Hello and welcome to Big Gay Energy.
I'm Bree. I'm Fiora.
And I'm Caitlin. Come along with us while we dive
into the fun and nuances of queer media.
Representation matters, and we're here to talk about it.
Another thing I love in the story is the Alex's key and
Henry's signet ring. I wanted to ask you guys what
you thought about those those like things like what did they
mean and how were they used? OK, so I just wanna in the movie
we're gonna they exchanged the items.
So Alex gets the ring, Henry gets the key, and but in the
book, Henry gives Alex the ring, but he keeps his key.
And I I kind of love it when Alex gets both because they put
it, he puts it on the same chain.
So they're always in the close and next to each other.
And it's kind of like they're always together no matter what,
instead of them being a part, no matter what.
I mean, yeah, it's cute that they have a part of each other,
but I don't know, it's something about them always being
together. It's just really cute.
I love how it's described in the book when Henry, when Alex puts
them because he's like it's the same scene where like Alex is
getting on the plane to leave and when he's in the plane he
puts it on and the way Casey describes it, it's busy.
Like they softly clink together like 2 pieces of home.
It's just like, yes, like because that's it's just so
good. But that's how Alex like views
those two concepts. Like the house key is basically
like Alex's childhood home in Texas, like the house keys, it
still works. They still have the house.
So it's like who Alex used to be before he got swept into
politics. So that's what he keeps.
It's like the real Alex basically is what that key
represents. And then there's the signet
ring, which is who Henry represents, like Prince Henry
and I love throughout the movie. Henry, it's a good job to The
actor is always playing with that ring.
Whenever he's like getting nervous or he's in an
uncomfortable position, 'cause it's like, it's the actor
basically showing you that Henry is wrestling with his identity,
right? And he does it all the time.
Like, it's great acting choice. So when they have the big
conversation, when essentially like, Henry freezes out, Alex
and Alex like storms the castle and it like comes into the
house. In the book, Henry takes the
ring off before they have that big conversation and before,
like the museum happens and all that stuff.
So I thought it was way more meaningful than in the movie
where he just like, has it on because it's like Henry is
taking off the title of Prince Henry.
He's removing England from the equation before they have the
honest conversation about I love you, I love you.
All of that stuff like can we be together?
All of that stuff they're about to get into.
So I thought that I like the way it represented the weight of the
crown, essentially that Henry has and his like, obligations.
And then the key is really Alex's life before politics And
like, you know, his childhood and the happy memories so that
when they come together, like, and it's a home, right, Not a
house. Like he lives in the White
House, a house, not a home. And so I love that.
Like Henry's the thing that completes through Alex.
He's like, Henry kind of completes the home for me now
because I can't go back to my childhood.
I need to move forward. And to me that moving forward
and creating a home is with Henry involved with it.
So I just, I love the way what they represent individually,
then together. And I agree.
Like I think the book did it better with them together.
It's just the book is definitely worth reading.
It's yeah, if you haven't read it, it's so good.
It's a really easy book to read through, but I just.
It's long, don't think it's like 200 some pages 'cause I made
that mistake, I should have started it.
A while ago. Hang up through it, it's good.
No, it is good. Yeah, exchanging things is
always very cute, but I think that the symbolism is better and
and I don't know, it's just like it's always going to be.
The book does it better. I don't.
Think that's always true though. Yeah.
Isn't that always true? It's not always true, but I just
mean like. Like we wouldn't have gotten
that dog scene. I just like dog scene.
That you're going to get more depth in a book most of the time
because you have more room. Unless you focus on the subtext
in the movie again, yeah. Like, like it's not true.
Like in the movie. I like that Henry is constantly
fishing with the ring. That's not in the book and I
think that that is important and should have been in the book.
So I think that the the signification of his signet
ring, it to me meant more from Henry's point of view in the
movie because of how the actor was using that ring to like show
you what Henry was feeling. Cause the book is from Alex's
point of view and Alex doesn't really notice that about Henry.
So like, maybe Henry's doing it. He just doesn't notice it.
I feel like Alex Together is in the movie, though, because you
get that point where like they were outed and they're all
together and Henry goes to play with the ring and it's not there
and he looks over and Alex is doing that with the ring.
So he eventually wears the ring and he's just like, I want him
closer to me than just on my neck.
