Alright, I’ll say it: I love “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.” I know that is a divisive opinion nowadays, and perhaps it’s always been. When “Scott Pilgrim” was released in 2010, it had mixed reviews but it has since found an audience and has become a cult classic film. So why the hesitation when I say that I love the film? In today’s cultural climate, movies like “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” have been under heavy scrutiny. For those that don’t know, “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” follows the 22-year-old Scott Pilgrim as he falls in love with Ramona Flowers. In order to be with Ramona, Scott must first defeat her seven evil exes in battles of increasing difficulty and spectacle. 

I’ve had a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that I love “Scott Pilgrim” and this is because of the several problematic aspects of the film that I’ve been more aware of recently. For example, Ramona Flowers is the embodiment of the “manic pixie dream girl” trope, in which an interesting, eccentric female is there to only add interest to the male protagonist’s life. She gets little to no development beyond her relationship with the men in the story; Ramona is bound to her relationships with her seven evil exes. 

Another problematic aspect of “Scott Pilgrim” is Knives Chau, Scott’s 17-year-old Chinese girlfriend. Knives is boy-obsessed, as her main desire throughout the film is to be with Scott Pilgrim. She is certainly manic, perhaps even more so than Ramona and definitely plays into the “innocent Asian schoolgirl” stereotype. Also, “Knives” is not even a real first name. 

So, how can I love “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”? It’s a tough question and so there is no easy answer. One answer is that the problems of the film don’t negate that it is an incredible feat of filmmaking – one look at any of the movie’s fight scenes and I’m sure that anyone else would agree. But I don’t think that’s the answer for me. To me, the answer lies in the fact that Scott, with all of his problems, is still relatable for better or worse. To me, Scott represents many of the emotions that I have felt in my life and that is something that I can always hold onto when I watch “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.” On the flip side, I can’t let that cloud the fact that there are problems in this film. When I love a problematic movie, I can’t ignore its problems; I must love it holistically, or else I fear that I may become part of the problem.

This makes me think about the “Harry Potter” series. I will be the first to say that “Harry Potter” is a fantastic series with great world-building, action and an inspiring journey. And yet, it is filled with problems. For one thing, its author is transphobic. For another, it’s very whitewashed. Can you name more than three POC characters across the seven books and eight movies (not counting the “Fantastic Beasts” movies, of course)? Oh and let’s not forget about the subtle anti-Semitism, because who can forget about the long-nosed, money-hungry goblins? Of course, the most prominent Asian character, Cho Chang, is in Ravenclaw, aka the house for smart people. Again, I’m not trying to attack anyone for liking the “Harry Potter” series. Rather, I feel like we need to make a more concerted effort to acknowledge the problems within the series. I believe this willful ignorance stems from a place of privilege. Perhaps I’m more primed to notice the anti-Asian racism in “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” and “Harry Potter” more than the average white viewer due to my Asian heritage. But that doesn’t mean that people outside of these groups have an excuse to ignore these things. 

Many people might not agree with me on this, and that’s okay. If someone told me they hated “Scott Pilgrim” because of its representation of female characters, I would totally understand that for a few reasons. One, it’s valid. Two, coming from a place of understanding is easier than engaging in Reddit arguments or Twitter feuds and actually allows people to engage in a comprehensive dialogue with each other. 

So go ahead, watch all the “Scott Pilgrim” and “Harry Potter” you want. Just be sure to know the entire picture of what you watch, or else one of Ramona’s evil exes might just come and find you.