I honestly by no means thought I might have the prospect to jot down an article like this, however right here we’re. And I could not be happier.
I am certain I’ve talked about this a number of occasions earlier than right here, however I am bisexual. I’ve accepted it for a few years of my life and embraced it wholeheartedly when it was difficult for me to take action as a child after I grew up in a fairly spiritual family. Now, I totally share it with everybody.
Whereas I am very enthusiastic about my love of Hispanic tradition and the greatest Latino TV reveals, I do not get the prospect to share my ardour for LGBTQ+ characters who’ve actually modified my life. I’ve talked concerning the greatest LGBTQ+ TV reveals to observe, or possibly even actors who’re LGBTQ+ in actual life, however I’ve by no means gotten to the nitty gritty of sure characters who modified all the things.
At present, although, I am doing that with a personality you may not count on—Ellie from The Final of Us.
As A Teen, I By no means Actually Had Different LGBTQ+ Characters In Video Video games To Admire
I’ve talked about this a couple of occasions on right here, however I grew up a laborious gamer.
I definitely do not recreation as a lot now – my days are cut up into motion pictures and TV and prepping for brand new movies forward of the 2025 film schedule, after which my nights are crammed with all of the novels that I learn in prep for a number of the upcoming book-to-screen variations. Gaming simply hasn’t been an enormous a part of my life, or at the least, as a lot because it was once.
However again then, I liked gaming, and the online game that actually modified all of it for me was The Final of Us. I had performed video video games earlier than then, nevertheless it was primarily as a result of I had the prospect to play alongside my brother. That survival recreation was the primary that made me ask my dad and mom to purchase me a particular console in order that I may play the sport, and it modified all the things.
Nonetheless, should you’re additionally a gamer like me, illustration for individuals like us is few and much between. The primary demographic for gaming that is focused is definitely not us. However on the finish of the day, after I was youthful, I all the time wished that there was a personality on the spectrum who shared the identical views as we did. I did not assume it might come from an apocalypse recreation, nevertheless it did. And I like it a lot.
However Then When It Was Confirmed Ellie, My Favourite Character Ever, Was Queer, I Actually Cried
Ellie wasn’t confirmed queer within the first recreation, which I completely agree with. She was fourteen, and the very last thing we actually wanted was to dig into who she was interested in. Reasonably, I used to be extra centered on her simply attempting to outlive.
However then we obtained that Left Behind DLC, and we noticed that kiss between her and Riley. You’ll assume that the world exploded with the web’s response to this, with the rage-baits, offended tweets, and all the things else you possibly can presumably think about.
However me? I cried.
I cried as a result of I had by no means seen a personality so near my age on the time, who was who she was, with none obstacles round her. I cried as a result of this was a step in a course that I did not realise gaming was going to take. I cried as a result of, in actuality, it made a lot sense that she would lean that method, however I by no means dared dream it might be like that.
Whereas I do not determine as queer, the truth that the video games had been even prepared to go down that route – and even extra so within the sequel recreation – modified all the things for me. It wasn’t that lengthy after that DLC got here out that I began telling shut buddies that I used to be bisexual. It nearly feels somewhat pathetic to assume that it was due to a fictional online game character that I felt the arrogance to return out – however hey, no matter helps, you realize?
The Present Has Solely Made Their Relationship Really feel A lot Extra Actual
So, if I am singing the praises of the online game, I have to additionally sing the praises of the HBO The Final of Us adaptation, proper?
Yeah, you are completely appropriate, as a result of that is what I am about to do.
I completely love what they’ve been doing with Ellie and Dina. I knew from the second Isabela Merced was picked for Dina in The Final of Us forged that this actress was going to convey her all to the character and never solely turn out to be her, however make her higher. I have been a fan of hers for years, however actually noticed what she was able to in Turtles All The Method Down on Max (a nice film about nervousness and OCD should you’ve by no means seen it), and I immediately believed she’d kill it as Dina.
5 episodes in, and I like these two greater than within the video games. Within the video video games, it felt like Ellie and Dina occurred due to the one second they connected at first, after which emotions started to essentially develop. However within the present, it feels much more real. It actually appears like two younger adults fumbling their approach to admitting how they really feel in a world the place actually all the things is attempting to kill them.
Their moments collectively have been a number of the shining lights of Season 2, in a slew of episodes that includes intense and darkish scenes. That guitar scene alone in Episode 4 was all the things I may have imagined it to be from the sport, however someway, they made it even higher.
It feels genuine, true, and that is what I completely love about them. The present takes the time to flesh them out, not simply say, “Oh, they’re collectively now.” That is what I take pleasure in.
And It will Make What In the end Occurs With Them In The Video games That A lot Extra Heartbreaking In The Present
With this fleshing out, what occurs to them within the video games is even higher, and hopefully, it’ll translate to a fair tougher gut-punch on tv.
I will not spoil something if you have not performed, as a result of I do not need to be that individual. However these two undergo it, critically, and it will get to some extent the place you marvel what is going on to occur. I used to be already a fan of theirs within the sequel, and now I am much more of a fan of the TV present due to the period of time that the creators are spending giving the couple the room to breathe that they deserve.
However, they’re in all probability going to provide me that very same online game ending, almost certainly in Season 3, and I simply have a sense it may hit a lot tougher, as a result of these two actresses are actually giving their all to those roles. I consider them, and that is a tough factor to do with LGBTQ+ relationships in TV and flicks, as a result of they’ll really feel thrown in only for illustration’s sake and generally haven’t got actual that means. Nonetheless, I can not anticipate the ache their massive online game second will trigger.
I actually hope that Bella Ramsey could be the following era’s Ellie. Recreation Ellie is nice, and I like her to demise and can all the time maintain her so shut in my coronary heart. However watching Ramsey carry out as her, with this brazenly loving relationship, is a stepping stone to loads of nice issues in an ever-changing panorama.
Possibly there’s one other teenager on the market who’s afraid to return out, and so they is likely to be impressed by Ellie’s bluntness and openness now, too. The lives she may change are countless, and I am desirous to witness all of it.