So he puts it on and it's just. Yeah, it's cute.
It's really cute. And Beatrice is just standing
there too, watching it, and I feel like she's their ship
captain. Oh yeah, from Yeah, she's
definitely their trip, Dad, 'cause we don't have June and.
No the. Three got super involved.
I feel like if June was at a June and Beatrice would have
been like sisters at this point already and.
Oh, totally. They would have just been like,
really be like, all right, so how do we, like, mess with them,
really get them together? For sure.
Oh for sure. You know they all have a group
chat June. Definitely would have been like,
June would have like been messaging or like talking on the
phone with Beatrice, being like, so you know what my brother used
to do when we were little? I had this poster of your
brother and he'd just come in and touch it.
And he's so gay and he doesn't even realize it.
He's bi, right? Yeah, yeah, he's bisexual.
He's bi. I don't want to erase that so.
Yeah, no bi erasure on this podcast.
So Speaking of queerness, how do you think the coming out stuff
was handled or like went for like the two of them like
because I feel like they had different experiences once.
The cat's out of the bag. Alex's family just definitely
was a lot more open. I mean, I mean, you get there's
a. PowerPoint involved Caitlyn.
Zara I I can't. I so I keep in my head mixing up
Sahara and Zara. That's fair.
So the heart stopper character people who don't.
But yeah that's like my brain has to like fully focus on the
name so Zara doesn't take it as well.
But that's only because she's like your mother is running for
re election. Like, come on, kid, just don't
get caught Like, let's be. It's like, does she go on having
a secret relationship too? And she's like, I can keep it a
secret, why can't you? Yes.
Try. OK, I thought they gave that to
Amy for some reason in this in the movie.
And then I I rewatched it and I'm like, oh, OK, so they did
keep. They did keep most of Zara's
storyline. Yeah, I just.
She's yeah, she stays pretty consistent.
It's just that cash scene became.
One would be like, do I have to do everything around here and
calling Shan Sean? Sean, Sean, Sean.
Oh yeah, the whole scene she was.
So great. I love her.
I. Love her?
Well, shit. OK, yeah.
So again, most of it was just worried about politically.
But I do love that in the book, I I, I don't think his mom does
it in. We don't see it at least.
But his mom's like, everybody out.
And then he's like, thinks he's so much trouble and she's like,
are you OK? And, like, it just hit me,
'cause I'm like, no one's asking these people if they're OK Like,
they're the ones who just got outed to the entire world and
they're all making it about political.
And like, there's humans involved in this.
Like this isn't just dolls you can manipulate.
Like, these are people, real people and feelings.
And I just so I love that His mom asked, are you OK?
But obviously Henry isn't so lucky in the book, he tells
Phillip earlier. And Phillip is not happy.
And then we, I didn't know. We do see Phillip getting angry
after he's outed in the movie. But I also feel like that Alex's
family hasn't been in the spotlight.
They haven't been like their whole lives like Henry's family
has. So Henry's family has just like
I don't know if indoctrinated is the word or like how like
they're just passed down like the same values and like the
same thoughts because they have to They're in the public they
have to like continue appearances.
Whereas Alex is afforded more flexibility because you're only
president for so long and you're only in the spotlight.
So it's very different for the two of them and I just wish
Henry didn't have to go through as much harshness more than Alex
cause Alex did get at least he had be And Alex though because
Henry it was really it was sweet to see those scenes and Beatrice
was the first person when they he was outed to like just sit
him down and be like I'm going to tell him what's going on
because you people would just start yelling at him and.
Shit. Yeah, man.
I mean, from the book it's pretty clear that like, Henry,
like his family kind of knew for a while.
But it's one of those keep it out of like don't ask, don't
tell situations. It's like you can't act on it
like they like, 'cause they hit in the book, it's the queen.
And the queen is very much like, well, we'll just get you a bunch
of beards and like, you can't ever be out in public and make
those guys sign Ndas. It's like, it's not that the
fact that he's gay is the problem.
It's the being out. And gay is the problem because
they've never had a monarch that was out and gay.
And she's like, well, the public's not going to respond to
that. Well, they're not going to like
that because the monarchy doesn't stand for that
traditionally and things like that.
So it's clear that, like, his, like Phillip is known.
Beatrice knows like and I think he flat out told Beatrice.
