#haughtie

Season 1 Nicole Haught just hits different.

my pinterest: earper 101 

Which, is just so beautiful, because like, not only is the show writing in the thing, but it’s then making that thing not an actual thing of consequence: it’s taking the time and respect to say ‘hey, queer is fine and good and natural and we’re cool with it’ at least in the vein of Waverly (but also people who’ve noticed Nicole’s adorable keen ways, people like Dolls, you know, and it’s just not a thing). And It’s a small town, they play up on the small town things, but Nicole has been open in her interests and the people she interacts with on the regular are just like ‘well, yeah, men generally do suck’ or ‘well, Waverly is a definite keeper’ type of shiz. It normalizes a thing that should already BE normal and NOT a thing, and that’s so great, just on a Nicole Haught is a lesbian level. 

But it’s even better, because like they haven’t written her as being predatory or creepy or can’t take no for an answer. They’ve purely written Nicole as someone who is quite smitten on Ms Waverly Earp, and has expressed that to Waverly and hasn’t tried to hide that from Waverly either, and it’s really just one of those things where it’s so nice to see a character who is perfectly fine existing in a world where their crush exists and if their crush smiles at them it makes their day, you know? I love that. That’s so rare. Like that’s rarely (if ever) seen w/ het relationships in the media. And Waverly is, like, she’s okay with being crushed on? Which, yeah, just probably plays into the thing that’s been alluded to throughout the series thus far: the entire town is practically in love with Waverly Earp (and for good reason), so she’s used to all sorts of interest being thrown her way. But, you know, television/media and this is a small town and here’s this woman who has a crush on her...and nearly any and every other show out there would’ve gone to the ‘creeped out / freaked out’ negative place with it (even if they did intend the pairing to happen at one point. 

Normalization while understanding the current media context and what needs to be said and shown in order to specify why your universe is more progressive. They’re doing that so right.

I just love that Nicole has just been her keen self, offering her friendship and support and affection without any expectations or demands...she’s let Waverly dictate how things go. (and maybe it would’ve been different if Waverly hadn’t shown any interest, maybe Nicole wouldn’t have continued to be keen or would’ve tried to move on...whatever. what ifs. yadda yadda) She let Waverly decide for herself, and promised nothing but time and a safe person to come to, really, no strings attached. RESPECT is what i’m underlining here. 

Like that whole one conversation about two completely different topics thing we had in the last episode was so completely adorable and also beautiful... because here’s this thing...these thoughts that have been churning through Waverly’s everything since Nicole showed up in her bar, because reasons. And You’ve got Nicole who is so far from even thinking that Waverly would be thinking like that, because you know we all get a certain sort of blindness when it comes to those we’re crushing on. It’s so innocent, really, in the scheme of things. Just girl likes girl and oh, golly, this is new but i like it, but it’s new and scary and what if i mess up and am not good enough.

...and then you’ve just got Waverly approaching both times in the episode, with the intent to attempt to do a thing with Nicole. Waverly approaching. Waverly deciding to hurdle that fear and get what she wants, and it’s cute and hot and adorable and so real. Because she’s so completely smitten with Nicole as well? She wants to woo this woman who has came into her life and shown her how good true appreciation and respect feels. And she’s flustered and messes up, but Nicole’s just like ‘trust me, that’s impossible, i’m so far gone just on your smile...there’s nothing to be scared of’ afkuehf;ewhilauehgfewohewh