There seem to be so many discussions about how they can ship what they want to ship because it's FANTASY or because they don't like Raoul.
Raoul is safe. He loves Christine. He's the pathway for Christine to lead a normal life. We don't need excuses, and we don't need to destroy his character to accept that just maybe, Christine might choose the dangerous and more compelling Erik instead.
As a teen, when I first came across POTO, I had no love for Raoul. I thought he was dull. He seemed a bit... blah. Yes, he's the safe option but he also doesn't seem to put in a great deal of effort towards Christine and oh, then we have the Phantom. This dark and desperate figure who reaches out to Christine, who does everything he can to draw her into the spotlight and share the magic of music. It's a gothic romance, but there's an appeal there. To be so wanted, to be valued and taught, to find someone who dreams of you excelling at your career -- rather than becoming a wife and retiring to private life.
And then seeing it again in my thirties, I changed my mind on Raoul. He's not as dramatic, not as appealing, but he does try. He does care for Christine. He doesn't pray on her grief for her father or try to frighten her into choosing him. (Plus, there's something about the mannikin dressed as Christine, the way it feels like the Phantom is trying to mold her into who he wants her to be.) Watching it as an adult didn't feel like being supported by someone who cared so much as being shaped and pressured into the Phantom's ideal woman. The lack of respecting her choice is what really came through.
...but... yeah. The story works because there's such a strong pull for Christine to both of them.
(Plus, there was the whole character asassination in Love Never Dies that totally made me want to support Raoul more out of sheer spite.)
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Raoul is safe. He loves Christine. He's the pathway for Christine to lead a normal life. We don't need excuses, and we don't need to destroy his character to accept that just maybe, Christine might choose the dangerous and more compelling Erik instead.
As a teen, when I first came across POTO, I had no love for Raoul. I thought he was dull. He seemed a bit... blah. Yes, he's the safe option but he also doesn't seem to put in a great deal of effort towards Christine and oh, then we have the Phantom. This dark and desperate figure who reaches out to Christine, who does everything he can to draw her into the spotlight and share the magic of music. It's a gothic romance, but there's an appeal there. To be so wanted, to be valued and taught, to find someone who dreams of you excelling at your career -- rather than becoming a wife and retiring to private life.
And then seeing it again in my thirties, I changed my mind on Raoul. He's not as dramatic, not as appealing, but he does try. He does care for Christine. He doesn't pray on her grief for her father or try to frighten her into choosing him. (Plus, there's something about the mannikin dressed as Christine, the way it feels like the Phantom is trying to mold her into who he wants her to be.) Watching it as an adult didn't feel like being supported by someone who cared so much as being shaped and pressured into the Phantom's ideal woman. The lack of respecting her choice is what really came through.
...but... yeah. The story works because there's such a strong pull for Christine to both of them.
(Plus, there was the whole character asassination in Love Never Dies that totally made me want to support Raoul more out of sheer spite.)