleasant just because I don't like watching people argue. Other than that, it's still a fine movie. Not Oscar-worthy, but it's ok for a low-budget movie with one setting and only two characters. My biggest gripe with the movie is the dynamic between Malcolm and Marie. It felt like Malcolm was abusing Marie rather than arguing. The difference between an argument and abuse is the same difference between a fight and a beating. Power. If both sides have equal amounts of power, then it's an argument. If one side is overtly stronger, older, and or wealthier than the other, then it's abuse. Malcolm is the primary breadwinner and is older than Marie by 12 years. He clearly holds the most amount of power in the marriage. Neither directors nor actors saw a problem with this setup because age gap marriages where the man is the older one are prevalent in movies.

That being said, Malcolm & Marie could've been excellent if it served as a cautionary tale of age gap relationships and why they rarely work in the long run. Malcolm's comment about how he helped Marie during her lowest point was a great setup for how a lot of people end up in age-gap relationships. The older person was usually the younger person's savior and or mentor. Young people always seek guidance, especially if they're poor, have big dreams they don't know how to accomplish, and or suffering from an affliction. When the young person gets over their issues, they naturally grow closer to the older person. While also feeling indebted. Not to mention the older person may grow a sense of entitlement and feel as though the younger person "owes them." Once the arguing starts happening, one of the most common points the older person likes to use is, "without me, you'd be nothing!" The younger person is also susceptible to control due to their lack of life experience. At first, it's the little things like how they dress, what foods they should eat, and what they do for entertainment. Then it gradually escalates into being forbidden from befriending anyone of the opposite sex, being told to not speak without permission, and how often they can see their family. A way the older person justifies their control over the younger person is by taking a more parental role by saying, "I know what's best for you."

Part of the reason why Malcolm & Marie faught so much is because of their age gap. For example, what would a 25-year-old and a 45-year-old even have in common? The answer is almost nothing. While it's true that opposites attract, if there's no common ground, then the relationship will be superficial and unstable. A 25-year-old and a 45-year-old are on entirely different planes of existence. One of my favorite scenes from the Netflix show, Bojack Horseman, was when Diane explained to Mr. Peanutbutter why so many of his marriages failed. The answer is because he keeps pursuing women in their early 20s. A 25-year-old is not a fully formed adult, no matter what the law says. They're still trying to figure things out and what they want to do with our lives. I doubt many people in their 20s who know what to do for a career. Whereas most people in their 40s usually have their lives figured out and are comfortable with settling down. The few who don't are usually immature, and immature people in their 40s with money can be dangerous and predatory. This is how age gap relationships can lead to grooming and abuse.

50 First Dates (2004)

The Problem with Romantic Comedies

[1/10 · 11 April 2021]

Romantic comedies have been viewed with a lot of scrutiny for having "problematic" portrayals of love and romance. If you want to talk about a problematic romantic comedy, the worst offender I've ever seen was 50 First Dates. Not only does the movie encourage the "protagonist" Henry to take advantage of Lucy's mental illness for his own benefit, but the ending flat out rewards him and punishes her. Sure Henry got his dream girl, but Lucy is basically stuck in a never-ending nightmare. She'll spend the rest of her life forgetting her own family, she'll never be able to truly love her kids and watch them grow, her kids will always be saddened by the fact that their mom will always forget them (and all the good time these had), and on top of that she'll have to be completely dependent on Henry since she'll never be able to hold down a job. Also, at the risk of being morbid, I don't know how loyal Henry will be once Lucy loses her good looks and her condition worsens with age. I can only imagine how Alzheimer's would affect her. It would've been less creepy if the movie ended with Lucy's short-term memory loss getting magically cured with the power of love. If 50 First Dates was from Lucy's perspective, it would be a goddamn horror movie.

