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.
OK. So let's move on from
Thanksgiving to Christmas, which doesn't happen in the movie but
happens in the book. And I love this scene so much
too. So for context, in the book, one
of the other major changes I was noticing.
I think I know you're. Going is that Alex's parents are
divorced. Like they are straight of
divorce. Alex's mom has like, I don't
remember if they're married or or not, but Alex's mom has a
man. I think, I think it's a step,
Dad. So OK, so I couldn't remember if
they're married. And then Alex's dad is is a is
the senator for California, which I think is the same in the
movie. But they are 100% divorced.
So they and they get together for Christmas like the whole
family. And during this particular
Christmas, his father offers to help his mom campaign for
president because he's a congressman with political poll
and the mom doesn't want that because.
She's like, hey, that's a reminder to the public that I am
divorced. And divorced women don't poll
well in America because America's misogynist misogyny.
And so that whole thing, the conversation that they're
having, leads to Alex getting really upset.
And he storms out and then he calls Henry and he spills his
guts out to him. And this is like really the very
first time they have a conversation that's like real,
like, like from Alex's point of view because Henry kind of
talked about his trauma a little bit in the hospital closet.
And this is the first time that Alex is like, here are my
feelings because while he's like super close with June and Nora,
Alex doesn't really share his feelings.
He's very, like, makes light of it, moves on.
He's always like moving 100 miles an hour.
Like he's like running from his feelings, running from his
problems all the time, 'cause he's just moving so fast.
This is the first time he slows down and like, talks to Henry.
Like he's like, I have to talk to somebody, let me talk to
Henry. So it was such a big moment.
And it's just like not in the movie, like.
This is one of the times I feel for Alex, 'cause I understand
him because I am a child with divorced parents.
So, like, I understand, like, how he used to have probably at
some .2 different Christmases with people.
And he talks about how nice it is to have everyone under one
roof. Yeah, it's.
A warm but weird kind of feeling when your family actually spends
the holidays together. When you're used to like being
shuttled to different houses, 'cause you have no choice in the
matter. But then it's really, it sucks
when it does turn into fighting because, I mean, they're
divorced for a reason and he's just so upset that he couldn't,
that they couldn't put their feelings away for one day so
they could just have a happy. Merry Christmas.
And it's just. I just feel so bad for him.
But I will say it is very weird when your parents do get along
and they're divorced, because sometimes that's weirder.
Anyway, I also don't understand why Oscar, who is Alex's
biological dad? I had to pause the movie.
Luckily Amazon has the X-ray thing so it tells you the
characters names and they play so it said Oscar, I'm like oh OK
I guess stepdad doesn't exist in this movie so that's yeah, but
Oscar is so pissed off on in the book because his mom doesn't
want him campaigning with her. Like why does he she why does he
think that she needs him? Like she already got elected.
Without him. My response is he's a man.
I just feel like he wants to be relevant again or something
like. Yeah, I don't.
I don't know. Feels like it was for him.
Right. I don't.
I don't know why he's so mad about that.
I guess maybe he's, you know, swept up in that nostalgia, too.
Like, you're talking about Caitlin of like, we could all be
like a happy family again and like, work together and be on
good terms. And mom's like, I don't actually
need you. Like go away, we're good.
Yeah. Yeah, I don't know.
He's just like trying to come in and be like a white knight and,
right? It just kind of come off that
way. I don't know that that's really
his intention but yeah it definitely comes off that way
for sure. But like overall they had
they're they're not like the type of like so this is gone in
the movies but in the book like they they don't hate each other
or anything like that like the Herod's but they they they're
path to people we'll put it that way about politics but stubborn.
Yeah, that's where Alex gets his stubbornness from.
But during this conversation with Henry, one line that
really, like, stood out to me is that Henry basically tells him
he's like, I'm here, I'm listening.
And like, that's all Alex really needs in this moment.
And Alex admits to Henry that he really doesn't have a lot of
friends aside from June and Nora.
And so in this moment, he has somebody who's in it's like
solely on his side, like just there to listen to him because
like that White House trio like. You know, they're kind of
together by circumstance a little bit too.
And like, Nora and June seem a lot closer than like they are
with Alex and things like that. So like while he has support, he
doesn't have somebody who's like just there for him.
So like, this is kind of like the first time he has that and
it's it's big. It's true friendship.
I mean more than that. But like, at least friendship.
Because to have someone willing to talk to you at any time of
the day like it, just it makes your heart happy.
And she let B take the biscuits. You know how big that is?
Like, no, You can take the biscuits, it's fine.
Not. American biscuits.
Yeah, like American. Cookies.
Like if you I do give me the cookie Caitlyn and her cookies.
Well, cookies. It's my favorite food group.
My dad's good. Another thing I love about this
conversation too, is that. It's really revealing about who
Alex is. And this is when I really
started to like Alex a lot as characters when we started
really getting into him, because the conversation he has with
Henry here, he basically admits that, like, he's used to people
telling him he's great, but he isn't used to people telling him
he's enough. And like that was such a
revealing line to me. Because like the the book and
the movie all starts with, like, he's the Golden Boy.
He's like the heartthrob of America and like perfect.
