Starting with romance, we're shown that Joe and Nicky are so deeply in love with each other and have a very healthy relationship. We're all aware of that at this point I know, but for me it's the way it's shown.

I'm an aromantic and sex-repulsed asexual which means sex scenes often ruin whatever it is I'm watching, I find it disgusting and will close my eyes and stick my hands over my ears. It's just not my thing and there are so many movies that chuck these scenes in for what seems like no apparent reason other than the fact they could. Action films seem to do this a lot and I'm so glad we didn't get this with TOG. I suppose the film's plot would have struggled to actually fit this scene in but again, it would have been so easy for them to introduce Joe and Nicky with a sex scene and shown us explicitly that these men are a couple.

Instead, the first direct showing of them being a couple is when they're cozied up together sleeping on the train. Sure we get those looks on the kill floor but if someone had just shot up my family and potentially killed us permanently, I would look to my bro and check he's still alive and ready to kill some bitches too. Also, it shows us just how much these two care for each other that they're sleeping soundly in a soft embrace. I am a sucker for Soft men and affectionate (but not inherently sexual) touch.

The way these two love each other so naturally fills my heart. Looking across the table at one another with smiles meant just for them, Joe's wink, "the love of my life", "as much as I like watching you sleep, I'm glad you're awake", them holding each others shirts/arms after Keane shoots Nicky, spooning, just... YES!

Of course, the van scene is so soft and tender and loving too! I hate watching people kiss, it's gross, and here this film presents this extremely romantic couple who are so in love with each other, and they only ever kiss on screen ONCE! I only have to look away from the TV for a few seconds and that's it! They aren't kissing each other throughout the film to make the audience know FOR SURE that they love each other. They don't need to. And I'm all for it! Also, gay representation! Healthy, happy gay representation!

With Andy and Quynh too, we get those smiles to one another, "the two of us, until the end", and granted there isn't much screen time with Quynh but their relationship is still shown to be so incredibly strong and loving without needing kisses or sex shown to us. I mean, you could read it as a strong platonic bond and disregard comic canon, and their relationship is STILL powerful with the loss of Quynh weighing so heavy on Andy's heart. Romantic or platonic, Andy and Quynh's relationship is given such weight to it.

And speaking of platonic relationships, I absolutely love Andy and Booker's relationship. The BFF/sibling roles they have is great, "you're still in this shitty game with me", the affectionate head bonks, "you and me Book", the way they understand each other. Their relationship is incredibly strong and given just as much attention as the romantic relationship in the group. It isn't shown as a second tier relationship, it's one of the reasons Book betrays the team after all - "this is what you wanted" - which makes it all the more heartbreaking. I know people love friends to lovers but when so much of media has this trope, it makes it seem like friendships aren't to be fought for as much as romantic ones, that friendships aren't enough. It was so nice to have a movie have this strong friendship and when I wished for "oh god please don't make them kiss" it came true! No kiss, no romance, no weird sexual tension, just pure and utter love for their friend/family.

And in conjunction with the heartbreak, one of the main reasons for Book's depressed arse is due to familial relationship! The fact he can't escape the grief of his children dying and this is given more weight to it than the relationship he had with his wife. The thought of losing my parent is something I can absolutely relate to and while this isn't the same as losing a child, it's something I can understand much more than a romantic partner.