I love it when people try to claim representation in fiction is being taken “too far” to the point where it’s no believable. They’re like:
“What’s next, a mixed-race immigrant on the autism spectrum?” Hi, my name is Rachel, also known as Rachna, and I’m a mixed-race immigrant on the autism spectrum.
“What’s next, a transgender Latino man with chronic pain?” What, you mean my former colleague, Marco?
“What’s next, a Black Jewish lesbian?” Bitch, I know I three Black Jewish lesbians, WHAT’S YOUR FUCKING POINT?
But for real the people who complain about “pandering” when it comes to characters that are poc or any sexuality that isn’t straight are most likely straight and white. Because they grew up with all this media staring straight white characters that anything different is “waaaaah I hate this, why is it starring a protagonist that’s different than me??? where’s the usual stuff featured in tens of thousands of media???”.
They don’t seem to realize the characters they call “pandering” have the same features as real life people do, that maybe the writers thought “hey, children that need representation can finally have a character to relate to.” Remember the deaf Latina mermaid from the little mermaid cartoon that used sign language? I heard she made quite a few children like her happy. That’s why representation is important, kids need characters like them that are the heroes that save the day in cartoons because it gives them a character to relate to and go “hey they’re just like me!”.