Still, that’s no reason to turn against other shows that will continue onward that also feature LGBTQ+ characters.
I imagine the truth is far more complicated, and there’s a chance we’ll never know the finer details, but it sucks. He succeeded, and the show has become iconic amidst queer communities because of how groundbreaking it managed to be. At the beginning of production the eventual romance of Catra and Adora wasn’t always guaranteed, with Stevenson trying his best to plant the seeds and hope that Netflix and Dreamworks would eventually provide enough wriggle room. Noelle Stevenson’s adaptation was queer from the outset, updating the ‘80s classic to feature diverse body types, non-binary characters, and a central lesbian relationship that was slowly built up during its five seasons. This show set the foundation for additional milestones like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Related: Molly Knox Ostertag On Darkest Night And Carving A More Intimate Space For Queer Stories I still remember being blown away at Ruby and Sapphire’s wedding and how the narrative was able to be honest about two girls loving one another, it even popped the more masculine Ruby into a dress so censors couldn’t possibly question her gender. It was perfect for young and old viewers alike. Korra and Adventure Time felt significantly more truncated than Rebecca Sugar’s show, which was filled with canon couples, queer themes, and storytelling that felt like it was written to resonate with that kind of audience. Steven Universe was a substantial benchmark for queer rep in animation, making strides alongside Adventure Time and The Legend of Korra as they all sought to depict queer couples in a way that was normalised. Things have changed, and much of that progress has been for the better, but as representation becomes more widespread and fandoms grow in size and influence, infighting unfortunately begins to drag down the steps forward these creators are trying to take.
If it was present, such characters and themes would often be marred by needless stereotypes and hurtful writing that either failed to understand the queer experience or actively sought to make fun of it. I grew up in a world where LGBTQ+ representation in the media I consumed was almost non-existent.