Fridging: Bad for business or ordinary story trope?

[QuinnFillory]

*SPOILERS for Deadpool 2*

Fridging has sort of become a hot topic again, thanks to Deadpool 2 and a controversial plot point. What happens and how it affects the main character has brought on many complaints from fans about the treatment of women in media in general. Fridging has always been problematic, as explained in this article: https://www.cbr.com/fridging-history...s-pop-culture/.

However, fridging is also nothing new. Stories from as far back as ancient times have showcased female characters dying for the sole purpose of its effect on the male leads. In those days, that was the whole point of those characters' existence. While the trope is problematic, at least nowadays writers are taking care to actually develop them.

But is it enough? Women make up more than half of the audience, and it is tiresome to see female characters either killed or endangered just to see the effect on men. I am not saying that this should never happen; people do end up in danger and killed, it happens. However, making stories where a female character's role is that could detrimental in the future, as people's tastes are changing.

[Kirby101]

SPOILERS DUDE!! You just ruined a major plot point on Deadpool 2 for me. Please edit or delete so others won't have the movie wrecked.

[Agent Z]

In general, it's a worn out and lazy trope.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

A hero being motivated by the death of a close character is nothing new. The most powerful of that is generally a love interest. Most heroes in comics are male. I don't think it's that big of a deal. Alex from Green Lantern for instance was never going to be a major character or anything beyond the girl who dated Kyle for a bit. I don't see much of an issue using that to service Kyle. These aren't real people. Same with Gwen. Once the decision was made to go with Peter vs MJ she became an expendable character and was probably either going to be phased out or return years later as a villain/hero type... maybe. The death probably did more for Spider-Man and the character's legacy than just keeping her around did.

Like do people even remember Julie Madison from the early days of Batman? She just broke up with Bruce and went on to become an actress she only "returned' in rebooted stories of early day Batman.

Gwen's iconic and Julie is irrelevant.

[MyriVerse]

Just an ordinary trope and not worth angsting over.

[ouroboros]

Just an ordinary trope and not worth angsting over.

Ditto. ten char

[Agent Z]

A hero being motivated by the death of a close character is nothing new. The most powerful of that is generally a love interest. Most heroes in comics are male. I don't think it's that big of a deal. Alex from Green Lantern for instance was never going to be a major character or anything beyond the girl who dated Kyle for a bit. I don't see much of an issue using that to service Kyle. These aren't real people. Same with Gwen. Once the decision was made to go with Peter vs MJ she became an expendable character and was probably either going to be phased out or return years later as a villain/hero type... maybe. The death probably did more for Spider-Man and the character's legacy than just keeping her around did.

Like do people even remember Julie Madison from the early days of Batman? She just broke up with Bruce and went on to become an actress she only "returned' in rebooted stories of early day Batman.

Gwen's iconic and Julie is irrelevant.

Being iconic for dying is little if any better than being obscure. Remember, one of the biggest criticisms against ASM 2 was Gwen's death, namely for how cheap it was.

Also, Spider-Man was already a popular character without Gwen's death. Killing her off didn't make her seem any less expendable.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Being iconic for dying is little if any better than being obscure. Remember, one of the biggest criticisms against ASM 2 was Gwen's death, namely for how cheap it was.

Also, Spider-Man was already a popular character without Gwen's death. Killing her off didn't make her seem any less expendable.

ASM 2 was different because it didn't have the build the comics had and the attachment to the character.

Go ahead run a poll right now between Gwen Stacy and Julie Madison and see who people think made out better legacy wise. Gwen's status as this unattainable love interest Peter failed and lost out on has propelled her to being similar to Uncle Ben. Stories like Spider-Man Blue spun out of it and their is more intrigue over the character to the point where she is used in outside media. Julie Madison.... she was a throwaway character in Batman and Robin.

[Baseman]

It as its uses just like another story trope.Don't really think it deserves the widespread condemnation it seems to attract. Especially since there are other death tropes that do the exact same thing that don't get as much hate.(Death of a mentor for example)

[ouroboros]

Being iconic for dying is little if any better than being obscure. Remember, one of the biggest criticisms against ASM 2 was Gwen's death, namely for how cheap it was.

Also, Spider-Man was already a popular character without Gwen's death. Killing her off didn't make her seem any less expendable.

But killing off Gwen gave the writer the opportunity to develop Mary Jane, which was the main goal, not just death for the sake of death.

Okay, wasn't clear that the original post was about ASM 2. I wouldn't call it "fridging" but it might've been just to give that version of SM a little tragic depth.

[dancj]

SPOILERS DUDE!! You just ruined a major plot point on Deadpool 2 for me. Please edit or delete so others won't have the movie wrecked.

Thanks for the warning. Luckily I saw your post before I read the initial post, so I won't read any more.

[MajorHoy]

Fridging: Bad for business or ordinary story trope?

I. It may be bad/sad, but I don't know if it's truly "bad for BUSINESS".

II. As for "ordinary story trope", . . . yuppers.