But his family knows it's just the acting on it stuff.
Except Phillip, because Phillip doesn't care about anybody but
himself. No because because Phillip is
the most. I mean to be fair like he is the
crowned Prince so he is the indoctrinated person here
because he's going to be the next king.
So like he he is the face of the that is mentioned more in the
book as well. Like he's like this is what I
have to do and I I have to be this thing.
Like Henry has the luxury of not having to do all those things
because he's the second son, not the first son.
So like you know Philip has more pressure on him.
And so the current monarch, the grandmother in the book, the
king in the in the movie is straight up invested in
indoctrinating Philip. Philip's done all the things
he's already served the army or the whatever royal military
thing you're supposed to serve. He's already doing all the
things he has to do as the soon to be monarch, future monarch or
whatever. Henry has been delaying all that
stuff, 'cause he's like, I don't even know if I want this.
So, like, like, Henry's kind of been rebelling in his own way
for a while. And so this is kind of like the
final one where he's like, I can't budget on this one
eventually he's like, this is who I am.
I'm not budging on this. And then, you know, the people
end up supporting him. Like in the movie, you know, the
crowd that shows up at the Palace and they're like, here
you go, here's your support from England.
Like, they don't care as much as you guys think they're going to
care. They care in a good way, at
least what we're seeing. So it's like reinforcing it to
Henry that like, yeah, I can do this.
But I agree with and somebody who's erased from the movie too
is Henry's mom. And Henry's mom is like, like
Henry in a lot of ways, has been wildly depressed since they're,
you know, Henry's father dead. And when it comes to this, this
is where she, like sticks up, like stands up to her mother in
the queen on behalf of Henry. So I think that was big and that
was kind of erased. But I understand for time why it
was not there. But there there's a lot of
complications going on with Henry's family that kind of like
makes it seem less supportive than than Alex.
But I think he had support. It was just very fragmented.
It wasn't a united support the way Alex's family, like, even
Alex's Catholic dad was like, yeah, whatever.
Like if they're healthy, happy, I don't care.
In the book, the Queen is like so against it, like becoming a
thing, whereas the king in the movie was just like Are you sure
you want to do? This, yeah.
Because, like, if you do it, he had no choice but like.
But like the king thing took 5 minutes because in the beginning
of the 5 minutes he's against it and then he like changes his
mind really quickly and then he's like OK, like you lose the
whole monarchy pressure. Like, I don't like that either
because that was a big, that's a big part of like, an enemy's,
the lover story about the Prince And like, not the Prince is like
the pressure from the monarchy. And it's way less emphasized,
'cause that scene with Stephen Fry is so freaking short and
he's barely in it. I feel like they could have
sprinkled him in more because like, yeah, like you said, like
the Queen is a lot more in the book, like putting pressure on
Henry. I wish we got to see more of
like, the beard thing of them trying to cover stuff up.
And it wasn't just like. I'm surprised they didn't do
because at first. In the book, it's photos 1st and
then the beard thing, and then the emails get leaked.
So they're like there's no going back from.
Those emails, Yeah, yeah, like you think, oh, maybe they'll get
away with it. And then yeah, the emails are
like it's over. That even would have been more
traditional for royalty covering these things up because there's
been so many queer royal people in the past and what do they
always do? I mean, they obviously marry
someone of the opposite sex or and you know, do the the things
you're supposed to do, but at the same time maintain their,
you know, lifestyle apart from that.
And there's always so they've always had beards and there's
always been rumors. It's just they didn't have
emails back then. Yeah, and I love that.
Henry is fully aware of that, and he constantly brings up the
Royals to Alex that were queer. Like, constantly.
I just love. I love that too.
I'm pretty sure like the they're like finding the most queer
coded letters, and that's what the.
Oh yeah. It was like a game they were
playing with each other and I. Love that.
It's so cute. Yeah.
So just like looking at ones from Eleanor Roosevelt and I'm
like, I did not know anything about this.
And I was watching another show that was just like, she's a
queer icon. I'm like, what do we need?
I'm. Like, so confused.
Yeah. No, for real.
Like, I love it. No, it's all real.
And then they talk about like, loving Emily Dickinson's poetry
and stuff. And I'm like, I will open the
stuff if other TV shows teach me it.
