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As a Billy fan, I agree with your stance. I can understand where the distain for Susan comes from though. Us fans tend to feel angry on behalf of this scared and abused boy who’s other primary caregiver didn’t help him when he needed it most. But, I think it’s important to remember abusive households breed complicated dynamics as well. Perhaps Susan was scared that Neil might turn his wrath on her and her daughter if she dared question his “parenting methods” or make the situation worse for Billy if he had to have “a woman come to his rescue”. Neil obviously had the upper hand in physical strength and financial power, so he could make everyone pay dearly if she ever intervened. Do I think she still had a duty towards Billy as his stepmother to try and do more to protect him? Yes. But fear is a powerful tool. And quite effective in keeping people under your vicinity in line. Sympathy should be extended to Susan as well when discussing the members of the Hargrove-Mayfield household. Just my opinion.
I don’t care about Billy discourse, I don’t hate Billy haters or sympathizers. I just don’t get why Billy sympathizers hate Susan so much, like you will write a whole dissertation on how Billy’s abuse affects how he acts, but when Susan shows up your armchair psychology degree suddenly goes away and the woman too scared to stand up to her abusive husband is actually just a callous bitch who loves to see her stepson in pain ig. Like she is clearly not perfect but oh my god
I just wanna let everyone know that my blog is a VERY VERY safe place for billy stans/kinners.
you are heard, you are loved and you are safe with me. <3