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Post by justinate on Sept 14, 2022 7:47:43 GMT -5
So it's finally here, and it's fair to say the Netflix reboot is more LGBTQ-inclusive than the original. There's a season-long "will they, or won't they? arc between nonbinary Darren (James Majoos) and Cash (Will McDonald). In addition, there's an unexpected threesome between two guys and a girl in the second half of the season (there are vague hints that one of the guys is left questioning his sexuality, but it ultimately goes nowhere - at least not this season). And the usual same-sex kiss fantasy is turned around by having a girl imagine two boys kissing instead.
However, the show is tonally all over the place and the sexual politics are going to be controversial. I will say, however, the two straight female leads are rather unlikable, which gives queer nonbinary Darren and autistic lesbian Quinni the chance to be the more rootable characters. Both Darren and Cash get stories other than romance, as well as parts to play in the main arc of the show (which is centered on the broken friendship between the straight female leads).
Overall, I'm not sure it will appeal enough to fans of the original Heartbreak High to garner a second season, so it might come down to how many new fans they can gain.
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carld2
Full Member
Posts: 2,108
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Post by carld2 on Sept 14, 2022 12:57:00 GMT -5
So it's finally here, and it's fair to say the Netflix reboot is more LGBTQ-inclusive than the original. There's a season-long "will they, or won't they? arc between nonbinary Darren (James Majoos) and Cash (Will McDonald). In addition, there's an unexpected threesome between two guys and a girl in the second half of the season (there are vague hints that one of the guys is left questioning his sexuality, but it ultimately goes nowhere - at least not this season). And the usual same-sex kiss fantasy is turned around by having a girl imagine two boys kissing instead. However, the show is tonally all over the place and the sexual politics are going to be controversial. I will say, however, the two straight female leads are rather unlikable, which gives queer nonbinary Darren and autistic lesbian Quinni the chance to be the more rootable characters. Both Darren and Cash get stories other than romance, as well as parts to play in the main arc of the show (which is centered on the broken friendship between the straight female leads). Overall, I'm not sure it will appeal enough to fans of the original Heartbreak High to garner a second season, so it might come down to how many new fans they can gain. That show was so long ago and fairly short-lived so I wonder if they just liked the name (it is a good name/title) rather than doing a reboot. I never saw the original but I see that Alex Dimitriades was in it. If they could get him, or Corey Page (who was very cute on Loving/The City and was apparently in a gay threesome web series I've never watched), I'd watch for sure. |
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Post by jjose712 on Sept 14, 2022 13:51:14 GMT -5
The original show was quite successful in Spain.
I remember Alex Dimitriades (by the time the show aired in Spain he was on the cinemas with the adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas' Head on where he played a young gay man).
I remember an episode with a gay character but it was like an after school special and the guy didn't appear in any other episode
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Post by overtherainbow on Sept 17, 2022 5:01:35 GMT -5
This show was SHIT. Complete and utter shit! OF FUCKING COURSE they did the ONLY gay storyline dirty! The lesbians got a proper storyline yet the gay storyline was fucking HORRENDOUS! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!? Why does this keep happening? I have lost ALL faith in Anglo shows doing the gay characters justice. It happens again and again and again. It's especially fucked up when they seemingly are able to make a good lesbian storyline. Yet they ALWAYS drop the ball on the gay (male) storyline! Fucking bullshit. This show left A LOT to be desired. I'll give it 2/10. If you want a good gay storyline: avoid at all costs.
Spoilers ahead:
I am fine with asexual representation. Glad even. We need more asexual representation. But WHY did it have to be one of the few gay characters? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! Couldn't it have been a straight one? I feel like anglo shows in particular fuck up the gay storylines again and again. They find new ways to NOT show gay intimacy, gay love and yes, gay sex. Here we have an asexual gay. That's a first! And what the fuck happened with Malakai? They CLEARLY teased him being gay or bi, yet it all fizzled out into nothing. Once again they drop the ball on a potential great storyline. Queer baiting has GOT TO STOP! Malakai dreamed about guys naked, he said he didn't know who he was and then he had that guy come and rescue him from jumping off the roof at the party. He even complimented him on his necklace! They went camping together! I thought yay! Finally something will happen! And btw, I don't even think Malakai is gay, as he had sex with Amerie, and yes, I know gays do that before coming out, but he seemed to enjoy it. I personally think he's bisexual, hence the confusion. Heck, I'd even be fine with him being confused after the threesome only to find out he's actually straight, but then EXPLAIN IT! The writers need to make it clear. This jerking us around is not good. I feel cheated out of a good bi/gay storyline. This is clearly queerbaiting. And yes, I know the writers might have something planned for him next season, but why is it ALWAYS the gays getting the longest, most drawn out storylines? Heck, even IF they have something planned for him next season I'm not exactly holding my breath that they'll do the storyline justice with how they messed up the gay storyline between Darren and Cash. So no, I will NOT be watching next season (if it gets a new season) unless they actually improve the gay (as in male) storytelling by a million, because the shit they showed this season was abysmal.
