Raoul portrayed negatively in phan fics

[sabrinafair2]

Yeah! I'm the first one to post ;D I feel so happy . Anyways I was wondering how you guys felt about Raoul being negatively portrayed in phan fictions. Many of the people who write these are Erik phans (which I also happen to be). But often make Raoul into an abusive husband, or etc. I think this is so against Raoul's nature...because he is obviously in love with Christine. How do you think of Raoul's portrayal in Susan Kay's "Phantom", "The Angel of the Opera", and other phan-fictions?

[LittleLotte394]

I don't read many phanfics, but I don't like Raoul's potrayal in the ones I have read. I know that he's not always the brightest crayon in the box (who would mistake a CAT for Erik ? Cats aren't nearly as cute ;D.) but nonetheless...I agree, most fic!Raouls are so against the canon!Raoul's nature.

[Jaycee]

You're right all the phanfics seem to make Raoul look stupid. I think the reason people tend to make him seem stupid in their is probably because they're comparing him to Erik who is supposedly a genius. There's really nothing to suggest that he really is stupid.

[Simple Rose]

First off, thank you all soooo much for posting! *waves to sabrinafair2 from poto.com*

Man, it is sooo frustrating to see Raoul twisted that way. It's like a good E/C can't be written without Raoul being bashed in some cruel, harsh, and uncalled-for way. Usually winds up in his death or the death of others at his hands... can't there be a phic that displays the TRUE tug-of-war that was going on in Christine's heart? I mean sure, Erik can win, but does Raoul really deserve to be turned into such a monster?

Gah. I could ramble on and on about my frustrations with this subject lol.

[Angel]

Well, I must say that I agree 100%. I absolutely cannot stand seeing our Raoul gone completely OOC just so some crazy phangirl can write an overdone EC plot. But when I go to FFnet (fanfiction.net) it's pretty much all I can find. I've seen some shockers - mostly just portraying him as an airhead, but I think the cake goes to a phic where he was an abusive alcoholic, raped and murdered Meg, then went to find Christine (who had fled into the welcoming arms of Erik), who shot him. Go figure.

Oh, I'll have a lot to say on this, trust me ...

[raoulsgem]

I like Erik and I like Raoul and when I write I try not to make him evil because he isn't that bad, he cared for Christine and was loving to her he never kidnapped her and made her choose between him and Erik.

Ok I'm going to shut up now otherwise I'll go crazy.

[Angel]

raoulsgem, well put

I think one of the best lines I've ever seen in a phanphic (I can't remember which one, though), was this: "Erik had killed for her. But Raoul had lived for her and she knew which gift she treasured more."

One, two, three - awww!

[Simple Rose]

Aww omg lol

I think that is definitely my new favourite line as well! It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.

[Angel]

I can't believe how naive I was when I started reading phanphiction. I really thought that everybody would hate the twisted, murderous lecher and love the gallant, romantic underdog. I thought I'd find an abundance of lovely stories detailing Raoul and Christine's life post-Erik. Could I have been more wrong?

Apparently not

[Jaycee]

The really annoying thing about phanfics that make Raoul evil is that usually it's so unrealistic! I read the beginnig of one where he took Christine back to his house and then forced her to work as his maid! Can you picture Raoul doing that? I sure can't. He went to rescue her when she got kidnapped. There's no way he would have done that unless he really loved her.

[Angel]

::spits Coke at screen:: What on earth?

It's stupid, unrealistic and OOC things like that which make me want to whack some (I said SOME) of those ECers up the back of the head. Sheesh.

[LittleLotte394]

Jaycee, please tell me you're joking about that phanphiction...pretty please? With lots of love for the R/C ship on top? I know the E/Cers can go pretty far, but that just seems as crazy as the legend that Mr. Rogers was a Vietnam sniper.

[Jaycee]

Sadly, I was serious. If you want to give the author a piece of your mind (and i don't blame you), here's the link
www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=3921&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&start=00

i don't know what happened after the part I told you. I wasn't about to finish reading a stupid phic like that! Hmmph. *goes off and cries in corner, mumbling about how Raoul is misunderstood*

[LittleLotte394]

Wow. I'm adding that to my list of most hated sites. I really can think of no words to describe that...that monstrosity called a phanphic.

[Angel]

::begins seething in silence while imagining whacking the person who wrote that with a rotten herring::

Okay. I read the whole thing and was cringing the whole time. What I don't understand though, was why people were praising it so enthusiastically. I mean, sure, they're ECs - but it wasn't even written well. In fact, it sounded like something about the standard I might have written when I was about seven.

