Hello friends!

so this is mostly just a reminder for the new members of the Bandstand fandom here who are starting to write stories for Bandstand (which is amazing by the way please keep doing it)

I am currently reading some Bandstand fanfic on Archive of Our Own just to kind of get myself in the mode for working on my own new story (yaaaay) and I'm being reminded of some things that I hate seeing in Bandstand stories and just thought I would tell you about them because I hate them (I'm weird I know)

first of all (and most importantly): Donny and Michael were NOT in love. I repeat, Donny and Michael did not have any sort of romantic relationship, it was purely platonic and I know this because 1) Michael would never cheat on Julia ever and 2) Julia most definitely would not be okay with her husband cheating on her. So just.. please don't write any romance between Donny and Michael because I may scream

second of all (and lastly, I really don't have that much to say) and this is just kind of a general thing: PTSD does not go away. Especially not in 1945 when treatment for PTSD was not a thing. Donny's nightmares will not go away just because he feels safe sleeping in Julia's arms. Johnny's back will not miraculously get better nor will he suddenly start remembering things because life is happy now. Davy is never going to just flat out stop drinking. That's not how mental illness works.

Aaaand that is all, thank you and good night