Firstly, I’m very aware of the discourse among fans about Amy’s character and I purposely don’t engage in it. Everyone has their own opinions; fighting about it solves nothing. Though this fandom can be great, it can also be extremely toxic and it is shocking to see people fighting and tearing each other down over these wonderful–but ultimately, fictional–characters, and I don’t see the point. Arguing isn’t going to change anybody’s minds. It’s just mean-spirited.

You did ask for my opinion so I will give it to you, but I just hope everybody understands that this is not my way of trying to say my opinion is the correct one. If you disagree with the opinions I express, that’s fine. I really don’t care. Like I said, fighting isn’t going to change anybody’s minds. You can just inwardly think to yourself “Hm, that doesn’t resonate with me” and move right on along. That’s what I do every damn day!

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Yes, there have been obvious changes to Amy’s character over the years. However, I don’t find these changes detrimental and I don’t believe they take away from her values at all. In fact, I consider these changes a very thoughtful, natural character development and a means to demonstrate her values even more. 

Amy Rose is the embodiment of love. She always has been and always will be the personification of love. But I think people tend to forget that love is not limited to romance. Love is about showing compassion and empathy. Love is being selfless and bettering the lives of others. Love is finding the beauty in everyday things. Love is fostering the growth of good in others. Amy has always done that, and she continues to do it in current media. She cares so deeply about others, even only moments after meeting them. She puts the needs (and safety) of others before her own. She is always the beacon of optimism in any setting. She loves so freely and effortlessly, and I don’t think it’s fair to diminish that aspect of her just because she doesn’t show romantic love in the same way she did in the past.

And for the record, I believe she does still show a great amount of romantic love, it’s just different! She doesn’t run around shouting “Marry me, marry me!” anymore, but she still very clearly loves Sonic. I don’t understand how people can say they’ve taken away that part of her character when, throughout media, she is still so overcome by excitement whenever she sees Sonic that she tackle-hugs him or won’t let him leave without a goodluck hug. She gives him thoughtful gifts and speaks tenderly and enthusiastically about him. And most importantly, I think she is showing love by taking Sonic’s comfort into consideration and doesn’t drag him around or squeeze him to the point that he’s not enjoying it in the way she did in the past. Believe me, I adore an over-the-top, mushy Amy, but Sonic’s previous reactions really made it seem like he wasn’t into the way she expressed her feelings for him. I think she took that into consideration and is trying to meet him in a place that is more comfortable for him (Again, what is love if not caring about the feelings of others?). Of course, my personal headcanon is that Amy has overcorrected and that Sonic actually misses her intense affection, which is why he clearly eggs her on and is constantly playful with her to get a rise out of her. I believe that if Sonic and Amy were to admit their feelings for one another and were honest with each other, Amy would once again show that unbridled passion for Sonic that has always lived in her heart, but done so in a way that they are both comfortable and happy with. (And of course in my perfect dream scenario, Sonic is actually crazy about Amy’s affection and loves how intense and over-the-top it is hehe)

Another criticism I see and cannot comprehend is that the changes made to Amy have somehow made her ‘bland’ and people are worried they’re turning her into a ‘girlboss’ stereotype (I can’t even comment on the latter because the negative association with being a ‘girlboss’ infuriates me and just leads into debates about misogyny and I get so heated that I don’t even want to get into that). But Amy has had so many incredible achievements throughout recent years that I can’t for the life of me understand how she could be interpreted as bland!

I am so happy that Amy is now recognized as one of the physically strongest characters in canon, and what’s even more astounding is that she had to work for that. It wasn’t just that she was naturally born with this super strength that she instantly knew how to wield. Throughout all kinds of Sonic media, we have evidence that Amy has been training so hard in an effort to keep up the pace with Sonic or to be strong enough to be a significant fighter in the team, and it has paid off exponentially! In fact, I actually think it makes her more interesting and inspiring of a character, because we don’t see any of the other cast doing this. 

Also, Amy became a freaking commander. This lady helped people navigate their way through the damn brink of the apocalypse! That alone is cool enough, but we got to see so much depth in her character throughout that whole arc. This was not a role she wanted, but she stepped up because the world needed it and she wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines and watch innocent lives lost. And what adds an extra layer of complexity is that she struggled with that role. It was exhausting and traumatizing and we saw her grappling with the loss of friends and fear that she wasn’t doing well enough. And even after getting through ALL of that, she still manages to have a positive outlook on life and be one of the most optimistic, hopeful characters in the series? How can somebody call that bland or generic?! I have no clue.

I get that people don’t like change and I know that it’s impossible to make everybody happy. Everyone is allowed to feel, and if you don’t like some of the changes we’ve seen in Amy over the years, I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong for feeling that. But I interpret all of the changes as an expansion of what we’ve already seen from her, not a reduction. I fell in love with Amy the moment I was first introduced to her character and I love her more now than I ever have.