He's like on his way to be like the youngest Congressman and
like like ever, like ever. He gets constantly reinforced
that he's great and like, so he just is constantly, like trying
to work towards this like perfection that everybody sees
him as. But like, you can tell it's too
much for Alex, even though he won't.
He takes him a very long time to admit that because because he's
so driven, he has no friends. He has no time.
He drinks coffee like it's water.
He barely sleeps like all of this stuff.
And so like in this moment with Henry, when he's just like Henry
basically gives him the space and the support to be like
you're enough just the way you are.
Like you don't have to be this thing that everybody else wants
you to be or see sees you as. And so I always, I found this as
a very relatable mindset as like a millennial like group in
America where it's like chasing perfection is like the thing
that you're supposed to do. And and that equals your worth
like being super busy means you're working hard it means
you're worthy and and like you know and and so because of that
you often ignore your your needs and your feelings and things
like that And so I like that like in this moment with Henry
he really stopped to deal with his feelings and and Henry gives
him the support to do that and this particular scene is is a
ginormous turning point for both of them which is why I wanted to
talk about it and it's it's not in the movies but it is the.
It is the first time they really have that heart to heart,
supportive moment for Alex, who is just always on the go and he
really stops and realizes how like important Henry really is
to him. I think is really the scene
here, Henry. Also has his own scene of like
opening up to Alice because he also doesn't open up to people.
Yeah, I mean, because apparently when he does, he spills all of
the royal secrets. All of them.
There's too. You can get anything out of
them, Yeah. You don't really have to dig,
you know, dig that much. But to round out the holidays.
Let's go to New Year's, OK? I do like the way the scene is
done in the movie. I'm not going to lie.
Let's talk about the get low scene, because first of all,
what a classic song. Very.
For like a millennial stuff. So like in the book, like like
they're like old Gen. Z But then in the movie they
read like millennials, which is really weird.
But anyway, regardless, they're complicated.
Like figuring out if I'm a millennial or.
Yeah, OK, what is this? But I like the choreography in
the movie and the way they basically had the moment where.
Everybody got low except Alex and Henry, and they're just kind
of like staring at each other across.
Which never would have happened in real life, but whatever.
No, it wouldn't have. But I like the visual and they
like tone down the music to like emphasize the moment and then
speed it back up again. I like the way the that was shot
in the choreography of that you. Know.
I mean, it's it's cute, weren't you?
Like you see the person in a cross and then you're like, oh
shit, I love them. Adorable.
No, I just hope, hope if that ever does happen in real life to
you, I hope you actually like the other person.
Yeah, for sure. Because you're stuck with me
forever now. Yeah, I mean, that's it.
That's the IT you've done for. I think we need to talk about
Henry's. Reaction to the lyrics?
Oh, absolutely. Because this was the exact same
thing as the book and I know. The.
Same. That's what they kept.
Love it. Well, I mean, so Henry points
out the obvious. So, like, if you didn't grow up
in America, this was like, we listened to the song of his
children and just knew all the lyrics to it.
And so, hearing sweat dropped out my balls for the very time.
Thank you. Let's see.
That one's obvious. There's so many songs about sex
that little kids. Sing and that are in.
Kids movies that they don't realize.
I mean, like, obviously, you know, I I've watched some things
and I'm like, oh shit, what the hell that was in there.
Yeah, is that the problem? I'm even as even as someone who
kind of got used to that song, it still gets me every time when
that lyric comes up. I've never.
I've heard it a couple times, like when I was little, I heard
it more because that's when it was out, basically.
But I was not listening to it. If one of my Co workers sings it
sometimes and partially just to annoy me because she sings that
part, I'm like, I don't want to hear about that.
So I probably hear it more than most people Now with the auras
dancing the I was liking the auras and playing.
In your head. This is a song that played at
every party and every club. Yes, when I was in like high
school. Doesn't matter.
You dance to the song. There were a couple of songs
like that when we were. Yeah, this is a big one, though.
So the fact they put it in there, it makes them read like
millennials, even though they're not.
OK. So then after that, there's the
first kiss between Henry and Alex.
Finally, that happens because Alex is too dumb to see what's
going on. So Henry has to be like for
fuck's sake, which I love. He's like, Oh my gosh.
He's like. Alex is not getting.
I would definitely be like Alex. I'd be like.
What do you mean? You that would be you like like
you'd get kissed and you'd be like, what do you mean, yeah?
Does he like me? Does someone put you up to this
OK? But I I want to talk about how
like it leads up to that I love that Henry because like like
basically Henry's like I need to get because OK, the reason Henry
needs to get the fuck out of the party is because.
Alex kisses a girl, regardless of which version of the book you
read. And so Henry's like, listen, you
invited me here, we've been flirting for months and you're
kissing girls in front of me, 'cause in the movie it looks
like an accident, but in the book he kisses Nora, so it's
weird. So Henry's like, I need air.
So he goes outside and he's like, by this tree and it's far
enough away. But like, no, I guess nobody can
see them. And he starts talking to Alex
about like. Do you ever wonder what it'd be
like to just be, like, an anonymous person in the world?
