To build a space for queer people like myself, every week (usually Saturdays) I’ll be posting interviews, opinion pieces (like this Red, White & Royal Blue post), listicles, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community from a Latina perspective. Welcome to Queerly Not Straight!
Enjoy and leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for what I should cover next. P.S. I, Lyra Hale, do not give any site permission to copy or repost my work in any form. If you are reading this on any site besides Fangirlish, it has been stolen.
With Red, White & Royal Blue getting a sequel, I instantly have a laundry list of things that I hope this movie avoids. Because sequels, especially romances, are rife with tropes that separate the lead couple or cause unnecessary problems that fans do not want. Instead, I challenge the sequel to think outside the box and make it so fans are kicking their feet in the air at how loving and adorable Alex and Henry are. Because as queer people, our stories are filled with love and light. And with a Hollywood that consistently boxes away our stories away under the category of trauma and pain, I believe this is an opportunity to do something different. Something light and wonderful. And so here are five things we don’t want from the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel.
1. Another “love interest” coming between Alex and Henry
There is absolutely no need to bring another possible love interest between Alex and Henry. And every single time I have seen romances go down this avenue, it’s been cheap and undervalues the strength of the relationship. Alex and Henry chose each other. That should be it. There should be no one coming in between them and making them question if they are each other’s ride or die. Instead I hope the studios choose love and get a little creative with whatever problems they’re going through. And if anything, AO3 has taught me that domestic fluff and gets fans kicking and screaming and delight. Why not go for that instead of an interloper?
2. Keeping them apart all movie
A big part of the first film was Alex and Henry communicating via email/text. And while that worked for the first movie, I hope that the sequel doesn’t spend too much time doing that. Because they will have obligations on different sides of the world. But they’re partners now and the sequel should be about them building their lives together. And I’m really hoping that they solve problems at each other’s side and face to face and that the studio doesn’t take the easy way out and make distance their biggest hurdle. They already conquered that. It’s time for them to take on the world side by side.
3. A glimpse of Miguel
If there’s anyone I hate, it’s Miguel. He was a plot device that I hope to never see again. And I truly mean never again. I don’t care if he wants to apologize. He outted them on a global level. It’s hard enough coming out to your friends and family. I can’t imagine being a public figure and having such intimate moments strewn across the internet for anyone to look through. So I hope that the sequel does not give us even a glimpse of Miguel. And if they do, I hope they use it as an opportunity for Alex and Henry to tell him off. Because what he did was wrong and there’s no forgiveness there, especially when Miguel knew Alex and understands the kind of world we live in.
4. A breakup
A breakup between Alex and Henry would be the laziest plot device and something I truly hope the sequel avoids like the plague. This is what you do when you have no other ideas for your main couple. You break them up for some asinine reason and then spend entire film bringing them together again. They had a hard enough time coming together in the first movie, and there’s no way that fans want to see them separated like that. Instead, keep Alex and Henry together. Be different and show the light and love that come from LGBTQ+ relationships. We survive and thrive, despite what the world throws at us. And it would be so amazing to see that in the sequel and not worry about a time wasting break up.
5. Unexpected family death
Personally, I know that all the actors probably can’t come back for the sequel. I’m also aware that loss is a part of life. But that’s not what the book or movie is about. That’s not what this love story is about. And I don’t trust throwing a unexpected family death into a movie sequel because it will take up the entirety of the story. Plus, I’m kind of sick and tired of queer stories being centered around pain and trauma. I want Alex and Henry to have me kicking my feet in the air and squealing in joy in the same way that I do while I’m reading some domestic fluff on AO3. I want to hold this story close to my chest and feel light and loved. And I want other queer people to experience the kind of love on screen that we have seen heterosexual couples experience in troves.
What do you think about the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel? Let us know in the comments below!
Queerly Not Straight posts weekly (usually Saturdays) with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latine community since I am Latine.)
