SPOILERS are forward for The Previous Guard 2, now streaming with a Netflix subscription.
The Previous Guard often is the newest hit on Netflix, with the current launch hovering to No. 1 on the streaming service’s high film checklist all through the weekend, however I’m in settlement with critics’ adverse response to the sequel. (audiences have additionally echoed this via the film’s 37 p.c Rotten Tomatoes rating). However, I wish to discuss in regards to the side of it that bothered me probably the most: how Andy and Quynh’s romantic plotline merely fizzled out.
I Wasn’t Anticipating Andy And Quynh’s Relationship To Lose All Its Romance In The Previous Guard 2
Whereas it’s been 5 years because the authentic film got here out, I distinctly keep in mind appreciating the film for having two queer relationships, the extra explicitly homosexual relationship between Joe and Nicki, and a extra heartbreaking and subtext-y one between Charlize Theron’s Andy and Veronica Ngo’s Quynh. When the 2020 film ended with Quynh escaping from her underwater jail, I used to be excited to see what was subsequent for her character with Andy within the current day, particularly understanding that within the comics their romantic relationship is canon.
Certain, I can get behind Quynh being initially offended with Andy for not being the one to avoid wasting her and pulling again, however The Previous Guard 2 takes an enormous step backward relating to the pair’s queer relationship. All in all, I believe the film barely counts as one of many new LGBTQ+ films to be launched, counting Joe and Nicki’s relationship being sidelined as properly, other than one kind-of cute scene between them.
Sure, Andy and Quynh have a strong battle scene they usually do fortunately make up by the tip for the film’s cliffhanger ending, maybe teasing extra for them in a 3rd film, however moderately than the sequel embracing their romantic potential, you’d have to actually look for it to see these two as greater than actually intense pals.
I Assume The Previous Guard 2 Watering Them Down Is The Film’s Greatest Upset
Now, as I spoke to earlier, this can be a disappointing film for a lot of causes. It would really be the worst film I’ve seen this yr… and I moderately preferred the unique. However, I believe the factor about it that bothered me probably the most is how the chance was proper there to inject some romance between Andy and Quynh. It completely would have made me really care about these characters much more, and added some extra emotional stakes to its stiff premise. I assumed each actors did an amazing job with the fabric that they had, however it felt just like the script wasn’t thinking about something outdoors of the floor degree right here.
If these two have a romantic historical past and hadn’t seen the opposite in actually 5 hundred years, would it not have actually harm the film to provide us some romance? It was proper there! In case your pal didn’t come searching for you, you’d most likely be OK, but when your immortal lover didn’t, it simply provides much more to the equation, and it felt just like the story was attempting to go there, however solely took it midway.
And, I am Undoubtedly Not Alone…
When trying round on-line, I observed there’s an enormous fanbase rooting for these two, as properly, and share related gripes. For instance:
i simply suppose andy and quynh ought to’ve kissed right here… pic.twitter.com/cOg4VXXDZKJuly 2, 2025
Oh, the scene would have been so a lot better in the event that they did! A lot of followers are rooting for them to lastly kiss within the third film, however what if it by no means occurs?
ANDY AND QUYNH…………………… pic.twitter.com/RaZAy0uwGuJuly 4, 2025
And right here’s yet one more that I actually felt introduced the purpose residence. Test it out:
The Previous Guard 2 was the straightest homosexual film I’ve ever seen. How do you have got two canon queer {couples} as MCs and no one kisses. It looks as if they have been attempting to tow the road between romance and creating believable deniability for the “common” motion flick fanJuly 6, 2025
I’m so disenchanted not solely that The Previous Guard 2 wasn’t superb, however moderately than forwarding the queer relationships established within the first film, their queer identities within the DNA of the comics have been watered down, and in consequence lowered to moderately uninteresting characters, as properly.