And this is something that comes up multiple times for Henry?
Because the difference between the two of them is like, well,
they're both political figures in their own way.
Like, they're not running for office, either of them or
holding an office. It's just they're in the public
eye because of politics. Like, Henry was born into it, so
he had no choice. Whereas Alex wants to be in
this, like, yeah, his mom is president, but he's like trying
to be a congressman. He's like, I want this life
where I'm in the public eye. And Henry's really surprised by
that. Yeah, I think that's.
I think that's part of Henry's hesitancy with like Alex is
because he's like if I'm with you, then I'm trapped in this
life forever that I don't want. Because here he is musing about
what would my life that basically what would my life be
like if I could be an an honest person and just kiss whoever I
wanted, date whoever I wanted without having to like.
Think through Ndas and like the royal image and like all these
complicating factors that force Henry to like be closeted,
essentially front, like his true self be closeted.
So I love that he's talking about that.
And then I wanted to discuss like the framing of the two of
them in the scene, like as they're talking about this and
then like when they kiss. So in in the scene when when
Henry's kind of talking about this, Henry is completely like.
He's in the. Shadow a bit.
And then I think when they kiss, it changes.
So like the shadow of the tree to where it's like Alex is kind
of like in Henry's position, like metaphorically, which I
love cause with the lead of this conversation.
So it's kind of like I'm dragging you into my world a
little bit. The shadows where you're trapped
in this public figure, 'cause if you think about it from Alex's
point of view to date, Henry, like now, you were trapped in
Henry's public life, which is. Very rigid and centuries of just
like rules and stuff. And it's very different.
It's very different from Alex's public office, like choosing to
live in the public eye. There's more flexibility to be
an American politician than to be a royal member, like of
England. So I like the way it's framed.
It's kind of like metaphorical of their situations, and I love
it. I kept getting distracted by the
obvious fake snow in the scene. Aren't you always?
There was fake snow in the scene?
It's 'cause. It's New Year's.
I know I'm just. It didn't look great.
I honestly didn't care. I just was happy with the acting
and the cuteness. Well, it was like it was coming
down, but the hair wasn't really moving.
I like it. Then it just like went on their
clothes and they did get it to dissolve, but it was like really
weird. Kind of.
I feel like if you have, because it was like very flu flurries
coming down. If you unless if you have like a
big snowstorm. I feel like it's different.
Also if you have maybe like actual snow while filming, so
like that you could just like sprinkle down as well.
But it just seemed really weird and just like layered on top.
It probably was. It was.
It definitely was. I know exactly how they did it,
but no, just saying it was distracting me, because of
course it was. Of course it was.
So let's talk about a really distracting scene.
Let's talk about in general the intimate scenes that happened in
this movie, so slash book. So we had the pleasure of
talking to Robbie, who was the intimacy coordinator for Red
White Red Blue. Check out in our interview with
him to learn about. If you haven't already.
You haven't already. He's he's really cool.
He couldn't talk specifics because of the strike at the
time we interviewed him, but so much work went into this.
What did you think of the intimate scenes in Red White
Roblox? It was very tasteful.
Agreed. I OK, I really liked that.
Alex was like, but who does what?
And he was just, like, so nervous about it.
Yeah, it was just really adorable.
And I liked that at the front of everything.
And there was always talking about things and like never
assuming. So I feel like a lot of scenes
with like with you get different kinds of scenes with different
kinds of queer couples in in media.
And I feel like scenes with two men don't often get this kind of
treatment that they they end up being like more about the sex
than they do about what's going on with the characters in the in
the scene. And they perfectly handled it in
this movie in my opinion. And it was beautiful and well
done and perfectly acted. And I loved it.
Agreed. I want to talk about the book
too. And then I'll talk about the
movie. OK.
So first of all in the book. It's very fade to black intimate
scenes. OK, so there's a lot.
No, there's a lot. Which to be fair, which is great
because yes, but they're fade to black.
And if you don't know what that means, it means like sex is not
discussed. It's like lead up and then
there's like hints at stuff and then the scene ends.
And so there's a lot of people who are just like.
I've seen on TikTok for like, wow, how do like people read
this book in public? It's a spicy book and it's like,
bitch, have you ever read fan fiction like this is nothing
like, what are you talking about?
Like it's not anything like it's not this is trad published YA,
they don't do explicit sex scenes really because you're not
going to get published in in the age group if you do that.
It's so weird. It's like, dude, this is read a
fan fiction. Like get out of here.
This is not at all like this. First of all, you.
Learn a lot if you were little and read.
I was like fan fan fiction. Is like real sexy you.
Learn a lot from fan fiction. Yeah, it's not reading this
book, so first of all, so it's it's really not anything OK
gripe about the movie though. And not the book.
So the first time they, I think, hook up in the movie is when
they're at whatever that event is and they get alone to like
Alex gets Henry alone and makes out with him in some room for
like a minute. And then the bodyguard's like,
ah, off hook in the red room and a bodyguard is like shit.
So it's like Cath out of the bag to his bodyguard, Alex's
bodyguard. I think it's Amy in the movie.
