#this is really just a passing observation I haven't examined all angles of this

[parvuls]

I reread some of y3 recently and I really wanna talk about how much subtext there was to the different ways we saw each of the gang find out about jack and bitty in bitty & I

specifically, how each reveal was carefully set up to match the level of each character's heteronormative perspective

lardo only needs to see bitty's heart doodles in his notebook before she comes to the right conclusion. although, based on what little evidence she saw, she could've assumed that bitty just has a huge unrequited crush on jack - she's the least influenced by hockey/bro culture, and therefore has the least prejudice. it only takes something small to tip the scales enough that the penny drops.

shitty sees a more in-your-face proof, needs a more explicit push (especially after he previously demonstrated his jack-shaped blind spot), but realistically, a few notes with the letter "B" on them don't point straight at bitty, especially since shitty wasn't even considering the possibility of jack liking guys. still, it's just obvious enough to shake him out of the toxic heteronormative mindset he observed jack with so far, and he bounces back quickly because he's constantly hyperaware of this mindset.

ransom and holster get solid proof that simply cannot be misunderstood, and it's not a coincidence that they find out last. they're the only two that actually live with bitty, and chances are that there have been multiple occasions where they stumbled upon evidence similar to the notebook lardo saw (jack's flannel in bitty's room, overhearing bitty skyping someone and calling them pet names, calling bitty out for how much inside info he has about the falcs). but ransom and holster - while they're great, supportive dudes - definitely operate under the heteronormative assumption that "unless specifically mentioned, people are generally straight" (as demonstrated when they assumed they'd hook bitty up with a girl in y1, and were caught off guard when he came out in that extra). if they saw evidence similar to what lardo, or even shitty saw, they wouldn't necessarily assume jack and bitty are together. most likely they'd rationalize it somehow, which is why the way they eventually figure it out is the most explicit.

people like to say omgcp is sugar-coated and unrealistic, but actually, ngozi chooses to address a lot of the subtle ways her characters are influenced by the toxic environment they exist in, even if she usually chooses to keep her actual plotlines lighthearted and feel-good. smh is full of kind people who mean well, but they're all, to various degrees, effected by the problematic world that surrounds them.