Juliet Starling

According to an author from Digitally Downloaded, Juliet's depiction in Lollipop Chainsaw made people debate, especially regarding the treatment of gender and sexuality, with some labeling it sexist while others interpreting it as a critique of sexualized tropes in video games; the author argued that the latter better mirrors what the game intended for. Although its marketing emphasized exploitative imagery to attract a mass audience, the game itself presents a more radical portrayal through Juliet. The game story depicts Juliet as both intellectually capable and physically dominant, contrasting her outward cheerleader stereotype with demonstrated competence in combat, multilingual ability, and emotional composure. Throughout the game, male characters, including her disembodied partner Nick, are portrayed as dependent, immature, or driven by crude behavior, which Juliet largely ignores, positioning her as detached from and superior to such conduct. Gameplay elements further reinforce this tone; for example, a trophy awarded for attempting to view up her skirt functions less as a reward than as a form of player-directed satire, while her revealing alternate costumes gains attention and arguably parodies expectations of sexualization. Comparisons have also been made with titles such as Onechanbara, which critics cite as a more straightforward example of sexploitation.^[11] Jon Denton from Eurogamer additionally examined this topic thoroughly.^[12]

James Stephanie Sterling of Destructoid argues that, despite the overt sexualization of Juliet, the game utilizes a deliberate reversal of traditional gender roles to critique ideas of objectification and gender dynamics. While Juliet is made appealing for the male gaze through revealing outfits and suggestive camera angles, Sterling contends that this surface-level objectification is connected with the mistreatment of Nick, who is transformed into a disembodied head early in the narrative and subsequently rendered powerless and functions largely as an object carried by Juliet, and subjected to humiliation, harassment, and disregard for his autonomy by multiple characters, including Juliet and her family. His lack of agency, combined with instances of emotional distress and pleas for release are ignored, showing themes of dehumanization.^[13]

Marlena Skall, writing for Game Developer, examines Juliet, arguing that she serves as a prime example where character design is often shaped around a presumed male audience. Skall suggests that this marks only a limited step toward improved representation, pointing to her design elements, such as short skirt, stylized school uniform, and exaggerated features, continuing familiar portrayals that some players, particularly women, may find difficult to relate to. Elements like her posed animations and the visual emphasis on her chainsaw are also interpreted as strengthening gendered conventions associated with male-oriented design. In this context, Skall presents Juliet as part of a wider discussion about representation in games, where the inclusion of a female protagonist does not necessarily equate to more substantive or varied depictions of women.^[14]

University of South Carolina scholar Bonnie Harris-Lowe cites Juliet as an example of how hypersexualized female characters are often framed for the presumed pleasure of a male player. Juliet's outfit, consisting of a sports bra and a miniskirt, provides minimal coverage. If the player attempts to adjust the camera angle to look beneath her skirt, the character initially blocks the view, and an achievement titled “I swear! I did it by mistake!” can be unlocked within seconds. However, maintaining this angle for a longer period causes the character to stop resisting, allowing the player to see her undergarments. While the delay before this occurs may be interpreted as a commentary on voyeuristic behavior, the inclusion of a reward system for such actions has been criticized for encouraging it, effectively turning the character's discomfort into a gameplay objective.^[15]

Academics Jessica E. Tompkins, Teresa Lynch, Irene I. Van Driel, and Niki Fritz observe that, although multiple costumes are available for Juliet in the game, her primary attire remains a two-piece cheerleading uniform. In the introductory sequence, she is depicted expressing enthusiasm for her boyfriend, emphasizing affection through sexually suggestive behavior. Despite Juliet's presentation as confident and commanding, her characterization is described as relying heavily on sexual objectification, with her buttocks and breasts becoming focal points in numerous cinematic sequences, particularly during interactions with her sensei. In one instance, while introducing her boyfriend, she bends over, exposing her bloomers; in another, physical comedy results in the sensei falling into her cleavage. These scenes have been interpreted as weakening her apparent dominance by constructing her as an object of visual consumption, thereby limiting her empowering potential.^[16]

• Carr, Bryan (2013). "Virtual Vision: Applying Cultural and Critical Theory to Video Game Aesthetics in Lollipop Chainsaw" (PDF). Southwestern Mass Communication Journal. University of Oklahoma. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 23, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
• Rowe, Willa (June 16, 2022). "10 years later, gaming has finally caught up with Lollipop Chainsaw". Inverse. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2026.