Yes. And then they go back in the
room and Alex is basically like, listen, here's what's going to
happen. Like he takes charge and he's
like, here's what's going to happen.
He's like, you're going to be in my room after this and I'm going
to do really bad things to you. Then we come to the room.
Alex does not do bad things to Henry.
Henry goes things to Alex. So I have a problem.
With that. Because like, what the fuck was
that? OK.
So I think it's Alex being very confident in public and like
able to talk. But when it comes to being
private, he's just very insecure, more like just very
unsure of himself. So he has like a public persona,
even though it was still not public.
But. He was trying to be assertive
and then when it came down to it, like he was feeling it in
the moment. This has happened to me.
You're feeling it in the moment, but then later on you get really
insecure. You're like, wait a minute, I'm
just saying that's not how that goes down in the book.
Alex is true to his word in the book.
Yes. So I have a problem with that,
'cause I'm just like Alex, what are you doing?
He does nothing. And I'm just like, boy, who
wrote these lines. Then when we get to like the
Paris love scene, which is like the big penetrative sex like
love scene, Dickinson vibes. I think we talked about this
when we did the reaction video. But the fact that, like you said
it, Caitlyn, very tasteful, 'cause it's it's just like the
intimacy is clearly there of everything and the communication
like you said. And then they have those shots
of just like the hands, like, yeah, it's very soft, like the
lighting is like that golden lighting.
The music is very like intimate, like it gave me Dickinson vibes
in the last season when they had the Emma Sue like intimate scene
that was done like this. Should have talked to Sophia.
About that? Oh well, there's no music in it.
There was nothing to talk to her about.
They cut. She talked about that scene.
No, they cut the music out of that scene.
It's just them breathing. Oh, there's stuff under it.
But wasn't there. I'm pretty sure because she
talked about that scene, how it kept getting rewritten and
stuff. Yeah.
So I think there was maybe music originally, but the director has
talked about it. They cut all the music out of it
because like what was supposed to happen is the Taylor Swift
song was supposed to be playing. And then they cut it because
they're just like, we want to hear them breathing because that
made it more intimate. Whereas like in this scene in
Red White and Mario Blue, there's their theme song is
playing during like the combined theme song of like their two
themes are playing in this particular scene.
And she said in this movie they had to like, redo this one a
bunch of times, 'cause this is like the big pinnacle scene.
But I'm talking about this shot for like the way it was shot
compares to Dickinson and like that intimacy feel, 'cause like
that was one of the first times I ever really saw that kind of
like intimacy in a queer scene. And like, it worked it and it
works so well. And it they almost emulated that
here in the Henry and Alice scene.
So it just it is clearly like a very intimate scene, just the
way it's done versus like a sex scene to have a sex scene, if
that makes sense. Which does, Yes, absolutely.
You know, so 10 out of 10100 out of 10, it was great.
Loved it. Loved it.
All of their intimate moments are adorable.
All right, so another big scene is like the Texas Lake house.
So that's the first time I think that Henry hangs out with like,
Alex's dad. So kind of wanted to get you
guys thoughts on like book versus movie overall thoughts
about the Lake House stuff. Can we just address Pez Real?
Quick Oh yes, Let's let's let's address Pez.
I mean, I know he has barely a role in the movie.
He does, but I feel like he barely had a role in the book
was well, so like he was there to be like Henry's business
partner. He's like Henry's best friend
and he's like, he's like Henry's Nora in a way, although they'd
ever dated, but so they're like really close best friends.
And he's like the only person that kind of knows Henry for who
he is. So that's what makes Pez
significant aside from like Beatrice.
Hence why like they're working on philanthropy projects
together. So like open, open, like youth,
queer centers and like things like that.
And so and Pez, I think what Henry likes about Pez is that
Pez is 100% himself. Like he always comes in and like
extravagant outfits. He has all the confidence in the
world. He's just like, is it.
His emotions are on his sleeve. Like, I think it's, he's
everything Henry can't be. And I think that's why they're
such good friends. And in the book, Pez is really
into June, who's not in the, who's not in the movie.
And so Pez is into Nora, which was weird.
Me, I was like really. But in the movie gripe I have
with Pez is like his role was so minimal.
Like why even have him there like he was barely.
They don't really talk about the philanthropy like it's Why was
Pez even in the? Movie.
Also, Henry has his sister so like he already does have
somebody he can talk to. So like, Pez could have been cut
out. Yeah, like in the movie.
Although, like, can the Princess really come and, like visit?
Like, I don't know that she would have the same schedule as
Henry's. Like maybe?
No, but I don't think Pez added much to that scene.
So he added nothing. That was my problem with Pez.
Like he added nothing to the movie at all.
Even at the lake house, he was there, right?
And yeah, why was he there? Like I don't get the decision
you get. One shot of, like, Nora and him
together. Yeah.
And it's like they had a volleyball scene.
I'm like, I guess you needed another person to play
volleyball. So it's 2V2.
But like, yeah, Pez being there was pointless.
That was the problem I had with the movie.
Like, you just cut them out. There was no point in having Pez
in the movie, to be honest. No, agree.
Oh, I said. Like, that's why I'm not upset
that June wasn't included because I I feel like they would
have ruined her. Yeah, I I she didn't need to be
there. If the focus was just Henry,
Alex. Sure.
