|
Post by s t o r m ♚ on Apr 19, 2018 20:39:58 GMT -5
One of the most unpopular opinions I have: I hate Briarlight.
She wasn't Millie -- annoying, obnoxious, rather, she was just the subject of poor writing. I don't hate her character, but more so the way she was presented in the series. The Erins showed favoritism towards her and ruined her character. On the ground level, she appears as the happy-go-lucky cat who was fighting for survival every day, living with a horrible disability; poor Briar! However, what was the point of her "life-threatening" condition if she lived for so long? She finally dies, but at what cost? Seven different, life-threatening events that she survived.
First Event: greencough as a kit. Many cats die from greencough as is, and Briarkit survives. This is the first cheat of death, and I can let it pass, as it did add more perspective to Millie's overprotectiveness. It isn't too unrealistic, especially since she didn't have her injury then, although she was a kit.
Second Event: the snake. Now, many cats of Today's ThunderClan™ haven't had to have been saved by snakes as kits, but again, not totally unrealistic. Honeyfern, arguably a great character, saved her (RIP). Again, this is excusable, but the events are piling up.
Third Event: the classic tree. How did she survive this? Also, Longtail was pretty great, and he died? I can understand him dying because he was blind, but even then..
Fourth Event: the dogs that were chasing her and Bumblestripe. This, again, is impossible for a paralyzed cat to survive, especially considering that she hid under a bush and waited for the dog to go away. Not to mention, her fourth escape from death.
Fifth Event: the Great Battle. I cannot comprehend how a paralyzed, weakened she-cat can survive this battle while strong, healthy warriors died.
Sixth Event: greencough (again). Logically, she should've died from this. Her lungs were weakened because of her condition, and although she survived, healthy warriors died.
Seventh Event: the flood. This is one of the most unrealistic, as she could've and unfortunately should've drowned because of this.
Briarlight has survived seven events of death, again where healthy, strong warriors were killed. I can understand that they wanted to show favoritism to Briarlight because I believe she was related to someone Vicky knew (which may be why they killed her off after Vicky left?), but it is ridiculous. It ruined her character because this condition that ruined her life didn't truly ruin it, as she could survive anything. I will admit, I loved her character, but the constant and obvious favoritism ruined it for me.
Don't kill me.
|
|
#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
|
Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Apr 19, 2018 20:48:43 GMT -5
You'll find that quite a few people actually agree with you, including me. She also survived a rockslide in SS. It's ridiculous she lived this long. I don't hate her and never have, but she should've died long ago. *spoilers for River of Fire* But I'm glad she's finally at peace.
|
|
|
Post by Lady of the Emblem on Apr 19, 2018 20:51:13 GMT -5
Just because she should have died earlier, doesn't mean she's a bad character. i love her and always will. there is nothing to hate about briarlight as she is. she's nice, helpful, determined, optimistic, etc.
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 20:55:41 GMT -5
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Briarlight was kept alive for so long because to kill a disabled character because their disability makes it too hard for them to live is something you should not teach children. These books are read by so many different people, and I'm 100% sure there are many disabled people who read warriors. Imagine finally having a character you relate to just for them to be killed off. Yes realistically as a cat in the wild, Briarlight would have died, but it's crazy that people focus so much on the fact that she probably would've died over cats with magical powers? Cats that rise from the dead and fight? There are way more unrealistic things in the warriors series.
Briarlight is supposed to be a message of hope to readers, and I think it was a good thing they didn't kill her off until they showed everyone that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't survive.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 21:17:08 GMT -5
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Briarlight was kept alive for so long because to kill a disabled character because their disability makes it too hard for them to live is something you should not teach children. These books are read by so many different people, and I'm 100% sure there are many disabled people who read warriors. Imagine finally having a character you relate to just for them to be killed off. Yes realistically as a cat in the wild, Briarlight would have died, but it's crazy that people focus so much on the fact that she probably would've died over cats with magical powers? Cats that rise from the dead and fight? There are way more unrealistic things in the warriors series. Briarlight is supposed to be a message of hope to readers, and I think it was a good thing they didn't kill her off until they showed everyone that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't survive. And I'll say this again, myself -- Warriors may be unrealistic, but Briarlight being immortal just doesn't cut it. She's lived for what, 5 years? She needed to go. Warriors is unrealistic, but it does have its limits. A cat living forever just doesn't cut it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 21:24:22 GMT -5
I actually like Briarlight's character, I really do. But if there's no way for a medicine cat to cure a broken spine, then the wild is going to be a very difficult place for a cat with a broken spine to live in. All I gotta say is that at least Briarlight may have peace and a mended spine in StarClan.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 21:26:48 GMT -5
But anyway, I really like Briarlight as a character. She's positive and outgoing, and hardly brings herself down. But like you, I don't like how she's written, that she's cheated death several times. It's not her fault, but the way how the Erins did this was risky. Though because of spoilers for RoF, I won't say why.
