So for anyone new to fandom, here’s what’s going to happen: the new series will air, and a lot of really committed, vocal, prominent fans will hate it.
They will loudly and frequently express their disappointment and anger. They will feel betrayed by the writers, the actors, the directors, and by every fan who doesn’t feel the same way. The words “out of character” will be batted around in relation to the new series. You will hear: “They did it all wrong! Don’t they know these characters at all?”
Disappointed fans will complain loudly for X amount of time, attempting to convince others that the new series had ruined everything that came before, after which they will flame out as hard and brilliantly as they can. It will feel like a big deal. It will feel like a big loss, like the fandom is bleeding out, like it’s shrinking. Like it’s not as good as it used to be.
Be not afraid. This happens every time there’s new canon. Rest assured that it always happens, and it isn’t a special feature of any one fandom. Some people cannot handle more story, no matter how good or well-constructed that story is. If it isn’t what they were expecting, if the characters change and grow, some fans cannot and will not cope. And that’s okay! Follow your bliss, friend!
But so many more people will flood into the fandom. Fandoms double, or triple, or more in size when there’s new canon. There will be new artists, new writers, new meta thinkers. They will bring us new perspectives, and you will make new friends. Lots of them!
Looking forward to new canon is also looking forward to a whole new fannish culture. Are you ready?
No truer words. Best thing I’ve read this crazy weekend.
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