So like, yeah, Pez. I don't, I don't like Pez in the
movie. I think he's pointless in the
movie. But the Texas Lake house
overall, this is when Alex comes out to his dad.
And I do like how this is handled, 'cause there's like
anxiety from Alex because his dad is Catholic and he's like,
how's he gonna take it? But, like, dad sees the writing
on the wall and he fights Henry over it.
He's like maybe some slack man. I'm a California's editor.
Like I think it's fine. So I I like the way that's
handled and it's pretty consistent in both iterations,
so. In the movie, he might be
something to do with Texas then because he talks about like he's
the reason that there is and there are neutral bathrooms in
Austin. Yeah, I think that line is the
same, but maybe the location is different in the book, I don't
remember. But that line is like directly
from the book, OK in this in the while they're at the lake house
too. This is the first time Alex
almost says I love you to Henry. And Henry freaks out and leaves
and then like straight up leaves the whole lake house because
this is going too far for him. He has a whole escape route.
Yeah, he's just like gone and like, OK, so the way it goes
down to the movie is they're just like in broad daylight in
the lake, whereas in the book they, like, sneak out at night
to go skinny dipping in the lake.
And I like the, I like this scene better just because of
like the Thoth and Alex's head. So there's like fireflies and
there's like it in the way he sees Henry's.
He's like there's a crown of fireflies kind of like around
Henry's head. And Alex is just like, thinks
he's so beautiful and he's like this image should be the
portrait for the history books like, 'cause it's the real Henry
that's like in the lake with him.
And so it's just, it's a much more intimate moment than and
the way it goes down and this is when Alex kind of like has his
like, OK, I know what I want kind of from life moment where
he says to Henry, I never learned to be where I am.
I'm here with you and I want to take it day by day and feel so
for Alex, that's so big. Somebody who's just like
constantly going 100 miles an hour.
And here he is in this like reminiscent of his childhood,
like vacation kind of days at the lake house.
Like with his family where like politics are not involved.
Like they can just be themselves kind of moment.
And that's when he's like, OK, this is what I really want from
life. I want to live my life versus
just like being on the move constantly.
And like Henry's such a big part of that cause like Alex has that
like classic workaholic attitude that's so very American.
And it's something in the books that June really notices about
Alex. Very American.
Yeah. And.
And June notices about Alex. And she mentions it just really
briefly that she's worried about him because, yeah, he's, he has
no friends. He's always on the move.
But Alex doesn't like. He just ignores it and keeps
going. And he doesn't really fully come
to terms with that until now, when he's alone with Henry at
night in this, you know, place of adolescence.
And before he jumped into his life of politics like this was
all, you know, he was just Alex. But now he's like this image
that everybody wants him to be. So to me it's like this full
circle kind of moment and it's really, really beautiful that
like Henry is that conduit for Alex to like learn to appreciate
life. So it's more so than just like
the I love you and I'm running away from this kind of thing.
It's more so that like, Alex is like figuring things out about
his life, not just like the love part.
So that I found really huge in that scene.
I think that the movie version. It doesn't make as much sense to
me as that nice skinny dipping version as far as all those
realizations coming out. Like I get it by I get it.
But and it was very cute, like like the casualness of their
existing together in the same space and being affectionate.
But I was just like, it just made more sense to me at night.
Yeah. And I think that the the in the
book again, it's, it's Alex's point of view.
So you get the depth of Alex's point of view in that scene.
Whereas in the movie it almost reads like Henry's point of
view. Because when Alex is getting
close to the I love You stuff, he leads up by basically saying
we should come back here to the lake house like next year
because next year my mom won't be running for president.
And like I I don't have to hide. I can be whoever I want.
And, like, the color basically drains from Henry's face because
Henry will always be in this position.
He didn't choose this. He can't really easily choose to
leave it so. And Alex doesn't seem to
understand that about Henry. Like, he's like, for me, this
doesn't go away next year. Like, I'm always going to be the
Prince of England. Like, it doesn't go away.
So he's like, I can't have the fantasy that you're explaining
right now. So when Alex is getting close to
the, like, I love you part, he's like, no, like, you're clearly
planning for a future that cannot happen.
So Henry just like jumps in the water to like stop him.
So yeah, it reads more like a Henry point of view scene than
an Alex point of view scene in the movie, which is great and
like is needed, but it like it's telling two different, two
different stories basically based on which scene you're
enjoying. That's what I was going to bring
up, is that, like, I understood what Henry was feeling, 'cause
as soon as I saw his face, I was like, oh shit, he's, that's why
he's running, is because he can't be what Alex wants, yeah.
And he can't have that. Like he can't even entertain a a
realm in which he can have that. So of course he's got to run.
Yeah. And to like Alex's point of
view, he's like, Alex clearly wants this.
We we weren't supposed to like, get this far.
And he's like, I can't give you what you want also.
So yeah, it's very heartbreaking on it, 'cause he runs away
either way, 'cause, like, I think Henry is definitely
feeling that in both scenes. But like, it's more obvious in
the movie that that's where Henry's at.