WordGirl (2007–2015)

We need more cartoons like WordGirl

[10/10 · 11 April 2021]

My favorite cartoon on PBS Kids was WordGirl. It got me interested in learning big words and creative writing. Rewatching the show as an adult, I was surprised at how great the writing, characterization, and racial and gender representation are. The only time I saw a kid's cartoon with a black girl as the protagonist was The Proud Family. That's even rarer with superhero cartoons. Becky Botsford is one of the most well-written black girls I've ever seen. While she is a kick-ass superhero, she also still acts like a quirky and awkward 10-year-old. She unapologetically loves girly things like unicorns and glitter, and she also likes gender-neutral things like reading and art. She's intelligent, confident, and funny. I also like how the show isn't afraid to give her flaws. For example, she's terrible at singing and dancing, uses her powers for selfish things like winning competitions and finishing chores, and sometimes slips up keeping her secret identity a secret. Becky's best friends Todd and Violet are also excellent. Violet is like Chelsea from That's So Raven, but more soft-spoken. Todd is a great example of Asian representation because he's not the stereotypical overachieving mathematician; he likes journalism. Becky's parents, Mr. And Mrs. Botsford, are some of the best parents I've seen in a kid's show. Mrs. Botsford is a district attorney, and Mr. Botsford is like Victor Baxter from That's So Raven. Unlike many dads in cartoons and sitcoms, he's goofy without being completely stupid, is a kind and caring father who's comfortable with showing his emotions, and is also a great cook. The only character that I don't like is Becky's younger brother TJ. However, unlike Caillou and Arthur's parents, when TJ acts out or says something rude, they call him out on his bad behavior and punish him. This show is also a genuinely good parody of superhero tropes. There's this narrator who breaks the 4th wall and banters with the characters, kind of like Dave the Barbarian and The PowerPuff Girls. Plus, the villains have creative designs and are all hilarious. It's sad how no one talks about WordGirl since it's on PBS Kids. It had a great run with 130 episodes. It's probably one of the best superhero kid's cartoons I've ever seen. It's definitely leagues above Teen Titans Go.

RWBY (2012– )

Relatable Mary Sue

[6/10 · 6 April 2021]

Overall, the series is fine, but the one character I couldn't get into was Pyrrha. I never liked Pyrrha because she reminded me too much of Chloe Carmichael, Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way, and Blargatha from that one episode of Adventure Time. She kept coming off as a Mary Sue, whose one and only major flaw is she's just too perfect and won't stop whining about it. Suppose the show writers wanted to make Pyrrha more sympathetic and relatable. In that case, they should've shown us how hard it was to be perfect. As a pro athlete, Pyrrha probably went through a rigorous training regimen since she was a child. If you've seen the social media accounts of teenage pro athletes, those guys are intense. They train 18+ hours a day and rarely have time to socialize or indulge themselves. So Pyrrha going to Beacon, making friends, and having fun could be like a vacation for her. Another thing they could've shown is Pyrrha's parents to be similar to Nicole Watterson's. Having her grow up believing that second place is first place for losers, or if she failed at least once, everyone would disown and shun her. Then show Pyrrha fail at something, having a mental/nervous breakdown, and be genuinely surprised and relieved when her friends still accept her. Now that could've been relatable because that happens to many kids in the real world, including one of my best friends. They could've even had a thing where Blake hated Pyrrha for her whining since, as a Faunus, she knows how hard life can be for certain people. Also, Pyrrha's relationship with Jaune could've been more interesting. A girl who's perfect at everything and a boy who's terrible at everything could find some relatability with not being like anyone and how hard it is to make friends. Her celebrity status could've even caused her and Jaune's relationship to be scandalous. Maybe even have her friends and family be against it because a goddess like her shouldn't be fraternizing with such an ingrate. Or have Jaune be good at something that Pyrrha isn't, and have him assure her that it's ok to be not perfect at everything. Thus giving her a better reason to fall in love with him.

That's So Raven (2003–2007)

This Is The Kind Of Diversity We Need Now More Than Ever

[10/10 · 6 April 2021]

One thing I hated about a lot of kid's shows was how fatphobic they are towards pre-teen and teenage girls. The YouTuber Pop Culture Detective discussed a trope in one of his videos called "the abhorrent admirer." In almost every kid's show, especially when a boy is the protagonist, there will be a character who has a crush on one of the main characters and always gets rejected. That character is usually a girl who is overweight, loud, wears frumpy clothes, and is generally stigmatized by the whole school for being unpopular. As a result, them wanting to be loved is seen as a joke. As a black girl who was chubby throughout middle and high school, Raven Baxter holds a special place in my heart. Not only was she a black female main character, but also one who was desired by cute boys, had a great sense of fashion, and generally beloved by lots of people despite being overweight. She was also three-dimensional and was allowed to be flawed and learn lessons while still being a generally kind and caring person. I'm not saying Raven is better than other female teenage characters who are skinny and conventionally attractive. I just wish more overweight (or even average-sized) actresses of color could get more chances to be in the spotlight without being a punchline. We also need to show kids that you don't need to look like a model to be worthy of love and respect.