I don't have a problem with people praising EC stories, but I do have a problem with people cheering for poorly-written stories with unrealistic and stupid plots just because Raoul is bashed.

I mean, come on. Raoul seeing another girl on the side who happened to be Erik's ex-girlfriend?

[raoulsgal0689]

OMG!!! I have read at least two phan phics where Raoul tries to RAPE... yes rape... Christine! In one of them he cheats on her and then she tries to leave but to show her who is boss... he rapes her! I don't think I have ever been so angry in my life!!!! As if Raoul, in all his sweetness, would ever even consider doing that to her!!! I mean come on... what did they think "AIAOY" was, huh? Some stupid trick? I getting mad just talking about it!

[raoulsgem]

*takes a deep breath* You are all going to kill me when you read this but I'll go crazy if I don't say it..that phic on POTO.com was written by my friend from school. He Hates Raoul with a passion everytime he says something about bashing Raoul, I remind him that it's immature and he usually springs that I used to do that too...then I hit him and change the subject....but yeah, that is a friend of mine...he's odd but he is my friend. Please don't kill me!

[Jaycee]

That's ok Raoulsgem, we can't always control our friends!

[Angel]

Oh, gem, I'm sorry if anything we said offended you (I won't kill you ). I have two EC friends who are sort of like that - they like to make fun of poor old Raoul all the time. They don't write phanphiction, though. But, hey, I know what you mean. They're my friends.

I'm sure he's a great person in real life ... I just got a bit annoyed about the incessant Raoul-bashing in the phic.

[raoulsgem]

Thanks! He is a good person, and I understand what you mean the phic was harsh on the Raoul bashing.

P.S~You didn't offend me, and you didn't offend him, I just had to say that though, I was going to explode if I didn't.

[Jaycee]

You know, the two phans that I know are both EC as well. ONe of them is my best friend and, being my best friend, tries to refrain from bashing Raoul in my presence, although she does seem to comment on how much she hates his sideburns fairly often. But the other, used to be my friend and thinks she still is and always follows me around talking about how evil Raoul is. It gets annoying but what can you do? Even though I don't really consider her a friend anymore, I don't want to be mean to her. And as for my best friend, Well, as much as I love POTO, a debate over two fictional characters isn't worth losing our friendship or anything like that! So, I totally understand, Gem, sometimes our friends can be annoying and Raoul-bashing but we still love 'em cause they're our friends!

[Angel]

Oh, man. Either I'm completely dedicated, completely bored or completely crazy. I think I just wrote the freaking longest review in FFnet history. No joke. It came to over two pages in Times New Roman size 11 font in Microsoft Word with normal page borders.

It was for a phic that was so hopelessly cliche I can't even begin to describe. It had the works. Erik, whom Christine has loved all along, rescues her from Wifebeater!Raoul. They share a warm, fuzzy feeling until Raoul bursts into their apartment. Erik whoops his ass and Christine insists they bustle him off to hospital. Christine wants a divorce and goes back to get hot and heavy with Erik. Erik outbids Raoul for the opera house, becomes the managers' new best friend and knocks up Christine. Nadir makes a cameo and now the opera house is staging Don Juan again

And I sat through twelve chapters of this, my body almost spasming. Sheesh, I had to do something! And the something I chose to do just happened to be to pick the story to shreds. I can't wait to see if the author responds or just ignores me completely and continues her cliche-EC-fantasy ::shudders::

Oh, in case you want to check out that story, here's the link: www.fanfiction.net/s/2410186/1/. It takes a strong stomach. And if you want to spot my review, it sticks out like a sore thumb. It's the one that says something other than "WOW OmGZ th1z iz Da B35T StOrY EVAH!!!111! I h8 Ra0oL!" or "Waste of bandwidth". (No kidding, somebody said that I almost peed my pants. So mean, but unfortunately true.)

[Jaycee]

Ok, that is sadly unrealistic. That was incredibly brave of you to sit through twelve chapters, Angel! And I applaud you for having the courage to stand up to the ECs, something I should have done long ago! If they;re not going to write realistic and well written stories, I think they shouldn't write phanfic at all.

[lindaleriel]

ugg - so agreed.

Consider this a small present from the newbie if you want - a thanks for this awesome little haven - but here is my C2.

www.fanfiction.net/c2/15787/3/0/1/

if Raoul isnt in character it dosen't get added :-)

[Simple Rose]

woot! my story is included there along with one of my favourites, Nepenthe. when i have time and a less-sore head then i'll try and read some of those lovely stories!