Queerbaiting / Slashbaiting

[erilyn]

Yo, what are some good examples of queerbaiting / slashbaiting fans (eg shows/TPTB try to have their cake and eat it too, by appealing to fans who want to see non-heterosexual characters/couples/storylines, but without actually, you know, making it canon

Comments

[eponymous]

Teen Wolf, obvs.

If you're open to movies, then I felt about half of the last RDJ Sherlock Holmes movie was slashbait, which was one of the reasons I disliked it so much. I can't remember that many specifics, though the several-minute-long conversation that they have whilst Holmes is in a dress and lipstick and Watson is lying between his upraised legs would be one of them.

[shinetheway]

Also, them dancing at the party, Holmes' obvious jealousy of Mary, and the bit just before Watson saved his life. Plus the interview with Eddie Izzard where RDJ gets "jealous" that Jude looks better in drag than he does, and Jude's *chinhands* look of adoration at RDJ

[eponymous]

Two characters acting in gay in every way except for actually being romantically involved with each other? That's pretty much my definition of slashbait

[lastrega]

What she said. Too much of the time it's "Pretend gay is HILARIOUS but real gay is R-rated and will scare the kiddies" kinda bullshit, which is actually Not Cool.

[erilyn]

I've found the show itself comparatively unproblematic in terms of slashbaiting, it's mostly just been stuff external to the show from showrunner and cast that has me concerned (eg my icon).

[shinetheway]

I think...okay, this may not make sense, but...I agree with you that I don't like that it's a joke played for laughs, but I think a joke played for laughs is better than a secret shameful subtext that may never dare mention its name

[eponymous]

Sorry, reading that back, it sounds like I'm cranky at you. I'm cranky at slashbaiting. You, I like. (:

[shinetheway]

Hee! I wasn't worried, bb. :D

[erilyn]

It's an interesting thing, where we each draw the line between what's acceptable and what's offensive in this area.