The only reason I'm not giving the show a 0 is because at least they showed a MMF threesome and they had Amerie dream about Malakai kissing another boy while they were playing basketball. That was a nice spin on the overly used FFM threesome plot (I feel like Elite might have been an inspiration?) Anyways, the rest of the show was shit. I can not believe I spent HOURS of my life watching this shit of a show that I will never get back. If it doesn't get another season I will be totally fine because this season was a shitshow.
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marow
New Member
Posts: 82
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Post by marow on Sept 18, 2022 10:49:31 GMT -5
Proper drama. If you loved Sex Education, Skins or 13 Reasons Why, you're gonna love this as well. Amazing representation and not just in terms of LGBTQ+. And if you're not lesbophobic and don't think all gay people need to be sex machines like the user above, then you won't have any issues with this drama.
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Post by kevvoi on Sept 26, 2022 6:37:30 GMT -5
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Post by kevvoi on Oct 3, 2022 15:50:23 GMT -5
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Post by justinate on Oct 20, 2022 2:17:59 GMT -5
Renewed for season 2.
Hope they do more with Malakai's sexual confusion next year.
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Post by justinate on Dec 8, 2022 7:12:03 GMT -5
The AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Awards tonight saw Thomas Weatherall (Malakai) pick up Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. Hopefully that will encourage them to give him more of a story next season (hint, sexuality).
The show also won two Audience Choice awards: Best TV Series and Best Actor (Bryn Chapman-Parish, who plays Spider). The show missed out on the Academy's own member-voted awards for Best Drama and Best Lead Actor (James Majoos, who plays Darren, was nominated).
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Post by justinate on Nov 21, 2023 5:13:43 GMT -5
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Post by justinate on Jan 30, 2024 10:43:38 GMT -5
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scmian
Junior Member
Posts: 436 
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Post by scmian on Mar 24, 2024 13:19:18 GMT -5
Second season trailer. I hope it's not going to be as disappointing as the trailer looks.
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Post by overtherainbow on Mar 25, 2024 5:40:43 GMT -5
Not a single mention or hint about Malakai being bi. In fact he will be in a STRAIGHT love triangle. Lol. This is such bs. I knew they would chicken out. I had a feeling the plan was to make him bi last season (there were many hints), but for some reason they changed their minds. Now he is apparently straight. I'm pissed. I think I'll avoid this season. The only gay guy on this show is a stereotypical gay. The ONE thing they had going for them was that at least the gay guy was allowed to have sex. Now he will be celibate?! For what??? Why? Just another bs excuse so they don't have to show him having sex. I hated EVERYTHING about that trailer. I don't think I'll watch this season.
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Post by justinate on Mar 25, 2024 8:12:16 GMT -5
Yeah the trailer is not promising - especially the direction with Malakai. I do think there may be a tiny sliver of hope based on last season, when I genuinely thought they had dropped any hint of Dusty being bi between casting and filming, but they did go there in the end. Maybe Malakai will find himself in another threesome which ends up in gay action for him and the other boy? Or maybe Dusty will provide sexual comfort to Darren while Cash is banged up? Maybe I missed it but it didn't seem like Dusty had a love interest in that trailer apart from the one scene where Darren was eyeing him up?
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scmian
Junior Member
Posts: 436
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Post by scmian on Mar 26, 2024 11:55:35 GMT -5
Unfortunately Dusty won't be a regular. He was shooting the new Dune series instead. I think he'll be a minor character.
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Post by justinate on Apr 11, 2024 0:08:46 GMT -5
So, FWIW:
Season 2 of Heartbreak High is out later today and reviews state that Malakai's sexual identity continues to be explored opposite newcomer Rowan (Sam Rechner). Indeed, one review suggests Mal is drawn more to Rowan than his female love interest, leading lady Amerie. Meanwhile, queer couple Darren and Ca$h struggle with their differing sex drives, which was already hinted at in the trailer.
(It is worth mentioning that the same reviews are not very positive about the new season, and one is downright scathing.)
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Post by overtherainbow on Apr 11, 2024 14:09:08 GMT -5
Well... at least they explored Malakai's sexuality this season. That's all the good I have to say about it. I knew it would end badly. Once again the gay guy is not allowed a boyfriend. Ugh.
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