The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a great TV show, and we all know that already. The approach that the directors are taking towards the LGBT+ community has covered multiple queer spectrums, in a “magic” way where there is no judgement whatsoever.
When the first season of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” aired, it immediately received praise from fans and critics alike for its LGBT+ representation. The first season left us very happy for the representation of queer characters by queer actors, that is something that we do not get tired of seeing. By creating a space and including our queer artists to tell a story about queer people to the mainstream, more than representation, it is a way to educate the viewers about our issues and struggles.
At the end of season one, Susie hasn’t determined any official language they identify with. The TV show is exceptional because it gives Susie the possibility to find themselves at their own pace. In season two, Susie gradually starts to work out exactly how they identify. They start to use the boy’s locker room, try out for the boy’s basketball team and then they come out as Theo to their friends and explain that they use male pronouns.
What’s noble about Sabrina is that even though Theo experiences bullying from his classmates, like so many trans people do in real life, he has such a powerful supportive group of friends, who accept him for who he is. They aren’t perfect, no one is, but they are loving and caring and immediately work to change their habits of calling Theo “Susie” and not using male pronouns for him.
In a scene with Ros, Harvey says:
“We just call her Theo now?” Ros then replies: “No, we call him Theo. Theo might look like a girl but he’s not, he’s a boy and that’s how he’s always been. He’s just ready now to live as himself, as Theo”. Harvey then answers: “Ok, Susie no more. Now Theo.”
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This is important because Harvey isn’t questioning Theo with insensitive questions. He’s doing the work himself.
Theo later comes out to his Dad and, while his Dad struggles to come to terms with the news at first (he calls Theo his “best girl” and refuses him initially), he comes round after Theo says:
“I can’t keep going on as a girl anymore”. The scene is so vital because it’s real. It’s not an appealing coming out scene but it shows that Theo’s Dad loves him and is still there for his son.
Theo also goes from being bullied by most of his basketball teammates at the start of season two to be respected and liked by them by the end of it. His main bully, Billy Marlin, even apologises for his behaviour later in the season. In doing this, CAOS effortlessly shows how valuable and easy it is to support trans people and provides hope to LGBT+ viewers who are bullied.
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Possibly what’s best about Theo is that he is played by a non-binary actor who brings their own experience to the role. Lachlan’s story crosses over with Theo’s. Speaking to Bustle, Lachlan said that they used to identify “fully and completely as a trans male” before realising they were non-binary. Taking this into consideration, it’s easy to see why fans resonate with Theo.
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