30 Days of Awesome Ladies: Day 3
Day 3: favorite female character in a canon you gave up on
Mouse (ReBoot)
"One more step and I'll sub-divide you..."
Did anyone else watch ReBoot religiously as a kid? Was anyone else half as in love as I was? Do you remember countless Saturday mornings watching our favorite Mainframers fend off their Viral enemies? Did you come home from school and turn on Toonmami, eager to relive the wacky (and sometimes poignant) adventures of Bob, Dot, and the gang? GUYS WAS MOUSE NOT JUST A TOTAL BAMF?!?!?!
If the answer to any or all of these questions was a resounding Yes! then you also likely still carry the heart-breaking, soul-crushing agony that was caused by Season Four.
(Okay, actually, I really liked Daemon Rising, I just wish the last 4 episodes and 13 seconds had never happened [though I still would have really liked to see the end of Crouching Binome, Hidden Virus.].)
BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SHOW. THIS IS ABOUT MOUSE AND HOW MUCH I LOVE HER.
From the very first time she opened her mouth in The Great Brain Robbery to the very last scene in the Principal Office, I have loved every second of Mouse. Escape artist and hacker extraordinaire, mercenary-turned-friend, with a syrupy sweet southern accent, a propensity for calling people "sugah", and arms like a linebacker - SERIOUSLY, LOOK AT HER ARMS! (I would quote a fic right now, but I don't think anyone but Jen would get it) - Mouse is by and far my favorite ReBoot character!
All the characters (yes, even grumpy Matrix) ladies on this show are completely awesome, but what initially drew me to Mouse was how she was entirely unlike me in every way possible (except maybe height?). She's aggressive, physical, fearless, smart, confident, and completely the best at what she does (which is being a badass). She's always two steps ahead of everyone. She rubs Dot the wrong way - before they become best friends - and flirts with Bob constantly. TWICE (yes, TWICE!) she's instigates a Classic Hollywood-style kiss - and she's the one who does the dipping! She protects Mainframe from Daemon's invasion, and banishes Megabyte to the web. SHE'S GOT A MOTHER-FUCKING KATANA. IN HER BOOT. ARE YOU IN LOVE YET?
I also absolutely love her character design. ReBoot is known for things like bold color contrasts and strong shapes when it comes to characters, and I think they did a really spectacular job with Mouse. Her staticky hair is just fabulous. I love that she's tall, and buff, and a little unkempt. I love that she has fangs.
I love the first three and a half seasons of this show, and Mouse is a big part of that. I just really, really wish it hadn't all gone to... hell, or wherever it is that soap operas go to die. It was soooooooo good...