I do like that you get to understand that.
Which is like what you said it was needed.
But yeah, but they they complement each other.
So I do. They do.
That's why, like, the movie's not total fan picture.
Like you get some Henry point of view that you just don't get as
evidently in the. In the book, they complement
each other. I just, I love the Firefly crown
description. It's just really cute.
Oh, and the other thing that was really funny and the the reason
I had relieves in the book is he's like these fucking
mosquitoes. What are these damn things?
I'm going to get malaria. I can't get malaria.
I'm leaving because that's his excuse to leave.
And I thought that was. Hilarious.
Do they really not have mosquitoes?
Over there. Well, maybe where he lives
there's maybe no swamps, but I don't know.
It's hilarious. I can't get a tropical disease I
love. It so other big scene that's
really cute and romantic is the night at the museum.
So Henry takes Alex to the the V and a the Victoria and Albert
Museum after hours. What'd you guys think about
that? I thought it was super, super,
super important and a really great way for Henry to show.
Alex, what he like, I can't seem to like get across to him.
But at the same time the like everything with that scene is
showing Henry's, it's showing Henry, like that museum is like
Henry and basically it's it's Henry showing Alex himself.
So Alex already showed Henry. Exactly.
So he's like, hey, you want all these things?
And as much as as great as that is, this is me.
And you didn't seem to understand that.
So here it is. I'm showing you that's red.
Light and. It was both sad and adorable at
the same time, at the like going through.
But I just. I got chills.
They're. Multiplying.
Sorry, every single time all that goes in my head.
But they're the dancing was so cute.
Can't help falling in love because, like, they can't help
falling in love with each other. And even though they aren't
supposed to. I just love bittersweet scenes.
And kind of like scenes with a sad edge to them.
That we know we like angst. OK, I love.
This scene, it's one of my favorites.
I love it. I think the whole thing, first
of all, I like how they get there for because Henry doesn't
own keys. That's one of the things he says
because Alex is always got his house key on him and he's like I
don't think I've ever owned a key.
So he doesn't, he gets in because he like basically bribes
a guard. It's like can I borrow the key
cause technically I own the museum but can I have the key?
He owns the thing, but he doesn't own the key to access.
It they do own the museum. I don't even.
I don't think I know. They own everything.
They own the country. Gaitlin oh, I don't know
anything about. I've been to American royalty.
Work royalty. They own the whole fucking
thing, so technically he owns it, but he doesn't have access,
which is such a giant metaphor for Henry.
And I think that the whole museum scene is a is a metaphor
for how Henry feels because he is someone with historical
significance, Like he is a part of a giant monarchy that goes
back to centuries. And he's a person because of who
he is, that people want to gawk at.
Just like when people come to museums to like look at art or
whatever, like the pains of Westminster and there is a
history, there's history in every single gene of his and and
no one will truly know his full story because people see what
they want to see. Kind of like Alex but in the
context of the museum, like the, you know, the V and a like few
can access the key to see it all.
And so Alex in this moment has the key to see Henry, and he's
in awe this entire time they were in this museum because
being alone in this museum with Henry, it's like seeing Henry's
authentic self and it's beautiful and mysterious and
Alex can't get enough of it. And that's constantly what's
going on in his head. And for Henry, it's really
heartbreaking because he's like, you know, this was my escapism
when I was a kid because I can't go out in public.
I can't just, you know, like he was saying before they kissed,
he's like, what would it be like to be anonymous?
Like an anonymous person could just go to the VNA and enjoy it.
But he's like, Henry's like, I can't.
If I come here, people aren't going to be looking at the art.
They're going to be looking at me.
And then I can't enjoy myself. So.
And the only way he can enjoy things is like all alone, which
is really sad and heartbreaking. And the only time he can be
himself is when he's, you know, kind of alone.
And so he has that fantasy that he conjured.
He's like, this was my safe place that my dad used to take
me to by myself so I can enjoy something.
Like how cool would it be to bring a boy that I loved here
and, like, just have a special moment with him.
And I do like the way this was done in the movie where he's
having this thought. And then Alex plays the song
because in the book, Henry plays the song.
And so it's like, it's like in the movie, it's like, Alex is
like, I understand that this is important to you.
Like, let's do it. Like, I want to be that person
for you. So I do love that he initiates
the dance scene and it's really meaningful to Henry that Alex is
the person that's going to do it.
I also love before they get here, they go down Prince
Consort Blvd. And Alex is like, oh, is that
what's happening? I mean, he is the Prince Prince
Consort, so I do love that. Can we pause real really
quickly? OK, so now that we've discussed
all the cuteness, let's go to the outing stuff.
OK. So in the movie that this is
handled a little bit differently in the movie versus the book in
terms of how they get outed, like the mechanism of their
outing. So in the movie, there's the
Miguel plot. He's like the nosy reporter
that's hooked up with Alex, I guess, versus the Rafael Luna
Richards campaign plot in the book.
And so both of those lead to the inevitable outing of Alex and
Henry's relationship. So I just wanted to get your
guys takes of like your likes dislikes of these plots.
I mean, you got a text saying that Luna's a bastard and you
knew exactly where it was in the book, so hope you enjoyed that.
