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)?

Looking for both specific stuff within narrative or external (interviews/cons/promos etc), any help appreciated :)

Comments

[shinetheway.livejournal.com]

H50 springs to mind?

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I should have been more specific, in that I was hoping for specifics (like moments/plots in episodes). H50 is definitely the sort of show I'm thinking about though, thanks!

[shinetheway.livejournal.com]

ahahaha okay, so I actually have to have WATCHED the show, hmm? :D

Well, moviewise there's TF&F - the scene after the first race, the shirtless-sunbathing DVD extra, the bit where they're driving down the coast, the bit where Brian gives Dom his keys

also Toy Story - the bit where Woody says "not in front of Buzz!" when Bo Peep is trying to kiss him

Sentinel - there's gag reel footage of them kissing, plus the pet names, the melding animal spirits, the mouth-to-mouth recuscitation (both rumored antics behind the scenes and the actual scene itself as filmed)

X-Files - the Mulder-Krycek kiss

Merlin - Arthur drinking the poison to save Merlin, Merlin tossing and moaning while sweat-soaked in bed, magically aiding Arthur with a glowing ball of light held in his hand, Merlin getting jealous when Arthur is enchanted by a Seelie (and then again when he's enchanted by a troll)

Burn Notice - s03e04 when Michael and Sam are holding hands and sighing at each other and Fiona comes in and says "I leave you two alone for a moment..." (they don't let go of their hands, although they do deny it)

Psych - the episode where Shawn is shot and after he beats up the bad guy, he spasms and writhes and clings to Gus who is clutching him desperately and Juliet is saying to Gus "you've got this, right?" and leaving, the episode where Gus is in a bank that's taken hostage and Shawn tries to bolt inside after him, the episode where Shawn has an epiphany and tells Gus that of all the relationships in his life, theirs is the most solid and the longest-lasting, the episode where...okay, ALL THE EPISODES

Being Human - the pilot especially, when the real estate agent mistook them for a couple

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

thank you so much!

I've been much more focused on more recent media, I hadn't thought about XF, hmmm.

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

Possible specific examples from H50:

- in episode 1x20, Danny signs 'I love you' to Steve, i.e. finger pointing at himself, air heart, finger pointing at Steve. There was no further mention of this by any character.

- in episode 2x01, Danny and Steve have a conversation that is ostensibly about Danny wanting and failing to get his ex-wife back. But it's filmed in such a way - with extreme close ups of facial expressions in the car's rearview mirror - that it's hard to read as Steve just being a supportive platonic friend.

- and, from memory, the end of the S1 gag reel involves the two main actors (Alex and Scott) holding hands and running along a beach away from the camera!

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Though gag reels are an interesting item - given that they wouldn't know definitively that what they're doing will be seen by audience, does it count?

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

Good point, in general. In this case, I actually just went and rewatched the end of that gag reel, and it's very definitely intended for audiences to see it. Skip to the last ten seconds and see for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCyUNU_RoBo

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Agreed :) Though when I think of them and slashbait, can't go past the bromance promo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXjKuSPeWrs