Queering IT
I love the IT movies.
— That’s the modern, 2010s, IT parts 1 & 2.
(Technically the films are IT, and IT: Chapter 2, but you all know what I mean, so expect me just to call them parts 1 & 2.)
I haven’t seen the Tim Curry adaptation — though I might get around to it one of these days, purely because Tim Curry.
I also haven’t actually read the Stephen King novel because it’s one of those 1000+ page behemoths that you have to kind of psych yourself up to tackle, and I’m yet to summon the sufficient energy and desire to do so.
Again, I might get around to it at some point, since I’m a general Stephen King fan.
OK, this is a SPOILER zone from here on out.
- For the films, and possibly the older adaptation/s and the book.
SPOILERS, OK? SPOILERS
In IT part 2, it’s revealed that — unlike in the book — Richie Tozier was in love with Eddie Kaspbrak.
Which, y’know, makes sense that one of the characters I was most drawn to in part 1 was actually Queer 😅
Reception to this turn of events was mixed.
Ignoring the bigotted views, which aren’t worth my time, I can say that a lot of people loved that, what fans had interpreted in the sub-text ever since the book came out in the 1980s, was being made canon —
— but a lot of people thought that the last thing we need is another addition to the ‘bury your gays/tragic Queers’ trope/s, given that Eddie dies before Richie comes to terms with his sexuality.
