ESSAY: Two Rays, Both Alike In Dignity

[robowolf]

Yes, that was really the title. Yes, I submitted this for a class. Yes, I got an A on it and the teacher noted "I seriously need to see this show"" on it. OHOHO!

So there it is below the lj-cut, although I also have a gdocs version up that's easier to read since it's in the right format and all (though I did not use MLA citation correctly. OH WELL

Comments

[anonymous]

I don't like to think of RayV as the "big brother" to Fraser, and I don't understand why this idea is pushed in fandom. Making RayV the "big brother" means that he and Fraser have an unequal relationship, while making Ray Kowalski the "life partner" means that he and Fraser have an equal relationship.

And that means that you've made Ray Kowalski the better Ray in fandom, and I am sick of RayV being seen as inferior to Kowalski, who is the darling who can do no wrong in fandom. No one bashes Kowalski, but poor RayV is still seen as not as good as Kowalski and, even worse, corrupt, homophobic and mean to Fraser.

Fandom seems to largely ignore that RayV did so much more for Fraser than Kowalski ever did. And even though RayV gave so much to Fraser, Fraser gave a lot to him in return, making their relationship one of equals and not a "big brother-little brother relationship."

But Kowalski's and Fraser's relationship was very unequal. Fraser gave to him, but Kowalski only took from Fraser and didn't give much in return. Even in the last episode, Kowalski was a needy baby who whined and was upset because Fraser was happy about seeing RayV again.

I understand why Kowalski is so much more popular in fandom than RayV. We live in a sex-obsessed culture, and many fans only care about Fraser and Kowalski having sex. But RayV should not be ignored or seen as inferior because he is far, far more loving and giving to Fraser than Kowalski ever was.