Like many, I took it upon myself to see 50 Shades Darker this past week, and unlike most, I will openly admit that I loved it. Now before you call me a closet freak or a supporter of male dominance and S&M, I have my reasons why I am Team Grey (or quite frankly Team Steele). These reasons, I believe, can somewhat explain why so many females are supporters of the 50 Shades trilogy.
No, it’s not because Christian Grey is hot AF (which could really be an adequate reason).
And it’s also not because the glitz and the glamor of the elite Seattle life are captivating and inspirational.
It’s because, in my opinion at least, Miss Steele has successfully done what so many girls today have tried to do.
Whether it be your modern day f*ck boy or the good girl mesmerized by the bad boy, this phenomenon has plagued females for decades.
What phenomenon, you ask?
The belief that the girl can change the guy.
Now this change can take many forms.
It can be the belief that you can be the one that turns him into a one woman man.
Or the belief that you can be the one that turns him away from his addictions and dark past.
Sex aside (and spoiler alert) Anna successfully changes Christian in 50 Shades Darker, and there are multiple times throughout the movie that Christian openly admits this fact. Whether it’s stating that he doesn’t want anyone but her, or that he’s willing to change and learn in order to not lose her, those lines and that recurring message is music to every girls’ ears. Who wouldn’t want to hear that they are the one? That someone is willing to move mountains and rewire their DNA for you all because of how much you mean to them? You can say you disagree with either point all you want, but somehow I find that pretty fucking hard to believe.
It’s human nature to be wanted.
We all need someone, and we all need that someone to need us back. It’s this need to be loved that strains Anna and Christian’s relationship in book/movie one, and allows it to grow in book/movie two.
I truly believe that females can relate to Anna’s character because many of us have been in her shoes before. We’ve expressed that we needed more; we’ve opened up and made ourselves vulnerable and unfortunately, many of us have experienced the results of 50 Shades of Grey, and not 50 Shades Darker. But that’s why we feel such a connection to the arguably non-existent plot of the trilogy. Anna gives us that glimmer of hope. Many of us have been in that situation where we are frustrated with our relationships and feel as though we should walk away but can’t because we are afraid of losing this person that we love so much. Anna is strong enough to swallow her feelings and value her pride, and in the end (and maybe this is where the Hollywood effect kicks in) she ends up being with Christian after all.
I’ll be the first to admit that I would love to find a love like Ana and Christian’s. To find someone that will open up to you and express their weakest and darkest moments. Someone that will fly across the country just to spend time with you. Someone who would do anything to protect you, even if that meant standing in front of a gun.
And most importantly, someone that needs you just as much as you need them.
That’s what I call 50 shades of true f*cking love.
Featured Image a Screen-Grab from 50 Shades Darker.
