I appreciate the level of character development that obviously went into Sophie. The moments when she shows her true self make me wish she would spend more time recognising that being true to herself is much more important than being popular. The other times I want to slap her, mostly. Here's Brooke's take on Sophie, because I feel like it.
Brooke: Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. *shakes her head* I know you won't listen to me, because your precious Danielle or Galinda or whatever her name is waved her magic pink bubble wand and made you all popular, but I absolutely have to speak anyway. Maybe a part of what I say will lodge in your mind like a piece of peanut brittle in your teeth and later you'll be swiping your tongue across your teeth to make sure they're nice and shiny for whatever guy or god is nearest, and it'll catch on this nugget of caramelly wisdom, and make you stop and think for half a second with the magnificent brain you're hiding behind a vacant smile.
I know your dearest wish is to have loads of friends. You're driven by your desire to be accepted. I'm not, at all, because I know that people are quite awful usually, but I can understand the desire in theory. I do know what it's like to be deeply driven by something so vital to your soul that you can't possibly ignore or define or fight it. But let me let you in on something you may be overlooking. Being accepted by people that don't value who you really are is like going to a spa and instead of a mud bath they give you a bath in dog poo. Sure, it looks the same on the surface, but it's not the real thing and it doesn't do you the same good. In fact, it's really bad for you and smells horrible. You obviously did have friends before--what was her name? I'm going to look it up so this has maximum impact--ah, yes, Daphne, of course she would be named Daphne--you obviously had friends before Daphne who knew and liked you, for whom you didn't have to change everything about yourself so you wouldn't be, and I quote, 'an embarrassment'. Really? This is the girl you value so much? The one who said you were an embarrassment? Why the heck would you want her to like you? Listen, university is temporary. Sure, it's rough not having as much money as everyone else. Tell me about it! I grew up with a single mom in Starlight Shores! I went to school with the Bests and the Gooders! But surely there had to be someone at university, somewhere in that vast abyss of money and clothes and rude snobs, that you could talk to. I mean really talk to, about Doctor Who and Harry Potter and Sims in Space. Someone who knew exactly what episode Princess Patima wore that outfit in, and could rage with you about how the remake is never as good and laugh at the silly sets and special effects. Someone you could be real friends with. Because that's what a friend is. Someone who shares your interests, and doesn't force you to share theirs. Someone who is impressed with your knowledge, and doesn't instruct you to hide it. Someone who gets you, not someone who changes you.
I guess there's not much else I can say. I know you don't value my opinion. You prefer to listen to people who tell you you're all wrong and need to be made over in their own image. But let me tell you, I've seen flashes of the real Sophie Beckett, and I think she's pretty great. And I bet a lot of other people would agree with me, if they got the chance. Sophie, life isn't really about frat parties and summer houses and trips to Isla Paradiso. It's about feeling comfortable in your own skin and being surrounded by people who really love you. And until you realise that, you're always going to be unhappy.