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 21:33:32 GMT -5
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Briarlight was kept alive for so long because to kill a disabled character because their disability makes it too hard for them to live is something you should not teach children. These books are read by so many different people, and I'm 100% sure there are many disabled people who read warriors. Imagine finally having a character you relate to just for them to be killed off. Yes realistically as a cat in the wild, Briarlight would have died, but it's crazy that people focus so much on the fact that she probably would've died over cats with magical powers? Cats that rise from the dead and fight? There are way more unrealistic things in the warriors series. Briarlight is supposed to be a message of hope to readers, and I think it was a good thing they didn't kill her off until they showed everyone that just because you have a disability doesn't mean you can't survive. And I'll say this again, myself -- Warriors may be unrealistic, but Briarlight being immortal just doesn't cut it. She's lived for what, 5 years? She needed to go. Warriors is unrealistic, but it does have its limits. A cat living forever just doesn't cut it. How is a disabled cat living for five years more unrealistic than ghost cats fighting each other?
|
|
|
Post by Lightflame on Apr 19, 2018 21:46:59 GMT -5
I understand being exasperated by favouritism shown towards Briarlight, but I don't really think it's worth hating her for. Any favouritism shown to her is entirely contained to her character. The story and other characters aren't warped to serve her, unlike someone like Tigerheart. She's kept in her own little box of plot, and the only thing she damages is the realism of the setting, which even discounting the fantastical elements, isn't something the series seems to bother with as much in the latest modern arcs. Lack of realism with Briarlight is more just a symptom of that.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 21:47:27 GMT -5
And I'll say this again, myself -- Warriors may be unrealistic, but Briarlight being immortal just doesn't cut it. She's lived for what, 5 years? She needed to go. Warriors is unrealistic, but it does have its limits. A cat living forever just doesn't cut it. How is a disabled cat living for five years more unrealistic than ghost cats fighting each other? ...because a fragile cat who can't even walk shouldn't have survived this long in the first place. she's nearly drowned, caught greencough more than once, and others I can't remember. but she shouldn't have survived this long. I don't understand how you don't think this isn't more unrealistic, but alright
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 21:48:43 GMT -5
If Micah from Moth Flight's Vision has died shortly after breaking his spine then why did Briarlight live for so long? They both broke their spine. The way how the Erins handle her is biased, and poorly written. It's sweet how they've given her the sign of hope but a cat living forever just won't cut it, I'm sorry :/
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 22:09:19 GMT -5
How is a disabled cat living for five years more unrealistic than ghost cats fighting each other? ...because a fragile cat who can't even walk shouldn't have survived this long in the first place. she's nearly drowned, caught greencough more than once, and others I can't remember. but she shouldn't have survived this long. I don't understand how you don't think this isn't more unrealistic, but alright Okay, you are aware that ghosts aren't real right? Yeah, very unlikely that Briarlight would survive, but ghost cats came back from the dead to try to kill living cats, and only cats with special powers could stop them. Please explain to me how that is possible in any way, shape, or form.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 22:11:14 GMT -5
...because a fragile cat who can't even walk shouldn't have survived this long in the first place. she's nearly drowned, caught greencough more than once, and others I can't remember. but she shouldn't have survived this long. I don't understand how you don't think this isn't more unrealistic, but alright Okay, you are aware that ghosts aren't real right? Yeah, very unlikely that Briarlight would survive, but ghost cats came back from the dead to try to kill living cats, and only cats with special powers could stop them. Please explain to me how that is possible in any way, shape, or form. You do realize that people have different beliefs? I believe ghosts are real, and I've been experienced with them in my life. You can believe what you want. But considering we're both getting tense with each other it's probably best to just back off and agree to disagree, I really don't wanna argue about a freaking FICTIONAL CAT
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 22:11:16 GMT -5
If Micah from Moth Flight's Vision has died shortly after breaking his spine then why did Briarlight live for so long? They both broke their spine. The way how the Erins handle her is biased, and poorly written. It's sweet how they've given her the sign of hope but a cat living forever just won't cut it, I'm sorry :/ She didn't live forever? You just said she lived for five years. In the warriors universe, that really isn't that long. I mean Mistystar is like thirteen years old, and she's still doing fine.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 22:14:56 GMT -5
If Micah from Moth Flight's Vision has died shortly after breaking his spine then why did Briarlight live for so long? They both broke their spine. The way how the Erins handle her is biased, and poorly written. It's sweet how they've given her the sign of hope but a cat living forever just won't cut it, I'm sorry :/ She didn't live forever? You just said she lived for five years. In the warriors universe, that really isn't that long. I mean Mistystar is like thirteen years old, and she's still doing fine. I do not want to debate about a fictional cat anymore. Respect that please.
