#ned roche

such a beautifully sensitively written representation of feeling different in school (i’m british, not irish, but still they were spot on with the boys’ behaviour and the teachers) and ending up being that “weird” kid, using his weirdness and “you wouldn’t get it” mentality as a defence mechanism

finally finding a friend only to be betrayed because of outside forces as they have become ashamed to be different, their defense mechanism is not to lean into their differences but to hide them

the entire “then everyone would be on my side” monologue tore me apart because i understood SO much. not in a situation quite like his, but adopting that aggression and finally letting out these years of trauma and betrayal out on someone with the right intentions who was also just trying to survive

... (you already know that Red, White, And Royal Blue is also on there and still watched daily) and it dawned on me that Henry during his days at uni was probably basically Conor and Ned in one right down to having one of their faces which is why they beautifully stayed platonic friends despite both being queer (they needed an Alex to come along and have more of a push-pull dynamic with them) except blond English royalty instead of brunet and redheaded Irish misfits.

I would have said that it must have been very lonely, because at least Conor and Ned had each other and Mr. Sherry, but then I realized that Henry probably went to uni with Pez, and then I got mad, because we deserved more of that bestieism and some of Pez flirting with Alex to egg Alex and Henry on like we got in the book (plus his whole polyamory plot with June and Nora being that there was no June).

I'd watch that six-and-a-half-hour-long movie. Who's with me?

i think they should be friends

bonus;