Reading the comments on Netflix’s social media pages is hell. It’s absurd how many people miss that the real issue isn’t whether Mike could realistically reciprocate Will’s feelings, but rather the quality of the writing itself. The story clearly exploits and romanticizes Will’s pain. For at least a couple of seasons, it emphasizes his romantic longing and encourages the audience to invest in it. Yet, all that suffering and tension are ultimately dismissed and never properly acknowledged or respected. While Will’s pain remains unresolved, the heterosexual couple is given a serious, tragic moment framed as meaningful, despite being rooted in avoidance and misunderstanding.
So this isn’t a question of realism; rather, it is about writing that appropriates queer pain to enrich the narrative but ultimately discards it without any payoff. I wish it received better acknowledgment in mainstream media.