All right. So we kind of talked about this
a little bit, but what did you think about the use of politics
in the story? I hate politics.
Someone go first. I felt like it gave you a really
interesting framework for their story together and for them as
characters in general, just like you've said for let already,
said Theora. The the way that Henry is born
into these conservative ideals and structure and even an even
more strict structure than Alex would ever have experienced.
And then Alex is going head first into it.
So it's like one's running away and one's running into it as the
story begins. And it's I just think it's
really well used by the by Casey Mcquiston as a framework for
their story. Yeah, I for the characterization
of Alex and and Henry, I agree that's the concept of like
nature versus nurture and I like that.
I think the politics helps flesh out the characters and it
grounds the story and it made the story feel more real to me.
And not just like a cliche ROM com.
Yes, exactly. So like, for example, one of the
big plot lines for Alex in his quest to be a politician is he's
really driven to flip Texas. And, like, that is a thing that
happens in the story. But his quest to do that really
highlights this theme of never giving up on marginalized
people. Because in the book, there's
more depth to it, where essentially Alex ends up on the
campaign for his mom and he's talking to one of the other
staffers who's basically like a new He lives in New England.
And he's kind of like, why would you even bother with Texas?
Like, those people are so set in their ways.
They're so backwards, and there's no point focus on this
other place that we're more likely to win.
And and Alex is like, no, I've lived there and I understand
that there's people there who are being left behind and I
don't want to leave them behind. Kind of like how Alex is like a
Mexican American and he's like people would cast me off just
for that, not put $0.02 into me, but like, so I love that that
that highlights this really theme of not giving up on
marginalized people. And in a queer story, that's so
important because people do that with queer people.
Yeah. And one other thing that I
really love is Alex's political career that never was.
So in the beginning, Alex is very, very driven to be like the
first youngest senator or whatever congressman or what
have you. And by the end of the story,
Alex comes to realize that he's changing it to somebody he
didn't expect to be. He had this conversation with
Nora where she tells him how the Texans are perceiving him.
But after he's outed and he's like, you're you're doing fine,
Alex. Like, if anything, people like
you more and they have this conversation where Alex mourns
the future him that will never be like the youngest
congressman. And it's me.
It reminded me of Honey Girl, the book that we talked about
way back when on this podcast. And it it's a hard lesson to
mourn the future that you planned for yourself and you put
so much time and energy into trying to be.
And Alex does it really well. And he he describes his future
self as somebody who was married to work.
And and so I love that he learns that lesson of just like it's OK
to live and be and not achieve this crazy goal and just as long
as you're happy. And I think he finds that in the
story. And I like that it's it's
through this like political scheme.
To me it made it more interesting and so I'd I'd love
that about them. It's more than just like in the
movie, it can almost seem like the politics or like this plot
device happening in the background, but in the book it
really fleshes out the characters a lot, particularly
Alex because he's choosing to do it.
I love that. At the end, it's just like he's
going to go to law school, Nora's going to go to get her
masters, so they're going back to school together.
And like, their timeline's pushed.
But I believe he still has the same goals.
He's just like, it's just going to take longer to get there and
I'm going to have people with me along the way.
Yeah, and like in the in the collector's edition, it kind of
goes into that just a little bit, like Alex's law school
journey and what happens afterwards.
And like, he keeps slowing down, which is really good.
He needed that. Like, he needed to slow down and
just live his life. He's not even 30.
And he's like and like throughout the book, Nora, not
Nora. June's always like, you're going
to burn out, Alex. Like, I'm really worried about
you burning out. So the life is so fast-paced.
I mean, you have four years to get in, get out, but you still
have to, like, keep campaigning. Like everything is just so
fast-paced and everything's do or die.
Yep. Yeah.
And Alex is good at it. So he's like, yeah, I can do
this, but like, doesn't. Realize Jealous that he's like,
so good at speaking to people. I'm like I wish.
But like, Alex doesn't realize by going so fast, he's missing
like living his life. He's just.
Like running through it and not appreciating it.
So I like that he learns that lesson, but like it is hard to
mourn the you that never will be like that is.
That reminded me a lot of honey girl 'cause.
Like that was the premise of that book.
And so Alex goes through that and learns that same lesson.
