“genre-savvy” no i want a genre-unsavvy protagonist. scratch that, i want a genre-deluded protagonist.
i want a protagonist who is convinced until the last possible moment that they’re in a lighthearted romcom–despite the proliferation of slasher murders. give me a soccer dad who is just so determined to enjoy family vacation, despite the fact the kids summoned an eldritch deity from the lake. a preteen who is experiencing a coming-of-age saga and annoyed their parents aren’t emotionally present (the parents are distracted by a literal zombie apocalypse). endless possibilities
genre-dysphoria