Okay let’s get one thing streight cause knowing people nowadays there’s gonna be one person who doesn’t even read this whole thing g before shouting “YOU HOMAPHOBIC CIS WHITE SCUM” Or something along those lines.
And I want you all to keep something in mind. This is coming from someone who wants to write stories for a living and is also bisexual
Now then.
I haven’t played overwatch since the winter update. Even then I was on and off cause I feel like it’s died out to me because lack of story and slowly repetitive gameplay. But then I suddenly see a whole bunch of people posting about soldier 76 being gay. At first I thought it was nothing because let’s face it this is the internet, if you don’t hear someone being called gay in a week or less then something’s wrong. Plus who knows maybe a new overwatch meme stepped up and I just didn’t notice. Also all the reaperXs76 fanfiction exists so maybe it had something to do with that.
That’s what I did think till I saw it on a twitter trending newspost
But anyway after that I looked more into it, found the short story, and got to reading to see what all the fuss was about.
Suddenly it hits you like a slap In the face without rhyme or reason
SUPRISE! soldier 76 is gay now.
And all I have to say is right there in the title
Just…
Ytho.
Like I said I got nothing against gay people. Especially being bi. But it feels so forced. And from a story writer standpoint it just doesn’t work well
Tracer was one thing. It fit her personality, it seemed believable and you even got a chance to see a bit of story between her and her lover to see how they reacted and felt for eachother
But for 76 it just… Doesn’t work.
I can’t see it.
His personality shows no signs of it, his character shows no signs of it, his lore shows no signs of it.
I’m not saying he has to prance around like so e not chick with a stereotypical gay guy voice and flashy clothing. I’m saying it sounds like a bad fanfiction or headcanon. Like when someone takes two characters that have no more connection with eachother aside from standing together in a room once and then shipping them saying they’re totally gay for eachother.
I’d expect Lucio to be gay over soldier any day.
And for those who say that it was hinted at since the tracer comic, all I say to that is for all we know that dude in the picture could of been a new hero or Liao or an old friend of jacks from back in the day.
Lord knows overwatch has a butt ton of lore and characters in their pockets that they refuse to show to the public more then once a year.
Don’t get me wrong
I’d have no problem with him being gay if it was just written better. Given more signs and backstory for it. Anything instead of just going ahead and slapping the “he’s gay” sticker on him just for the sake of “MAH DIVERSITY” which is the same issue I have with people saying their aren’t enough black people in overwatch or something (that’s a whole other story).
Long story short
Diversity doesn’t equal good writing.
And sadly the worst part about this is overwatch can’t retcon this now that it’s official. It’s already out there. The most they can do to mend the damage is release more lore explaining the relationship between the gay ex-couple to justify it more.
Even then I feel as if it will still feel like just a marketing device crossed with forced pandering to LGBTQ/SJW people. Which is sad that nowadays people feel the need to sacrifice good writing for the sake of “MAH DIVERSITY”
That’s all I have to say on this topic.
Just wanted to get things cleared up for all the people that say all those who disagree with the idea are either Homaphobics or entitled crybabies or whatever titles they use
Edit: I’m seeing a lot of people zoom in on. The fact that I said personality wise it doesn’t fit him. All while forgetting I said I’m talking from a story standpoint. This isn’t a focus on the fact that he’s gay. I have nothing wrong with that. It’s the fact that its forced in the story without adding anything to it.
I’d have no problem with it if it showed more development to the character or gave us more information on his ex.
As I said to another person, for all I care you could say Sargent hartmen from full metal jacket is gay. But if you dont give more backstory or development towards it then just… Why… Put it in there…? Sure you could say him being gay is a character information development but I mean… It’s not really useful to the story. Just seems like information we don’t really need to know so why bother putting it in.
Anyway thats my edit. Please consider I’m looking at this from a story standpoint before zooming in on the fact that I said personality. Sure I did because when so little information is gained from something like this you go looking to see any sort of signs for it in ones history or personality and it just doesn’t show.