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andthatstheword2012-02-01 03:28 am
erinptah) wrote in andthatstheword2012-02-01 03:28 am
Entry tags:
From Rad Bromance to Canon Romance[iness?]
Okay, serious characterization question here.
Up till now, almost all the "Stephen"-Jon innuendo has basically fallen into two groups: "generic/throwaway gay jokes" and "could also be read as intense BFFship." The "how can a man have a long-term intimate relationship with another man?" line pushed it, in that I feel like the most natural reading of the scene is "Stephen has romantic feelings for Jon, without recognizing that that's what they are." On the other hand, it's not necessarily an unnatural reading to see it as "Stephen has a long-term intimate friendly relationship with Jon, without recognizing that that's what it is."
(And then there's the curious coincidence of his past romance with a Jewish man named Jonathan...I'm not sure what the most natural interpretation is of that one. Again, though, it's not a stretch to see the romantic elements as unrelated to the present-day Jon.)
And then there was the post-Emmys "Beat you to [sleeping with Colbert] too, huh?" Came out of nowhere, seemed to go back into nowhere...until this Monday.
Granted, Jon in-character has an oblivious streak and a certain vulnerability to being pushed around by Stephen's whims, so it's plausible that he could be thinking "Stephen insists on gifts for Valentine's Day? [Full chase here.] That would seem weird from anyone else, but hey, it's Stephen, of course he'd take any excuse to get free stuff. May as well give in. It's easy and it'll make him happy." But even in that case, and even if Stephen is denying and sublimating his feelings at top speed, the feelings are still there: he has a thing for Jon. The tweet not long afterward, whether or not he recognizes the significance of the fantasy, drives the point home.
And that's the least slashy reading. That's the "stretching to keep the gay out of it" reading. Unless I'm much mistaken, the reading that would come with slash goggles firmly in place -- "the characters are actually supposed to be in a relationship now" -- is the easiest one.
(Middle-of-the-road reading: "Jon recognizes that they're in a relationship, which is why he feels obligated to give Valentine's day gifts. Stephen hasn't actually figured it out yet, which is why he's still confused about what the roleplaying fantasies mean.")
tl;dr my OTP is possibly actual canon now. And "Stephen" having a crush on Jon -- as opposed to intense but nonromantic feelings -- is definitely canon.
(*pause for quiet flail*)
What I'm chewing over now is...where do you think the writers are going with this? It seems like wishful shipper thinking to say "they've intended Stephen's feelings to be romantic all along, and are just getting bolder and bolder about showing it." On the other hand, it doesn't seem likely that they don't realize they've upped the ante with these particular J/"S" bits. Did someone behind the scenes make a decision to kick things up a notch? Could the presence of canonically-romantic tension be a sustained characterization choice for "Stephen", or did they just really, really want to make those few jokes?
(Not that this is likely, but if the whole thing turns out to be preparation for revealing a change in the real Jon and Stephen's their relationship from about the same time, I may just LMAO IRL.)
Up till now, almost all the "Stephen"-Jon innuendo has basically fallen into two groups: "generic/throwaway gay jokes" and "could also be read as intense BFFship." The "how can a man have a long-term intimate relationship with another man?" line pushed it, in that I feel like the most natural reading of the scene is "Stephen has romantic feelings for Jon, without recognizing that that's what they are." On the other hand, it's not necessarily an unnatural reading to see it as "Stephen has a long-term intimate friendly relationship with Jon, without recognizing that that's what it is."
(And then there's the curious coincidence of his past romance with a Jewish man named Jonathan...I'm not sure what the most natural interpretation is of that one. Again, though, it's not a stretch to see the romantic elements as unrelated to the present-day Jon.)
And then there was the post-Emmys "Beat you to [sleeping with Colbert] too, huh?" Came out of nowhere, seemed to go back into nowhere...until this Monday.
Granted, Jon in-character has an oblivious streak and a certain vulnerability to being pushed around by Stephen's whims, so it's plausible that he could be thinking "Stephen insists on gifts for Valentine's Day? [Full chase here.] That would seem weird from anyone else, but hey, it's Stephen, of course he'd take any excuse to get free stuff. May as well give in. It's easy and it'll make him happy." But even in that case, and even if Stephen is denying and sublimating his feelings at top speed, the feelings are still there: he has a thing for Jon. The tweet not long afterward, whether or not he recognizes the significance of the fantasy, drives the point home.
And that's the least slashy reading. That's the "stretching to keep the gay out of it" reading. Unless I'm much mistaken, the reading that would come with slash goggles firmly in place -- "the characters are actually supposed to be in a relationship now" -- is the easiest one.
(Middle-of-the-road reading: "Jon recognizes that they're in a relationship, which is why he feels obligated to give Valentine's day gifts. Stephen hasn't actually figured it out yet, which is why he's still confused about what the roleplaying fantasies mean.")
tl;dr my OTP is possibly actual canon now. And "Stephen" having a crush on Jon -- as opposed to intense but nonromantic feelings -- is definitely canon.
(*pause for quiet flail*)
What I'm chewing over now is...where do you think the writers are going with this? It seems like wishful shipper thinking to say "they've intended Stephen's feelings to be romantic all along, and are just getting bolder and bolder about showing it." On the other hand, it doesn't seem likely that they don't realize they've upped the ante with these particular J/"S" bits. Did someone behind the scenes make a decision to kick things up a notch? Could the presence of canonically-romantic tension be a sustained characterization choice for "Stephen", or did they just really, really want to make those few jokes?
(Not that this is likely, but if the whole thing turns out to be preparation for revealing a change in the real Jon and Stephen's their relationship from about the same time, I may just LMAO IRL.)
no subject
Also, the taping report from the night that Stephen handed the PAC over to Jon which stated that Stephen then kissed him but they didn't air the kiss is something too.
I still feel like the way he reacted to the direct question at the Wellmont was telling in a way. I was really surprised when he didn't just blow it off. It was like he was struggling with it.
The chemistry between the two of them is just so strong too. No matter how much a person might say, "I'm just seeing what I want to see", at this point they've gone a little beyond innuendo.
I also thought it was kind of interesting how Jon's post Emmy bit was really almost awkward for the audience but Jon laughed like he didn't care.
If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...?
I just kept telling myself I was crazy but you're always level headed, so I'm glad to see I'm not alone starting to wonder just how far they will take it and exactly where it's going.
Okay.
Just wondering, if (and I mean if) we're talking about a somewhat hypothetical irl Jon/Stephen ship, do think it's been going on since the TDS days?
Long before I ever read a bit of fan fic or ever shipped them and was just a regular fan (not fangirl) for years, I often wondered about the way Stephen would sometimes look at Jon. A simple thing, I know but sometimes the look on his face really seemed like either a super intense admiration... or love. Maybe both?
What say you?
(no subject)