Even though Richie from IT isn't gay in the books, which were written during a time in which being LGTBQ+ was less permissible, it ultimately doesn't matter, and the horror film handled this aspect of the character with aplomb. Was Richie's sexuality in the book at all? The idea of Richie being gay is not completely absent from the book version of IT. Stephen King did hint at Richie's sexuality subtly throughout the text, but it was screenwriter Gary Dauberman's decision to make it more of a storyline in the movie.
Richie's sexuality (by the way, I agree that he doesn't seem "gay" in the book, as I said in the post I interpret him as bisexual) is subtext in the book, and now it's text in the films. Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak’s relationship has been speculated about since “It” by Stephen King was published in and was finally legitimized by “It: Chapter 2” in fall of Now that I have analyzed each character’s background and behavior, we can explore the queer subtext present in Richie and Eddie’s scenes in the novel.
While Richie never openly says he’s gay or bisexual, the intention is there, and that is what matters. The writer, director, and stars all seem to treat this plot as a love story, and a. You guessed it!
Follow The Mary Sue: Twitter. The second scene that reveals Richie as queer happens when Eddie dies. The second chapter of It attempts to reveal the way dormant childhood trauma springs forth in adulthood.
The subtext has always been there for fans, and is only now being explored in a canonical adaptation. Expand the sub menu Film. But I need to stop and meta for a second because this chapter is FULL of Eddie subtext and most of it flew over my head 15 years ago:. When the kid says he has to go, Richie offers to pay for the next round of games.
This veers into headcanon territory, but you know what? See All. It feels almost surreal to have a major film that actually wants to engage with this reading of the text, rather than to just blink past it or turn it into the butt of a joke. Also, when Eddie is watching Richie in that typical Eddie way where he can somehow make poorly taped up glasses sound poetic and delicate - Bill catches him in the act of staring, perfectly nonjudgmental.
Of all the articles I expected to write about IT Chapter Two , I can definitely say that writing about how they made the relationship between Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak canonically romantic was not one of them. Orpheus and Eurydice fate is just as tragic in this Netflix series. By Kate Gardner Sep 6th, , pm. But would he ever say that to her at this point in time? Then - THEN!! Have a tip we should know?
The bullying Richie received scarred him. A weird sewer clown movie can have representation and still fall into homophobic tropes. His immediate, instinctual response to this confusing, uncomfortable newfound attraction to Beverly is to… throw himself on the ground and comically praise her, do Voices, and generally act like an idiot. Sign up Log in.
There was no forced womanizing, no gay-bashing. Richie is still a hero, as is Eddie. Expand the sub menu Video. Mikey saw his parents burned alive when he was a toddler. That coming out has been a vital part of development for the majority of the queer community. They make a blood pact. The balance of identity representation within the Losers offered an awesome opportunity to detail the effects of the past 30 years on the most privileged members of the community.
Maybe, even though the world is still homophobic and cruel, Richie can be who he truly is. That stuff is obvious.
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