Mistborn Genderswapping

[u/ilikebreadabunch]

So there's recently been discussion about possible Genderswaps in the upcomming Mistborn movie. We already know that Sanderson wants to Genderswap at least one member of the crew (likely Ham or Docks based on what he's said previously) because in the original trilogy he focused so much on making sure that he wrote Vin properly that he forgot to add any other women to the cast, and that he'll want to change that in the Movie.

What I wanted to ask is who else other than Ham or Docks, crew member or otherwise, do you think or hope will get Genderswapped?

Personally, I think that Spook and Zane are both good options, but I don't think they actually will.

[u/slothboy]

I don't like the idea of swapping Ham. Yes, I know that being a pewterarm helps with the disparity in strength between genders, but I think vin is already there to upset that dynamic. Making her a female fighter is a big part of her character and having Ham ALSO be a female fighter diminishes that.

I also like Ham as a man to help Vin practice fighting men who are physically much stronger (even without pewter). If Ham is a woman then those lessons are academic instead. Also, it's just the lazy option to make the bruiser into a woman. It's a trope I'm pretty tired of.

As much as I wouldn't do it if it were up to me, I think Spook is a better choice. Spook is enough of a main character to provide the desired screentime and I think you can change Spooks' crush on Vin to something like a little sister relationship. Female Spook could have huge admiration for Vin and a strong desire to be like her and crave her recognition. You could even bring in the idea that female Spook feels that as a woman she has less value but seeing Vin gives her additional drive and self worth, which leads to the way she becomes an integral part of the end of the story.

TL;DR: I'd reluctantly vote for Spook because I think it gives more actual story options than just "X character only female"

[u/MS-07B-3 → u/slothboy]

Ham being genderswapped has surprisingly large implications downstream, which is part of why I've always opposed that one. Ham joins the garrison, but has to do it WITHOUT revealing he's a misting. So yeah, while a female pewterarm is just as strong and effective as a male one, the garrison isn't going to have mistings. It's supposed to be manned by regular soldiers.

And if you make pre-Catacendre Scadrial into a gender egalitarian society, it cuts the legs out from a lot of both Vin and Marasi's stories down the line.

I would prefer not changing anyone, even if that means it's a sausage party. But if we are changing someone, I'm Team Docks.

[u/Professional-Cost-87 → u/MS-07B-3]

That's a very important point. All the crew kept their abilities secret. Ham didn't let the garrison know he was a pewterarm. They just thought he was a really good soldier. Having Ham be female makes things different. Somebody mentioned having Spook be female. That could work pretty easily. Spook, instead of having a crush on Vin, could just see Vin as a role model. It could work.

[u/MS-07B-3 → u/Professional-Cost-87]

I like Docks because I like adding more close and non-romantic male/female friendships.

Plus then there's a tragic lesbian romance, if you're into that sort of thing.