kallvis:

gayhedgehogs:

Shadow’s relationship with Maria is so important though I feel like both Sonic Team and most of the fans want to forget all about it and write a Shadow who has never had a Maria. why can’t we all just let Shadow’s character be what it is - a result of an emotional connection with Maria. it doesn’t make his character any less interesting to acknowledge that the way he thinks and feels and acts is a result of those feelings that will never leave. and it doesn’t mean he’s stuck in an eternal vortex of misery! he can still find those deep and complicated feelings in other people and he can still love others! there’s nothing wrong with a character who was so profoundly affected by another character that everything they do is marked by those effects! Shadow is still a whole character even if there is no moment of “getting over” Maria or “moving on” from his life with her.

This is exactly how I feel- people love to write Maria out of the picture. Shadow is exhibiting results of post-traumatic stress and the fandom can’t seem to deal with that. Shadow is still a great character with this stress and has shown that he is coping! But people love to shoot down that character development so he can be “uwu Edgy” for no reason.