And like, it's lost in the movie, but like in the book,
it's very much like that, that like I loved his character so
much. And by the end I like, I really
related to Alex and like loved the depth of that character more
so than just like the romance with Henry.
Like he's a great character. I really like he enjoyed his
character by the time I got to the end.
All right. So Speaking of Alex and and
Henry, so Alex was asked by his mom before, you know, the public
outing was like, do you feel forever about Henry?
Because once you do this and go public, there's no coming back.
So now that you've read, watched, do you feel forever
about Alex and Henry? How do you feel about them?
What? OK, can you just elaborate on
this question because I was really confused at this section.
Are they going to be together forever?
Yeah. How do you like them as a
couple, a ship? Like, are they a forever couple?
Like what's going to happen to them?
What do you do you like them? They're OTP.
Yeah, I agree. I mean, you did tell us that
they get engaged. I did, I saw that.
But what do you think? Do you know forever about them?
Are they, are they going to make it kind of couple?
I think there'd be definitely a lot of bumps for them.
I think that there's a they're very similar, but I don't know,
it's just kind of hard for me to say that like something's
forever. Just cause in my head everybody
breaks up after like 5-10 years. See, I I have that viewpoint
about some fictional like a lot most fictional couples that end
up together in the end. But for some reason with these
two, I just feel like, I do feel like they're OTP kind of even if
they were to kind of drift, like have any kind of separation,
they would come back together in the end.
I don't know. I just feel like they they were
actually fit as little puzzle pieces.
And I could see them lasting just because of their
backgrounds. And what they had to go through
to get there. I don't think there's a lot of
people who could understand them.
So I think in that case, like, they will definitely always be
in each other's lives. But I mean, they probably are
the best people for each other. Agreed.
Yeah. And I think what really cements
the Forever Ness is the end. The end when they get to Alex's
childhood home, Alex finally uses that key and he takes Henry
into that childhood home, which is like the homes kind of all
coming together and it's like the future home.
Basically to me, that's a forever sign.
And they have this exchange where they say we won.
Like, just by getting to that we win.
But like, I don't know if they do that at the movie, but at the
movie Henry goes, wow, you really are working class.
Yeah. And it just makes me laugh.
Adorable. Yeah.
So I think they're forever. And then, yeah, the collector's
edition basically, like, confirms that spoiler They end
up getting married and Henry renounces his title.
And so, like, they can actually do it.
OK, so now that we've gone through all of our favorite
parts of the book, I I think one of my favorite things about the
whole story, all of it, is the representation in this book in
general. So just really quick, like
highlights from the book we have bisexual King Alex, which, yes,
more bisexual men because I think that's so important and is
often erased or has a lot of stigma to it.
So I I appreciate Alex from that aspect and I like that we have
him as a Mexican American son of the president, because like in
America nowadays, there's a lot of like hating on Mexicans as a
political talking point from the Republican Party.
So to have a Mexican American being portrayed positively as a
big public figure is a big deal. So like to read that in a book I
think is a very big deal to have that kind of character being
portrayed so positively. I love that aspect of him and in
this book. Yeah, queer Latinx
representation that you don't see in mainstream media like you
don't. I mean, name a time you've seen
a queer Mexican American character as a main character on
a Prime Video ROM com. OK.
Well, you're really narrowing it down.
I was going to have not Mexican American though.
There is a difference but. Let's see.
Next, we'll just say that. I was going to bring up Elena.
Oh yeah. From one day at a time.
Yeah. Yeah.
But yeah, I do love that. And again then having him be the
lead is also huge and lead. But to add to like the political
thing like then you have Luna, like Rafael Luna in the book
who's also like queer, like Latin or I don't know I think he
might be Mexican American. I'm not really sure if they they
specified, but again, like and an openly gay public official,
so and the and too his. Background is very similar to
Alex's SO. Exactly.
And so then to have Alex explicitly say in the book like
I saw him, I felt represented for the first time ever.
And that's when Alex was like, oh, I can do this too.
Like hits drives home the point of, like, representation
matters. Maybe you have this damn podcast
to even begin with. So I love that it's even in the
book that, like, seeing himself as what really motivated Alex to
be who he is. And he's like the main
character. So, like, I love that that tie
in is there too to have that. Representation matters kind of
thing too. And then we have a gay Prince of
England. Finally, maybe not finally, but
like. Not an out, someone that's
that's out, you know exactly. You don't get to do that in the
past. You think that there is somebody
somewhere with a title being like, huh?
