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The charming, and quietly groundbreaking, 2018 coming out film has spawned a 10-episode follow-up that’s serviceable if not quite as memorable
While its many critics dismissed 2018’s glossy coming-out teen movie Love, Simon as too milquetoast and too guarded with its queerness, it was the film’s shameless desire to be part of the mainstream that made it a quiet milestone. The story of a closeted high schooler figuring out his sexuality had been told on the outskirts for years in smaller films, but positioning it at the centre of a wide-releasing studio comedy was unprecedented, and its modest success was a sign yet again that representation is not only important but profitable.
While there’s not exactly been a rush to make more gay-fronted films of its size since (Billy Eichner’s Judd Apatow-produced Universal romcom is set to be the next), its impact can be felt on the smaller screen as LGBT characters have continued to further populate teen shows, from supporting characters in Riverdale to, most notably, Euphoria which dared to allow a queer character to lead. Continue reading...