…”What’s fascinating about watching James Cameron’s sequel today is spotting what isn’t on the screen. Thirty-three years ago, Cameron didn’t stuff the narrative with empowering speeches. He didn’t need to virtue signal to his fellow filmmakers.
The screenplay doesn’t emasculate male characters to make Ripley look more bad ass. Bill Paxton’s glorious Hudson is blissful comic relief.
In short, Cameron wrote Ripley as a full-bodied character sans agenda. And she’s glorious…”
The Hollywood-In-Toto article talks about the director’s cut, which is well worth seeing for Ripley’s back-story.
2 replies on “Why Ripley In ‘Aliens’ Is The Ultimate Anti-Mary Sue”
Thanks for sharing. An all-time great movie!
Most importantly, they didn’t put her in a situation that countered her biology. She didn’t physically take on the alien. Instead, she used her wits to destroy it.