Let me first say that I love Hank as a character, he's one the most charismatic on the show and one of my favorites to watch. But regarding Hank and Myra as couple: Hank raped Myra, plain and simple. In "Orphan Train," there's a scene where he continues after she says no, and it's clear that happens often. A prostitution contract, especially signed by a desperate woman, is NOT consent. I could never ship a female character with her rapist and I'm so glad the show ended before it went there.
I understand and respect this stance completely. I think non-consensual sex happened routinely in those days, especially in saloons or whorehouses. Men (then and now, sadly) could pretty much do whatever they wanted when it came to women. It’s interesting though because I don’t think the whole rape issue has ever been addressed by anyone in the cast or by Beth. Everyone only talks about the connection and chemistry they had and to be honest, that’s what I tend to focus on as well. Hank was FAR from perfect and did some horrible things for sure. Do I still like them together? Yes, I do. Like I said before, I really don’t think Myra held any resentment towards Hank at all and I think deep down that Hank isn’t a bad guy (that doesn’t excuse raping a woman, of course). It’s kind of a weird situation. I imagine that more times than not, the women were not all that interested in hooking up with disgusting, drunk, smelly men but they did it because they had to. They didn’t have a choice.
You know what, I think a lot of my opinions and thoughts about characters and couples on the show were made when I was a kid first watching the show and during my rewatches years ago before talking about sexual assault and consent was common and mainstream (which has only happened pretty recently). I can see and understand the issues better now that I’m an informed, educated adult, but then a part of me is like…. aww but look at them! He loves her! I’m a little conflicted.
It’s totally understandable that your perceptions of the show as a kid would end up making you feel conflicted as you rewatch through the years. For me, I watched this series for the first time as an adult, so these kind of things really stood out to me.
What I appreciate is that the show never, ever portrayed the possibility of a healthy, reciprocal relationship between the two of them; it was abundantly clear that because of their history, that chance was gone. Myra was never easy on Hank— when he tells her that he loves her, she replies that he “doesn’t know what love is.” Their scenes together are laced with regret.The one where Hank is holding Samantha and is able to stop her crying stands out to me. When Myra says that he could have been a good father, it’s not in a sweet, hint-hint maybe this can happen sort of way. It’s kind of tragic. She’s saying that he could have been a guy who is able to love and have a family, but his choices have ruined it. I disagree a little about Myra not harboring any resentment, though. I definitely think she cares about him a lot and knows there’s good in him, “Man in the Moon” especially shows that, but she never, ever truly lets her guard down around him. Forgive, but not forget. I think she feels sorry for him more than anything, and kind of loves him like you would a difficult family member-that bond is always going to be there, but you know what they are and aren’t going to be naive about it.
I really appreciate the way they did this- the link between them is there, but if they would have been any friendlier or nicer with each other it would have gotten into problematic territory. That’s why I’m so glad we didn’t get to a season in which they possibly hinted at them as a couple. It would have been a serious step backward after the sensitivity with which they addressed this kind of relationship.
THIS!
I agree wholeheartedly ttalovebug.
