(Season
2 spoilers.)
This is
quite possibly one of the most complicated romantic relationships I’ve ever
seen on TV, and I really appreciate seeing such rich conflict in a story about
a same-sex couple. While there are
exceptions, when same-sex couples come up against roadblocks on TV, it’s often
specifically about their sexuality, frequently depicting a new relationship
alongside a coming-out narrative or a storyline about external bigotry. Not that these stories can’t be compelling
and well-done, of course (Emily and Naomi’s story in the third season of Skins is absolutely gorgeous,) it’s good
to see variety in the kinds of stories that are told, and Kieren and Simon’s
problems have nothing to do with orientation.
Really,
every relationship Kieren has in the show is about facilitating his journey in
accepting his PDS. This makes sense –
when you’re undead and (relatively) newly-medicated to manage that condition,
when your society views you as a monster and hates you for the things you did
in your untreated state, that’s what’s going to be on your mind most of the
time. And so, everyone Kieren encounters
offers a slightly different lens through which to understand his PDS. He can be encouraged by them or push back
against them, but it’s all about that road to acceptance, and dishy Irishman or
not, Simon is no exception.
As one
of the disciples of the Undead Prophet who’s come to Roarton to identify the
First Risen, Simon has a totally different perspective on PDS than Kieren. At this point in the series, Kieren has
learned to live in his own skin, but he’s still internalized the idea that PDS
is something wrong with him, something to disguise so the living don’t get too
uncomfortable. Simon, who preaches
undead superiority, is deeply disappointed in Kieren when they first meet,
despite being drawn to him. He makes
pointed comments about Kieren’s flesh-tone makeup and colored contacts, shaking
his head at Kieren for being ashamed of who he is. It’s true that Kieren has a way to go in
terms of self-love, but as someone who never loses sight of his culpability for
his actions during the Rising, he also can’t get behind the idea that people
with PDS are “ascended.”
So
their initial interactions are mostly ideological, with Kieren arguing with
Simon that he’s not denying who he is but at the same time feeling stirred by
Simon’s message of self-acceptance. And
in the midst of all that, they’re also attracted to each other, with each
getting continually pulled in by the other.
It’s a really fascinating mess of interpersonal back-and-forth and inner
conflict; Kieren’s dealings with Simon have him doubting what he thinks of
himself, and Simon’s longing for Kieren has him
doubting what he believes. It’s a big deal when Simon puts on his makeup
and contacts to go to tea with Kieren’s family, just like it’s hugely important
that Kieren wants Simon present when he’s finally ready to remove his own
makeup.
It all
comes to a dizzying head of love, religion, and politics when Simon discovers
that Kieren appears to be the First Risen.
It’s with awe in his voice that he relays what he’s found to the Undead
Prophet, (“he’s beautiful,”) but the rug is sickly yanked out from under him
when he learns of the the Prophet’s intention:
the First Risen is to be sacrificed in order to bring on a second
Rising, and the Prophet expects Simon to be the one to do it.
I mean,
wow.
How’s that for drama? Everything
Simon feels for Kieren colliding with everything he believes, the teachings
that essentially saved him after he left the treatment center now telling him
he has to kill the boy he cares for.
This is what people mean when they talk about someone “warring inside
themselves.” Holy crap. Watching Simon
wrestle with these two immense forces in his mind in an experience that leaves
you wrung-out, but it’s also a genuine dramatic pleasure to see him tear down
the sky of all he’s built up for the sake of Kieren. I’ll say it again: wow.
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