Audience’s Rights Reform #9: No unpunished cheating or favouritism
This feels obvious to me, but it seems no one else understands. It is extremely wrong to cheat in any competition, and even more wrong to turn a blind eye to cheating. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that all examples of undisqualified cheating in fiction be edited.
Example A: Pokémon EP050
In this episode, Meowth “defeats” Brock’s Onix by throwing water. The episode should be edited so Meowth gets disqualified from the Togepi tournament, making the final round Ash vs. Brock. (“Sudden death” doesn’t mean cheating is okay! Nothing does.)
Example B: The Simpsons S20E06 “Homer and Lisa Exchange Crosswords”
This story features Homer betting against Lisa and profiting from her loss, while Gil cheats and still wins. The episode should be edited so Homer instead bets on Lisa, and Gil is disqualified. The plot of Lisa “disowning” Homer and changing her last name to Bouvier would still work, because S03E14 “Lisa the Greek” revealed that Lisa opposes gambling in general.
Example C: Pokémon BW069
In this episode, Ash, Iris and Cilan enter the Wishing Bell Festival, a multi-structured competition which sees them doing various activities. One event was dressing up as certain Gym Leader and imitating them and their Pokémon. Cilan imitates Elesa very well. The judge, Miles, decides to disqualify him from this portion of the contest, for no reason other than favouritism. Cilan mentions the unfairness, but no resolution is shown. This episode desperately needs a fix: either Miles’ partiality should be removed entirely, or Cilan should successfully appeal and ultimately win the contest instead of placing fifth overall.
Example D: Sonic Boom episode 28 (“Blue With Envy”)
This episode depicts both cheating and favouritism without consequence. It shows Sonic being banished from Hedgehog Village after losing a race to Swifty the shrew — even though Swifty had clearly cheated by using a motorized board. This double injustice is both cruel and senseless. Heroes deserve fairness and respect, not arbitrary exile. The story should be edited so Swifty is disqualified and Sonic is vindicated. A society that punishes its heroes for losing, especially due to cheating, is not one worth portraying uncritically.