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So, let’s talk about the “Nesquick Sand” scene in Wreck It Ralph for a minute here…

This is really one of the (many) sequences that really sold me on the character of Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun, specifically her reaction towards being asked to inflict physical pain on another person. While Calhoun is set up to be an aggressive, action-oriented individual with a rather dark sense of humor (see her “This game just got interesting” line when Vanellope threatened to execute Taffyta), Calhoun did not find hitting Felix to be an immediately viable solution. At first, she merely attempted batting at him lightly, as depicted in the image above, and resisted going further since she felt uncomfortable using such a level of force against Felix.

She only agreed to the plan when it became clear it was their only option to escape, and when Felix ensured her that he could “heal” himself immediately with his hammer. Furthermore, while the Laffy Taffy found the whole affair to be comedy gold, Calhoun did not find the practice funny in the slightest, she just wanted to save their lives. This is what I find to be the key element. Just because Calhoun is a physically strong women who can use violence, she is not characterized as someone who feels violence is an acceptable answer for all solutions. Her strength is not for hurting. Yes, she is a soldier programmed with “the most tragic backstory ever” to motivate a bleak worldview. She has a sharp tongue, a loud voice, muscles, and guns and she will use them to protect herself and the people around her. But, she also knows when not to use that power.

That very accurately and eloquently sums up the essence of Calhoun’s character and the overall appealling and organic structure of Wreck It Ralph: a character that is ultimately designed to represent female empowerment is not reduced to fulfilling a role of an inherently inconsiderate, overly aggressive and deliberately hurtful individual establishing her strength and authority through physical violence or abusive tendencies. Calhoun’s primary advantage is her competence. She does her job exceptionally well because she has an actual sense of perspective regarding what’s right and wrong rather than being yet another “kick ass” and malicious stereotype passed for and presented as “strong and independent” while merely striving to release her bitterness and anger through punching people in faces.

Reblogging for the additional comment