Markdown seems to break people's brains, the way people struggle with the simple concept that someone's sexuality isn't solely defined by who they're currently sleeping with. The idea that Maeve could cope with Elena leaving her by having rebound sex with men shouldn't be confusing, but to Ashley it's mind-boggling. It's not "on brand." As far as Vought is concerned, Maeve would be so much easier to deal with if she was straight or gay, not some spooky in-between category. It's an insightful commentary on the way bisexuality is often ignored or mischaracterized, even by allies who mean well.
Tomer Capone as Frenchie in The Boys.
Courtesy of Prime
That's why it's so frustrating, after The Boys spent so much time making fun of this sort of attitude, for Frenchie (Tomer Capone) to receive the same sort of close-minded confusion from fans. Season 4 gives him a romance with new character Colin (Elliot Knight), and the internet went ablaze with complaints. "Why is Frenchie now gay?" people asked, as if Maeve's entire storyline hadn't repeatedly taught us how silly that question is. There were widespread complaints that Frenchie's supposedly newfound gayness had shut the door on his potential romance with Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), which fans had been rooting for since Season 1.
But Frenchie has always been implied to be bisexual, not gay or straight. It's been all but confirmed that he was in a throuple with Jay and Cherie in Season 2, with him even referring to Jay as his "Dorothy," a reference to a popular old queer euphemism. And even if there were no previous gay relationships for viewers to point to, that still wouldn't justify the immediate assumption that Frenchie had been "turned gay" by the writers. If a guy who'd only been in relationships with women starts getting in on with another guy, why should the immediate assumption be that his love for those women wasn't real?
The whole point of bisexuality is that there are no strict rules, that you can date however many women in a row and it doesn't have to be a big deal to date a man afterward. The immediate jump from "Frenchie's dating a guy" to "he must be gay" is a classic example of bi erasure, one that The Boys fans of all people should be above. Has Brave Maeve taught us nothing?
In fairness to the fandom, Colin did sort of come out of nowhere. He was one of several characters who popped up at the beginning of Season 4, seemingly for the sole purpose of giving another main character an arc about dealing with their past. Karen Fukuhara as Kimiko in The Boys.
Courtesy of Prime
Colin's purpose is to be a catalyst for Frenchie's character change, and more importantly, he's an obstacle in the way of Frenchie and Kimiko's love. Colin is to Frenchie what Karen on The Office was to Jim, or (for a meaner comparison) what Cal Hockley was to Rose in Titanic. Colin was Frenchie's obvious wrong romantic choice, a common obstacle storytellers include to prolong a will-they/won't-they dynamic. Colin's temporary role in Frenchie/Kimiko's romance was clear, but it was misunderstood by a lot of viewers by simple virtue of him being a man.
That's why the finale's best scene, when Frenchie and Kimiko finally kiss and begin a proper romantic relationship, isn't just a lovely climactic moment for both characters. It's also a nice lesson to all the bi-erasing viewers that yes, Frenchie's bi, and no, you should never have assumed the show was bailing on the romance between the two.
It's a lesson that hits hard because, judging by the fan response, it's something a lot of the audience needed to learn. The Boys has always been an unsubtle show with its politics, and despite the usual yearly right-wing backlash, most of its liberal political comedy still has strong vibes of preaching to the choir. Season 4 includes references to easy targets like Pizzagate and Jewish space lasers, delivered with a tone that indicates the writers think they're being more provocative than they really are.
But Season 4's fun lesson in bisexuality, offering a male counterpart to Season 2's education in how to not be annoying and dismissive to bi women, feels like it has a real impact. Frenchie seems to be a lot of viewers' first proper experience with a bi male character whose queerness is taken seriously, where the references to him hooking up with men isn't just delivered through Deadpool-esque "no homo" humor.
The Boys has always taken bisexuality seriously, and that's why Frenchie's story is so important. It's a reminder that sexuality exists on a spectrum, and that people can be attracted to multiple genders without being defined by a single label. The show's willingness to explore this aspect of Frenchie's character adds depth and nuance to his personality, making him feel more fully realized and relatable., The Boys' portrayal of Frenchie's bisexuality is a valuable addition to the show's already impressive roster of complex characters. By refusing to reduce his sexuality to a single label or stereotype, the writers have created a character that feels truly human, with all the contradictions and complexities that come with being alive.
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