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The Difference in How Iris Westallen and Other Characters are Allowed to Express Their Emotions, a thread!
Before we start, I want to clarify that this thread will be about how Iris’ trauma and emotions are never explored opposed to every other characters, her emotions entirely and how she is held to a double standard compared to other characters. Here is a thread briefly explaining. https://twitter.com/softxiris/status/1287219950399217664
First, I want to go over the fact that Iris’ feelings are NEVER explored. Now, contrary to many ‘fans’ opinions, Iris has arguably been through the most out of anyone on the show. From losing her mother, her fiancé, her husband multiple times, being lied to, nearly murdered, etc.
Now this isn’t to say the other characters haven’t been through hardships because they have yet they ALL so much time to explore these feelings, these losses and overcome them in the matter of seasons - MULTIPLE seasons. However, Iris? She gets an episode, if that.
The first season started with her not having her mother around, despite it never being brought up then she nearly lost her best friend, who she was then lied to by for the rest of the season and then her fiancé killed himself in front of her yet NONE of that is ever explored.
The second season is Iris seemingly being fine six months after Eddie’s death - this was ‘resolved’ in one episode later in the season then she finds out her father lied to her about her mother and her mother is in fact alive and she has a brother. Once again, never explored.
Seeing as the show essentially revolves around Barry, it’s understandable as to why Barry’s mothers death would be brought up a lot however, let’s not forget that Iris’ mother died as well - twice. She was also there when she died. Her feelings aren’t any less valid than Barry’s.
Iris’ antis like to hate on Iris because she was upset with Barry for taking Nora into the future without speaking to her, which is 100% valid, and Barry threw his moms death in her face as if Iris didn’t watch her mom die as well but again, NEVER EXPLAINED.
credit: @irisxxwests
credit: @irisxxwests
Season three starts with Iris having a terrible relationship with Joe because she had a understandable reaction to his lies, her life was changed the most because of flashpoint and she even thinks she’s going to be murdered by her fiancé’s time remnant and again, NEVER EXPLORED.
To jump into season three, her life was drastically changed the most because of what’s listed above but let’s talk about how despite all of that, she was always being selfless, always trying to calm someone down, always trying to help people when SHE was in danger.
Iris was always first in line to help someone or keep Barry from doing something that will make him feel guilty yet she’s treated terribly by the writers and fans. She literally put her life at risk for Caitlin and Caitlin went to work with Savitar then became a human trafficker.
She wanted to keep her death a secret from Joe because he was finally moving on from Francine. She didn’t want Barry to let a robber or Kadabra go for her even though it could save her life. She didn’t want him to kill Grodd even though it could save her life.
She gave herself to Savitar to save the team. She comforted Barry when they found out who Savitar was and NEVER got to explain how she felt about it. She then kills Savitar and loses Barry but it’s NEVER explored. Her feelings are NEVER explored despite going through hell.
Season four is Iris taking charge of Team Flash and then she gets him back. For once, Iris explained how she felt about Barry leaving but she’s treated terribly by the fans and even the writers barely go into depth. It’s a one episode thing and they only bring it up for arguing.
Now for a comparison, when Iris got Barry’s powers in 4x16, she had a bit of trouble putting out her first fire which is totally fine, she wasn’t an experienced speedster - get over it but that ENTIRE episode, Ralph tore her down yet when he needed help, she was ALWAYS there.
Let’s do a little recap and establish that Iris has been in the field a LOT more times than Ralph’s bitchass. She was ready to throw down against psychos with acid without powers in 4x11 when he was too scared to and needed a pep talk from Barry who was in literal prison.
Let’s also not forgot that Iris was always the first one jumping at the chance to help Caitlin despite her refusing, literally refusing, it and got threatened for it or got brushed off. Caitlin and Killer Frost are simply the worst characters. Like ever. https://twitter.com/softxiris/status/1302360242005725189
As small as it may seem, Iris’ feelings never got explored when her wedding was crashed. Twice. She made a small comment for the sake of comedy but it was never brought up again. I mean the writers couldn’t even let her, their female lead and lead couple, have a real wedding?
Season five was filled with Iris being treated terribly by Nora because of memories that Nora literally made up. Nora yelled and attacked Iris daily and when Iris spoke about it, she was brushed off. Barry only stuck up for her once as well as Cecile then Nora was killed.
This was explored once in season six when Iris talked to Barry about her jacket which she explained how she had suicidal thoughts, they hug and then it’s NEVER brought up again. It’s switched to Barry dying and she’s forced to be okay with it, which she’s YELLED at for.
For another comparison, Cisco did everything he could to get Barry back after season three despite not talking to Iris about it when he was HER fiancé and yelled at her for that yet when she’s actively trying to save him, Cisco yells at her for that AGAIN.
For the rest of season six, she’s in the mirroverse with a murderous woman watching a duplicate be with her family and husband while no one figured out she wasn’t Iris for what seems like months. I can only image how they’ll butcher her mental health and never discuss it again.
Now that we’ve explained how her feelings and traumas are never explained, I want to briefly go over how other characters are treated and some for the same storylines.
Let’s start with Barry, he’s been through it and it sucks but he’s had the whole series, and counting, to come to terms with his mother’s death, which is fine but it’s grief - you’ll never get over it, but where is that same courtesy for Iris who also lost her mother? Nowhere.
Now with Caitlin, she and Iris lost their fiancés on the same day yet Caitlin was treated differently. She was coddled and it was obvious she didn’t recover from it after those six months, which is fine! She deserved to deal the way she wanted but again, what about Iris?
Caitlin has also had three seasons and counting solely based on her mommy issues. Now there’s a difference between telling an interesting story and dragging a boring one out. Take a guess what Caitlin’s is. I’ll give you a hint, it’s not interesting.
More on Caitlin, let’s do a double standard. Iris anti’s JUMP at the chance to hate on her using the 5x19 fight, trying to make Iris seem like she doesn’t care when Caitlin used his mother to hurt him yet they explain that away with ‘she’s a villain!’
Barry yelled at Iris and spoke to her no way anyone should ever speak to their wife when all she wanted was her daughter yet he tried to help Caitlin. Don’t know about you but that was completely out of character of Barry when it comes to Iris. Once again, the writers fucking up.
Cisco had about two seasons regarding his brother dying, which once again, is fine because that’s how people grieve yet I’m asking once again, where is all this screentime for Iris - the female LEAD? Nowhere to be found.
Then we have Ralph. Godforsaken Ralph. He spent season four thinking he was going to die, just like Iris did in the previous season. He was scared and you know what, that’s fine because he had those feelings and the writers let him express them but Iris? Let’s get into that.
He treated her terribly despite going through the SAME thing. The difference is she spent that whole season being selfless whilst Ralph spent it being a whiny bitch to her. The only time he bothered apologizing was AFTER she proved him wrong. You see the problem?
The fact of the matter is the writers don’t know how to treat Iris or her emotions. They write her like a punching bag for the rest of the characters. It’s ridiculous and gross. They have a shot to give her a great mental health arc this season and they need to. She deserves it.
