Like everyone else in the fandom, I’ve been reading the same arguments about the ONS, Seb, Rebecca ad representation for over a year now. My personal feelings over that time have swung wildly back and forth but for a year now I’ve been reminded of a discussion I read about Watsonian vs Doylist perspectives and I wanted to write a bit about it.
A Watsonian perspective looks at the situation from the inside and answers questions as though the piece of media is a real world.
A Doylist perspective looks at the situation from the outside and answers questions as the piece of media is a piece of media.
(i.e. is Dr Watson telling the story or is Arthur Conan Doyle telling the story?)
From a Watsonian perspective, Robert has a history of cheating, of lashing out impulsively, of self-destruction and internalized bi and homophobia. He was in pain, angry, scared and drunk. He made a mistake. He came clean about it the next day to Chas, knowing it would destroy their relationship and most likely his relationship with Aaron. He told Aaron the truth when he couldn’t bear to lie anymore.
Aaron forgave him. Aaron walked away from the relationship he knew was hurting him but the never stopped loving Robert. Aaron sought therapy and began a new relationship to try to move on with his life and found ultimately that he didn’t want anyone but Robert.
Aaron accepted Seb and welcomed him and Robert back into his life because he wanted to. He admitted it was hard. He was honest about his feelings.
Robert has tried to do what Aaron wanted and has tried to shield him from having Seb forced on him. Aaron has responded by letting Robert know that he loves Seb and doesn’t resent him. All of the therapy and the space and the events of the last year have given Aaron a new perspective on things.
Therefore, what is there for me to hate from the in-world perspective? Robert cheated but it was different to every other time that’s happened for Robert and his regret was clear. Aaron was so upset it pushed him to a bad place but he stepped back and got help. Seb is there but Seb is an adorable, innocent baby who everyone, including Aaron loves.
From a Doylist perspective, this is a soap which has been on tv for 46 years. The writers plan stories months in advance to reach specific goals. Drama is key and characters and situations can and will change in an instant to fit the story.
The writers wanted to give Robert a son, because Robert is a Sugden and he needs a biological heir to maintain the connection of Sugdens to the show. Could they have done it differently? Yes. But they choose this way because it creates drama and has had people talking about it for over a year now. None of this rules out further storylines in the future where Robert and Aaron adopt or have a child another way.
Characters cheat. It’s a soap. Get over it.
Was Rebecca biphobic when she arrived? Yes, because she needed to be. She was meant to be a threat and a bit of a temptress because Robert had to explicitly be seen turning her down to lead into the engagement. Is she still biphobic? No. Maybe. The writers don’t know and don’t care because that’s not the story now.
Did the writers make a mistake with the ONS and misread how it would be tied to bisexuality? Yes. But they have acknowledged that they got it wrong and have learnt from it. Will they get things wrong in the future? Without a doubt but for each step back they take in terms if representation, they take two forward and that’s a positive thing.
I’m at point now where I’m looking at things from both perspectives and makes it a lot easier to accept.
Why did this happen?
Either because Robert and Aaron had a fight based on deep seated insecurities they refused to address that spiralled into Aaron going to prison and Robert sleeping with Rebecca, which now has led to them growing up and becoming more honest with each other and given them a child they both adore,
Or because the writers wanted it to happen and you can’t be mad at the characters for their choices because they’re characters and they have no say in what happens to them.
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