(Art by KiingKuro) Ok, let's recap the scene: Vox was pushing the MoL so far that it overloaded and was about to explode and destroy half the city. Everyone was stepping in to use their powers to stop it, and eventually Valentino and Velvette joined in to help. Charlie looked over at them and briefly smiled because she was happy that they were helping.

That’s literally it.

I’ve seen people acting like Charlie smiling at Valentino means she suddenly forgave him for abusing Angel Dust, considers him a good person now, or wants to be his friend. WHAT 😭

Charlie didn’t walk up to Valentino and say "OMG you’re such a good person, let’s be best friends!" or some shit. She saw someone who she knows is her enemy contributing to an effort that was literally saving everyone’s lives, and she was happy that he chose to help instead of running away or something. That is completely consistent with Charlie’s character.

Charlie is a pacifist who genuinely believes that people can change and that there is good in everyone. She doesn’t automatically stop acknowledging someone’s humanity just because they’re a horrible person. That’s one of the central aspects of her character. She can look at Valentino and think "You’re an abusive piece of shit who has hurt my friend" AND "I’m glad you’re helping us prevent this city from being destroyed". 

Those two thoughts are not mutually exclusive and I don't understand why mfs are pretending that they are. People seem to be interpreting that smile as some kind of moral endorsement of Valentino, when it’s much more likely that Charlie was simply relieved and happy that the Vees were contributing. Especially because the entire point of the finale was cooperation and people putting their differences aside to deal with a much bigger threat. I hate using the term media literacy but cmon y'all.

And let’s not forget that the Vees weren’t even suddenly on Charlie’s side. They had their own reasons for helping. Charlie knows that. She isn’t THAT stupid.

What exactly were people expecting her to do? Look at Valentino while he’s actively helping save everyone’s lives and go "NO! FUCK OFF! I DON’T WANT YOUR HELP!" ???? Like WTF are y'all on 💀 that would completely undermine the entire message of the scene.

You don’t have to forgive someone to appreciate something good they did. You don’t have to like someone to be grateful that they helped. You don’t have to stop hating someone’s actions just because they temporarily worked alongside you. Charlie smiling at Valentino isn't Charlie forgiving Valentino. Charlie being glad he helped isn't Charlie condoning what he did to Angel. Charlie acknowledging a good action isn't Charlie believing Valentino is a good person. I don't get why that's so hard to understand.

I feel like people are demanding that Charlie have this incredibly black and white reaction to Valentino when one of the most important things about her character is that she doesn’t see the world that way. And honestly it would defeat the whole purpose of the show. 

I think it’s actually more interesting that Charlie can acknowledge the good thing Valentino did without suddenly forgetting all the horrible things he’s done.

Also I love Adam he's my husband and the best angel ever I'll kiss him a million times 💛💛💛💛

the discourse about Charlie smiling at Valentino is dumb