Yes, but when you’re co-writing a novel or series, major plot and character points are the kind of thing you need a unanimous vote on, not just a majority. IF Moffat doesn’t want to do it (and your guess is as good as mine, since probably neither of us know him personally), then it’s not likely to happen.
The thing is, I just find the “will they/won’t they” of TJLC kind of a boring conversation at this point. There’s a point where everything that can be said has been said, and we’re just sitting around twiddling our thumbs and waiting to see which side is right. It’s not like our opinions matter. This is a scientific fact kind of situation. It’ll either end up there or it won’t.
Now, what it means IF it does, and what it means IF it doesn’t—that’s an interesting conversation.
Another good conversation is whether it’s queer representation or asexual erasure to require that some physical sign of affection be involved.
I’ve seen a lot of declarations that you’re being homophobic or participating in erasure if you don’t want them to kiss or something to make it clear, or if you say you think that where they’re at now feels, I dunno, sufficiently consummated. And yet from where I’m standing, given all the cues and subtext we’ve seen in the show, this is pretty much exactly how I’ve always imagined a story about an asexual relationship would look.
So there’s that issue on the one hand, and on the other there’s the very reasonable point that unless you make it slap-across-the-face explicit, people will feel within their rights to continue to deny it.
But if you can’t tell a queer story without people making out, then there’s a whole bunch of types of queer relationships you’re still erasing.
(Not that all asexuals are against kissing, but there is a principle at work there.)
I dunno, I suppose if they really went the asexual route, the characters could hold up signs or something. But considering the ‘couple’ thing has already been called out right to the characters’ faces, they’d probably have to issue engraved invitations to their Non-Sexual Commitment Ceremony for the audience to buy in.
When I say a there’s a good conversation to be had about this, mind you, I mean more that rock-and-a-hard-place situation that society puts us in when it comes to things like this, rather than the implementation (or lack thereof) in the show. If I can’t find it in my heart to have faith that Moffat really would be interested in writing a story with a gay lead, then I REALLY don’t believe that he’d go to the length of deliberately making this the first show featuring a committed asexual couple.
I suppose another good conversation would be whether we truly do think this show was created with the intention of basically being queer lit, vs. if we think it was made primarily with the intention of presenting us with a fairly mainstream entertaining good time. (Or if we really do think that it’s out to make the leap and demonstrate to the world that these things don’t have to be One Or The Other.)