Divergent (2014)

Could've Been Better

[5/10 · 6 April 2021]

Divergent's world-building bugged me for lots of reasons. The most glaring flaw in the system was how the factionless were homeless. Shouldn't they be the ones who become the low-skilled laborers who worked in textile mills, factories, and sanitation? After all, someone has to make the clothes, cook the food, fix the machines, and clean up the garbage. That would've made more sense and provide commentary on how society values special skills and natural-born talent above everything. So those who lack talent are doomed to be a cog in the massive system and slowly fade into obscurity. The sad truth is not everyone can be a genius, be remembered for generations, have statues built for them, be placed in textbooks, or be the world's greatest. The vast majority of people lack talent and thus are stuck in modernity. Also, Tris and Four's relationship would've been more interesting if he was secretly factionless rather than another divergent. Their chemistry would've been more interesting since both would be considered outsiders for different reasons. Overall this is a typical YA dystopian. You've read/watched one, you've read/watched them all.

Dorohedoro (2020)

Well, This Was A Pleasant Surprise

[7/10 · 6 April 2021]

I thought this was great. I found it refreshing seeing an urban/dark fantasy with characters who aren't boring, dumb, whiny, overpowered teenagers stuck in a convoluted love triangle where the main character is the chosen one. I also like how it portrayed magic in a more "scientific" way. Magic (especially in anime) is usually depicted as an abstract force of nature that anyone can learn with enough determination or a whimsical god-given gift that only a privileged few are born with. In Dorohedoro, sorcerers are just people that have a tumor in their brain and unique glands that shoot black dust out of their mouth and hands. Also, almost all the magic users are either murders, cultists, mad scientists, sociopaths, or just people going about their daily lives (which usually involves one of the four mentioned). There are no heroes. However, I found myself liking the antagonists as much as the protagonists. It's also hilarious how no one in the anime is phased by the constant gory violence. It gives it a real Tarantino vibe. My only complaint was I thought it was too short, and the pacing was a little off. If you want to watch it, it's on Netflix.

The Promised Neverland (2019–2021)

Unhappily Ever After

[5/10 · 6 April 2021]

On the one hand, I do understand why the story ended that way. After seeing so much perpetual suffering from Emma and the kids, they absolutely deserved their happy ending. On the other hand, this would be like if Berserk ended with everyone from The Hawk getting resurrected, Giffith married Casca, had lots of babies, and lived peacefully on a farm. It would be nice to see Griffith finally get some much-needed love and happiness, but that would ruin the whole point of the story and be very out of place given the tone. The Promised Neverland built its story on subverting expectations and shattering the kid's perception of a "happy ending." The show's very title is a reference to Peter Pan, a story about a group of kids going to a magical world where all they do is play. Only to find out that the magical world contains its own unique problems and dangers, and eventually, they realize that they can't stay there. The way the story should've ended is by either having Emma's life be the price she pays to save everyone, or have her humanity promised to Him, and she transforms into a demon. That way, Emma can still be happy knowing her family will live on safely but will never see them again. That would've been the perfect bitter-sweet ending that this manga deserved. Overall, great story with an unsatisfying ending.

Nisekoi (2014–2016)

Should've been a love triangle

[5/10 · 6 April 2021]

First of all, the anime should've chosen either the key and lock or the arranged marriage plot device. Doing both just made the whole story clunky. Second, It would've been better if it was just a love triangle between Raku, Chitoge, and Marika instead of a harem. Both Chitoge and Marika were strong-willed, stubborn, and refuse to accept defeat. So them aggressively competing with dense-as-hell Raku in the middle of the chaos would've been more fun and compelling to watch. I'd also want Marika to be the childhood friend with the key to the lock instead of Onodera. I don't hate her; I just found her boring compared to all the other love interests. Every joke and subplot that revolved around Onodera was the same, and her constant failed confessions were repetitive and annoying. Plus, she really had nothing going for her in the harem apart from being nice, pretty, and Raku's childhood friend. What made Marika's love for Raku more interesting was that her dad was the police commissioner. Imagine how interesting it would've been to have a love triangle with the daughter of a gang leader and the daughter of the police commissioner. The story's overarching conflict could've been Raku choosing between uniting the two rival gangs or creating peace between his father's gang and the police department. Overall the story was fine. If you like harems, you'll like this. I just wish the story were better.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

