This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s senior fall editorial intern Arianna Nahim. Find her on Instagram at @ariannanahim. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
While society has certainly progressed in terms of the LGTBQ+ movement, media spheres like films and television series even now are hesitant to push explicitly queer characters. However, as an avid enjoyer of all things film, I’ve noticed that the best movies, shows, or animes all have some type of queer subtext. And why wouldn’t they? Queer stories are inherently going to be more interesting. You can always count on there being passion, intensity, and significance. Because of popular media’s lack of outward queer stories, many fandoms have resorted to examining the subtext or taking the subtly of the stories further and expanding them into what the internet calls “head cannons.” And while these head canons may seem a bit more silly to those who are not as chronically online, they’ve arguably become the backbone of fiction. So let’s break down some of these stories and how they fit into this category.
RHAENYRA AND ALICENT- HOUSE OF THE DRAGON
House of the Dragon is probably the biggest series airing at the moment. As a Game of Thrones prequel, it’s no wonder it is doing so well. However, I think it’s clear that this series partly relies on the characters Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship to keep viewers interested. Rhaenyra and Alicent started off as best friends in their teenage years, but that quickly ended when Alicent was married off to Rhaenyra’s recently widowed father, King Viserys. While on paper romance seems like the last thing these two could’ve had, their relationship is doomed from the start, a right person, wrong time situation at its finest.
First off, their longing glances have no heterosexual explanation. I’m kidding (sort of). Let’s dig into this on a technical side.
This is a Feudalist society that places a great deal of importance on heterosexual marriages to secure alliances and heirs. It’s no doubt that once Alicent has wed Viserys, the relationship crumbles. Rhaenyra cannot see past her anger to gain any rational perspective for her once-lady friend who is now a queen-child bride. Alicent is angry, too, and directs that to Rhaenyra with her newfound power. But in these two’s anger lies a burning love that cannot be put out but is being suffocated to death.
Underneath the politics of it all are two women who were once girls together and don’t know where to put all the love they had for each other. For Alicent especially, her feelings for Rhaenyra are so strong that they manifest in only extreme ways, absolute adoration or complete hatred. There simply is no platonic explanation for why the memories of their relationship still haunt each other and linger throughout the present-day events in the show!
JACKIE AND SHAUNA- YELLOWJACKETS
You’re stranded in the middle of the woods with no end in sight. You’re hungry, cold, and tired, but most importantly, hungry. Who else should you eat besides your best friend that you subconsciously have a crush on?
While at first glance it is outwardly platonic, the title best friend for Jackie and Shauna doesn’t just mean they are each other’s closets friends. For these two the best friend title is synonymous with ownership. The heart shape necklace they pass between each other isn’t just an accessory but a symbol that both are taken. To add to the queerness undertones of their relationship, there is a scene where Shauna’s hallucination of Jackie accuses her of only sleeping with a man to be closer to her. This is Shauna’s mind literally trying to communicate to herself that she stronger feelings for Jackie than she thinks.
GOJO AND GETO- JUJUTSU KAISEN
“My one and only,” this is how Gojo Satoru, a major character from anime Jujutsu Kaisen, describes Geto Suguru another major character. And yet I’m supposed to believe these two are just friends? While JJK is classified as a Shounen, the author has taken inspiration from Shojo mangas. In Shojo it is very common for a romantic relationship to not be confirmed through physical contact, but through emotions, words, and actions.
The attachment these two have through out their arc is one filled with such comfort, understanding, and tragedy that it is easily perceived as a love story. When Geto left Gojo to be on the wrong side of power, the void he left behind left Gojo in the shambles usually seen after a romantic breakup.
When Gojo is faced with having to end his friends life it is by the ENG VA that his last words to Geto are three words. While the film does not include this scene many understand this to mean the words were “I love you.” And when Gojo is later faced with Geto’s haunted vessel he says, “My six eyes tell me you are Suguru Geto, but my soul tells me otherwise.” To me this implies that Gojo and Geto’s souls are intertwined.
PATRICK AND ART- CHALLENGERS
Watching, Challengers I was completely engrossed. The camera work, the soundtrack… the obvious unresolved sexual tension between Patrick and Art. Even though through out the film both characters chase after and develop romantic relationships with Zendaya’s character Tashi, viewers and myself can’t seem to look away from the bubbling connection between Patrick and Art. In the film, their sexual desires are often interlinked.
Both characters frequently want to be physically as close as possible. In the film, Patrick makes sure to pull Art’s chair closer to him. When they share a hotel room rather than keep their beds separate they chose push them together, for a totally heterosexual reason I’m sure. Regardless, the intimacy that is exhchanged between them left viewers assuming there was something more going on there.
NANA AND HACHI- NANA
Simiarlily to Jackie and Shauna’s relationship the term of “best friends,” is rooted in a sense of ownership. When Nana and Hachi become roommates what they don’t realize is that their relationship will be a confusing but impactful ride.
Hachi describes growing close to Nana as a teenage boy falling in love for the first time. She is captivated by her and in her mind Nana is on a pedestal nursed by Hachi’s adoration. Hachi has had many romantic relationships with men, but what she has with Nana read as a breakthrough in her love life, like she’s finally realized what being in love really is.
As for Nana, Hachi is someone she wants only for herself. She even settles by setting up Hachi with her own friend to which she explains to him that she now has Hachi running around in her own backyard.
Their hearts equally ache for each other and when they are separated from each other they can’t even reconcile because what was left behind was just too strong.
WILL AND MIKE- STRANGER THINGS
Through out this series Will struggles with a difference between him and his friends, he’s not interested romantically in girls. His disinterest is prevalent that it even causes an explosive fight between Mike and Will that leads to Mike yelling at Will that it isn’t Mikes fault Will doesn’t like girls. This absolutely tears Will apart. When it comes to Mike, Will only has forceful feelings. After advising Mike to tell El, a female character, his true feelings he silently wepts to himself. Now the question is, will the Duffer Brothers confirm this or will these interactions conclude as nothing more than coincidences?
ALL IN ALL
While exploring these various character connenctions it made me wonder if some of them may be dancing dangerously close to being classified as “queerbating.” This is when queerness is used as merely a tool to draw in engagement and viewers. Personally, the only one of these I think could qualify would be Mike and Will. The show just has been so dragged out that I wouldn’t be surprised if they dropped that plot line for the sake of wrapping it up.
I’ll always appreciate the slow burn and all-consuming dynamic these relationships always seem to have. Subtext is a great way to make underrepresented stories into huge platforms. Hopefully, though, we’ll get to a point where more queer stories are distinct on a large scale.
Do you agree with these theories? Who are your favorite queer-coded characters? Tell us what you think and more below!
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