You never know. Maybe.
Maybe they're reading this being
like I could do it. Thanks, Casey.
That reminded me of the one king that got outed in the press too.
Berton. I'm sorry.
The one royal that got outed in the press too.
He was king for 30-4 days. I don't know if you can really
count it. King Umberto, King Umberto, the
second of Italy. So after they ousted Mussolini,
the monarchy took back over and that he was outed in the press
by his enemies basically as a big old queer.
And then the Italian public voted to abolish the monarchy.
Cool. But it's it has it has a semi
ish happy ish ending 'cause he left his wife and kids to go
live in exile and got to be queer.
In exile. He got to be in there in exile.
One way to do it, at least he got to live and be queer.
And keep his head. So yeah, there's that.
OK, so art, imitating life, love it.
In the book, we also have a lot more queer characters, period.
So we have Liam, who is like the small town gay from Texas.
And like by the time we get to the like where the books
actually picks up like he's out living out with a boyfriend.
So like, good for you Liam. In the movie we have Miguel, who
I am calling an evil gay because he like was trying to like
again. He outs them to further his
career with like out giving a final, a single fuck about it,
'cause when he's on like the news show and they're like, it's
pretty obvious you did this and he's like, he's.
Like I didn't. Yeah, so look at the fact.
That he's like, what are you insinuating like he's?
Just a punk asshole. Then we also have Nora, who's a
little queer icon, and Amy, who is a trans woman, and I'm glad
they got a trans actor to play Amy in the movie.
I wasn't aware of that, so I like it wasn't emphasized at
all. I didn't even know Amy's.
Amy's name's not even uttered in the movies.
I wasn't even sure it was Amy's. So, like for me, I wish that,
like, we could have had a little more hint that that was fucking
Amy. But like.
They could have given her the trans pin that I.
Believe they. Have in the book.
Something like it didn't have to be like a plot line.
It's just like something to be like that's Amy would have been
nice. But yeah, a sign that says
hello, I'm Amy. Yeah.
Like, be like Amy, can you get me in a room with the Prince or
like? Amy, give me your phone so I can
see your dogs. Like, just her name would have
been nice. So we had a trans woman who's a
Secret Service, a kick ass Secret Service agent.
So, like, the representation of this book is just fucking
awesome. And before we get to Caitlyn's
fun facts, I have a fun fact. Oh, here we go.
About the queerness in this book.
So there is speculation about certain characters getting
together that are confirmed in this edition, so let me go find
it. It is Christmas 2022 in this
little chapter, their first Christmas since Alex officially
moved in, and Henry's going to make a Yule Log.
And they basically have because Henry gets into baking and they
have Pez, Nora, and Beatrice over in June.
Like, they're all over and they get drunk.
And then this happens. After the third round of mulled
wine, when Alex's parents have called their drivers and his mom
has retired to the guest room, June and Nora find themselves
under the mistletoe. Everyone whoops and whistles
until Nora finally pulls June in by her Christmas light necklace
and kisses her to a round of applause.
June's cheek turn red, but she looks pleased as anything.
So there you have it, folks. Adorable.
They're sequel. We need you to be written into
the movie. So we were robbed of that.
Oh, that's so cute. I do.
I I like. I like those two better than
'cause I know. We were definitely shipping
Beatrice with Nora in the movie, 'cause that's all we had.
But like, OK, if you read the book and go back and read the
book and Alex's point of view, he's like, they seem way closer
than they are with me. I'm like, is there something
going on with them? And so that was a speculation
until Casey put that out and was like, yes.
Oh, I love. That.
But in the movie, Nora goes like, oh, no, no.
Beatrice is like, and you're Nora.
I've heard a lot about you. You're sticking with me tonight?
I know, like, I'm like, OK them because, like, Nora's queer, so
I'm just like, yeah, don't worry Beatrice, I'm also OK with that
because we didn't have June. Yeah.
Oh, I love, I love that June and Nor are together, 'cause they
they're in chemistry that they they were cute.
I love that Casey was like here's a collector's edition.
Here's 50 more pages I'm making it queerer.
I'm. Just like, don't worry.
Suck on my lesbians. Got the Got the Sapix too?
