Discussions about mischaracterization asking for sources and citations are legitimately so ridiculous. “He wouldn’t fucking say that, give me a source that he would!” Okay well how about you give me a source that he wouldn’t? What exactly are you basing your own characterization on? Why should I trust it? What about your interpretation holds more water than mine, and what about your interpretation means I cannot have creative liberty with the canon material in a fanwork setting outside of literary discussion and analysis?
Would he not say that or would he just need the right circumstances to say that? Is he acting anathema to his character or is he just acting upon multiple nuances you ignored in favor of your own pet interpretation? What does it say about you that you cannot stretch your own interpretation and understanding of the source material beyond the limitations of it’s original form?
“You’ve GOT to root your fanwork in a solid understanding of the actual character.” You actually don’t. You don’t have to do anything. And why should I trust you and your biased and painfully limited understanding of the character in the first place?
“He wouldn’t fucking say that” isn’t actually a true representation of what he would and would not say, it’s just a way of conveying that you personally cannot imagine any scenario where he would. Which is not—surprise surprise—inherently indicative of the strength of your own interpretation and analysis.
