#Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne

[literallymikewheeler]

oh my favorite trope? two people who love each other so much its like breathing

[mementomoriwithacherryontop]

Can we talk about this Dead Boy Detectives Article

So, Jamie Paul over at @bidotorg did a pretty cool thing. After being contacted by one of our very own and much loved (@asidian), he agreed to watch all 8 episodes of Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix and write a review and analysis of the show, specifically looking at the queerness and bi-coded presentations of it's characters (Charles Rowland, my friend, this means you!)

Y'all. What a thoughtful article this is. I'm going to highlight a few aspects of the it along with my own thoughts, but please read the article (linked below!) in it's entirety. It really is incredibly thoughtful with an excellent analysis, and it mentions our campaign specifically (!).

One of the most exciting aspects of this article, I'm not gonna lie, is the acknowledgement of how passionate Dead Boy Detectives fanbase is and how much blood, sweat, tears, fundraising, letter writing, and furious typing on various platforms are being poured into efforts to save this show:

"...when Netflix pulled the plug, the show’s fiercely loyal fans — mostly young queer viewers — sprang into action. Fans created the websites “Save Dead Boy Detectives” and “Save Queer Stories” and trended hashtags and stories including #RenewDeadBoyDetectives and #SaveDeadBoyDetectives across social media. They boosted the show’s lead actors to the top of the celebrity video platform Cameo, wrote heartfelt articles in mainstream outlets and student newspapers alike, and collected more than 20,000 signatures in a petition to renew the series. They even crowdfunded over $12,000 to successfully put up multiple billboards in Hollywood. It’s not every day an eight-episode television show inspires such an outpouring of love."

Jamie discuses the character growth, specifically, of our very favorite 80's punk ghost detective with a heart of gold: Charles Rowland. Notably, the writing and acting choices made during the season one's 8 episode arc that all indicate the direction creators would have likely taken Charles had they been given more time and subsequent seasons:

...But given the fact that Charles is bisexual in the comics, it seems clear that the series was setting up things to come in subsequent seasons, whether that meant a romance between the boys or simply on-screen confirmation of Charles’s bisexuality in some other way...Dead Boy Detectives is about two boys who are frozen in time, but who also undergo personal growth — the kind that requires multiple seasons to fully blossom. Had this show been allowed to run for at least two to three seasons, I would be truly shocked if we never saw Charles in a same-sex relationship with someone. It’s less that I didn’t like the fact that Charles’s bisexuality wasn’t made plain, and more that I’m disappointed that Netflix’s impatience stifled the development of what, I’d bet a large sum of money, would have turned out to be a colorful bi show.

For what it's worth, I completely agree with Jamie's take on Charles and the direction Steve had planned to take him. In Season 1, we see Edwin grapple with, and come to terms with, his own sexuality. We climb the emotional peaks of that staircase right along with Edwin as he confesses his love to Charles. You know. This scene:

This exchange allows Steve to explore the ubiquitous affair of falling for a best friend who maybe doesn't feel the same way. But knowing that throughout the series, Jayden Revri has almost cartoon-level heart eyes when he looks, ever so fondly, at Edwin, I also believe that the structure of it's first season means subsequent seasons would have explored, in Charles, "is this feeling for my best friend more than just affection, and what does that mean for me?" In this way, Steve is able to throw a wide net on common experiences we face navigating friendship and sexuality. If only Netflix had given him, and us, more time.

*shakes a damning fist at Netflix*

Anyway, back to Jamie, who concludes:

Simply as a show, it was entertaining, engrossing, atmospheric, and fun. Even as someone who isn’t a fan of the YA/teen genre, I enjoyed it. And, the show’s bi shortcoming is one that I believe would, with almost 100% certainty, have been resolved in a second season. It feels a little like assessing the life of someone who died too young, before realizing their full potential. Kind of like Edwin and Charles. Except, the boys weren’t ready to pass on, and neither were their fans. Hopefully, the Dead Boy Detectives can be brought back to life. Otherwise, we’ll all be left wondering what might have been.

Indeed, Jamie. Indeed.

And, in the meantime, we'll continue to fight. For Edwin, Charles, Niko, Crystal, and Jenny-all of whom ought to have the chance to explore this next chapter of their (after)lives. For the cast and creatives who poured their hearts into this little show. And for us, because we, too, deserve to have our stories told.

[maarigolds]

[papillon-de-porcelaine]

First meeting.

(You guys should really watch Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix. It's really good (and really queer))

[kwadlayns]

Good detectives do what they need to in order to solve a case. 💀🔎✨

[scarlibis]

The number of scarily accurate textpost memes you can make with these mfs is insane

[mayomkun]

when your whole crew doesnt know a damn thing

[tokenducks]

Please for the love of god let Edwin say twink

[yelsapo]

Loved when Edwin was like "There's nothing we can do, every time I try to run it chases and kills me again" and then Charles goes "Well yeah but now you have me and this BOMB" and promptly chucks a lit molotov at the spider demon

[kaiju-groot]

Why you should watch the Dead Boy Detectives

[astheriiiart]

happy pride month 🌈✨️

[myiliterallyhavenolifegoals]

the fact that Edwin lived in the early 1900s is a fantastic source of comedic potential. he's just constantly saying things that he doesn't realise are completely batshit insane, and the others are just left utterly floored.

like they're all talking and Crystal mentions she's tried cocaine once on a wild night out, and Edwin, who used to get that shit medically prescribed at the drop of a hat is like ??? okay?? hope you felt better, it always used to help me when I had a cold too :) Charles why are you laughing?

[childofposiden71]

If supernatural can have 15 seasons then Dead boy dectives can have two. So watch. Rewatch tell your friends. Watch it through a thousand times. END THE CANCELLATION STREAK

[torisprlng]

dog energy + cat energy but with charles & edwin

{insp}

[junkokiu]

Just watched the first episode, and I gotta say The Sandman universe doesn't disappoint. Neil Gaiman doesn't disappoint-

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[ouchmyghostskin]