So the discourse is that Portal (for whatever reason) now has a massive fanbase of people shipping Chell and Glados. Seems fine (if slightly inexplicable) but some have charged that doing this is simply playing dolls and fails to engage with the themes of the work.
I see where this argument is coming from but don’t agree. For one thing, it doesn’t escape my notice that fans could have focused on Bill Cypher style sexyman Wheatley, but we got an F/F ship instead! That’s something, this could have easily been a Onceler selfship situation!
The other thing is that I think “you’re not engaging with the work’s themes” is kind of silly for a series whose newest installment came out fifteen years ago. I dunno if I really buy that Portal as a series is strongly anti-capitalist either, but I mean after so long with no new releases in this tortured Valve series, why not ship the protagonist and antagonist? Sounds fun.
Also some have charged that Glados is ableist and fatphobic which I guess is kinda true. But Idk, work it into their flirting somehow?
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People just love to hate toxic Yuri, that’s all there is to the criticism.
It did strike me as a little fun-hating, honestly. I wonder if the people who level this critique at Portal yuri also yap about yuri manga being “too soft” or whatever.
IMO, it’s fujoshi-hate but lesbophobic this time.
Himejoshi hate… and yet I see it from wlw. Troubling…
the toxic yuri is very much present in the text (at least, subtext) i think it’s not any kind of a leap to ship them. like there is undeniable lesbian tension and themes and it fits neatly into a tradition of “toxic yuri with robots involved” media
Yeah glados’ cattiness in portal 2 can easily be read as a spurned lover
Tradition… of toxic robot yuri…
personally I ship GLaDOS with me
Selfship is always morally correct
Gordon Freeman x Barney x Kleiner threesome
Closed due to austerity
Yaoi hater
I can enjoy the odd spot of yaoi… but halflife yaoi…
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I’m glad I have no interest in fandoms nor Portal in general. The infighting can become tiresome. Though tbf the stuff I gravitate towards is a bit out there to the norn so tends to avoid this kind of discourse or at least it’s obscure enough to not see any.
I can’t really figure out why Portal and why at this moment either, fwiw.
i think it’s just a perennial favourite although i definitely have noticed the uptick in glados/chell art on tumblr also. knock on effect of one or two people making some really cool pieces i guess?
I do also think it kinda rules that a 100% dormant series can rise to fan provenance again on the back of toxic robot yuri.
Did steam have a recent sale? I have no idea why it would be gaining popularity again unless there is some fanfic or something. Maybe people are moving from halflife to Portal, would be nice to not hear/see much on it (halflife) for once
It’s not confirmed, but it’s believed by fans that Glados is Chell’s Adoptive Mom from some dialogue we have from Portal 2 and some extra media. Or at least that her personality was uploaded to Glados but somehow corrupted (she probably doesn’t even remember it, since she mocks Chell for being an orphan).
and they’re making out sloppy style…
Thats just how toxic yuri goes
i dont know about the themes but it’s kinda incest
no offense but where on earth does this ridiculous idea that glados is chell’s mother come from
spoiler
she stops trying to kill her when she remembers who she was and she gives her a beautiful farewell calling her “my child dearest”
I beg your pardon, how exactly?
There were some fan theories that
spoiler
Caroline, GLaDOS’s original human personality, was Chell’s mother
I don’t think there’s any actual material to support this though?
I see… incest stonks are definitely up online atm…
Didnt portal2 imply chell was glados dsughter or did i dream that? Been a long while
