Leith Skilling
LightNews LightNews
banner
leithskilling.bsky.social
Leith Skilling
@leithskilling.bsky.social
300 followers 350 following 32 posts
Writer 🏳️‍🌈
Posts Replies Media Videos
leithskilling.bsky.social
#SiuanDeservedBetter
We write as dedicated readers, engaged viewers, and advocates for inclusive storytelling within global fan communities. On 17 April 2025, Episode 3x08 saw Siuan Sanche - a Black, lesbian woman and one of the series' highest-ranking leaders - brutally beaten offscreen, publicly put on trial, and ultimately depicted as a decapitated corpse. In subsequent statements, showrunner Rafe Judkins characterized this decision as carefully considered, while asserting that it provided the necessary "emotional punch". That "punch" indeed landed, causing considerable distress among LGBTQIA+ and BIPoC viewers. We respectfully urge the production team to acknowledge the impact of this narrative decision and give careful consideration to the points outlined below. BRUTALITY: Siuan Sanche represented one of very few prominent Black lesbian leaders in mainstream fantasy television....The graphic portrayal of her beaten and decapitated body appears insensitive at best, deeply damaging at worst. Explicitly showing Siuan's corpse was unnecessary as the dissolution of the oath bond with her partner, Moiraine, already communicated her death. FRIDGING: Fridging refers to the literary/media practice of killing off a marginalized character to provide emotional stakes or motivation for the protagonist. In this context, Siuan's premature death, especially framing her scenes around her partner Moiraine is troubling. Such a portrayal risks reducing a complex character to a mere narrative tool used for shock value and emotional motivation for a (white) central character. This perpetuates harmful tropes regarding the disposability of marginalized characters. BURY YOUR GAYS: The BYG trope is multifaceted and can be defined the following way: "The unexpected death of queer characters before their stories are fully realized or their characters achieve depth and complexity to the same extenf a their heterosexual peers". The showrunner's statements appear contradictory. In "Inside Episode 8", he stated that characters, referencing Siuan, were given "their big moment and then they exit". However, in the Instagram AMA on April 19, it was indicated that those responsible "have plans for who will take on her other main story". This inconsistency raises further concern regarding the thoughtfulness and intent behind the treatment of Siuan's narrative. Furthermore, when asked whether he was concerned about killing off one half of the show's flagship sapphic couple, Judkins responded "we knew going in we'd have to do that, so we could either not make them lesbians or see one or both die". Framing queer representation as a binary choice between tragic visibility or complete exclusion perpetuates one of queer television's oldest harmful tropes. RACIAL OPTICS: We recognize and sincerely appreciate the show's commitment to casting a wide range of BIPoC actors....However, Siuan' portrayal does not exist in isolation. Fan communities have consistently raised concerns regarding the treatment of Black and dark-skinned characters throughout the series....Whether intentional or not, these creative choices carry racial implications that can be problematic for viewers. Such matters require sincere acknowledgement and thoughtful consideration rather than dismissal or minimization by the production team. PROMOTION VS OUTCOME: For three seasons, promotional campaigns, press tours, teasers and official social media platforms heavily emphasized Siuan and Moiraine' relationship as a "central pillar of the show". This strategy fostered trust and emotional investment within queer communities, setting the expectation for thoughtful, committed representation. That trust was broken by Siuan's sudden and brutal death....Her death not only cut short her individual arc, it also erased the very relationship the show had presented in the marketing. REDUCTIVE STORY FUNCTION: Siuan Sanche was more than the "washerwoman" the showrunner characterized her as. Following the coup, she played a crucial role in pivotal storylines....She was the first woman healed from being Stilled, played a key role in facilitating Egwene's ascension to the Amyrlin Seat, and provided steadfast mentorship during significant challenges. By contrast, the show's portrayal reduced her to Moiraine's ineffectual partner, someone who repeatedly "fails', as characters explicitly state. This diminishes her agency and distorts the depth and significance of her original narrative. Fan responses, including detailed analytical essays and personal mental-health disclosures, underscore widespread feelings of betrayal, fatigue with flawed representation, and experiencing re-traumatization. We urge the production team, and Judkins personally, to publicly acknowledge these criticsms, apologize for the harm caused, and commit to greater sensitivity and accountability. Fictional choices shape real-world perceptions and do not exist in a vacuum. We recognize the challenges inherent in adapting complex source material....we also acknowledge the series' meaningful efforts in increasing representation....nonetheless, responsible storytelling requires vigilance when traditional stereotypes intersect with issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Thank you for your thoughtful attention. We hope to see a public acknowledgement in future interviews, press statements, or in communication with the fandom. Our goal is not condemnation but mutual understanding and better storytelling for all. Respectfully, Fans of the Wheel Of Time. Reference list for the letter, including links to Entertainment Weekly, WoTSeries, GLAAD, YouTube, Collider, among other sources and supplementary data.
April 25, 2025 at 5:26 AM
leithskilling.bsky.social
This is so not what I'm used to posting and don't expect any more but I felt kinda cute here
Photo of me from below, looking down with a slight smile. My left arm is raised, showing off my armpit. I'm wearing a dark gray t-shirt. I have short dark brown hair and facial hair. The lighting is purplish-blue-gray.
February 4, 2025 at 6:22 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
A man sitting at the edge of a grassy cliff with his back turned, looking out over a quiet mountain valley filled with clouds. A young girl on a small raft, boating down a wide river between tall hills of craggy stone and marshland. Aerial shot of the White Tower in the city of Tar Valon, a sprawling complex of stout turrets and domed buildings on a hill surrounded by white walls. Wide shot of the city of Falme at daybreak, with its harbor filled with red-sailed ships. A round tower stands in the city by the harbor, and further back is a long, low palace.
November 17, 2024 at 8:13 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
I have no idea what else to post on here currently so you're probably just gonna get my entire WoT photo album
Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere, riding a horse away from the camera down a forest path, leading a second pack-horse by the reins. She has her back turned to the camera. She has long dark hair in a braid and wears a brown fur-lined coat.
November 15, 2024 at 10:21 PM
leithskilling.bsky.social
Has anyone else posted this picture on bluesky yet?
#TheWheelOfTime
Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, lying on his side in a narrow bed, asleep, shirtless. He has short dark curly hair and a beard. Behind him, Madeleine Madden as Egwene al'Vere stands with her hand resting on his shoulder. She is wearing a pale gray blouse, and a wide brown leather belt. Her face is not visible.
November 15, 2024 at 10:04 PM