Don't worry. We're ladies.
Here's your OR. It's like heart, just we're
like, here's another book. It's queerer than the first one.
Outdoing the level of queer. We're here.
I'm here for authors that keep doing that, Caitlin.
The minute. I said Lesbians, someone walked
through the door. It's like you summoned people
that needed to hear that. I'm.
Good. So moral of the story if I say
lesbians. It was my mother, OK?
Yeah, well. How?
About We can blame me, I was. I was hoping for someone else.
OK, so this is a section that I have been adding to everything
now, and it's gonna have a different title every single
time. Today's title is Caitlin's Fun
facts that she has to Share so she feels like the stuff she
figured out means something and couldn't fit it anywhere else.
Do it all. Right, hold on.
I have to unlock all my notes 'cause like I for everybody
listening and watching, I hid them so no one could.
I'm gonna keep them hidden so you can just tell them to me
all. Right.
Do I still have to put the password in OK?
God, you straight up locked it. Yeah, no, yeah.
There's literally it's colors. And yeah, she did.
And I'm sitting here like, dammit, I could say them before.
I found out I could do this because of the other outline
that I was like. I don't want to spoil stuff for
you, so in case you look at the outline before you watch it.
So that's why. And there's like trivia about
things that I'm like. It'll ruin the reaction if you
see it. So if you are using Google Docs
Doc secrets as an extension, you can put in.
But the only thing is, I'm the only one who can use it because
I'm the only one who knows the password.
Nice. So anyway, we'll reveal this
one. So one of the most popular
highlights in the Kindle version of the book is this quote.
As your mother, I can appreciate that maybe this isn't your
fault, But as the president, all I want is to have the CIA fake
your death and ride the dead kid sympathy into a second term.
I love that their banter's hilarious.
And I'm not sure why, but the line makes me laugh and I can
definitely see why people I like it.
Because it's hilarious. There is a OK, I just need to.
It's laughing at the political reality of our nation, and
they're the thing that makes us all so frustrated with it.
And that's what I. Mean like the politics of this
book and this story were very grounded, grounds the story in a
good way, like movements like this.
There is a cross fade transitioning from them on the
street to the museum and a why? And.
I I played the movie and it was the first thing that's starting
because I stopped it last night and then I played it again this
morning. So I'm like, I need to see the
ending again. I've seen the beginning like
five times because I keep starting it and not finishing.
So I was like, I need to watch the ending more than once.
And yeah, the first thing I see is a freaking cross fade.
Caitlyn hates crossfades if you're new here.
See, that was at the point where you started locking the notes,
yeah? Because Bree responded to it.
And typed in afterwards because crossfades are the best.
Yeah, so after that I meant to lock them in the beginning
anyway. But yeah, 'cause I know you, you
don't typically read stuff, but Bree will.
Yes, so I have a lock. I'll just count to your half.
No, you say lesbian and Bree will show up Exactly.
That's who will walk through the door.
OK, so next point. When President Claremont is
working on her concession speech, the author, Casey Casey,
right? Casey is sitting next to her.
Stop it and go. Watch it.
No, I have to go. Back.
Stop it. I can't.
I cannot. I can't claim these points
though, because I read articles like most of my things are
articles. Caitlin, hold on.
Did you see a person that looks like this?
No, I know that it was her because.
OK, Oh, you can't. Oh, I thought you said you can't
verify that it's true, but. No, no, no.
I can't claim that I came up with this stuff.
No. No, that's fine.
Just tell us fun facts. Who are you talking?
To I'm on the podcast Mom. No more lesbians.
You guys got to stop saying. Lesbians.
It was the way you said. I'm on a podcast mom.
It's getting kept in. You're welcome, everybody.
Welcome. This is what happens.
She's gone all day. We record so long that people
come home. Anyway, this is the director
Matthew Lopez's first film. We're we're just losing it over
here. My dogs.
You're gonna hear that. You're gonna.
It's a chaos. Anyway.
Oh, while we were watching this film, we missed an end credits
scene because we didn't watch the credits all the way.
Damn it. Damn.
Told you guys we should have. Yeah.
Sorry, Caitlin. Anyway, sorry, It's when Alex.
And did you say lesbian? Anyway, the end courtesy scene
is Alex and Henry laying on the ground with cake all over them.
