History YMMV / TheLastBattle

* ValuesDissonance: The scene in which Tirian, Jill and Eustace go undercover in the Calormene army by [[{{Blackface}} dying their skin to look like them]] raises eyebrows today.

* BrokenBase: There's a significant divide in the fandom of those who view Susan as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for embracing "nylons, lipstick, and invitations" as a critique of femininity. Writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. Others point out that the characters criticize Susan's ''attitude'' towards those things, not taking up the things themselves -- namely, that she's obsessing over them to the point of becoming shallow, dismissive, and gossipy -- and that she's deliberately rejecting Aslan and her profound experiences of faith and wonder, denying that she ever believed.

* CommonKnowledge: No, the book does ''not'' blame [[spoiler:female sexuality for Susan's absence in Aslan's Country. In context, the mention of "nylons and lipstick and invitations" seems to allude to Susan's materialistic understanding of adulthood and her ironically immature urge to distance herself from anything too childish. Not to mention that Susan doesn't go to Aslan's Country because she's ''still alive'', so she still has a chance to make it in when she does eventually die.]]

* MisaimedFandom: [[BrokenBase There's a significant divide in the fandom]] of those view Susan as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for embracing "nylons, lipstick, and invitations", viewing it as a critique of feminism. Writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. What this gets wrong is that the characters criticize Susan's ''attitude'' towards those things, not taking up the things themselves--namely, that she's obsessing over them to the point of becoming shallow, dismissive, and gossipy. Furthermore, it was Lucy, who, as a Queen in Narnia, was willing to fight when Queen Susan chose not to[[note]] The ActionGirl-type Susan in the movies is an adaptation of the movies[[/note]], meaning there were ''already'' feminist characters who weren't living up to traditional gender-based expectations.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** In ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' there were some UnfortunateImplications in the depiction of the Calormenes. This book shows more good Calormenes, and Emeth is [[spoiler: adopted as his own by Aslan, who says that those who serve Tash for good purposes are really serving him]].
** There was some FridgeHorror regarding Polly's fate after ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'', since she isn't mentioned in any of the other books. Here she's alive and well, called Aunt Polly by the Pevensies and involved in the plot.
** Lewis later made some comments assuring readers [[spoiler: that he felt Susan would make it to Narnia in her own way, even thinking that it was a story worth its own book.]]

** In ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' there were some UnfortunateImplications in the depiction of the Calormenes. This book shows more good Calormenes, and Emeth is [[spoiler: pardoned by Aslan, who says that those who serve Tash for good purposes are really serving him]].

* UnintentionallySympathetic: [[spoiler:We're meant to understand that Susan has become shallow and materialistic, but since she doesn't appear in person and we only have the other characters' criticisms to go by, many readers think she's treated too harshly - especially since the events of the story and the fact that she's not with the other Friends of Narnia at the end mean that she has just lost her parents, all three of her siblings, her cousin, and several family friends in a horrific tragedy.]]

* UnintentionallySympathetic: [[spoiler:We're meant to understand that Susan has become shallow and materialistic, but since she doesn't appear in person and we only have the other characters' criticisms to go by, many readers think she's treated too harshly - especially since the events of the story and the fact that she's not with the other Friends of Narnia at the end mean that she's just lost her parents, all three of her siblings, her cousin, and several family friends in a horrific tragedy.]]

** There was some FridgeHorror regarding Polly's fate after ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'' — since she isn't mentioned in any of the other books. Here she's alive and well, called Aunt Polly by the Pevensies and involved in the plot.
** Lewis later made some comments assuring readers [[spoiler: that he felt Susan would make it to Narnia in her own way, even thinking that it was a story worth its own book. [[OvershadowedByControversy Although many interpret this as implying she still needed redemption.]]]]

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Susan is often viewed in a more sympathetic light than the author intended, as many have interpreted her as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for not fitting into a strict idea of Christian femininity — namely embracing her sexuality, caring about her appearance and social status. "Nylons, lipstick, and invitations" was suggestive of things Christians were critical of in women's behaviour: namely caring about fashion, makeup, and socialising (all seen as vain and frivolous). Writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. The fact that even saintly Lucy isn't associating with Susan might not be a good sign either. On the other hand, it was Lucy (who, as a Queen in Narnia, was willing to fight when Queen Susan chose not to. Note that this is according to the books, as the newer movies make Susan more of a feminist/fighter) who was not living up to traditional gender-based expectations.

** In ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' there were some UnfortunateImplications in the depiction of the Calormenes. This book shows more good Calormenes, and Emeth is [[spoiler: pardoned by Aslan, who says that those who serve Tash for good are really serving him]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Tash. His only short appearance in the book (and indeed, the entire series) is seemingly for the sole purpose of teaching his followers [[EvilIsNotAToy not to invoke him in vain]]. This is in spite of him being described as Aslan's opposite: the TheAntiGod and Satan analog of Narnia, which would make it interesting to know how he has influenced the story and the world beforehand. Then there’s the fact that an entire country worships him as their god; how did that happen if he's supposed to be the ultimate embodiment of evil? Possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Narnia books are Christian allegories and Satan is rarely elaborated upon in canonical Christian sources, but then again, that’s also left a lot of people wanting more, which is why we have WordOfDante.