I don't know. I didn't have, like,
overabundance of opinion on the differences.
It was just kind of almost six of 1/2 a dozen of the other.
Except I didn't so much. And I always kind of cringe when
there there's a queer villain like that.
Like revenge. I don't know.
It's just so petty. So he's a reporter.
So yeah, it does make sense for him to do it.
It just it makes sense. It just, I'm saying that it's a
personal thing where it just makes me cringe a little because
of the history in media of queer people being turned into
villains, etcetera, etcetera. I preferred the Luna storyline.
Me too. Because Miguel like it meant
nothing with Miguel. I think they did.
They did nothing with it really. It didn't make sense.
It was like half bass kind of I. Thought Yeah, that's what it
felt like. You get read a fan fiction
you're just like. Where the hell did that come
from? Yeah, it was just like a clearly
contrived thing for this reason, where Luna was.
Thought out was throughout the thing like there was a betrayal
and and then it just finally comes out that.
Luna Rafael, yeah, switched sides so he could go basically
undercover and expose that the Richards campaign and helped
Alex in the long run. So it it just there.
The Redemption arc was there as well.
Miguel there was like, literally nothing.
He'd even own up to like doing anything.
He's just like, what are you implying?
Yeah. And like, OK, so I think both
plot lines are despicable in the sense that they're motivated by
people trying to get career a career advancement.
So it's like Miguel is trying to expose this big sex sandal to,
like, get hits for his magazine or whatever the fuck he's doing
and to, like, get on TV to talk about this breaking story.
Versus in the book, the Richards campaign.
So Richards is the Republican running against Alex's mom.
Richards basically hires P is to tell Alex and like get all these
photos of him and and Henry. And then they leak it to the
press as a way to smear his mother's campaign to be like
wow, family values and like they're in bed with foreigners
and like all this stuff. So it's a winner like.
For Richards to get ahead in the poll, the race for president, So
they're both motivated by people trying to get career
advancements, which is disgusting, because then they're
outing people against their will to get there, which is super
fucked up, OK? And in the book where Beatrice
is a real person, the outing of Henry in this way outs
Beatrice's addiction problem. Against her will.
Cause in the book, she was like a cocaine addict and like her,
that was something Henry knew and like supported her through.
But her reaction to this is very different than Henry's.
Whereas Beatrice was like, I'm relieved then I don't have to
lie about this anymore because you know, per royal etiquette,
you have to shove anything bad in the closet And she's like,
fuck it, like I'm a recovered addict.
I don't have to lie about this anymore.
But like, she's outed against her will.
Because of what they gave or. Something.
Like she's a she's a real person in the book.
Like either way, though the families handle them
differently, which I think we have at another section maybe,
Yeah, yeah, Henry coming out versus Alex coming out.
Their families are have different reactions to them.
Rafael He didn't go into the other side for career
advancement, though. I mean, he did.
No, I Rafael is not the one that outs Alex.
Richard's outs, Alex, because he's trying to get ahead in the
polls. That's what I mean by that.
Oh. OK.
All right. So you're not talking about
Rafael, OK? Rafael Luna is part of the
plotline and so. Yes.
No, Richard is that is just. Very plotline.
I think Luna. Perhaps was trying to get a
career infancy cause like OK So what happens with Luna is Luna
essentially like there's a big history with the Luna and Alex.
So Luna is a Democrat. He's an out gay I think
politician, which is a big deal in Texas because Texas is Texas
and so he's a a hero to Alex. And so when So what happens is
is that Luna? Kind of distances himself from
Alex throughout the book. And then it's revealed later who
Richards's vice president is going to be, and it's Luna.
So he's like, he's an independent.
And then he like, goes to the Republican team against Alex's
mom. So Alex takes that as a
betrayal. I don't know if I was oblivious.
Or something but. That caught me off guard it.
Yes, it's supposed to because it's from Alex's point of view,
so you don't see it coming. And then Alex and then Luna does
this thing that's basically a big betrayal because he's trying
to be VP by joining the Republicans to tone down the
crazy that is the Republicans because he's this like gay,
queer, somewhat progressive ish person.
But Alex sees that as a big betrayal because he's like I
helped you, you know, get your career going.
Like this is super fucked up. And so there's this quote that I
love. From Alex, because it just shows
the like the depth of the betrayal.
And he says he talking about Luna was supposed to be me in 20
years. You know, I was 15 the first
time I met him, and I was in awe.
He was everything I wanted to be and he cared about people and
about doing the work because it was the right thing to do,
because we were making people's lives better.
I was never more sure I wanted to go into politics than when I
went to Denver. I saw this young queer guy who
looked like to me sleeping at his desk so that kids in public
schools in his state could have free lunches.
And I was like, I can do this. So like, Luna was such a big
deal for him in terms of like what he wanted to do with his
life and why. Cuz Alex generally wants to help
people and so he sees Luna and then he's like, yeah, I relate
to this guy cuz representation matters.
So, like, this felt like a huge betrayal to Alex.
