#ptdn

Ah, yeah! It’s great! I think it’s not talked about much because I think at least in the fandom, the fact that Isaiah is trans is pretty common knowledge at this point! But it is very much a milestone and and an exciting one!

And actually, Ben’s storyline actually was adapted based on Isaiah being cast in the role:

As it turns out, the original casting call for Annie's kid was for a son named Ben, but eventually, the call was opened up to kids of all genders. After casting Isaiah in the role, show creator Jenna Bans learned that Isaiah Stannard is trans and uses the pronouns he and him, which prompted Jenna to reevaluate that character's storyline 

“We realized we had a really great opportunity to tell a story about a character who was gender-nonconforming, but at the same time not necessarily have that be what leads the story,” Jenna told Variety last year. The writers worked with GLAAD to ensure they approached the subject of the character's gender identity thoughtfully. [via Distractify]

I think they did a pretty good job with Ben’s storyline across Season 1 and Season 2—to me, it felt like it did a good job balancing realism and optimism and acceptance by showing that Ben struggled with social ostracism but had the unwavering support and love of his parents who both tried to protect him from his bullies at the same time that they encouraged him to explore who he is without judgment. I thought it didn’t gloss over the challenges of being trans at the same time that didn’t magnify pain for sensationalism, ultimately making Ben’s gender a part of his story but not his only story. 

However, I’ve been somewhat disappointed by how little attention there’s been on his transition across seasons 3 and 4. I’d have liked it if we saw more normalizing of the experience of transitioning as a teenager—even with small things, like mentions of taking hormones (something that seemed like it was going to be a storyline after the tail end of a season 2 re: expense) or even things like redecorating Ben’s room to make it a space that better reflected his tastes (season 1 and 2 showed how little interest he had in feminine things, yet I believe the show waited until a few episodes into season 4 before they replaced his floral bedspread). 

I actually thought that Annie’s OTT spending at the fundraiser could’ve been meshed with that in an interesting way? Like, especially since she is struggling with Ben’s desire to spend more time at his dad’s, Annie could’ve gone overboard in redecorating Ben’s room, spending a bunch of money to surprise him, but ultimately not taking into consideration that he’d want to be a part of that and that she couldn’t buy his love to make him stay? I basically don’t want it to be something that’s dropped to the point where he’s seen as a cis kid, if that makes sense?

i think it’s p safe to say he is the third piece of the triangle, though i still don’t think it’s going to be a like, twilight-style triangle where beth’s romantically interested in both of them. i v much read her interest in nick in 408 to be predominantly curiosity and interest in an avenue to contextualize and find out more about rio based on the way she kept pulling the conversation back around to trying to figure out their relationship. i do think she was maybe a little flattered by nick’s p open interest but i don’t see that ultimately going anywhere for two main reasons reasons:

the show’s been p consistent about showing nick subtly and sometimes less subtly ignoring/disrespecting beth’s boundaries and making vaguely belittling assumptions and generalizations about who she is in a way that i think’s a tad reminiscent of dean, tbh, and i don’t see beth being down with that or the show being down with pushing beth into another relationship like that

the heavy-handed, unambiguous good vs bad visual metaphor from the cold open. the show was extremely explicit about who was who, and i think beth’s going to catch on to that as the season progresses. hopefully quickly but i’d also strap in for it maybe taking a minute, hahaha

what’s interesting to me is how both of those things set up pro-rio contrasts. the way he sees beth (more) clearly has always been a thing that’s attracted beth to him and the show straight up said no seriously guys, he’s the good egg. so yeah, i remain entirely unbothered by the potential conflict set up by a love triangle.

i know a lot of people are extremely bothered by the brothers of it all and that’s super valid! but i don’t think things with beth and nick are going to progress far enough that that’s a thing. beth is uh, v v v selective over who she’ll get down with and i don’t see her going there. obvs, standard disclaimer, i am a shite magic eight ball! but i’m still not worried. i also don’t think rio and nick are going to like, compete for her? mostly bc that’s not the tone i got from their relationship, they seem much more likely to band together against her when it comes down to it based on them like, you know, banding together against her when it came down to it. but again, shite magic eight ball. who knows.

Hello reecey-v (couldn’t tag you), hope you are enjoying a great Pride Month.

The body hair you asked about is from Luumiasims, Body Hair v5. I hope this post reach you.