Alex like looks slightly up and just turns to Henry's like, do
you think anyone noticed? You just see Henry like pop his
head up and like or like? No, no, he shakes his head.
No, not yes. Oh my God, that's great.
And then thee probably knows this next one, because if she
doesn't, I don't understand her. But I feel like you would have
brought it up, so maybe you don't.
The first time we see Bee, she is wearing the same dress as
Taylor Swift in blank space. Oh, I definitely pointed that
out during the reaction. Oh, OK.
Oh, shit. Well, you really got it.
I didn't notice. I.
Didn't, Yeah, she's wearing the tailor self.
Blank space dress. She has good taste.
And then my last one. These weren't as fun today, but
they're still interesting. I feel like they're definitely.
Interesting. The president one was awesome.
I mean the one where the Casey Mcquiston is in the scene.
Yeah, that's good. Her books are as well when
they're in the Hammond OH. Yeah, one last stop is in Alex's
hand. I was just like, if you didn't
notice Casey was in it, I just. Which needs to be a movie next.
I want. I haven't read that one yet.
I want Char Wheeler as a. No, no, no.
I agree. Char will TV.
OK, never mind. Let's stop developing shows and
movies. And yeah, I want all of her
movie. All of her.
Book. I'm gonna let you finish,
Caitlin. Sorry, Caitlin, we're not, we're
not doing Kanye here, Bree. Well, Taylor Swift was involved.
We want. Now you're bringing me back to
7th grade, where everyone on all the computers in computer class
had that playing. And now I feel old.
Let's go to your last. One OK, so Henry jokes that they
practically had to break down the doors to get the cake
inside, which is a reference to when they actually did take a
door off from William and Kate's wedding cake to be carried out.
And all of the fashion is like emulated from the that Royals
family because, like Bee wears the same thing as Kate in the
photo makes. Sense.
Basically they have bee just copying everybody.
Yeah, because she wasn't her own person in the movie.
So it makes sense. That's.
What we get true. She wasn't sad.
She. Facilitated conversations with
Henry. All right, so now we've just
gone through all of the red, white and royal blue goodness.
I hope you guys had fun. You are rhyme.
Yeah. So.
Before we end this, I think we have to figure out how much
everybody would hydrate for lesbian Jesus for red, white and
royal blue. Let's go first.
I'll. Go 1st 10.
Never mind, I'll go 2nd 10, I'll go third.
What the hell guys? You ask.
Who wants to go first? I say I'll go first.
Then you guys just answer. What the hell?
I was giving two different ratings, OK?
Well, you get to. Bring up, bring up the rear with
your. Excuse me, can you let me talk?
You let me finish, Caitlin. I'm gonna let you finish.
Yes. You already just starts
drinking. I need to hydrate, OK oh,
Caitlin, the. Floor gets a 10, the movie gets
a nine. OK.
That's also fair. I to me like, I think that's
fair if you're like comparing them for sure.
Like I think if if as somebody who read the book then watched
the movie, I like, I wanted to give it that.
But like on its own, I think it's a really good queer ROM
com, which is why I would give it A10 as its own thing.
But like, yeah, in comparison the book is go read the book if
you have it. It's so good.
'Cause we didn't even talk. About it and go read it like
there's so much we didn't. Cover like it just, yeah, like
there's too much and there's too much.
It's like obviously they wouldn't be able to put
everything in there, but like no.
Absolutely not. We understand.
That's why, like on its own movie is great.
But the we all gave it a 10 during the reaction.
Yeah, like, just crazy. For me it.
Is very fun. I love it and I hope that more
like you said Bree, I hope more of Casey my questions works.
Get put into. Film adaptation wise, 'cause
she's AI like her books. She's a good writer.
Yes. Agreed.
So yeah, if you like this, check out her other two books that she
has out right now. One Last Stop and I Kissed Chara
Wheeler. I've only.
I know you've read both. I've only read I Kissed Chara
Wheeler. It would make a great TV.
I've. Read a mystery there.
I've read neither. I am the TV watcher.
Good. She's a good writer.
She is. So.
Yeah. So, yeah, thanks for going with
us on the red, white and royal journey.
Yeah. Until next time, hydrate for
lesbian Jesus. And get it up all over the
place. Bye.
And with that, we've been big gay energy.
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