Was the wicked movie subjectively gay?

They never come out and say it, leaving it up to the audience to decide what’s really going on. It’s not as obvious as something like Fried Green Tomatoes, but I get why people say it’s clear. To me, though, it feels more subtle, like it’s there if you’re looking for it, but not screaming at you. The relationship between the two main characters is undeniably emotional and loving. They cry, laugh, and comfort each other in ways that feel as deep as family or a romantic partner might.

But here’s where it gets frustrating. Hollywood knows exactly what they’re doing. They’re aware of the moment we’re in, with all the laws and arguments targeting LGBTQ+ communities, but they still need their movie to sell overseas. So instead of being bold, they go for the old “show, don’t tell” strategy, like it’s the ‘90s again. They imply things rather than say them outright, leaving it vague enough to keep everyone happy—or at least not too angry.

That’s what stings. They had the chance to make a beautiful, unambiguously queer love story, especially given how much the Broadway community would’ve embraced it. But instead, they played it safe. Sure, Wicked feels a little gay, but it’s like they’re afraid of making it too obvious, as if that would somehow ruin its success. I mean, take Jonathan Bailey’s performance—at one point, he’s humping a book on a man's face, than takes one of his shirts off, and it’s so clearly gay, but also so carefully crafted to stay in that “not too much” zone.

What gets to me is that when I try to find memes or clips of moments like that, all I see are people arguing. Some say the movie’s gay, some say it’s not, and suddenly it’s this whole debate instead of just being what it is. It feels like what happened in Pulp Fiction—everyone’s obsessed with what’s in the briefcase, but you never get an answer. Now it’s turned into this weird game show: Is It Gay? And honestly, I’m not mad, just tired. I just want it to be clear—if it’s going to be gay, then be gay. Stop dancing around it. How do you guys feel? Am I way off? Is this actually helpful?