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 22:16:01 GMT -5
She didn't live forever? You just said she lived for five years. In the warriors universe, that really isn't that long. I mean Mistystar is like thirteen years old, and she's still doing fine. I do not want to debate about a fictional cat anymore. Respect that please. Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I responded.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2018 22:17:01 GMT -5
I do not want to debate about a fictional cat anymore. Respect that please. Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I responded. it's fine. i don't want yet another briarlight topic to get heated up so I'd rather we just agree to disagree, please. we clearly have different beliefs so it's clear we won't end up agreeing lol. but i respect your opinion & beliefs
|
|
|
Post by dawn on Apr 19, 2018 22:22:16 GMT -5
Sorry, I didn't see your post until after I responded. it's fine. i don't want yet another briarlight topic to get heated up so I'd rather we just agree to disagree, please. we clearly have different beliefs so it's clear we won't end up agreeing lol. but i respect your opinion & beliefs Yeah I don't really like arguing. Truth is, you're right that Briarlight definitely wouldn't have lived as long as she did. I guess I just always worry about the message things send to kids, so I just fear that if they had killed her early, it might have been perceived wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Lightflame on Apr 19, 2018 22:26:05 GMT -5
How is a disabled cat living for five years more unrealistic than ghost cats fighting each other? I don't mind Briarlight surviving, but there's a difference between the internal consistency of a setting and the fantastical elements. In Harry Potter, we understand that Harry can breathe underwater using gillyweed, because magic is part of the setting. However, if Dudley could breathe underwater without magical assistance, that would make no sense, because it goes against the rules of the setting. He's just a normal human, so he shouldn't be able to do that. It's the same for Warriors. The magic and spirits are part of the setting, but Briarlight's continued survival went against the pre-established harshness of the wild. This was just part of a general shifting of the rules of the setting, but it goes against the original rules.
|
|
|
|
Post by suicunetobigaara on Apr 19, 2018 22:44:50 GMT -5
I like Briarlight and her character. I feel like the things before her disability shouldn't be really counted as her cheating death, because her health isn't in as a vulnerable state (aside from when she was a kit and had whitecough). Also every time she had survived greencough, I think that is because Jayfeather and Leafpool have kept a very close eye on her, therefore upping her survival chances. With the rock-slide, everyone was out of camp, but it was only Snowbush that went back to camp and died as a result. I don't believe anyone should hold that against Briarlight since she like many other cats, made it out. I think the flood is the only real instance where she had a high chance of dying, but then again Jayfeather could have died then too as the water would change the surrounding and Thunderclan were scaling the camp walls which was an area he wasn't used to. But both Jayfeather and Briarlight were fine because of the drifting on a log idea.
I don't mind the fact that Briarlight has lived for this long, or survived certain instances. It didn't really break my suspension of belief more than other things that has happened in these books. She was a fine character and I wouldn't have cared if she stuck around, but I am glad she was given a memorable and touching death and not killed in between books. It's a shame that Snowbush, another cat killed within a AVOS Book, didn't get a similar tribute but he didn't have as much of a spotlight as Briarlight did.
|
|