But then we learn the depth of this plot and why it's so
despicable. Because what happened to Luna
before he even meets Alex? Because Luna wasn't interred for
Richards back in the day, and Richards was a sexual predator,
surprise, surprise. And he basically like
propositioned Luna once to be like come home with me and you
can get career advancement and shit.
And I thought this was so important because, like, this is
a queer thing that like is red as queer, but it really isn't.
Cause like Richards used to do this to like, the women interns,
female interns too. And Luna basically says it's not
about sexuality, it's about power.
Because a lot of these Republican men getting these
sex, they're always against gay people, but then they get caught
in gay sex scandals. And I think this is important to
talk about. And I love that it's in this
book because it's basically, it's not about being gay, it's
about power. Like, Richard was in a position
of power over Luna, and he's like, I can exert my power over
you and get you to do whatever I want.
And that's what these Republican guys really love to do.
So it goes to show you like the the lengths that Luna that
Richard will go through to, like, get what he wants.
So it's no surprise that later he outs the Prince of England
and Alex to get a leg up in politics.
So yeah, I just, I I love it cause to me like it, it just
gives more depth to Luna. And like, it explains, like, why
he's a smoker because he's like, I started smoking after that,
'cause that was like his coping mechanism.
And so, like, it is trauma that happened to him.
He never got over and Luna never reported it because he was like
a young guy with no power against like, who would people
gonna believe, you know? Like it's just it's gross And
and Richard also had this file on him and he's like, hey, if
you ever like try to go against me and say that I did these
things that I did, I'm just going to like ruin your career
forever. So, like, it's just classic
Predator shit. And so, like you said, Caitlin,
like when Luna got this opportunity to be the vice
president, and he's like, oh, maybe I can finally expose this
guy if I get access to his shit because he's been holding my
secrets over my head. So I like the political intrigue
that's in this book a lot more with this plotline.
Well, that Luna sends Nora. We don't know it's Luna, but
Nora gets like all these files, like coded and.
Alex looks takes one look at this code and notices that it's
the address to a five guys and like one like bacon double
cheeseburger. Like this is the code.
So it's like the Five Guys address and Luna's order four or
Five Guys that Alex used to pick up for him all the time.
Exactly when they were in Denver.
So yeah, I just, I love the depth of this plot line a lot
better and I agree with you. With Miguel, it just.
It's. Classic for a ROM com.
But like Miguel was barely a person, so I wasn't really, it
just had less like motivation behind it that made it.
It was not really interesting. I thought it was interesting
that they did imply that like him and Alex were a thing in the
past, because that's different from like the book.
And that happened early in the movie too.
So I was just surprised by that aspect and I was like, OK, but
ultimately Miguel was very flat and.
Yeah, Miguel, like there was. I thought it was going to be
like right after that, the DNC. Yeah, that he would have like
leaked photos cause like that would have made more sense.
And then they could have gone into like the beard storyline
and stuff. But also in the books, Alex is
more inquisitive about everything, like trying to find
out what's going on with this person and that and that.
And I feel like that's kind of where they got Miguel from.
Because he kind of took on that person and Alex doesn't like
that in the movie. So it's like only one person can
be like that. Yeah, that is true.
But so yeah, I agree. I think the Luna Potline was way
better. And plus then you get an extra
queer. So again, you're erasing another
queer person from the mix. But like, we get Miguel, who's
like, I don't know, I guess a mixture of like Luna and like.
Like Liam and like, I don't know, it was just weird.
But yeah, I guess he would be Liam as well.
He's technically Liam. Like, I guess, which I like the
Liam plot, but whatever. All right, So that's that.
And then yeah, they both get outed.
Other thing I want to talk about was like the use of music in the
book, because music is a big part of like, Henry in
particular. And there's one line that I
really love where they're talking about the I think, I
think. They're in England and Henry is
playing on piano and he talks about this Alexander's Scribion
Sonata, and he basically says, like the third movement is his.
Henry's favorite. He explains because he read
once. It was written to invoke the
image of a castle in ruins, which he found darkly funny at
the time, 'cause that's like how Henry feels.
And that line is so like powerful.
Damn, poor Henry. It's very potent imagery.
It is. And I love that he's always
playing the piano, and I do love that Sophia took that into
account when creating their themes and she was very
conscious of that. And same thing with Alex.
Like Alex's theme is like guitar, bass, and so when they
go to the lake house for example, there's a whole scene.
I don't think it's in the movie at all, where like Oscar's
playing the guitar. They sit around the fire and
play like the guitar and stuff. So it's like it's very like it
has the feel of both of them and I I do love that.
We got them playing the piano together instead in the movie.
Yeah, exactly. We got them playing the piano
together instead. But I love that their their
instruments really like fit their personalities and the way
that they are drawn to music, use music, relate to music.
It's just. It's very powerful.
I like that aspect in the in the movie, in the book, and it does
translate in the movie pretty well.
I don't notice music as much for some reason.
I just like went over in my head.
But I already talked about like my favorite part of the music
with the can't help falling in love thing.
That's very that's also going to be stuck in my head again.
Yeah. I have way too much music stuck
in my head right now. So no, there's no room.
You have an entire jukebox in your head.
Let's just be real I. Do.
It's part of my charm. And.
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