* AllThereIsToKnowAboutTheCryingGame: Everyone knows that this is the Narnia story where [[spoiler: everyone except Susan dies and goes to heaven]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Susan is often viewed in a more sympathetic light than the author intended, as many have interpreted her as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for not fitting into a strict idea of Christian femininity — namely embracing her sexuality, caring about her appearance and social status. "Nylons, lipstick, and invitations" was suggestive of things Christians were critical of in women's behaviour: namely caring about fashion, makeup, and socialising (all seen as vain and frivolous). Writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. The fact that even saintly Lucy isn't associating with Susan might not be a good sign either. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that is all that needs to be said, thank-you-very-much.]] On the other hand, it was Lucy (who, as a Queen in Narnia, was willing to fight when Queen Susan chose not to. Note that this is according to the books, as the newer movies make Susan more of a feminist/fighter) who was not living up to traditional gender-based expectations.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Susan is often viewed in a more sympathetic light than the author intended, as many have interpreted her as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for not fitting into a strict idea of Christian femininity - namely embracing her sexuality, caring about her appearance and social status. "Nylons, lipstick, and invitations" was suggestive of things Christians were critical of in women's behaviour: namely caring about fashion, makeup, and socialising (all seen as vain and frivolous). Writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. The fact that even saintly Lucy isn't associating with Susan might not be a good sign either. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that is all that needs to be said, thank-you-very-much.]] On the other hand, it was Lucy (who, as a Queen in Narnia, was willing to fight when Queen Susan chose not to. Note that this is according to the books, as the newer movies make Susan more of a feminist/fighter) who was not living up to traditional gender-based expectations.

** There was some FridgeHorror regarding Polly's fate after ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew'' - since she isn't mentioned in any of the other books. Here she's alive and well, called Aunt Polly by the Pevensies and involved in the plot.

* {{Fanon}}:
** As the English children refer to Polly Plummer as 'Aunt Polly', it's accepted among fans that Polly talked to the Pevensies about Narnia with Diggory frequently as the years went on.
** [[spoiler: Susan's adult self being flirtatious and ReallyGetsAround is a common fan image of her - though those stem more from criticisms that missed the point of her fate. Specifically Lewis never mentions anything about sexuality - and the point he seems to be making is that Susan became a materialistic KnowNothingKnowItAll who pretends her adventures in Narnia were nothing more than silly games to try and make herself look more grown up]].

* NeverLiveItDown: The line about Susan being "more interested in lipstick, nylons and invitations" has been taken as a critique of female sexuality.

** The descriptions of Tash. If you've heard Creator/PatrickStewart's audiobook recording, the character voice Stewart uses for Tash's words gives the monster a whole new dimension of terrifying. The illustration of Tash is also by far the most terrifying picture in the books and graces the "Nightmare Fuel" page for the series for [[UncannyValley many]] [[HumanoidAbomination good]] [[BlackEyesOfEvil reasons.]]

* OlderThanTheyThink: Several ''millennia'' older, in fact. A divine lion destroying a corrupted world echoes (though probably unintentionally) the much gorier tale of the Myth/{{Egyptian|Mythology}} goddess Sekhmet. In that case, though, the rest of the pantheon stops her from finishing the job by getting her UnsuspectinglySoused (yes, really).

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Susan is often viewed in a more sympathetic light than the author intended, as many have interpreted her as [[spoiler: being denied entry into Aslan's Country]] for not fitting into a strict idea of femininity - namely embracing her sexuality instead of being a "good girl." Even writers like Creator/JKRowling, Creator/NeilGaiman, and Creator/PhilipPullman are fond of this interpretation, with Gaiman writing a rather brutal satire on the subject. Then again, the fact that even saintly Lucy isn't associating with Susan might not be a good sign either. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment And that is all that needs to be said, thank-you-very-much.]] On the other hand, "nylons, lipstick, and invitations" were pretty much what was expected of a strict idea of femininity, the text never directly associates them with sexuality, which remains a large criticism of the aforementioned interpretation, and it was Lucy (who, as a Queen in Narnia, was willing to fight when Queen Susan chose not to. Note that this is according to the books, as the newer movies make Susan more of a feminist/fighter) who was not living up to traditional gender-based expectations.

** Lewis later made some comments assuring readers [[spoiler: that he felt Susan would make it to Narnia in her own way, even thinking that it was a story worth its own book. [[OvershadowedByControversy Unfortunately a lot of people to tend to ignore this.]]]]

* OlderThanTheyThink: Several ''millennia'' older, in fact. A divine lion destroying a corrupted world echoes (though probably unintentionally) the much gorier tale of the Myth/{{Egyptian|Mythology}} goddess Sekhmet. In thst case, though, the rest of the pantheon stops her from finishing the job by getting her UnsuspectinglySoused (yes, really).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Tash. His only a short appearance in the book (and indeed, the entire series) is seemingly for the sole purpose of teaching his followers [[EvilIsNotAToy to not invoke him in vain]]. This is in spite of him being described as Aslan's opposite: the TheAntiGod and Satan analog of Narnia, which would make it interesting to know how he has influenced the story and the world beforehand. Then there’s the fact that an entire country worships him as their god; how did that happen if he's supposed to be the ultimate embodiment of evil? Possibly [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Narnia books are Christian allegories and Satan is rarely elaborated upon in canonical Christian sources, but then again, that’s also left a lot of people wanting more, which is why we have WordOfDante.