After this, we can probably just direct people to Emma Watson if they want to level charges of an unhealthy relationship at Beauty and the Beast.
Far be it from us to say that Disney always portrays the absolute healthiest of relationships in its princess films. Sleeping Beauty has Prince Philip kiss a sleeping Aurora awake when they haven’t met since she was a baby. Cinderella doesn’t do much better, but at least she’s awake through the whole movie. And Beauty and the Beast is a case of Stockholm Syndrome, right?
Well, you may want to pump the brakes on that last one. Actress Emma Watson, better-known as the live-action incarnation of Belle on film, knows about Stockholm Syndrome.
She told Entertainment Weekly about it all and how the romantic narrative of the film is different. “Beast and Belle begin their love story really irritating each other and really not liking each other very much,” she told EW. True. We all remember the “Go ahead and starve” scene, right?
Those are not two people who are flirting. Those are two people who absolutely do not get along. They sing a song about how they start to like each other. It’s called “Something There,” and as much as we pay attention to “Be Our Guest,” the former pushes the narrative along way more than the latter.
In the same interview, Watson also clearly explained what the syndrome is and even mentioned that she had to work through the questions herself. However, she came to this conclusion: “She has none of the characteristics of someone with Stockholm Syndrome because she keeps her independence.”
Once again, we refer you back up to the above video. Yes, Belle agrees to take her father’s place in the Beast’s castle. However, beyond that, to borrow Watson’s words, “she him hell.”
Not to say that Beauty and the Beast doesn’t have some problems, but Emma Watson’s defense of the narrative here basically closes the case, at least for us.
Next: New Beauty and the Beast Photos
Beauty and the Beast comes to theaters March 17.