My Monster Boyfriend: How Twilight Disrespects Its Female Monsters

[1/10 · 6 April 2021]

There's this sub-genre in romance, which YouTuber Lindsey Ellis called "My Monster Boyfriend." It's basically a metaphor of how society thinks the gender roles for men and women should be in romantic relationships. If you look at stories where a human and monster fall in love, there's about an 80% chance that the human is a woman, and the monster is a man. These "monster boyfriends" all possess the same characteristics: severe anger issues, high sex drive, obsessive possession, unyielding devotion, and raw strength. These are traits that are often coded as positive qualities in men. The human woman is usually portrayed as weak, helpless, kinda dumb, and frequently persuaded by other (human) men who want to take advantage of her. This is how the story justifies the monster's terrible behavior towards the woman and other people. There's also another love interest who's a human man. He's usually the opposite of the monster; kind, gentle, and open with his emotions. However, he's usually seen as inferior to the monster or isn't a "real man." Just like how society shames men for avoiding conflict by walking away from a fight or apologizing. Men (at least in fiction) are often praised for acting like they "own" their partners by threatening the lives of any men that so much as look at them. There's also the trope of the male monsters having an insatiable desire to kill/eat the woman, but he can control himself due to the power of love. This is an example of the harmful belief that it's a woman's job to "fix" the man. Also, the reason monster and human are in love is usually because the monster sees the human as a helpless child in need of protection. The human is willing to put up with the monster's abusive behavior because she's thankful for him saving her life.

Romance stories where the monster is a woman and the human is a man are almost the polar opposite. First of all, the woman is always the stereotypically "sexy" type of monster, such as vampires, mermaids, succubi, and witches. The common trait with female monsters is they're virgins who are so overwhelmingly beautiful that they drive men crazy ("Born Sexy Yesterday" - Pop Culture Detective). They are also helpless and need protection due to being pursued by other men. These men are usually other monsters who intend to marry her (generally by arranged marriage), monster hunters, or government agents that want to experiment on her. The monster woman may be physically stronger than the human man, but her ignorance of the human world makes her dependent on him. The monster woman's one goal, besides survival, is usually to marry and have a baby with the human male and be a happy domesticated housewife. This is usually the catalyst that drives the human man to protect her. The reason why the monster woman is in love with the human man is usually because he's the first man to love her for her and not just her looks, or she's infatuated by his human traits (despite him having no redeemable qualities).

Twilight is a perfect example of the "My Monster Boyfriend" romance sub-genre. All of the male monsters have the same obsessive and possessive traits, yet are treated as normal and even attractive. As for the female monsters, the one that stuck out to me the most were Leah and Rosalie. What separates them from other monster women in romance stories is they are both demonized and perpetually tormented (both by the author and the characters) because they can't have children, and therefore aren't seen as real women. Leah is ostracized and treated like a freak because she's the first female werewolf, which made her infertile. Because the werewolves share a hive mind, she can't think about her "feminine problems," or else it'll make the men uncomfortable. Not to mention because the alpha of the pack refuses to allow anyone to leave, she has to stay and watch the love of her life be happily married to her cousin. Also, her dad died because he had a heart attack when he watched her first transform. Rosalie is given the mean girl treatment because she didn't immediately accept Bella as part of the family, rightfully questioned why she had to risk her life for a stranger, and she's the only character whose backstory involves rape.

Rosalie was still slightly less demonized than Leah since she was rich, white, feminine, and wanted to protect Bella's baby. Twilight's weirdest aspect was how the male monsters could pass on their genes, but the female monsters couldn't get pregnant. Bella got special treatment since she was able to give birth and become a vampire. It's almost as if Stephanie Mayer (and by proxy a lot of romance authors) was trying to say that male monsters are the peak of masculinity and female monsters are abominations that are not real women. But that's just speculation. In case it wasn't clear, I did not like this story. It's another example of romanticizing abuse.